Best eSIM for Canadians Travelling Abroad: Airalo vs Yesim
Few things ruin a trip faster than a surprise phone bill. Canadian carriers do offer roaming add-ons, but if you’re away for more than a few days, the daily charges can add up quickly. A travel eSIM is a simpler fix: you buy a data plan for your destination before you leave, install it on your phone in a couple of minutes, and you’re online the moment you land.
Two of the best-known names are Airalo and Yesim. Both are good, and they’re built for slightly different kinds of travellers. This guide explains how travel eSIMs work for Canadians, compares Airalo and Yesim feature by feature, and helps you decide which one fits your trip.
Heads up: some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Moonlight Travel may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Plans and prices change often, so always check current prices and coverage on the provider’s site. Read our affiliate disclosure.
In this guide
What is a travel eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of hunting for a SIM card kiosk at the airport, you download a mobile plan as a small profile and switch it on when you need it. Most recent phones can hold several eSIM profiles, so you can keep your Canadian number on your phone while using a travel eSIM for data.
Travel eSIMs from companies like Airalo and Yesim are usually data-only. You get mobile internet for maps, messaging, ride-hailing apps and social media, and you call or text through apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal. Some plans add a phone number, which we cover below.
Before you buy: the Canadian checklist
Run through these quick checks before you spend a cent:
- Is your phone eSIM-compatible? Most recent iPhones, Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy flagships are, but not every model or regional version is. Both Airalo and Yesim have compatibility checkers on their sites.
- Is your phone unlocked? A travel eSIM only works on an unlocked phone. In Canada, the CRTC’s Wireless Code means phones bought since December 2017 should come unlocked, and carriers must unlock older devices for free on request. If in doubt, call your carrier before you travel.
- What does your current plan cost abroad? Check your carrier’s roaming add-ons for your destination and compare the total for your trip against an eSIM. For a weekend in the U.S. a roaming pass might be fine; for two weeks in Europe or Asia an eSIM is often the better deal.
- Do you need your Canadian number? If you rely on texts for banking or two-factor codes, keep your Canadian line switched on for calls and texts, but turn off data roaming on that line so you don’t get charged for data. Check your carrier’s terms for any per-text or per-minute roaming charges.
Airalo at a glance
Airalo is one of the biggest names in travel eSIMs. It sells plans for more than 200 countries and regions, in three main styles:
- Local eSIMs for one country, ideal for a single-destination trip.
- Regional eSIMs covering a group of countries, such as Europe or Asia, which suit multi-country trips.
- Global eSIMs (Discover) that work across a long list of countries on one plan.
A few features stand out for Canadians:
- Top-ups. Many Airalo eSIMs can be topped up, so you can add data to the same eSIM instead of buying and installing a new one. Availability depends on the plan, so check before you buy.
- Calls and texts option. The Discover+ global plan adds a U.S. +1 phone number with call minutes and SMS, handy if you need a number that works while you travel. Most other Airalo plans are data-only.
- Unlimited options exist for some destinations. Like most “unlimited” travel plans, they can come with daily high-speed limits or fair-use rules, so read the plan details.
- A polished app available in many languages, where you buy, install and track your data in one place.
Best for: travellers who want a simple app, lots of destination choices and fixed data packages they can top up.
Yesim at a glance
Yesim is a Swiss travel eSIM provider with a slightly different twist. Alongside fixed-data plans, it offers:
- Fixed-data and unlimited plans for individual countries.
- Regional and global packages for multi-country trips.
- Pay & Fly, a pay-as-you-go plan. You top up a balance in Yesim’s in-app currency (Ycoins), and you’re charged only for the data you actually use, at rates that depend on the country. Yesim says the balance doesn’t expire, so leftover credit carries over to your next trip.
- Virtual numbers as a separate paid add-on in some countries, mainly for receiving SMS codes. They aren’t included in the standard data plans.
Like Airalo, Yesim’s data plans don’t include a regular phone number. Unlimited plans may be subject to fair-use speed limits that vary by destination, so check the details for your country.
Best for: frequent or unpredictable travellers who like the idea of a pay-as-you-go balance that’s always ready, and people who want an unlimited plan for a single country.
Airalo vs Yesim: side by side
| Feature | Airalo | Yesim |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | 200+ countries and regions | 200+ destinations advertised; Pay & Fly in 170+ countries |
| Plan types | Local, regional, global (Discover) | Local, unlimited, regional, global, Pay & Fly |
| Pay-as-you-go | No; you buy fixed packages | Yes, with Pay & Fly |
| Phone number | Discover+ global plan includes a U.S. +1 number with calls and texts | Not in data plans; virtual numbers sold separately |
| Top-ups | Available on many eSIMs | Top up your balance anytime |
| Unlimited data | On some plans, with limits | On some plans, with fair-use limits |
| Best for | Simple fixed plans, wide choice | Flexible, usage-based travel |
Prices for both change regularly and vary a lot by destination, so the only fair way to compare is to check current prices for your specific country and trip length on each site.
Which one should you choose?
Here’s how we’d decide:
- One country, one or two weeks (say, Portugal or Mexico): compare the local plans from both. Pick the plan with the data you need for the lowest total price.
- Several countries in one trip (a Europe rail trip, or Southeast Asia): look at regional plans first. Airalo’s regional eSIMs are straightforward, and Yesim’s regional packages are worth a look too.
- You travel often and never know how much data you’ll use: Yesim’s Pay & Fly is built for exactly this. Top up once, use what you need, and keep the rest for next time.
- You need a phone number abroad for calls to local businesses or tour operators: Airalo’s Discover+ includes a U.S. number with minutes and texts. Otherwise, use your Canadian line or calling apps.
- Heavy streaming or hotspotting: look at unlimited plans, but read the fair-use limits carefully. A big fixed-data plan is sometimes the better deal.
Not sure how much data you need? As a rough guide, maps, messaging and light browsing use relatively little. Video calls, streaming, uploading lots of photos and using your phone as a hotspot use much more. If you’re unsure, buy a smaller plan with top-ups available, or use pay-as-you-go.
How to set up a travel eSIM
The process is similar for both providers:
- Buy your plan before you leave, on the provider’s website or app.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. Most apps install it with a tap; otherwise you scan a QR code. Installing doesn’t use your data allowance, but check whether your plan’s validity starts on installation or on first connection.
- Label it “Travel” in your phone’s settings.
- When you land, switch your data line to the travel eSIM, and make sure data roaming is turned on for the travel eSIM (it needs this to connect to local networks).
- Turn data roaming off for your Canadian line, unless you’ve bought a roaming add-on from your carrier.
- Keep an eye on your usage in the provider’s app and top up if needed.
Trip essentials for travelling abroad
The tools we’d pack for any trip outside Canada. Check current prices and terms before you buy.
- Airalo eSIMLocal, regional and global data plans. See plans →
- Yesim eSIMUnlimited and pay-as-you-go data. See plans →
- Travel medical insuranceYour provincial plan covers little outside Canada. Compare plans →
- Cheap flightsCompare airlines and dates in one search. Search Aviasales →
- Airport transfersBook your ride from the airport in advance. Book with Kiwitaxi →
- Tours & ticketsMuseums, attractions and audio guides. Browse Tiqets →
More guides for your trip
- Still choosing a destination? See the cheapest places to fly from Halifax (YHZ) and where the airline competition is fiercest.
- Exploring closer to home? A Canadian line works fine across Nova Scotia, so save the eSIM for later and follow our Cabot Trail road trip itinerary.
FAQ: eSIMs for Canadians
Do I need an eSIM if I’m travelling within Canada?
Usually not. Canadian plans normally work across the country, although coverage can be patchy in remote areas. Travel eSIMs are mainly for trips outside Canada.
Will I keep my Canadian phone number?
Yes. Your Canadian SIM or eSIM stays on your phone. With a dual-SIM phone you can keep your Canadian line on for calls and texts while the travel eSIM handles data. Check your carrier’s roaming terms so you know what calls and texts cost abroad.
Is Airalo or Yesim cheaper?
It depends on the destination, the amount of data and the trip length. Prices change often, so compare current prices for your exact trip on both sites before you buy.
Can I use a travel eSIM in the United States?
Yes, both providers sell U.S. plans. For a short trip, compare an eSIM with your carrier’s U.S. roaming add-on; for longer stays an eSIM is often better value.
When should I install my eSIM?
Install it at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you leave, then switch it on when you land. Check whether your plan’s validity period starts when you install it or when it first connects to a network.
Do travel eSIMs work for hotspotting?
Many plans allow it, but some unlimited plans restrict or slow hotspot use. Check the plan details before buying if you plan to share your connection with a laptop.
Features described here are based on Airalo’s and Yesim’s published information as of October 2026. Plans, coverage and prices change, so confirm details with each provider before you buy.
Featured photo: Traveller using a smartphone to stay connected abroad. Photo: Gilles Lambert gilleslambert via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (licence).
Related guides
Cheap Flights from Halifax to Europe: When to Book and How to Save
Read the guide
Cabot Trail Road Trip Itinerary: 3 Days from Halifax (Plus a 5-Day Version)
Read the guide
Cheapest Places to Fly from Halifax (YHZ): Where the Deals Are
Read the guideThe Moonlight Letter
Get Halifax & Atlantic Canada travel deals
Cheap-flight finds from YHZ, road-trip ideas and new guides, straight to your inbox.
We'll only use your email to send Moonlight Travel deals and guides. Unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.