Every provider in the ranking gets a score out of 10 on six criteria, and the overall score is their plain average. We score from what providers publish: plan pages, coverage lists, terms and app store listings. We do not run speed tests.
The six criteria
| Criterion | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Coverage | How many countries the global plan lists, and whether local and regional plans fill the gaps |
| Plan range | Validity periods, data sizes, unlimited options, top-ups on the same eSIM |
| Payment options | Cards, wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, crypto, and whether documents are required |
| Buying and setup | Where you can buy (app, web, messenger), in-app install guides, managing several eSIMs |
| Refunds and support | Written refund conditions, deadlines, replacement options, support hours and channels |
| Extras | Phone numbers, calls and SMS, hotspot rules, security tools, rewards |
How a score is set
Read the source pages
We open the provider's global plan page, terms and store listings and note each fact with the date.
Score each criterion
Each criterion gets a score from 1 to 10 against the same questions for every provider. When a provider does not publish a detail on its own pages, such as payment methods or refund terms, that criterion scores no higher than 6.5.
List strengths and weaknesses
Every provider gets pros and cons, and every provider has at least one con.
Recheck on changes
When a provider changes plans or terms, we reread the pages and adjust the score if needed.
What the score does not tell you
A score cannot tell you how fast a network will be in a particular city. Speed depends on the partner operator in that country and on local conditions. Treat the ranking as a shortlist, then check the provider's coverage list for every stop on your route.
See the results on the provider ranking, or read the full global eSIM guide.