If you’re looking for a digital SIM card to keep your phone connected, consider these options for work, travel and leisure.

If you recently switched phones, you have been asked to set up an eSIM (embedded SIM). It’s a digital SIM card that functions like the physical ones you’d normally slot into your phone, but it can be installed or transferred electronically.

The convenience of an eSIM makes it ideal both for when you’re switching phones and when you’re traveling abroad and your domestic cellular service is less reliable, if available at all. In most cases, setting up an eSIM is also the more economical option, as you can avoid roaming charges and have greater control over the amount of data you’re paying for.

Among the dozens of services offered both in the US and internationally, we’ve rounded up the best eSIM services below, including ones for travel and leisure, budget picks and even options for business customers.

Airalo is our top eSIM choice for 2026, due to the variety of international services that it supports (over 200 countries), the competitively tiered prices and ongoing partnerships with larger network operators such as T-Mobile and Verizon in the US. While Airalo’s eSIM services may not satisfy niche demands, such as maritime travel or heavy data consumption, it’s one of the most dependable options for general use.

For more specific cases, consider eSIM services like Nomad and Gigsky, which offer specialized networking support and data bundles tailored for unique environments.

Airalo is regarded as one of the pioneers of travel eSIMs, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it offers cellular support for a wide range of countries and regions.

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