Best Travel eSIMs with Longest Lifespan & No Expiry Options

Even though being a world wanderer means you're not anchored to one place physically, there's a part of lifestyle that's inevitably connected to one place, a place called 'internet'. It's kind of funny when you think about it. No matter where you roam, the need for good connectivity follows.

Travelers used to reply on prepaid SIM cards to maintain connectivity in each country they visited. However, nowadays, there's a growing preference for prepaid eSIMs, also known as travel eSIMs, which offer a more streamlined and clutter-free way to stay connected.

This article explores some of the best travel eSIM options that are particularly suitable for long-term travelers such as nomads.

The problem with travel eSIM is that the number of services available is growing rapidly, making it challenging to stay updated and select the one that best suits your internet needs. This is where eSIMDB - the world's largest database for travel eSIMs comes in.

Keepgo

Keepgo offers prepaid eSIM data bundles with global coverage in over 100 countries.

Their services include affordable bundles, as low as $3, and a balance that remains valid indefinitely as long as the eSIM is refilled at least once a year - perfect for globetrotters. They also provide various refill options to suit different needs and travel plans.

Keepgo's Offerings

Keepgo has a variety of data bundles for different regions or continents. For a complete overview and the latest data, make sure to visit their eSIM data bundles page.

Here, we showcase some of their eSIMs that are worth checking.

Again, these eSIMs never expires if refilled at least once a year with any amount, even with the smallest bundle available, which is $3.

Cassiopeia Asia-Pacific eSIM

Cassiopeia eSIM covers the following 12 countries within the Asia-Pacific region. It's an ideal choice for nomads who are traveling to or primarily staying in countries across Asia and Oceania.

The following are the bundles available for purchase. Note that their eSIM itself is free. When you buy any bundle, you receive an eSIM at no additional cost.

Caelum Latin America eSIM

Caelum eSIM is a relatively new offering and provides coverage in 14 countries in LATAM.

Its primary drawback, however, is that its coverage excludes major countries like Brazil and Argentina, as well as Caribbean nations.

*If you need more extensive coverage across Latin America region, the eSIM named Capricornus might also be a good option to explore.

Below is the table of available bundles.

Thoughts on Keepgo eSIM

Their promotion offering additional 2GB for free makes their bundles, especially 1GB bundle, quite attractive.

Say you purchase their 1GB bundle and receive a 2GB bonus, it becomes a 3GB bundle with a validity of up to one year, with an ability to extend indefinitely by refilling (recharging) at least $3 a year.

This can be extremely useful as a backup connectivity solution. When your primary means of connection, such as a local SIM card or WiFi, has issues, you can switch to this Keepgo eSIM for internet access, ensuring you stay connected without struggling to find and pay for another means."

BNESIM

BNESIM is another travel eSIM service with a wide range of global data plans covering more than 200 countries.

Their most notable offering is the Europe plans, which deliver exceptional value particularly for travelers planning extended stays in the region.

So let's dive in.

BNESIM's Europe Plans

They have plans called "Pay-as-you-go" for Europe, although they're essentially prepaid plans, that have no expiration.

Unlike Keepgo, BNESIM's Europe plans do not require refilling (top-up) to maintain their validity. Basically, these plans don't expire, so you can use every bit of the data you buy, without worrying about any going to waste.

Now let's look at their prices and coverages.

Go to their eSIM data plans page, and then navigate to the Europe plans section. Select the 'PAY-AS-YOU-GO' option, where you'll find data plans that do not expire. *All the other plans have a certain validity.

These plans cover 30 countries in Europe. So it works in most of the region.

Prices are:

Considering that you'll be able to use every byte of the plan without waste, they are quite reasonably priced. However, do note that the prices in Euro, not USD.

Thoughts on BNESIM

Having a no-expiry data plan from BNESIM really gives you peace of mind. It's great knowing that the data you've bought is always there, ready whenever you need it.

Sure, these plans are a bit pricier compared to the normal Europe plans you can find elsewhere that come with a specific validity period, but it becomes quite attractive when you use the 15% OFF discount code "ESIMDB15".

Take the 5GB plan, for example, with this code, it costs less than 15 EUR. And that 5GB never goes to waste. You can use it down to the very last byte.

So, if you ever find yourself struggling with airport WiFi (they often do, don't they?) or dealing with speed throttling on your main cellular plan, just switch over to your BNESIM plan. It can be a real lifesaver in those situations.

Airalo

Airalo is arguably the most famous and trusted travel eSIM provider in the market as of this writing.

Their website and mobile app are well-designed and easy to use, making your eSIM experience smooth and hassle-free. It's a great pick for first-timers in the world of travel eSIMs as well.

Discover & Discover+ Plans

Airalo's global data plans are called Discover, and they work in 127 countries across the globe.

The available plans are categorized into two types:

1. Discover = Data Only
2. Discover+ = Data + Calls + Texts

Before getting into details of each Discover plan, here's a coupon code for you to enjoy some benefits.

Discover

The Discover plans offer a fixed amount of mobile data, but do not support calls or SMS.

Generally, mobile data is the most crucial element for staying connected, so one can consider these plans as sufficient. In fact, most of the prepaid eSIM, as of this writing, is for data only. If needed, you can use VoIP apps (such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger) for making calls over the internet.

Discover is offered in 6 plans:

The 10GB and 20GB plans last for 6 months and a year respectively. This makes them valid choices for long-term travelers like nomads.

Yes, the prices aren't exactly low, but they're not sky-high either. And don't forget to use the 10% discount code "ESIMDB10" when purchasing.

Discover+

The Discover+ plans come with data, calls, and texts. They are basically a superior version of the standard Discover plans.

For calls and texts, these plans come with +43 phone number, which is an Austrian number, for making calls and sending texts anywhere in the world. But note that call forwarding and voicemail are not supported.

*eKYC not required.

Discover+ is available in 6 plans:

Whether or not one needs an Austrian number with calls/texts capabilities with travel eSIM really depends on the individual (of course), but for most travelers this feature might not be that important.

If you're not really into using calls and texts with your travel eSIM, then simply go for the standard Discover plan instead of the Discover+.

Thoughts on Airalo

Unlike Keepgo and BNESIM, Airalo's Discover Global plans do come with a certain validity period. However, plans like 10GB for 180 days and 20GB for 365 days make them strong contenders for long-term travelers when considering worldwide roaming options.

Airalo is especially recommended for people visiting less popular countries or destinations, where mobile data plans are usually more expensive. In these cases, Airalo's 10GB plan (less than $6/GB) or 20GB plan (less than $3.5/GB) offer great overall value.