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Best eSIM for Italy

We compare 20 plans from 6 eSIM providers for Italy, in pounds, show what your UK network would charge instead, and share the local mobile tips worth knowing.

Prices last checked 25 September 2026

eSIMs from£3.0120 plans · 6 providers

Quick answers

  • The cheapest data plan here is £3.01.
  • Best value for a longer stay: Ubigi 10GB for 30 days, £10.59.
  • Unlimited data from Holafly: £48.67 for 30 days.
  • Italy is in the EU. O2, giffgaff, SMARTY, iD Mobile and Tesco Mobile include it; EE, Vodafone and Three charge about £2.75 a day.
  • No restrictions: WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work normally over Italian mobile data and Wi-Fi.
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Prices

Italy eSIM prices compared

All 20 plans we track, cheapest first within each length.

ProviderDataLastsPrice (approx. in £)
Sim LocalIliad, Vodafone 1GB 3 days £3.02US$4.00 · £3.02/GB Go to Sim Local Provider link
Saily 1GB 7 days £3.01US$3.99 · £3.01/GB Go to Saily Provider link
AiraloWindTre, Vodafone, Iliad 1GB 7 days £3.02US$4.00 · £3.02/GB Go to Airalo Provider link
NomadIliad / Vodafone 1GB 7 days £3.02US$4.00 · £3.02/GB Go to Nomad Provider link
NomadIliad / Vodafone 5GB 30 days £8.30US$11.00 · £1.66/GB Go to Nomad Provider link
AiraloWindTre, Vodafone, Iliad 5GB 30 days £9.05US$12.00 · £1.81/GB Go to Airalo Provider link
Sim LocalIliad, Vodafone 5GB 30 days £9.62US$12.75 · £1.92/GB Go to Sim Local Provider link
Saily 5GB 30 days £9.80US$12.99 · £1.96/GB Go to Saily Provider link
Show all 20 Italy tariffs
ProviderDataLastsPrice (approx. in £)
UbigiBest value 10GB+Iliad, WindTre 10GB 30 days £10.59US$14.04 · £1.06/GB Go to Ubigi Provider link
Sim LocalIliad, Vodafone 10GB 30 days £11.88US$15.75 · £1.19/GB Go to Sim Local Provider link
NomadIliad / Vodafone 10GB 30 days £13.96US$18.50 · £1.40/GB Go to Nomad Provider link
AiraloWindTre, Vodafone, Iliad 10GB 30 days £14.34US$19.00 · £1.43/GB Go to Airalo Provider link
Saily 10GB 30 days £15.84US$20.99 · £1.58/GB Go to Saily Provider link
HolaflyVodafone, WindTre Unlimited 3 days £8.98US$11.90 Go to Holafly Provider link
Sim LocalIliad, Vodafone Unlimited 7 days £14.53US$19.25 Go to Sim Local Provider link
HolaflyVodafone, WindTre Unlimited 7 days £18.03US$23.90 Go to Holafly Provider link
NomadIliad / Vodafone Unlimited 7 days £18.86US$25.00 Go to Nomad Provider link
AiraloWindTre, Vodafone, Iliad Unlimited 10 days £24.15US$32.00 Go to Airalo Provider link
Saily Unlimited 15 days £33.19US$43.99 Go to Saily Provider link
HolaflyVodafone, WindTre Unlimited 30 days £48.67US$64.50 Go to Holafly Provider link

Prices checked 25 September 2026. Most travel eSIM companies charge in US dollars, even to UK customers, so your bank converts the price when you pay. We show pounds at that day's rate (US$1 = £0.75458) with the dollar price underneath.

Price per GB in Italy

Each provider's best-value 30-day plan of 5GB or more, as a price per GB. Lower is better; orange = cheapest.

Ubigi£1.06
Sim Local£1.19
Nomad£1.40
Airalo£1.43
Saily£1.58
Roaming

What UK networks charge in Italy

A week in Italy: what it costs

7 days of data on each UK network's roaming (where there's a daily price) against the cheapest 5GB+ eSIM (Nomad). Orange bar = eSIM.

Vodafone£19.25
Three£19.25
EE£19.04
VOXI£18.20
Sky Mobile£14
Cheapest eSIM£8.30
O2Included
giffgaffIncluded
SMARTYIncluded
iD MobileIncluded
LebaraIncluded
Tesco MobileIncluded
Lyca MobileIncluded
Your networkPer dayA weekDetails
EE£2.72 a day£19.04Europe daily charge (sources vary £2.47-£2.72; weekly £16.50) Check with your network
O2Included£0Europe Zone included up to 25GB
Vodafone£2.75 a day£19.25Europe Zone B daily roaming; 8-day pass £16, 15-day £21 Check with your network
Three£2.75 a day£19.25Go Roam in Europe £2.75/day (£2 on plans before 18 Dec 2025), 12GB fair use
giffgaffIncluded£0included up to 5GB (EU zone)
SMARTYIncluded£0included up to 12GB; EU data pass £3/day if more needed
iD MobileIncluded£0included up to 30GB
VOXI£2.60 a day£18.20European roaming pass £2.60/day (8 days £15, 15 days £20), up to 20GB
LebaraIncluded£0Roam Like Home in EU, up to 30GB Check with your network
Tesco MobileIncluded£0Home From Home, UK allowance, no end date
Sky Mobile£2 a day£14Roaming Passport £2/day (£10 for 5 days), 25GB fair use; free for VIP Diamond
Lyca MobileIncluded£0EU roaming from bundle, fair use applies Check with your network

Checked 25 September 2026. Roaming prices depend on your exact plan and when you joined, so check with your network before you travel.

Local know-how

Mobile in Italy: what to know

Mobile networks

VodafoneWon the most awards in Opensignal's December 2025 Italy report, including fastest downloads, voice app experience and reliability.
TIMFormer state operator; best for consistent quality, video and gaming in Opensignal's tests.
WindTreBest 5G availability in Opensignal's tests and a strong choice in rural and mountain areas.
IliadCheapest of the big four, with the highest time on network in Opensignal's tests.

Coverage

4G and 5G are widely available in cities and tourist areas and generally reliable elsewhere, but expect short dropouts in train tunnels and some remote spots.

Wi-Fi

Hotels and cafes usually have Wi-Fi, and Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Italo high-speed trains offer free onboard Wi-Fi, although it can cut out in tunnels.

WhatsApp and FaceTime calls

No restrictions: WhatsApp, FaceTime and other app calls work normally over Italian mobile data and Wi-Fi.

Buying a local SIM

Photo ID (a passport) is mandatory, and some operators also ask for an Italian tax code (codice fiscale), which tourists can generate online from their personal details. Buy at operator shops in town rather than airports; tourist and prepaid deals run from about EUR 8 to 25 a month, and Iliad adds a EUR 9.99 activation fee.

Emergency number

112 (police and general emergencies), 118 ambulance, 115 fire

Tips for UK travellers

  1. Vodafone is the safe all-round pick after winning most of Opensignal's December 2025 awards; Iliad is cheapest if you don't mind the EUR 9.99 activation fee.
  2. Airport SIM desks, especially at Milan Malpensa and Venice, charge noticeably more than operator shops in town.
  3. Frecciarossa Wi-Fi is free (log in through the portal, sessions last 24 hours) but drops in tunnels, so don't rely on it for calls.
  4. The FCDO notes the 112 Where ARE U app can send your location to emergency services in some parts of Italy.
FAQ

Common questions

Do I need a codice fiscale to buy a SIM card in Italy?

Some operators ask for one, but tourists can generate it online from their name, sex, date and place of birth. You will always need your passport.

Is Wi-Fi free on Italian trains?

Yes, on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and Frecciargento and on Italo high-speed trains, though the connection can drop in tunnels.

What is the emergency number in Italy?

Call 112. The FCDO also lists 118 for an ambulance and 115 for the fire service.

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