One regional eSIM, or one per country? Do the maths in ten seconds.
Multi-country trips have a hidden pricing puzzle. Our comparison runs the numbers on every plan we sell - total cost, cost per day, cost per GB - and tells you which setup is genuinely cheaper for your exact route.
A real route, priced right now
Switzerland, Austria and Czech Republic, 7 days and 5 GB in each. These are today's prices from our catalogue, refreshed daily - not an illustration.
Switzerland
7 days · 5 GB
Austria
7 days · 5 GB
Czech Republic
7 days · 5 GB
Option A One regional eSIM
| Vodafone Europe · 20 GB shared · valid 31 days · covers 31 countries | £10.68 |
| Total | £10.68 |
Option B 3 country eSIMs
| Switzerland Salt · 5 GB · valid 30 days · Top-ups | £3.32 |
| Austria A1.net · 5 GB · valid 30 days · Top-ups | £3.32 |
| Czech Republic Vodafone · 5 GB · valid 30 days · Top-ups | £3.32 |
| Total | £9.95 |
Prices are what you would pay at checkout right now, including any discount you qualify for. Link to this comparison
Your route, dates and data needs will change the answer. That is the point. Edit this example
How the comparison works
No estimates, no "from" prices. The tool queries the same plan database our checkout uses, at the price you would actually pay.
Build your route
Add each country you are visiting, with how many days you will stay and how much data you want there. Different amounts per country are fine.
We run every combination
We find the cheapest regional plan that covers your whole route with enough days and data, and the cheapest individual plan for each country, then put them side by side.
Buy the winner in one tap
Add the regional plan, or the whole country bundle, to your basket in a single click. Your eSIMs arrive by email, ready to install before you fly.
We show you the cheaper option. Even when it earns us less.
Most eSIM sites steer every multi-country traveller toward the regional plan, because it is usually the bigger sale. Our comparison is symmetric: if three small country plans beat one big regional plan, that is what gets the green stamp. If the regional plan wins, we also remind you that its data is a shared pool you can spend anywhere on your route, which is sometimes worth paying a little extra for.
The right answer depends on your trip, not our margins.
Built for trips with more than one border crossing
Backpackers
Five countries in three weeks? Short stays make per-country plans surprisingly competitive, but only sometimes. Run your whole route once and stop guessing at every border.
eSIMs for backpackers →Digital nomads
Long stays and heavy data flip the maths: 30-day, high-GB country plans often beat regional pricing outright. Compare your next two or three bases before you commit.
eSIMs for digital nomads →Popular routes, already priced
Switzerland, Austria and Czech Republic · France, Italy and Spain · Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a regional eSIM and a country eSIM?
A country eSIM works in one country, with its own data allowance and validity period. A regional eSIM covers a group of countries - our Europe plans cover 30 or more - with a single pool of data and one validity period that runs across your whole trip.
Which one is cheaper?
It genuinely depends. Regional plans tend to win on longer trips through many countries, because you buy days and data once. Country plans tend to win for short stays, uneven routes, or heavy data use in a single place. That is exactly why the comparison exists: it checks real prices for your specific route instead of a rule of thumb.
Is regional data shared between countries?
Yes, and this is the biggest practical difference. A 15 GB regional plan is one pool you can spend anywhere on your route. Three separate 5 GB country plans are hard caps: unused Austrian data cannot help you in Prague. If your usage is hard to predict, regional flexibility can be worth a small premium, and the comparison points this out when it is relevant.
What if I am staying different lengths of time in each country?
You set days and data per country - 10 days in Switzerland, 4 in Austria, whatever your route looks like. The regional option is checked against your total days and total data; each country option is checked against that country's own numbers.
Do you really recommend the option that earns you less?
Yes. The comparison is a straight price query against the same plan database our checkout uses, with no weighting toward bigger sales. When the cheaper option wins by a little but the pricier one is meaningfully more flexible, we say both things and let you decide.
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Most phones released since 2019 support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later and recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. Your phone must also be carrier-unlocked. Check yours with our compatibility checker before you buy - incompatible devices are not refundable. Check my device
When should I buy and install?
Buy any time before you travel; your eSIM arrives by email within minutes, and almost every plan gives you 180 days to install it. Install on Wi-Fi before you fly and follow the activation note on the plan page, since a few destinations require setup before departure. If you buy a country bundle, install all of them before you leave and switch the active line at each border.
Can I top up if I run out of data?
Most of our plans allow top-ups from your account without installing a new eSIM, but not all of them do. If you think you may go over your allowance, check that the plan you choose supports top-ups - it says so on the plan page, and the comparison tool can filter to top-up plans only.
Can I use my eSIM as a hotspot?
Tethering is not guaranteed on every plan and network, and our fair use policy asks you not to tether several devices at once. If hotspot use matters for your trip, contact support with the plan you are considering before you buy. Fair use policy
What is your refund policy?
An eSIM you have not scanned or installed on any device is eligible for a full refund, as is one that fails to activate through a fault on our side. Once an eSIM is activated and data has been used, it cannot be refunded. The full conditions are on our refund policy page. Refund policy