eSIM, local SIM or roaming: which should you choose?

Roaming on your Swedish subscription

Inside the EU and EEA this is the right answer for almost everyone. Roam like at home applies, your allowance is used at Swedish rates, and you need do nothing at all.

Outside the EU it is comfortably the most expensive option. Billing is per megabyte, and a few hours of ordinary use can cost more than the flight.

A local SIM bought on arrival

Often the cheapest per gigabyte, sometimes markedly so. The price is paid in another currency: finding a shop, showing identification, registering a passport in some countries, swapping out your Swedish card and then keeping track of it until you fly home.

Meanwhile your Swedish number is out of the phone, so calls and texts pass you by. It is rarely worth the trouble for a two-week trip, and reasonable if you are staying for months.

A travel eSIM

More expensive per gigabyte than a local prepaid card, cheaper than roaming outside the EU, and without swapping a physical card. Your Swedish number stays in place and receives calls while data runs over the local network.

You arrange it at home before leaving and avoid hunting for a shop in a language you do not speak. For an ordinary holiday outside the EU it is usually the right balance of price and hassle.

Common questions

Which of the three is cheapest?

A local prepaid card is usually cheapest per gigabyte, but costs time and means removing your Swedish card. A travel eSIM is close in price without that trouble. Roaming outside the EU is by far the most expensive.

Do I need anything at all within the EU?

Normally not. Just check that your plan does not have a low fair-use cap abroad, which occurs on large allowances.

Can I keep both my Swedish SIM and an eSIM active?

Yes, that is the whole point. The Swedish number receives calls and texts while the eSIM handles data. Just remember to switch data roaming off on the Swedish subscription.