eSIM Solutions: The Modern Approach

When eSIMs first became available in Spain, I was skeptical. Why would I want a digital SIM when physical ones work fine? But after testing eSIMs from five different providers over the past year, I've changed my mind. For travelers and short-term visitors, eSIMs are often the better choice.

What is an eSIM and Do You Need One?

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of inserting a physical card, you download a profile that activates cellular service. Your phone needs to support eSIM - most iPhones from XS onwards and many Android phones from 2019+ support it.

I've found eSIMs are perfect for:

• Short-term visitors (1-30 days)
• Travelers who want data before arriving
• People who want to keep their home SIM active
• Anyone who doesn't want to visit a store

They're less ideal for long-term residents (3+ months) because traditional prepaid SIMs are usually cheaper for extended use.

Airalo: The Global Leader

Airalo was the first eSIM provider I tried. They're the largest global eSIM marketplace, which means reliability and good coverage.

Pricing: €4.50 for 1GB (7 days) to €37 for 20GB (30 days) for Spain

How it works: Buy online, receive QR code via email instantly, scan with your phone, and you're connected. Takes about 2 minutes total.

Network: Uses Orange's network in Spain. I tested speeds in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia - consistently got 25-40 Mbps download speeds.

Coverage: Excellent in cities, good in towns, drops in very rural areas (same as Orange's coverage).

Pros: Instant activation, reliable, works in 190+ countries, easy to manage via app, can top up if you run out of data.

Cons: More expensive than local prepaid SIMs for long stays, data-only (no calls/texts), requires internet to activate (so activate before you leave home).

Best for: Travelers visiting Spain for 1-2 weeks who want data immediately upon arrival.

Holafly: The Unlimited Data Option

Holafly caught my attention because they offer "unlimited" data plans. I tested their 15-day Spain plan.

Pricing: €19 for 5 days, €34 for 15 days, €47 for 30 days (all unlimited data)

How it works: Similar to Airalo - buy, get QR code, scan, activate. Process took 3 minutes for me.

Network: Uses Movistar's network, which is Spain's largest. Speeds were excellent: 30-50 Mbps in cities.

Coverage: Best coverage I tested because of Movistar's network. Worked in rural areas where Airalo struggled.

The "unlimited" catch: After 5GB per day, speeds slow to 512 Kbps. Still usable for basic browsing and messaging, but video streaming becomes difficult. For most people, 5GB per day is plenty.

Pros: True unlimited (with fair use), best coverage, good for heavy data users, includes hotspot/tethering.

Cons: More expensive than data-limited plans, speed throttling after daily limit, data-only (no calls/texts).

Best for: Heavy data users or people staying 1-2 weeks who want peace of mind with unlimited data.

Orange eSIM: The Local Provider Option

I tested Orange's official eSIM service, which is different from third-party providers.

Pricing: €15 for 10GB (30 days), €25 for 25GB (30 days) - same as their prepaid physical SIMs

How it works: Buy online from Orange's website, receive eSIM profile via email, activate. Takes 10-15 minutes because they need to verify your identity (EU regulation).

Network: Orange's own network. Speeds were 20-35 Mbps, slightly slower than Airalo but still good.

Coverage: Good in cities and towns, decent in rural areas.

Pros: Official provider, includes calls and texts (not just data), can be converted to long-term plan, local customer support in Spanish and English.

Cons: Requires Spanish address or ID verification, more setup time, not instant like third-party eSIMs.

Best for: People planning to stay 1-3 months who might want to convert to a regular plan later.

Ubigi: The Flexible Option

Ubigi offers flexible data packages that you can use across multiple countries, which I tested during a trip through Spain, France, and Italy.

Pricing: €8 for 3GB (30 days), €19 for 10GB (30 days), €39 for 20GB (30 days)

How it works: Buy data package, get eSIM, use in Spain or other supported countries. Data doesn't expire if you don't use it all.

Network: Uses multiple networks (roaming agreements). Speeds varied: 15-30 Mbps depending on location.

Coverage: Good in cities, varies in rural areas depending on which network you're connected to.

Pros: Multi-country use, flexible data that doesn't expire quickly, can top up easily.

Cons: More expensive per GB than Spain-only options, speeds can be inconsistent, data-only.

Best for: Travelers visiting multiple European countries who want one eSIM for everything.

Real-World Speed Tests

I conducted speed tests in three locations using each eSIM:

Provider	Madrid (City Center)	Barcelona (Beach Area)	Rural (Andalusia)
Airalo	38 Mbps	32 Mbps	8 Mbps
Holafly	45 Mbps	40 Mbps	15 Mbps
Orange eSIM	28 Mbps	25 Mbps	12 Mbps
Ubigi	25 Mbps	22 Mbps	6 Mbps

All speeds are download speeds tested during peak hours (6-8 PM). Holafly consistently performed best because it uses Movistar's premium network.

When to Choose eSIM vs Physical SIM

After testing both extensively, here's my decision framework:

Choose eSIM if:

• You're visiting for less than 30 days
• You want data immediately upon arrival
• You need to keep your home SIM active
• You don't want to visit a store
• You're traveling to multiple countries

Choose physical SIM if:

• You're staying 3+ months (much cheaper long-term)
• You need local phone number for calls/texts
• You want the absolute lowest price
• Your phone doesn't support eSIM
• You prefer dealing with local providers directly

Setup Process: What to Expect

Setting up an eSIM is straightforward, but here's the exact process I follow:

1. Before you leave home: Purchase eSIM online and receive QR code via email. Don't wait until you arrive - you need internet to activate.
2. On your phone: Go to Settings > Cellular/Mobile Data > Add Cellular Plan. Scan the QR code.
3. Activation: Wait 1-3 minutes for activation. You'll see a notification when it's ready.
4. Set as primary: If you're keeping your home SIM, set the eSIM as primary for data. Your home SIM will still work for calls.
5. Test: Turn off WiFi and test data connection. Should work immediately.

Total time: 3-5 minutes. Much faster than finding a store and buying a physical SIM.

Common Issues and Solutions

I've encountered a few issues over the past year. Here's how to solve them:

• QR code won't scan: Make sure your phone supports eSIM. Some older phones don't. Check your phone's specifications online.
• Activation fails: Make sure you have internet connection (WiFi or your home SIM data). eSIMs need internet to activate.
• No service after activation: Restart your phone. This fixes 90% of activation issues.
• Data runs out quickly: Check if apps are using background data. Disable automatic updates and cloud backups while using eSIM data.
• Can't make calls: Most eSIMs are data-only. You'll need to use WhatsApp, Skype, or similar for calls.

My Recommendation

For most travelers visiting Spain for 1-2 weeks, I recommend Airalo. It's reliable, reasonably priced, and activation is instant. The 5GB plan (€13.50 for 7 days) is usually enough for maps, messaging, and light browsing.

If you're a heavy data user or staying 2-4 weeks, Holafly's unlimited plan is worth the extra cost. The peace of mind of unlimited data is valuable, and Movistar's network coverage is excellent.

For longer stays (1-3 months), consider Orange's official eSIM if you want the option to convert to a regular plan later. Otherwise, a physical prepaid SIM is usually cheaper.

Remember: Always activate your eSIM before leaving home. You need internet to complete the activation, and airport WiFi can be unreliable.

Final Thoughts

eSIMs have revolutionized how I handle mobile data when traveling. The convenience of having data immediately upon arrival, without visiting stores or dealing with language barriers, is worth the slight premium over physical SIMs for short trips.

However, they're not always the cheapest option. For extended stays, traditional prepaid SIMs still offer better value. But for convenience and speed of setup, eSIMs are hard to beat.

If your phone supports eSIM and you're visiting Spain for less than a month, give it a try. Start with a small data package to test, then you can always top up if needed.