Networks with eSIM: the best UK providers in 2025
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Our tests reveal which UK mobile networks are best for supporting eSIM on your phone, including device support, installation and activation. Last updated: 7th July 2025.
In our eSIM guide
eSIM providers in the UK
Advantages of eSIM
eSIM only plans
Which UK networks have eSIM?
All these UK networks support eSIM
Click a logo below to see how we rank their eSIMs
Lyca Mobile eSIMs are fast, flexible and cheap
For an eSIM on the full EE 4G and 5G network, Lyca Mobile are proving very popular with our readers. You can choose from an eSIM or physical SIM on every product, pay monthly or pay as you go.
We’ve ordered multiple eSIMs from Lyca over the years. The process is simple and slick. Complete your order, wait for the email and scan the QR code. We were connected to the network minutes after ordering.
If your phone has eSIM, it will work on Lyca. There aren’t restrictions on model support. You can also use your Lyca eSIM in a tablet or smartwatch (but note you can’t pair watches with phones on Lyca).
If you’re an existing Lyca Mobile customer with a physical SIM, you can switch to eSIM (by phoning their customer service). If you need a replacement eSIM or want to move it to another phone, you can do that too.
Altogether there’s a lot to like about eSIM on Lyca. Fast, flexible and with great prices on the EE network. They make a great first or second dual SIM to boost your coverage.
Useful link: Check your coverage on Lyca Mobile
Three are now doing a good job with eSIM
You can now get an eSIM with every Three product. Simply choose the option when ordering a pay monthly SIM only plan, phone contract, smartwatch or tablet, and now even pay as you go SIMs.
We’ve done it ourselves on SIM only. Their checkout still mentions SIM card delivery but once you select eSIM, it will email you a QR code to scan and an activation code. We got up and running on the network in minutes.
Existing Three pay monthly customers with a physical SIM can switch to eSIM but you have to contact Three customer service. If you joined Three on an eSIM and need a new one, you can do it online in your account.
Overall, we think Three are a great main network to join on eSIM. Take one of our exclusive hidden deals to get leading value. And their merger with Vodafone means you’re about to get a massive coverage boost.
Useful link: Three’s full eSIM support page
iD Mobile eSIM works well after the credit check
✔ Quick to activate, once order completeRead their eSIM guide
at idmobile.co.uk
(opens in new window)
We were also impressed with iD Mobile’s eSIM when we tried it for our review. Their credit check process does take a while but once approved, we received the QR to activate by email and got quickly up and running.
You can get an eSIM on iD either on a pay monthly phone, SIM only or even pay as you go. To get the best deal, check under our dropdown below, as they send us exclusive offers:
There’s no limit to supported devices for eSIM on iD. It’s the case that if your phone is capable of doing eSIM, then iD Mobile will support it. You can also unofficially use iD eSIMs in tablets but not smartwatches.
iD are a decent choice, either as a second dual SIM or as your main one. They’re cheap, they get you fast 5G via Three and have one of the biggest EU roaming allowances on the UK market.
Useful link: Read iD’s full eSIM support page
VOXI now offer eSIM and they worked well in tests
The lower-cost option from Vodafone, VOXI now support eSIM. We ordered one and the QR arrived after a couple of minutes, in a password protected PDF. Once scanned, the eSIM activated in seconds.
VOXI have named a list of devices that support eSIM. We think that’s them trying to be helpful. If yours isn’t on there, we don’t think it means that VOXI eSIMs won’t work on it. VOXI eSIMs work in tablets too.
We also like that you can do things like transfer your eSIM to a new phone or get a replacement in your online account, without having to manually talk to anyone. It’s nice and slick.
VOXI are a great network to join on eSIM overall. Big data allowances, decent pricing and coverage and speeds through the reliable Vodafone network.
Useful link: VOXI’s full eSIM support guide
Mozillion’s eSIM activation times are variable
We’ve joined Mozillion a couple of times for our network review. The eSIM experience has varied each time. The first time it actually took a couple of hours to come through. Possibly because they’re dependent on EE.
The second time, the whole thing was a lot faster. We received the email basically immediately and were up and running on the network in less than two minutes.
What really lets Mozillion down is managing your eSIM. You have to get in contact with them manually if you want to transfer your eSIM to a different phone or switch from a physical SIM to eSIM. You can’t do it online.
It’s great to have coverage through EE and fast data speeds. But one thing letting Mozillion down overall is it’s hard to manage your account once you’re a customer. Hopefully this will improve.
Useful link: Check Mozillion’s eSIM support page
Sky Mobile eSIMs make you do a bit of work
After an on and off start, Sky Mobile now fully support eSIM. After ordering, they didn’t email our eSIM. Instead you have to hunt it down within your online account and use an eSIM PIN they do send by email.
It’s a little bit of extra work if you’re used to everything just arriving by email. But once we scanned, we were connected to the network basically instantly. First calls, then data moments later. Very slick.
We also like how many options you have for managing your eSIM automatically online. You can transfer it to a new phone, get a new one if you accidentally delete it. Existing customers can swap to an eSIM too.
Sky are probably best as your main eSIM. It’s hard to see why you’d take them as second dual SIM, other than for the unlimited Sky TV app streaming every deal includes.
Useful link: Sky’s support page for eSIM
O2’s eSIMs are as slick as you’d expect
You can join O2 on an eSIM with any of their pay monthly phone contracts, SIM only or tablet and smartwatch deals. There is no eSIM on their pay as you go yet.
We ordered an eSIM with them to test it. You don’t receive the eSIM through in an email. Instead, you can find it when you sign in to your My O2. We scanned the QR code and our eSIM activated in seconds.
O2 are a bit clunky if you want to change anything about your eSIM. You have to go through their customer services to transfer an eSIM to a new phone, get a replacement eSIM or switch from/to a physical SIM.
But overall, there’s no denying O2’s quality. Their coverage is excellent around the UK and their data is reliable. They’re probably a bit expensive to run as a dual SIM though.
Useful link: O2’s guide to their eSIMs
Honest Mobile eSIMs were a bit of pain to start up
Our experience with Honest wasn’t as slick as other networks. The ordering process was fine and we got a QR code to scan immediately. But once you scan, your eSIM doesn’t activate automatically.
You then have to download the app or log in online to enter a PIN to activate your SIM and plan. Despite the eSIM being live and active immediately, it took half an hour for the plan to start working to make the eSIM usable.
Once you’re through that though, everything does work as expected. Honest are a particularly good choice as a second SIM in a dual SIM phone. They’ve got a really interesting product called Smart SIM.
This lets you access Three, O2, Vodafone and EE networks in the UK, with unlimited data for 500+ apps. It’s excellent as a way of boosting coverage. And you can use those apps in loads of worldwide countries too.
Useful link: Learn more about Honest Smart SIM
giffgaff only let you get an eSIM later
You can get an eSIM on giffgaff, once you’re an existing customer. But for now, you can’t actually join them directly on one. You still have to order a physical SIM card and switch it over to eSIM later.
We’ve done the process and it did work fine. It’s simple enough to do within your giffgaff account (just follow the process on their support page here).
The system at the moment does kind of defeat the main purpose of eSIM though. If you’re looking to join a network immediately, giffgaff probably aren’t the best choice.
That said, if you’re up for going through the process, giffgaff do offer some very nicely priced SIMs on the O2 network. They’d make a great coverage-boosting separate eSIM in a dual SIM phone.
Useful link: How to get an eSIM on giffgaff
EE are a convenient but expensive way to get an eSIM
If you join EE on a phone contract that supports eSIM, they will send a QR code with your handset to scan. On SIM only, the option seems to have gone away and you have to take a physical SIM.
It also means you can’t eSIM on any of EE’s pay as you go products. EE eSIMs do work with any device that supports the technology though. There’s no restricted device list.
Overall, we’d say EE aren’t a great choice for running an eSIM in a dual SIM phone. Their plans are extremely expensive and beatable via other providers on their network that support the technology.
Useful link: Networks that use EE for coverage
SMARTY, 1pMobile, Talkmobile don’t offer eSIM yet
There’s no eSIM on SMARTY yet. There tends to be a lag from Three offering something to SMARTY having it, so we expect to see eSIM from them soon. In the meantime, iD are a similar alternative with eSIM.
Talkmobile also only currently have physical SIMs. We’ve seen Vodafone add eSIM to VOXI in the last year. We’d assume Talkmobile (who they own) will be next in line for the treatment in 2025/26.
1pMobile don’t have eSIM yet either (see Lyca Mobile as an EE-based alternative with eSIM). Lebara don’t have it, you can only get physical SIMs. And also ASDA Mobile don’t yet have eSIM.
Useful link: Read our 1pMobile review
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Thanks, we'll send that out now. Please check your inbox for our email.eSIM benefits
Change networks faster and have multiple SIMs on the go
The first benefit of eSIMs is that they ideally remove any waiting time. You don’t need to wait for your physical SIM card to be delivered and you can install a new one whenever you like.
Imagine you’re fed up with your current mobile network and you’re able to just switch to another one by downloading the necessary information right away. eSIM allows that right now.
In theory this means networks will have to do more to keep their customers happy, or else risk losing them to another network. By improving the competition between networks, eSIMs should help improve quality of service.
And eSIMs make it easier to get the most out of a dual SIM phone. You can have a physical SIM and an eSIM in the same phone or potentially two eSIMs. This will help improve coverage or let you have two numbers.
Useful link: How text to switch works
There are now loads of specialist travel eSIM providers
If your main UK plan doesn’t cover roaming where you want to travel, you can now choose from a massive range of low-cost travel eSIM providers.
These can run alongside your main physical SIM if you have a dual SIM phone. They give you data to use in your destination, while you remain reachable via your normal phone number.
Many are priced at just a few pounds for short periods like weeks or a month. This will usually compare incredibly favourably against UK mobile network additional roaming charge.
We’re in the process of trying these providers out. In the meantime, if you need to go abroad soon, take a look at our roaming eSIM comparison page here.
Useful link: Our guide to the best networks for EU roaming
There are a few other benefits of eSIMs
As we've said above, eSIMs let you have two SIMs on the go at once. That means you can have one number for work and another number for personal use. And you can expand signal by joining two different networks.
It's also useful for travel. If you're going somewhere your main mobile provider doesn't include roaming, you can add an eSIM from a local provider and crack on using your phone there without as big extra charges.
The removal of physical SIM trays also frees up a bit of space in the phone for extra battery or will allow for slimmer and more flexible designs in future once physical SIMs go.
The big downside to eSIMs is that they make it harder to switch phones. You can’t just pop in your old SIM into your new phone, you’ll have to ask your network for another eSIM code and do the process all over again.
Useful link: Compare eSIM only plans
eSIM FAQs
It can be a bit of a pain dealing with scanning QR codes, fiddling with phone settings and activating things online. Some people might just prefer popping out a SIM tray and putting a physical SIM in it.
It’s better insofar as you can often order a plan and download an eSIM immediately without waiting for a physical SIM card to be delivered. There’s no particular network advantage like better data speeds or similar though.
Yes. You’ll need the internet the first time you add it to your phone but once it’s set up, it just carries on working in the background - whether you have internet or not.
The main downside is you can’t just pop out your SIM and put it in another phone if you need to, like if you run out of battery or damage your phone.
Yes. You’ll need to go through your relevant network’s lost/stolen SIM card process to get a new physical SIM card sent out to you though. They may disable your eSIM in the meantime too.
Typically not, if it’s for the same network, phone number and device at once. Networks do support physical SIM for your phone with an attached eSIM for smartwatches though.
No. There’s no mobile network in the UK that charges extra for an eSIM vs a physical SIM. Adding an additional smartwatch eSIM for example may cost extra though.
No. Your phone will specifically need to have eSIM as a feature. Many new phones built after 2020 have it by default. If you’re unsure, use a search engine for your model to find out!