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Best eSIM for United Kingdom · 16 plans

United Kingdom eSIM

Data for United Kingdom on the country’s own networks. Pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card, install in a minute, and keep your home number for calls and codes. Your NUM concierge comes with it.

  • EE5G
  • 34G

Rather text? Text ESIM UNITED KINGDOM

Photo: Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA 3.0

Pay, then open NUM: your install code is waiting in your chat, and we email it about five minutes after you pay. If we can’t issue it, you get a full refund.

The short answer

The best eSIM for United Kingdom is the one that fits your trip and your networks. For two weeks of photos, maps and social, NUM picks 5 GB for 30 days at $4.39, as of 4 Nov 2026.

Plans from$1.09 on 4 Nov 2026
Networks on local plansEE, 3 4G
7 days3 GB, 15 days, $2.99
14 days5 GB, 30 days, $4.39
30 days10 GB, 31 days, $6.29 (regional plan, 31 countries)
45+ days20 GB, 90 days, $20.29 (regional plan, 34 countries)
Phone numberNone, data only
PaymentApple Pay, Google Pay or card

A regional plan may list fewer networks here than a local plan. If you need a particular network, check that plan’s network list in the shop before you pay.

How it works

  1. Pick your trip

    Choose 7, 14 or 30 days. The shop picks the data for how you use your phone, and shows the networks.

  2. Pay in seconds

    Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. Then open NUM and join free: your install code is waiting in your chat.

  3. Install, then land online

    Install at home on wifi with one tap, switch it on as the plane lands, and you’re online walking off. Your home number stays on for calls and codes.

United Kingdom eSIM for 7, 14 and 30 days

United Kingdom eSIM for 7 days

$2.99

3 GB, valid 15 days on EE. Enough for maps, rides, messages and photos for a week.

Choose 7 days

United Kingdom eSIM for 14 days

$4.39

5 GB, valid 30 days on EE. Room for social, photos and a few video calls over two weeks.

Choose 14 days

United Kingdom eSIM for 30 days

$6.29

10 GB, valid 31 days, a regional plan covering 31 countries. A month of everyday use, with some streaming and hotspot.

Choose 30 days

United Kingdom eSIM for longer trips

$20.29

20 GB, valid 90 days, a regional plan covering 34 countries. For long stays, remote work and heavy use.

Choose longer trips

NUM’s pick for each trip length on 4 Nov 2026, for photos, maps and social. Prices in US dollars; the price on the pay button is the price you pay.

United Kingdom data plans and prices

DataValid forNetworkPricePer GB
1 GB7 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$1.09$1.09
2 GB15 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$1.99$1.00
3 GB15 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$2.99$1.00
3 GB30 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$3.19$1.06
5 GB30 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$4.39$0.88
10 GB30 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$6.39$0.64
20 GB30 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$10.49$0.52
50 GB30 daysEE 5G, 3 4G$19.89$0.40
United Kingdom eSIM price per GBPrice per GB for each United Kingdom plan: 1 GB for 7 days, $1.09, about $1.09 a GB; 2 GB for 15 days, $1.99, about $1.00 a GB; 3 GB for 15 days, $2.99, about $1.00 a GB; 3 GB for 30 days, $3.19, about $1.06 a GB; 5 GB for 30 days, $4.39, about $0.88 a GB; 10 GB for 30 days, $6.39, about $0.64 a GB; 20 GB for 30 days, $10.49, about $0.52 a GB; 50 GB for 30 days, $19.89, about $0.40 a GB.1 GB · 7 days$1.09/GB2 GB · 15 days$1.00/GB3 GB · 15 days$1.00/GB3 GB · 30 days$1.06/GB5 GB · 30 days$0.88/GB10 GB · 30 days$0.64/GB20 GB · 30 days$0.52/GB50 GB · 30 days$0.40/GB
Shorter bar, less money per GB. The highlighted plan costs the least per GB in this list.

16 plans in the shop on 4 Nov 2026; 8 shown, least money first. See every plan and today’s prices.

How much data do you need in United Kingdom?

Estimated data a day in United Kingdom, by activityEstimated data a day: Maps and directions, 5–10 MB an hour, about 15 MB for 2 hours a day; Messages and browsing, 10–50 MB an hour, about 60 MB for 2 hours a day; Social feeds, 100–600 MB an hour, about 350 MB for 1 hour a day; Video calls home, 500 MB–1.5 GB an hour, about 500 MB for 0.5 hours a day; Streaming video, 300 MB–2 GB an hour, about 1000 MB for 1 hour a day.Maps and directions~15 MBMessages and browsing~60 MBSocial feeds~350 MBVideo calls home~500 MBStreaming video~1 GB
Estimates: two hours of maps and of messages, an hour of social, half an hour of video calls, an hour of video. Per-hour figures from esimcard.com; your phone and apps will differ.
Estimated data for a trip, by how you use your phone
How you use it7 days14 days30 days
Maps and messages1.4 GB2.8 GB6 GB
Plus social2.8 GB5.6 GB12 GB
Lots of video11 GB21 GB45 GB

Coverage in United Kingdom: what to know

Opensignal's January 2026 report: EE led download and upload speeds and 5G coverage, while Three won time connected and 5G speeds. O2 won overall coverage experience. Both networks on our plans do well, EE generally ahead.

Checked 3 Nov 2026. Source: insights.opensignal.com. Coverage changes, so check your route before you rely on it.

United Kingdom eSIM by city

United Kingdom coverage, place by place

LondonOpensignal's 2023 study found London had the highest 5G availability of any UK region, though 5G improved on 4G speeds less than elsewhere.
EdinburghOpensignal's 2023 city comparison put Edinburgh's average 4G download speed, 27 Mbps, weakest of the cities studied, so expect somewhat slower data than elsewhere.
ManchesterOpensignal's 2023 data for the North West region around Manchester showed top-tier 5G download speeds, roughly 150 Mbps, and strong 5G availability.
Scottish HighlandsA travel blog says hills and glens hamper signal in the Highlands, and cites Vodafone and EE as better served; check coverage maps.
Lake DistrictA report on UK mast upgrades says many sites sit in national parks like the Lake District and now carry 4G, improving coverage for hikers.
CornwallCornwall Council says coverage has improved but parts still have poor signal, and it commissioned a county-wide road survey to map patchy areas.

From network data, travel guides and traveler reports, checked 3 Nov 2026. Signal changes, so treat these as a guide.

Online as you land in United Kingdom

Switch it on as the plane lands at any of these and you’re online walking off:

Planning United Kingdom

One eSIM for Europe

Crossing borders? A regional plan covers this country and its neighbours on one eSIM. Each plan says how many countries it covers.

Nearby destinations

eSIMs for other trips

Questions people ask about a United Kingdom eSIM

What is the best eSIM for United Kingdom?

The one that fits your trip and runs on the United Kingdom’s main networks (EE, 3 4G). For a week most people need about 3 GB; for two weeks about 5 GB; for a month of social and video, 10 GB or more. NUM lists 16 plans here and picks one for your trip and how you use your phone.

How much does an eSIM for United Kingdom cost?

On 4 Nov 2026, plans started at $1.09 and went up to $78.99 for the biggest. NUM’s 7-day pick was 3 GB for $2.99, the 14-day pick 5 GB for $4.39 and the 30-day pick 10 GB for $6.29. The shop always shows today’s price, and the price on the pay button is the price you pay.

How much data do I need for United Kingdom?

As an estimate: maps and messages use about 0.2 GB a day, adding social feeds about 0.4 GB, and video calls or streaming 1.5 GB or more. So a week of everyday use is about 3 GB, two weeks about 5 GB, and a month 10 GB or more.

Is there an unlimited eSIM for United Kingdom?

Not on 4 Nov 2026. The plans for United Kingdom have a set amount of data; you can add more to the same eSIM from your order page if you run low.

Is an eSIM better than roaming in United Kingdom?

For data, usually yes: a travel eSIM is prepaid, so there is no bill afterwards, and you choose the amount before you go. Your home carrier’s roaming can still be handy for calls and texts; keep your home line on for those and turn its data roaming off.

Should I get a local SIM card in United Kingdom instead?

A local SIM can give you a local number, but you queue for it after you land and swap out your home SIM. An eSIM installs before you fly, works as the plane lands, and leaves your home SIM in place for calls and bank codes.

Does a United Kingdom eSIM work everywhere in the country?

It works wherever the United Kingdom’s networks (EE, 3 4G) reach. Cities and main roads are well covered; remote islands, mountains and parks can have weak or no signal, so download offline maps before you go.

Will my United Kingdom eSIM work in neighbouring countries?

A United Kingdom plan works in United Kingdom only. For several countries, a Europe regional plan covers them on one eSIM; each plan lists the countries it covers.

When do the days start counting?

Install it at home on wifi; switch the line on when you land. Each plan in the shop says when its validity starts, so check that before you pay if you are installing well ahead.

Can I use it as a hotspot?

Hotspot works on most plans, so one eSIM can get a laptop or a travel partner online too.

Will I be online when I land?

Install the eSIM at home on wifi, then switch the line on as the plane lands at Ingliston, Edinburgh (EDI), London (LGW), London (LHR). You are online walking off the plane, with no SIM counter and no airport wifi.

Which network works well in United Kingdom?

Opensignal's January 2026 report: EE led download and upload speeds and 5G coverage, while Three won time connected and 5G speeds. O2 won overall coverage experience. Both networks on our plans do well, EE generally ahead.

Why does my eSIM show another carrier’s name?

Many travel eSIMs are issued by one carrier and roam on local networks, so your phone can show the issuing carrier’s name while your data runs on a local network. Keep data roaming on for the eSIM.

Will it work on my phone?

Dial *#06# on the phone you’re taking. If you see an EID number, it takes an eSIM. Every iPhone from the XR and XS on does, and the SE from 2020, as do Google Pixel 3 and later and Samsung Galaxy S20 and later. The phone must be carrier-unlocked. Not sure? Text PHONE and your model and we’ll check.

When do I install it?

At home, on wifi, before you fly. Then switch it on when you land. Tell us your landing day and we text you the switch-on steps that morning.

Does it come with a phone number?

No. It’s a data-only eSIM. WhatsApp, LINE, iMessage and FaceTime all work over it, and your home number can stay on for calls and codes.

What if it doesn’t work?

If we can’t issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. If it won’t install or connect, text us and we help you get connected.

An eSIM with a concierge inside.

Text NUM a table for tonight, a driver at 6 am or a pharmacy that’s open now. Any language, any hour, on the data you just bought.

Get my United Kingdom eSIM
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