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Home » Gear » Travel Sim's » best international sim cards

9 BEST International SIM Cards for Travel (Buyer’s Guide • 2024)

SIM cards are a royal pain in the butt when travelling. Every time you land somewhere new, you have to perform the same song and dance of going out of your way to get a new sim pretty much as soon as possible.

Usually what happens is that you land in the airport and then you either get ripped off buying a SIM card there or navigate to town without any connectivity. Once you’re in town, you have to navigate a foreign city sifting through local SIM providers, various plans, and also probably getting lost along the way. It’s not the ideal way to start a vacation and I cannot even count the hours I’ve lost shopping for sims in new countries.

That’s why buying one of the best international SIM cards is THE way to go.

An International SIM card is one which will work all over the world meaning that you never have to change it again – no more messing around at the O2 Kiosk in strange airports!

Now, to set the record straight, while there are cheaper travel SIM cards in existence, they still aren’t exactly cheap. Nine times out of ten, a local SIM card is always going to be the cheaper option for budget backpackers.

Maybe you’re a digital nomad who always needs to be connected, maybe you’re a high-flying businessperson with fancy business attire who makes busy business calls while on holiday or maybe (like me) you are just sick of having to change sims.

Either way, this is the list of the best international SIM cards on the market! I’ve done all the leg-work and the research to deliver an international SIM cards review in full. So let’s get ourselves connected.

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Compare The Best International SIM Cards

What is an international sim card, the best sim cards for international travellers, international data sim cards for digital nomads, social media addicts, and tinder aficionados, a quick review of each sim card, frequently asked questions about travel sim cards, should you buy an international sim card.

This isn’t the whole roundup but it is my personal pick of the best international SIM cards worth looking into, each one serving a different niche.

• > e-Sim and Traditional Sims available
• > Wide and reliable coverage
• > Low SIM-purchasing fees
• > $9.95 – $39.95

• > Virtual sim – no plastic needed!
• > Excellent range of packages
• > Download before you leave home

• > Excellent value – starts at $1
• > Range of packages available
• > Great coverage
• > $1 – $80

KeepGo Lifetime World SIM Card

• > Reliable connection
• > Prone to cutting rates
• > Coverage could be better

• > Simple rates – no bundle packs
• > Huge coverage
• > Requires a PRO account for maximum coverage
• > $10 – $100

Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card

• > Extremely reliable in Europe
• > Easily sufficient for a two-week holiday
• > Excludes a number of countries in Europe

International SIMs, roaming SIMs, travel SIM Cards whatever: a rose by any name can still order you a pizza when you don’t want to leave the guesthouse after all right? That’s what an international SIM card is, a SIM card that will have you hooked up from “anywhere” .

Why did you put ‘anywhere’ in quotes?

Because it’s a highly variable anywhere. “Anywhere” really means from the countries that the international SIM covers. That said, some of these travel SIM providers cover over 200 countries.

That also said, there are only 195 countries in the world so I’m not sure how they mathed those numbers out. Still unsure, have a look at our guide to local vs international SIM cards .

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So, how does an international SIM card work?

Without getting too technical, an international SIM card isn’t programmed to one specific network. It’s programmed to operate on a number of networks in a number of different geographical locations – specifically, networks using the GSM (Global Systems of Management Communications) framework.

That’s why to use your cell phone internationally with a travel SIM card it needs to be:

• GSM-compatible (many phones are).
• Unlocked, i.e. not tied to a provider.

Do be sure about that unlocked phone bit before you go ahead and buy a new one.

Basically, global SIM cards will plug into a local network from the country you’re travelling to… Consensually, of course.

That’s why coverage so strongly varies among the many international SIMs. Some SIM cards are for worldwide use and programmed accordingly. Some SIM cards are for international roaming in certain regions like Asia, the USA, or Europe (usually, omitting a third of Europe in their coverage).

For example, you’ll need a different sim card for Canada and the USA in most cases, but in Europe you’ll more than likely be able to use the same one.

Who benefits from buying an international SIM card?

Well, like I said, not so much the longterm backpacker types . A local SIM card is pretty much always cheaper and much more practical (and reliable) for long stays in any country. Unfortunately, actual cheap international sim cards don’t exist yet.

Country-hoppers , on the other hand, may want to consider buying some sort of prepaid international SIM card. Buying local sim cards in Europe for only 1-2 weeks of use eight times in a trip is nobody’s idea of fun, especially if you care about data usage and double especially if you care about plastic ending up in the ocean.

People living the digital nomad lifestyle may also benefit from a travel SIM. Though a local SIM is much more equipped for longterm stays in a country, sometimes the options or service is crap and sometimes you’ll spend long stretches in transit which is a perfect time to crunch out a few hours. Besides, there is no rule that says you can’t have two SIMs. A prepaid international sim card might be the best option here (more about that later).

Lastly, business people or people that take frequent short trips will benefit from a SIM card for international travel. I might be stereotyping here but I kinda feel that these folk are less concerned with the costs associated. Plus, most SIM cards for overseas use tend to have 1-year validity for purchased credit, so it’s totally viable to park your SIM after a trip and then pop it back in for the next one.

Beginning the list are the top international SIM cards for travelling that do everything a SIM card should do: call, texts, and mobile data . These SIMs have some pretty major coverage globally and for most travellers in the world, are more than sufficient.

Of course, there has to be a best-of-the-best in this international sim card comparison. So first up–the best travel SIM card!

#1 The Best International Physical SIM Card – OneSim

Ok, so what makes OneSim the best travel SIM card? It’s a fine difference between the first few candidates but OneSim edges out on top for a combination of versatility, pricing, and reliability.

First up, they offer multiple different SIM cards each catering to different travelling needs INCLUDING (but not limited to) 2 awesome e-Sim options :

• OneSimCard e-Sim World (From $9.95) – Coverage of 150 countries with free incoming calls on EU numbers.
• OneSimCard e-Sim Asiana (From $9.95) – Specially designed for Asia and Oceania. Data packages available.

If your phone is not yet e-Sim ready, then worry not because OneSim also offer some excellent deals on plastic sims:

• OneSimCard Universal ($29.95) – Coverage of over 200 countries but with a more limited data service (50+) countries.
• OneSimCard Expedition ($34.95) – Offers much the same coverage as the OneSim Universal travel SIM but with way more data coverage. It’s the choice for the explorers.

How OneSim Works

You’ll get a $10 bonus credit with any OneSIM roaming SIM card purchase, but once that’s gone, you’ll have to continue buying data plans. Rates vary wildly by both the choice of travel SIM card you are using and the country you’re in so you’ll need to check these rates to see if they suit you.

You’ll receive two numbers: a European (Estonian) number and a choice of one from the USA, UK, Australia, or Canada. Incoming calls on the primary European number is free in a large coverage of countries or starting from $0.25/min otherwise. Outgoing calls also start from $0.25/min (dependent on locations) and receiving texts are free.

Casual data rates start at rather hefty $0.20/MB . However, what makes this such a good prepaid international SIM card is that there is a lot of choices to lower your costs. You can buy data bundles ranging from one/two weeks to a month divided by zone or region. There are also discount plans and bundles available for call rates. This makes the OneSIM one of the best international SIM cards for data as well.

So, is it worth it?

Although not strictly the cheapest international SIM card on the market, the wealth of choices means that you can tailor your SIM card to your world travel needs and minimize costs. The added bonus is that OneSim has been kicking around for a while so they know the market well.

They provide a reliable service, as well as a bunch of neat extras, to keep their clients happy chappies. If you’re looking for the best sim card for international travel, OneSIM is definitely one you should consider getting.

#2 Best Global eSim Provider – GigSky

If you have a modern phone (iPhone 11 , Samsung Galaxy S21, etc or above) it will probably be eSim compatible. This means that you don’t actually need a plastic SIM card but can simply download an eSim via GigSky the same way you would download an app.

When I first heard of eSim about one year ago, it was something of a niche product simply because most travellers were using phones and devices that were not eSim compatible. However that is changing fast and by 2024, an estimated 80% of travellers will use eSim. The eSim marketplace is a very exciting one and the providers are contently innovating to come up with some new, better, cheaper packages – according to our research, GigSk are currently leading the pack.

How GigSky Works

I had the pleasure of reviewing Gigsky and It’s really very simple. You either download the GigSky App (which we do recommend) or else go to their website and check out their “Global Plans”. You buy the package you want (in the 5GB World Plan) and download it not your phone BEFORE you fly, using either a link or a QR code.

The joy of eSim is that you can install it before you leave and then activate as soon as the plane touches down meaning you are rocking and rolling all over the world before you even get your luggage.

GigSky offer 1 Global Package only – 5GB over 30 days for $69.99. I can be topped up (if you somehow burn through all 5GB) but it cannot be extended past the 30 days.

So, Is It Worth It?

Well, $69.99 is a lot for a 30 day package but International Sim Packages do not come cheap. GigSky also have a wide range of global carrier partners meaning their offer better connectively than most platers in this space.

Overall though, in terms of sheer convenience yes GigSky is worth it – you you can browse for and install an eSim from the comfort your device and get it ready to use before you even leave home which saves a whole lotta hassle. However, the package does NOT include an actual phone number which is a bit of a bummer.

#3 Great Global eSim Package – Sim Local

Sim Local is recognized as a global leader in the travel SIM card and eSIM retail market. The company specializes in serving global travellers, enabling them to stay connected while avoiding expensive roaming charges. During my review of Sim Local , I was impressed to see they provide local SIM cards and eSIM profiles directly to customers through a variety of channels, including retail stores, kiosks, vending machines, a mobile app, and an eShop.

Their services are aimed at offering significant savings on data, calls, and texts compared to traditional roaming options, and they also offer a range of mobile handsets and accessories tailored to the needs of travellers.

How Sim Local Works

First up, note that Sim Local are an eSim-only provider so if you’re phone is not eSim ready…go elsewhere. Providing it is, you simply hop over to their site or get the app and check out their global packages. At the time of writing the site offers their own brand one for just $10 for 3 days, or an Orange one that costs $28.00 for 14 days.

I’ll be frank, eSims are still often more expensive than buying physical sims but they are a lot easier to install and to operate and best of all, you can install them before you even leave home. In my view, $28.00 for 10GB of data over 14 days is good value for an international sim but bear in mind it don’t come with a local numero.

#4 A Worldwide SIM Card – WorldSIM

WorldSIM gets a mention on this list because it’s another puller in the market with some comparatively awesome rates. It’s also got some really weirdly expensive outlying rates. As such, we certainly don’t feel like it’s a fit for the best SIM card for international roaming.

How WorldSim Works

The WorldSIM international SIM card has no purchasing fee- woo! Now, before you get too excited, it does require a top-up of credit at purchase.

That means that you’re paying a minimum of $33.75 plus shipping . For $67.50 of credit, shipping is free.

The casual rates for outgoing calls, texts, and data usage are the cheapest I’ve found so far with data coverage extending to countries missed out on by OneSim. Except, a lot of the rates in various countries for incoming calls are shockingly high.

As for the data bundles? No idea. Their website isn’t working for that page and is just stuck in an infinitely loading loop.

Our gut says no. But, you do you. You shouldn’t base your decisions on buying an international SIM card on the gut instincts of a stranger online. All the same though, our gut says no.

Between the mildly bait-and-switch-y “$0” SIM purchasing fee, the janky and unwieldy website, and the weird incoming call rates that could potentially trap an unwitting consumer, WorldSIM in review doesn’t feel like an international SIM card worth purchasing, especially in comparison to other choices on the market.

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These are the best international  data SIM cards for those of us that scoot by without the extras.

#1 Best Data Only eSIM Card for International Travel – Jetpac

Jetpac is a Singapore based eSIM company who offer packages, designed primarily for travellers and Digital Nomads. They offer various data plans that can be used across many countries, and the service includes features like free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed.

Jetpac eSIMs are compatible with a range of devices, including many models from Apple, Samsung, and Google. To activate a Jetpac eSIM, users need to sign up on the Jetpac website or app, choose a plan that fits their travel needs, and then scan a QR code to install the eSIM on their device.

We love Jetpac for its ease of setup and reliable connectivity. JetPac makes it a handy tool for international travel, ensuring continuous access to mobile data across multiple destinations. While they don’t offer local numbers, we love that most of their packs last for 30 days by default so you can just concentrate on how much data you need.

Wanna know more: Check out our detailed Jetpac eSim card review here.

How it Works

The Jetpac worldwide eSIM card comes in a variety of different data packages. Data can be topped up with a number of plans ranging from 100 MB up to a slammin’ 25 GB ! The prices of data top-ups are:

• 1 GB – $1
• 3 GB – $10
• 5 GB – $25
• 10 GB – $30
• 25 GB – $38

Absolutely. I mean, come on it starts at one-freaking-dollar and works all over the world. All in all we’d consider this one of the best pre paid international data only sim cards on the market.

#2 A Simple Data SIM Card for Worldwide Travel – Surfroam

Yay! No prepaid data packages, no contractual mumbo-jumbo, no running out of data right when you settle in for a long Netflix and poop session: Surfroam keeps it Pura Vida!

It’s data-only with coverage of 200+ countries – even Afghanistan and Yemen are covered! So, what’s the go?

Essentially, you pay €45 for the physical SIM card (which includes €25 credit) and then top-up as you go with pack options starting at €25 . You’re charged a pay-as-you-go rate per megabyte starting as low as €0.01/MB . So that’s way cheaper than the KeepGo data roaming sim card, right? Not quite…

Rates vary substantially by country so while this going to be a cheaper option across, say, Europe, it may not necessarily pan out that way in other places. That said, prices are still pretty cheap for most places and tend to beat out KeepGo.

As a final note, there is an eSIM (€30) available with the same data rates.

Ok, so ‘simple’ might be stretching it upon reflection, however, once you’re away, its streams ablaze! If you’re jet-setting and changing countries a lot, you will need to stay keyed in as to the rates .

Otherwise, the coverage significantly beats out KeepGo, and in many cases, Surfroam will end up being the cheapest international data SIM card you can purchase. It’s the simplest choice for staying connected pretty much anywhere in the world.

#3 The Best International SIM Card for Europe – Orange Holiday Europe

Are you just doing a little banger holiday in Europe and need a physical SIM card for your travels? Orange has got you covered. Specifically:

• Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card
• Orange Holiday Zen SIM Card

The Orange Holiday Zen is for light usage or a short trip. It’s a straight prepaid SIM card for travellers in Europe and it couldn’t be simpler.

For $27.29 , you get 8 GB of data, 30 minutes of calls worldwide, 200 texts, all lasting for 14 days before it expires. The Holiday Zen covers 30 countries in Europe including all the heavy-hitters, if you need a sim in Italy , Greece or Spain it’s perfect but it certainly doesn’t cover all of Europe (my boy Serbia – forever underrepresented). Still, this makes it one of the best European SIM Cards for travellers.

The Orange Holiday Europe takes all of that and just upgrades it: 20 GB in data, 120 minutes, and 1000 texts for $44 . The same coverage of countries applies and it’s a 14-day expiry again.

Orange also partners with a bunch of networks around the world- even offering an Israeli sim card called partner. If you take a look around their website, you can find more far-flung networks than you expected!

Both cards are able to be topped up online for more credit.

Yeah, so I wouldn’t call ‘30 countries in Europe’ an internationally roaming SIM card, but it is a super simple choice for anyone just travelling to Europe for a holiday. It’ll keep you safe in an emergency thanks to that fact that it’s not a data only service. Plus: you’ll have a SIM ready from the moment you land!

Orange is a pretty major sim provider in France so you’ll have a consistent connection. There’s no constant checking of rates calculators either. It’s just a perfectly simple prepaid SIM card for any travellers heading to Europe.

Y’all want more? Another option to look at is getting an Airalo eSim instead.

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Some commonly asked questions about the world’s best travel SIM cards…

How do I activate my international SIM card?

Each international SIM comes with detailed instructions on how to set up and load your SIM. It’s always a good idea to get things set up before you leave home to avoid any mishaps.

What does international SIM mean?

An international SIM is a type of SIM card that will allow you to use your phone internationally by connecting to global carriers. Some of these SIMs will allow you to make calls as you normally would, while others only offer data plans.

What is the best SIM card for international travel?

Some of the best SIMs for international travel include OneSim , Nomad , KeepGo , and TravelSim .

Do international SIM cards expire?

Most of the SIMs on this list require you to recharge at least once a year, but in doing so all your data will remain usable.

That depends on how you travel. If you’re adept at buying prepaid SIM cards locally when you hit the ground, then I wouldn’t worry.

However, for the people that an international SIM card suits the travelling style and needs of, then yes, definitely. I think if you’re that person, then you probably already know that you’re that person.

People looking for the all-round ol’ reliable, OneSim is the go-to choice of travel SIM cards. For those who want the best data SIM card they can use overseas, that choice is KeepGo .

Skip the lines and skip the painful errand days in a foreign city. Buy one of the best international SIM cards you can and have yourself connected before you even touchdown on the landing.

Want another kind of sim card? Check out the revolutionary new Nomad e-sim , an app-based sim card covering over 100 countries that can be organised before you leave home! If that’s not enough, there’s another new service from HolaFly which offers similar coverage and deals so check them both out and see which fits your needs best.

Ziggy Samuels

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I think eSIMS are the future gamechanger here. You can download a digital SIM to your phone which has eSIM support.

I use a second phone to provide data to my main phone via bluetooth internet sharing. Wifi sharing can be used as well but bluetooth uses less power. On my main phone I leave the mobile data turned off and use the paired second phone for data. This allows me to use my main phone for Whatsapp, iMessage, email, etc.

10/10 review – exactly the type of info I was after. Plus, I liked your no BS style of writing. Thanks.

Thanks! Very useful! My main concern is regarding how long do the sim cards remain active if you are not buying credit regularly. I usually travel at least once or twice to congresses per year, but I wonder if some of these cards would stop working after a long time inactive. Is that information available for the cards discussed here? Cheers!

Heya, absolutely you can find that info! It’ll be in the terms and conditions/fine print for individual cards/plans. I’d like to say most last at least a year (which always seemed standard for SIM cards in general), but defs check that before you go buying any SIMs. Good question though!

You guys should definitely include DENT, a block chain based international E-Sim card, that offers flexibel data exchange. You can sell your unused data and always find the cheapest offer worldwide and cross boarder operational. Can’t be missed from this list!

Dude – hectic! I’m defs not about to go and update this article, but I looked and DENT seems pretty legit and totally worth the investigation. Anyone reading these comments, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not scoping them out at least! 😀

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12 Best International (E)-Sim Cards for Traveling in 2024

Traveling overseas soon? Avoid high roaming costs and get yourself a travel sim card, an international sim card with data that works all over the world! Does that exist? Yes! And good news, I updated this international sim card comparison for all your trips abroad in 2024 and included the best international e-sim cards as well.

First I will give you a comparison of the best international prepaid and e-sim cards available for traveling abroad in 2024, including all the pros and cons. Then at the end I will also explain the differences between a local prepaid sim card and a global travel sim card and tell you what is cheaper.

In the end you can decide for yourself if you think it is worth buying an international (e)-sim card for your next trip or buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in your holiday destination.

For your convenience I ranked the best international sim cards from best to worst. Number 1 is my top recommendation, then number 2 and so on… However, it also depends on the places and countries that you will be traveling to, so choose your sim card wisely.

Slowly physical sim cards are being replaced by e-sim cards. Physical sim cards are not needed anymore, no more swapping sim cards in your phone if your phone is e-sim compatible.

Actually, e-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling abroad in 2024 and you are online as soon as the plane lands.

Here are some of the latest Traveltomtom e-sim card guides with everything you need to know about buying an e-sim card for: USA , Canada , Mexico , Brazil , Japan , South Korea ,  Thailand , Hong Kong , Singapore , Indonesia ,  Philippines , Vietnam ,  Malaysia ,  China , Australia , New Zealand ,  Europe , Germany ,  France , Italy , Spain , Portugal , Greece ,  United Kingdom ,  Turkey ,  Egypt , Morocco ,  Dubai   and many more.

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Some links in this comparison of the best international travel sim cards are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

My recommendation

Depending on your destination local prepaid sim cards will give you more value for money. But you can only buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival. Want to arrive prepared at your holiday destination and be online when the plane lands? Then order an international prepaid sim card or an e-sim card to stay connected.

Overseas data plans and data roaming packages from your mobile operator in your home country is mostly with capped data speed.

Traveltomtom recommends the following international sim cards: international physical prepaid sim cards from SimOptions , international e-sim cards from Simoptions ,  Airalo Discover Global e-sim cards  or  Jetpac Global e-sims .

Personally I have a Discover Global e-sim card from Airalo with 20 GB data valid for 365 days installed on my phone. This e-sim card is valid in 124 countries and I use it every time the plane lands in a new country.

Depending on where and how long I travel I compare the local prepaid sim cards with the available e-sim cards.

Traveltomtom has used SimOptions and Airalo the most and for many consecutive years. But the competition on the international sim card market is fierce and Nomad as well as Jetpac often have some amazing e-sim card deals so I started using them too. It depends on where I am traveling.

Holafly is an e-sim provider that has e-sim cards with unlimited data, but also a so called FUP. Traveltomtom is not a fan, more about it later.

Comparison international sim card

As expected, there's a wide range of international sim cards available on the internet. The challenge that most travelers are faced with is choosing the best one for their trip. The pricing and capabilities vary widely and some cater best for one trip, but suck for another trip.

In the following section, I will review and compare the top international sim cards. Read through the list carefully and pick the travel sim that works for you. As promised I listed the best travel sim cards on top!

 In short:

• Best sim card for Europe: Orange Holiday Europe  & Bouygues Telecom (e-sim)
• Best sim card for Caribbean: Knowroaming or KeepGo, Gigsky
• Best sim card for North America: Orange Holiday World & Three UK or a  Airalo Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Central America:  Three UK
• Best sim card for South America: Three UK or Airalo Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Africa: Orange Holiday World &  Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Asia: Airalo Discover Global E-sim card & Jetpac Global
• Best sim card for Southeast Asia: Jetpac Global
• Best sim card for the Middle East:  Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Oceania: Smart Traveller eSim, Nomad Global

Traveling to the Middle East? I visited all countries in the Middle East myself and wrote detailed sim card guides for them: Qatar ,  Dubai , Bahrain , Oman , Saudi Arabia , Jordan , Lebanon , Israel , etc.

All the international sim cards below can be ordered directly online and will either be shipped to your home address or send directly to your e-mail in case of an e-sim card. In case of a physical prepaid sim card they will come in a 3-in-1 sizes which makes them fit into any smart(phone), tablet or portable WiFi device.

In case of e-sim cards always make sure your smartphone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card.

1. Discover Global E-Sim Card from Airalo

The easiest and most convenient way to get internet on your phone when traveling abroad in 2024 is an e-sim card. The way e-sim cards work is that through software on your phone (just settings, nothing fancy) you are able to switch to another network. On this network you are able to use the data allowance according to which package you bought and activated.

Mind you this is an e-sim card and NOT a physical sim card. So no need to swap a physical sim card. Just scan the received QR code, follow the steps, instal the e-sim card and activate it. Trust me it is really simple.

With an e-sim card you keep your own phone number and whenever you want to use your own phone number you simply switch networks again in the settings.

Airalo is one of the leading e-sim card providers and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times all over the world. Airalo offers sim cards for pretty much every country in the world and they also sell 2 international e-sim cards:

• International data-only e-sim card.
• International e-sim card including calling and texting.

Both Discover Global e-sim cards from Airalo are valid in 130 countries, depending on the plan you buy the sim card is valid for 365 days. Traveltomtom has this e-sim card installed on his phone. It is a life saver many times and only costs $69 USD.

Prices Discover Global data-only E-Sim Card

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $9 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $17 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
• 5 GB data for 60 days = $35 USD
• 10 GB data for 180 days = $59 USD
• 20 GB data for 365 days = $69 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Discover Global data-only E-Sim Card via Airalo .

Prices Discover Global E-Sim Card including calling/texting

• 1 GB data + 10 minutes + 10 sms for 7 days = $9 USD
• 2 GB data + 20 minutes + 20 sms for 15 days = $17 USD
• 3 GB data + 30 minutes + 30 sms for 30 days = $24 USD
• 5 GB data + 50 minutes + 50 sms for 60 days = $35 USD
• 10 GB data + 100 minutes + 100 sms for 180 days = $59 USD
• 20 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms for 365 days = $69 USD

The above data packages are valid in 130 countries:

• Europe: every European country is covered, including: UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Greenland.
• North America: USA, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador
• Asia: China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Macau, Philippines, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan.
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay.
• Middle East: Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen.
• Africa: Sudan, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Gabon, Eswatini, Central African Republic, Chad, Tunisia, Tanzania, Seychelles, Senegal, Reunion, Kenya, Congo DRC, Republic of Congo, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Mali, Madagascar.

Big plus is that the Airalo Global Discover+ e-sim card is 5G ready in many countries.

Click here for more info or to order a Discover Global E-Sim Card including calls/sms directly online via Airalo .

Review Discover Global E-Sim Card

I am very overwhelmed with the amount of countries and especially the exact countries. Almost all the countries above are well known tourist destinations around the world. Fact is that the Discover Global E-sim card is one of the best sim cards for traveling in Africa. It also is by far the best for traveling in South America and Asia. It literally covers almost all countries in these continents.

Personally I have a Discover Global e-sim card activated on my phone as well. I bought the 20 GB valid for 1 year and using it a lot when I go to countries for just a couple days like when I was in Qatar, visiting family in Netherlands for 3 days, a couple days in Turkey, etc. To me this international e-sim card is a game changer! Traveltomtom loves the Discover Global E-sim card.

The downside of the Airalo Discover Global eSim card is that in some lesser known countries like Greenland, Belarus, Gibraltar, Eswatini, Central African Republic, etc. the max data speed is 3G. The performance in these countries is pretty disappointing.

But that said, I mostly only use my Global eSim card from Airalo only for the first hours/day when I am in a new country. Then I mostly opt for a local prepaid sim card, especially in the lesser known countries off the beaten path.

Click here for more info about the Discover Global E-Sim Card from Airalo .

2. Jetpac Global

Jetpac is a fairly new e-sim provider and is trying to conquer the market with some incredible e-sim card plans for traveling the world.

At the moment their Jetpac Global e-sim card is valid in 100+ countries. Pretty much all of Europe and East Asia plus Australia, New Zealand, USA and many more countries and Jetpac constantly tries to add countries to the list.

Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Germany, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican City.

Asia: Armenia, Bangladesh, China, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazachstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam. 

Pacific: Australia, New Zealand.

Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, USA, Uruguay.

Africa: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Reunion, Tunisia.

This long list of countries where the Jetpac Global e-sim card is valid makes it a perfect e-sim card for traveling to East and Southeast Asia. The only countries missing in South East Asia would be: Singapore, Timor Leste, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos. All other countries in South East Asia are covered.

For traveling to Europe it is also a great e-sim card, but Jetpac also has separate e-sims for Europe. See Traveltomtom's list of the best e-sims for Europe .

Prices and rates Jetpac Global

Jetpac Global is at the moment the cheapest international e-sim card as they have an offer for just $1 USD.

• 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
• 3 GB data for 7 days = $10 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD
• 25 GB data for 30 days = $38 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD
• 40 GB data for 30 days = $80 USD

Click here to  order a Jetpac Global e-sim card .

The Jetpac Global e-sim card plans are valid for 30 days and the validity starts automatically when it connects for the first time to a network in a country where you can use Jetpac.

Review Jetpac

The Jetpac Global 1 GB data package is obviously a winner at the moment with only $1 USD for 1 GB data in 100+ countries. I am sure this is a promo deal, and it is also only valid for 4 days. Great package to give Jetpac a try though. As long as the deal stands Jetpac is the cheapest international e-sim card for travelling abroad in 2024.

Their 30 GB data pack for $45 USD with a rate of only $1.5 USD per Gigabyte is not bad at all for an e-sim card valid in more than 100 countries. Well done Jetpac!

Personally I just wish these e-sim cards are not just valid for 30 days, but like 100 days or more. That would truly make it easier to travel the world with just 1 sim card.

It is a great e-sim card for traveling the world. Especially in Asia but as well in Europe and Middle East. Traveltomtom also listed Jetpac high on the list of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling to Europe in 2024 .

Jetpac Global is only available as an e-sim card and not as a physical prepaid sim card. The Jetpac Global e-sim cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. The Jetpac global e-sims are not 5G ready.

An extra advantage of Jetpac Global e-sim cards is that they provide free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you will have to register your flight before you travel and in case of a delayed or canceled flight a LoungeKey voucher will automatically be provided. This is a complimentary service that no other e-sim card providers offer.

Jetpac is now also offering a free VPN  for all Jetpac e-sim users. For more info check out the Jetpack website .

3. Orange Holiday World  - not available as e-sim card

The international sim card with data that covers EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Yes, with this prepaid travel sim you have data roaming included in 197 countries and that is the reason why I listed it as number 1.

The price? It is good compared to other similar sim cards.

Down sides of this Orange international sim card is that you can NOT make or receive phone calls, it is a pure data-only sim card only and this sim card does not come with a phone number. The Orange Holiday World sim card is only valid for 14 days. After these 14 days you can top up online, but it is complicated.

This international prepaid sim card is only offed by SimOptions, one of the most trusted sim card providers on the internet.

Click here to directly order an Orange Holiday World as a prepaid sim card via SimOptions .

Orange was initially referred to as France Telecom. As of today, the network has more than 250 million customers worldwide thanks to its big value data plans and free roaming in EVERY country in the world.

Unfortunately the Orange Holiday World sim card is NOT available as an e-sim card, only as physical prepaid sim card.

Prices and rates Orange Holiday World

The Orange Holiday World international sim card costs $49.90 USD and comes with max 10 GB data included. The volume of the package depends on your destination(s).

You get 10 GB data if you travel to any EU country and/or any of the other countries in Zone 1: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Benin, Botswana, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Macao, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam

The Orange Holiday World sim card allows you to use 5 GB data in Zone 2: Argentina, Bahrain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Dominican Republic, Uruguay.

You get 1 GB data in: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Togo, Venezuela

In any other country you get 50 MB. That is obvious not a lot and actually pretty useless.

If at any point, you run out of data, calls, or texts, you can top up your sim card online from the Orange website. The same package then costs you only €29 EUR ($31 USD) and you get again up to 10 GB data.

Review Orange Holiday World

If you are traveling to any of the countries listed in Zone 1 or Zone 2 then the Orange Holiday World is an excellent prepaid global sim card that I would recommend to buy.

Personally I wish the package would be valid for a little more than 14 days and I am missing some countries in the Caribbean that could be useful to add as these are popular tourist destinations for people traveling from the USA.

There is NO activation needed as the sim card automatically activates upon insertion in your phone, tablet or WiFi device. It is like plug and play. The credit validity starts when the sim card connects the first time to a supported network. Basically when the plane lands.

Lots of travelers from different parts of the world opt for Orange Holiday World because they are generous with data and cheap compared to other international sim cards. Therefore I call Orange Holiday World one of the best prepaid data sim card for traveling the world.

However, if you are traveling to countries listed in Zone 3 or 4 the Orange Holiday World sim card is NOT the best buy. Orange is also not a great sim card for traveling in the Caribbean.

The Orange Holiday World sim card also a great prepaid sim card for Africa as it covers a wide range of countries with 10 GB data roaming, especially in Central and West Africa. For East Africa check my prepaid sim card guides per country: Egypt , Kenya , Tanzania , South Africa , Uganda , Ethiopia  or the e-sim card below which is ranked as the best international sim card for traveling in Africa.

Click here for more info about the Orange Holiday World sim card .

Orange does offer amazing e-sim cards for traveling to multiple countries, but these are only valid in Europe.

As you can see above these are amazing sim card deals and valid in 39 countries, but limited to Europe only. This makes these one of the best e-sim cards for traveling in Europe .

Click here to order this Orange e-sim cards for traveling in Europe via SimOptions .

4. Nomad - Data eSIM for Global

Nomad is a fairly new player on the e-sim card market, but Traveltomtom has used and tested many Nomad e-sim cards in the last months. They sometimes have exceptional good deals for some destinations. Traveltomtom discovered that Nomad has amazing e-sim card deals for Dubai for example.

However, the international e-sim cards from Nomad are rather expensive. They are valid in more than 100 countries though.

Nomad offers data-only eSim cards from eSIM Go and 1GLOBAL. The eSIM Go plans are valid in 106 countries and the 1GLOBAL plans are valid in 109 countries.

eSIM Go plans

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $12 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $36 USD

The eSIM Go plans from Nomad are valid in 106 countries and in some countries 5G ready.

1GLOBAL plans

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $25 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD

The Truphone e-sim cards are valid in 109 countries and are also 5G ready in several countries.

Click here to order a a Global e-sim card via Nomad .

Nomad e-sim card specifications

From the moment you buy a 1GLOBAL e-sim card you have 60 days to activate the e-sim card, the eSIM Go sim cards have to be activated within 30 days. Top-ups are available. 5G is supported in some countries, in other countries the max data speed is 4G/LTE. The e-sim cards you buy via Nomad are all data-only and do NOT come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported.

Here are the 109 countries where the 1GLOBAL e-sim card is valid.

• Europe: every European country is covered, including: UK, Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Russia
• North America: USA, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Bermuda, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, Grenada, Jamaica, Honduras, Turks & Caicos
• Asia: China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Armenia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Macau, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Kazachstan
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Fiji
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana
• Middle East: UAE, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
• Africa: Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Mayotte, Reunion, Tanzania

The eSIM Go e-sim cards are pretty much valid in the exact same countries.

The Nomad Global e-sim cards are great for traveling in North America, South America and even Pacific as it covers a lot of countries in these continents.

For traveling in Europe it is way too expensive. Check out my list of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024  for much cheaper deals.

Click here for  more info about the Nomad Global esim cards .

Holafly is a popular e-sim provider and has to be part of this comparison. They have e-sim cards for all popular tourist destinations around the world.

Holafly only works with e-sim cards with unlimited data and Traveltomtom is NOT a fan of using sim cards with unlimited data.

This is because unlimited is not truly unlimited, not at data at high speed. There is a so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP) and if you go over that quota your data speed is reduced to basically an E signal. Barely enough to send photos through WhatsApp. Social Media apps won't be working anymore.

Anyway... here are the Holafly international e-sims.

In fact, Holafly does not have a global plan which is for example valid in several countries on different continents. Holafly has different e-sim cards per continent:

• North America
• Latin America

The rates per regional e-sim differ a little bit but in general comes down to the following plans:

• 1 day 'unlimited' data = $6 USD
• 2 days 'unlimited' data = $10 USD
• 3 days 'unlimited' data = $13 USD
• 4 days 'unlimited' data = $16 USD
• 5 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
• 6 days 'unlimited' data = $25 USD
• 7 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
• 8 days 'unlimited' data = $31 USD
• 9 days 'unlimited' data = $35 USD
• 10 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
• 11 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
• 14 days 'unlimited' data = $48 USD
• 20 days 'unlimited' data = $64 USD
• 30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD

The Holafly e-sim cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These e-sims do also not come with a phone number. The Holafly e-sims operate on the 4G/LTE network and are not 5G ready.

Review Holafly

Traveltomtom has tried out Holafly in several different countries and with mixed feeling. Apart from experiencing reduced internet speed Traveltomtom was also not happy with the data speed of Holafly e-sims. Especially inside buildings popular social media apps like TikTok and Instagram were not working smooth.

Lately Traveltomtom went on a trip to Colombia and tried out Holafly again as a test and it was a disaster. In Colombia Holafly is using the Movistar network, the weakest mobile data network in Colombia, see my Colombia prepaid sim card guide for a comparison of the 4G/5G network of Movistar, Claro and Tigo.

Truth is that I was pretty much offline as in the Northern regions of Colombia there is basically no Movistar signal. After a couple days I couldn't handle it any more. Holafly was a big fail and I went to a Claro store to buy a local prepaid sim card.

6. Surfroam

A Surfroam international sim card is a data only global sim card. With mobile coverage in 200+ countries and territories as they state on the Surfroam website.

You can not receive and make phone calls however you can receive sms. Also Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Viber are unlimited and always accessible when buying a Surfroam prepaid travel sim card.

Prices and rates Surfroam

At Surfroam they offer 2 products: a normal sim card for €15 EUR ($16.4 USD) and an e-sim card for €20 EUR ($22 USD). Basically Surfroam is a free international prepaid sim card as you get either €15 EUR ($16.4 USD) or €20 EUR ($22 USD) credit INCLUDED.

The common rate for most Western countries is €0.01 per MB, which means €10 EUR ($11 USD) per 1 GB data. They charge you per MB. See here a quick overview of the costs per MB per continent.

Review Surfroam

As opposed to other world sim cards, with Surfroam you don’t need to buy data bundles in advance. This flexibility appeals to long-term travelers or those hopping between different countries of the world constantly.

Also a big plus of Surfroam is that they are providing a ‘free’ international sim card, what you pay, you get back in credit.

Overall, the Surfroam data roaming rates and its pricing model is flexible and easy to understand. Compared to other international sim cards this is very clear, transparent AND MUCH CHEAPER!

There is data roaming coverage in over 200 countries and territories and per country is stated how much they charge per MB.

One of the negative sides of Surfroam are the steep shipping costs. For most Western countries you already pay more than $20 USD, for the USA Surfroam adds even $25 USD shipping fee. Therefore I would recommend you buying the Surfroam e-sim travel sim card instead to save on shipping costs.

Also when looking at the rates per MB of the countries in Africa, it is an easy conclusion that Surfroam is a good sim cards for traveling in Africa, but not so much for South America.

For more info check out the  Surfroam  website.

Traveltomtom traveled to more than 70% of the countries in Africa and wrote detailed sim card guides for the following countries in Africa: Kenya , Nairobi ,  Tanzania , Ethiopia , Djibouti , South Africa , Uganda , Gabon , Cameroon , Congo Brazzaville ,  Rwanda , Burundi ,  Namibia , Lesotho , Zambia ,  Egypt , Ghana , Sao Tome & Principe , Ivory Coast and many more. If you travel to any of these countries I would recommend you to check the link.

KeepGo is an official partner of Vodafone, Telefonica, and AT&T with offices in Israel, the USA, and the Netherlands and operates on 500 connected networks in more than 100 countries. The Keepgo international sim card is a data only sim card and does NOT support any incoming or outgoing calls & text.

Prices and rates KeepGo

Gofi prepaid data sim card - $39 usd.

This is a sim card just for Europe and the USA. With this pay as you go sim card you pay $8 / GB data, regardless where in Europe or the USA you are.

Not great for world travelers, but may be if you travel between the USA and Europe a lot.

Lifetime Prepaid Data Sim Card - $49 USD

This international sim card works in more than 100 countries and comes with 1 GB data included.

If you want more data you will have to add one of the data packages below:

• $14 USD= 500 MB
• $26 USD = 1 GB
• $61 USD = 3 GB
• $88 USD = 5 GB
• $165 USD = 10 GB

Click here to order a KeepGo international sim card .

The data packages are valid for 1 year! If you top up once per year, all data is valid for lifetime.

The Keepgo Lifetime Prepaid Data Sim Card is valid in all of Europe and the following countries & territories:

Algeria, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Georgia, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Montserrat, Myanmar, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Russia, Saoudi Arbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunesia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam.

Review Keepgo

Buying a Keepgo global sim card it self is rather expensive as you pay $49 and only get 1 GB included. Good thing is that Traveltomtom readers can get a 10% discount by applying the KeepGo Coupon Code: TRAVELTOMTOM. They also sell WiFi hotspots for international travel.

The Keepgo data package prices are rather expensive, but compared to other international sim cards they have better prices than for example OneSimCard, Travsim and Gosim and therefore they deserve spot number 6 in this list of the cheapest international travel sim cards in the world.

Coverage wise the Keepgo sim card has some specific advantages. Looking at the list of countries where Keepgo offers free data roaming I come to the conclusion that Keepgo is also one of the best international sim cards for the Caribbean. They cover almost every island, territory and country in this pristine part of the world.

Keepgo offers free shipping worldwide which is another great plus. For more info check the KeepGo website .

If traveling to the Caribbean it is definitely recommended to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival. Prepaid sim cards with data are cheap. Check out Traveltomtom's sim card guides for: Aruba , Curacao , Jamaica , Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic , Antigua & Barbuda .

8. Know Roaming

They call themselves the ultimate travel sim card you will only ever need to stay connected in 200+ countries & territories.

Prices and rates Know Roaming

The price for a Know Roaming Travel SIM card is $9,99 and does NOT come with any credit. Know Roaming international sim cards do NOT support incoming and outgoing phone calls. You can opt for a Know Roaming e-sim which is for free.

You will have to buy any of the below data packages to use your sim card abroad:

• Global: 5 GB data for 30 days in 79 countries = $99.99 USD
• Europe: 5 GB data for 30 days = $39.99 USD
• Asia: 5 GB data for 30 days = $39.99* USD

* valid in: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

Know Roaming also offers an international e-sim card service with data plans for Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, Middle East & Global.

• Asia: 5 GB data for 30 days = $39.99 USD
• Caribbean: 1 GB data for 30 days = $39.99* USD
• Latin America: 5 GB data for 30 days = $117.99** USD
• Middle East: 5 GB data for 30 days = $40.99*** USD
• Global: 5 GB data for 30 days = $110.99**** USD

* valid in: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands.

** valid in: Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Mexico, Uruguay.

*** valid in: Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Saoudi Arabia, Qatar.

**** valid in Europe & some popular tourist destinations around the world + some off the beaten path countries.

Review Know Roaming

Compared to other international sim card services the Know Roaming sim card is cheap: just $10. Their global data packages are average priced compared to other services and you can choose per continent.

For the Know Roaming e-sim you only pay for the data package which is a great service and therefore prices are cheaper than other services.

Know Roaming is one of the best prepaid international sim cards for the Caribbean as they cover almost every island, however data roaming is expensive. The Know Roaming Latin America sim card is way overpriced and not recommended at all. Instead Know Roaming is one of the best sim cards for Asia.

For more info about the Know Roaming travel sim card check their website .

9. Travelsim

A Travelsim international sim card works in 135+ countries, covers 170+ countries and states to work in 200 countries. All information found on their homepage! Just like free incoming calls and text. Well, I bet some of this is true at least.

Prices and rates Travelsim

Travelsim offers a world sim card for $10 USD and an e-sim card for $6. When buying a Travelsim sim card it also suddenly states free incoming calls in 70+ countries and coverage in 135+ countries. :)

Their pricing and rates are clear and straight forward though.

Review Travelsim

When ordering a Travelsim international sim card prices are easy to understand, however more expensive than other global sim cards and therefore not my prefered sim card for travelers. They offer free shipping worldwide on orders over $50 USD and their calling credit is valid for 18 months. For more info check the Travelsim website .

10. GigSky E-sim Card

GigSky does NOT sell physical sim cards anymore and only offers an international e-sim card. There are multiple data packages available some with pretty good deals. Gigsky is a data only service, you can NOT make or receive phone calls/sms.

Gigsky has coverage in 116 countries. Their coverage in Africa is very limited.

Prices and rates Gigsky

Great thing is that the Gigsky e-sim cards are free, but you will need to download their app to use their service. Through the app you can buy your desired data bundles. They offer regional data packages as well as a World Plan.

There are multiple Regional Plans, a great one is the Latin America sim card, and there is 1 world sim card with fixed data bundle prices.

Review Gigsky

Some of the offered international data roaming plans are pretty decent. Overall Gigsky is one of the best sim cards for traveling in South America with 5GB in almost every country in Latin America for just $40 USD.

Compared to other international travel sim cards the Gigsky worldwide sim card is expensive with 5GB data for $60 USD and therefore I would NOT recommend using the Gigsky e-sim card for traveling the world. The international sim card deals above are much better value for money!

Or check out the following sim card guides:

• Traveling to Europe? Check out my article about the best sim cards for Europe .
• Traveling to Asia? Check out my article about the best sim cards for Asia .
• Traveling to the USA? Check out my article about the best sim cards for USA .

For example buying a sim card in Vietnam will cost you $9 USD and gets you 2 GB data PER DAY + 60 minutes calling time valid for 30 days. Just saying, that local prepaid sim cards are amazing alternatives to international prepaid sim cards.

However, nowadays the easiest way to stay connected are e-sim cards and you can buy an e-sim card on the internet for pretty much every country. Here are some of the latest Traveltomtom e-sim card guides: Italy , France , USA , Thailand .

11. OneSimCard

According to many websites OneSimCard takes the cup when it comes to the cheapest international sim card. But is this true? Let's see...

This prepaid mobile service provider is a product of US telecommunication carrier Belmont Telecom. At OneSimCard they say they operate in 200+ countries, but there are only 197 countries in the world!? Bit of a weird start…

The international sim cards offered by OneSimCard come with two numbers, an Estonian one (Europe) and one of your choice: USA, Canada, Australia.

Prices and rates OneSimCard

Anyway at OneSimCard they offer 4 different international sim cards:

Universal SIM - $29.95 USD

• Calling & texting in more than 160 countries*
• Free incoming calls in more than 120 countries
• Free incoming sms in more than 160 countries
• Data roaming in more than 160 countries*
• Free $10 credit

*For using data and make calls/sms you will have to buy additional data or voice packages.

Expedition SIM - $34.95 USD

• Calling & texting in more than 200 countries*
• Free incoming calls in more than 110 countries
• Free incoming sms in more than 200 countries
• Data roaming in more than 170 countries*

Europe & More SIM - $19.95 USD

• Calling & texting in more than 100 countries*
• Free incoming calls in more than 70 countries
• Free incoming sms in more than 100 countries
• Data roaming in more than 90 countries*

This is no physical sim card, but a digital SIM. It allows you to have a data/call package activated through a provider without using a physical sim card. It mostly works by installing an app.

At OneSimCard they offer an international eSIM for $9,95. It does NOT come with any credit, you will have to buy data and calling bundles at extra charge through the OneSIMVoIP app.

The OneSimCard eSIM comes with a European number and has coverage in over 160 countries. There is no shipping needed as you can download it on your phone instantly.

Additional data roaming packages

OneSimCard makes use of two different zones. In Zone A you will find mostly all western countries as well as the standard tourist destinations in the world. In Zone B will find more off the beaten path countries.

The OneSimCard data plan prices are pretty expensive. Here are some examples:

• Universal SIM - Zone A - 5 GB data - 30 days = $90 USD
• Universal SIM - Zone B - 5 GB data - 30 days = $199 USD
• Expedition SIM - Zone A - 2 GB data - 30 days = $20 USD
• Expedition SIM - Zone B - 2 GB data - 30 days = $99 USD
• Europe & More SIM - Zone A - 3 GB data - 30 days = $50 USD
• Europe & More SIM - Zone B - 3 GB data - 30 days = $99 USD

These are examples of kind of standard tourist data packages. Well if you ask me… EXPENSIVE!

Review OneSimCard

Personally I think OneSimCard is very expensive. First off they basically make you pay for an international sim card that has no packages included. When you take away the $10 USD free credit you are still paying $10 USD just for an international sim card only. When buying the Expedition SIM even $24.95 USD

It also states everywhere data roaming from $0.01 cent per MB. Well, I have tried to look for that country, but I can’t find it! Instead, I found out that basically all Western countries you pay $0.25 cent per MB. That is 25x more!

That also means $10 credit is just 40 MB, that is basically opening Instagram 1x and your credit is gone! Oh for example roaming in Algeria cost $1.75 per MB with a Universal SIM and $25 USD per MB with an Expedition SIM. That is $1,000 USDjust for opening Instagram! I am dying… :)

So other international sim card comparisons that recommend OneSimCard... I think are a joke!

All that glitters is not gold in the global sim card world and as you can predict I do not recommend buying a OneSimCard for using data abroad, but just for receiving calls they are ok. For more info check the OneSimCard website .

To put this all in perspective:  buying a prepaid sim card in Switzerland , one of worlds most expensive countries, will cost you $20 USD and but it comes with $20 USD credit. Then you activate 24 hours unlimited high speed internet for $3 USD in Switzerland. That means for $21 USD you have 1 week UNLIMITED high speed internet when buying a local sim card in Swiss.

Conclusion of OneSimCard: really expensive data roaming plans and therefore is OneSimCard not directly recommended for using as an international sim card for traveling the world.

12. WorldSIM

Another global sim card that claims to be a free international sim card, well… A WorldSIM International travel sim card is only ‘free’ if you add €120 EUR ($131 USD) credit to it! Not a great start when Traveltomtom is reviewing your service.

WorldSIM offers a data roaming only sim card as well as an international sim card for calling/texting. They are priced equally, however data roaming with the calling/texting sim card is much more expensive. The data sim card offers data roaming in 188 countries.

Prices and rates WorldSIM

The cheapest deal you can find on WorldSIM is €42 EUR ($46 USD). You will get a global sim card with €24 EUR ($26 USD) credit.

Just like for example OneSimCard they claim data roaming rates from 0,01 cents but I can’t find that country. In most Western countries and popular tourist destinations data roaming starts from 0,02 cents.

Review WorldSIM

For a reason it is only listed at spot X in my comparison of the best international sim cards. WorldSIM is pretty expensive and the cheapest data roaming is €20 EUR ($22 USD) per 1 GB data.

Most countries off the beaten path are VERY expensive. Don’t go to Cuba, that costs you more than $3 USD per MB, that is $3,000 USD per 1 GB or what about the Caribbean countries? About $0.30 per MB, that is $300 USD per 1 GB.

When looking for an international sim card for traveling the world then Traveltomtom does NOT recommend WorldSIM, simply because there are much cheaper options available. For more info check the Worldsim website .

Prepaid tourist sim cards vs. international sim cards

But before buying an international prepaid or e-sim card for your trip abroad I want to make you aware of the existence of local prepaid sim cards as well. Because the main reason I am writing this blog post is for you to save money on high roaming costs when traveling. In most cases local prepaid sim cards are the cheapest way to get data on your phone.

There is a big difference between local prepaid sim cards for tourists and international travel sim cards. While the former is great for traveling in 1 country, an international sim card is a great option for travelers who don’t intend to stay in a country for very long and visit multiple countries on one trip.

An exception is a European sim card. There are international sim cards created just for Europe, but also a lot of local prepaid sim cards in Europe allow FREE roaming within the EU. But it is a bit more complicated with a lot of small letters full of restrictions.

Click here for more information about buying a local prepaid sim card in Europe in 2024  or check my list of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for Europe travel in 2024 .

For example all the below listed international sim cards claim to cover Africa. Yes, they are not lying, but the rates per MB are averaging around $0.10, that means 100 MB will cost you $10. That can be as little as using Instagram for about 10 minutes.

Comparing this to a local prepaid sim card for tourists in Uganda  where the same $10 gives you more than 15 GB data for 1 month, you can understand why Traveltomtom recommends a local prepaid sim card over a global sim card in some countries.

What is cheaper?

A local prepaid sim card for tourists gives you often more value for money than an international sim card. Therefore in the beginning of this article I told you that you will have to decide whether you want to buy an international sim card for traveling abroad or buying a local prepaid sim card for tourists on arrival.

Because I am aiming to travel to every country in the world  and I buy a sim card in every country I visit I also already wrote already more than 200 guides for buying sim cards:  London , Paris , Tanzania , Lebanon ,  Rome , USA , Canada , Mexico , South Africa ,  Guatemala , Honduras ,  Turkey , Israel , Dubai , Thailand , Kenya ,  Indonesia , Sydney , Singapore ,  Vietnam , UK , Spain , Italy , France , Norway , Georgia , Colombia , Dominican Republic  and many more.

Local prepaid sim cards are often pretty cheap and come with big value data bundles. Most countries and operators have special tourist sim cards. Downside is that you can only buy them on arrival, so you have to visit a phone store during your holiday or get one from the airport.

In most countries they only provide physical prepaid sim cards for tourists and e-sim cards are not available.

But where local prepaid sim cards stop working, international sim cards continue to roam. With a sim card designed with overseas travel in mind, you will be online as soon as the plane touches the ground.

With international sim cards, you can cross borders and continue to enjoy data on your phone browsing the internet, make/receive calls, and send texts as if you are still at home all with the same sim card.

Crossing many borders in a short period of time? International travel sim cards are the best solution! Which one? Personally I recommend e-sim cards for traveling in 2024, but check my list below.

Where can you buy an international sim card?

Buying an international sim card can only be done on the internet often through a third party. In this article I will show you the best websites where to buy a global sim card for world travelers and I will link directly to the operators so in case you are interested you can have a look on their websites for more details.

International sim cards for traveling the world are available as physical prepaid sim cards as well as e-sim cards. Physical prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address and e-sim cards will be send to you as a QR code in your email.

Where can you buy local prepaid sim cards for tourists

Local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in a store or kiosk in the destination itself. In almost every country you will find local prepaid sim card shops on arrival at the international airport. On Traveltomtom you can find sim card guides for more than 100 airports around the world: Bangkok , Jakarta , Manila ,  Bali , Hong Kong , Singapore , Shanghai ,  Sydney , Istanbul , Cairo , Dubai , New York , Miami , London , Rome , Paris , Madrid , Barcelona ,  Amsterdam and many more.

Keep in mind that buying a local prepaid sim card on an international airport is mostly more expensive. You can get better prepaid sim card deals from official retail stores in city centers, shopping malls or from random mobile phone shops.

In some countries you can also buy local prepaid sim cards in convenience stores, gas stations or supermarkets. Keep in mind when buying a local prepaid sim card in any of these shops that you will mostly have to activate the sim card yourself. That means it is not plug and play.

Two things that both local and international sim cards have in common is that they avoid high roaming costs!

International sim cards with unlimited data

Traveltomtom does NOT recommend e-sim cards with unlimited data. In most cases 'unlimited' does NOT mean 'unlimited' and there is always a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). Holafly is one of those e-sim card providers that sell international e-sim cards with unlimited data, but they have a strict FUP. Always read the small letters to not get surprised!

In the past I often had negative experiences with sim cards with unlimited data. If one day you use more than the FUP limit you have to wait 24 hours for your data speed to get restored. Those 24 hours your international sim card with unlimited data is pretty much useless. It is simply really inconvenient.

If you buy an international sim card with for example 30 GB data and you are going on a holiday for 10 days then you should have more than enough data. Those 30 GB data sim cards are pretty much the same as a sim card with unlimited data in these cases. But you will not need to be worried about the Fair Use Policy and data speed reduction.

Can international sim cards connect from everywhere?

Technically speaking – yes. International sim cards are designed to work in multiple countries, but as you have read above there are a ton of restrictions. An international sim card isn’t programmed to one specific network. Instead, it operates on several networks in different geographical locations and can therefore be used in multiple countries.

International sim cards usually operate on networks that use the GSM framework. GSM stands for Global Systems Management Communications. Once the sim card is inserted, it connects to one of the local networks automatically if the plan you chose works in the country you are traveling to.

If you intend to use your phone with an international sim card, you have to make sure your phone is unlocked as well as e-sim compatible in case you are choosing to use an e-sim card over a physical prepaid sim card.

International sim cards only work in unlocked phones

As previously mentioned, you need an unlocked phone for the international sim card to work. A cell that comes with a sim lock can only be used within a defined cellular network and is blocked for any other networks.

This mostly applies to phones bought in the USA, Canada. Phones bought in Europe, Australia, Middle East are mostly unlocked.

There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a new phone if you can get your current one unlocked by your carrier. Once your phone has been unlocked, you can easily switch to any local or international sim card whenever you need to.

If you have a sim lock, I recommend you to unlock your phone before your trip. Contact your local mobile service provider to ask them to unlock the phone and find out if you’re required to pay any unlocking charge.

Do you really need an international sim card?

International sim cards are also referred to as travel sim cards and that is simply because of how convenient they can be for travelers visiting multiple countries. If you don’t want to worry about roaming charges while you are traveling abroad and crossing broders, you can purchase an international sim card.

But if you are visiting just one country on your trip abroad you can easily opt for a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card for that specific country and there is no direct need to buy an international sim card that is valid in multiple countries.

If you use a lot of data then in general local prepaid sim cards are cheaper than e-sim cards, but e-sim cards are much more convenient as you can order them already online before your trip and as soon as the plane lands you are online.

On Traveltomtom you will find more than 200 sim card guides from all around the world: Tajikistan , Papua New Guinea , Uzbekistan , Izmir , Marseille , Tashkent , Algeria , Curacao , Zurich , Bangkok , Bali , Micronesia , Miami , Manila , Shanghai , Philippines , Brazil , Mexico , Zambia , Ghana  and many more.

With a prepaid sim card you are always in control of your bills!

I cannot stress enough about the importance of staying connected while you travel. International sim cards avoid being charged exorbitant data roaming charges. Enjoy low and affordable rates with no hidden fees by getting an international sim card.

Which international sim card is the best? Did you already pick from all the great options that I recommended you? Of course Traveltomtom recommends the ones on top of the list more than the options on the bottom. The last ones are the least recommended but I just wanted to give you all the options, so you could make up your own mind about which international sim card you are going to use for your trip abroad.

I am sure that at least some of the the above tips for buying an international sim card were helpful.

Summerizing:

Remember that there are several factors that you need to put into consideration such as country coverage, prices for data plans, data speed 4G/LTE/5G, calling options, data-only, SMS packages, credit validity and duration/validity.

At the end of the day, the best international sim card is the one that suits your needs and your trip.

If you have any more questions please feel free to leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.

Since Traveltomtom is on a journey to travel to every country in the world I get to a new country regularly. Everywhere I go I buy a new local prepaid sim card or I order an e-sim card on the internet. In my bag I have a collection of about 200 little prepaid sim cards from all over the world, but nowadays I use e-sim cards pretty much all the time because they are so convenient.

Is this article was helpful please consider helping me in return by sharing this article in the internet. Every tweet on X, post to Reddit, share in a Facebook Group or pin on Pinterest is worth a lot to me. Thanks in advance!

Looking for some extra travel inspiration? Check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom and get fuelled by my journey to visit every country in the world . As of June 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Travel & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

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Travel Europe on a Budget

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The best prepaid sim card data plans for usa travel.

What you need to know about buying a prepaid data plan for visiting the USA.

phones and technology

Having fast and reliable high-speed data for your phone is essentially a requirement when you travel to the USA but visitors are often surprised that prepaid SIM data plans aren’t as widely available or as affordable as in their home country.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about buying a SIM Card in the US and how to buy the best US prepaid mobile data plans at the best price.

Important Note About Prepaid SIM Card Data Plans in the US

Getting a prepaid data plan in America is a frustrating experience—especially for international visitors. Mobile service is generally much more expensive in the US than in the rest of the world so tourists are often surprised when they arrive expecting easy access to cheap data.

Prepaid data plans aren’t common in the US because most Americans have year-long phone service contracts. To make things more complicated, many mobile carriers also require that you use a US credit card if you’re buying a month-to-month plan.

That’s why many tourists have issues when it comes to buying a data plan when they arrive in the US because they have to go out of their way to find prepaid service in the US.

Even major airports like New York’s JFK have very few options and the ones you’ll find are costly and not convenient.

I’ll cover all this more in-depth later in this article but I wanted to get this out of the way up front.

In short, I highly recommend buying a data plan before arriving in the US if you don’t want to deal with the hassle. Check out SimOptions (physical SIM cards and eSIM plans) or Holafly (eSIM only) for a few different options—I recommend buying an eSIM data plan if your phone is compatible.

How To Buy A Prepaid Data Plan For The US

You have three main options when it comes to buying a data plan for the US:

Prepurchase an eSIM Data Plan (Easiest)

The easiest way to buy a data plan for the US is to buy an eSIM data plan because you can activate it instantly so you don’t have to pay for shipping. All you have to do is buy the service and then activate it once you’re in the US. As an added bonus, using an eSIM allows you to keep your original phone number active on your phone.

I’ve personally used both SimOptions and Holafly in the past to buy international data plans. You can also read my guide to the best prepaid USA eSIM data plans .

Not sure what an eSIM is? Here’s a quick video showing you how easy eSIMs are:

Not all phones are eSIM compatible (although most modern phones are compatible) so keep that in mind.

Prepurchase a SIM Data Plan (Easy)

If you want to sort out your data plan prior to your trip, I recommend buying your SIM card before you leave so you’ll have data as soon as you arrive (i.e. no tracking down a SIM card once you arrive in the US).

The main downside is that you’ll have to wait for the SIM card to arrive and pay for shipping so it might not be a great option if you need your SIM Card right away.

Wait Until You’re In The US To Buy A SIM Card (Most Difficult)

The third option is to wait until you arrive in the US to buy your data plan. As I mentioned earlier, prepaid data plans aren’t very popular in the US so you’ll have to go out of your way to find them.

I’ll cover this in more depth further down in this article.

The Best Prepaid SIM Card and eSIM Data Plan You Can Buy Before Arriving In The US

Here’s a list of both prepaid eSIM data plans and physical SIM card data plans that will work in the US.

I’ve tried to list both pros and cons of each plan so spend a little time reading up on each because some have a few quirks.

Holafly US Data Plans (Unlimited Data eSIM)

Holafly  is a new data-only eSIM startup that I’ve personally used on a recent trip and found worked surprisingly well (read my  Holafly eSIM Review  to learn more).

Unlike other companies, Holafly’s plans give you unlimited data (they will throttle your data if you use excessive data but this won’t be an issue for most users) and their plans run from 5 to 90 days. Holafly also connects to both the AT&T and T-Mobile networks—which are two of the largest mobile carriers in the US.

In short, if you don’t want to worry about monitoring your data usage while traveling then Holafly is your best option.

• 5 Days: $19
• 10 Days: $34
• 15 Days: $47
• 20 Days: $54
• 30 Days: $64
• 60 Days: $84
• 90 Days: $99
• Service Speed:  4G/LTE
• Calls:  None
• Texts/SMS:  None
• Tethering:  No

Three 30-Day Pass (Digital eSIM Plan)

Plan Specs:

• PRICE:  $35
• DATA:  20GB
• INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO
• CREDIT VALID FOR:  30 Days

If your phone is eSIM compatible, the Three 30-Day Pass is hard to beat for the price and data allowance. This data plan gives you 20GB of data for $35 and it’s valid for a month.

And since this is an eSIM, you get instant delivery via email and you don’t have to pay for shipping.

Smart Traveller eSIM (Digital eSIM Plan)

• PRICE:  $18
• DATA:  6GB
• CREDIT VALID FOR:  10 Days

The Smart Traveller eSIM is a good budget option for shorter trips since it’s only valid for 10 days. If you’re visiting for longer than 10 days, it makes sense to go with the Three 30-Day Pass for $35.

Orange Holiday World (Physical SIM Card)

• PRICE:  $50
• DATA:  10GB
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?:  Yes
• CREDIT VALID FOR:  14 Days

The Orange Holiday World is a very popular choice for travelers for a few different reasons.

First, it’s run by Orange—the largest mobile carrier in Europe and they’ve partnered with major US mobile carriers so the service tends to be better than no-name SIM data plans.

Second, the Orange Holiday World plan includes 10GB of 4G/LTE data in the US. This plan also works in Canada and Mexico if those happen to be part of your trip.

Third, there is no registration needed—simply install the SIM and you’re ready to go.

The main downside is that the data plan only lasts for 14 days so it’s not ideal for longer trips but you can top up the card one time for €29 to get another 14 days of service with an additional 10GB of data.

Three PAYG MBB 12GB (Physical SIM Card)

• PRICE:  $60
• DATA:  12GB
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?:  NO
• CREDIT VALID FOR:  1 Year

The Three UK PYAG MBB is another popular SIM data plan option thanks to its 12GB of data for $60. It doesn’t allow data tethering and you can use it with a pocket WIFI. This card is valid for a year after activation so it’s a nice option for longer visits to the US.

Three PAYG MBB 24GB (Physical SIM Card)

• PRICE:  $80
• DATA:  24GB

The Three UK PAYG MBB 24GB data plan gives you 24GB of mobile data for $80 so this is a good option for heavy data users. If you have a pocket WIFI, this can also be a good option for groups traveling together so you can split data over multiple phones.

How To Buy A Prepaid Data Plan In The US

Most prepaid data plans offered by US carriers are billed on a month-to-month basis so if you don’t cancel the plan you’ll be charged when the new month starts. Because of this, many mobile companies require that you have a US credit card.

Verizon Prepaid Data Plans

Verizon of the largest mobile provider in the US and their prepaid plans start at $40/month for 5GB of data. Verizon is also the most expensive option. Visit the Verizon website to learn more.

Verizon also has a new budget service called Visible but you’ll need a US credit card and only certain phones work on their network (visit the Visible phone compatibility checker to see if your phone works).

T-Mobile Prepaid US Data Plans

T-Mobile offers a monthly prepaid data plan that starts at $40/month (not including taxes and fees—a $10 SIM starter kit may be required). The $40/month plan gets you 10GB of data but the $50/month plan has unlimited data. Click here to visit the T-Mobile website to learn more.

AT&T Wireless Prepaid Data Plans

AT&T Wireless has prepaid data plans that start at $30/month for 5BG of data. Visit the AT&T website to learn more.

Google Fi Prepaid Data Plans

Google Fi has a monthly plan and a pay-as-you-go plan. The monthly plan has unlimited data for $50/month and the pay-as-you-go is $20+$10 for every 10GB of data. Visit the Google Fi website to learn more.

Straight Talk Wireless Prepaid

Straight Talk Wireless is a budget carrier that’s mainly sold at Walmart stores. The main problem is that Walmarts are generally located outside large cities so you’ll need a car to reach the store. You can also have the card shipped to a US address.

Get More Budget Travel Tips For The USA

Here are a few articles to help you visit New York City:

• The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To New York City
• Best Hostels in NYC
• The Best Things To Do In NYC
• Best Cheap Restaurants In New York City
• How Much To Budget For Visiting NYC
• The Best Travel Shoes
• The Best Travel Backpacks  and  The Best Travel Backpacks for Women

Traveling to Europe too? Check out my guide on  how to use your phone in Europe  and our guide to  the best SIM Cards and Data Plans for Europe . If you have a newer phone, check out our guide to  the best Prepaid eSIM Data Plans for Europe .

• Recent Posts

• Best Prepaid eSIM For Spain | Data Plan Buyer’s Guide - June 21, 2024
• Best eSIM For Europe Travel | Everything You Need To Know About European Prepaid eSIM Data Plans - June 6, 2024
• Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card Review | I Test This Popular Tourist-Focused Data Plan - June 4, 2024

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Thanks For Reading! — James

Questions? Learn more about our Strict Advertising Policy and How To Support Us .

Related Reads

Best prepaid esim for spain | data plan buyer’s guide.

A guide to finding the best prepaid eSIM data plans for visiting Spain.

Best eSIM For Europe Travel | Everything You Need To Know About European Prepaid eSIM Data Plans

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Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card Review | I Test This Popular Tourist-Focused Data Plan

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SimNation Travel

A downloadable mod

Travel in the Sims 4

Ready to hop of to Mt. Komorebi to test the slopes? Going for a weekend getaway to Granite Falls? Or ready for the adventure of a lifetime in Batuu? Not so fast! Not without a handy license and motor vehicle registration for that car you bought from the catalogue, or a subway pass for the children, or travel reservations and your passport for that international destination.

Speaking of going on a trip; you must book plane reservations and put down a vacation rental deposit. And let's not forget, you must have a passport to visit far away locales like Selvadorada. Just going from Willow Creek to Grandma's in Newcrest? Make sure you have gas in the car, your subway pass is ready, or your bicycle is registered. And if your teens are sick of using the subway, they can take formal or informal driving lessons to get ready for licensure. Travel free and loose no more!

Travel Requires a Mode: Bike, Subway Pass, Car, or Plane for International Travel

Apply and Renew Passport

Buy 7, 14, or 28 Day Subway Pass

Go to DMV to get a license

Driver's Education and Informal Lessons with Adult Household Members for Teens

Buy title for your Sim's car: it requires a license and gas once a week

Book Travel Reservations to travel internationally

Put down Vacation Rental Deposit before you can travel internationally

New Reward Trait: Prepared Traveler

New Travel Aspiration: Seasoned Traveler

New Travel-related Career: Travel Magazine Critic

How It Works

Most options are available on the phone and computer (under my general pie menus) but if you don't see one in one place, check the other. Most career interactions are available on the computer and tablet the exception being location check-in which requires the phone.

Domestic Travel

All active sims (excluding infants and toddlers) will need a way to travel in order to leave their home lot. This only affects travel via the phone menu and relationship panel as well as elevators and travel boards. It does not affect travel from the street. You can also only have one primary mode of transportation at a time - the most recent mode of transportation selected will always be the primary. The following modes of transportation are available:

Subway Pass

All sims child and up can use a subway pass. Subway passes are the cheapest mode of transportation and cost between $20 for a Youth 7-day pass and $130 for an Adult 28 day pass. Discounts are available for children, teens, and elders. A 7, 14, or 28 Day pass are available. When a Sim's pass expires, they will not be able to travel and will need to get a new one. The subway pass will be delivered to the Sim's inventory.

Bike (Requires Discover University)

Your sim can purchase a bike as usual. Once a sim has a bike, it will need to be registered. This essentially, as far as the mod is concerned, marks the sim who registers the bike as the owner. What that means is that it will consider that Sim to have a bike but anyone else in the household will either need to register their own bikes, buy a car, or get a subway pass. Registered bikes will need to be serviced every 21 days. When in need of service, it will be unusable and until sent in. In order to be serviced, it must first be placed in the Sim's inventory. Servicing takes about 90 minutes.

Buying a Car

All Sims teen and up are eligible to purchase a car (from Buy mode under Outdoor/Transportation). Each car has a price tag, an eco footprint, and an environmental score. If a Sim buys a sedan - or an average eco footprint car - it ranks differently than a muscle car/utility vehicle like a van or pickup truck or a hybrid vehicle like the euro car (from GTW) or a hybrid version of the BG coupe.

Mid-sized sedans (normal eco footprint of -1) are great values as they are reasonably fuel efficient and require a normal amount of maintenance. Muscle Car or Utility Vehicles are larger and thus are not as fuel efficient as sedans or hybrids but they also don't require as much maintenance. Hybrid vehicles cost more but provide better fuel mileage and require maintenance slightly less often than sedans.

License and Registration

In order to actually drive the car bought, first, they must apply for a license at local DMV. Wait times vary. Once a license has been obtained, the license will be in the Sim's inventory and then they can purchase a car/title. The Sim who registers the car is the owner of that vehicle. Note that when the game loads there is a small, random chance for sims young adult and up to already have their license.

Driving Lessons

Teens can get a license only if they complete Driver's Education lessons ($50/lesson) or ask an older family member (who has a license, a car with fuel and doesn't need maintenance) to teach them how to drive. This option is only available if the car is not in the inventory! A hidden driving skill will determine when they are eligible. Driving lessons, formal or informal, increase the skill, though formal driving lessons are noticeably more effective. When they are eligible to get their license, you will receive a notification.

Fuel and Maintenance

Service maintenance depends on the type of car but usually is needed between every 14-28 days, costs between $150-$250 depending on type of car, and takes about 2 hours and gas is usually needed every 7-10 days. Maintenance takes about 2-3 hours. Filling up takes about 15 minutes and costs between $20-$30 depending on type of car. Your Sim will receive a notification when it is time for service and when the gas gauge is low. If your Sim no longer wants to deal with the hassle of owning a car, they are able to sell it. Note that the only way to get rid of a car is to use the Sell Car interaction on the car or transfer ownership of the car.

International Travel

To travel  internationally to Windenburg, Selvadorada, Sulani, Batuu, Granite Falls, or Mt. Komorebi (if your sim does not live there) requires a passport and advance reservations. They will then go to the airport for about an hour before heading to their final destination.

Sims can obtain an initial passport by filling out an application online and then going to the Passport Office. Once at the passport office, Sims will choose a shipping speed to receive your passport. The options are to receive it within 12 hours to the Sim's inventory (Express Service), within 12-24 hours in the mail (Expedited Service), or within 24-48 hours in the mail (Standard Service). Sims will pay a fee for both the passport itself and the shipping. The shipping speed chosen will be for all Sims present at the Passport Office.

Advance Reservations

Once Sims have a passport in their inventory, they are able to book travel reservations and put down vacation rental deposits. A vacation rental deposit and travel reservations are required before a Sim can go on vacation/travel international. Sims may choose a range they're willing to put down for the deposit.

For travel reservations they must specify the whether they are flying in Economy seating or First Class. They will receive a random buff based on the fare class and a chance to get travel-sick and/or loose their luggage. Fees are adjusted accordingly. Only one reservation for travel and vacation rental per household is needed.

Traveling to International Locales

Once a sim has a passport, booked a vacation rental reservation, and flight accommodations, they will receive a buff that tells them they are travel ready. While this buff is active, their reservations and all preparations are considered complete.

 When they're ready to travel internationally, Sims can use the phone Travel menu to "Go on Vacation" as usual. It will now be unlocked for the trip! The whole travel party will then travel via a flight (rabbithole) for a few hours. At the end of the flight, the sims will arrive at their destination via the map picker. 

You may also temporarily see your sims on lot before going to their final destination after the airport.

Passport Renewal

A passport expires after 36 Days. A Sim will then need to fill out a similar application/paperwork online and then mail the paperwork to the passport agency. The Sim should receive their passport within 24 hours.

Seasoned Traveler Aspiration

Note that due to the nature of this aspiration it requires several packs: Jungle Adventures, City Living, Snowy Escape, Outdoor Retreat, and Island Living to complete. It also is greatly enhanced by frankk's Language Barriers as a few of the objectives include learning languages but you can still complete each level without the mod as it is not required.

Prepared Traveler Reward Trait

These Sims enjoy traveling all over the world. They have an easier time learning new languages, socializing with strangers, and have more fun when they are not in their home region. Works well with Language Barriers .

Travel Critic Career

Note that due to the nature of this career it requires City Living.

A brand new 6 level semi-active career inspired by the CL Critic career with a travel-focused twist. Sims focus on writing columns, reviewing food and drinks and performances, visiting different neighborhoods and different worlds, talking with local sims, and excelling at photography. Brand new work from home interactions, short hours, and a boost in language learning skills (boost requires Language Barriers mod). Levels are:

• Story Researcher
• Culture Writer
• Travel Blogger
• Chief Travel Critic

Compatibility and Requirements

Packs Required

Main Mod: Base Game Only

Travel Critic Career: City Living

Seasoned Traveler Aspiration: Jungle Adventures, Snowy Escape, Island Living, City Living, and Outdoor Retreat

Highly Recommended

City Living, Snowy Escape, Island Living, Jungle Adventures, and Outdoor Retreat

Get to Work for the Euro hybrid car

Language Barriers Mod is recommended for completing certain objectives within the aspiration as well as getting the full experience of the Career, though not required

***While this does not require any packs for the base mod - no career/aspiration - its playability is greatly limited if one does not have any other packs***

Download Instructions:

1. Download the mod below or here and grab the General Pie menus.

2. Install the the main mod, the General pie menus, and the BG required cars.

3. Install International Travel option if you want to use the passport and need to make travel reservations and have gameplay related to international travel

4. Install Domestic Travel if you want cars, bikes, driving, public transportation, and gameplay related to domestic travel

5. Install the Aspiration if you have the packs required. 6. Install the Career if you have the packs required. 7. Install the optional cars for which you have packs.

8. Install the optional modules to allow for automation of licenses and subway passes (Domestic) and passports (International).

1.) For the purpose of this mod Windenburg, Mt. Komorebi, and Sulani are treated as international destinations in addition to Batuu, Granite Falls, Tartosa, and Selvadorada for those who do not live there so they count as travel abroad for the aspiration and career and are tracked locations in the passport even though you don't necessarily need to plan a vacation in order to visit them like the others.

2.) Your Sims will always be able to travel regardless of the mod if you zoom out and use the map picker from the street. The mod therefore only affects travel by any other means. Just FYI in case you really need to get somewhere without the restriction of the mod.

3.) Note it takes the mod about 20 sim minutes (20 seconds) to load fully. If you cannot access a feature make sure you let the game load for at least half an hour/30 seconds.

4.) There is a cheat menu available with the game cheats. Please note that the option to Reset Mod truly resets the mod to when it was first loaded - all progress for licensure/passports/etc. is lost and the passport/license/subway pass will be removed from your inventory. If you have any test versions of the mod prior to release, I actually do suggest you reset.

Credits: Sims 4 Studio, AroundtheSims4 (inventory objects), Roundgrass (extracted cars).