United Kingdom eSIM

Start with what you'll actually do online. The 100 MB and 500 MB options, at €0.23 and €0.40, both last 7 days and cover only light browsing, so the cheapest plan is rarely right for video. A 3 GB plan runs 15 days at €1.55, while 10 GB lasts 30 days at €4.75; there's also a 50 GB plan with 180-day validity, and that allowance is one fixed total rather than a monthly amount. Video calls, YouTube and laptop downloads drain data quickly. Pricing is per plan in euros; the best price for you is the smallest plan that still covers your needs, and the best value depends on how much data you actually use rather than the headline allowance. These recommendations assume your phone already passes the compatibility check below.

Listed networks: O2 UK, Vodafone UK. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions. The operator and network are listed on the plan page, so check them before you buy. No single network offers the best coverage everywhere; service quality and signal depend on your phone, location and how the network performs where you stand. 5G also needs a compatible phone inside a covered area.

Compatible phones need eSIM support and an unlocked network. Confirm your exact model and sales region first. On an iPhone (iOS), open Settings → General → About and look for 'No SIM restrictions'; on Android the path differs by brand, so use the compatibility guide for the manufacturer's steps. A model name alone won't catch every regional variant. The eSIM is a virtual SIM card, so you never handle a physical one.

Whether the plan arrives as a QR code or a download link, install it over steady Wi-Fi and save the instructions before you travel. An eSIM card is digital, not physical, so nothing arrives by post; still, instant installation depends on a working connection and a compatible phone. Follow the activation steps that came with your order, because installing the profile and starting its validity can be two separate events. On arrival, switch on the travel line and set it as your data line.

Your current WhatsApp account keeps working over the travel eSIM's internet connection, because these are data-only plans with no local phone number, standard calls or SMS. That means calling features and SMS aren't included. Verification texts from banks still route through your home SIM and carrier, so before you leave that line switched on, check its roaming charges.

The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. A data hotspot lets other devices share the same allowance. When tethering, pause cloud backups, app updates and large downloads so the data lasts for travel tasks.

Included coverage is the United Kingdom only: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where the local network reaches. The Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are outside the listed area. Offshore islands and maritime or aircraft networks aren't part of the plan, so check your exact location before travelling.

These are fixed data plans, not unlimited ones. The advertised allowance is the total for the chosen validity period, including any hotspot use, and it does not reset daily. When two plans have the same allowance but different day counts, make sure the number of days covers your entire stay. For a short holiday, a plan valid for 7 days is usually enough, but a visit of one day still needs that same plan since nothing shorter is listed; a trip of 2 weeks is a stay of 14 days, which the 15-day option covers. There's no contract or rolling subscription here, and whether that's affordable depends on your whole trip cost.

First confirm you're inside an included part of the United Kingdom, that the travel line is on and selected for mobile data, and that the data and validity haven't run out. Apply the supplied roaming and APN settings, then toggle airplane mode briefly or restart the phone. If the signal is weak, move somewhere else and test again. Keep the eSIM installed and have your phone model, location and order reference ready when you ask for help.

Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line, turn off automatic data switching and keep roaming off on your home line. If the travel eSIM needs data roaming switched on, apply that setting to the travel line only. Calls and texts on your regular SIM can still attract carrier charges.

If you need a different allowance or period, pick another available plan instead of assuming a top up. Don't assume a new purchase extends the current plan or carries over unused data. Follow the order instructions for any supported top-up or profile reuse, and leave the installed profile in place until you know how the next plan behaves.

Read the purchase conditions to see what makes a refund eligible and how activation or use affects it. Keep your order reference and a note of the connection problem when you ask for help. Don't delete the installed profile while the issue is still being looked into.