The cheapest way to get high-speed mobile data while traveling in Iceland is to use a prepaid eSIM, so don’t waste your money on the expensive international data bundle on your current plan (Iceland is expensive enough). So, what’s the best eSIM for Iceland? I’ve crunched the numbers and compared multiple data plans to help you find the best option for your trip.
Quick AnswerPreferred eSIM Retailers Simulation Options and HolaFlyBoth companies offer multiple, affordable prepaid data plans that work well in Iceland and will cost you around $2.5 to $4 per day.
In this article I will go into more detailed and specific recommendations, so keep reading to learn more.
Problems with multiple international data packages
Your current mobile provider likely has an international data plan option that they’d be happy to sell you… but there are two big drawbacks:
- It’s expensive.
- Their service is often slow, inconsistent, and has limited data caps.
- Some plans automatically charge you the second you use any data abroad.
Let’s take a look at some of the plans offered by major US mobile carriers:
the AT&T International Day Ticket AT&T Passport costs $10 per day to sign up for. The company also offers the more expensive AT&T Passport plan, a monthly plan that costs either $70 per month for 2GB of data or $140 per month for 6GB. Then the company charges a hefty additional fee of $30 per GB. Verizon They also offer a $10 per day pass, but they downgrade you to 3G speed after 2GB per day.
T-Mobile T-Mobile offers many of its customers free “unlimited” international data… but you’ll be down to almost unusable 2G speeds after you hit 5GB of data. T-Mobile gives you the option to pay more to get 5GB at better speeds but then you’ll be charged extra.
On the other hand, eSIM data plans from orange or HolaFly This will cost you around $2.5-5 per day, so you are paying 2X-5X by sticking with your current carrier’s international data plan.
For more in-depth information on international data plans and eSIM, check out my guide on How to use smartphones and data plans in Europe And my country eSIM Data Plans Guide in Europe.
My Guide to the Best eSIM Data Plans for Iceland
Like most countries in Europe, Iceland has a few major local mobile operators that primarily serve the local population:
These carriers have reasonable prices but usually only offer eSIM plans to their customers with long-term contracts.
So you have two options if you want mobile data in Iceland – either buy Physical SIM Card Once you arrive in Iceland, purchase a prepaid eSIM card online that is specifically designed for short-term visitors. Tourist-friendly eSIM plans are more convenient because you won’t have to mess with registration, weird translation issues, international payment processing issues, etc.
In this guide, I will focus on eSIM plans that are suitable for tourists.
How to Evaluate a Prepaid eSIM Plan
Each eSIM plan listed below is slightly different, so pay attention to the specifics. Let’s take a look at the main things to consider:
- Data allowance: Prepaid data plans typically give you a set amount of mobile data (i.e. 5GB, 10GB, 30GB, etc.), but other plans give you unlimited data over a set period of time (5 days, 15 days, 30 days, etc.).
- Plan length: eSIM data plans can be valid for anywhere from about 5 days to 90 days once activated.
- Mobile hotspot tethering: Many eSIM plans don’t allow data tethering, so you can’t always use your phone as a mobile hotspot.
- Voice calls and SMS: Some eSIM plans include data only, which means they don’t include voice calls or SMS. This isn’t a huge issue since you probably won’t be calling people, but it’s something to consider.
- Note: You can still use iMessage to text between iPhones but you can’t text between iPhones and Android phones. Or you can download WhatsApp to text over data (which most Europeans do).
Orange Holiday Europe 50GB eSIM for Iceland
- price: $59.90 (Check Simulation Options For details)
- Data: 50GB (sometimes they give you 30GB of data)
- Service speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 120 minutes outside Europe.
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside Europe.
- Credit validity: 28 days
- Data binding: Allowed
- It can be used on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
- This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can be used anywhere in Europe.
- The service works everywhere in the European Union.
Need a lot of data? Consider the new version Orange Holiday Europe 50GB eSIM Data Plan It’s an enhanced version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM card. It includes 50GB of data and is valid for 28 days (compared to 14 days with the standard plan). This eSIM also comes with a bunch of features you don’t find on other plans—including international voice calls and texting (it gives you a real French phone number that works anywhere in Europe).
The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also lets you use your phone as a mobile hotspot so you can take advantage of that extra data allowance. Orange is also one of the largest mobile phone companies in Europe, so you’ll always get great coverage and fast data speeds.
Holafly Iceland Unlimited Data eSIM
- Unlimited Data Rates (Check) HolaFly For details)
- 10 days: $34
- 15 days: $47
- 20 days: $54
- 30 days: $64
- 60 days: $84
- 90 days: $99
- Service speed: 5G/4G/LTE
- Call Coverage: no one
- Short message: no one
- Data binding: no
- Data service works everywhere in the EU
HolaFly It is a new eSIM provider based in Spain that I have used previously while in Europe and had a great experience with. HolaFly It sells Denmark-specific plans and Europe-wide data plans.
Holafly plans are unlimited and available for 5 to 90 days – so you don’t have to over- or under-purchase for your own trip.
Holafly isn’t an actual mobile carrier but rather leases bandwidth from local mobile provider networks – the only downside is that you’re likely to get lower priority (i.e. slower speeds) on the local network during peak times.
Holafly does not allow data tethering in most cases, so you won’t be able to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.
You can read my in-depth article. HolaFly Review To learn more about my experiences using Holafly.
Bouygues European eSIM with Europe Connectivity
Bouygues Telecom is a major French telecom company and has recently released its own prepaid eSIM data plan to compete with the popular Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. I have personally used Bouygues prepaid data plans during previous trips to Europe and had good experiences.—Read my book Bouygues European eSIM Review To learn more.
There’s a lot to like about the Bouygues My European eSIM plan—most notably that it comes standard with 30GB of data, unlimited calls/texts within Europe, and data tethering. I also like that the Bouygues eSIM plan is valid for 30 days, so it’s a great option for longer trips.
- price: $44.90 (Check Simulation Options For details)
- Data: 30 GB
- Data binding: Allowed
- Service speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and international calling credit
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and international SMS credit
- Credit validity: 30 days
- Phone number: This eSIM comes with a French phone number.
- CoverageAnywhere within the European Union (except Switzerland)
Orange Holiday Europe eSIM 30GB for Iceland
- price: $49.90 (Check Simulation Options For details)
- Data: 30 GB
- Service speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 120 minutes outside Europe.
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside Europe.
- Credit validity: 14 days
- Data binding: Allowed
- It can be used on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
- This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can be used anywhere in Europe.
- The service works everywhere in the European Union.
the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM Data Plan The eSIM plan is another excellent one because it comes with a lot of features you don’t find in other plans – including international voice calls and texting (it gives you an actual French phone number that works anywhere in Europe).
This plan includes 30GB of data and lets you use your phone as a mobile hotspot. Orange is one of the largest mobile phone companies in Europe, so you’ll always get great coverage and fast data speeds.
The potential downside to the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is that it’s only valid for 14 days once activated, so it’s not great for longer visits (but you can always buy a second plan).
I have used the Orange Holiday Europe plan while travelling across Europe and it has worked well. Read Orange Holiday Europe Review To hear more.
Orange Holiday Zen eSIM for Iceland
- price: $29.90 (Check Simulation Options For details)
- Data: 15 GB
- Service speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 30 minutes outside Europe.
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 200 outside Europe.
- Credit validity: 14 days
- Data binding: Allowed
- It can be used on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
- This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can be used anywhere in Europe.
- The service works everywhere in the European Union.
the Orange Holiday Zen eSIM Card This is the budget version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan mentioned above. It comes with 15GB of data and fewer minutes and SMS, otherwise it’s the same as the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan.
Many users will use more than 15GB of data while traveling for a week or two, but light data users may easily use less than 15GB of data during a typical 10-14 day trip.
Additional tips for using your phone in Iceland
I have written a number of articles about How to use smartphones and data plans in Europe and How to Buy Prepaid Data Plans in Europe But here are some more helpful tips for using your phone in Denmark and across Europe.
buy portable battery charger
I highly recommend carrying a portable battery charger to ensure your phone doesn’t run out of battery in the middle of the day. I use PowerCore by Anker Portable chargers are popular because they are small and affordable but there are multiple options.
Take steps to reduce mobile data usage.
It’s very easy to consume data without even knowing it because many apps keep using data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat, podcast apps, Google Photos… These apps can all use data constantly throughout the day without you even knowing it. That’s why it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.
Block data for specific apps in your settings
You can disable data access for individual apps in your phone’s settings. I disable data access for every app except for things like Google Maps or other apps that I’ll use frequently. Pay special attention to podcast apps that automatically download episodes and photo backup apps (Google Photos, iPhoto/iCloud, etc.).
Download offline maps
Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data, so Google Maps works fairly well offline (but not all functions work). Here’s a good example: YouTube video That explains everything.
Be careful when using free Wi-Fi networks.
Many free Wi-Fi networks are not secure, so you run the risk of your data being read while you are using it, meaning thieves can see everything you do. So only do things like banking etc while using mobile data.
More Europe travel tips from seasoned travelers
Check out more of my favorite articles to help you plan your trip to Iceland and the rest of Europe:
James Vess is the founder of The Savvy Backpacker and author of The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to Europe on a Budget. He has been blogging about budget travel in Europe since 2010.
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