eSIM For U

eSIM United Kingdom

4G · 3, EE

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

7 days

15 days

30 days

180 days

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

Before you go

United Kingdom eSIM: what to expect.

Plans for the United Kingdom range from 1 to 50 GB and 7 to 180 days, plus day plans with a fixed daily allowance. You pay once. No contract, no roaming bill.

Networks and speed

  • Networks3 and EE
  • Speed5G on EE, 4G/LTE on 3.
  • Internet runs viaFrance / Netherlands / United KingdomDepending on the plan. Banking or streaming apps may treat you as being there.

Which plan for your trip

Our pick · 1 week5 GB · 30 days$11.29About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this planOur pick · 2 weeks10 GB · 30 days$16.49About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this plan

Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for $7.29: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 512 Kbps until the next day.

Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for United Kingdom.

Tips for United Kingdom

  • EU roaming rules no longer cover the UK, and some European carriers charge extra here. Check your home plan: a UK eSIM costs the same either way.
  • Northern Ireland is part of the UK and covered. Crossing into the Republic of Ireland? Then you need a plan that covers Ireland too, such as a regional plan.
  • In London you pay for the Tube and buses by tapping a contactless card or your phone. No ticket app needed.
Travel guideUK eSIM guideTravel guideBritish pound: notes, legal tender and cardsTravel guideHeathrow airport SIM card or eSIM

Questions

Which networks does the United Kingdom eSIM use?

3 (4G) and EE (5G). Which one your phone uses depends on the plan and on where you are.

Does the United Kingdom eSIM work on 5G?

Yes, 5G on EE. Your phone needs to support 5G; where there is no 5G signal, it uses 4G/LTE.

Will my phone work with the United Kingdom eSIM?

Yes, if your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to one carrier. Most iPhones from the XS and XR onwards do, as do recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. Check yours in our list of eSIM phones.

Does the United Kingdom eSIM come with a phone number?

No. It is data only: no phone number, no calls or SMS. Your own SIM stays in your phone, so WhatsApp and iMessage keep working with your usual number.

How much data do I need for a week in the United Kingdom?

About 0.7 GB a day covers maps, messages, social media and some video, so around 5 GB for a week. Our pick for one week: 5 GB · 30 days for $11.29.

What is the cheapest United Kingdom eSIM?

1 GB · 7 days for $3.79 is the lowest-priced plan. The lowest price per GB is 50 GB · 30 days at $0.69 per GB. A single day with 0.49 GB costs $2.29.

How long is the United Kingdom eSIM valid?

Plans run for 7, 15, 30 or 180 days. Day plans can be booked for 1 to 30 days.

When does my plan start?

When your phone first connects to a network in the United Kingdom, not when you buy or install the eSIM. So you can install it at home before you travel.

Is there an unlimited United Kingdom eSIM?

Not at full speed. Day plans come closest: up to 10 GB a day at full speed, then 512 Kbps until the next day.

Can I use the United Kingdom eSIM as a hotspot?

Yes, your phone can share the connection with a laptop or a second phone. Everything you share counts against your plan. Whether a network limits sharing depends on the plan, so ask us before you buy if it matters. More in our hotspot guide.

Can I top up my United Kingdom eSIM?

Yes, on plans marked “Top-up possible”: add data under My eSIMs while the plan is still valid. No new eSIM needed.

What happens when I use up my daily data?

On day plans you get full speed up to the daily allowance. After that, the speed drops to between 500 Kbps and 1 Mbps, depending on the plan, until the next day.

Why do some apps think I am in another country?

Depending on the plan, your connection runs via France, the Netherlands or the United Kingdom. Websites and apps, such as banking or streaming services, may then treat you as being there.

Can I get a refund?

eSIM purchases are final. If something isn’t right, write to us in Help and we’ll take care of it.

The UK in detail: networks, speed and roaming

Networks and 5G

2 networks · 5G

Your eSIM uses 3 and EE.

  • Vodafone and Three mergedIn May 2025, both names may appear.
  • Northern IrelandPart of the UK, same plan.
  • 5G where the network offers itOtherwise 4G/LTE on the same plan.

Sources: Wikipedia: mobile network operators of Europe

Speed in Manchester and London

130 Mbps

Both cities measure well above the national median, so expect slower speeds in the countryside and on trains between cities.

DownloadGlobal rank
United Kingdom79 Mbps58 of 100
Manchester130 Mbps79 of 151
London112 Mbps90 of 151

Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index (September 2026)

Signal on the London Underground

60% of stations

In June 2026 around 60% of London’s underground stations had mobile coverage, with the whole network planned by the end of 2026.

  • Every operatorEE, O2 and VodafoneThree use the same system.
  • Older stretchesSignal can drop between two stops, open your route first.
  • TicketsTap a contactless card or your phone, no app needed.

Sources: ISPreview: London Underground 4G and 5G build (12 June 2026)

Roaming with your home plan

Not EU roaming

The UK is not covered by the EU rule “roam like at home”, so your operator charges by its own rules.

  • European SIMSome plans include it, others charge per day or per MB.
  • Travel eSIMPrepaid, so the cost stays fixed. More in EU roaming explained.

Sources: Your Europe: mobile roaming costs

Local SIM card or travel eSIM

Online on landing

A UK SIM suits a stay of months, and our guide on using a UK phone in Europe covers roaming the other way.

Local SIMTravel eSIM
WhereShop or counterOnline, at home
OnlineAfter setupOn landing
Home SIMUsually comes outStays in
NumberLocal numberData only

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

How much data for the UK

0.7 GB a day

Our shop suggests about 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages, social media and some video, and our data guide shows what each app uses.

1 week2 weeks
Maps, messagesabout 2 GBabout 4 GB
Plus social mediaabout 5 GBabout 10 GB
Plus videoabout 10 GBabout 20 GB
Plan for
London, 4 daysabout 3 GB
Scotland, 1 weekabout 5 GB
Tour, 2 weeksabout 10 GB

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Set up before you fly

4 steps

Four steps at home make sure you are online when you land.

  1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked: list of eSIM phones.
  2. Install the eSIM at home over Wi‑Fi, on iPhone or Android.
  3. On arrival, use the eSIM for mobile data and turn on its data roaming.
  4. Keep data roaming off for your home line, so your operator does not charge you.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Plan types and more countries

Data only

The eSIM is data only, so WhatsApp and FaceTime keep your usual number, as our WhatsApp guide explains.

  • Data plans: a total amount for a set number of days, unused data carries over to the next day.
  • Day plans: a fixed amount per day at full speed, after that as each plan states.
  • Top up: on plans marked “Top-up possible”, add data under My eSIMs without a new eSIM.
  • Republic of Ireland: not in UK plans, the regional plan below covers both.
RG-BI-2 eSIM200+ destinations, ready in minutesCharged only when your eSIM is ready
Get your RG-BI-2 eSIM

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Travelling on?