Fastest Travel eSIMs of 2025 — Why Ubigi Leads and Others Lag
For travellers, an eSIM is more than just a virtual SIM card — it’s your gateway to everything that matters on the road: maps when you’re lost, messages when plans change, booking confirmations when you’re rushing to catch a flight, and a lifeline to friends, family, or colleagues.
Get it right, and you’ll have smooth high-speed access from the moment you land — no queuing for a local SIM, no searching for a café with free Wi-Fi. Get it wrong, and you might be stuck watching maps load pixel-by-pixel, dealing with choppy video calls, or paying through the nose for mediocre service.
That’s why speed matters. Fast, stable data can make the difference between stress and smooth sailing — whether that’s uploading a batch of photos before your train leaves or streaming a TV show without buffering after a long day of sightseeing.
We came across an extensive piece of research from Travel eSIM Expert — an ambitious 18-month study that tested 22 eSIM providers across 10 countries, running more than 150 speed trials. The providers included Roamless, GoMoWorld, Ubigi, Saily, Yesim, eSIMX, eSIMo, BNESIM, Roamify, Nomad, Esimatic, RedteaGo, Holafly, Instabridge, Jetpac, Global YO, KnowRoaming, GigSky, Sim Local, Firsty, aloSIM, and Airalo. It’s one of the most detailed looks at eSIM performance we’ve seen. In this article, we draw on their data, analysis, and findings — spotlighting the most compelling results and adding our perspective on what they mean for travellers in the real world.
And here’s the first surprise: some of the most famous eSIM brands didn’t even crack the top five. Popularity doesn’t always mean performance.
The Top 5 Fastest eSIMs — and How They Were Chosen
Finding the true fastest eSIM isn’t just about who wins in one country — it’s about who can deliver across very different network conditions. A provider that tops the charts in Portugal’s high-speed 5G environment might struggle in places where infrastructure is less advanced, like parts of Colombia.
To account for this, the study compared performance in four representative countries: the UK, Portugal, the USA, and Colombia. Instead of relying on raw speed alone, results were converted into percentile scores within each country. This made it possible to compare providers fairly, even when average national speeds varied dramatically.
The result is a ranking that rewards consistency, not just occasional record-breaking numbers. These top performers are the ones most likely to keep travellers connected at high speeds, whether they’re in a major European capital or a more challenging mobile market.
Travel eSIM Expert Key Highlights & Findings
- Ubigi is crowned as the fastest eSIM overall with a 95.1% percentile score.
- Ubigi combines best-in-class speeds in Portugal and the USA with among the fastest speeds tested in the UK and Colombia.
- Roamless and GoMoWorld make up the top 3 elite eSIMs available right now.
- 7375% speed difference between the fastest and slowest eSIM speeds tested.
| Rank | 1. Ubigi | 2. Roamless | 3. GoMoWorld | 4. BNESIM | 5. Jetpac |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 95.1% | 90.4% | 82.9% | 60.2% | 59.2% |
| Standout Speeds & Markets | Portugal – 897 Mbps (1st) USA – 401 Mbps (1st) Top 3 in the UK & Colombia |
UK – 447 Mbps (1st) Portugal – 2nd Colombia – 2nd |
Portugal – Top 3 UK – Top 3 Solid in the USA |
Portugal – 518 Mbps Steady across all markets |
Colombia – 5th place Solid in all other test locations |
| Summary | Blazing-fast results in Portugal and the USA, backed by solid showings in more demanding regions. Ideal for travellers seeking premium speeds across the globe. | Outstanding performance in the UK with strong results in Portugal and Colombia. Slightly lower speeds in the USA prevent it from claiming first place. | Consistent performer in top destinations, though speeds drop in Colombia. Well-suited for travellers who value dependable connections. | Steady, uniform speeds across all tested countries, with standout performance in Portugal. A great option for those prioritising reliability over maximum speed. | Performs well in a variety of markets, including tougher ones like Colombia. A dependable choice for travellers wanting consistent coverage everywhere. |
Fastest eSIM in the United Kingdom (UK)
Fastest eSIM in the USA
Testing in Miami revealed a strong overall performance from many providers, with speeds ranging from just 11 Mbps to an impressive 401 Mbps. The average download speed across all 22 eSIMs tested was 181 Mbps—slightly higher than the UK—thanks to a greater number of providers delivering results in the 200+ Mbps range.
Ubigi led the rankings in the USA with a standout result of 401 Mbps, outperforming its nearest competitor, aloSIM, by 49 Mbps. A solid group followed closely behind in the 260–264 Mbps range, including Saily, Roamify, GoMoWorld, and RedteaGo, all offering ample bandwidth for demanding tasks such as high-definition streaming, video conferencing, and large file transfers. Roamless and eSIMo also posted strong showings, exceeding 200 Mbps.
At the lower end of the spectrum, Airalo and Yesim delivered significantly slower speeds of 24 Mbps and 11 Mbps respectively—levels that can make even routine online activities frustrating. This wide performance gap highlights the importance of choosing a high-performing eSIM, especially for travellers who rely heavily on fast data connections.
Fastest eSIM in Portugal
Ubigi claimed first place with a staggering 897 Mbps, closely followed by Roamless at 866 Mbps. Both speeds are more than capable of handling even the most demanding online activities, from streaming in 8K to downloading large files in seconds. GoMoWorld, Sim Local, BNESIM, KnowRoaming, and Global YO also delivered outstanding results, all exceeding 400 Mbps—performance levels that would be top-tier in almost any other market.
The biggest gap came at the bottom end, where aloSIM managed 24 Mbps, showing how widely results can vary even within the same city. Much of Portugal’s exceptional showing comes down to the strength of the MEO 5G network, which consistently delivered the highest speeds for top-tier providers. For travellers who want the best possible data experience in Portugal, choosing an eSIM that connects to MEO is a smart move.
Fastest eSIM in Colombia
Testing in Bogotá proved just how demanding Colombia can be for mobile data. Speeds across the 21 eSIM providers varied dramatically — from a crawl at 1 Mbps to a peak of 98 Mbps. With an overall average of just 44 Mbps, it was by far the slowest of the four key markets, serving as a true stress test for how well providers cope in less-than-ideal network environments.
Instabridge led the field at 98 Mbps on the Claro network, though testers noted occasional dips in signal stability. Roamless (89 Mbps), Ubigi (85 Mbps), and Global YO (84 Mbps) followed closely, each offering dependable connections. Airalo also impressed, delivering 71 Mbps — comfortably above the national average.
At the other end of the spectrum, several providers struggled to reach even 25 Mbps, making everyday tasks like video calls or loading maps a test of patience. In a market like Colombia, any eSIM delivering 70 Mbps or more shows not just strong technical performance but also the ability to maintain quality under challenging conditions.
How the Tests Were Done
Travel eSIM Expert tested 22 providers on an iPhone 15 Pro Max using Speedtest.net, trying every local network with 5G preferred when possible. The fastest repeatable result in each location was recorded, with outliers retested, and results converted into percentile scores so fast markets like Portugal could be fairly compared with tougher ones like Colombia.
Why These 4 Countries
The UK, Portugal, USA, and Colombia were chosen for consistent, varied testing conditions. Portugal offered best-case speeds (297 Mbps average), the UK and USA delivered mid-to-high averages (171–181 Mbps), and Colombia provided a low-speed stress test (44 Mbps). Covering Europe, North America, and South America ensured results reflected real-world travel conditions across both top-tier and challenging networks.
What the TEE Fastest eSIM Rankings Don’t Tell You
We really like the depth and effort behind Travel eSIM Expert’s speed research — it’s one of the most thorough performance comparisons we’ve seen in the travel connectivity space. Their 18-month testing project offers valuable real-world insights into how different eSIM providers compare in terms of download speeds across multiple countries.
That said, there are a few important factors their study doesn’t fully cover — details that can make a big difference to the actual experience travellers have once they activate an eSIM. Here’s what we think is missing:
1. Network Consistency Over Time
The study focuses on peak download speeds — essentially, the best number achieved during testing in a given location. But real-world travel use is about what happens all day long, not just during one quick test. A provider might deliver 400 Mbps in a single speed check, but if that speed drops to 20 Mbps at busy times or frequently disconnects, your overall experience will suffer. For travellers who work remotely, upload photos, or use maps constantly, stability is as important — if not more important — than top-line speed.
2. Latency and Upload Speeds
Download speed is the headline figure in most connectivity tests, but it’s not the full story. Latency — the time it takes data to travel between your device and the internet — can be the deciding factor for activities like video calls, gaming, and even web browsing responsiveness. Similarly, upload speed determines how quickly you can send files, post videos, or share high-resolution photos. An eSIM that’s great for streaming Netflix might still perform poorly when you try to upload a presentation to the cloud from your hotel. Including latency and upload metrics would give a more complete view of performance.
3. Plan Types and Throttling Policies
Many eSIM providers advertise high speeds but include clauses in their terms that allow for throttling — intentionally slowing down your connection — after you’ve used a certain amount of data, even within a prepaid plan. Others may deprioritize your connection if the network is congested, meaning you’ll get slower speeds when locals or other customers are using it heavily. The Travel eSIM Expert rankings don’t factor in these policies, so a “fastest” provider in their tests might still feel sluggish halfway through your trip if you hit a hidden limit.
Ookla & Opensignal fastest eSIM research
In 2025, Ookla and Opensignal’s carrier data aligns with TEE’s findings in showing Ubigi as a top performer on the fastest networks worldwide, while Saily, Airalo, and Holafly—praised in industry reviews for features, coverage, and value—show more mixed real-world speeds in TEE’s tests, highlighting how provider-specific factors can widen or narrow the gap between carrier potential and actual eSIM performance.
Among these, Saily consistently earns top marks—praised for its intuitive app, built-in ad blocking, security features, and global coverage, making it the “best overall” choice. Ubigi shines for seamless data tethering, generous 5G support in over 60 countries, and flexible plans ideal for travelers needing hotspot capabilities.
Airalo earns its reputation as a “best overall” provider thanks to extensive reach (200+ countries) and budget-friendly regional plans, even if voice features are limited. Meanwhile, Holafly is favored by heavy users: it delivers straightforward unlimited-data options across more than 260 destinations. Lastly, aloSIM earns its niche as the go-to for travelers requiring voice and SMS, offering a free international number alongside multi-country coverage. Together, these providers lead the pack not just in coverage, but in features, value, and real-world performance.
Alertify Take on the Findings
If you zoom out from the raw numbers, a clear pattern emerges: the fastest eSIMs in 2025 aren’t necessarily the most advertised, but rather the ones that have forged the right carrier partnerships and optimized how they route traffic. Ubigi’s dominance across both TEE’s real-world testing and Ookla/Opensignal’s carrier speed data underscores the value of aligning with proven network leaders like MEO, T-Mobile, and Orange — a strategy that Roamless and GoMoWorld also leverage effectively.
The surprise isn’t that Airalo and Holafly lag slightly in speed, but that they continue to hold market share thanks to pricing, coverage breadth, and unlimited data appeal, proving travellers still trade some performance for convenience or cost. Saily’s strong showing in TEE’s results reflects a growing niche for providers that combine decent speeds with added features like ad blocking and security tools, hinting at a trend where travellers expect more than just connectivity. The takeaway?
Reliable industry sources like Ookla and Opensignal can tell you which networks are fastest, but it’s provider execution — the blend of carrier choice, plan design, and traffic management — that turns that potential into a consistently fast travel eSIM experience.
