10 Best eSIM Providers for International Students

SIM cards are essential to access the internet as well as staying connected with your loved ones through calls and SMS. International students leaving their home countries to go to a new country need these services the most. A secure, reliable and fast internet connection can help the student survive in the new country better since it helps them navigate maps, make payments and constantly google things they struggle to understand in a whole new environment. 

In the early days, when SIM cards were physical, getting a new one for your stay abroad was a massive challenge. But thanks to the revolutionary technology of Esims, getting a new SIM as well as activating it and finally choosing your data plans has become way easier through the services provided by some of the best Esim providers. So, if you are on the hunt for the best Esim providers for international students, here is our carefully curated list of only the best in the market for you! 

1. Sim Local

‍Country: Global
Best Feature: Best speed and coverage

Sim Local offers a convenient and reliable eSIM solution for international students travelling worldwide. With access to the best local providers in each country, you’ll enjoy seamless connectivity at every destination. Sim Local ensures top speed and coverage, backed by unlimited data plans with more than 15 GB per day. Whether you need data for studying, exploring, or staying connected, you can choose a plan that suits your needs.

2. Airalo 

Country: Global
Best Feature: Large Global Coverage

Airalo is one of the best Esim providers for international students if you are looking for an easy and affordable solution. The provider offers a range of plans to choose from as per your own convenience and requirements. The different plans available include local, regional and global plans that are effective for a country, continent and the world, respectively. With a great reach across the globe, Airalo covers local plans for 190 countries while their global plan covers 86 countries, a significantly large number of regions compared to other providers.

Airalo provides both short and long-term contracts, which makes it great for both travelling as well as extended stays abroad. This Esim provider has a mobile app that can be used for downloading the Esim as well as activating it. The app makes it easier to use with hassle-free activation, making it one of the best Esim for international travel. The only drawback of the provider is that unlimited data plans are not yet available with Airalo. 

3. Ubigi 

Country: Global
Best Feature: Coverage in 190+ countries

If you are exclusively looking for some of the best Esim providers that focus on quick Esim installation and activation, Ubigi might just be your perfect fit. With Ubigi, you can get a functioning Esim before you have even left for your destination country. By the time you reach there, you already have a functioning internet connection and phone number to stay connected. With the Ubigi Esim mobile application, you can easily download your free Esim and activate it in absolutely no time or hassles in just three simple steps making it one of the best international Esims you can find! Here’s how it works: 

Step 1: Install your free Esim with the Ubigi app (or you can scan a simple QR code) 
Step 2: Fill in the fields and create your account 
Step 3: Choose your data plan according to your needs and budget 

For a more detailed blog on How an Esim works, reads this blog.

4. K Esim 

Country: South Korea
Best Feature: Extensive South Korea Coverage

K Esim is one of those providers that focus on a variety of plans. Since every person getting an Esim has a completely different motivation and requirements behind it, K Esim provides data coverage between 500MB to 5GB plans. You can choose any plan based on your data requirements as well as your budget. The provider covers 84 countries under their global data plans, which makes it one of the best Esim providers for international students. With a huge coverage region, K Esims enable you to get seamless data connection anywhere and everywhere, making it one of the best sims for international travel. 

5. Omio 

Country: Germany
Best Feature: Excellent Coverage in Germany

For an international student who is moving away to a new country for the first time, staying connected to a secure internet connection and having access to international phone calls is a must. The internet will help the student navigate through their new life, while international calls are important to stay connected to their home country. This is where one of the best Esim providers, Omio, comes into play. With Omio, now international students can get a fully functioning mobile number even before leaving for abroad. This virtual number can be used for online registrations as well as job applications and can also be used for booking your student accommodation anywhere in Germany from the capital Berlin, Frankfurt to Munich. You can also receive phone calls from your friends and family at local rates, which makes Omio one of the best international Esims. 

6. Esim UK 

Country: United Kingdom
Best Feature: Broad UK Coverage

Esim UK is one of the best Esim providers for international students who are leaving for the UK for academic purposes. The provider offers easy and hassle-free services that are especially important for international students that are living on their own and already have a lot on their plate to take care of. The activation is as simple as only scanning a QR Code provided by Esim UK and choosing your preferred plan from their pre-curated list of data plans. The process becomes simpler if your devices, including mobile phones and tablets, are already compatible with Esims. The data plans by the provider are available at very competitive rates, while the connectivity you get with it is seamless and reliable. 

7. TSIM 

Country: India
Best Feature: Comprehensive India Coverage

If you are an international student moving to the US, the UK or Canada for your studies, TSIM can be a great choice when it comes to the best Esim providers. Their carefully curated 1 to 3-month data plans can make connectivity easier for longer stretches of time. TSIM offers voice, SMS, as well as data prepaid packages to choose from before you even leave your home country. The provider also hosts a wide range of operators to choose from according to your needs. With this service, you can easily eradicate the concern of being disconnected when you reach the host country and thus rely on the network for your navigation and communication needs. TSIM offers student discounts to international students on the submission of a copy of their student VISA, which makes it one of the best Esim providers for students. 

8. Lyca

Country: Europe
Best Feature: No credit checks needed

Not ready for a long-term commitment, even if it’s with some of the best Esim providers? Lyca brings to the table unique, no-contract, cancelable data plans that can be easily cancelled anytime you like. Therefore, getting an Esim with Lyca doesn’t require any credit checks making the whole process faster. The provider is also popular among international students that require bigger data plans for personal usage like online gaming, streaming, etc. Lyca’s student-friendly data packs also come with unlimited UK calling and free SMS to make it more useful and hassle-free for international students. You can also keep your old phone number, making it easier for your friends and family to stay in touch with you while you are away from home. Any 4G or 5G upgrades come with absolutely no extra charges. 

9. Lebara 

Country: Europe
Best Feature: Strong Coverage in Europe

From great discounts to data banking, you can now get all your needs met with Lebara Esims as an international student. One of the best Esim providers in the market, Lebara provides exclusive offers on 30-day data plans that are prepaid. It also comes without a contract making it easy to cancel at any moment. Some of the best discounts available with Lebara include double data on some of their selected plans. The provider also lets you do data banking up to 200GB. Lebara is known for its excellent customer service as well as easy and assisted activation for international students who need help with their Esim. 

10. WhistleOut

Country: Australia
Best Feature: Coverage Across Australia

Whistle Out is another one of the best Esim providers for international students with their cheapest and fastest Esim solutions. The provider also offers the most amount of data for a fixed price when compared to other Esim providers in the market, making their plans accessible to almost anyone and everyone. The variety of plans and operators that they provide make your Esim journey easier and less complicated. The plans are data-only. However, the user is provided with call credits so they can stay connected with their family and friends. Whistle Out offers the best range of pre-selected and curated Esim plans for international students, making it one of the best Esim providers globally. 

11. eSIM GoHub

eSIM GoHub is a leading eSIM service provider, catering to travellers across various destinations including China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Established in 2018, eSIM GoHub has served over 400,000 travellers and partnered with more than 200 travel agencies and corporations. Offering a wide range of data packages and 24/7 support system, eSIM GoHub ensures travellers have a seamless experience while exploring the globe.

From the best deals to the biggest data plans, everything is important when it comes to choosing the best Esim providers for international students and with the best student services you can avail discounts on them too. We hope our above-mentioned curated list gives you much-needed insights about the best providers out there and helps you choose what’s best for you. Also know more about the advantages and disadvantages of esim for students.

Happy Hunting!

If you want to try different options read our blog on Sim-only Vs Contract Plan.