Best Travel eSIMs for Calls and Data: Airalo vs Saily vs travSIM vs WorldSIM
Update: 28.10.2026
Travelling abroad used to mean navigating confusing international roaming charges or swapping out tiny plastic SIM cards at airport kiosks. Today, eSIM technology lets you download a mobile plan straight to your smartphone before you even step on the plane.
However, for travellers who still value the peace of mind of traditional voice calls and SMS text messages, whether for dialling local businesses, receiving 2-factor security codes, or contacting tour operators, most modern travel eSIMs fall short. Most market options are data-only, meaning they let you navigate maps or browse social media, but won't let you dial a phone number using your phone’s standard keypad.
If you want reliable internet data alongside traditional phone call capabilities while abroad, here is a detailed breakdown of how the top travel SIM and eSIM brands compare, followed by recommendations to help you choose the right fit.
Our Comparison Matrix
Feature | travSIM | Airalo | WorldSIM | Saily |
Primary Focus | Bundled voice, SMS & data packages | Data-first (with select voice/SMS options) | Traditional global voice & data roaming | Data-only mobile internet |
Coverage | Regional focus (Strong UK/EU/USA) | 200+ countries and territories | Global (heavy multi-country focus) | 150+ countries |
Local Phone Number? | ✅ Yes (On specific country plans) | Select plans (Discover+) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Ecosystem & App | Web store & direct digital delivery | Massive marketplace app with rewards | Traditional telecom portal | Clean, minimalist app by Nord Security |
Best For | Travellers wanting hassle-free local calling | Broad global coverage & option for voice add-ons | Frequent multi-border travellers needing long-term numbers | Budget-conscious, data-only travellers |
Deep Dive: Plan Breakdown & Analysis
1. travSIM: Straightforward Voice & Data Bundles
Unlike providers that focus strictly on mobile data, travSIM offers destination-specific packages (such as dedicated USA, UK, or European options) that explicitly bundle unlimited data, voice minutes, and SMS.
The Benefit: Many of their flagship single-country packages provide a real local phone number. This lets you make traditional calls directly from your phone’s native keypad, perfect for calling local restaurants, hotels, taxi services, or tour guides without using internet apps.
What to Watch Out For: Always check the details of your specific destination package before buying. While single-country plans often feature voice and text, some regional or multi-country eSIM options remain data-only.
2. Airalo: Massive Global Coverage with Flexible Add-Ons
As one of the largest marketplace brands in the travel eSIM space, Airalo covers over 200 countries and territories.
The Benefit: While their default regional and country plans are data-focused, Airalo offers select global packages—such as their Discover+ plan—that include a phone number capable of traditional calling and SMS text messages. This is particularly useful for receiving two-factor authentication (2FA) codes from banks or services while travelling.
What to Watch Out For: Most of their standard single-country plans do not include a phone number. You must explicitly purchase a Discover+ or voice-enabled profile if you need calling capabilities.
3. WorldSIM: Legacy Cross-Border Voice Roaming
WorldSIM comes from a traditional telecom background, making it an established choice for travellers who prioritise international voice connectivity over mobile app data.
The Benefit: Their International eSIM Pro tier supports traditional voice, text, and data on a single card. It typically includes a dedicated international phone number (often a UK mobile number) that offers free incoming calls in many destinations across the globe.
What to Watch Out For: WorldSIM relies heavily on traditional pay-per-minute or callback pricing models, which can be more expensive or harder to manage than a flat-rate bundled package.
4. Saily: Low-Cost, App-Managed Data
Developed by Nord Security (the creators of NordVPN), Saily focuses heavily on a clean user experience and digital security.
The Benefit: Saily offers low-cost entry options (starting around $1.99), seamless top-ups directly in their app, and robust built-in privacy features.
What to Watch Out For: Saily is strictly data-only. To make calls or send messages, you will need to rely entirely on internet-based applications like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Telegram over mobile data.
The Alternative Setup: The "Dual SIM" Approach
If you use a modern smartphone (e.g. iPhone XR or newer, recent Samsung Galaxy, or Google Pixel), you can configure a hybrid setup:
Keep Your Home Line Active: Leave your physical SIM or primary eSIM active strictly to receive incoming emergency calls or texts on your main number (verify roaming rates with your home provider first).
Use a Travel eSIM for Data: Run a cost-effective travel eSIM (like Saily or Airalo) in the background to handle maps, web browsing, and data usage.
Please note: Managing two lines at once requires toggling settings in your phone's mobile network menu, which may feel overly complex if you prefer a single "it just works" phone line.
Our Final Thoughts:
If you want to dial local phone numbers directly without navigating internet apps or managing dual-SIM settings, a travSIM destination package explicitly labelled with Calls & SMS is your best option. It delivers a straightforward user experience backed by a real local number. Check it out below.
👉 Check out the travSIM options here: https://tidd.ly/3W96NgM
Best for Global Coverage & App Experience: Airalo
If you travel frequently across multiple countries, value an easy app-based interface, and want the option to add voice/SMS capabilities via global plans (like Discover+), Airalo offers the most comprehensive network. Check it out below.
👉 Check out the Airalo options here: https://airalo.tpk.lv/ZN5BLjxD
Best for Budget Data & Security: Saily
If you are comfortable using apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime for all your communication and just want fast, affordable, secure data for navigation and browsing, we think Saily is one of the better options. Check it out below.
👉 Check out the Saily options here: https://saily.tpk.lv/rKlxmU3M
Best for Frequent Cross-Border Travel: WorldSIM
For travellers moving through multiple countries who require a long-term international phone number with free incoming calls, WorldSIM’s traditional roaming model remains a reliable fallback.
👉 Check out the WorldSIM options here: https://tidd.ly/4sszXmS.
Everyone has their own preferences and budget. While our overview goes some way toward understanding what is available, we recommend checking each offering personally before deciding on what best suits you.
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