Best eSIM for the UK (England): which one to choose in 2026?
A weekend in London between Camden, Soho and the British Museum, a road trip through the Cotswolds, the Scottish Highlands or Wales, a language stay in Brighton or Edinburgh: in England, you need internet for Citymapper, Uber, train tickets on the app, reservations and WhatsApp. A UK eSIM is installed before departure, activates upon landing at Heathrow, Gatwick or upon exiting the Eurostar, and you keep your usual SIM for calls and SMS from your bank.
First thing to know: since Brexit, the UK is no longer covered by the European rule of roaming at national prices, but many European operators still include it in their Europe zone. A travel eSIM is therefore not mandatory for everyone, and we will tell you below in which cases it is worth it. For those who need it, we scrutinized 6 providers using the same criteria: price per GB, network used on-site (EE, O2, Vodafone, or Three), coverage in London as in Scotland, support, simplicity of the app, flexibility of the plans, including unlimited data. The ranking first, then each offer in detail.
voilà eSIM: three British networks in 5G, 1 GB for €1.10
Three of the country's four networks, EE, O2, and Three, on a single eSIM announced with 5G, €0.63/GB on the 50 GB plan, just one cent away from the cheapest in the comparison, the cheapest 1 GB plan for a weekend in London, "no blocked apps" written in black and white, a two-minute installation from an easy-to-use application, and human support reachable 24/7. It is the best value for money in the comparison based on our criteria, with one caveat: it does not have unlimited data.
How these eSIMs were ranked
Each eSIM is rated on six criteria, weighted for the United Kingdom. The price per GB and network coverage carry the most weight. The country has four mobile networks: EE (BT Group), O2 (Virgin Media O2), Vodafone and Three, the last two combined in VodafoneThree since the merger finalized on May 31, 2025, but are still operated under two brands. In the January 2026 Opensignal report, EE won 11 awards, including reliability and 5G availability, O2 won for coverage, and Three won for the fastest 5G at 187 Mbit/s. 3G disappeared from all four networks between 2024 and early 2026: only 4G and 5G remain. London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and major cities are very well covered; the Highlands, the Lake District, or Eryri (Snowdonia) are covered in patches, as shown on the nPerf coverage map. The real difference is therefore decided by price, the number of networks advertised, and the flexibility of the plans. The ratings are the editorial team's opinion, not an average of customer reviews.
- Price per GB25 %
Cost per gigabyte based on the cheapest plan from each provider, excluding occasional promotions.
- Network coverage25 %
Get signal in London, in the subway, in Scotland, in Wales, and on country roads.
- Reliability15 %
Connection stability, reliability of the partner operator, and provider reputation.
- Support15 %
Available channels, opening hours, human or automated response.
- Activation and application10 %
Simplicity of installation, clarity of the app, usage tracking.
- Flexible plans10 %
Choice of data volumes and durations, unlimited, top-ups, data sharing.
Based on these criteria, voilà eSIM comes out on top: three British networks announced in 5G where others have one to three, €0.63/GB, one cent above Esimzon, the cheapest 1 GB, a simple app, and 24/7 human support. Its only shortcoming, the lack of unlimited data, makes room for the following. Esimzon takes second place with the lowest price per GB and the cheapest unlimited plan for 5 to 15 days. Ubigi is third, with two 5G networks and the cheapest unlimited plan for one month.
Scores are the opinion of the eSIMrat editorial team, based on the criteria above, not customer reviews. eSIMrat earns a commission on links to its partners, which does not affect the ranking.
The ranking of eSIMs for England and the United Kingdom
The 6 eSIMs compared, from the highest rated to the lowest rated. The price per GB shown is that of the cheapest plan per gigabyte for each provider: a 50 GB 30-day plan from voilà eSIM, Ubigi, and Airalo, a 10 GB plan from Esimzon, and a 20 GB plan from Saily. For Yesim, this price comes from a 0.49 GB mini-plan valid for one day at €0.45; its actual stay plan, 30 GB for 30 days at €28, works out to €0.93 per GB. In the United Kingdom, the first four are within 10 cents of each other, a rare case in our series.
- 1voilà eSIM€0.63/GBEE, O2 and Three8.1/10
- 2
Esimzon€0.62/GBEE, O2 and Vodafone7.8/10 - 3
Ubigi€0.64/GBEE and Three7.6/10 - 4
Airalo€0.71/GBEE7.3/10 - 5
Yesim€0.92/GBEE, Vodafone and O27.0/10 - 6
Saily€1.37/GBLocal networks6.4/10
Prices checked on September 25, 2026 on the providers' sites. eSIMrat partners' prices come from the comparator and refresh on every build.
Each England eSIM in detail
- 8.1/10
1. voilà eSIM
€0.63/GBEE, O2 and ThreeData plans, 1 to 50 GB, 7 to 30 daysThree 5G networks, 1 GB for €1.10, €0.63 per GB on 50 GB, no blocked apps, 24/7 human support
voilà eSIM is the only one in the comparison to announce three of the four British networks together: EE, the highest rated by Opensignal and RootMetrics, O2, which wins on coverage, and Three, the fastest 5G. From central London to the valleys of the Lake District, your phone will latch onto whichever one has the best signal. On its United Kingdom page, the brand states that TikTok, ChatGPT, WhatsApp, Google Maps, and banking apps work without any blocking, and tethering is unlimited, which is practical when traveling as a pair with a single plan.
Regarding price, the 30-day 50 GB plan at €31.40 comes to €0.63/GB, one cent above Esimzon (€0.62) and one cent below Ubigi. The 30-day 20 GB plan at €15.10 remains at €0.76 per GB, and for a weekend, the 7-day 1 GB plan at €1.10 and the 15-day 3 GB plan at €2.80 are the cheapest entry-level plans in the comparison. Esimzon performs better on volumes from 3 to 10 GB. The code ESIMRAT gives an additional 5% discount, which can be found on the promo code page: the value for money is excellent.
The rest follows: the eSIM is installed in two minutes via an easy-to-use app, with top-ups and usage tracking in one place, the brand promises a refund if the issue stems from the eSIM, and human support is available 24/7 on WhatsApp. The limitations: no unlimited data, no British number (calls go through WhatsApp or Signal), and no plans longer than 30 days.
Pros
- EE, O2 and Three announced on a single eSIM, in 5G
- 1 GB at 1.10 €, 3 GB at 2.80 €, 50 GB at 31.40 €, no blocked apps
- Simple to install eSIM, easy-to-use app, 24/7 human support
Cons
- No unlimited plans
- Data only, maximum 30-day validity
- 7.8/10
2. Esimzon
€0.62/GBEE, O2 and VodafoneData plans from 1 to 15 GB for 30 days, unlimited from 1 to 30 daysThe lowest price per GB, 10 GB at 6.16 €, the cheapest unlimited plan for 5 to 15 days
Esimzon announces three networks, EE in 4G and 5G, O2 and Vodafone in 4G, and marks the lowest price per GB in the comparison: €0.62/GB for the 10 GB 30-day plan at €6.16. Its smaller plans are also very competitively priced, €2.64 for 3 GB and €3.96 for 5 GB, all valid for 30 days.
Its other strong point is the short and medium-term unlimited: €10.12 for 5 days, €13.20 for a week, €18.04 for 10 days, and €26.84 for 15 days, the lowest prices in the comparison for these four durations. Over a month, it falls behind Ubigi at €49.27. The limitations: nothing beyond 15 GB of data, 5G only on EE, prices displayed in dollars on its website (the euro follows the daily exchange rate), and support via email or chat, in English.
Pros
- The lowest price per GB in the comparison, 10 GB for 30 days at €6.16
- Cheapest unlimited on 5, 7, 10 and 15 days, €13.20 per week
Cons
- Data plans capped at 15 GB, 5G on EE only
- Prices displayed in dollars, support in English
- 7.6/10
3. Ubigi
€0.64/GBEE and ThreeData plans from 3 to 50 GB, unlimited from 1 to 30 daysTwo 5G networks, 50 GB for €32, the cheapest unlimited plan for one month
Ubigi belongs to Transatel, a subsidiary of the NTT group. It uses EE and Three, both with 5G, displays its prices in euros, allows top-ups via the app without reinstalling a profile, and its support responds via ticket, in French. Its 50 GB 30-day plan costs 32 €, which is €0.64/GB, one cent behind voilà eSIM.
Its true strength is the long-term unlimited: €44 for 30 days, the lowest price in the comparison for one month, at just €1.47 per day, which is practical for an internship or a language stay. For one week, at €21, Esimzon does better. The rest of the pricing table is more conservative: no 1 GB option, €5 for 3 GB, €11 for 10 GB for 30 days, which is more expensive than with voilà eSIM and Esimzon.
Pros
- Cheapest unlimited for 30 days, 44 €
- EE and Three on 5G, prices in euros, support via ticket in French
Cons
- No small plans under 3 GB
- Small and medium plans more expensive than voilà eSIM and Esimzon
- 7.3/10
4. Airalo
€0.71/GBEEData plans from 1 to 50 GB, plans with calls and SMS, unlimited from 3 to 30 daysThe only one with local minutes and SMS, EE 5G network, and a complete app
Airalo, the market pioneer, enters the UK via Uki Mobile, on the EE 5G network. It is the only one in this comparison to sell plans with local minutes and SMS (Uki Mobile+ range): 3 GB, 30 minutes and 30 SMS for 3 days for 9 €, up to 50 GB, 500 minutes and 500 SMS for 30 days for 48.50 €. Useful for calling a restaurant, a guesthouse, or a local car rental agency.
In data alone, its 50 GB for 30 days at €35 gives €0.71/GB, the fourth lowest price per GB. It sells unlimited data from 3 to 30 days: €10.50 for 3 days, the lowest price alongside Yesim, but €24.50 for a week and €62 for a month, above Esimzon and Ubigi. The limitations: only one network announced, small plans that are expensive per GB, €4 for 1 GB for 3 days, and support via chat, in English.
Pros
- Plans with local minutes and SMS, from 9 € to 48.50 €
- EE 5G network, unlimited from 3 days, comprehensive app
Cons
- Only one network announced
- Small plans expensive per GB, chat support in English
- 7.0/10
5. Yesim
€0.92/GBEE, Vodafone and O2Data plans from 1 to 30 GB, unlimited from 1 to 30 daysThree announced networks, unlimited data sold day by day, €3.50 per day
Yesim announces three networks, EE, Vodafone and O2, up to 5G, and sells unlimited day by day: €3.50 for 24 hours, the lowest price in the comparison for a single day, €10.50 for 3 days, tied with Airalo, €24.50 for the week and €57 for the month. You pay exactly for the duration of your stay.
Watch out for the price per GB shown in the table: €0.92/GB comes from a 0.49 GB mini-plan valid for one day at €0.45, practical for a layover, but misleading for a trip. Their actual stay plan, 30 GB for 30 days at €28, comes to €0.93 per GB, higher than the first four. Their unlimited plan remains more expensive than Esimzon and Ubigi from 5 days onwards, and support is limited to chat. The eSIM can be reused from one trip to the next.
Pros
- EE, Vodafone and O2 announced, up to 5G
- Unlimited sold day by day, €3.50 per day
Cons
- Price per GB in the table calculated based on a one-day mini-plan
- Unlimited is more expensive than Esimzon and Ubigi starting from 5 days, chat support only
- 6.4/10
6. Saily
€1.37/GBLocal networksData plans from 1 to 20 GB, unlimited from 7 to 30 daysAd blocker and tracker blocker, 24/7 chat
Saily is the eSIM from Nord Security, the creators of NordVPN. The app is simple, featuring an ad and tracker blocker and built-in web protection, and the chat responds 24/7 in English. When using pub or station Wi-Fi, it's a real plus.
The price is the highest in the comparison: €1.37/GB for the 20 GB 30-day plan at €27.49, more than twice the price per GB of the first four, and a 1 GB 7-day plan at €3.99. Its unlimited plan, ranging from €25.99 per week to €63.99 per month, remains above Esimzon and Ubigi for every duration, and it does not announce the British carrier before purchase.
Pros
- Integrated ad and tracker blocker, 24/7 chat
- Unlimited available from 7 to 30 days
Cons
- The highest price per GB in the comparison
- British carrier not specified before purchase, 20 GB maximum
Which England eSIM according to your profile?
The eSIM we recommend for every type of traveler.
- A 3-day weekend in Londonvoilà eSIM1 GB for 7 days at 1.10 €, or 3 GB for 15 days at 2.80 €, on EE, O2 and Three, without touching your usual plan.
- A road trip in Scotland or Walesvoilà eSIM20 GB for 15.10 € on three networks: in the valleys, your phone connects to whichever network has the best signal, and human support is available 24/7.
- The lowest price per GBEsimzon10 GB over 30 days for €6.16, which is €0.62 per GB, the best rate in the comparison.
- One week of unlimited dataEsimzon€13.20 for 7 days of unlimited data, the cheapest in the comparison for this duration.
- An internship or a one-month language stayUbigi44 € for 30 days of unlimited 5G on EE and Three, which is 1.47 € per day, the cheapest in the comparison.
- Need to make local callsAiraloUki Mobile+ plans add local minutes and SMS on the EE network, starting from €9 for 3 days.
Does your mobile plan work in England?
It depends on your operator. Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is no longer covered by the European rule that mandates roaming at national prices within the European Union. Many European operators have chosen to keep it within their Europe zone, with the same data allowance as in Spain or Italy; others charge for it separately, either per day or per megabyte. Before leaving, search for "United Kingdom" in the country list in your customer area or in your operator's pricing brochure.
Even when the United Kingdom is included, your plan generally does not provide all its data abroad, only a specific allowance, and "reasonable" usage is monitored over several months: a long stay can trigger a warning and then out-of-bundle charges. An England eSIM is therefore worth it in four cases: your operator charges separately for the United Kingdom, your allowance is small, you consume a lot (tethering for a laptop, video, video calls), or you are staying for several weeks or several months (internship, studies, language program). In these cases, the eSIM handles the data, and your regular line keeps your calls and SMS. Otherwise, enable data roaming upon arrival and monitor your usage.
eSIM or local SIM card in England?
In the United Kingdom, a local SIM card can be purchased without ID in airports, carrier stores, and many supermarkets. Prices are low for large volumes: 60 GB for 30 days for £10 at Three on prepaid, which is approximately €11.63 at the ECB rate on September 24, 2026, or 40 GB for £10 at SMARTY, the low-cost brand of the Three network. EE also sells a Travel eSIM for visitors with unlimited data: £10 for 3 days, £15 for a week, or £30 for a month, which is approximately €11.63, €17.44, and €34.89, for data only.
These offers have three drawbacks: a physical SIM forces you to remove your regular SIM if your phone only has one slot, SMARTY works on a monthly subscription that must be cancelled, and prices in pounds vary with the exchange rate. Above all, for a short stay, the difference disappears: for a weekend, a travel eSIM costs between €1.10 and €3, and with unlimited data, the Esimzon week at €13.20 is cheaper than the EE week. Our rule: travel eSIM for a stay of a few days to three weeks, local SIM or a British subscription for a stay of several months or if a local number is essential to you.
Which network has the best coverage in England, and in the London Underground?
EE is the benchmark network: it won 11 awards in the Opensignal report of January 2026, including 5G reliability and availability, and ranked first in the RootMetrics rankings for the first half of 2026. O2 wins for coverage in Opensignal, and Three for the fastest 5G. This is why an eSIM that announces multiple networks has an advantage: voilà eSIM announces EE, O2, and Three; Esimzon announces EE, O2, and Vodafone; Yesim announces EE, Vodafone, and O2; Ubigi announces EE and Three; Airalo announces EE only. 3G no longer exists in the UK: an old phone without 4G will not catch any signal.
Outside of cities, the public Shared Rural Network program brought 4G coverage to 95% of the territory, by at least one operator, in August 2026. Gaps remain in the Highlands and Northwest Scotland, where only 67% of the territory is covered by all four operators simultaneously, and in certain valleys of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Lake District. Download your offline maps before a hike.
In the London Underground, 4G and 5G are arriving line by line: TfL has announced that half of the underground stations are covered, including the entire Elizabeth line and long sections of the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Victoria, and Piccadilly lines, with a goal of full network coverage by late 2026. All four operators are hosted there, so a travel eSIM that relies on one of them will work in these sections. The station Wi-Fi, however, requires a subscription to a British operator: don't count on it.
How to make calls and send SMS from England?
With a data-only travel eSIM, such as voilà eSIM, Esimzon, Ubigi, Yesim, or Saily, you won't have a British number: you call and write via WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal, or Messenger, without extra costs, as explained in our article on WhatsApp mobile data usage. Your regular SIM stays active alongside to receive validation codes from your bank; check with your operator regarding the costs of calls and SMS from the United Kingdom.
If you need to call a British number without using an app, such as a car rental company, a B&B, or a local taxi, Airalo's Uki Mobile+ plans add local minutes and SMS, and a Three or giffgaff prepaid SIM provides a British number. For emergencies, 999 and 112 work from any phone.
What you need to check on your phone before buying
Two conditions: a phone that is eSIM compatible and carrier unlocked. iPhones from the XR onwards and Pixel, Galaxy S, and other recent models qualify; the full list is on our eSIM compatible phones page. A phone purchased with a subsidy from a carrier may remain locked: request unlocking before you leave. The eSIM also has its limits, which we detail in our article on the advantages and disadvantages of eSIM.
Installation takes three steps: you purchase the plan, you scan the QR code received by email or install the eSIM from the provider's app, then, upon arrival, you activate data roaming on the eSIM and turn it off on your regular line. Also, keep in mind the British Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), mandatory for visa-exempt travelers, including EU citizens, and sold for £20 since April 8, 2026, on gov.uk: without it, no boarding. All plans are gathered on our UK comparator, UK and Ireland plans are on the UK and Ireland eSIM page, and if you continue on to Switzerland, our best Switzerland eSIM comparison awaits you.
Frequently asked questions
Which eSIM for the United Kingdom?
Which plan to choose for England?
How much does an eSIM for London for 3 days cost?
What are the disadvantages of an eSIM?
Does my mobile plan work in England after Brexit?
Does the eSIM work in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
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