Are you heading to Ireland? You'll want to stay connected with friends and family as you travel around exploring castles and coastlines. What is the best Ireland eSIM for you? It depends on how you want to use your phone, how long you are going for, and what countries you visit. By the end of this post, you'll find the perfect eSIM for Ireland that matches what you need and be able to have it set up in minutes.
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The Quick Picks - Best eSIM for Ireland
I get it, you don't have time to read this whole post. So here is the quick answer.
Click on the links below to see the quick picks.
Just a reminder. Ireland and Northern Ireland are different.
Northern Ireland is part of the UK. For those eSIM check here.
In the case of the eSIMs for Ireland, we are talking about Ireland in green below. So if you are heading to Dublin, Cork, Galway etc., these are the eSIMs for you!
How Easy it is to Get Started with an eSIM
ESIMs are really easy to use and set up. You can set it up before you fly, and it will connect once you connect to the local tower of your destination.
Pick your destination & package
Buy your eSIM
Scan the QR and install
Activate your eSIM
Before You Buy Your eSIM for Ireland
Before you buy your Ireland eSIM, you need to consider a few things.
- Is your phone eSIM compatible and unlocked?
- Are you only travelling to Ireland or are you visiting other countries in Europe?
- Do you need call and texting?
- How long are you travelling for?
- How much data do you need?
Data Only vs Data, Call & Text?
Not all eSIMs allow phone calls and texting. That being said, using apps like Whatsapp or Skype for texting and calling are good alternatives and they use data.
The convenient thing about eSIMs is that your normal (physical) SIM card from your current provider can still be used to make and receive phone calls and texts. Keep in mind the cost of long-distance and international texts.
If you do get an eSIM with calls and texts, you will receive a new (temporary) telephone number with it.
In my experience, I've only used data in Europe and used both WhatsApp and Skype (with Skype credit) to call and text home, so I didn't need to calling and SMS on my European SIM card.
ESIM Credit Validity
eSIM credit validity is how long your eSIM is good for regardless of how much data you have used.
For example, if you have 5GB of data and your credit validity is 15 days, you have to top-up your eSIM (if it allows) or get a new one when the 15 days is up or if you use the 5GB.
Make sure to pick an eSIM for Ireland that covers you for the time you travel.
Is My Phone eSIM Compatible?
Before buying your Ireland eSIM, you have to make sure your phone is eSIM compatible.
Most newer phones (within the last 3 years) have the capability of running an eSIM. New phones, like the iPhone 14 don't have a physical SIM card anymore and only operate with an eSIM. This will be the trend moving forward.
Here is a quick list of the current eSIM-compatible phones and devices as of the date of this blog post. See the list.
Before you buy any eSIM, check with your provider that your phone is unlocked and that your phone is eSIM compatible.
Other posts that may interest you:
Best eSIM for Ireland with Data Only
My favourite Irish eSIM is the one from Airalo. I have suggested Airalo eSIMs to many personal friends and they have worked out great for all of us.
They are easy to set up, especially at the last minute. I've had two friends set them up the day before they left and hit the ground running. They aren't techie people either.
No Calling or Texting
Trust me this is not a big deal. I've travelled Europe a lot on just data. I used apps like Skype and Whatsapp to call back home, and even make local calls with Skype credit for pennies a minute.
The advantage of an eSIM with just data is that they are really cheap. A lot of bang for your buck here.
Tethering
You can use your Airalo eSIM for tethering or as a personal hotspot.
Main Benefits:
The Airalo eSIM for Ireland comes in 4 options.
Prices shown in USD
Fáilte Ireland eSIM 1GB
$5
Fáilte Ireland eSIM 3GB
$9
Recommended
Fáilte Ireland eSIM 5GB
$13
Fáilte Ireland eSIM 10GB
$22
Best eSIM for Ireland with Data, Calling & Text
Sim Options offers the Orange SIM card. Orange has been around for a long time in the physical SIM card market. They have now also moved into the eSIM market.
The Orange eSIM is not only for Ireland, but covers 50 countries in Europe!
Calling
This eSIM supports unlimited Calls within Europe. Depending on which plan you get they also offer a limited amount of calls (30 or 120 mins) to any country outside of Europe. This means you can still stay in touch with friends and family back home.
Texting/SMS
This eSIM supports Unlimited texting within Europe and a limited amount of texts to any country outside of Europe (200 to 1000 texts).
Tethering
You can tether another device to your phone and share the data.
Main Benefits:
The Orange eSIM for Ireland comes in two options.
Prices shown in USD
Recommended
Orange Holiday Zen eSIM
$29.90
*30 mins call and 200 texts outside of Europe
Orange Holiday Europe eSIM
$49.90
*120 mins call and 1000 texts outside of Europe