For most travellers who mainly need maps, messaging, and mobile data across Europe, a fixed-data eSIMpass Europe plan starting at £2.59 is the simplest, best-value pick, while Orange Holiday makes sense if you genuinely need a European phone number and voice minutes, and Holafly Europe suits heavy streamers who want unlimited data and do not care about hotspot. All three connect you to real local networks across the continent. The difference is the model each one sells: bundled voice, unlimited-with-throttle, or pay-only-for-the-data-you-use. This guide gives you an honest three-way comparison so you can pick before you fly.
The Short Answer
- You want the cheapest, cleanest way to get data across Europe and are happy keeping your home number for calls: get a Europe eSIM from eSIMpass. Fixed data, instant QR, no app.
- You need a European phone number, minutes, and texts (calling hotels, restaurants, local businesses, or receiving European SMS): Orange Holiday is built for that.
- You want truly unlimited data and will stream and scroll all day, and do not need to tether a laptop: Holafly Europe is worth a look.
Everything below explains the trade-offs each one quietly carries.
Orange Holiday: Data Plus a Real French Number
Orange Holiday is a prepaid Europe plan from Orange, one of the biggest networks in France. Its headline advantage over a data-only travel eSIM is that it bundles a French phone number, a chunk of voice minutes, and texts alongside your data. For some trips that matters:
- You want to make and receive regular phone calls, not just app calls.
- You need a European number to give to a hotel, a car hire desk, or a tour operator.
- You like the reassurance of minutes for a local emergency or a landline that will not take WhatsApp.
The honest trade-offs: Orange Holiday tends to cost more per gigabyte than a straight data plan, because you are also paying for the voice bundle whether you use it or not. The data allowance is a fixed bucket, and coverage is framed around a Europe zone with its own country list and fair-use conditions on how much of your data you can use while roaming outside France. Read that country list carefully against your itinerary, especially if you are visiting non-EU corners of Europe. It is a good product for the traveller who specifically wants voice. If you only ever call through WhatsApp or FaceTime, you are paying for minutes you will not touch. (We are not quoting exact Orange prices here, since they change by plan and point of sale - check Orange directly for current rates.)
Holafly Europe: Unlimited, With an Asterisk
Holafly built its name on unlimited data, and its Europe eSIM sells exactly that: no gigabyte counter to watch. For a certain traveller this is the dream - stream on the train, video call for hours, never think about a data balance. If you are a heavy user, unlimited has real appeal.
But "unlimited" always comes with fine print, and honesty means naming it:
- Fair-use throttling. Unlimited plans apply a daily fair-use policy. Use a lot in a day and your speed can be slowed for the rest of that day. It is unlimited in volume, not always in full speed.
- Hotspot is often limited or off. This is the big one. Many unlimited eSIMs restrict or disable tethering, so you may not be able to share the connection with a laptop, tablet, or a travel companion's phone. If you planned to run your laptop off it in a cafe, check this first.
- You pay for unlimited even on light days. On a sightseeing trip where you mostly use maps and messaging, unlimited can cost more than a modest fixed bundle you would never exhaust.
Holafly is a strong pick for genuine heavy-data solo travellers. For a typical trip of maps, rideshare, social, and the occasional video call, it is often more than you need. (We are not quoting Holafly's exact prices - check their site for current rates.)
eSIMpass Europe: Pay for the Data You Actually Use
eSIMpass takes the opposite approach to both. It is a fixed-data, data-only eSIM: you pick the bundle that matches your trip, scan a QR code, and you are online the moment you land. No voice bundle you will not use, no unlimited premium you will not exhaust.
- Covers 31 European countries: the 27 EU members plus the UK, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The UK falls outside many "EU-only" competitor plans; Switzerland is not included and needs a separate Switzerland eSIM (more on why that matters below).
- Instant QR delivery, no app to install, and no activation fee. Install at home, switch it on when you arrive.
- Fixed data you choose, so the price is transparent and you are not subsidising minutes or unlimited headroom you will not touch.
- Connects to a major local network in each country - a real roaming partner, not a mystery signal.
The honest limitation, stated plainly: eSIMpass is data-only, so it has no phone number. Your calls and texts stay on your home number through dual SIM, and app calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram) run over the data. If you truly need a European number to receive local calls and SMS, that is Orange Holiday's territory, not ours.
Europe eSIM Plans and Pricing
| Data | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3 GB Data | 7 Days | £2.92 |
| 5 GB Data | 15 Days | £4.63 |
| 10 GB Data | 30 Days | £8.31 |
| 20 GB Data | 30 Days | £14.68 |
| 1 Day | 1 Day | £2.59 |
| 2 Days | 2 Days | £5.19 |
| 3 Days | 3 Days | £7.78 |
| 4 Days | 4 Days | £10.20 |
| 5 Days | 5 Days | £12.93 |
| 6 Days | 6 Days | £15.67 |
| 7 Days | 7 Days | £18.41 |
| 8 Days | 8 Days | £19.78 |
| 9 Days | 9 Days | £21.83 |
| 10 Days | 10 Days | £23.20 |
| 11 Days | 11 Days | £25.25 |
| 12 Days | 12 Days | £27.30 |
| 13 Days | 13 Days | £28.67 |
| 14 Days | 14 Days | £30.04 |
| 15 Days | 15 Days | £32.09 |
| 16 Days | 16 Days | £33.46 |
| 17 Days | 17 Days | £34.15 |
| 18 Days | 18 Days | £35.51 |
| 19 Days | 19 Days | £37.57 |
| 20 Days | 20 Days | £38.94 |
| 21 Days | 21 Days | £40.30 |
| 22 Days | 22 Days | £40.99 |
| 23 Days | 23 Days | £41.67 |
| 24 Days | 24 Days | £42.36 |
| 25 Days | 25 Days | £43.04 |
| 26 Days | 26 Days | £43.73 |
| 27 Days | 27 Days | £44.41 |
| 28 Days | 28 Days | £45.09 |
| 29 Days | 29 Days | £45.78 |
| 30 Days | 30 Days | £47.15 |
Plans start at £2.59 and scale with the data you pick. One plan covers your whole multi-country trip, so you are not buying a separate SIM in every country. If you want to see how this stacks up against other budget options, our travel eSIM comparison puts the numbers side by side, and our full best eSIM for Europe guide goes deeper on coverage.
Not sure how much data you need? Estimate it here:
The UK and Switzerland Trap
Here is a detail that catches people out and that a fair comparison has to flag. The UK is not in the EU (post-Brexit) and Switzerland is not in the EU or EEA. That means:
- EU "Roam Like at Home" rules do not extend to or from the UK or Switzerland.
- Some competitor "Europe" plans are really "EU" plans and exclude Switzerland, and occasionally treat the UK as a separate zone.
If your trip includes London, the Scottish Highlands, Geneva, Zurich, or the Swiss Alps, check each plan's country list line by line. The eSIMpass Europe plan covers 31 countries including the UK, but not Switzerland, so on a London-Paris-Geneva trip the Europe eSIM handles London and Paris, and you add a Switzerland eSIM for Geneva - both sit on the same phone. Always verify the itinerary against the fine print, whichever provider you choose.
A Word on EU "Roam Like at Home"
Travellers often assume Europe's famous free-roaming rules will save them. They will not, if you are visiting from outside the EU. "Roam Like at Home" applies to EU and EEA residents using their home SIM within the EU/EEA. If you are American, Canadian, Australian, or British (post-Brexit), your home network still charges its normal international roaming rates in Europe. That is exactly the gap all three eSIMs in this comparison fill. If you are an EU resident travelling within the EU, your existing plan may already cover you - in which case the question is whether an eSIM gives you more data or better value than your home allowance. We break the maths down in our eSIM vs roaming comparison.
Head-to-Head Summary
| Orange Holiday | Holafly Europe | eSIMpass Europe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data model | Fixed bucket + voice | Unlimited (daily throttle) | Fixed bundle you choose |
| Phone number | Yes (French) | No | No (data-only) |
| Voice minutes | Included | No | No |
| Hotspot | Usually yes | Often limited/off | Yes |
| UK + Switzerland | Check zone list | Check zone list | UK covered (31 countries); Switzerland needs its own eSIM |
| Best for | Needing a EU number + calls | Heavy streamers | Value, most travellers |
eSIM vs Roaming vs Local SIM
Compare your options for Europe
| eSIMpass | Roaming | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Instant | None | 30-60 min |
| Cost per GB | ~$2-5 | $10-50+ | ~$3-8 |
| Surprise fees | None | Likely | Unlikely |
| Buy before trip | Yes | Yes | No |
| Keep your number | Yes | Yes | No |
| Speed | 4G/5G | 4G/5G | 4G/5G |
Which One Suits You?
Choose eSIMpass Europe if:
- You mainly need data: maps, rideshare, WhatsApp, social, email, some streaming.
- You want transparent, fixed pricing and no app.
- Your trip crosses multiple countries, possibly including the UK (add a Switzerland eSIM for any Swiss days).
- You are fine keeping your home number for calls via dual SIM.
Choose Orange Holiday if:
- You genuinely need a European phone number and voice minutes.
- You will call local businesses or receive European SMS.
- You do not mind paying more per gigabyte for the voice bundle.
Choose Holafly Europe if:
- You are a heavy-data user who will stream and video call constantly.
- You want unlimited volume and can live with a daily fair-use throttle.
- You do not need to tether a laptop (check its hotspot policy first).
Many travellers land on eSIMpass simply because it matches the way people actually travel now: data-hungry, number-agnostic, and crossing borders. If you want to keep your home number working alongside it, our installation and activation guide walks through the dual-SIM setup.
How to Get Set Up (Under 3 Minutes)
- Buy your Europe eSIM and complete checkout.
- Receive your QR code by email instantly.
- Scan it under Settings, add the eSIM as a second line.
- Switch the eSIM to your data line and keep your home SIM for calls.
- Land and connect - you are online as soon as your phone finds a signal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does eSIMpass give me a phone number like Orange Holiday?
No. eSIMpass Europe is data-only, so it has no phone number and cannot receive normal calls or SMS. Your calling and texting stay on your home number through dual SIM, and app calls run over the data. If you specifically need a European number and voice minutes, that is where Orange Holiday fits.
Is Holafly's unlimited data really unlimited?
Unlimited in volume, yes, but subject to a daily fair-use policy that can slow your speed after heavy use in a single day. It is a great fit for heavy streamers. Just check the hotspot policy first, as tethering is often limited or disabled on unlimited plans.
Which is best value for a normal sightseeing trip?
For maps, messaging, rideshare, and light streaming, a fixed-data plan like eSIMpass is usually the best value, because you are not paying for voice minutes or unlimited headroom you will not use. Plans start at £2.59.
Does the eSIMpass Europe plan cover the UK and Switzerland?
The UK, yes; Switzerland, no. The Europe plan covers 31 European countries, including the UK even though it is outside the EU. Switzerland is not included - use a Switzerland eSIM for the Swiss part of your trip. Always check the country list against your itinerary, whichever provider you pick.
Will EU free roaming cover me in Europe?
Only if you are an EU or EEA resident using your home SIM within the EU/EEA. Visitors from the US, Canada, Australia, or the UK still pay their home network's roaming rates, which is why a travel eSIM makes sense. See our eSIM vs roaming comparison for the numbers.
Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?
Yes, tethering works on eSIMpass data plans, which is handy for sharing with a travel companion or a laptop. Watch your data balance, since hotspot use burns through gigabytes quickly. Unlimited competitor plans often restrict this, so check before you rely on it.
One eSIM for 31 countries across Europe, UK included
Join 10,000+ travellers who chose eSIMpass. Fixed-data value, instant QR delivery, no app. Keep your home number for calls via dual SIM.
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