Best eSIM for the UK (2026): 8 providers compared

For most trips to the UK, UKRoamFree (our brand) is the cheapest plan we found: $7.49 for 10GB and $12.49 for 20GB, valid 30 days, on EE and Three. For a daily plan, our 3GB-a-day week at $15.49 is also the cheapest, but Maya Mobile's $19.99 week gives more full-speed data (5GB a day). Ubigi is the closest rival on fixed plans at $9.00 for 10GB over 7 days.

How we compared: we took prices from each provider's own website, checked on 13 November 2026, in US dollars. We compared the cheapest plan, the price for about 5GB, 10GB and 20GB, a 7-day "unlimited" or daily plan, and the UK networks each one lists. Yesim shows prices in euros only, so we list them in euros. Saily's site blocked our check.

8 eSIMs for the UK compared (November 2026)

Provider	Cheapest plan	~5GB	~10GB	~20GB	Unlimited or daily (about 7 days)	Networks
UKRoamFree	1GB / 7 days: $1.99	$4.99 (5GB, 30d)	$7.49 (10GB, 30d)	$12.49 (20GB, 30d)	$15.49 / 7 days (3GB a day, then 1 Mbps)	EE, 3
Airalo	1GB / 3 days: $4.00	$12.00 (5GB, 7d)	$18.00 (10GB, 7d)	$30.00 (20GB, 15d)	$27.00 / 7 days (3GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps)	EE, Three, Virgin Media O2, 3
Holafly	-	-	-	-	$27.50 / 7 days	Orange UK, T-Mobile UK, H3G UK, VirginMediaO2 UK, Vodafone UK
Nomad	1GB / 7 days: $4.50	$12.00 (5GB, 30d)	$17.50 (10GB, 30d)	$25.00 (20GB, 30d)	$25.00 / 7 days (2GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps)	Vodafone, 3, EE
Ubigi	3GB / 30 days: $5.00	$5.00 (3GB, 30d)	$9.00 (10GB, 7d)	$22.00 (25GB, 30d)	$21.00 / 7 days (25GB at full speed, then 2 Mbps)	EE, Three
Maya Mobile	-	-	-	-	$19.99 / 7 days (5GB a day at full speed, then 3 Mbps)	Three, EE
Yesim	1GB / 30 days: €2.50	€9.60 (5GB, 30d)	€16.00 (10GB, 30d)	€22.00 (20GB, 30d)	not checked	not checked
Saily	not checked	not checked	not checked	not checked	not checked	not checked

Every "unlimited" plan is capped. Airalo slows to 1 Mbps after 3GB a day, Nomad after 2GB a day, Maya after 5GB a day (then 3 Mbps), and Ubigi after 25GB for the whole week. Our 3GB-a-day plan also slows to 1 Mbps after the daily allowance. Holafly applies a fair usage policy and limits hotspot sharing to 1GB a day. (Holafly lists old brand names such as Orange UK and T-Mobile UK, which are today's EE.)

Best eSIM for the UK by need

UKRoamFree: cheapest fixed and daily plans (our brand)

UKRoamFree is cheapest at every size in our check: $4.99 for 5GB, $7.49 for 10GB and $12.49 for 20GB, each valid 30 days, and $15.49 for a week with 3GB a day. We run on EE and Three. Where we are not the best: Maya's $19.99 week gives 5GB a day at full speed instead of our 3GB, so heavy video users get more from Maya. We list two networks, while Nomad and Airalo list three. Plans are data only. See our UK eSIM.

Ubigi: closest rival, data sharing allowed

Ubigi charges $9.00 for 10GB over 7 days, $11.00 for 10GB over 30 days, and $22.00 for 25GB over 30 days, on EE and Three. Its $21.00 "unlimited" week is 25GB at full speed in total. Ubigi allows data sharing. Ubigi plans.

Maya Mobile: most full-speed data per day

Maya charges $19.99 for 7 days with 5GB a day at full speed, then 3 Mbps, on Three and EE. If you stream a lot, this is the best daily allowance for the price. Maya sells one global plan, and hotspot use depends on the carrier. Maya UK.

Nomad: three networks, 30-day plans

Nomad charges $12.00 for 5GB, $17.50 for 10GB and $25.00 for 20GB over 30 days, on Vodafone, Three and EE. More networks means more fallback in rural areas. Its unlimited week slows after 2GB a day. Nomad UK.

Airalo: a UK number for calls and texts

Airalo's data plans are expensive here ($18.00 for 10GB over 7 days), but it sells UK plans with minutes and texts, such as 10GB with 100 minutes and 100 texts for 30 days at $23.50. That helps if you need to receive UK text codes or call a B&B. It lists EE, Three and Virgin Media O2. Airalo UK.

Holafly: unlimited, more expensive

Holafly charges $27.50 for 7 days, the most expensive week here. It is easy to use but hotspot sharing is capped at 1GB a day. Holafly UK.

Yesim and Saily

Yesim's own page lists 10GB for 30 days at €16.00. Saily's site blocked our check, so we give no price.

UK networks: what works where

The UK now has three network groups: EE, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree, formed when Vodafone and Three combined their UK businesses.

• Coverage: Ofcom data analysed by Advanced Television in October 2026 shows 84% of the UK landmass is predicted to have good 4G from all operators. The Highland area of Scotland was lowest at 60.85%.
• What it means: in cities the network choice matters little. In the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia or the Lake District, a plan with more than one network (Nomad, Airalo or Holafly) gives a better chance of a signal. Download offline maps for hikes.
• VodafoneThree: Vodafone said in July 2026 that a year after the merger, about 16,500 km² of not-spots had been eliminated and spectrum had been added across about 15,000 sites.
• Phone number: most travel eSIMs are data only. Airalo's minutes plans give you calls and texts.
• Unlocked phone: you need a carrier-unlocked, eSIM-capable phone.

Which one should you pick?

• Weekend in London: UKRoamFree 5GB for $4.99.
• Two weeks or more: UKRoamFree 20GB for $12.49 (30 days).
• Heavy data, streaming every day: Maya at $19.99 for 7 days, or our 3GB-a-day week at $15.49 if 3GB is enough.
• Scottish Highlands road trip: Nomad (three networks) or Airalo.
• Hotspot for a laptop: a fixed plan from UKRoamFree, Ubigi or Nomad rather than Holafly.
• Need a UK number: Airalo's plans with minutes and texts.

Sources: Airalo UK (13 Nov 2026), Holafly UK (13 Nov 2026), Nomad UK (13 Nov 2026), Ubigi plans (13 Nov 2026), Maya UK (13 Nov 2026), Yesim UK (13 Nov 2026), Advanced Television on Ofcom coverage data (6 Oct 2026), Vodafone on the VodafoneThree merger, one year on (14 Jul 2026). Prices checked 13 November 2026.