PikoeSIM
Excellent
Ireland eSIM
Plans from€0.27
500 MB 3 days
Dublin, Ireland
- 4G/5G data
- One prepaid price
- Check compatibility first
- Hotspot included
Choose your plan
Data for 3 days
Data for 7 days
Data for 15 days
Data for 30 days
Data for 180 days
Tech specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Country coverage | Republic of Ireland only. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, so Belfast and anywhere across the border need separate coverage. |
| Local networks | Vodafone Ireland, eir Ireland |
| Network technology | Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. |
| Data & validity | 11 data plans from 500 MB to 50 GB, with validity from 3 to 180 days. Entry prices are affordable, but the total cost depends on covering every day of your trip. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. No local phone number, no ordinary voice calls or SMS. Use WhatsApp, other messaging apps or internet calling instead. |
| Hotspot | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. |
| Your phone | Compatible phones must support eSIM and be unlocked to other networks. Check your exact model and where it was bought, not just the family name. |
How it works
Pick a plan, add the eSIM to your phone, then connect once you're in Ireland.
01Choose your plan
Choose data and validity that cover your trip. Save the setup instructions for offline access.
02Install before you fly
Install over Wi-Fi using your plan's instructions. Check when the plan's validity starts.
03Connect in Ireland
On arrival, turn on the eSIM and select it for mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your regular SIM.
Compare ways to get online in Ireland
Use prepaid data on the phone you already carry. This is how PikoeSIM compares with a rental router, home-carrier roaming and a physical SIM.
Swipe or scroll to compare all four options
| What matters | PikoeSIMTravel eSIM | Pocket Wi-FiRental router | RoamingYour home carrier | Local SIMPhysical SIM card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting connected | Download the eSIM to your phone, then follow the activation steps that come with your plan. | Book delivery or collect a rental router from the provider. | Turn on roaming and confirm your destination is covered by your home plan. | Buy a SIM card and insert it into a compatible SIM slot on your phone. |
| Extra equipment | None. You use the eSIM-compatible phone you already have. | A separate device to carry, charge and keep within range. | None. You keep using your existing phone and SIM. | A physical SIM card. You might need to remove your usual SIM to fit it. |
| Data & cost | From €0.27 for 500 MB / 3 days. You pick a fixed allowance when you order. | Rental fees and data terms vary by provider. Check delivery, loss and damage fees before booking. | Your carrier's rates apply. Some home plans already include roaming at your destination. | Prepaid prices, data allowances and validity periods differ between local operators. |
| Sharing your data | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. | Connect phones and other devices to the router. They all need to stay inside its Wi-Fi range. | Tethering depends on your carrier and your roaming plan. | Check that the local plan allows tethering before you rely on it. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. Make calls and send messages through internet apps. | Internet only. Regular calls and SMS still use your phone's mobile plan. | Calls and SMS are billed under your carrier's roaming terms. | A local number, calls and SMS depend on the specific plan you buy. |
| After your trip | There's nothing to send back when your trip ends. | Return the router and accessories on time. Late or missing returns can trigger extra fees. | No hardware to return afterwards. | You don't need to return any rental device. |
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to common setup and buying questions.
How do I pick the right Ireland eSIM plan?
Match the plan to your dates and usage. 500 MB for 3 days is the cheapest listed plan at €0.27, fine for a quick arrival or a 1 day layover. The 3 GB data plans cover 7, 15 or 30 days at the same €1.63 price, so pick the validity your holiday needs. A 10 GB, 30-day option at €5.00 handles heavier use like photos and video calls. For a family on a longer vacation, 50 GB over 180 days at €24.27 is the best value per gigabyte among these options. The best price for you is simply the smallest plan that fits your dates. Our recommendations start from your trip length, so check each offer's pricing before you buy. All allowances are fixed totals.
Which networks and features does the Ireland eSIM include, and is 5G available?
Listed networks: Vodafone Ireland, eir Ireland. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions.
Is my phone compatible with this eSIM?
You need an eSIM-compatible, network-unlocked phone. Check the exact model and where it was sold, not just the family name. On an iPhone running iOS, look for Add eSIM under Cellular or Mobile Data and check Carrier Lock in Settings, General, About. On Android, check the eSIM option for your specific device. The compatibility guide links to Apple, Samsung and Google instructions.
When do I install and activate the eSIM?
Install over stable Wi-Fi while you can still open the setup instructions. When the validity period begins depends on the activation steps supplied with your plan, so read them before you install. On arrival in Ireland, enable the line and set it as your mobile data source. Keep the instructions saved offline.
Can I use WhatsApp and get bank texts on this eSIM?
Your existing WhatsApp account can run on the travel eSIM's internet connection, along with YouTube and other apps. The plan has no local phone number, ordinary calls or SMS. A bank verification text still depends on your regular SIM, home carrier and bank, so check your home carrier's charges before leaving that line enabled.
Does the eSIM support tethering to other devices?
The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. The data hotspot works on both listed networks, and anything you connect draws from the same allowance as the phone. If you tether a laptop, pause system updates, cloud photo backups and large downloads so the data lasts.
Will this eSIM work in Northern Ireland or Belfast?
No. These plans cover the Republic of Ireland only, not the United Kingdom. Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and other Northern Ireland destinations need separate coverage. Near the border, keep your travel line selected deliberately and don't assume a similar operator name expands the plan's territory.
Is my data allowance unlimited or does it reset daily?
No. Each plan has a fixed total allowance for the displayed validity period, and it never resets daily. Hotspot traffic counts toward the same total. Choose enough days as well as enough data; leftover gigabytes don't extend an expired plan, and 30 days is not the same as one month. There's no monthly subscription or automatic renewal, so check the terms to confirm what no contract means for your order.
What should I try if mobile data isn't working?
Confirm you're inside the included territory, the eSIM is enabled and selected for mobile data, and the plan still has data and validity left. Apply the roaming and APN instructions supplied with the plan to the travel line only, then toggle airplane mode briefly or restart. Move to a different spot if the signal is weak or the connection quality is poor. Keep the eSIM installed and note your device model, location and order reference when asking for help.
How can I prevent my regular SIM from using data?
Set the Ireland eSIM as your mobile data line and turn off automatic data switching. Keep data roaming off on your home SIM. Apply any roaming setting the travel eSIM requires to that line only. Calls and SMS on your regular number still follow your home carrier's service terms.
Can I add more data or extend the plan?
If your dates or usage change, compare the available options online and buy a fresh plan that fits. A new allowance doesn't automatically extend an existing plan or carry over its balance, so check the purchase instructions before installing another one. For a top up or reuse of the installed profile, follow the options supplied with your order.
How do I request help or a refund?
Keep your order reference, phone model and installation details when you contact support through the help information supplied with your purchase. Refund eligibility depends on the purchase terms and whether the plan has been activated or used. Read those terms before you buy and keep the profile installed while a connection problem is investigated.
Using your eSIM in Ireland
An Ireland eSIM matched to the trip you're planning
Whether you land in Dublin, take the train toward Galway or spend one day in Connemara, one Ireland eSIM card covers maps, bookings and messages. It's a virtual sim card for a compatible, unlocked phone, so there's nothing physical to collect at the airport.
A 500 MB plan for 3 days is the cheapest option at €0.27, enough for a short arrival window. The 3 GB plans run for 7, 15 or 30 days, each priced at €1.63; pick the validity that matches your dates, not just the data. A 10 GB, 30-day plan at €5.00 gives more headroom for photos and video calls. For a long stay, 50 GB stretches up to 180 days at €24.27. Every allowance is a fixed total, so nothing resets daily.
City signal. Offline maps once you head west.
Listed networks: Vodafone Ireland, eir Ireland. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions. Save your Connemara route before you leave your accommodation. Buying more gigabytes won't fix a weak signal on a remote road or hillside, and we don't promise best coverage in every corner.
Out to the west.Dublin, Ireland
Dublin: sort your bus zone before you head out.
Dublin Airport splits buses into zones, and each operator uses different ones. Pull up the airport's zone map, check your ticket against the operator's current stop details and save your zone before you leave arrivals. A city-centre stop and a nationwide coach can depart from different places.
If you're heading straight to Galway, check the airport's nationwide coach listings before you detour into Dublin. Keep the ticket and exact destination stop saved offline; the airport suggests confirming current details with the operator.
For a stay in town, message your host with an arrival time and pin the accommodation entrance. A map helps with the last walk from the bus stop, but keep a written address as backup. Messaging apps run over data; a standard phone call needs a separate calling service.
Save before you goYour coach ticket, the terminal-to-bus-zone map and the accommodation entrance. Save the return airport stop as a separate pin.
Galway: confirm the station name before you board.
The Dublin–Galway line runs from Dublin Heuston to Galway. Confirm the station name on your ticket before you arrange a lift in Dublin, and check Irish Rail's journey planner for the train you plan to take.
On arrival in Galway, open your accommodation pin and confirm the next day's pickup spot with your tour or transport operator. Getting off the train doesn't tell you where a separate excursion meets.
Hold back enough data for departure changes and directions, then use accommodation Wi-Fi for big photo backups. An allowance for 7 days won't cover a trip of 14 days or 2 weeks, even if you only use a little each day; the days run out just like the data.
Save before you goYour ticket, station name, onward pickup pin and the last return service that still fits your plans.
Connemara: save the trail map before you set off.
Connemara National Park's main entrance and visitor centre sit near Letterfrack on the N59. Save that exact spot instead of a broad park label. Check the park's notices before you go; visitor-centre hours and trail access change.
The park publishes a Diamond Hill trails map with routes of varying difficulty. Pick a walk that suits your group and download the map before you lose a reliable connection. Beyond the marked trails, the park says only experienced hikers with map and compass skills should go.
Use data to check the forecast and send your intended route and return time before you set off. A national plan isn't a promise of reception at every viewpoint, so keep the route and pickup details on the phone itself.
Save before you goDownloaded trail map, Letterfrack entrance point, current weather, and an agreed return schedule.
Choose your Ireland plan
Compare data amounts and durations to find the plan that fits your trip.
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