This calculator answers one question: for this trip, which eSIM is cheapest, what will it cost in total, and what's the catch? It compares seven providers using prices read from their public pages on 31 October 2026, and it flags the things a price list doesn't tell you, like a hotspot cap or an unlimited pass that slows to 1 Mbps after breakfast.
Lotso Travel is run by the team behind Aventure SIM. It's in the results because it sells plans in these countries; it's ranked by the same rules as everyone else, and in Nepal, Tanzania and Canada it usually comes near the bottom.
How it picks a plan
For every provider, the calculator looks at each plan it sells in that country and works out how many of that plan you'd need to cover the whole trip, both in days and in data. A 10-day trip at 0.7 GB a day needs 7 GB, so a 5 GB plan counts twice (one plan plus a top-up of the same size) and a 10 GB plan counts once. Unlimited passes count once if they last long enough, or back to back if they don't. It then keeps the cheapest option per provider.
One rule overrides price: a plan has to keep you at full speed. If an unlimited pass slows down after 2 GB a day and your profile needs 3 GB a day, the calculator ranks it below every plan that doesn't, and tells you why.
The usage profiles
The profiles are assumptions, and you might be heavier or lighter than them.
| Profile | GB per day | What it assumes |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 0.3 | Messages, email, weather; maps downloaded for offline use before you leave Wi-Fi |
| Navigation-heavy | 0.7 | Live maps and trail apps, some photo uploads, backups saved for hotel Wi-Fi |
| Social & streaming | 1.5 | Stories, video calls home, some streaming in town |
| Hotspot | 3 | Sharing with a laptop or a partner's phone |
If you're unsure, pick one level heavier than you expect. Running out at a mountain hut is worse than paying $5 more, and most providers let you top up from the app only while you have a signal to do it.
The warnings, explained
"Needs 2× this plan (top-ups)." You'll buy the plan once and top up once. Some providers sell top-ups at the same price as a new plan; others price them differently, so check before you rely on it.
"Full speed only for the first X GB a day." The plan is an unlimited pass with a daily cap. After the cap, speed drops to roughly 1 or 2 Mbps until the day resets, which is fine for messaging and slow for anything else. Our unlimited plans explainer quotes each provider's policy.
"Hotspot sharing capped at 1 GB a day." Holafly's pages say you can share "1 GB of data per day" through a hotspot, so a 7-day plan includes 7 GB of shareable data. If your partner's phone or a laptop rides on your connection, that cap is the one that bites.
"Data only, no phone number." You can still use WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime over the eSIM's data. You can't receive bank one-time passcodes sent by SMS to the eSIM, because there's no number; keep your home SIM switched on for those.
What it doesn't know
The calculator compares prices and published rules. It doesn't know whether a given network reaches the valley you're camping in, and neither does any eSIM provider's coverage map at that level of detail. For that, read the route guides: Everest Base Camp, Torres del Paine, the Icefields Parkway, Iceland, Kilimanjaro and the West Highland Way. And when the route runs beyond any mast, the answer isn't an eSIM at all; see satellite vs eSIM.
Prices are frozen as of 31 October 2026 and providers run frequent sales, so treat the totals as a guide and check the provider's page before buying. All figures are in US dollars.
Questions people ask
How much mobile data do I need for a trekking trip?
With offline maps downloaded in advance and messaging as your main use, 0.3 to 0.5 GB a day is typical. Live navigation and trail apps push it toward 0.7 GB a day; daily video calls, social uploads or a laptop hotspot can take 1.5 to 3 GB a day or more.
Is an unlimited eSIM worth it for hiking?
Usually not. On most trails you'll spend days with no signal at all, and unlimited passes cost $28 to $55 for two weeks in most countries we checked, against $10 to $25 for a fixed plan that covers trekking-level use. They pay off if you'll hotspot a laptop in town or stream heavily between hikes.
Do travel eSIMs come with a phone number?
Most don't. Lotso Travel, Holafly and Ubigi are data only. Saily sells a number as an add-on with a minutes plan, and Nomad says some of its eSIMs include a local number. Your home SIM can stay active alongside the eSIM for texts, though roaming charges apply if you use it.