eSIM for a multi-country trip: one plan for all, or one per country?
Going to more than one country, you can buy one multi-country eSIM or one eSIM per country. Neither is always cheaper, so below are the real numbers from the plans on sale now, for the trips people ask about most, each at a week (at least 3GB) and two weeks (at least 5GB).
The short answer
- Japan + South Korea, a week: one plan per country is cheaper ($8.80 against $9.60).
- Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, a week: one multi-country plan is cheaper ($9.60 against $12.20).
- Europe: France, Italy and Switzerland, a week: one multi-country plan is cheaper ($6.90 against $19.50).
- USA + Canada, a week: one multi-country plan is cheaper ($8.50 against $9.50).
- Australia + New Zealand, a week: one multi-country plan is cheaper ($6.90 against $15.00).
Japan + South Korea
| One multi-country plan | One plan per country | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $9.60Asia 3GB / 7 daysdata shared across the countries | $8.80cheaperJapan $3.90 3GB / 30 daysSouth Korea $4.90 3GB / 7 days |
| 14 days | $15.80Asia 5GB / 14 daysdata shared across the countries | $12.70cheaperJapan $5.80 5GB / 30 daysSouth Korea $6.90 5GB / 14 days |
Country pages: Japan, South Korea
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand
| One multi-country plan | One plan per country | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $9.60cheaperAsia 3GB / 7 daysdata shared across the countries | $12.20Singapore $4.80 3GB / 7 daysMalaysia $2.60 3GB / 7 daysThailand $4.80 3GB / 7 days |
| 14 days | $15.80cheaperAsia 5GB / 14 daysdata shared across the countries | $17.70Singapore $6.90 5GB / 14 daysMalaysia $3.90 5GB / 14 daysThailand $6.90 5GB / 14 days |
Europe: France, Italy and Switzerland
| One multi-country plan | One plan per country | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $6.90cheaperEurope 3GB / 7 daysdata shared across the countries | $19.50France $6.50 3GB / 7 daysItaly $6.50 3GB / 7 daysSwitzerland $6.50 3GB / 7 days |
| 14 days | $9.00cheaperEurope 5GB / 14 daysdata shared across the countries | $28.50France $9.50 5GB / 14 daysItaly $9.50 5GB / 14 daysSwitzerland $9.50 5GB / 14 days |
Country pages: France, Italy, Switzerland
USA + Canada
| One multi-country plan | One plan per country | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $8.50cheaperNorth America 3GB / 7 daysdata shared across the countries | $9.50United States $3.00 3GB / 30 daysCanada $6.50 3GB / 7 days |
| 14 days | $11.90cheaperNorth America 5GB / 14 daysdata shared across the countries | $15.10United States $4.60 5GB / 30 daysCanada $10.50 5GB / 14 days |
Country pages: United States, Canada
Australia + New Zealand
| One multi-country plan | One plan per country | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $6.90cheaperOceania 3GB / 7 daysdata shared across the countries | $15.00Australia $7.50 3GB / 7 daysNew Zealand $7.50 3GB / 7 days |
| 14 days | $9.00cheaperOceania 5GB / 14 daysdata shared across the countries | $22.40Australia $11.20 5GB / 14 daysNew Zealand $11.20 5GB / 14 days |
Country pages: Australia, New Zealand
What the prices leave out
- Data: a multi-country plan’s data is shared across all its countries; buying per country gives each country its own, so the separate total buys more data altogether.
- Days: each country’s plan above is counted for the whole trip. You spend fewer days in each country, so shorter plans may do and buying separately can come out cheaper still.
- Hassle: one multi-country eSIM installs once and carries on across borders. One per country means installing each and switching mobile data to the right one as you cross.
- Mainland-China iPhones hold at most two eSIMs, so three countries bought separately will not all fit at once: there a multi-country plan is the practical choice.
Bought a phone in mainland China? Can it use a travel eSIM.
Questions
Japan and Korea in one trip: which eSIM?
For a week with 3GB, one plan per country is cheaper: $8.80 against $9.60 for one Asia plan, and each country gets its own data.
One eSIM for Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand?
For a week with 3GB, one Asia plan is cheaper: $9.60 against $12.20 for one plan per country.
Several European countries: how to buy?
For a week with 3GB, one Europe plan is cheaper: $6.90 against $19.50 for one plan per country.
Is the data on a multi-country plan shared?
Yes: one allowance across all the countries it covers. Plans bought per country each have their own.