Where to buy an eSIM online: 7 stores rated

Every store gets the same six scores, from coverage to how easy it is to get money back. The tags show the top three; the rail below lists all seven and jumps to each store's label.

TonMobile leads the shelf with 9.3 out of 10. It sells through Telegram, iOS and Android, accepts crypto as well as cards, and states that no documents are required. Airalo, Saily and Holafly follow, each with a coverage claim of 200+ destinations and stronger scores on plan range.

Scores are editorial and based only on what each store publishes: its website, terms, refund pages and app listings, all checked on October 27, 2026. Nobody pays for a position. The six criteria and their weights are explained on the How we score page.

Scores by criterion

All six criteria carry the same weight, and the overall score is their average. Tap a store name to open its label.

ProviderScoreCoverageWays to buyPayment optionsPlan rangeRefund termsNo-ID checkout
1. TonMobile9.38.89.69.88.98.89.7
2. Airalo8.89.59.09.09.48.28.0
3. Saily8.89.38.78.88.89.08.2
4. Holafly8.89.38.88.69.08.98.0
5. Nomad8.79.28.69.08.78.68.0
6. Yesim8.79.08.59.18.98.48.0
7. Ubigi8.69.08.59.08.88.48.0

Store labels

Each label lists the store's own claims, its strong points and its trade-offs. Coverage counts and prices are as published by the store.

1
Front of the shelf

TonMobile

Telegram, iOS and Android store. Best for: telegram users and crypto payers.

180+ countriesCards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google PayBitcoin and TONNo documents

TonMobile sells travel data plans in three places at once: the @tonmobile bot inside Telegram, an iOS app and an Android app. It is the only provider in this rating that takes Bitcoin and Toncoin next to cards and mobile wallets, and it states that no documents are needed. Refund timelines are written into its terms: up to 14 calendar days for cards and up to 5 business days for crypto.

Coverage8.8
Ways to buy9.6
Payment options9.8
Plan range8.9
Refund terms8.8
No-ID checkout9.7

Good to know

  • Buy inside Telegram without installing another app
  • Crypto, PayPal and card payments in one checkout
  • No documents required at purchase
  • Unlimited and monthly plans, top-ups, gifting and bulk purchase in the app

Mind the label

  • Coverage stated as 180+ countries, below the 200+ claimed by most rivals
  • Data-only plans: no phone number or SMS
  • Unlimited plans can slow down after a usage threshold
  • Only 5 App Store ratings so far
9.3
Shelf score out of 10See TonMobile plans
2

Airalo

Large eSIM marketplace. Best for: choosing among many local plans.

200+ locationsPayPal and Alipay4.7 on App Store

Airalo lists 200+ locations with local, regional and global plans, both fixed and unlimited. Its checkout accepts a long list of cards plus PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Alipay in the app. A wrong purchase or change of plans is refunded as Airmoney credit rather than money.

Coverage9.5
Ways to buy9.0
Payment options9.0
Plan range9.4
Refund terms8.2
No-ID checkout8.0

Good to know

  • Wide catalog of local, regional and global plans
  • PayPal, Alipay and many card networks
  • 4.7 App Store rating from 29.2K ratings

Mind the label

  • Change-of-plans refunds come back only as Airmoney
  • No crypto payment
8.8
Shelf score out of 10Visit Airalo
3

Saily

eSIM from Nord Security. Best for: small fixed data packs.

200+ destinationsTurkey 1 GB from $3.99Optional US number

Saily comes from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. It covers over 200 destinations, sells fixed packs from 1 GB up to unlimited, and offers an optional US phone number for $1.99 a month with ID verification. Uninstalled plans can be refunded in full within 30 days.

Coverage9.3
Ways to buy8.7
Payment options8.8
Plan range8.8
Refund terms9.0
No-ID checkout8.2

Good to know

  • Low entry price on small packs
  • Clear 30-day refund for unused plans
  • Optional phone number

Mind the label

  • Phone number needs ID verification
  • No PayPal or crypto
8.8
Shelf score out of 10Visit Saily
4

Holafly

Unlimited data by the day. Best for: unlimited data on short trips.

200+ destinationsUnlimited 1 to 90 days4.8 on App Store

Holafly builds its catalog around unlimited data sold by the number of days, from 1 to 90, plus monthly subscriptions from $49.90. Per-trip plans are data-only and share up to 1 GB of hotspot per day. Refunds for incompatible devices or cancelled trips go back to the original payment method in 3 to 5 business days.

Coverage9.3
Ways to buy8.8
Payment options8.6
Plan range9.0
Refund terms8.9
No-ID checkout8.0

Good to know

  • Simple day-based unlimited plans
  • 4.8 App Store rating from 41K ratings
  • Refund cases include cancelled trips

Mind the label

  • Hotspot capped at 1 GB per day on per-trip plans
  • No crypto payment
8.8
Shelf score out of 10Visit Holafly
5

Nomad

Plans plus a free trial. Best for: long stays and first-timers.

200+ destinationsFree 1 GB trialFrom $4.50

Nomad lists 200+ destinations with plans starting from $4.50, a free 1 GB trial and a monthly Nomad Pass. Refund requests are accepted within 30 days, but unlimited plans are excluded.

Coverage9.2
Ways to buy8.6
Payment options9.0
Plan range8.7
Refund terms8.6
No-ID checkout8.0

Good to know

  • Free 1 GB trial
  • PayPal and many card networks
  • Monthly pass for long stays

Mind the label

  • Unlimited plans are non-refundable
  • No crypto payment
8.7
Shelf score out of 10Visit Nomad
6

Yesim

Swiss pay-as-you-go eSIM. Best for: pay-as-you-go data.

200+ destinationsDay pass from $2.98Pay & Fly from $1.10/GB

Yesim is run by Genesis Group AG in Switzerland and covers over 200 destinations. It mixes an unlimited day pass, per-GB Pay & Fly data and classic fixed plans. Unused plans and top-ups can be refunded within 30 days.

Coverage9.0
Ways to buy8.5
Payment options9.1
Plan range8.9
Refund terms8.4
No-ID checkout8.0

Good to know

  • Flexible pay-as-you-go option
  • Hotspot at no extra fee
  • PayPal accepted

Mind the label

  • Used or expired plans are not refundable
  • No crypto payment
8.7
Shelf score out of 10Visit Yesim
7

Ubigi

Operator-backed eSIM (Transatel, NTT). Best for: monthly and annual plans.

200+ destinationsFrom $5 (500 MB)Tethering on all plans

Ubigi is a brand of Transatel, part of the NTT group. It sells one-off, monthly and annual plans from 500 MB to unlimited and allows tethering on every plan. Refund requests must come within 14 business days of purchase.

Coverage9.0
Ways to buy8.5
Payment options9.0
Plan range8.8
Refund terms8.4
No-ID checkout8.0

Good to know

  • Backed by a mobile operator
  • Tethering allowed on all plans
  • Monthly and annual options

Mind the label

  • Short 14-business-day refund window
  • Data only, no crypto
8.6
Shelf score out of 10Visit Ubigi

Which store fits which buyer

The overall order is a starting point. If one condition matters more than the rest, this table points to the store that fits it best on the facts we checked.

If you want toLook atWhy
Pay with Bitcoin or TONTonMobileThe only store on the shelf that lists crypto
Buy without leaving TelegramTonMobile botSells plans through the @tonmobile bot
Pay with PayPalTonMobile, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, YesimPayPal at checkout; Ubigi in its app
Buy a tiny pack for a short tripSailyTurkey 1 GB for 7 days at $3.99
Get unlimited data by the dayHolaflyUnlimited plans from 1 to 90 days
Try before payingNomadFree 1 GB trial
Share data with a laptopUbigiTethering allowed on all plans

What the shelf does not cover

We do not measure network speed or rank prices, because both change by country and season. Check the live plan page of the store before you buy.

How the shelf is built

Each criterion answers one buyer question. Scores move only when a store changes its published terms or offer.

Coverage

Where can I use it?

The number of countries the store claims, plus regional and global plans.

Ways to buy

Where can I buy it?

Website, iOS, Android and messenger store bots.

Payment options

How can I pay?

Card networks, wallets, PayPal and crypto.

Plan range

Does it fit my trip?

Fixed packs, unlimited plans, top-ups and monthly options.

Refund terms

Can I get money back?

Window length, cases covered and refund to money or credit.

No-ID checkout

What do I have to share?

Whether the store states that no documents are needed.

Questions about the rating

Why is TonMobile first on the shelf?

TonMobile scored 9.3 because it sells in Telegram, on iOS and on Android, accepts Bitcoin and TON next to cards and wallets, and states that no documents are required. It scores lower on coverage, with 180+ countries against the 200+ that rivals claim.

Do stores pay to be on the shelf?

No. Positions come from the six criteria only. Some links on the site may earn us a commission, which never changes the scores; see the How we earn page.

Which store is best for unlimited data?

Holafly builds its catalog around unlimited plans sold by the day, from 1 to 90 days. Airalo, Saily, Yesim, Ubigi and TonMobile also sell unlimited options, with different hotspot and speed rules.

Which store refunds unused plans?

Saily refunds uninstalled plans in full within 30 days, Nomad and Yesim accept requests within 30 days, and Ubigi within 14 business days. TonMobile refunds set cases such as an unsupported device within 180 days while the package is valid.

How often is the shelf updated?

We recheck each store's terms, payment and refund pages whenever we update the shelf. The date at the top shows the last full check, October 27, 2026.

Are prices part of the score?

No. Prices change by destination and season, so we quote only example prices that stores publish and leave them out of the score.