The 10 Best eSIMs for the UK in 2025

Travelling to the UK and worried about getting stuck without reliable internet? Whether you’re a tourist checking Google Maps in real-time, an expat landing at Heathrow Airport, or a digital nomad hopping between London’s bustling cafés and the Scottish Highlands, you probably want the best eSIM for UK visitors.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to choose the best eSIM for the UK. We’ll look into pricing, connectivity, coverage, and staying connected without hidden additional charges.

Summary

Here’s a quick look at our top picks for UK travel eSIMs:

• Maaltalk
• Airalo
• Holafly
• Nomad
• Jetpac
• EE
• Lyca Mobile
• Three UK
• Smartroam
• Saily

How Much Data Do You Need to Travel in the UK?

Estimating how much data you need depends on how you travel. If you want to compare with the average UK mobile data usage, that’s 8GB per month, according to Ofcom. But remember that most residents have access to WiFi at home and work.

So, a weekend break in London or a holiday to Edinburgh? Probably just 5–10 gigabytes (GB). A month-long journey with live streaming or video calls? 25–50GB or even unlimited data plans.

Speed matters, too. If you’re using data roaming (that’s when using your home country’s SIM card), then you’ll probably see lower speeds than you’re used to at home. If you only use data to send the occasional photo, this won’t matter much.

Choose an eSIM plan based on your usage, whether it's just maps and messaging or streaming and gaming.

Other Considerations

The first thing to consider when choosing the best eSIM for UK travel is coverage. It depends on where you’re actually going.

The UK’s rural hills and city centers rely on different mobile networks. EE and O2 dominate in urban zones, while Three UK is often better in coastal areas. If your itinerary takes you beyond England, look for an eSIM plan that explicitly covers these areas or covers the UK and EU countries.

Some providers offer unlimited data plans with international calling, while others let you add small data add-ons. So think about how often you’ll need to make phone calls. If you don’t need voice minutes, a data-only plan can be much cheaper.

Finally, think long term. Most Maaltalk eSIMs and competitors offer rolling 30-day plans. But if you’re staying for a few months, hopping between European countries, 60- or 90-day bundles might be cheaper overall.

10 Best eSIMs for UK Travel

Ready to choose the best eSIM for UK travel? Let’s go.

Maaltalk

Let’s look at why Maaltalk is the best eSIM for the UK.

Features

You get access to MaaltakNow, the AI travel app, which makes your trip smoother. The Speed and Usage Tracker updates in real-time, so you always know if you’re nearing your high-speed data cap. If you want to meet new friends, AI Trip Talk connects you with locals and other travelers.

The app also offers multilingual support through its Advanced Smart Lens feature. This feature allows you to easily translate menus and signs while traveling. It can also help you find specific buildings and other locations while you explore.

Choosing the right plan is easy. You can use the app’s AI Product Recommendations feature. This analyzes your destination, data usage, and travel duration to recommend the best plan.

Every purchase through the AI recommendation feature in the app unlocks a promotional 10% off on all eSIMs. With Maaltalk, you get reliable internet access on the top UK networks (O2, EE, and Three UK) and quick eSIM activation. The best eSIM for UK travel with no extra hidden costs.

Check out the AI travel app now—it’s so easy.

Pricing

Various plans are available, making it the best choice for both short and long stays.

Plans include:

• Rechargeable data plan from $2.84 up to $31.19 for 7-30 days.
• 28 days in the UK and Europe for $38.38 with the Vodafone UK network.

For longer stays, you can get our Rechargeable UK eSIM plan with an easy top-up function once you run out of data or need to extend your plan. There’s no need anymore to get and set up a completely new eSIM. Plus, if you only used up to 100MB and are unsatisfied, you can easily request a full refund of your eSIM order.

Data Limits

Data allowance depends on the plan, with some up to 500GB in the UK.

Coverage

With Maaltalk, you can choose between a regional eSIM and country-specific plans. There’s also a UK plan that gives you some data in the EU on Vodafone’s network.

Airalo

Airalo’s UK-specific eSIM plan operates on EE’s well-rated network, offering reliable speeds across London and beyond.

Pricing

Plans start from $4.50 for 1 GB up to $22.50 for a 30-day bundle.

Data Limits

The speed you get depends on the plan, country, and location. The unlimited data plans come with a speed cap, and lower speeds are applied after exceeding 3GB in a single day.

Coverage

Airalo offers local and regional packs. For example, their Eurolink pack covers 42 European destinations.

Holafly

Holafly offers eSIM options for heavy users.

Pricing

The price depends on the duration of your trip. The shorter it is, the more costly it comes out per day. For example, a 24-hour eSIM for the UK costs $6.90, but a 30-day trip costs $74.90 (or $2.50 per day).

Data Limits

Holafly offers unlimited data on all plans.

Coverage

Some eSIMs are local. In the UK, Holafly eSIMs support O2, Vodafone, and Three UK.

You also have the option to get regional plans, such as all of Europe, for the same price rate. That’s 32 countries and access to 3G, LTE, and 4G/5G data.

There are no options for texts and calls, though.

Nomad

Nomad offers global flexibility, with 200+ destinations in one app. If your journey extends from London to Tokyo, you simply switch plans without swapping SIMs.

Pricing

Plans start from $4.50 for 1GB/7 days, jumping to $20 for 20GB/30 days.

Data Limits

Limits depend on the plan, with the maximum available being 50GB for 30 days.

Coverage

Local, regional, and global plans are available.

When choosing your plan for the UK, you also have two options. You can select from the regular plans or opt for a 1GB high-speed daily plan. If you consume it, you’ll still have access to unlimited low-speed data for that day, which should be fine for normal social messaging.

Coverage in the UK includes all three networks: O2, EE, and Three UK.

Jetpac

Jetpac appeals to users with minimal needs.

Pricing

Pricing starts at $1 for 4 days and up to $55 for 30 days in the UK.

Data Limits

While limits vary depending on the plan, Jetpac’s largest UK plan offers unlimited data.

Coverage

Coverage in the UK supports Three, EE, and Vodafone.

Many global or regional options are also available. For example, Jetpac’s 40GB/30-day EU plan works across 30 European countries.

EE

As the UK’s largest network provider, EE offers eSIM users access to its 4G/5G network.

Pricing

There are no individual day passes. Instead, you can choose a plan that starts at £30–£39 for 30 days. Plans with calls and messages are also available, starting from £27 per month.

Data Limits

All plans give you unlimited data at varying speeds.

Coverage

EE’s eSIMs are for UK residents only, and their eSIMs don’t work on other networks. This means if you’re in a location where there’s no EE network, you’re out of luck.

You won’t get free EU roaming, so add-on plan costs for Europe can climb quickly if you go outside the UK.

Lycamobile

Lycamobile’s UK eSIM plans are only available to UK residents, as customers need to verify their UK address when ordering.

Pricing

Monthly plans start at £5 for 5GB with unlimited UK minutes and texts. You can also choose a pay-as-you-go option. In this case, your price depends on your usage and Lycamobile’s individual rates.

Data Limits

Limits vary by plan, but there are unlimited options.

Coverage

The company only operates on the EE network in the UK.

Some plans include roaming to the EU and other countries, but the data limits in those countries may be capped.

Three UK

Three’s eSIM plans are more suitable for UK residents rather than travelers. The minimum length you can opt for is 30 days, so you’ll end up paying extra for days you don’t need for shorter stays.

Pricing

Three UK’s eSIMs start at 1 GB for £5 per week. Both monthly and pay-as-you-go plans are available as data-only eSIM or with calls and messages.

Data Limits

Three also offers an unlimited data option.

Coverage

Three UK recently relaunched a “Go Roam” feature that gives free EU and global roaming in over 120 destinations, including key UK neighbors like Ireland and France.

Smartroam

Smartroam offers eSIM solutions for businesses. Consumers can also choose from local and regional plans via their sister company, BreatheSIM.

Pricing

Plans for UK eSIMs start from 1GB for 3 days at $1.50.

Data Limits

The largest plan in the UK has 20GB of data.

Coverage

However, the website does not state which UK networks the eSIMs support. Plus, there’s no mention of 5G. The frequently asked questions (FAQ) mention that users can expect speeds between 3G and 4G.

Smartroam offers regional EU packages at the same UK prices.

Saily

Saily is another eSIM provider in the UK.

Pricing

Prices start at $4.49 for 7 days.

Data Limits

The smallest plan offers 1GB. Unlimited data options are also available.

Coverage

You can also choose from regional plans, such as Europe. Options include 50GB for 90 days.

Saily does not specify which local UK networks it supports.

Things to Know Before You Buy an eSIM in the UK

Before you tap “Buy,” double-check that your phone is unlocked. If you have a locked device, you can only get an eSIM or roaming package from your provider.

Next, check that your phone supports eSIM. Most new flagship devices do, says GSMA Intelligence. But older devices may not. If you rely on a physical SIM card back home, confirm your phone supports dual-SIM phones to keep your home line active alongside your travel eSIM.

Transfers can vary. Some providers let you switch an active plan between devices directly in their app, while others require scanning a new QR code. Always keep the confirmation email handy, as it often contains your activation QR code and support links.

Where to Buy the Best eSIM for UK Travel

The safest way to secure your eSIM is before you leave home. Simply download the MaaltalkNow app, choose your UK or Europe Regional plan, and get your QR code in a confirmation email. That way, you avoid airport markups and last-minute network hiccups.

If you find yourself landing at London Heathrow Airport without a plan, look for eSIM kiosks in the terminals. They sell instant-activation QR codes for a slight premium but keep you online.

Locally, you can find prepaid eSIMs at Tesco or WHSmith stores.

How to Activate Your eSIM

Activation takes just a few steps once you have your QR code or activation link:

Step 1: Open the confirmation email or app to find your QR code.

Step 2-1: On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM, then scan the QR code.

Step 2-2: On Android, go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Add Mobile Plan > Scan Carrier QR Code.

Step 3: Choose your new eSIM as the default for mobile data and toggle ON.

Step 4: Restart your phone for the best performance and test by loading a webpage.

With most providers, activation is completed in under five minutes. If you have any issues, Maaltalk’s 24/7 support chat in the MaaltalkNow app can help you in minutes.

Conclusion

Picking the best eSIM for UK travel comes down to your data appetite, trip length, and budget. Some providers are limited to one or two UK networks, so you need to plan well before you commit.

Maaltalk offers extensive features and support for all UK networks. You can also get your free Welcome eSIM when you sign up. Ready for seamless, uninterrupted connectivity across the UK? Try it now; it’s so easy!