Carrier day passes are convenient, but at $10 to $12 a day they add up fast. A travel eSIM is a digital SIM you install before your trip that gives you local data at local prices. On a one-week trip the difference is often more than $50 per person.
What a one-week trip costs
| Option | Europe | Mexico | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass$12/day | $84 | Included* | $84 |
| AT&T International Day Pass$12/day for the first line | $84 | Included* | $84 |
| T-Mobile International Pass10-day pass, 15 GB | $50 | Included* | $50 |
| Airalo5 GB, valid 30 days | $19.50 | $18.50 | $11 |
| Saily5 GB, valid 30 days | $19.49 | $16.99 | $10.99 |
* Most current postpaid unlimited plans from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile include use in Mexico and Canada; check your own plan. Otherwise Verizon charges $6/day there. Prices checked October 21, 2026. eSIM providers change prices often.
Your carrier's options
Verizon
TravelPass costs $12 per day in more than 210 destinations and $6 per day in Mexico and Canada, with 5 GB of high-speed data per day before speeds drop. You only pay on days you use your phone abroad. Unlimited Ultimate includes 15 GB of international data per month, which covers most short trips.
AT&T
The International Day Pass costs $12 per day for the first line and $6 for each additional line on the account, and you pay at most 10 daily fees per line per bill. The Elite plan includes international data, and all current unlimited plans include Mexico and Canada.
T-Mobile
Experience More includes 5 GB of high-speed data in more than 215 countries and Experience Beyond includes 15 GB, after which speeds drop to 256 Kbps. Essentials has no included high-speed international data. International Passes cost $10 for a day (2 GB), $50 for 10 days (15 GB) or $75 for 30 days (30 GB).
Google Fi
Unlimited Premium includes data in more than 200 destinations, which makes it one of the best plans for frequent travelers. On the Flexible plan, data abroad costs the same $10 per GB as at home. Unlimited Standard covers Canada and Mexico only.
Travel eSIMs: Airalo vs. Saily
Airalo has the largest catalog: plans for single countries, regions and the whole world. For Europe, its regional plan costs $19.50 for 5 GB or $31 for 10 GB for 30 days; Japan starts at $11 for 5 GB. Some Mexico plans include calls and texts.
Saily, from the makers of NordVPN, is priced very close to Airalo and adds security features such as ad and tracker blocking. In Europe, 3 GB costs $12.49 and 5 GB $19.49 for 30 days; in Japan, 10 GB costs $17.99.
For most trips, the cheapest choice is the smallest data package that fits your trip. A week of maps, messages and social media uses 3 to 5 GB for most people. Streaming video on mobile data is what pushes you into the bigger packages.
How to set up a travel eSIM
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM (dial *#06# and look for an EID) and be unlocked.
- Buy and install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, a day or two before you leave. Do not activate data yet if the plan's validity starts at installation; most start when you first connect abroad.
- On arrival, switch mobile data to the travel eSIM and turn on data roaming for that line only.
- Keep your US line on for calls and texts, with its data roaming switched off, so you can still receive verification codes.
Planning a longer stay or traveling several times a year? Compare plans with included international data on our eSIM & travel page.
Frequently asked questions
Does my phone support eSIM?
Dial *#06#. If you see an EID number (32 digits), your phone supports eSIM. The phone also has to be unlocked to use another provider's eSIM.
Can I keep my US number while using a travel eSIM?
Yes. Keep your US line active as the second line for calls and texts, and set the travel eSIM as the line for mobile data. Turn off data roaming on your US line so you are not charged a day pass by accident.
Do travel eSIMs include a phone number?
Most data-only travel eSIMs do not. You can still call and message over the internet with apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. Some plans, such as certain Airalo plans for Mexico, include calls and texts.
Facts checked against carrier and provider websites, FCC publications and independent network tests on October 21, 2026. Found something out of date? Let us know.