# UK eSIM: prepaid data for your trip to the UK

> UK eSIM plans from $4.64 on 4G and 5G networks. No ID, QR code in minutes, keep your home number. Buy before you fly to the UK.

Source: https://linkpals.store/esim/united-kingdom · Updated 2026-11-05

Get an UK eSIM and land in the UK with local data already working. Choose from 2 plans on 3, O2 and Vodafone, from $4.64. Buy online with no ID, scan the QR code before you fly, and keep your home number on for calls, WhatsApp and bank codes.

## UK eSIM plans

Pick a plan just for the UK, or a regional or global eSIM if the UK is one stop on a longer trip. Prices are in US dollars and you pay once. There's no contract and nothing to cancel.

### Regional plans

- 1 GB, 30 days (AUKUS): $4.64
- 3 GB, 30 days (AUKUS): $10.57

## Best eSIM for UK: which plan to pick

The best eSIM for UK is the one that covers your whole stay with data to spare. Maps, messaging and browsing use about 0.5 to 1 GB a day. Video calls, streaming and hotspot use more, so size up if you work on the road.

Good starting points for the UK, based on today's plans:

- **About a week:** 3 GB for 30 days, $10.57.

Visiting more than one country? A regional plan covers the UK and its neighbours on one eSIM, so you don't switch SIMs at every border.

## UK coverage and networks

LinkPaLS plans in the UK connect through 3, O2 and Vodafone. Your phone joins the strongest available network automatically, with 4G and 5G speeds where the network supports them.

| Network | Technology |
| --- | --- |
| 3 | 5G |
| O2 | 5G |
| Vodafone | 5G |

### Good to know before you go

- Signal drops in Underground tunnels and on some rural rail lines, so download offline maps before long journeys.
- Contactless and mobile wallets work almost everywhere, so a data connection keeps your payments and tickets in one place.

## UK eSIM prices

Typical prices for travel data in the UK today. You pay once in US dollars; there are no activation fees or monthly charges.

| Data | Valid for | Price | Per GB |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 GB | 30 days | $4.64 | $4.64 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $10.57 | $3.52 |

## eSIM vs local SIM vs roaming in the UK

|  | LinkPaLS eSIM | Local SIM card | Home roaming |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Set up | At home, before you fly | On arrival, at a shop or kiosk | Already on |
| ID needed | None | Usually a passport | None |
| Your home number | Stays on | Removed while the SIM is out | Stays on |
| Cost | From $4.64, paid once | Low, but only after arrival | Often the most expensive |
| Best for | Most travelers | Long stays with a local number | Very short emergency use |

For most trips to the UK, an eSIM gives you the best of both: local data prices without losing your number, and no time spent finding a SIM shop after a long flight.

## How to set up your UK eSIM

### Set up your eSIM for the UK in three steps

1. **Choose your plan.** Pick the data and days you need for the UK. Check your phone first on our [compatible phones](https://linkpals.store/compatible-devices) list.
2. **Install before you fly.** Your QR code arrives by email within minutes. Scan it on Wi-Fi and keep the new line switched off.
3. **Connect on arrival.** When you land in the UK, turn the LinkPaLS line on, set it as your mobile data line and switch on data roaming for that line. See [how to activate eSIM](https://linkpals.store/help).

## Why use an eSIM in the UK

- **Online at the airport.** No SIM kiosk, no queue, no swapping cards on arrival in the UK.
- **Your number stays on.** Calls, SMS, WhatsApp and bank one-time passwords keep working on your home SIM.
- **No roaming bill.** Prepaid data at a fixed price, paid once.
- **No ID or KYC.** You only need an email address.
- **Share your data.** Turn on hotspot for a laptop or a travel partner.

An UK eSIM costs less than most home-carrier roaming packs, because you pay local data rates instead of roaming fees.

## Regional and global plans that include the UK

- [AUKUS eSIM](https://linkpals.store/esim/aukus): 3 countries, from $4.64

## Frequently asked questions

### Which eSIM is best for the UK?

The best eSIM for the UK covers your whole trip with enough data. For the UK alone, pick a country plan; for several countries, a regional or global plan saves switching. LinkPaLS has 2 plans that work in the UK.

### Is an eSIM worth it for the UK?

Yes, if your phone supports eSIM. You land with working data, skip the airport SIM counter, avoid roaming charges and keep your home number active.

### How much does an UK eSIM cost?

LinkPaLS plans that work in the UK start at $4.64 and go up to $10.57 for larger or longer plans. You pay once, with no contract.

### Which networks does the UK eSIM use?

It connects to 3, O2 and Vodafone in the UK, with 4G and 5G where available.

### Can I buy an eSIM for the UK before I travel?

Yes, and we recommend it. Buy and install it at home on Wi-Fi, then turn it on when you land. Most plans start counting days from the first connection in the UK.

### Will WhatsApp keep working in the UK?

Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your home number on your physical SIM and uses your LinkPaLS data to send and receive.

### What are the downsides of an eSIM?

Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked, most QR codes install only once, and LinkPaLS plans are data-only, so you call through apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime.