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eSIM, local SIM or roaming: what's best for a group trip
Staying connected abroad used to mean expensive roaming or hunting for a SIM shop. Now there are three real options, and on a group trip the best choice isn't always the same for everyone.
The three options
Roaming
Your home plan works abroad, usually for a daily or per-trip fee. No setup at all, and you keep your number for calls and verification texts. It's typically the most expensive per gigabyte, though some plans include roaming in certain regions (for example, many European plans within the EU). Check your plan before assuming either way.
Local SIM card
A prepaid SIM from a local carrier at your destination. Often the cheapest per gigabyte, especially for longer stays in one country, and it usually comes with a local number. The downsides: you need to find a shop, some countries require ID registration, and if your phone has a single SIM slot, your home number goes offline while it's in use.
Travel eSIM
A digital SIM you buy and install online, often before you leave, which activates on arrival. Most are data-only. If your phone supports eSIM, you keep your home SIM active alongside it. Usually a middle ground on price: more than a local SIM, much less than most roaming.
Side-by-side
| Roaming | Local SIM | Travel eSIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | None | Find a shop, maybe register ID | Install via QR or app, minutes |
| Typical cost | Highest | Lowest per GB | Middle |
| Home number | Works normally | Offline if single SIM slot | Stays active (dual SIM) |
| Local number | No | Yes | Usually not (data only) |
| Multi-country trips | Easy | New SIM per country | Regional plans available |
| Phone requirement | None | Unlocked phone | Unlocked and eSIM-compatible |
What your phone needs
- Unlocked: phones bought through a carrier may be locked to it. A locked phone won't accept another SIM or eSIM. Ask your carrier to unlock it before the trip.
- eSIM support: most recent iPhones and many recent Android phones support eSIM, but not all models or regional versions do. Check your phone's settings or the manufacturer's site.
- Dual SIM: to keep your home number active while using a travel data plan, your phone needs to support two lines at once.
Which one to pick
- Weekend or very short trip: roaming, if your plan's daily fee is reasonable. Zero hassle.
- One or two weeks, one or two countries: a travel eSIM is usually the best balance.
- Long stay in one country: a local SIM tends to be cheapest.
- You need to receive bank verification texts: keep your home line active (roaming, or eSIM in dual-SIM mode).
On a group trip: share and split
Not everyone in the group needs their own plan. Some approaches that work:
- One big plan, shared hotspot: one person buys a large local SIM or eSIM plan and shares a hotspot when the group is together. Cheap, but battery-hungry, and it doesn't help when you split up.
- Everyone their own, but the same provider: easier to help each other set it up, and you know coverage will be the same.
- Mixed: people with eSIM-compatible phones use eSIMs, others share a hotspot or use roaming.
If one person pays for shared data, log it as a trip expense split among those who use it. Like any other shared cost, it's settled at the end with everything else.
Setup checklist
- Confirm your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM before buying.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, but only switch it on when you land.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line if you don't want roaming charges.
- Download offline maps as a backup.
- Save the provider's support contact somewhere you can reach without data.
FAQ
Can I make calls with a travel eSIM?
Most are data-only, but you can use internet-based calling apps. Some providers offer plans with a number.
Will I get charged on my home line by accident?
It can happen if your home line's data roaming is on. Set your travel line as the data line and turn off roaming on your home line.