How many times can I use my eSIM?

Your Simbye eSIM can be used until the data runs out or the validity period expires. Once installed, it stays on your device and can be topped up anytime with new data packages — no need to install a new eSIM. After 180 days of inactivity, the eSIM profile may expire and you would need to purchase a new one.

Is there any speed throttling on eSIM data plans?

No throttling on Simbye’s regular data plans — you get full 4G/5G speeds (up to 1 Gbit/s where the local network allows) on premium local carriers in 190+ countries, so you browse at the same speed as locals. On some unlimited plans a fair-use policy applies (a high-speed allowance, then reduced speed) — you’ll find the exact details on each product page.

How does Simbye compare to Airalo, Holafly & Saily?

Simbye is one of the most affordable eSIM providers on the market — often up to 85% cheaper for the same data. And unlike most providers, many Simbye eSIMs include real calls and a phone number, data eSIMs can be topped up again and again — and you always reach a real human on WhatsApp or email.

How can I check my remaining eSIM data?

Simbye offers three easy ways to track your eSIM data usage: use the Simbye app for real-time monitoring, check via our website with your order number, or use the link in your confirmation email. You’ll also get low-data and expiry alerts — a feature not all eSIM providers offer. When data runs low, top up instantly without buying a new eSIM — and every app purchase earns you 5% wallet cashback.

United Kingdom eSIM – mobile data for your trip

eSIM United Kingdom

Name: eSIM United Kingdom
Brand: Simbye
SKU: T1_GB_3GB_30
Price: 1.95 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (7911 reviews)

United Kingdom eSIM on the EE, Vodafone and O2 networks, 1 to 50 GB or unlimited, prepaid with no contract and no registration — online the moment you land at Heathrow.

EE, Vodafone and O2 – 5G in the cities

1–50 GB or unlimited, 7 to 180 days

Hotspot allowed, data only – no number

Money-back guarantee

Secure payment

Fair Use Policy

2GB highspeed/day, then unlimited at 1Mbps

1GB

Valid for 7 Days

2,44€ 1,95€

3GB

Valid for 30 Days

9,94€ 7,95€

Popular

5GB

Valid for 30 Days

14,94€ 11,95€

10GB

Valid for 30 Days

17,44€ 13,95€

20GB

Valid for 30 Days

23,69€ 18,95€

50GB

Valid for 180 Days

52,44€ 41,95€

Your Selection

United Kingdom eSIM-

NetworkEE, Vodafone, O2

Duration-

Total-

Your plan only starts counting when the eSIM first connects at your destination — so you can buy today and travel in three weeks.

4.87911 reviews

How does Simbye eSIM work for the United Kingdom?

Get connected in under 2 minutes

Set it up at home

You get the eSIM by email after buying. Open the email on your home Wi-Fi, tap the install link or scan the QR code with a second device, and that is it. The line now sits in your phone without using anything yet.

Switch on after landing

Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol or Belfast: turn off airplane mode, pick the new line for mobile data in your settings and switch data roaming on for it. The network is usually up within a minute or two, often before you leave baggage reclaim.

Validity and top-ups

The plan starts counting only when you first connect to a British network, not when you buy it. If you run low, you top up online — the same eSIM stays in your phone, nothing to reinstall.

Check Device Compatibility

Make sure your device supports eSIM before purchasing

Which networks will you be on in the United Kingdom?

You never pick a network by hand — your phone automatically takes whichever of the three is strongest where you are.

EE UK

110Mbit/s

Download

16Mbit/s

Upload

36ms

Latency

Vodafone UK

75Mbit/s

Download

12Mbit/s

Upload

44ms

Latency

O2 UK

44Mbit/s

Download

8Mbit/s

Upload

38ms

Latency

Average measured mobile internet performance, nPerf barometer (measured 01.01.2025 – 31.12.2025). What you actually get depends on where you are, the time of day and your phone.

The eSIM is allowed onto the EE, Vodafone and O2 networks. The first time you switch on in the United Kingdom, your phone searches by itself and settles on whichever network has the strongest signal — in the arrivals hall at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester or Edinburgh you are usually online before you reach the baggage belt. There is no APN to type in anywhere. If you ever see bars but nothing loads, the fix is usually in your settings: switch network selection to manual, let it search, pick one of the other networks, then set it back to automatic.

In London and the big cities — Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Bristol, Newcastle — you have solid coverage, usually 5G in the centres. Motorways and main rail lines are reasonably covered, although on a moving train the connection still drops regularly in cuttings and tunnels. It thins out away from the cities: the Scottish Highlands, Skye and the islands, Eryri (Snowdonia) in Wales, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland and stretches of the Cornish coast all have valleys and shorelines with no signal at all. If you are going hiking, download your maps and timetables beforehand.

eSIM or a local SIM card in the United Kingdom?

In Britain nobody asks for ID either way, so it comes down to time: the eSIM sits on your phone before you fly and tops up online, while a shop card gives you a British number and texts.

Compared	Simbye eSIM	Local SIM card
Setup	Buy and install at home before you fly, via the link or QR code in the email	Only after landing, at an airport shop or in town
Time after landing	None, the line is already in your phone	Find a shop, queue up, mind the opening hours
ID required	No, no registration and no sign-up	No, the United Kingdom does not require ID for prepaid SIMs
Data	1 to 50 GB or unlimited, 7 to 180 days	Whatever the shop happens to have in stock
Price	Fixed before you travel, prepaid and without a contract	Airport shops usually charge more than shops in town
Top-ups	Online any time, no new card	Credit in a shop, online or through the operator's app
Your home number	Stays active, people can still reach you	Has to come out if your phone has only one SIM slot
Calls and texts	Not possible — data only, calls only via WhatsApp and similar apps	A British number is included, so calls and texts work

Why roaming on your home contract gets expensive here

What mobile data in the United Kingdom costs is decided by your provider at home alone — and the range is wide.

Some sell a day pass that charges for every day you touch it, including the one where you only opened the map for a minute. Others bill per megabyte, which turns unpleasant the moment a single video autoplays in the background. Others again throttle you after a few hundred megabytes, or do not enable data abroad at all — leaving you to switch data roaming off and wait for the next Wi-Fi. In all three cases you find out what it cost on the bill after the trip.

Anyone arriving from Turkey, the US, Brazil, Japan, India or the Gulf pays their provider's full international rate. This eSIM turns that around: you buy the data up front, prepaid, with no contract and no registration, and your contract at home stays untouched — your home number stays reachable in the phone, only the data runs over the eSIM.

Where the networks reach — and where they do not

Between them, EE, Vodafone and O2 cover most of the populated area, and 5G is the norm in city centres. Leave the built-up areas and the picture gets patchy fast: the Scottish Highlands, the islands, parts of Wales and the national parks all have dead spots that never show up properly on a coverage map, because they sit in valleys and behind hills.

Two things are typically British. First the railway: on routes like London–Edinburgh or across the Cotswolds the connection keeps dropping, and that is down to the many cuttings and tunnels, not to your eSIM. Second the London Underground: the mobile rollout has been running for years, around 60 per cent of the underground stations are live, tunnel sections are following one by one, and the whole thing is due around the end of 2026.

In practice: you will never have a problem in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Cardiff. For a road trip to Skye, through Eryri or into the Lake District, download your maps, tickets and playlists before you set off.

Without 4G, nothing works in the UK any more

Good to know

The British networks have finished switching off 3G: EE, Vodafone and Three were done in 2024, and O2 followed as the last one at the end of 2025. A device that can only do 3G will get no mobile data here. For you this is almost never an issue — any phone that supports eSIM also supports 4G. Just keep it in mind if you were planning to bring a very old spare phone as a hotspot.

And a second point people often only notice on arrival: Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are not part of the United Kingdom. They run their own networks and are not included in this plan. Neither is the Republic of Ireland — Northern Ireland, however, is.

What does a the United Kingdom eSIM cost?

Simbye offers 9 plans for the United Kingdom from €1,95 to €46,95 — data packs from €1,95, unlimited from €18,95. Prepaid, no contract.

Plan	Validity	Price	Per travel day
1 GB	7 days	€1,95	€0,27
3 GB	30 days	€7,95	€0,26
5 GB	30 days	€11,95	€0,39
10 GB	30 days	€13,95	€0,46
20 GB	30 days	€18,95	€0,63
Unlimited	7 days	€18,95	—
Unlimited	15 days	€32,95	—
50 GB	180 days	€41,95	€0,23
Unlimited	30 days	€46,95	—

Networks: EE UK + Vodafone UK + O2 UK
Setting it up: A link in your email, or the QR code — one tap is enough
Network technology: 4G/LTE — and 5G where the network already offers it
APN and settings: Nothing to set. The eSIM brings everything with it
Hotspot: Allowed — for a laptop, tablet or a travel companion
Adding more data: Top up any time, without setting anything up again
Calls and texts: Not included — WhatsApp calls run over the data
Your own number: Stays in the phone and stays reachable
Contract: None. The plan ends by itself
Worth knowing: Roaming on your home contract gets billed here — this eSIM is prepaid, so nothing is added afterwards

Frequently Asked Questions about United Kingdom eSIM

Data, calls, real phone numbers, top-ups and setup — everything you need to know before you buy a Simbye eSIM.

Does roaming apply in the United Kingdom?

Does the eSIM also work in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Is there an unlimited UK eSIM?

Do I get a British phone number?

When does the validity start?

How much data do I need for a week in London?

Do I have to register or show ID?

Will I have signal on the London Underground?

Can I use the hotspot?

Can I call emergency services with it?

Do I need a special APN or any particular settings?

How do I get an eSIM for the UK?

Does eSIM work in the UK?

How much does a UK eSIM cost?

What is the best eSIM for the United Kingdom?

What is an eSIM and how does it work for travel?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card already built into your phone — nothing arrives by post and you never open the SIM tray. You buy a plan, save it to your phone over Wi-Fi, and it sits next to your usual line. At your destination you simply choose which line carries your mobile data. Your own number stays in the phone and stays reachable, and when you get home you switch the travel line off again.

Can I top up or recharge my eSIM?

Yes, using the eSIM that is already on your phone — no second eSIM and no new QR code. Enter your order number on our top-up page and pick a package. Top up while your plan is still running and it continues without a break, so you do not have to hunt for Wi-Fi abroad. On the data plans you add gigabytes; on the unlimited plans you add days.

Which phones are eSIM compatible?

Only phones with the chip built in can use an eSIM: on iPhone that is every model from the XS and XR onwards, on Samsung the Galaxy S models from the S20 plus the Note 20 and the Fold and Flip range, and on Google every Pixel from the Pixel 3. For other Android phones there is no rule of thumb — plenty of budget and mid-range models still have no eSIM even when they are brand new, and some Asian variants do not have one despite carrying the same name. Check your exact model under "Check compatibility" further up this page: if it is not on the list, it cannot do eSIM. Your phone also must not be locked to one operator.

How fast will I receive my eSIM after purchase?

Do I need to activate data roaming on my device?

Yes, you need to enable data roaming in your device settings for your Simbye eSIM to work properly. Don't worry – with Simbye you won't face any roaming charges! Simply go to your phone's settings, select your Simbye eSIM, and turn on data roaming. You'll be connected instantly without extra fees.

What happens when my data runs out?

On the data plans, the connection simply stops when your allowance is used up — no surprise charges and nothing renews by itself. On the unlimited plans you stay online, just slower: once the daily full-speed allowance is used up you keep browsing at a reduced speed, and the next day starts at full speed again. You can top up at any time.

Does the eSIM work for WhatsApp calls and video?

Yes. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom and video calls all run over the data connection. On the data plans you get full speed for that. On the unlimited plans there is a daily full-speed allowance — after that it is still enough for messages and voice calls, but video may stutter. The next day starts at full speed again.

Can I keep my WhatsApp number?

Yes, absolutely! Your WhatsApp number stays the same because it's linked to your original phone number, not your SIM card. With Simbye eSIM providing data, you can continue using WhatsApp with your existing number and contacts worldwide. Stay connected without changing a thing!

How do I install and activate my eSIM?

Installing your Simbye eSIM takes less than 60 seconds — one of the fastest setups of any eSIM provider! After buying your eSIM online, you receive a QR code via email. Scan it with your phone camera (iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM; Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager), follow the prompts, and your eSIM activates instantly. No app download required — though our Simbye app makes managing multiple eSIMs even easier.

When should I set up my eSIM?

You need WiFi to install your eSIM, so we recommend setting it up shortly before your departure while you're still at home. Alternatively, you can wait until you arrive at your destination and connect to airport or hotel WiFi. Just remember – you'll need an internet connection for the initial setup, but after that, you're good to go!

How do I check how much data I have left?

Open the Simbye app and tap My eSIMs — your remaining data is right there. Without the app, go to simbye.com/pages/plans and enter your order number and email. On Orange plans you can also dial #123# straight from your phone. The figures come from the network, so they can lag a little behind your actual use.

What happens if I lose or delete my QR code?

Nothing is lost. Your QR code stays in your order email, in the Simbye app under My eSIMs, and on simbye.com/pages/plans with your order number and email — so you can pull it up again whenever you need it. Once a profile is installed it stays on your phone. A few plans allow one installation only; that is noted with the plan.

Do I get cashback when I buy?

Yes — 5% of what you spend comes back as credit in your Simbye wallet. It lands there by itself, whether you buy in the app or on the website. You can put that credit towards your next plan or use it when you top up an existing eSIM. Nothing to claim, nothing to activate.

Will my speed be throttled?

Data plans are not throttled — you keep full speed until your volume is used up. Unlimited plans have a fair-use threshold: once you pass it you stay connected, just slower. Maps, messengers, email and music keep working; high-resolution streaming does not. The exact threshold is stated with the plan you are looking at.

Can people still reach me on my own number?

Yes — the eSIM sits next to the SIM you already have, so your own number stays active and calls and texts still come through. One thing to watch: your phone still places outgoing calls over your main SIM, at your home provider's rates. For talking, use WhatsApp or a similar app over your eSIM data instead.

When does my plan start counting down?

Your validity starts the moment the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination — not when you buy it, and not when you install it. That is why you can order weeks ahead and set everything up at home in peace. A few plans should only be installed after you arrive; if yours is one of them, your delivery email says so.