On this page 4 sections
The four options at a glance
| Travel eSIM | Pocket WiFi rental | Home-carrier roaming | Local SIM card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Prepaid package, bought online | Daily rental, often plus a deposit | Daily pass or pay-per-use on your bill | Prepaid, bought on arrival |
| Setup | Install before you fly | Pick up and return a device | Usually nothing | Find a shop; ID often required |
| Keeps home number active | Yes (dual SIM) | Yes | Yes | Only on dual-SIM phones |
| Sharing | Hotspot (rules vary) | Designed for several devices | Hotspot (rules vary) | Hotspot (rules vary) |
| Extra device to charge | No | Yes | No | No |
| Local phone number | Usually no | No | No (home number) | Usually yes |
Travel eSIM
Good for: solo travelers and couples with compatible phones who want data the moment they land. Plans are cheap at the small end: for example, Saily lists 1 GB in Thailand for $2.99 and Nomad lists 1 GB in Japan for $4 (official pages, Nov 2026).
Less good for: older or carrier-locked phones, and people who need a local phone number.
Pocket WiFi
A small battery-powered router you rent. It works with any WiFi device, and one rental can serve a family or group.
The downsides are logistics: pickup and return, a battery to charge daily, and everyone needing to stay near the device. Rental pricing varies widely, so compare a specific quote against eSIM prices for each person.
Home-carrier roaming
The zero-effort option: your phone just works. Many carriers sell daily or weekly passes, which can be reasonable for a day or two. Pay-as-you-go rates without a pass can be very expensive.
Look up your carrier's current roaming page and compare the total for your trip. EU residents travelling inside the EU may already be covered.
Local SIM card
A local number and often generous data. You may need your passport to register it, and airport kiosks are not always the cheapest place to buy.
It only makes sense if your phone accepts a second SIM or you're willing to remove your home SIM.
Some eSIM providers publish their own comparison claims about pocket WiFi. Treat any vendor's comparison as marketing and do the maths for your own trip.
Bottom line
Compatible phone
A travel eSIM is usually the simplest and cheapest.
Family or non-eSIM devices
Price a pocket WiFi against one eSIM per person.
One day in transit
Your carrier's day pass may be good enough.
Need a local number
A local SIM from a local operator.
Affiliate links. Prices are set by the provider and confirmed at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Often, for trips longer than a day or two, but it depends on your carrier's pass. Look up your carrier's current roaming page and compare the total for your trip against an eSIM.
Is pocket WiFi better for families?
It can be: one rental serves several devices. Compare a specific rental quote against one eSIM per person, and remember everyone has to stay near the 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.
- Saily — eSIM for ThailandChecked 4 November 2026
- Nomad — Japan eSIMChecked 4 November 2026
- Saily — eSIM for JapanChecked 4 November 2026