A quick note before we start: this guide is written in partnership with Holafly, so it is sponsored content and includes an affiliate link. I have tried to keep the comparison fair and honest, because that is the only kind worth reading. My conclusion, and the discount, are at the end.
In short: for most independent travellers, an eSIM is the easiest way to get online abroad, because it installs on your phone before you leave and works the moment you land, with nothing to collect or return. A local SIM can be cheaper for a long stay in one country, pocket wifi suits groups sharing one device, and home roaming only makes sense within a roaming-included zone.
Every trip begins with the same small question: how will I get online when I land? Over the years I have done it every way there is, and each has its place. Here is an honest run-through of the options, so you can pick what suits your trip, and where I have landed myself.
The four ways to get online abroad
1. Home roaming
Just using your normal plan abroad.
- For it: zero effort, your own number, nothing to set up.
- Against it: outside your home region it can be eye-wateringly expensive, or throttled to a crawl once you pass a “fair use” cap. Fine for a quick trip within a roaming-included zone; a nasty surprise outside one. Always check exactly what your operator charges at your destination first.
2. A physical local SIM
Bought on arrival at your destination.
- For it: often the cheapest data, and you get a local number.
- Against it: you have to find a shop, show documents, swap out (and not lose) your home SIM, and set it up, all while jet-lagged. Many tourist SIMs are data-only and time-limited anyway, and a few destinations make the paperwork genuinely tedious.
3. Pocket wifi rental
A little hotspot device you hire.
- For it: connects several devices at once, and can be good value if a group shares one.
- Against it: it is another gadget to carry and charge; you must collect and post it or hand it back; and if your group splits up for the day, only whoever holds the device is online. Lose it, and you are paying for it.
4. An eSIM
A digital SIM you install on your phone before you travel.
- For it: nothing to collect, swap, carry or return. You set it up at home over your own wifi, and it activates the moment you land. It is the most “forget it exists and just works” option there is.
- Against it: your phone has to be eSIM-compatible, and it is data (plus internet calling) rather than a local phone number. Not always the cheapest option compared with a bare local SIM, but the convenience is real.
Where I have landed
For the way I travel, alone, across multiple destinations, and wanting to be online the second I step off the plane, the eSIM wins, and I use a Holafly one.
What tips it for me is the combination of instant setup and not having to think about data. I mostly use the Holafly Unlimited Data eSIM, which covers 200+ destinations, so I never ration megabytes. Holafly’s Travel eSIMs let you choose the exact number of days you need for a single trip, while Holafly Plans are a global subscription built for frequent travellers and digital nomads who want continuous, seamless connectivity across many destinations. Holafly Always On is also available as a backup: a global data safety net of 1 GB every month across 150+ destinations for the unexpected or the gaps between trips. Prices and plans change, so check Holafly’s site for the latest.
I will be straight with you, though: if you are staying in one place for a long time and your only priority is the rock-bottom price, a local SIM may still edge it, and a group sharing one pocket Wi-Fi can work well. The “best” option genuinely depends on your trip. But for most independent travellers, I would reach for an eSIM because it removes the one bit of friction that always used to greet me on arrival.
Get 5% off eSIMs (and 10% off Holafly Plans for the first 12 months) with code SILVIAMOGGIA on Holafly. Written in partnership with Holafly; contains an affiliate link and discount code at no extra cost to you. #HolaflyTraveller #adv
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your trip, but for most independent travellers an eSIM is the easiest: it installs on your phone before you leave and works the moment you land, with nothing to collect or return. A local SIM can be cheaper for a long single-destination stay, pocket wifi suits groups sharing one device, and home roaming is only sensible within a roaming-included zone.
For convenience, usually yes: an eSIM needs no shop visit, no documents at a kiosk and no swapping out your home SIM, and it activates on arrival. A physical local SIM can be cheaper and gives you a local number, but it is more hassle to set up. If your phone supports eSIMs and you value your time, the eSIM is generally the better travel option.
An eSIM is lighter and simpler for an individual or a couple: nothing to carry, charge or return, and it works the instant you land. Pocket wifi can be better value for a group sharing one device, but only whoever holds it stays online, and it must be collected and handed back. For solo and independent travel, an eSIM usually wins.
Only if your destination is within a roaming-included zone on your plan (and even then, watch for “fair use” data caps). Outside those zones, roaming can be very expensive or heavily throttled, so always check your operator’s charges for your specific destination before relying on it, and consider an eSIM instead.
Further reading
- My verdict in detail: an honest Holafly review
- In practice: the best eSIM for Japan and my eSIM experience in Lapland wilderness
- The apps you will run on it: the best travel apps for independent solo travellers
