Planning a trip to Spain? Need an eSIM pronto? You’ve landed in the right place! Dive into our complete guide on eSIM, from its meaning, benefits, and differences from traditional SIM cards. Plus, we’ve got an unbiased review of the best eSIM cards for Spain, including options for unlimited data plans: YohoMobile, Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad.

Do not waste any more cash on roaming fees or your precious time queueing in physical stores, when eSIMs can have you connected in a snap. We’ve got your back with this guide to help you find the eSIM that suits your wallet and your wanderlust. It’s all laid out for you, no time-consuming fuss. After all, when gearing up for your Spanish escapade, there’s a suitcase to pack and sangria to sip. Trim your expenses and enjoy your time in Spain doing what you love!
 

Image by Vecteezy and Pexels
 

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM, which stands for embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is built into your smartphone. It allows you to activate and switch between cellular plans and carriers on your phone using software or QR codes. Without being a physical SIM card, it is more convenient for users to manage their mobile service.
 

How to choose an eSIM for Spain?

Here are two must-knows before buying an eSIM for Spain:

1. Make sure your phone’s not locked. Most of the devices from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are usually unlocked, unlike North America’s. Easy fix – just reach out to your mobile provider to set it right.

2. Make sure your smartphone is eSIM compatible. Most new devices tend to be, but if you’re unsure, check our detailed list.
    

eSIMs: Are They Worth It?

eSIM cards are a 21st-century solution to stay connected while traveling. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine how we’d manage without the internet. How on earth would we find a taxi, text friends, secure a dinner spot, or get by around without Google Maps? eSIMs have, undoubtedly, lifesaving benefits. But they have their drawbacks too, as nothing is perfect. Let’s get down to both.
 

What are the benefits of an eSIM?

• Fast and easy to use: your eSIM arrives in your email, simply scan the QR code, and you’re good to go. And if any issues pop up, tech support can help you overseas.
• Safe: since they’re sent via email, you won’t need to remove or swap SIM cards. So, no risk of misplacing or losing them.
• Convenient: You can have multiple eSIM plans on your phone, there is no limit.
• No roaming fees: With eSIM, there are no pricey roaming charges to eat into your travel budget.
• Universal coverage: eSIMs will work in all destinations, and their signal quality is no less than that of traditional SIM cards.
• Data-wise: You will avoid using public Wi-Fi networks vulnerable to hackers and data thieves.
   

What are the downsides of an eSIM?

• Intransferable: they cannot be swapped to another phone, as they are built-in. For instance, if your phone stops working for no reason, you can’t simply transfer the eSIM to another device.
• No phone number: eSIMs don’t come pre-loaded with phone numbers, unlike traditional ones. You’ll need to acquire a number separately, which can be an extra load.
• Not compatible with older phones: As this is a technology quite recent, it won’t work on older models.
   

What is the best eSIM for Spain in 2024?

So, let’s get to the chase. We’re going to review the best eSIM providers (YohoMobile, Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad), according to the variety of their plans, prices, benefits, and services in general.
 

 
Image by Vecteezy
 

Yoho Mobile review

Yoho Mobile offers data packages for 192 countries, sorted by continent. If you’re ready to set foot in Spain, hold on, because here’s a kicker: eSIM plans for Spain kick off at $3.29 – the most budget-friendly option around. Plus, if you’re touring Europe, there’s no need to buy a new eSIM for each country. Just get their Europe eSIM and enjoy seamless connectivity across 31 European nations.
 

Likewise, they also provide unlimited data plans, available within every country plan. And when they say “unlimited,” they mean it – no speed throttling or restrictions, unlike those other choices that slow down after a daily usage limit.
 

Image by Vecteezy
 

Now, let’s get to tech support, which is an essential factor when choosing an eSIM provider. You want a support team that’s quick and effective at solving overseas issues. Having to wait hours or days is just out of the table. Regarding that, they proved to have a competent support team, which is fluent in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Yes, they’re actually people, not chatbots. No matter in which language you prefer to chat, they’ll respond right away, so that you can keep your global adventures smooth.
 

Airalo review

Let’s start with what we liked about Airalo. First of all, one of the benefits of this eSIM card provider is its affordability. They offer a variety of options for 197 countries, neatly divided into local, regional, and global plans. This latter covers around 80 popular countries, but it’s always smart to double-check the exact list before making up your mind. That said, in Spain, they rely on Movistar (Telefonica) for connectivity, with speeds varying based on location. A cool feature is that they allow hotspot connections and even top up your eSIM. And their loyalty program can save you some bucks in the long run if you stick around.

Here’s what we did not like about Airalo. No unlimited data plans, 20GB is the limit –a bummer. So, if you’re a light data user, say, checking emails, social media, and browsing for 20-30 minutes a day, 1 or 2GB is quite enough. But if you’re a TikTok fan, it might be wise to explore other providers.

Without a doubt, Airalo is a solid eSIM provider, offering wallet-friendly prices and extensive country coverage. Yet, it’s not the only option in the eSIM game. Let’s keep exploring other choices and find out your perfect fit!

Holafly review

Holafly steps up with eSIM data packages that span over 160 countries and six regions. Unlike Airalo, their long suit is the unlimited data plans, and that is only the tip of the iceberg of the benefits of their eSIM. They’re one of the few brands that go all in with this feature, even in those few countries without unlimited data, they give you more gigabytes than other providers. Their data bundles come with extended validity periods, making them a pretty cost-effective choice. Adding to the list of goodies is their 24-hour tech support in English, a rare gem in this industry. They’re quick to respond, usually in less than a minute, via chat or WhatsApp.

As we said before, eSIMs don’t come with phone numbers, unlike traditional SIM cards. However, Holafly manages to include an Austrian phone number (+43) in the Europe regional pack. So, you can make and receive calls for 60 minutes to certain countries (not all), but not SMS. Also, it’s important to read what they state on their webpage that contacting someone outside the coverage area of this assigned number might be treated as an international call, in that case, additional fees may apply.

It’s good to know that Holafly’s unlimited data plans don’t allow tethering or hotspot sharing. So, if you’re counting on sharing your unlimited data plans with others, you might want to search elsewhere.

To sum up, Holafly is one of the priciest in the industry, but we get it, they offer unlimited data with every plan. So, it all comes down to your regular data usage and priorities.
 

Nomad review

Nomad is another trusted eSIM provider in 165 countries. Although it may not have the same global reach as Airalo eSIM, in the previous review, it’s got some of the neatest benefits. First, the ability to add on or recharge your eSIM, which is always handy. Second, the cleverly crafted data plans, especially for Spain. In particular, the one that caught my eye was the 1GB plan for 30 days, which is not usual to find and is perfect for budget-conscious travelers who don’t need lots of data. These tailored plans suit the duration and demands of most journeys.

However, there are some substantial issues. For once, they do not offer plans with unlimited data, if you ever run out of data you need to buy another eSIM or recharge. Also, their support is only via email. This could be a challenge if you’re in an unfamiliar country with connection issues, and you can’t reach a live tech agent. It’s a downside to keep in mind.

Compare the best eSIM providers for Spain in 2024

In this review, we’ll examine each of the eSIM providers (YohoMobile, Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad), their plans, features, pricing, and overall benefits to help you make an informed decision.