Data pass vs e-SIM: The best way to use your phone abroad in Europe

Find out what e-SIMs are, how to use them, and whether they’re really cheaper than data roaming passes.

Although holidays are meant for switching off, many of us prefer to stay connected while we’re away – even if just to upload our holiday snaps on Instagram. But using your phone abroad can be expensive. 
Following Brexit, British phone users waved goodbye to cheap roaming in the EU with their network providers and vice versa for EU residents visiting the UK. 
Depending on where you’re going, the length of your stay, and how much data allowance you need, an e-SIM could instead be the cheapest option. 
An e-SIM (embedded SIM) is a virtual SIM card that you can download onto your phone, either via an app or by scanning a QR code. 
There are many e-SIM providers to choose from, some of the most popular being Airalo, Holafly and Buoygues. Several mainstream phone networks such as EE, Orange and Vodafone also sell e-SIMs.
Generally speaking, most smartphones launched after 2018 will have e-SIM capabilities.
This includes Apple iPhones launched in/after 2018 – for example, iPhone X, XR and 11 upwards; Google Pixel phones launched in/after 2018 – such as Google Pixel 2 with Google Fi service and upwards; and Samsung Galaxy phones launched in/after 2020.
E-SIMs can also be used on eligible tablets and smart watches. If you’re unsure, you can check on the manufacturer’s website.
There are many advantages of using an e-SIM when you travel. They are easy to purchase and install, and you get to keep your regular phone number.
You can switch between your usual SIM and e-SIM in your settings to control when you use your data allowance.
Both country-specific and regional e-SIMs (e.g. Spain or EU) are available, offering added flexibility.
On the down side, your e-SIM may only cover data roaming meaning you could end up paying more to make calls and send texts. This could mean it isn’t cost-effective.
In some cases, if you’re on a monthly contract with a network provider, data roaming might be included in your plan. 
If not, there’s usually the option to purchase a one-off data pass, sometimes known as a data passport, roam abroad pass or travel data pass. This unlocks either your plan’s allowance abroad or an additional capped allowance of calls, texts and data to use overseas. 
Like e-SIMS, data passes are virtual and can be purchased via your network’s website or app. 
Data passes can be purchased from your usual provider and added to your next monthly bill, making them easy and quick to activate.
As with an e-SIM, you are able to keep the same phone number – but a key advantage is that data passes are more likely to include calls and texts as well as data.
When it comes to data passes, however, there’s less choice compared to e-SIMs, which offer country-specific packages as well as regional, continental and worldwide plans
You may also find that your destination is not covered by the data pass as it depends on where your network has partnerships.
When the UK was part of the EU, most providers allowed British phone users to roam in Europe for just £2 (€1.70 based on December 2019 conversion rate) per day and it was almost always the cheapest option. Likewise, EU residents had a good deal when roaming in the UK. 
Following Brexit, the price to roam went up on both sides of the Atlantic. But depending on your phone plan and how long you’ll be travelling for, it could still be cheaper than an e-SIM. 
To give you an idea, we compared the cost of roaming in Europe for one week below. 
It’s crucial to shop around to find the best deal for your needs. And remember, you can always avoid extra costs altogether by turning off your data roaming and just relying on WiFi while you’re away.