eSIM data pack
Total$0
Pre-paid data plan you install before the trip. Keeps your home SIM active for SMS.
- Base data pack$0
- Top-ups (if you run out)$0
- Hotspot add-on$0
- Hidden fees (taxes, fx)$0
eSIM vs Roaming vs Pocket Wi-Fi — what actually costs less on your next trip?
Enter where you're going, how long, and how much data you really use. We add up the hidden fees (top-ups, daily passes you don't notice, hotspot rentals, taxes) and tell you the winner — plus the moment a different option would have been cheaper.
Assumes prices in USD
Estimates, not quotes — check your carrier
No referral links
1. Your trip
Adjust the inputs — the comparison updates instantly.
Quick presets
Winner for this trip
eSIM data pack
$24 total
Saves about $76 vs the next-cheapest option over your 10-day trip.
Trip basis
10 days · 8 GB
10 days · 8 GB
Final gap vs worst
$76
$76
Cost per day
$2.40
$2.40
Carrier roaming pass
Total$0
Daily or trip pass from your home carrier. Your number works as-is.
- Daily passes × days$0
- Overage / throttle bypass$0
- Idle-day waste$0
- Hidden fees (taxes, surcharges)$0
Pocket Wi-Fi rental
Total$0
Rented MiFi device. Best for groups; needs to be charged and carried.
- Device rental × days$0
- Shipping / pickup$0
- Damage insurance$0
- Hidden fees (deposit fx loss)$0
Cumulative cost by trip length
Same daily data load, same region — only the trip length changes.
USD · current inputs
Break-even
Roaming overtakes eSIM around day 6 at this data load.
View the data table (accessibility)
| Day | eSIM | Roaming | Pocket Wi-Fi |
|---|
Side-by-side, no spin
What you get, what you pay, what hurts.
| Factor | eSIM | Roaming pass | Pocket Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 5–15 min (QR scan) | ~0 min (auto on arrival) | Airport pickup or mail |
| Your home number | Still active for SMS | Fully active | Stays on home network (off in airplane mode) |
| Best for | Solo / couple, predictable data | Short trips (1–4 days), 2FA-heavy users | Groups of 3+, daily tethering |
| Pain points | Phone must be eSIM-compatible | Wasted "idle days" if you skip a day, throttling after cap | Extra device to charge & not lose |
| Real cost driver | Top-ups + hotspot add-on | Day count × pass | Day count × rental + deposit fx |
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Assumptions & limitations
- Prices are estimates from public 2026 pricing pages across major eSIM providers (Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad), US/EU carrier roaming pages, and pocket Wi-Fi rental brands (Travel Wifi, Sapphire MOFI). Real quotes vary by promo, region, and device.
- "Hidden fees" is a calibrated estimate: taxes, currency conversion margins, and the typical 1 top-up frequent travelers buy mid-trip. It is not a quoted fee.
- Roaming "idle-day waste" assumes 1 in 7 days is a no-data day where you still triggered the pass. Adjust mentally if you fully disable data on rest days.
- Pocket Wi-Fi shipping is averaged to $12 round-trip; in-airport pickup is often free but adds time and queueing.
- This tool does not include voice-call charges beyond carrier passes. International voice over a data eSIM should use VoIP (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Signal).