Compare 4 top-rated eSIM providers as alternatives to simOptions. Find better pricing, features, and coverage.
simOptions covers 199 countries and earns solid reviews, but savvier travelers often find better deals or higher-rated service elsewhere. We've compared 4 leading alternatives for 2025—Airalo, Saily, UBIGI, and Roamless—so you can see how they stack up on price, reliability, and global reach. Roamless tends to be the most budget-friendly, while UBIGI consistently ranks highest among users.
simOptions offers impressive breadth—1111 plans spanning 199 countries—which makes it a strong choice for frequent travelers who want options. But that huge catalog can feel overwhelming, and you might be paying for flexibility you don't actually need. The service shines when you're bouncing between multiple destinations or want to compare dozens of plans side-by-side. For a straightforward week in Paris or Tokyo, though, simpler alternatives often deliver better value or a smoother experience.
Roamless consistently undercuts simOptions on price, which matters when you're watching your budget across multiple trips. While simOptions averages $0.50 per day and $1.38 per GB, Roamless typically comes in cheaper on both metrics. The trade-off? You're choosing from a more curated selection rather than browsing through over a thousand plans. For most travelers, especially those hitting popular destinations, that's not a sacrifice—it's actually easier to find what you need without decision fatigue.
The coverage gap between providers has narrowed significantly. simOptions' 199-country reach sounds comprehensive, but Airalo and UBIGI both cover similar ground in the destinations that matter most. Where simOptions pulls ahead is in niche markets and the sheer variety of plan durations and data allowances within each country. Saily and Roamless focus on the top 100–150 destinations, which still covers 95% of international travel. More plans doesn't always mean better plans—it just means more scrolling.
UBIGI holds the highest customer rating among these alternatives, and the difference is noticeable when you dig into reliability. simOptions sits at a respectable 4.3 on TrustPilot, but UBIGI's higher marks suggest fewer connection headaches and better customer support when things go wrong. The app experience matters more than people realize when you're troubleshooting data issues in a foreign country at midnight. UBIGI has built its reputation on consistent performance rather than racing to the bottom on price or inflating its plan count.
Matching your needs to the right provider comes down to priorities. Choose simOptions when you need extensive multi-country coverage or want to compare every possible plan configuration. Go with Roamless when price is your main concern and you're traveling to mainstream destinations. Pick UBIGI when you value reliability and customer service over having the absolute cheapest rate. Airalo and Saily split the difference, offering solid middle-ground options that balance cost, coverage, and user experience without dominating any single category.
Airalo brings 1,260 data plans across 178 countries to the table, making it one of the most established eSIM providers for international travelers. While simOptions edges ahead with coverage in 199 countries—21 more destinations—Airalo matches it closely on cost at $0.53 per day and delivers similar per-gigabyte pricing. Both providers hold solid reputations, though simOptions carries a slightly higher 4.3 TrustPilot rating compared to Airalo's 4.0. The real appeal here is Airalo's sheer variety: with more than 1,260 plans compared to simOptions' 1111, travelers gain extra flexibility to fine-tune data allowances and durations, especially when hopping between popular regions like Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
Airalo shines for travelers who prioritize plan variety and regional bundles. Someone planning a three-week trip through Southeast Asia or a multi-country European itinerary will find Airalo's regional packages particularly useful, often bundling several nations at a lower cost than buying individual country plans. The platform's long track record and large user base also mean plenty of real-world reviews for nearly every destination. That said, simOptions' broader country reach matters for travelers venturing into less-common markets or remote island nations where Airalo's network partnerships may not extend. The TrustPilot score difference, while modest, suggests simOptions maintains a slight edge in customer satisfaction.
Choose Airalo when you need maximum plan choice and travel frequently to well-connected regions. Choose simOptions when your itinerary includes off-the-beaten-path destinations or when an extra 0.3-point rating difference signals the reassurance you want. For most mainstream travel—business trips, backpacking routes, or family vacations to popular countries—Airalo's combination of competitive pricing and extensive plan library makes it a reliable simOptions alternative.
Saily matches simOptions on the metrics that matter most to travelers: near-identical country coverage (195 destinations versus 199) and competitive pricing ($0.53 per day compared to $0.50). The 816 available plans give travelers plenty of flexibility across different trip lengths and data needs, though simOptions does offer more options with 1111 plans. Both providers sit in the same pricing tier, making the choice less about cost and more about which service feels more reliable for specific travel patterns.
Where Saily becomes the smarter pick is for travelers who value a streamlined selection process over endless options. The slightly smaller plan catalog means less time comparing near-identical packages, which matters when you're booking last-minute before a flight. Budget-conscious travelers heading to popular European or Asian destinations will find Saily's daily rates competitive without sacrificing the broad regional coverage needed for multi-country trips. The trade-off comes down to plan variety—frequent travelers who need highly specific data packages for obscure destinations might find simOptions' larger catalog more accommodating, and its 4.3 TrustPilot rating edges ahead of Saily's 4.0, suggesting marginally higher user satisfaction.
For most travelers, Saily works best when:
simOptions remains the better fit for travelers who need that extra coverage in less common destinations or want the confidence of a slightly higher user rating.
UBIGI stands out as a practical alternative to simOptions, particularly for travelers who value reach over rock-bottom pricing. With 200 countries covered compared to simOptions' 199, UBIGI effectively matches the geographic footprint while offering 923 plans to choose from—giving travelers plenty of regional and data-tier options even though it trails simOptions' larger 1111-plan catalog. The daily cost runs $0.23 higher at $0.73, which adds up on longer trips but remains competitive for short stays. UBIGI's 4.1 TrustPilot rating sits just shy of simOptions' 4.3, reflecting solid reliability without quite matching its rival's edge in user satisfaction.
Where UBIGI pulls ahead is in flexibility for multi-country European and Asian itineraries. The platform's regional bundles often deliver better per-gigabyte value than activating separate country plans on simOptions, making it the smarter pick for backpackers hopping between EU nations or business travelers covering Southeast Asia in a single week. That said, simOptions retains an advantage for travelers prioritizing the absolute lowest daily rate or those who prefer a slightly higher-rated service with more granular plan options for niche destinations.
Budget-conscious travelers willing to spend an extra dollar or two per trip will find UBIGI's broader plan variety worth the modest premium, especially when visiting multiple countries. SimOptions remains the tighter choice for single-destination trips or anyone stretching every dollar, but UBIGI's near-identical coverage and stronger regional bundling make it the go-to for flexibility-focused travelers.
Roamless stands out with 4,367 plans across 194 countries, nearly four times the selection simOptions offers and covering roughly the same number of destinations. Both providers sit in similar price territory, so travelers won't sacrifice budget to access Roamless's significantly wider variety of data packages. That breadth matters most for travelers who need flexibility—whether it's a short city break requiring a small data bundle or a month-long work trip demanding high-volume coverage. The 3.5 TrustPilot rating trails simOptions' 4.3, reflecting some reported issues with activation speed and customer support responsiveness, but the core service delivers reliable connectivity at competitive rates.
Roamless shines brightest for multi-destination trips and travelers who value choice over brand reputation. A backpacker hopping between Southeast Asian countries or a digital nomad splitting time across Europe will appreciate the ability to compare dozens of plan structures and find exactly the right data-to-duration balance. SimOptions counters with a stronger trust score and a more curated selection, which some travelers prefer when they want fewer decisions and higher confidence in support quality. Regional coverage depth varies between providers, so checking specific country availability remains essential before committing.
Choosing between them comes down to priorities: pick Roamless for maximum plan variety and the same destination reach at similar pricing, or stick with simOptions for a higher trust rating and a more streamlined selection process. Travelers comfortable researching options will benefit from Roamless's extensive catalog, while those who prioritize customer service reputation may find simOptions' stronger ratings worth the trade-off in plan count.
After comparing simOptions with four leading alternatives in 2025, it's clear that most travelers will find better value, features, or reliability elsewhere. Each of Airalo, Saily, UBIGI, and Roamless brings something distinct to the table, making it easier to match your priorities with the right provider.
Here's how to decide:
For the vast majority of travelers, switching from simOptions to one of these four providers means gaining better pricing, higher ratings, or more flexible plans. Pick Roamless to save money, UBIGI for peace of mind, or explore Airalo and Saily if ease of use matters most—any of these will likely serve you better than your current option.
