As the demand for secure and reliable internet access while traveling continues to grow, eSIM technology has emerged as a game-changer. No longer bound by physical SIM cards, travelers can now enjoy seamless connectivity by simply activating an eSIM on their devices. In recent years, several new players have entered the eSIM market, offering travelers more options than ever before. Among them, ExpressVPN has expanded its services with the launch of Holiday.com eSIM, providing users with an easy, secure way to stay connected abroad.

The team behind ExpressVPN has launched an eSIM service, housed on an associated website, holiday.com. This complements their efforts to enhance your travels with the security and convenience of VPNs, including their Aircove Go portable VPN router.

With our VPN app, we’ve long given travelers and expats freedom of access by allowing them to appear to be in a different country via IP address. We hope the holiday.com eSIM—a service separate from the ExpressVPN app—will empower you to take greater control of your internet experience, especially when abroad.

What is an eSIM?

Popular smartphone brands began to include eSIM, or embedded SIM, in their devices in 2016. In 2022, the iPhone 14 became the first device to only use eSIM, without the additional option of using a physical SIM card.

These chips are built directly into the motherboard of the device, and you can’t remove them or change them. An eSIM has the same functionality as a physical SIM card but with the benefit of being rewritable and programmable. This means you can switch your network operator without swapping anything out. Everything is handled electronically.

How do holiday.com eSIMs work?

Travelers arriving in a different country have several options: they can use separate SIM cards, rely on public Wi-Fi, carry a pocket-sized router with prepaid data, use data roaming—or buy an eSIM plan for the trip. If your phone supports eSIM, it’s easily the most convenient, reliable, and affordable method of staying connected.

Every time you’re about to go overseas, just launch the holiday.com app or site, choose the country or region you’re heading to and the amount of data you need, pay for the plan online, and install your eSIM. Once you arrive at your destination, your phone will automatically connect to the local mobile carrier.

There are more than 200 countries to choose from, as well as regional and global plans. You can install multiple eSIMs on your device so you’re fully prepared for every destination on your itinerary before leaving home. You’ll also have the peace of mind of using internet data from a trusted source rather than relying on unfamiliar, potentially unsecured public Wi-Fi.

How to know if your device supports eSIM

Most smartphones now have eSIM compatibility.

Apple’s iPhones started offering eSIM with the iPhone XS (first released in 2018). Every model after that supports eSIM (except phones purchased in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau). The best way to check if an Android device is eSIM compatible is by checking the specs of your model online.

Note that your phone cannot be carrier locked—meaning you can only use a specific mobile carrier—to use a holiday.com eSIM.

How to get a holiday.com eSIM

holiday.com eSIMs are available for purchase now at holiday.com. Besides that, anyone can head to the holiday.com site or app to buy eSIMs and top up existing ones. holiday.com’s eSIMs are data-only. Voice calls and SMSes will be routed through your usual SIM instead.

ExpressVPN users will be eligible for special offers on holiday.com eSIMs, with promotions soon to be announced.

ExpressVPN’s venture into the eSIM market with the launch of Holiday.com highlights a growing trend among VPN providers to expand their offerings beyond traditional virtual private network services. This move follows NordVPN’s earlier entry into the space with its own eSIM service, Saily, introduced earlier this year. The launch underscores the increasing importance of providing travelers with seamless connectivity solutions that also prioritize privacy and security.

By adding eSIM functionality to its portfolio, ExpressVPN taps into a market increasingly focused on data privacy, especially for those navigating the complexities of using public Wi-Fi or unfamiliar networks abroad. With VPN services like Aircove Go and now Holiday.com’s eSIM offerings, ExpressVPN is positioning itself as a comprehensive solution for connected, secure, and stress-free travel. This strategic move signals how privacy-focused companies are innovating to meet the evolving needs of global travelers.

Whether you’re a frequent traveler, a digital nomad, or someone simply visiting another country for business or leisure, the evolution of eSIM technology is making it easier to stay connected, secure, and in control of your data.

holiday.com eSIM prices

Here is a table comparing the eSIM data plans in France for different providers, including the holiday.com eSIM offer:

Data Plan	BNESIM	Airhub	UBIGI	Nomad	Saily	Holiday.com eSIM
1 GB	€1.43	–	–	€4.32	€3.83	€3.40
3 GB	€4.15	€3.40	€4.00	€7.68	€8.63	€8.20
10 GB	€12.87	€9.60	€9.00	€11.53	€19.20	€18.80

Holiday.com eSIM provides competitive pricing across different data plans, offering 1 GB at €3.40, making it a strong contender, particularly compared to Saily, which costs €3.83 for the same data. For larger plans, Holiday.com eSIM remains competitively priced, though BNESIM provides the lowest cost for 10 GB at €12.87. Holiday.com offers a range of plans, including country-specific, regional, and global options, though it does not offer unlimited data or voice services—only data.

Overall, Holiday.com eSIM is a reliable and cost-effective option for travelers, especially for those seeking flexibility and ease of use while abroad.