When you search online for ‘the best eSIM in Canada’ or even ‘best SIM card for Canada travel’, you will get many results from companies claiming to have the best Canadian SIM cards for tourists. But, if you need a Canada SIM card to connect you with zero fuss and at an affordable price, have you considered Canada eSIM?
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This article will explain why an eSIM in Canada is a great option, not to mention how convenient it is to download it to your phone within minutes.
Long gone are the days of wasting precious vacation time trying to find local plastic SIM cards to get connected once you land in a new country.
There are a few reasons why eSIM Canada is a wise choice.
Let me explain why an Airalo Canada eSIM prepaid data pack will suit every traveller.
Here is everything you need to know about eSIM Canada
Table of Contents
What Is The Difference Between eSIM And A Physical SIM Card?
A physical SIM card is a microchip that can be installed or removed from your phone. It comes with your phone carrier’s plan.
eSIM is a digital SIM or version of your physical SIM card already encrypted in your device.
Many new smartphones we use today have an embedded microchip that allows you to install numerous eSIM profiles. It’s comparable to having several physical SIM cards with phone numbers and data plans loaded into your device simultaneously.
An eSIM lets you activate a cellular plan from a phone carrier without using a physical SIM.
Why Canada eSIM is a wise choice
Whether you’re a short-term or long-term visitor to Canada, you will benefit from buying an eSIM for Canada.
Here’s why:
- Quick and convenient to download within minutes
- eSIM Data Packs for Canada are affordable. View ALL available eSIMs for Canada here.
- Top up within seconds whenever you’re running low on data. Seriously, this is beyond convenient.
- When you buy eSIM for Canada, you don’t need to take out your physical SIM card – because it’s all digital. It means you can receive messages and calls from home with your original cell phone number while data roaming on your digital eSIM.
A few years ago, the best SIM card for visitors to Canada may have been more difficult to answer, as so many big companies compete. But, of course, they’re still out there.
However, the game-changer for Canada’s best SIM card is thanks to the advancement in technology.
Now you can ditch the physical SIM card and stay connected with eSIM in Canada.
Is Canada eSIM the best Canadian SIM cards for tourists?
eSIM offers you a choice, so it’s up to you to decide whether to use physical SIM or eSIM. To help you understand the benefits of each, read our post about eSIM vs Physical SIM – Which Is Better?
We prefer to stay connected in every country worldwide with eSIM. We love the convenience and the price, and from experience – the eSIM for Canada has a very reliable connection to local carriers nationwide.
How to Choose the Best eSIM for Canada?
If you’re planning to visit Canada, choose the best eSIM that suits your needs. The best eSIM depends on how long you plan to spend in the country.
And, before you choose, consider how much data you will use to get the best value from your e SIM card for Canada.
If you use wifi during your travels (hotels and restaurants usually offer these free of charge), go with a smaller plan, like the 2GB for $11, valid for 15 days.
Yet, if you depend on cell phone coverage for your data, you might want a plan that includes more data. We’d recommend either this 5GB for $18 eSIM or the 10GB eSIM for $35. Both data packs have 30 days of validity.
CHOOSE FROM 5 x ESIM DATA PACKAGES FOR CANADA:
- 1GB data for 7 days – $6 USD
- 2GB for 15 days – $11 USD
- 3GB for 30 days – $15 USD
- 5 GB for 30 days – $18 USD
- 10GB for 30 days – $35 USD
Are you travelling to other countries too? Consider a Global eSIM
Suppose you’re visiting Canada as part of a more extended trip that may include nearby countries such as the USA, Mexico, or even nations in Latin and Central America too.
In that case, a Global eSIM may be what you’ve been searching for.
These Global eSIM Data packs will save you lots of money and effortlessly connect you to multiple countries as you travel.
The Global eSIM is a product that we absolutely love! It covers a staggering 87 countries included in one eSIM, starting at just $9 for 1GB, valid for seven days.
The most significant data pack available is 20GB for $89, valid for 180 days!
CHOOSE FROM 5 x GLOBAL eSIM DATA PACKS
- 1GB data for 7 days – $9 USD
- 3GB data for 15 days – $24 USD
- 5GB data for 35 days – $35 USD
- 10GB data for 50 days – $59 USD
- 20GB data for 180 days – $89 USD
We use Global eSIM frequently as we travel the world. Even if it’s just a few days, it offers peace of mind to stay connected in 87+ countries. Now, that’s amazing.
- 🔥 Hot Tip: Book accommodation in advance on Booking.com
- 🎟 Book your attractions and tickets online: We recommend Viator and GetYourGuide
- 🔋 Stay charged: This Belkin Power Bank is essential!
- 📸 Join a Group Tour: Find some amazing Group Tours here
- ✅ Get Connected with an eSIM: Fast, easy and affordable! View easy eSIM options here
Is eSIM easy to download to my device?
Absolutely! But before you go ahead and buy an eSIM for Canada or even a Global eSIM for travel (that includes Canada), remember to double-check that your device will support eSIM.
You can see if it’s compatible by checking this list. In saying that, most devices will support eSIM, but a handful does not.
How to Download eSIM to your device
Once you have checked that your device supports eSIM, you can proceed.
Download the Airalo App, purchase your selected data package, and follow the steps to activate your Canada eSIM.
Before you arrive in Canada, be sure you switch from your home cell provider to the eSIM provider (there is a step-by-step guide on how to do it) once you purchase the eSIM.
Once your eSIM is activated, we recommend that you turn off data for all apps you don’t use daily, and apps that use a lot of data: Netflix, Instagram, and TikTok will eat up your data quickly.
Try to leave social media scrolling when connected to Wi-Fi at your hotel or cafe. Trust us; your data will last much longer.
Top up your eSIM within minutes if you deplete your current data limit
If you do use your data quicker than expected, it’s no problem. You can easily top up your eSIM with more data whenever you’ve reached your limit.
We told you it’s excellent!
Is eSIM reliable?
When you travel to Canada, you certainly still have the option to purchase a local SIM card at any major airport or phone store/provider.
Of course, this allows you to make calls and send text messages within Canada. It also gives you access to local calling rates and data.
Note: Most eSIMs include data only. So, if you want to make local calls within the country, you must use a calling app such as Whatsapp or Skype.
However, as long-term travellers, we travel the entire world staying connected with ESIM – and making calls and communicating with people has never been an issue.
We believe purchasing an eSIM card for Canada is a better option than buying a local SIM in Canada:
You can get organised with your eSIM before you depart home. Then, once you arrive in Canada, turn on your eSIM and connect!
To make the switch to eSIM even easier, don’t forget to claim your discount below:
Get $3 off your first eSIM purchase with our referral code
SAVE $$$ when you buy an eSIM for Canada or any other Airalo eSIM. Use our referral code: RACHEL5045 to get $3 off your first purchase!
Travel Tips & Inspiration
If you’re planning to visit Vancouver on your trip to Canada, don’t miss these 12 best cheap eats in Vancouver.
We love to share our knowledge about travel, and you may enjoy reading our best-ever travel tips and our ultimate packing list for travellers.
Read more about the 15 Best Places to Travel in the USA and the top 15 Places to Visit in South America.
For the food lovers out there, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies! And, if you’re more interested in history, these 30 amazing historical places in the world will fascinate you!
Or, perhaps these 21 Cheapest Countries to Visit Right Now is just the thing you’ve been searching for.
We’ve got a bunch of tips for how you can save money to travel the world, and even when you’re out there travelling, maybe these 20 jobs that PAY YOU to travel the world will help you travel longer. It worked for us, and we bet it can work for you too.
Finally, these top 6 travel hacks to save you money are great to read when planning your travels.
Check out the travel gear we use on the road, and for the products and websites we recommend to plan new trips, head to our Travel Resources Page.
Travel Planning Resources
✈️ Flights: We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation.
🏥 Travel Insurance: We recommend Heymondo (Get 5% off Heymondo) & SafetyWing
🚌 Transportation: Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.
🚘 Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.
👫 Group Tours: G Adventures OR compare multi-day tours worldwide with Tourradar.
📸 Day Tours & Trips: GetYourGuide & Viator are the only two platforms you need.
📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks, and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)
🎒 Luggage: Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or Samsonite Luggage Range.
🛄 What to Pack: Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good power bank. To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.
🐶 Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.
📶 Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use promo code NOMAD15 for 15% off ALL eSIMs (new Airalo users only) OR use NOMAD10 for 10% off ALL eSIMs (for existing Airalo users)
✅ Check out our Travel Gear and Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!