eSIM for digital nomads: working remotely for the long haul

Why digital nomads shouldn't rely on wifi alone

Shared wifi networks in coworking spaces and hotels are unpredictable: speed fluctuates with the number of concurrent users, and uptime isn't guaranteed. Having an eSIM as a fixed backup means an important video call or deadline doesn't depend on whatever wifi network happens to be working at the time.

Local eSIM or international eSIM?

For a stay of a few weeks in one country, a local eSIM is often the cheapest option: more data for less money than an international travel plan. Traveling through multiple countries, an international eSIM is more convenient, no need to reactivate at every border, at a slightly higher price per GB.

How much data do you need?

A rough guide: one hour of HD video calling uses about 1-2GB, a software update can be hundreds of MB to a few GB, and cloud sync depends on the files involved. Exact figures vary by app and settings, but for daily video calls, budget a larger plan than you'd initially expect. More on estimating your data plan in our eSIM data allowance guide.

Choose a plan that fits your work pattern

• Video calls need a stable connection and sufficient upload speed, not just a lot of data, actual speed mostly depends on the local mobile network the eSIM connects to, providers rarely specify this themselves
• Consider a plan with hotspot enabled, so your laptop can run off your phone's data, not every eSIM provider allows tethering, so check this in advance
• For stays of several weeks or months, a local eSIM or SIM with a larger allowance can be cheaper than repeatedly renewing an international travel plan

Providers we recommend

We use Airalo ourselves for international eSIMs and have been happy with it so far. For longer stretches and multiple countries, Nomad and Holafly also come up often. Read our reviews of Airalo, Nomad and Holafly to compare.

Combining multiple countries

Some providers offer regional multi-country plans, for example covering Southeast Asia or Europe under one profile. These aren't necessarily aimed specifically at nomads, but they are useful if you move from country to country without buying a new eSIM each time. Check out our guide to the best eSIM for Europe, for example.

Practical tips

• Download offline maps and keep important documents (passport, contracts, tickets) stored locally on your device too, in case your mobile network dips during an important call
• Test your video-calling software over mobile data beforehand, not every app runs as smoothly on mobile as on wifi
• Know where the nearest café with reliable wifi is as a fixed backup for your eSIM, not the other way around

Extra things digital nomads should consider

• Use a VPN on shared wifi networks in coworking spaces and hotels, that protects work traffic on a network you don't control yourself
• Where possible, work with two independent connections at once, for example wifi plus your eSIM as a hotspot, so an outage on one doesn't take you offline immediately
• Cloud storage, software updates and video meetings often use more data than expected, factor this in when choosing your data plan
• Some countries require SIM or eSIM registration with local ID, check this in advance if you're staying in one place for longer