Costs around the plan price
eSIM Hidden Costs: 2 to 4% on a Foreign-Currency Charge
Cheapest median rate first
Fees by provider
Sorted by effective price per GB: each provider's median 5 GB plan across 42 destinations, prices read 30 Oct 2026. Holafly's day price is converted at the trip standard on the methodology page.
| Provider | Median rate | Per GB | Checkout currencies | Bank markup, non-US card | Refund window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | $2.06/GB | $2.06 | 31 currencies | Card currency if listed | 180 days |
| Airalo | $2.20/GB | $2.20 | multi-currency, count not read 30 Oct 2026 | Card currency if listed | 14 days |
| Nomad | $2.40/GB | $2.40 | multi-currency, count not read 30 Oct 2026 | Card currency if listed | 30 days |
| Saily | $2.60/GB | $2.60 | multi-currency, count not read 30 Oct 2026 | Card currency if listed | 30 days |
| Holafly | $3.93/day | $2.62 | multi-currency, count not read 30 Oct 2026 | Card currency if listed | 180 days |
HelloRoam, an eSIM platform, sells 5 GB at a median $2.06/GB, the lowest in this table, with 31 checkout currencies and a 180-day refund on an unactivated eSIM. On 20 GB plans Nomad's median is lower: $1.25 per GB against $1.54.
All 7 hidden costs
Costs that sit around the plan price
Currency conversion on a foreign-currency charge
A card charged in a currency it does not settle in adds a 2 to 4% bank conversion markup to every order. Airalo, Nomad, Saily and Holafly each showed a currency picker on 30 Oct 2026; the count was not read. The table above lists each checkout.
How to avoid it: Pick your card's own currency at checkout before you pay.
Short refund windows
A plan you never activate is refundable for 14 to 180 days, depending on the provider. The FAQ below lists each window.
How to avoid it: Buy close to your departure date if the window is short, and keep the eSIM unactivated until you land.
Unused data expiry
Data does not roll over. Unused data is lost when the plan's validity ends.
How to avoid it: Buy the smallest plan that covers your trip and top up through the provider app if you run out.
A daily volume on unlimited plans
Unlimited plans can carry a daily high-speed allowance. The France unlimited plan in the top pick's catalogue of 29 Oct 2026 includes 2 GB of high-speed data a day, then at a lower speed.
How to avoid it: Read the fair-use line on your country page before you choose unlimited over a fixed plan.
Hotspot caps
Holafly limits hotspot sharing to 1 GB a day.
How to avoid it: If you share data with a laptop, price a fixed plan for the same trip.
No voice or SMS
Travel eSIMs are data plans. If you need SMS codes from a bank, your home SIM has to stay active.
How to avoid it: Keep your home SIM on for SMS and move two-factor logins to an authenticator app before you travel.
Locked phones
A carrier-locked phone can block a third-party eSIM profile.
How to avoid it: Confirm with your carrier that the phone is unlocked before you buy.
Carrier roaming is the cost an eSIM replaces
The AT&T International Day Pass costs $12 per day. Prices for the top pick come from its live catalogue of 29 Oct 2026. Rival prices were read on each provider's own site on 30 Oct 2026.
Use our plan comparison tool to price a plan after validity, data limits and refund windows.
Hidden costs FAQ
eSIM fee questions
Do eSIM providers add currency conversion fees?
A card charged in a currency it does not settle in adds a 2 to 4% bank conversion markup on each order. The top-ranked provider bills checkout in 31 currencies through Stripe, with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Airalo, Nomad, Saily and Holafly each showed a currency picker on 30 Oct 2026, but the number of currencies was not read.
How long do I have to get a refund on an eSIM?
A plan you never activate is refundable for 180 days at HelloRoam, 180 days at Holafly, 30 days at Nomad, 30 days at Saily, 14 days at Airalo.
What happens to unused data when my eSIM plan expires?
Unused data is lost when the validity period ends. Buy the smallest plan that covers your trip and top up if you run out.