6 Best SIM Cards for Europe in 2024

If you intend to travel to Europe in the near future, you’re going to need a suitable European SIM card. 

You’ll need a Europe SIM card because, if you’re a budget-conscious traveler, you’ll enjoy saving money on data and calls, especially when the alternative option is paying considerable international roaming fees. 

Additionally, given that European carriers nearly always offer widespread coverage, you won’t have to worry about unreliable connectivity across the majority of the continent, even while traveling in the more remote parts of it. 

Of course, some SIM cards for Europe are better than others. In order to find the best Europe SIM card, you need to look for the following features. 

• Data packages that are versatile enough to meet your unique travel needs and that strike the right balance between cost and usage. 
• Compatibility with several European networks to ensure you can access as much coverage as possible. 
• Fast, reliable data speeds. 
• Accommodating validity periods that will see you through the entirety of your travels. 

In our guide, we’ll help you find the best SIM card for Europe based on those features and more. 

SIM Card in Europe – Should You Buy One? 

Buying a SIM card in Europe is simple and straightforward, especially considering that they’re available to purchase practically anywhere.

In fact, you can purchase a SIM card for Europe in most major European airports and even newsstands and electronics shops. 

Despite being a commonplace technology, you need to run some checks before you purchase your EU SIM card. 

Specifically, you need to make sure your phone isn’t bound to a carrier-imposed lock. These ‘locks’ make it so that your phone will only work on the network of the mobile carrier from which you bought your phone. 

On the bright side, these ‘locks’ are easy to remove – you just need to get in touch with your carrier, and they will ‘unlock’ your phone for you, allowing you to use a third-party SIM card. 

On the topic of bright sides, a good way to know if you should purchase anything is to look at the benefits of doing so. 

In the case of an international SIM card for Europe, 

Where to Buy a SIM Card in Europe 

As you know from reading the previous section, there are many places you can find and purchase SIM cards for Europe. In terms of physical stores, you can nearly always browse SIM card options in the following places. 

• The official stores of mobile network providers 
• Supermarkets 
• Convenience stores 
• Post offices

But, predominantly, travelers tend to find the best European SIM cards in three places: airports, supermarkets, and – most conveniently – online stores. Across Europe, some well-known carriers with both online and physical stores are Vodafone, Telekom, O2, and Orange, among others.

Ultimately, it’s safe to say that there are many ways in which you can buy a prepaid SIM card for Europe. But if you to want to ensure you have mobile internet in Europe at all times, we recommend purchasing your SIM card from an online provider before you arrive in your destination country.

Why? Because online stores usually have more options for SIM plans (including unlimited data Europe SIM card plans) for tourists than local operators. What’s more, by perusing SIM card plans before you reach your destination, you won’t have to spend valuable time finding a physical store that sells SIM cards upon your arrival. 

Now, the question is, which online provider should you go to for your European SIM card? 

6 Best SIM Cards for Europe in 2024 

Now, it’s time to get down to brass tacks – the six best SIM cards for European travel in 2024. 

As fellow travelers, we know the importance of thoroughly testing SIM cards, which is why Roami uses our own testing methodology. With this testing methodology, we strive to test as many products as we can to provide you with the most accurate insights. 

Below, you’ll find what our testing techniques revealed about the best European SIM cards of 2024. 

Vodafone 

Best Pro: Vodafone offers extensive coverage across Europe, meaning that you’ll have access to reliable connectivity. 

Worst Con: Some of Vodafone’s best deals require you to commit to long-term contracts. 

To start with, we’ll look at a world-leading telecommunications company – Vodafone. 

With Vodafone, you have the choice to pick between one of three contracts: 24 months, 12 months, and 30 days. For every one of those contracts, you have an abundance of deals that are sure to meet any travel needs you have. 

Specifically, we’d like to point to Vodafone’s Unlimited Max Xtra Euro Roam SIM plan. This plan is only available if you’re willing to commit a 12/24 month contract, which can be a bit daunting for some users, but the perks of this deal could change your mind. 

For starters, this plan covers 51 European destinations, making it perfect for multi-country trips. Additionally, if you’re reliant on rapid connectivity speeds, Vodafone has got you covered. 

In this plan, you have access to 5G Ultra, which is a result of Vodafone’s exceptionally upgraded 5G cellular network. 5G Ultra grants you access to incredibly fast data speeds, a consistently reliable network performance, and even improved battery life. 

You can also enjoy the robustness of Vodafone’s Secure Net and the weekly discounts and giveaways of Vodafone’s VeryMe loyalty program. 

For £35 a month, this Europe unlimited data SIM deal is perfect for practically any traveler. 

From our ‘Worst Con’, you know that the best discounts for this SIM plan are locked behind a 24 month contract, which can prove a very experience investment, especially for shorter European trips. 

O2

Best Pro: O2 have a wide range of affordable plans that accommodate even the most budget-conscious traveler.

Worst Con: A lot of O2’s bundle deals are no longer available for new and existing customers to switch to. 

O2 is a digital communications company who offers its users monthly and pay-as-you go contracts, as well as international bundles that cover over 45 European countries. 

While O2’s coverage isn’t as impressive as Vodafone’s, we’d say that they compensate for this with their incredibly affordable SIM plan deals. 

O2’s affordable data plans are best represented in their £30 Big Bundle SIM deal, which grants you access to unlimited minutes, texts, 125GB of 2G/3G/4G data, and 250 international minutes. That said, you can only use these international minutes in 42 countries, and not all of them are European. 

Ultimately, O2’s SIM card plans are perfect for the budget-conscious traveler, but might not be an ideal choice for multi-country adventures. 

Orange 

Best Pro: All of Orange’s SIM card deals come with unrestricted data tethering. 

Worst Con: Orange provides only 28 days of validity at most. 

Orange is another great contender for a SIM card (Europe). Although you don’t have the widest variety of SIM card plans with Orange, their SIM card deals have ample data allowances in accordance with their differing validity periods. 

If you’re making a short trip to Europe and are a relatively light data user, Orange will accommodate your needs with their very affordable (€4.99) Holiday Europe 1GB plan, which you use for seven days and still have access to data tethering, allowing you to use your other devices without compromising the quality of its connectivity. 

If you’re traveling across Europe for 28 days, of course, Orange’s Holiday Europe 100GB deal is considerably more expensive (€49.99), but it is undeniably ideal for heavy data users, like ourselves. 

With this amount of data, you can comfortably conduct a range of online activities like gaming and streaming without the worry of constantly monitoring your usage. What’s more, since Orange partners with high-quality local carriers, you can rely on consistently optimal network performances. 

The downside of Orange’s SIM card plans is that if you’re traveling for longer than 28 days and still need a high data allowance, you could end up paying hefty additional fees to re-up your data plan. Additionally, Orange’s European SIM card deals are only valid in 38 European countries. 

Telekom

Best Pro: You have complete control over your top-up data costs. 

Worst Con: They offer limited data allowances that can be quickly consumed. 

While Telekom doesn’t offer a wide range of SIM card tariffs, the tariffs they do offer are incredibly flexible and accommodating. 

Covering over 35 European countries, Telekom supports a range of validity periods, from 24 hours to 90 days. 

We personally recommend Telekom’s MagentaMobil Prepaid 5G annual tariff, which involves a 12-month contract and 4GB per month of 5G access. With this tariff, Telekom will send you between 500MB and 10GB of additional data per month, and you can rest easy knowing that you’re covered for a year of travel. 

Furthermore, you have the option to top up your credit with an amount between €15 and €100. 

It can prove an expensive investment, especially if you don’t like committing to long-term contracts, but for those who prioritize fast, reliable network performances, Telekom is worth checking out. 

Bouygues Telecom 

Best Pro: Bouygues Telecom’s European SIM card covers the entirety of Europe. 

Worst Con: Several users have reported inadequate customer service. 

Of course, Bouygues Telecom’s European SIM card isn’t the best SIM card for Europe with unlimited data, but it is the best when it comes to European coverage, covering 50 European destinations. 

This European’s validity period isn’t the most accommodating, but for €39,90, you won’t have to expensive roaming charges while you use 4G/LTE highspeed connectivity anywhere in Europe. 

Bouygues Telecom also supports global delivery, making their SIM cards incredibly accessible. As an added bonus, you’ll receive helpful gifts with your SIM card, including a tourist guide that contains regional deals and discounts, which is available in ten different languages. 

The drawbacks of Bouygues Telecom’s European SIM card is that many users have reported that their support team often doesn’t provide helpful solutions to their technical issues and accessing data top-ups is a difficult process. 

SMARTY 

Best Pro: You are completely commitment-free and can cancel your SMARTY SIM plan at any time. 

Worst Con: SMARTY doesn’t offer data rollover, meaning you need to use all of your data within the validity period, or you’ll lose it. 

While SMARTY doesn’t offer many unlimited SIM card deals, they do provide generous, affordable packages that are definitely worth considering. Specifically, SMARTY is currently offering a 50GB plan for only £8 per month, supporting 4G and 5G cellular networks and EU roaming in 42 European countries. 

With this deal, you’ll also have access to unlimited UK calls and texts, unrestricted UK tethering whilst in EU countries, and if you’re hesitant to commit to any of SMARTY’s SIM card deals, you can cancel the plan at any time without fuss. 

It’s worth noting, however, that although SMARTY’s bot is available 24/7, their support team is only available between 8am-8pm, which can inconvenience you if SMARTY’s bot can’t resolve your issue. 

SIM Card Alternatives in Europe 

By now, you’ve probably got a good idea about what the best SIM card for Europe looks like to you. But if you still feel like the SIM cards we’ve discussed won’t meet your needs, you can always turn to SIM card alternatives. 

Specifically, you can consider using an eSIM instead. 

eSIM Card for Europe 

An eSIM is a digital version of a physical SIM card that is embedded into your device. They share many of the cost-effective and convenience-related benefits that we mentioned when we discussed SIM cards earlier. In fact, it’s arguable that eSIM technology offers more benefits than a SIM card, given that you can use it to switch between different networks seamlessly. 

As eSIMs grow in popularity, it’s no surprise that there is now an abundance of helpful eSIM providers like Holafly. Holafly is one of the biggest and most revered eSIM providers in the world and they specialize in selling unlimited eSIM data plans for over 190 worldwide destinations, including Europe. 

Fortunately, purchasing an eSIM from Holafly is incredibly simple. All you need to do is head to Holafly’s official website, pick the destination you’re traveling to, select the best eSIM data plan for your needs, and make your payment. After doing that, you’ll receive your eSIM directly to your inbox in a matter of minutes. 

Before you purchase your Holafly eSIM, however, there are a few essential things that you need to consider first, including the following: 

• To use a virtual SIM, you must have a device that is compatible with eSIM technology. Check out the full list of compatible phones with eSIM.
• You will need an active email address to receive the virtual SIM card information and a stable internet connection to install it on your phone.
• To buy an eSIM through an online store like Holafly, you must have one of the most common payment methods: credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Google Pay.

Once you know you have all of the things you need to purchase and use an eSIM, you can browse Holafly’s unlimited data plan for Europe. 

As you can see this Holafly plan is incredibly affordable, supports 4G/LTE/5G cellular networks, and provides ample coverage, allowing you access to fast, reliable internet in over 30 European countries. 

Additionally, with this plan, you have access to 500MB of mobile hotspot data per day, which is ideal if you’re traveling in a group and need to share your data. 

Naturally, you’re probably wondering if there are any drawbacks to using Holafly’s services, and, of course, there is. 

If you want to send texts or make/receive calls with Holafly’s eSIMs, you only have one option: to use a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Think WhatsApp, Telegram, and Skype. 

While this isn’t a major drawback, it’s worth noting that VoIPs rely on an internet connection to work, so depending on your location, this can be a considerable inconvenience to you. 

Overall, Holafly’s positives far outweigh their negatives and, as seasoned travelers ourselves, we have no doubt that Holafly can meet and exceed your European travel needs. 

Internet Alternatives for Europe

If neither an eSIM or even the best SIM cards for Europe appeal to you, you still have other internet options available to you. Below, we’ve explored some of these options to help you make a well-informed choice about how you will stay connected during your travels. 

1. Pocket Wi-Fi 

Pocket Wi-Fi refers to a portable Wi-Fi router that eanbles its users to access wireless internet wherever they may be. This pocket hotspot connects to the internet over a mobile network and creates a radius of about 10-15 meters in which you can use the internet. 

With pocket Wi-Fi, you can enjoy the convenience that comes with a small, lightweight device that provides you with internet access anywhere in the world. That said, common criticisms of portable Wi-Fi devices often relate to limited data usage and battery life, which is something you need to consider before purchasing one. 

If you’re thinking about using pocket Wi-Fi in Europe, there are many portable Wi-Fi rental services out there, including TravelWifi and Hippocketwifi, that will be worth looking into. 

2. Public Wi-Fi 

Public Wi-Fi simply refers to anywhere that provides the public with free internet access, like coffee shops, airports, restaurants, and hotels. 

Immediately you can see the benefits of public Wi-Fi, given that it’s completely free to use and is widely available. The thing is that this coverage is often slow and inconsistent. 

But the biggest disadvantage to using public Wi-Fi is the security risks it poses to your device. Since public Wi-Fi networks are free to use by all, your device could be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and data breaches. 

3. Phone Rentals 

Another option is to look into European phone rental services. With phone rental services, you can enjoy the convenience of having a pre-configured device and since rental phones typically rely on local mobile networks, you shouldn’t have many connectivity issues. 

The downside of phone rentals is that phone rental charges will add up and you could end up paying more than what you would’ve otherwise spent on an unlimited data Europe SIM card. What’s more, you could end up renting an older phone model, which could pose a problem when considering usability.

FAQs About the Best SIM Card Options for Europe 

If, after reading this guide, you still have some queries, don’t worry – we’ve answered some of our most frequently asked questions related to European SIM card options below.

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Cintia Soto Tomeu

Adventurer, passionate traveler, and tech enthusiast. On Roami, I aim at sharing the best solutions to help you navigate the complexities of staying connected abroad, ensuring a hassle-free experience. I enjoy playing chess, reading Brian Greene, and exploring different cultures!