On this page 14 sections
UK at a glance
Checked 4 November 2026- Cheapest plan listed
- $31 GB / 30 days, Yesim (Ubigi: 3 GB / 30 days for $5)
- 7 days unlimited
- $21Ubigi (Maya’s global plan: $19.99)
- 10 GB for 30 days
- $11Ubigi (Nomad: $17.50)
- Do this first
- Apply for your UK ETA (£20) on GOV.UK, if your passport needs one
Most of these UK plans are data-only. Nomad sells plans with minutes and texts included; keep your home SIM on for bank and app SMS codes.
Why the UK is different
The European Commission says plainly that, since the UK left the EU, the EU’s “Roam Like at Home” rules don’t apply to travel to the UK. Some EU operators still include the UK in their roaming allowance, but that’s their choice, not an obligation, so EU visitors should check their own operator’s terms before relying on them.
The same goes for regional eSIMs. Plenty of providers sell “Europe” plans, but a Europe plan isn’t automatically a UK plan. If London is one stop on a longer European trip, open the plan’s country list and look for the United Kingdom before you buy (our Europe guide covers multi-country plans). If you’re only visiting the UK, a UK country plan is simpler and, on our check, cheap.
Quick picks
A week or two, normal use
A 10 GB / 30-day fixed plan. Ubigi listed the lowest price at $11, then Nomad at $17.50 and Saily at $18.99.
Heavy use or tethering
A week of unlimited data costs $21 from Ubigi, which gives 25 GB at full speed and then 2 Mbps. Nomad ($25) and Airalo ($27.00) cost more. Maya’s global plan is $19.99.
You want minutes too
Nomad sells 30-day UK plans with data, minutes and texts, from $13 for 5 GB with 100 minutes and 100 texts. Airalo’s UK page also has a data, calls and texts option.
Several countries
Check that a regional plan lists the UK. Nomad’s UK page links to a Europe regional plan; Maya’s single global plan covers the UK and many other countries at one price.
Step 1: Size your plan for the UK
Maps, messaging and ride-hailing apps are light on data; video, video calls and uploading photos are heavy. As a rough guide, maps and messaging use hundreds of megabytes a day, while streaming video can use several gigabytes. These are general estimates, not measurements.
Under a week, maps, messages and transit
3–5 GB fixed plan
1–2 weeks, photos, social apps and video
10–20 GB fixed, or unlimited
Remote work, video calls, tethering a laptop
Unlimited, after checking its fair-use and hotspot rules
Step 2: Compare published prices
Unlimited plans by trip length
| Days | Airalo | Nomad | Holafly | Ubigi | Yesim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $11.50 | $11 (lowest listed) | $11.90 | — | $12.60 |
| 5 days | $18.50 | $18 (lowest listed) | $20.50 | — | $21.00 |
| 7 days | $27.00 | $25 | $27.50 | $21 (lowest listed) | $29.40 |
| 10 days | $34.50 | $33 (lowest listed) | $37.50 | — | $35.93 |
| 15 days | $48.00 | — | $51.50 | $32 (lowest listed) | $46.80 |
| 30 days | $69.00 | $49 | $76.50 | $44 (lowest listed) | $68.40 |
Lowest listed price in the row — means no plan of that length was listed. Holafly ($3.90), Yesim ($4.20) and Ubigi ($5) also sell a single day. Saily sells unlimited plans too; its site wouldn’t let us read the price for each length, so it isn’t in the table. Maya sells one global unlimited plan at the same price for every country: $9.99 for 3 days, $19.99 for 7, $27.99 for 14 and $49.99 for 30 (see Maya). Official pages, checked 4 November 2026.
Fixed-data plans
| Data | Airalo | Nomad | Saily | Ubigi | Yesim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $4.003 days | $4.507 days | $4.497 days | — | $3.0030 days (lowest listed) |
| 3 GB | $9.007 days | $930 days | $8.9930 days | $530 days (lowest listed) | — |
| 5 GB | $13.0030 days | $1230 days | $12.9930 days | — | $11.5230 days (lowest listed) |
| 10 GB | $19.0030 days | $17.5030 days | $18.9930 days | $1130 days (lowest listed) | $19.2030 days |
| 20 GB | $31.0030 days | $2530 days (lowest listed) | $30.9930 days | — | $26.4030 days |
| 50 GB | $39.0030 days | — | — | $3230 days (lowest listed) | — |
Lowest listed price in the row Validity differs, so compare the small print as well as the price. Airalo also lists shorter versions (for example 10 GB for 7 days at $18.00). Ubigi also lists 10 GB for 7 days ($9), 25 GB for 30 days ($22) and an annual 60 GB plan (5 GB a month) for $29. Yesim also lists 30 GB for $33.60. Nomad’s 50 GB UK plan comes with minutes and texts ($39). Official pages, checked 4 November 2026.
Step 3: Check the fine print
- Networks. The UK’s main mobile networks include EE, Three, Vodafone and O2. Nomad lists Three, EE and Vodafone; Ubigi names EE and Three; Airalo names EE “+2 others”. Holafly, Saily and Yesim didn’t name a network on the pages we read.
- Unlimited isn’t always unlimited. Ubigi’s 7-day unlimited plan gives 25 GB at full speed, then 2 Mbps. Holafly limits hotspot sharing (its UK page gives 7 GB on a 7-day plan). Yesim says fair-usage speed limits may apply. Airalo’s and Nomad’s UK pages didn’t state a limit, so check the plan details before you buy.
- Activation windows. Nomad starts a plan automatically 60 days after purchase if you haven’t used it. Yesim and Saily give 180 days.
- Calls and texts. Nomad’s UK calls plans include 100 to 450 minutes and texts. The other plans in our tables are data-only. Saily sells an optional US number, and Yesim offers a 20-minute calling add-on for $4.79.
The seven providers
Airalo
- UK from
- $4.001 GB / 3 days
- Unlimited
- $27.007 days; $69.00 for 30 days
- 50 GB / 30 days
- $39.00
What stands out
The widest range of plan sizes on its UK page, from 1 GB to 50 GB in 3-, 7-, 15- and 30-day versions, plus unlimited plans from 3 to 30 days. The page also offers a data, calls and texts option.
What to watch
Among the more expensive options for a week of unlimited data. It names EE but not the other two networks, and the UK page doesn’t state a fair-use limit for unlimited plans.
Nomad
- UK from
- $4.501 GB / 7 days
- Data + calls
- $135 GB, 100 min, 100 texts / 30 days
- Unlimited
- $257 days; $49 for 30 days
What stands out
Lists three UK networks, the most of any provider here, and sells 30-day plans that bundle minutes and texts with 5 to 50 GB of data. There’s also a Europe regional plan.
What to watch
Plans start automatically 60 days after purchase, so don’t buy too early. The UK page doesn’t state a fair-use limit for unlimited plans.
Holafly
- UK from
- $3.901 day unlimited
- Unlimited
- $27.507 days; $76.50 for 30 days
- Backup
- "Always On": 1 GB a month
What stands out
The simplest choice: pick the number of days and get unlimited data. Every eSIM includes "Always On" backup data, and Holafly says refund requests can be made up to 6 months after purchase.
What to watch
Hotspot sharing is limited (7 GB on a 7-day plan, per the UK page). The 30-day plan is the most expensive here, and the page doesn’t name a network.
Saily
- UK from
- $4.491 GB / 7 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $18.99
- Unlimited
- Sold; prices per length not shown to us
What stands out
From the company behind NordVPN. Fixed plans sit mid-range on price, you get 180 days to activate, and you can add a US phone number.
What to watch
We couldn’t read its unlimited prices for each trip length, and the UK page doesn’t name a network. No plan above 20 GB.
Ubigi
- UK from
- $53 GB / 30 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $11lowest listed
- Unlimited
- $217 days; $32 for 15; $44 for 30
What stands out
The lowest listed prices for 10 GB over 30 days and for 7, 15 or 30 days of unlimited data among the country plans we compared. Its 7-day unlimited plan states the limit plainly: 25 GB at full speed, then 2 Mbps, and says data sharing is allowed.
What to watch
We only read the fair-use terms for the 7-day plan, so check the 15- and 30-day terms before you buy. The 60 GB annual plan gives 5 GB a month, which doesn’t suit a short trip.
Yesim
- UK from
- $3.001 GB / 30 days
- 10 GB / 30 days
- $19.20
- Unlimited
- $29.407 days; $68.40 for 30
What stands out
The cheapest small plan here (1 GB for 30 days), every fixed plan lasts 30 days, and unlimited data can be bought by the day ($4.20 for one). There’s a 20-minute calling add-on for $4.79.
What to watch
The highest price here for a week of unlimited, and no 3 GB plan. Hotspot use depends on the operator, and fair-usage speed limits may apply.
Maya
- 3 days
- $9.99unlimited data
- 7 days
- $19.99unlimited data
- 30 days
- $49.99unlimited data
What stands out
The lowest price we found for 3 or 7 days of unlimited data. It’s one global plan, so the same eSIM keeps working if the UK is one stop of several. Maya’s page says "No caps, no throttling."
What to watch
It renews automatically while Travel Mode is on, so turn it off when you get home. The page we read doesn’t name the local networks or spell out a fair-use policy, and we haven’t tested the no-throttling claim.
Paying for London transport by contactless
Transport for London says you can pay as you go with a contactless card or a phone on buses, the Tube, trams, the DLR, London Overground, most of the Elizabeth line, the Cable Car, Thames Clippers river buses and most National Rail services in London (Zones 1–9):
- Daily and weekly capping applies in Zones 1–9, which limits what you pay however many journeys you make.
- Cards issued outside the UK are accepted in many cases, but your bank may charge overseas transaction fees.
- Use the same card or device to touch in and out, or you may not be charged correctly.
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and other mobile wallets work, so a working phone (with charge) matters.
Will your phone work?
- eSIM-capable and unlocked. Apple lists iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later. Settings → General → About should say "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (full checklist).
- Bought in mainland China? Apple says that in China mainland only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air support eSIM. Many older mainland models use two physical SIM cards instead, so check for Add eSIM in your settings before you buy a plan.
- Bought in Hong Kong or Macau? Apple notes that certain iPhone models sold there have two nano-SIM slots. Check for Add eSIM in your settings first.
- Install before you fly. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and leave the line switched off until you land (install guide).
Entry rules: the UK ETA
GOV.UK says many visitors who don’t need a visa now need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before they travel. It costs £20 and is for visits of up to 6 months. It’s usually needed by people from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and other countries whose citizens don’t need a visa. Everyone needs their own ETA, including babies and children, and you also need one if you transit through a UK airport and pass through border control. You don’t need one with a British or Irish passport.
Travellers who aren’t eligible for an ETA need a visa instead. Use GOV.UK’s Check if you need a UK visa tool for your passport; this applies to Chinese travellers too, and we haven’t summarised their requirements here.
Use the official service
GOV.UK warns about websites that imitate the official ETA service and charge extra. Start from the GOV.UK page linked in our sources.
Our take
For most visitors, a 10 GB fixed plan covers a week or two, and Ubigi ($11) was well below the others we found. For unlimited data, Ubigi’s week costs $21 with a published 25 GB full-speed allowance; Maya’s global plan is a little cheaper but doesn’t name networks. If you want minutes and texts too, Nomad’s 30-day calls plans are the clearest option. EU visitors should check their home operator’s UK roaming terms first.
Affiliate links. Prices are set by the provider and confirmed at checkout.
Before you fly
Check your phone
Make sure it’s unlocked and eSIM-capable (how to check).
Apply for your ETA
If your passport needs one, apply through GOV.UK, one per traveller. Otherwise check whether you need a visa.
Buy and install at home
Install on Wi-Fi before departure and keep the line off until you land. With Nomad, don’t buy more than 60 days ahead.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the travel line, enable data roaming for that line, and set it as your mobile-data line. Use the same card or phone to touch in and out on London transport.
Check entry rules
The official GOV.UK pages are the authority on ETAs and visas. Visa services such as iVisa exist, but you can apply directly.
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Open the checklistFrequently asked questions
Does EU roaming work in the UK?
Not automatically. The European Commission says the EU’s Roam Like at Home rules don’t apply to travel to the UK since it left the EU. Some EU operators still include the UK, but they don’t have to, so check your operator’s terms.
Does a Europe eSIM cover the UK?
Only if the UK is on that plan’s country list. Check the list before you buy, or use a UK country plan.
What’s the cheapest UK eSIM?
On the official pages we checked (4 November 2026), 1 GB started at $3 (Yesim, 30 days). For 10 GB over 30 days, Ubigi listed $11. A week of unlimited data cost $21 from Ubigi, or $19.99 on Maya’s global plan.
Which UK networks do travel eSIMs use?
Nomad lists Three, EE and Vodafone; Ubigi names EE and Three; Airalo names EE plus two others. Holafly, Saily and Yesim didn’t name a network on their UK pages.
Is unlimited data really unlimited in the UK?
Not always. Ubigi’s 7-day plan slows to 2 Mbps after 25 GB, Holafly limits hotspot sharing, and Yesim says fair-usage limits may apply. Maya says its plan has no caps or throttling.
Can I get a UK eSIM with calls and texts?
Yes. Nomad sells 30-day UK plans with 5 to 50 GB of data plus 100 to 450 minutes and texts, from $13. Airalo’s UK page also lists a data, calls and texts option.
Do I need an ETA to visit the UK?
Many visa-free visitors do, including people from the USA, Australia, Canada and European countries. It costs £20 and every traveller needs one, including children. British and Irish citizens don’t. Others may need a visa; check on GOV.UK.
Can I use my own bank card on the London Underground?
Yes, in most cases. TfL accepts contactless cards and mobile wallets for pay as you go, including many cards issued outside the UK, though your bank may add overseas fees. Touch in and out with the same card or device.
Sources and method
Last checked 4 November 2026
All prices and plan facts on this page were read from these official pages on 4 November 2026. We have not purchased or tested these plans ourselves; we summarize what the providers publish, in our own words. Read our method.
- Airalo — United Kingdom eSIMsChecked 4 November 2026
- Nomad — United Kingdom eSIMChecked 4 November 2026
- Holafly — eSIM for the United KingdomChecked 4 November 2026
- Saily — eSIM for the United KingdomChecked 4 November 2026
- Ubigi — eSIM data plans for the UKChecked 4 November 2026
- Ubigi — UK Unlimited, 7 days (fair-use terms and networks)Checked 4 November 2026
- Yesim — eSIM for the United KingdomChecked 4 November 2026
- Maya — UK eSIMChecked 4 November 2026
- Apple Support — Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhoneChecked 4 November 2026
- European Commission — Roaming: Questions & AnswersChecked 4 November 2026
- Transport for London — Contactless and mobile pay as you goChecked 4 November 2026
- GOV.UK — Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)Checked 4 November 2026
- GOV.UK — Check if you need a UK visaChecked 4 November 2026
- SafetyWing: Nomad InsuranceChecked 4 November 2026