eSIM, roaming, pocket WiFi or a local SIM?
Four ways to get online abroad, compared honestly. For scale: a Japan travel eSIM starts at $2.49 (best rate $0.42 per GB) — live prices, checked monthly. Roaming and rental prices are typical published rates — check your own carrier's.
| Travel eSIM | Carrier roaming | Pocket WiFi rental | Airport / local SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost, 7-day trip | From $2.49; ~$0.42/GB at best | $35–85 ($5–12/day passes) | $40–70 + deposit | $10–30 at the airport |
| Setup | Scan a QR before you fly — 2 minutes | One tap or SMS | Book, pick up, charge, carry, return | Queue at a counter, passport usually required |
| Works on landing | Yes — connects on arrival | Yes | After pickup | After purchase & registration |
| Your own number | Keeps working for calls & texts | Keeps working | Keeps working (no data on device) | Lost while SIM is swapped out |
| Extra device to carry | None | None | Yes — and it needs charging daily | None |
| Shares with travel mates | Hotspot from your device | Hotspot (often limited) | Yes — its main strength | Hotspot from your device |
| Risk of surprise bill | None — prepaid | High if you skip the pass | Late/loss fees | None — prepaid |
| Device requirement | eSIM-capable, unlocked (most devices since 2019) | Any | Any | Unlocked |
When each one actually wins
Travel eSIM
Trips from a weekend to a month, one traveller or a family with modern devices. Cheapest per GB, zero hardware, works the moment you land.
Carrier roaming
Sub-48-hour trips where convenience beats cost, or corporate devices where the company pays.
Pocket WiFi
A group sharing one connection with old or locked devices, or a laptop-heavy work trip. Accept the pickup, charging and return overhead.
Local SIM
Stays of a month or more in one country, or devices without eSIM. Cheapest long-term, but you lose your number while it’s in.
Common questions
Is an eSIM always the cheapest option?
Not always. Staying a month or more, a local prepaid SIM with registration can beat it on price. For trips of a few days to a few weeks, travel eSIMs are usually the cheapest — no rental fees, no daily roaming charges, no queue at the airport.
Can I keep my own number with each option?
eSIM and roaming: yes, your main SIM stays active for calls and texts. Pocket WiFi: yes, but your device itself has no mobile data. Swapping in a physical local SIM: no — your home SIM is out of the device unless it supports dual SIM.
What if my device doesn’t support eSIM?
Most devices from 2019 on do, unless carrier-locked. Our one-minute device check tells you. If yours doesn’t, pocket WiFi or a physical local SIM are the fallbacks.
Why not just use my carrier’s roaming pass?
Convenience — it’s one tap. But daily passes typically cost $5–12 a day and bill per calendar day even if you barely use them. A whole-trip eSIM allowance usually costs less than one or two days of roaming.