The Best eSIM Plan for Long Term Travelers

There are a lot of eSIM companies in the world. They all work a similar way: you download their app, pick your package, install the eSIM into your smartphone, and off you go. There’s many I like.

But one I like more than the rest is Holafly and I’ve been using their eSIMs for years. I find their app to be easy to use and their rates really competitive.

So when Holafly launched Holafly Plans, a single eSIM that works as an ongoing subscription across 160+ destinations, I was excited. It’s a great option for those who are looking for more data and flexibility than a traditional eSIM. (An eSIM is a digital SIM built directly into your phone’s hardware, so there’s no physical card to insert or swap. Instead of visiting a shop for a plastic SIM, you activate a plan by scanning a QR code or installing it through an app, and you’re connected within minutes. Because it’s software-based, a single phone can hold multiple eSIMs, letting you switch between a home number and a local or global travel plan without touching your device. I have like 10 installed. lol)

In this post, I’m going to explain what the product is, how it’s different than a traditional eSIM, and who I think this option is for!

What are Holafly Plans?

Holafly Plans is a single global eSIM that covers more than 160 destinations on one ongoing subscription. You buy it once, install it once, and it just keeps working as you move from country to country. You don’t reswap SIMs, you don’t redownload anything, there’s no re-purchasing, and no hunting for a new QR code every time you land somewhere new.

It automatically reconnects you when you land in a new place. Think of it as like a traditional mobile carrier – but a lot cheaper.

You can buy it monthly or annually and it comes in two tiers: Light and Unlimited. There’s no annual contract and you can cancel any time.

The Unlimited Plan includes no data caps and an unlimited hotspot so you can tether your laptop on the go. If you’re a digital nomad uploading video, doing video calls, or just someone who doesn’t want to think about data ever again, this is a great add-on. This tier also comes with a local phone number from the US, UK, or Canada, which lets you receive SMS messages.

The Light Plan gives you 25GB of data a month, still includes a hotspot, and still covers the same 160+ destination coverage. For someone who mostly uses maps, messaging apps, and the occasional Instagram scroll, this package is probably the best option.

Additionally, with both Holafly Plans, once your plan is active, you get their “Always On” feature which is 1GB of backup data every month, automatically for life, even if you eventually cancel your subscription entirely.

Pricing varies a bit by region and currency and depending on how long you purchase, so check out their current rates on the Holafly Plans page. However, as an example, their unlimited plan is only $55 USD per month for 1 year, which is a lot cheaper than any US based carrier charges for their base option that includes unlimited 5G data overseas.  You can get monthly, quarterly, or yearly plans. Quarterly plans save approximately 10% while yearly plans save 15%.

Use the promo code NOMADICMATT at checkout to get 10% OFF Holafly Plans and 5% OFF all standard Holafly eSIMs.

Classic eSIMs vs Plans

Classic Holafly eSIMs are built for a single trip. You pick a country or region (there are 200+ available), choose how many days of data you need, and it covers just that trip. If you’re flying to Portugal for two weeks, a classic eSIM is still the simpler, cheaper option. It’s a one-and-done purchase. If you only take a couple trips per year then this is still the best option.

On the other hand, if you’re a digital nomad who is gone from your home country most of the year and moving between different countries all the time, then the Holafly Plans fly is the much better option. It’s a standing global subscription designed for people who are more or less always somewhere. Instead of buying a new eSIM every time your itinerary changes, you have one number, one connection, one bill that follows you across borders indefinitely. Plus, you can get a phone number, unlimited data, and a hotspot. In the US, if you were to get T-Mobile’s plan, which caps data and is the closest thing we have to “affordable” international plans, you’re going to spend over $100 USD a month (I know because I used to use this plan!). Holafly Plans costs less and gives you more.

Here’s how it compares:

Feature / Cost	Holafly Plans (Unlimited)	US Major Carrier Roaming Pass	Buying Local SIMs / Single eSIMs
Monthly Cost	~$55–$65 / month depending on monthly, quarterly, or annual payment plan	$100–$300 / month ($10/day add-ons)	$60–$120 / month (varies by region)
Data Allowance	Unlimited	Capped at high speeds, then throttled	Varies (usually 5GB–10GB packages)
Hassle Factor	Zero. Set it up once, works in 160+ destinations.	Low, but extremely expensive.	High. Re-buying, swapping QR codes, line drops at borders.
Hotspotting	Included (multiple devices)	Often restricted or throttled	Varies by carrier

What about the Ultra Plan?

Holafly also recently launched a new tier called The Ultra Plan by Holafly, and it’s a bit different from anything else in the eSIM world.

Basically, it takes everything in the Unlimited Plan (unlimited data, hotspot, phone number, 160+ destinations) and adds a a small travel insurance component that ib:

• Luggage protection – If the airline loses or delays your checked bag, you get €150 within 24 hours of filing your claim. No receipts needed for what was in the bag. They’ll also help you recover up to €1,900 from the airline. (Amounts are also available in USD. Check the plan terms for the details.)
• Flight claims – If your flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked, they’ll review your case and handle the claim for you. You keep 100% of what’s recovered. No commission. (Heads up: this mainly applies to flights covered by EU and UK passenger rights rules, plus Brazil, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Most flights within the Americas and Asia aren’t covered.)
• 24/7 doctor and pedriatics chat – You can chat with a real doctor or pediatrics (for those traveling with children) in English any time, day or night. This is great for figuring out whether that fever or stomach bug needs a hospital or just rest and water.
• Unlimited video sessions with psychologists, nutritionists and personal trainers – Usually booked within 48 hours. If you’ve been on the road for months, you know loneliness and burnout are real. This is a nice thing to have in your back pocket.
• Virtual Locations and an ad blocker (coming soon) – Safer browsing on hostel and café Wi-Fi.
• Always On – Like the other Plans, you still get 1GB of free backup data every month for emergencies.

How much does it cost?
Ultra is $90.95 a month if you pay monthly, $82.65 a month on the quarterly plan, or $73.41 a month if you pay yearly.
For comparison, Unlimited is $64.90 monthly, $58.65 quarterly, or $52.41 yearly. Quarterly saves you about 10%, and yearly about 20%. (Use my code NOMADICMATT or MATTK gets you another 10% off on top of whichever plan you choose.)

So, is the upgrade worth it? Ultra costs about $26 a month more than Unlimited if you pay monthly, $24 more on quarterly, and $21 more on yearly. Here’s how I think about it: one lost bag gets you $150, which covers roughly six months of the difference, whichever way you pay. A single doctor visit abroad, or one session with a psychologist, nutritionist, or personal trainer, can easily cost more than that. And that’s before you even factor in the language barrier and the stress of figuring out where to go. With Ultra, you get unlimited access to all that support included in your plan.

If you’re heading out for a few months, quarterly is the sweet spot. You get the savings without committing to a full year. If you’re taking a two-week vacation, skip it and stick with a standard Holafly eSIM.

Just to be clear, this doesn’t replace travel insurance. It won’t cover hospital bills, theft, or emergency situations, so you’ll still need proper travel insurance for all of that but if you want small trip related coverage, this can be a cheaper option.

How Plans Work and How to Subscribe

Getting set up takes a couple of minutes, not a couple of hours:

1. Check compatibility – Most modern smartphones support eSIM, but it’s worth confirming yours does before you buy.
2. Choose your plan – Head to the Holafly Plans page, pick Unlimited or Light, choose monthly, quarterly, or yearly billing, and complete your purchase. Heads up: your billing cycle starts the moment you pay, not the moment you land somewhere, so if you’re buying ahead of a trip, time it close to departure.
3. Install the eSIM – You’ll get a QR code and an email guide, or you can install it directly through the Holafly app, which walks you through the whole thing in about two minutes.
4. Turn on data roaming – when you land, activate the eSIM, and you’re connected. No local SIM shop, no border-crossing scramble.

If anything goes sideways during setup, real people are on the other end of support 24/7.

Who are Holafly Plans Actually For

Holafly Plans isn’t for everyone. If you’re taking a single two-week vacation, a classic destination eSIM will cost you less. However, if you’re a frequent traveler who is in and out of multiple countries within a given month or a digital nomad who needs reliable, ongoing connectivity for work, not just casual browsing, then get Holafly Plans. It’s easier and will save you money in the long run.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• One eSIM covers 160+ destinations, no swapping at borders
• True unlimited data and hotspot on the top tier, no throttling
• Always On gives you free backup data for life, even after you cancel
• Cancel anytime, no lock-in contract
• Monthly, quarterly, or yearly billing, with real savings if you go yearly
• No hidden fees, a 6-month refund policy, and real humans answering support
• Setup takes about two minutes

Cons:

• Not the cheapest option if you’re staying in one country for a long stretch
• The local phone number is Unlimited-only, not included on Light
• Data plan costs vary by currency/region, so you’ll want to double-check pricing on Holafly’s site before buying

****Holafly plans make life easier if you’re a long-term traveler. You don’t have to swap SIM cards, you get unlimited data, and you get a phone number. It’s the closest thing to a traditional phone plan that is out there but without any huge costs or data caps.

And, as someone who roams the world a lot and uses a lot of data, especially to stream video and use my phone as a hotspot, these plans save me a ton of money!

If you’re roaming the world and plan to be out of your home country for a while, this is the product to get!

Use the promo code NOMADICMATT at checkout to get 10% OFF Holafly Plans and 5% OFF all standard Holafly eSIMs.

FAQ

Is Holafly Plans different from a regular Holafly eSIM? Yes. Regular Holafly eSIMs are one-off purchases for a single trip or destination (200+ available). Holafly Plans is an ongoing global subscription for people who are more or less always traveling.

Does Always On cost extra? No. It’s included automatically with every Holafly Plans subscription and keeps giving you 1GB of backup data a month across 150+ destinations even after you cancel.

Can I switch between Light and Unlimited? You’d need to cancel your current plan and purchase the other tier — there’s no in-place upgrade yet.

What if I don’t like it? Holafly backs Plans with a 6-month refund policy, which is more generous than most eSIM companies offer.