Comparison

Best eSIM for the United Kingdom (2026): SefereSIM vs Airalo and Saily

This page compares what SefereSIM, Airalo and Saily charge for an eSIM in the United Kingdom, size by size. SefereSIM wrote this page, and SefereSIM sells one of the eSIMs compared here, so please check our figures against the sources linked below. Competitor prices were checked on 9 November 2026. Our own prices are read live from our catalogue each time this page loads. All prices are in US dollars.

· All comparisons

The short answer

SefereSIM is the cheapest in all 4 fixed-data sizes we compared for the United Kingdom.

For 7 days of unlimited data, SefereSIM costs least ($4.12) but gives full speed for only 500 MB a day, then 512 Kbps; Airalo ($27.00, 3 GB a day) and Saily ($28.99, 5 GB a day) give more full-speed data for more money.

For 30 days of unlimited data, SefereSIM costs least ($15.74) but gives full speed for only 500 MB a day, then 512 Kbps; Airalo ($69.00, 3 GB a day) and Saily ($71.99, 5 GB a day) give more full-speed data for more money.

Fixed data: the price of each plan size

Each provider's cheapest plan with at least this much data for at least this many days. Competitor prices checked on 9 November 2026; ours are live.
Plan sizeSefereSIMAiraloSaily
1 GB, 7 daysCheapest1 GB, 7 days$1.24$1.24 per GB3 GB, 7 days$9.00$3.00 per GBSource1 GB, 7 days$4.49$4.49 per GBvia eSIMDB's listing of Saily Source
5 GB, 30 daysCheapest5 GB, 30 days$4.76$0.95 per GB5 GB, 30 days$13.00$2.60 per GBSource5 GB, 30 days$12.99$2.60 per GBvia eSIMDB's listing of Saily Source
10 GB, 30 daysCheapest10 GB, 31 days$8.38$0.84 per GBCovers 31 countries10 GB, 30 days$19.00$1.90 per GBSource10 GB, 30 days$18.99$1.90 per GBvia eSIMDB's listing of Saily Source
20 GB, 30 daysCheapest20 GB, 31 days$16.12$0.81 per GBCovers 31 countries20 GB, 30 days$31.00$1.55 per GBSource20 GB, 30 days$30.99$1.55 per GBvia eSIMDB's listing of Saily Source

The local operator plans further down are not in this table; where one meets a size and costs less, the short answer above says so.

Unlimited data: 7 and 30 days

Each provider's cheapest plan sold as unlimited for this many days, or its next longest, with its fair-use terms. Every one of them slows down after a daily full-speed allowance.
Plan sizeSefereSIMAiraloSaily
Unlimited, 7 daysCheapestUnlimited, 7 days$4.12$0.59 per dayFull speed for 500 MB a day, then 512 KbpsUnlimited, 7 days$27.00$3.86 per dayFull speed for 3 GB a day, then 1 MbpsSourceUnlimited, 7 days$28.99$4.14 per dayFull speed for 5 GB a day, then about 1 Mbpsvia eSIMDB's listing of Saily Source
Unlimited, 30 daysCheapestUnlimited, 30 days$15.74$0.52 per dayFull speed for 500 MB a day, then 512 KbpsUnlimited, 30 days$69.00$2.30 per dayFull speed for 3 GB a day, then 1 MbpsSourceUnlimited, 30 days$71.99$2.40 per dayFull speed for 5 GB a day, then about 1 Mbpsvia eSIMDB's listing of Saily Source1

Notes

  1. Saily's Global plan, 30 days for $59.99, also covers this destination, with 30 GB at full speed in total and then 1 Mbps.

Hotspot, top-ups, speed and when the days start

From each provider's own help pages, checked on 9 November 2026. Our column describes the plans matched above.
PolicySefereSIMAiraloSaily
HotspotNot guaranteed. Nothing in our supplier data promises hotspot on these plans, so we do not claim it.YesAiralo's help centre says hotspot works when the phone and the network support it. On unlimited plans, hotspot use counts toward the daily full-speed allowance.SourceYesSaily's help centre explains how to share data as a hotspot. Shared data comes out of the plan's allowance, and Saily's fair use policy applies.Source
Top-up on the same eSIMYes on 1 GB for 7 days and 5 GB for 30 days; no on 10 GB for 30 days, 20 GB for 30 days, 7 days of unlimited data and 30 days of unlimited data.Depends on the planOnly some Airalo eSIMs can be topped up; the plan details say which before you buy. Airalo's Türkiye unlimited plans are marked as not rechargeable.SourceYesYou can add data to the same eSIM in the Saily app, once or automatically.Source
Speed and fair useNetwork types listed on the matched plans: 3G/4G/5G.Unlimited, 7 days: full speed for 500 MB a day, then 512 Kbps.Unlimited, 30 days: full speed for 500 MB a day, then 512 Kbps.Unlimited plans: full speed for 3 GB a day (5 GB on some plans), then 1 Mbps until the day resets. Airalo gives no speed guarantee. Fixed-data plans state no slowdown.SourceUnlimited plans have a daily full-speed allowance (5 GB on most country plans, 3 GB for Saudi Arabia and the UAE, per eSIMDB), then about 1 Mbps until the day resets.Source
When the days startOn first network connection for 1 GB for 7 days, 5 GB for 30 days, 7 days of unlimited data and 30 days of unlimited data; on install for 10 GB for 30 days and 20 GB for 30 days.Most plans start when the eSIM first connects to a supported network at the destination; a few start on install, as the plan details say. Every plan on the pages we read starts on first use.SourceThe plan starts when you arrive and connect to a supported network. If it is never used, it starts on its own 180 days after purchase. It cannot be paused.Source

The local option

A prepaid SIM or eSIM from a local mobile operator. Prices are as the operator lists them, in its own currency, with a dollar figure for comparison.

Where one of these plans meets a size above, with at least its data and at least its days, it is counted in the short answer; the others are listed here only.

EE

EE Travel Data eSIM (UK eSIM for visitors)

PlanPrice as listedIn US dollars
Unlimited, 1 days5 GBP$6.69
Unlimited, 3 days10 GBP$13.38
Unlimited, 7 days15 GBP$20.08
Unlimited, 14 days20 GBP$26.77
Unlimited, 30 days30 GBP$40.15
Unlimited, 90 days90 GBP$120.46

Converted at 0.7471 GBP to the US dollar, rate of 6 November 2026.

How to buy
Buy online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
When the days start
On first use of mobile data in the UK, which must be within 90 days of purchase.
Speed and fair use
Unlimited data with uncapped speed; EE may slow use above 600 GB a month.
Top-up on the same eSIM
Not stated. Passes do not renew; buying another on the same eSIM is not described.
Hotspot
Not stated. Not stated on the operator's pages we read.
  • Data only, with no UK number. A one-off pass that does not renew. EE may slow use above 600 GB a month.
  • EE adds one free day to the 7-day pass, 8 days in total.

Sources: the operator page and the exchange rate

When another eSIM is the better pick

  • If you need more than 500 MB a day at full speed for 7 days, look at Airalo ($27.00, full speed for 3 GB a day, then 1 Mbps) and Saily ($28.99, full speed for 5 GB a day, then about 1 Mbps).
  • If you need more than 500 MB a day at full speed for 30 days, look at Airalo ($69.00, full speed for 3 GB a day, then 1 Mbps) and Saily ($71.99, full speed for 5 GB a day, then about 1 Mbps).
  • If you need a hotspot for a laptop, Airalo and Saily say hotspot works on their eSIMs; we do not guarantee it on ours.

How we compared

For each size we took each provider's cheapest plan with at least that much data and at least that many days. A cell can therefore show a bigger plan than its row, and it always names the plan matched.

Unlimited rows compare plans sold as unlimited for exactly 7 or 30 days, or a provider's next longest plan where it sells neither length.

Our column is read live from our catalogue each time this page loads: the cheapest plan on our United Kingdom page that fits, including multi-country plans that cover the United Kingdom. Our unlimited row is our cheapest Unlimited plan of that length.

Competitor prices are the regular prices each page listed on 9 November 2026, without promo codes or first-order discounts.

Saily's own website refused our automated reads, so its prices come from eSIMDB's listing of Saily. Please check them on Saily's own site before you buy.

Holafly was not checked this week: its website did not answer our requests, so it has no column on this page.

We re-check these prices every week. A competitor price older than 45 days is taken off the page rather than left up.

Sources

Questions

Which eSIM is cheapest for the United Kingdom?
SefereSIM is the cheapest in all 4 fixed-data sizes we compared for the United Kingdom.
Is there an unlimited eSIM for the United Kingdom?
For 7 days of unlimited data, SefereSIM costs least ($4.12) but gives full speed for only 500 MB a day, then 512 Kbps; Airalo ($27.00, 3 GB a day) and Saily ($28.99, 5 GB a day) give more full-speed data for more money. For 30 days of unlimited data, SefereSIM costs least ($15.74) but gives full speed for only 500 MB a day, then 512 Kbps; Airalo ($69.00, 3 GB a day) and Saily ($71.99, 5 GB a day) give more full-speed data for more money. Every unlimited plan here slows down after a daily full-speed allowance.
Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot in the United Kingdom?
Airalo says hotspot works on its eSIMs. Saily says hotspot works on its eSIMs. SefereSIM does not guarantee hotspot, because nothing in our supplier data promises it.
When do the days of an eSIM for the United Kingdom start?
SefereSIM: On first network connection for 1 GB for 7 days, 5 GB for 30 days, 7 days of unlimited data and 30 days of unlimited data; on install for 10 GB for 30 days and 20 GB for 30 days. Airalo: Most plans start when the eSIM first connects to a supported network at the destination; a few start on install, as the plan details say. Every plan on the pages we read starts on first use. Saily: The plan starts when you arrive and connect to a supported network. If it is never used, it starts on its own 180 days after purchase. It cannot be paused.

SefereSIM plans for the United Kingdom

Every plan we sell for the United Kingdom, with live prices, on one page.

See our United Kingdom plans