Travel eSIM Speed Test Database: Real Speeds From Our eSIM Tests

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Travel eSIM providers tell you where their plans work, how much data you get and how long the plan lasts. What they won’t usually show you is how fast the eSIM actually is once you land.

The Travel ESIM Expert Speed Test Database is our searchable collection of real world eSIM speed tests, all personally carried out by us while traveling. It brings together 360+ tested results across different countries, providers and mobile networks, using the same hands on approach we use in our country guides and reviews. Every number in here comes from a test we actually ran in person, not from any other source.

UPDATE: 2nd July 2026: All new speed test results also include screenshot proof from the original speed test result, alongside the network, location, date and more

If you want the raw performance data, start with the database below. If you want our final recommendations, check the relevant country guide or our fastest eSIM guide for our overall rankings.

Search the travel eSIM speed test database

Use the filters below to compare travel eSIM speed test results by country and provider. You can sort by download speed, compare providers side by side and open each result to see the full test details.

What the speed database shows

Our speed test database was created just to show how fast each eSIM was when we personally tested it. In the main view, you can quickly compare:

• Provider
• Country
• Test network
• Download speed
• Upload speed

When you open the expanded details, you can also see:

• Whether the test was on 4G or 5G
• The source of the speed test – Ookla Speedtest app
• Confirmed local networks for that eSIM in that country
• Any extra tests we recorded on other local networks
• Ping (where available)
• Speed test screenshots (where available)

You’ll be able to see which providers were fast, which local network sat behind the result and whether the same eSIM performed differently on another network it had access to.

How to read the results

The most useful comparisons happen within the same country. Mobile infrastructure varies hugely from one destination to another, so a provider hitting 500 Mbps in Portugal and another hitting 180 Mbps in Thailand doesn’t automatically mean the Portugal eSIM is “better” in any way that helps you. The countries, networks and conditions aren’t the same, so the numbers aren’t really comparable.

What to look out for is more…

• Which eSIM providers were fastest in this destination?
• What network were they tested on?
• Did they perform well on more than one local network?
• Was the result on 4G or 5G?
• Does the same provider stay strong across other countries you care about?

It’s also worth remembering that a lower number doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad. Plenty of eSIMs outside the top of the speed rankings are still perfectly fine for maps, browsing, messaging and normal day to day use. Speed starts to matter more once you bring in hotspotting, video calls, uploads, heavy streaming or remote work.

A real example: BNESIM in Belgium

The easiest way to show why this page is useful is with a real tested example. In our Belgium testing, BNESIM delivered a strong result on Orange:

• 590 Mbps download
• 14.3 Mbps upload
• 5G connection

On its own, that’s already a useful (and strong) number, but the expanded details make it more interesting.

We also confirmed that BNESIM could also connect to Proximus in Belgium and recorded another test at:

• 465 Mbps download
• 11.9 Mbps upload
• 5G connection

So instead of just knowing that BNESIM works in Belgium, we know that

• BNESIM connected to more than one Belgian network
• Orange was the faster tested network in this case
• Proximus was also strong, just not quite as fast

The local network behind the result can change a lot.

Download speed, upload speed and why both work together

Download speed is the headline number most travellers care about and fair enough. It’s the one that affects what people notice first: loading maps, browsing, streaming, opening apps, scrolling social media and downloading content. However, upload speed is also one to watch, especially if you:

• Make video calls
• Upload photos or videos via email, social media, etc
• Send large files
• Post content while travelling
• Use cloud backups

Download speed gets the attention, but upload speeds support it all. An eSIM with a great download number and weak upload can still feel underwhelming if you rely on calls, content or remote work. Upload speeds can be more of a challenge too.

Test network and connection type (4G or 5G) are the other two pieces worth checking. They don’t explain everything on their own, but they often explain why one result was much stronger than another.

How and where we test eSIM speeds

We test travel eSIMs ourselves, in real countries, while we’re actually travelling. That’s the only source for anything in this database. We don’t pull numbers from elsewhere.

This list keeps growing as we travel and test more eSIMs, so if your destination isn’t here yet, check back soon. Looking at the pattern above, it’s mostly park benches, coffee shops and random travel corners doing the heavy lifting, which feels like an honest summary of how most travellers actually use their phones abroad anyway.

Where possible, we keep comparisons fair by testing multiple eSIMs in the same general area. If we’re comparing two providers in one destination, we’d rather not end up with one result from a strong spot in a park and another from a weak signal corner of a cafe across town.

Our testing method

Where possible, we run three consecutive Speedtest by Ookla tests for each eSIM in the same location, then check the results for consistency.

As a general rule, we want those three tests to sit within a reasonable range of each other. If the spread is too wide, usually past a 15% variance threshold, we treat that as a sign the connection wasn’t stable enough for a clean comparison. In those cases we retest, check the network again, or hold the result back rather than publish something we don’t trust.

During testing, we pay attention to:

• Provider
• Country
• Test network
• Download speed
• Upload speed
• Whether the test ran on 4G or 5G
• Confirmed networks in that country
• Whether the eSIM could be tested on another supported network
• How the eSIM felt in normal use outside the speed test itself
• Coming soon: Ping

We also keep using the eSIMs in real travel situations beyond the speed test, especially while writing country guides. A provider can post a great headline number and still feel shaky when you’re actually browsing, navigating or hotspotting. The number is part of the story, not the whole thing.

How to use this database before buying an eSIM

Start with the country you’re travelling to.

Look at the providers we’ve tested there and compare:

• Speed
• Test network
• Upload performance
• Whether the eSIM had access to other confirmed networks
• Whether the same provider stayed strong on a different network

If you already have a provider in mind, use the compare function to see how it performed across the countries you care about. Just don’t assume a provider that was excellent in one destination will be excellent everywhere. There is no one “Best eSIM” for every single country globally. Performance depends heavily on the local network and roaming setup in each country, and that changes a lot.

Visiting several countries on one trip? Check each one separately, especially for regional or global eSIMs. A provider might be great in Belgium, decent in France and noticeably weaker in Thailand. Country by country is the only honest way to evaluate that.

Once you’ve looked at the speed results, head to the relevant country guide to weigh them against everything else that matters: price, data allowance, validity, hotspot support, calls or SMS, refund policy, app experience and support quality. A very fast eSIM can still be poor value, and a slightly slower one can be the better overall choice depending on the trip.

Speed database vs fastest eSIM guide vs network database vs country guides

Use the speed database alongside our fastest eSIM guide, network database and country guides.

• The speed database answers: how fast was this eSIM when we tested it?
• The Fastest eSIM guide answers: which providers come out on top once we pull all our testing together into one ranking?
• The Network database answers: which local networks did this eSIM actually connect to?
• The Country guides answer: which eSIM would we actually choose for this trip?

The speed database is the raw data and the fastest eSIM guide is the summary of the data. Every result here feeds into that ranking, so if you’d rather skip the filtering and just see who we rate as fastest overall, that’s the page to go to. If you want to dig into a specific country, network or provider first, stay here.

A few limitations to keep in mind

There are a few limitations we need to remind you of, as nothing is certain in the world of speed testing.

• Speeds can change. Congestion, location, signal quality and time of day all affect mobile performance.
• One test doesn’t represent an entire country. We can’t test every airport, town, island, hotel and train route.
• 5G doesn’t automatically mean fast. Some 5G results are excellent, others are only average.
• Some networks may be confirmed but not fully speed tested. An eSIM can connect to a network without us having a clean comparable result for it yet.
• Untested doesn’t mean bad. If a provider isn’t shown for a country, it usually just means we haven’t tested it there yet.

Read this page as a strong guide based on our own testing, not a guarantee that you’ll get the exact same speed in the exact same spot.

Help us keep the database useful

We actively test travel eSIMs around the world, but speeds and roaming partnerships shift over time. If you spot a result that looks very different from what’s shown here, let us know.

Useful information includes:

• Country
• Provider
• Plan name
• Test network
• Download speed
• Upload speed
• 4G or 5G
• Phone model
• Date tested
• Screenshot, if available

We don’t treat public submissions as confirmed results automatically, but they help us decide what to retest next.

Frequently asked questions

What is an eSIM speed test?

An eSIM speed test measures how fast mobile data is performing on an eSIM at the time of testing. For travel eSIMs, that shows how the eSIM behaved on the local network it connected to in that country.

Are these advertised speeds?

No. Every result in this database comes from our own testing. We don’t copy provider claims or pull headline numbers from plan pages.

What is the test network?

The test network is the local mobile network the eSIM was connected to when we ran the speed test. This matters because some travel eSIMs can connect to more than one local network, and speed can change depending on which one your phone uses.

What are confirmed networks?

Confirmed networks are local networks we saw the eSIM could connect to during testing. In some cases we also recorded speed tests on more than one of them. In others, a network may be confirmed without a full comparable speed result yet.

Does the fastest result mean the best eSIM?

Not always. Speed matters, but it isn’t the only thing that decides whether an eSIM is a good choice. Price, data, validity, hotspot support, app quality and support all factor in too.

Why are speeds different between countries?

Because the local networks, roaming agreements, infrastructure and conditions are all different. A provider can be excellent in one country and only average in another.

Why did I get a different result from the one shown here?

Mobile data speeds move around constantly due to a ton of variables. Your location, signal, time of day, phone model and the network your phone happened to select can all change the result.

Is 5G always faster than 4G?

No. 5G can be faster, but it doesn’t guarantee a better result every time. A strong 4G connection can easily beat a weak or congested 5G one.

Why does upload speed matter?

Upload speed affects video calls, posting content, sending files, cloud backups and some hotspot use. If you work remotely or upload a lot while travelling, it’s worth paying attention to.

Should I choose an eSIM based on speed alone?

No. Use the speed database as one part of your research, then check the relevant country guide for the full recommendation.

Is this the same as the Travel ESIM Expert Network Database?

No. The speed database shows how fast each eSIM was in our tests. The network database shows which local networks each eSIM connected to. They’re related, but they answer different questions.

Related guides

Use these alongside the speed database:

• Fastest eSIMs for Travel
• Travel eSIM Network Database
• Best eSIM for Belgium
• Best eSIM for Portugal
• Best eSIM for Malaysia
• Best eSIM for the UK
• Best eSIM for the USA
• Best eSIM for the UAE
• Best eSIM for France
• Best eSIM for Hong Kong
• How To Troubleshoot eSIM Issues
• How To Hotspot With eSIM
• How To Use Dual SIM

Final thoughts

Most eSIM comparison content stops at plan specs: price, data, validity, and not much else. It rarely tells you how the thing actually performs once you’ve landed and you’re standing in an arrivals hall trying to load a map.

Use this database to narrow the field, open the details when you want more depth, then move to the country guide when you’re ready to choose, or check our fastest eSIM guide if you want to see how everything stacks up overall.