eTravelSIM is one of the few travel eSIM providers that offers real voice calling with a local phone number alongside data, which makes it a strong pick for anyone who needs to actually call a supplier, a hotel, or a bank while abroad. But it is not the right fit for every traveler. If you only need data, if you want a subscription that auto-renews across a full year of travel, or if you are hunting for the absolute cheapest entry price on a single short trip, one of the alternatives below may serve you better.
I run Ecommerce Paradise, where I teach people how to build location-independent ecommerce businesses, and connectivity is one of the recurring tools I get asked about. Here are the eSIM alternatives worth knowing, what each one does differently, and when to actually pick it over eTravelSIM.
| Alternative | Best For | Calling |
|---|---|---|
| iRoamly | Cheapest entry price, unlimited hotspot | No, data only |
| Amigoesim | Variable hotspot, competitive pricing | Varies by destination |
| Airalo | Widest brand recognition, huge coverage | Select US/UK plans only |
| Holafly | Subscription travelers, unlimited data | No, data only |
| Saily | Global subscription with hotspot included | No, data only |
| Google Fi | US-based travelers who want one phone plan | Yes, full phone plan |
1. iRoamly: Best for the Lowest Entry Price
iRoamly undercuts eTravelSIM on price for pure data plans, with entry pricing starting around $0.55 for smaller data allocations, and it includes unlimited hotspot tethering on its plans, which eTravelSIM’s unlimited tier does not fully match. It covers 148 countries, a slightly smaller footprint than eTravelSIM’s 190+, but still broad enough for the vast majority of business travel destinations. The tradeoff is straightforward: iRoamly has no calling feature at all, so if a phone number matters for your trip, this is not the pick.
Choose iRoamly when your trip is purely about staying online for maps, messaging, and email, and you want to tether your laptop without worrying about a data cap eating into your allowance.
2. Amigoesim: Best for Variable Hotspot Needs
Amigoesim sits in a similar price bracket to eTravelSIM and iRoamly, with hotspot support that varies by destination rather than being uniformly available or unavailable. Coverage runs to 120+ countries, and calling availability also varies by destination rather than being a consistent feature across the board. This makes Amigoesim worth checking specifically for the country you are traveling to rather than assuming its feature set matches what it offers elsewhere.
3. Airalo: Best for Brand Recognition and Coverage Breadth
Airalo is the most widely recognized name in the travel eSIM space and covers 200+ countries with a simple, well-reviewed app. Most of its plans are data-only, though its US and UK local eSIMs and the Discover+ version of its Global eSIM do include a local number with voice minutes and texts, so calling is not entirely absent from Airalo the way it is with most other alternatives on this list, it is just limited to a small subset of plans rather than being available everywhere. Pricing is generally competitive though not always the cheapest option for any single destination. The main advantage of Airalo is ecosystem maturity: a polished app, broad device compatibility documentation, and enough market presence that most travelers have already heard of it before their first eSIM purchase.
Choose Airalo when you want a familiar, well-documented option, particularly for a first-time eSIM user who wants the smoothest possible onboarding experience. If you specifically need calling outside the US or UK, eTravelSIM’s broader calling footprint across 40+ countries is still the stronger pick.
4. Holafly: Best for Set-and-Forget Simplicity
Holafly runs on a flat unlimited data structure rather than eTravelSIM’s pay-per-destination pricing, and it now covers 200+ destinations. Entry pricing runs higher than eTravelSIM’s cheapest plans, generally $6 or more per day depending on the plan, but for travelers who never want to think about how much data they have left, the flat-rate simplicity can be worth the premium. Holafly does not offer calling plans, so it solves a different problem than eTravelSIM’s phone number capability, and it is worth picking specifically when you value never checking a data meter over getting the lowest possible price.
5. Saily: Best for Flexible, Tiered Data Control
Saily also covers 200+ destinations, matching Holafly’s reach, but structures its plans around fixed tiers from 1GB up through 100GB or unlimited depending on the destination, giving you more control over exactly how much you are paying for. This suits a traveler who knows roughly how much data a trip requires and would rather not pay a flat unlimited rate for data they will not fully use. Like Holafly, Saily does not offer voice calling, so it is a strong pick if your priority is broad, reliable data coverage with pricing flexibility rather than a local phone number.
6. Google Fi: Best for US-Based Travelers Who Want One Full Plan
Google Fi works differently from the dedicated travel eSIM providers above. It is a full phone plan rather than a travel-only add-on, meaning it includes your regular US number alongside data and texting that works across 200+ destinations. Google Fi’s own international travel page confirms international texting is free on its Unlimited Premium and Flexible plans, and international data comes included at no extra cost on the Premium plan or at the same $10 per GB rate you pay domestically on the Flexible plan. Calling is the one place this is not simply “free like at home”: cellular voice calls placed while abroad run around 20 cents per minute even on the higher-tier plans, so Google Fi solves the data and texting problem cleanly but is not a free-calling replacement for a dedicated calling-enabled eSIM.
There is also a real setup requirement worth knowing before you consider switching: Google Fi requires you to have active service in the US and use it domestically for at least one day before you travel, so this is not something you can set up the morning of an international flight. For a US-based entrepreneur who travels internationally several times a year and wants one account instead of juggling a new eSIM every trip, replacing your primary phone plan with Google Fi removes that recurring purchase entirely. The tradeoff is that switching your primary number to a new carrier is a bigger commitment than adding a temporary travel eSIM, and Google Fi is not the cheapest option for someone who only travels abroad occasionally.
According to Cloudwards’ comparison of travel eSIM providers, most dedicated travel eSIM services, including the alternatives above, are priced and structured specifically for temporary trips rather than as a full-time carrier replacement, which is exactly the gap Google Fi fills for travelers who would rather solve the problem once at the account level.
Holafly vs Saily: How the Two Subscription Options Actually Differ
Holafly and Saily are the two subscription-style alternatives on this list, and it is worth understanding how they differ before assuming they are interchangeable. Surfshark’s comparison of Saily and Holafly lays out the core distinction clearly: “Holafly keeps it simple with unlimited data you pay for daily, while Saily gives you more control over how much you spend with fixed data plans,” ranging from 1GB up to 100GB or unlimited depending on destination. Both now cover 200+ destinations, and both are confirmed data-only with no phone number or calling feature included on either service.
If you want the simplicity of never thinking about a data cap again, Holafly’s flat unlimited structure removes that decision entirely. If you want more control over what you are actually paying for and would rather not pay a flat unlimited rate when you only need a few gigabytes, Saily’s tiered structure gives you that flexibility. Neither solves the calling problem eTravelSIM addresses, so the choice between them comes down purely to how you prefer to buy data, not which one is more full-featured.
What None of These Alternatives Solve Nearly as Well as eTravelSIM
It is worth being direct about the gap between eTravelSIM and every dedicated travel eSIM alternative on this list. iRoamly, Amigoesim, Holafly, and Saily are all fully data-only, meaning zero calling capability regardless of price or subscription structure. Airalo comes closest with calling limited to its US and UK local plans and its Discover+ Global tier, but that leaves the majority of its country-specific plans without a phone number. Google Fi technically includes calling, but at roughly 20 cents per minute abroad and only after you commit to using it as your full primary phone plan with a US-based service history first. If a real, low-friction local phone number is genuinely part of what your trip needs across a broad set of destinations, none of these alternatives replace what eTravelSIM offers without a meaningful compromise somewhere.
This is worth stating plainly rather than glossing over, because it is easy to read a list of alternatives and assume they are interchangeable substitutes. They are not. Each one trades away the calling feature in exchange for a lower price, a simpler subscription, or broader brand recognition. Understanding that tradeoff before you buy prevents the frustrating experience of landing somewhere and realizing your data-only eSIM cannot make the phone call you actually needed to make.
Testing Alternatives Before You Commit to One
Because eSIM plans are typically inexpensive and most modern phones support multiple stored eSIM profiles, there is little downside to testing two providers side by side on a lower-stakes trip before committing to one as your default. Buy a small data plan from eTravelSIM and a comparably sized plan from one alternative, then compare activation speed, actual data speeds in your specific destination, and customer support responsiveness if anything goes wrong. What works flawlessly in one country can behave differently in another depending on which local carrier partner each provider works with there.
This testing approach mirrors how I recommend approaching supplier vetting for a new ecommerce business: start small, verify performance directly rather than trusting marketing claims alone, and only commit fully once you have firsthand evidence the option actually performs the way it claims to.
Regional Strengths Worth Knowing Before You Pick
No single provider on this list is uniformly the best performer in every country. Coverage quality depends on which local carrier each reseller partners with in a specific market, and that partnership can change over time without much public notice. A provider that performed flawlessly in Western Europe last year is not guaranteed to be the strongest option in Southeast Asia this year. Checking recent, destination-specific reviews rather than relying on a provider’s overall reputation is worth the extra five minutes before a trip to a country you have not used that provider in before.
How to Actually Choose Between These Options
Start with whether you need a real phone number for this specific trip. If yes, eTravelSIM remains the strongest option among dedicated travel eSIMs on this list, since none of the alternatives above match its calling feature outside of switching your entire primary phone plan to Google Fi. If you only need data, the decision comes down to your travel frequency: occasional single trips favor the cheapest data-only option like iRoamly, while constant multi-country travel favors a subscription option like Holafly or Saily that removes the friction of repeated purchases.
My guide to finding reliable suppliers makes a similar point about comparison shopping: the cheapest option is rarely the best one once you factor in the specific problem you are actually trying to solve. The same logic applies to picking a travel eSIM. Match the tool to the trip rather than defaulting to whichever provider you used last time.
eSIM Coverage and the Broader Digital Nomad Toolkit
Connectivity is just one piece of running a location-independent high-ticket dropshipping business. Once you have reliable data and, if needed, a local number sorted out, the harder parts of the business, sourcing product and building out your niche strategy, still need the same disciplined comparison approach applied here. Testing two or three eSIM providers on low-stakes trips before you commit to one as your default is a reasonable way to build confidence before a higher-stakes supplier visit where connectivity actually matters.
The legal and financial setup of your business is worth getting right before you are troubleshooting an eSIM activation from an airport gate. Handle the foundational pieces at home, then travel confidently once the operational basics are already solid.
None of this needs to be complicated. Most entrepreneurs settle into one or two go-to providers after a couple of trips and stop reevaluating every option before each purchase, which is exactly the point of doing the comparison work once, upfront, rather than repeating it every single time you travel. Treat this list as a reference to come back to when your travel pattern changes, not a decision you need to remake from scratch on every trip.
Connectivity is a small piece of running a profitable location-independent business. See how our coaching program covers the rest of the operational picture →
If you are just getting started, my free beginner’s guide to high-ticket dropshipping is the right first stop. If you would rather have the technical build handled for you, my done-for-you service takes care of the setup work directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest alternative to eTravelSIM?
iRoamly generally offers the lowest entry price for pure data plans, starting around $0.55, though it does not include a calling feature. It is a strong pick if price is your only real constraint.
Which eTravelSIM alternative includes calling?
Among the dedicated travel eSIM options, none of the alternatives listed match eTravelSIM’s calling feature directly. Google Fi is the closest equivalent, but it functions as a full phone plan replacement rather than a temporary travel add-on.
Is a subscription eSIM better than a pay-per-trip option?
It depends on travel frequency. Subscription options like Holafly and Saily make more sense for travelers moving between countries constantly, while occasional travelers usually save money with pay-per-trip options like eTravelSIM or iRoamly.
Does Airalo offer calling plans?
Mostly no. Most Airalo plans are data-only, but its US and UK local eSIMs and the Discover+ version of its Global eSIM do include a local number with voice minutes and texts. Outside those specific plans, Airalo is data-only like most competitors in this category.
Should I switch my whole phone plan to Google Fi instead of using travel eSIMs?
It depends on how often you travel internationally for business or personal reasons. Frequent travelers who want to avoid buying a new eSIM every single trip may find switching genuinely worthwhile, while occasional travelers are usually better off keeping their home plan and buying a temporary travel eSIM as needed instead.
Can I use more than one eSIM provider on the same phone?
Yes, most modern phones support multiple eSIM profiles, though typically only one or two can be active for data at the same time depending on your device. This makes it practical to test different providers across separate trips before settling on a default.
Do any of these alternatives match eTravelSIM’s coverage of 190+ countries?
Saily and Holafly both come close, now covering 200+ destinations, which technically exceeds eTravelSIM’s footprint on raw country count. Coverage breadth is not the differentiator between these providers though, since actual network quality and calling capability vary far more than the headline country count suggests.
Is it worth paying more for a provider with calling if I rarely need to make calls?
Probably not. If calling is a rare, occasional need rather than a regular part of your trip, a cheaper data-only alternative plus an occasional WiFi call or a local SIM purchased on arrival usually works out more cost-effective than paying a recurring premium for a feature you barely use.
Trevor Fenner is an ecommerce entrepreneur and the founder of Ecommerce Paradise, a platform focused on helping entrepreneurs build and scale profitable high-ticket ecommerce and dropshipping businesses. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Trevor specializes in high-ticket dropshipping strategy, niche and product selection, supplier recruiting and onboarding, Google & Bing Shopping ads, ecommerce SEO, and systems-driven automation and scaling. Through Ecommerce Paradise, he provides free education via in-depth guides like How to Start High-Ticket Dropshipping, advanced training through the High-Ticket Dropshipping Masterclass, and fully done-for-you turnkey ecommerce services for entrepreneurs who want a faster, more hands-off path to growth. Trevor is known for emphasizing sustainable, real-world ecommerce models over hype-driven tactics, helping store owners build scalable, sellable, and location-independent brands.
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