Updated October 18, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
esimatic vs Pelago by Singapore Airlines
esimatic
Higher score in this comparison
Pelago by Singapore Airlines
Where esimatic and Pelago by Singapore Airlines differ
| Compare | esimaticReviewVisitVisit | Pelago by Singapore AirlinesReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3.99 | €0.73 |
| Countries covered | from 200 | 48 |
| Reference plan prices | US 10GB/30d US$17.49; Japan 10GB/30d US$14.90; Europe 36-country 10GB/30d US$24.49; Global 10GB/30d US$82.89 | UK EUR 0.73; Europe EUR 1.25; US EUR 1.17; Japan EUR 2.36; Thailand EUR 0.97; global data top-up EUR 2.09 |
| Fair use policy | Day Plan: Daily 1 GB High Speed. Unlimited speed thereafter: 1.25 Mb/s. The daily data is renewed every 24 hours. | FUP applies; speed reduced to at least 128 kbps if the data limit is exceeded |
| Networks | AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, T Mobile | Singtel, StarHub, M1, KDDI, Frewie |
| Seller type | Mvno | Marketplace |
| Price per GB from | $1.49 | Not confirmed |
| 10 GB in Europe | $24.49 | Not confirmed |
| 10 GB in the US | $17.49 | Not confirmed |
| 10 GB in Japan | $14.90 | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Unlimited data (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes), 5G (Yes), Top-ups (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Networks: only esimatic offers AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, T Mobile.
- Networks: only Pelago by Singapore Airlines offers Singtel, StarHub, M1.
- Region: only esimatic offers Local, Global.
- Pricing model: only esimatic offers Budget.
- Pricing model: only Pelago by Singapore Airlines offers Marketplace.
Our verdict on each
esimatic
Esimatic suits short trip and long trip travellers who want one seller for local, regional and global plans rather than juggling carriers. Per GB from $1.49 is the figure to weigh, and unlimited data with hotspot sharing come as standard on a single profile.
Pelago by Singapore Airlines
Pelago by Singapore Airlines suits travellers who want a regional eSIM alongside the same trip's trains, ferries and transfers in one basket, with data from €0.73. You give up phone support, and unlimited data still sits under a fair use policy that slows speed past the plan limit.
Score breakdown
| Area | esimatic | Pelago by Singapore Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Reference plans price the US at $17.49 and Europe at $24.49, with per GB from $1.49. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.1Features run unlimited data, 5G and hotspot, unlimited data is a yes, and top-ups are available across local, regional and global plans. | 9.4HigherData from €0.73 against a site median of €4.18, with rail, ferry, tour and transfer bookings in the same basket. |
| Trust | 9.1HigherEsimatic Limited is registered in HK, sells as an mvno and offers a 30 day money back window. | 8.0Named operator Encounters Pte. Ltd. since 2021, with support limited to email, chat and help centre. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | esimatic | Pelago by Singapore Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 25 of 926 | 20 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 25 of 918 | 20 of 918 |
Where these facts come from
esimatic
- esimatic.com: 22 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Pelago by Singapore Airlines
- pelago.com: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | esimatic | Pelago by Singapore Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Local, Regional, GlobalCovers more | Regional |
| Features | Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot, Instant activation | Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot, Instant activation |
| Pricing model | Budget | Marketplace |
| Audience | Short trip, Long trip | Short trip, Long trip |
| Legal entity | Esimatic Limited | Encounters Pte. Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | Singapore |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2021 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | esimatic | Pelago by Singapore Airlines | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per GB from | $1.49below the median | Not confirmed | $2 |
| Countries covered | from 200highest quarter | 48below the median | 120 |
| 10 GB in Europe | $24.49highest quarter | Not confirmed | $12 |
| 10 GB in the US | $17.49above the median | Not confirmed | $15 |
| 10 GB in Japan | $14.90below the median | Not confirmed | $15 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Median across 492 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
esimatic
Pros
- Coverage of from 200 countries runs well above the 100 median across the brands on the site.
- The per GB rank of 52 of 118 is far stronger than the entry price rank of 125 of 296, so allowances are generous for the money.
- Unlimited data and hotspot sharing are both a yes, so one phone can hand out data to a laptop or a second device.
Cons
- Phone is not among its support channels (email, chat and help centre), while 73.5% of the brands on the site list a phone line.
- On entry price the rank is 125 of 296, so the headline figure sits well down the field.
- The fair use policy throttles the day plan once the daily high speed allowance is used, so unlimited data is not full speed all day.
Pelago by Singapore Airlines
Pros
- Data plans start at €0.73, well below a site median of €4.18, and listed prices differ by region so a UK or Europe run is cheap.
- unlimited data, 5G and hotspot puts instant activation, unlimited data, hotspot sharing and the newest mobile generation in the same plan, so setup before departure is quick.
- The Europe plan lists 48 countries on Singtel, StarHub and M1, which suits a multi-country rail trip with a known home network.
Cons
- Coverage is regional, and the Europe plan lists 48 countries against a site median of 100, so a trip that leaves the region needs a second provider.
- Unlimited data carries a fair use policy that slows speed once the plan limit is passed, and only 61.6% of the plans compared are unlimited at all.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, with no telephone line, while 73.5% of the sites compared do offer a phone line.
Who each suits
esimatic
Who it suits
- Travellers who want broad coverage and unlimited data from a single seller, and who weigh the per GB rate more heavily than the entry price of $0.79.
- US visitors who want their eSIM to land on AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless and T Mobile and to share that connection with a group.
- Anyone crossing several countries in one trip, since local, regional and global packages and short trip and long trip plans match both quick breaks and extended stays.
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who want the smallest possible first payment, since Superalink eSIM starts at $0.79 against the $3.99 entry figure here.
- Travellers whose route fits inside a shorter country list, where Cherry Roam covers 150 countries against from 200 countries here.
- Travellers who want a physical device to hand round instead of an eSIM profile, since Travelist WiFi rents hardware from ¥770.
Pelago by Singapore Airlines
Who it suits
- Travellers building a rail, ferry and transfer itinerary across a single region who want the eSIM in the same basket.
- Groups that want coverage on a named home network: Singtel, StarHub and M1 are listed, so the carrier is known before departure.
- People booking for short trip and long trip trips who want top-ups and instant activation rather than a counter collection.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone booking flights, hotels or a car alongside the data: Emirates sells flights, hotels, packages, car rental and parking, while tours, transfers and rail stays with rail, ferry, cruise, transfers, tours and lounges.
- Ski trips: Čedok lists ski alongside flights, packages, tours, cruise and rail, a range tours, transfers and rail does not reach.
- Travellers who want a packaged trip with visa help: Intrepid Travel builds on packages, tours, cruise, rail and flights, a different booking model from the tours, transfers and rail range here.
Questions about each
esimatic
What does an esimatic plan cost?+
Plans start at $3.99, and the cheapest per GB figure is $1.49. The published reference plans include the US at $17.49, Japan at $14.90 and a Europe-wide package at $24.49. Each arrives with a monthly validity window, so the per GB rate is the more useful number for a long trip.
Is the unlimited data really unlimited?+
Unlimited data is listed as available, but the fair use policy sets the pace. The day plan gives a daily allowance of high speed data, then unlimited data continues at a throttled rate, and the allowance renews on a rolling daily cycle. You keep browsing all day, just not at full speed once the allowance is spent.
Pelago by Singapore Airlines
How much do eSIM plans cost?+
Plans start at €0.73, against a site median starting price of €4.18, and listed prices differ by region with cheaper UK and Europe options plus a global data top-up. For heavy use, the site median of €1.49 per GB is the better yardstick, because a low entry price on a small allowance can still cost more per gigabyte.
Is the data really unlimited?+
Unlimited data plans are offered and listed in unlimited data, 5G and hotspot, but a fair use policy applies: pass the plan limit and speed drops to a floor that keeps messaging working rather than streaming. Treat unlimited here as generous rather than absolute, and pace heavy navigation days, because the throttle is the part that shapes a long trip.