RedEx
RedEx focuses on low-unit-price data-only traffic, providing 4G/LTE roaming networks across more than 40 European countries (including the UK, Switzerland, and Turkey). Its average cost ranges between $1.5 and $3 per GB, which is significantly lower than the $10 daily international roaming passes from Verizon or AT&T.
The product does not provide a phone number and cannot send or receive traditional SMS messages, but it supports enabling personal hotspots to share the network with other devices. Its labeled “unlimited data” plans are subject to Fair Usage Policy (FUP) restrictions; after reaching a daily high-speed data usage of 1GB or 2GB, the network speed will be reduced to 128kbps.
Pricing System
- Average Unit Price: Data costs approximately $1.5 to $3 per GB, with lower unit prices for high-capacity plans.
- Starter Plans: 1GB or 3GB data packages are priced between $4 and $8, with a validity of 7 to 14 days.
- Monthly Plans: Fixed data packages of 10GB and above usually have a 30-day validity and maintain full-speed 4G network without throttling during the usage period.
- Unlimited Plans: After exceeding the high-speed data threshold of 1GB or 2GB per day, the network speed will be forcibly reduced to 128kbps.
Functional Configuration
- Network Coverage: Covers over 40 European countries, including EU member states as well as non-EU regions like the UK and Switzerland.
- Network Latency: Accesses local partners (such as Orange or O2) via roaming mechanisms, with Ping values typically between 100ms and 200ms.
- Number Permissions: Data-only network, no phone number included, unable to receive SMS messages from banks or Uber drivers.
- Hotspot Support: Allows enabling the Tethering function to share data with laptops or iPads.
- Activation Mechanism: Install in advance by scanning the QR Code domestically; the plan validity officially begins upon the first connection to a local network after landing in Europe.
- After-sales Support: Only provides email or web ticket customer service, no real-time live chat; replies usually require waiting several hours.
Suitable Target Users
- Budget-limited Short-to-Medium Term Travelers: Backpackers with trips lasting 7 to 14 days who rely on fixed-capacity plans to control travel expenses.
- Multi-device Users: Self-driving travelers who need to distribute the network to tablets or fellow companions via hotspots.
- Data-only App Users: Tourists who only use WhatsApp, Google Maps, or Instagram and do not need to make traditional phone calls to contact Airbnb hosts.
Airalo
Airalo’s European regional plan “Eurolink” covers 39 countries, with pricing ranging from 1GB ($5, 7 days) to 100GB ($185, 180 days). Its most popular 10GB plan is priced at $37, with an average cost of $3.7 per GB. Although the unit price is slightly higher than some budget competitors, the management functions provided by its App are currently the most comprehensive on the market.
The network primarily accesses 4G/LTE signals from tier-1 operators like Movistar, Orange, or O2, with 5G supported in some areas. This service is a data-only eSIM, provides no phone number, supports hotspot sharing, and allows users to purchase “Top-up” add-on packages directly within the App before data is exhausted without needing to reinstall a profile.
Pricing System
- Short-term Experience: A 1GB data package is priced at $5 with a 7-day validity, suitable for short-term travelers who only need a small amount of data for maps.
- Mainstream Choice: The 10GB plan is priced at $37 with a 30-day validity, making it the most common choice for European trips of about two weeks.
- Long-term Large Volume: Provides 50GB ($100) and 100GB ($185) large-capacity packages, with validity extended to 90 days and 180 days.
- Convenient Recharging: When data is exhausted, you can click “Top-up” in the App to buy a new data package, which takes effect immediately without rescanning a code.
Functional Configuration
- App Experience: Features the industry’s most intuitively designed iOS and Android applications, supporting one-click eSIM installation and real-time monitoring of remaining data.
- Network Roaming: Automatically switches to local partner operators (e.g., Orange in France, O2 in Germany) when moving across borders, primarily utilizing 4G/LTE connections.
- Number Function: Data Only service, does not come with a phone number, cannot make/receive calls or send/receive SMS messages.
- Device Sharing: Allows enabling a personal hotspot (Tethering) to share the data network with iPads, laptops, or other mobile phones.
- Coverage Area: A single plan covers 39 countries, eliminating the need to purchase additional eSIMs specifically for the UK or Switzerland.
Suitable Target Users
- Tech Novices: Users using eSIM for the first time who need extremely simple installation guides and an intuitive App interface to manage data.
- Multi-country Travelers: Tourists planning to visit multiple countries like France, Italy, and Switzerland in one trip without wanting to switch settings in every country.
- Long-term Residents: Digital nomads or international students who need data connection services for 3 to 6 months and find it inconvenient to sign long-term local contracts.
Holafly
Holafly offers “unlimited data” eSIM services for 32 European countries, with pricing calculated entirely by the number of days. Single-day plans start from $5.9 for 1 day up to $99 for 90 days, with the lowest daily cost being $1.1.
It accesses networks like Vodafone and Orange, providing 4G/5G connections suitable for high-data-consumption environments. This European plan strictly prohibits enabling personal hotspots (Tethering) for sharing with other devices.
This eSIM comes with an Austrian (+43) number, allowing users to make and receive a total of 120 minutes of calls within Europe, but it does not support SMS.
Pricing System
- Billing by Day: Offers purchase options from 1 day to 90 days, allowing users to precisely match their travel duration.
- Short-term Plans: The price for 1 day of unlimited data is $5.9, and the 5-day plan is $19.
- Long-term Discounts: The 30-day plan is priced at $69, and the 90-day plan is $99; the longer the duration, the lower the average daily price.
- Refund Policy: Supports full refunds if the eSIM has not been scanned/activated and the purchase was made within the last 6 months.
Functional Configuration
- Network Coverage: Covers 32 European countries, with priority access to local 5G networks in places like the UK and France.
- Data Policy: Provides unlimited data without a hard GB cap; in rare cases of abuse, it may trigger speed reduction limits from local operators.
- Hotspot Restrictions: Explicitly prohibits sharing data via hotspots with laptops, iPads, or other companions’ phones.
- Calling Bonus: Includes a virtual Austrian number starting with +43, featuring 60 minutes of outgoing and 60 minutes of incoming European calling credit.
- SMS Restrictions: The included number is for voice calls only and cannot send or receive any SMS messages.
Suitable Target Users
- Heavy Data Consumers: Tourists who need to spend hours every day watching YouTube videos, making FaceTime calls, or uploading large amounts of photos.
- Single-device Users: Individuals traveling alone who only use the network on one smartphone and do not need to share data with other devices.
- Travelers Needing Limited Calling: People who need to occasionally call local restaurants for reservations or contact hotel front desks but do not need to receive SMS verification codes.
Ubigi
Ubigi’s “One-Off” European plan offers a 10GB data package for 30 days at $16 (approximately $1.6 per GB), supporting 5G high-speed networks. Its advantage lies in providing a lifetime reusable eSIM profile; users only need to scan and install it once, and all subsequent data plans for any country can be purchased and activated directly in the App without repeated scanning.
The network covers 27 EU countries plus the UK and Switzerland, primarily accessing 5G/4G signals from tier-one operators like T-Mobile, Orange, and Vodafone. This service is a data-only eSIM, providing no phone number or SMS functions, but fully supports personal hotspot (Tethering) sharing.
Pricing System
- Short-term Low Volume: A 3GB data package valid for 30 days is priced at $8, suitable for light users.
- Mainstream Recommendation: A 10GB data package valid for 30 days is priced at $16, offering high cost-performance.
- Large Volume Long-term: A 50GB data package valid for 30 days is priced at $49, as low as $0.98 per GB on average.
- Annual Plans: Offers an annual subscription service for 2GB per month at a total price of $29, suitable for business people frequently traveling to Europe.
Functional Configuration
- Reuse Mechanism: The eSIM profile is permanently valid once installed, supporting direct top-up and activation for plans in 190+ countries worldwide.
- Network Quality: Priority access to 5G networks in major countries like the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, with automatic fallback to high-quality 4G in remote areas.
- Hotspot Sharing: Allows enabling a personal hotspot to share full high-speed data with laptops or iPads.
- Low Latency: Regional European traffic is routed through local gateways, with Ping values typically below 100ms, resulting in extremely fast webpage loading.
- Account Management: The App supports real-time viewing of remaining data and sends reminder notifications before data is exhausted.
Suitable Target Users
- Speed Seekers: Users sensitive to network speed and latency who need stable 5G signals for video conferences or high-definition streaming.
- Frequent Travelers: Business frequent flyers who often travel between different European countries and want to keep the same eSIM settings, purchasing plans only as needed.
- Multi-device Professionals: Digital nomads carrying laptops or tablets who need to perform high-intensity mobile office work via phone hotspots.
Truphone
Relying on its own global underlying network infrastructure, Truphone provides 4G/5G data services in 36 European countries with latency typically below 80ms. Its European regional 10GB plan is priced at $15 for 30 days, costing only $1.5 per GB.
Unlike other brands that rely on third-party roaming agreements, Truphone has extremely short disconnection times when switching networks across borders, usually completing reconnection to a new country’s base station within 10 seconds.
This service is a data-only eSIM and does not provide a phone number, but it natively supports personal hotspot (Tethering) sharing and has extremely high compatibility with smart terminals such as Apple Watch and iPad.
Pricing System
- Unit Cost: The average spend per GB of data is between $1.2 and $2, with lower unit prices for large-capacity packages.
- Starter Plans: A 3GB data package is priced at $7 for 30 days, suitable for light users who only check maps outside hotels.
- Mainstream Choice: A 10GB data package is priced at $15 for 30 days, covering the regular data consumption of most two-week European itineraries.
- Large Volume Plans: A 20GB data package is priced at $25 for 30 days, meeting medium-to-high intensity social media video loading needs.
Functional Configuration
- Network Foundation: Has an independent global mobile network code (MNC), allowing direct scheduling on the underlying backbone network during international roaming, resulting in extremely low data latency.
- Terminal Compatibility: Beyond smartphones, it provides highly stable underlying support for iPads and Apple Watches with cellular functionality.
- Coverage Area: A single plan covers the 27 EU countries plus 36 major European countries including the UK, Switzerland, and Norway.
- Device Sharing: Allows enabling a personal hotspot to smoothly share the low-latency 4G/5G network with companions or other electronic devices.
- Number Attribute: Data-only connection service, does not include any physical or virtual phone numbers, unable to make traditional voice calls or receive SMS messages.
Suitable Target Users
- Cross-border Self-drivers: Travelers who frequently cross borders of multiple European countries and need Google Maps navigation to maintain fast reconnection during base station handovers.
- Multi-smart Device Owners: People who carry a cellular version of iPad or Apple Watch and want these devices to independently and stably access local networks.
- Business Travelers: Professionals who are extremely sensitive to network Ping values and need to conduct high-quality Zoom or Microsoft Teams video conferences while traveling.
Orange Holiday Europe
Orange Holiday Europe provides an eSIM service that comes with a real French (+33) mobile number. Its 12GB plan is priced at $29.90 for 14 days, with a cost of approximately $2.49 per GB.
As the largest native telecom operator in France, it provides high-priority 4G/5G network access across 39 countries in Europe. The plan includes unlimited voice calls and SMS messages within Europe, plus a bonus of 30 minutes of global calling and 200 global SMS.
The network fully supports personal hotspot (Tethering) sharing, and users can extend usage time by purchasing top-up packages through the official website before the initial validity ends.
Pricing System
- Standard Plan: A 12GB data package is priced at $29.90 for 14 days, with an average cost of about $2.49 per GB.
- High Capacity Plan: A 50GB data package is priced at $59.90 for 28 days, suitable for heavy data users on longer single trips.
- Basic Plan: Offers a low-spec version with only 1GB of data for $4.90, valid for 7 days, suitable for travelers on very short-term international layovers.
- Recharge Extension: After the initial validity period ends, users must purchase top-up packages ranging from $15 to $40 on the official website to keep the number and continue using the network.
Functional Configuration
- Native Number: Comes with a real French (+33) mobile number, capable of receiving calls from Uber drivers or SMS verification codes for various Apps.
- Communication Allowance: Plans of 12GB and above include unlimited calls and SMS within Europe, plus a 30-minute global calling allowance and 200 global SMS.
- Network Tier: As a European tier-one operator, it enjoys extremely high network bandwidth locally in France and top-tier 4G/5G access rights in the other 38 roaming countries.
- Device Sharing: Allows enabling the personal hotspot function to share high-speed data fully with accompanying laptops, tablets, or other phones.
- Real-name Registration: To extend the usage period of the number and plan beyond 30 days, passport information must be submitted for real-name authentication according to local European regulations.
Suitable Target Users
- Comprehensive Communication Seekers: Travelers who must use a local phone to book restaurants, contact Airbnb hosts, or receive SMS verification codes for various software.
- Cross-border Business Professionals: Professionals who need high-speed 5G networks and frequently make international voice calls to contact global colleagues or clients.
- High Network Requirement Users: Users with high standards for data loading speed and signal connectivity who are unwilling to tolerate the high latency of third-party roaming networks.