7 days
cheapest available plan
eSIM79500 MB · 7 days
$2.29
Airalo3 GB · 7 dayseSIM79 is 65% cheaper
$6.50
HolaflyUnlimited · 7 dayseSIM79 is 92% cheaper
$27.50
Nomad1 GB · 7 dayseSIM79 is 43% cheaper
$4.00
Best eSIM for Turkey 2026 — full guide & price comparison
eSIM79 is the cheapest way into Turkey ($2.29 for 500 MB · 7 days) and the cheapest for short unlimited plans (7 days at $21.16 vs $24.50 at Airalo and $27.50 at Holafly), while Airalo is cheaper on large 30-day bundles (5 GB at $10.00 vs $11.00).
Last updated:
Quick answer
- Cheapest Turkey plan: eSIM79 at $2.29 (500 MB · 7 days), vs $4.00 at Airalo (1 GB · 3 days), $11.90 at Holafly (Unlimited · 3 days) and $4.00 at Nomad (1 GB · 7 days).
- Short unlimited plans are cheapest at eSIM79: 3 days at $10.15, 5 days at $15.72, 7 days at $21.16, 10 days at $29.63 — below both Airalo and Holafly for every one of those durations.
- Airalo is cheaper for long trips and big bundles: 5 GB/30 days at $10.00 vs $11.00 at eSIM79, and unlimited 15 days at $39.00 vs $43.55.
- Holafly sells unlimited only and caps hotspot sharing at 1 GB per day; it has no small plan for a short trip.
- All four are data-only eSIMs: your own number keeps working for calls and texts alongside them.
Full comparison table
Four providers for Turkey on the same criteria. The eSIM79 column is only highlighted visually — every figure is as shown on the official sites.
| Criterion | eSIM79 | Airalo | Holafly | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Turkey plan | $2.29500 MB · 7 days | $4.001 GB · 3 days | $11.90Unlimited · 3 days | $4.001 GB · 7 days |
| 5 GB / 30 days | $11.005 GB · 30 days | $10.005 GB · 30 days | Unlimited only | $9.005 GB · 30 days |
| 10 GB / 30 days | $16.9310 GB · 30 days | $15.5010 GB · 30 days | Unlimited only | $13.0010 GB · 30 days |
| Unlimited / 7 days | $21.16Unlimited · 7 days | $24.50Unlimited · 7 days | $27.50Unlimited · 7 days | No plan for this duration |
| Unlimited / 15 days | $43.55Unlimited · 15 days | $39.00Unlimited · 15 days | $50.50Unlimited · 15 days | No plan for this duration |
| Unlimited plans | Yes (1 to 15 days) | Yes (3 to 30 days) | Yes (3 to 30 days)hotspot capped at 1 GB/day | Listed, no price shown |
| Network & top technology | 5GTurk Telekom · Turkcell | 5GTurk Telekom (Avea) | 5GTurkcell | 5GAvea |
| Countries covered | 209 countries & regions | 200+ countries | 200+ countries | Not stated on the Turkey page |
| Keeps your own number | YesData only — your number stays | YesData only — your number stays | YesData only — your number stays | YesData only — your number stays |
| Payment methods | Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, in-app wallet | Not stated on the page | Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal | Not stated on the page |
| Arabic interface | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Loyalty / points | Flame Coins | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page |
| Wallet & split payment | Yes — wallet first, card covers the rest | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page |
| In-app support | Live chat inside the app | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page |
| App Store rating | New app — not enough ratings yet | 4.6 / 5 (100,386 ratings) | 4.8 / 5 (36,822 ratings) | 4.8 / 5 (16,295 ratings) |
Prices by trip length
The cheapest plan each provider sells for that duration, with the data amount under the price — a low price without the data size means nothing.
15 days
cheapest available plan
eSIM792 GB · 15 days
$6.64
Airalo5 GB · 15 dayseSIM79 is 30% cheaper
$9.50
HolaflyUnlimited · 15 dayseSIM79 is 87% cheaper
$50.50
Nomad
No plan for this duration
30 days
cheapest available plan
eSIM795 GB · 30 days
$11.00
Airalo5 GB · 30 days9% cheaper than eSIM79
$10.00
HolaflyUnlimited · 30 dayseSIM79 is 85% cheaper
$73.90
Nomad3 GB · 30 days45% cheaper than eSIM79
$6.00
Which one should you pick?
Choose eSIM79 if…
- Your trip is short or your usage is light: plans start at 500 MB · 7 days for $2.29 — nothing comparable exists at Airalo or Holafly.
- You want unlimited for a few days (3 to 10): eSIM79 is below both on every one of those durations.
- You want a full Arabic app with a USD wallet: top up once, buy several eSIMs for the family, and payment splits between wallet and card automatically.
- You like earning on every purchase: Flame Coins come off your next orders.
Choose a competitor if…
- You need 30 days and a big bundle (5 to 50 GB): Airalo is cheaper in that class (5 GB at $10.00, 50 GB at $34.50).
- You want unlimited for 15 or 30 days: Airalo sells it for $39.00 and $69.00; eSIM79 has no 30-day unlimited plan right now.
- You pay with PayPal: Holafly accepts it, eSIM79 does not.
- You prefer an app with tens of thousands of ratings: Airalo (100,386 ratings) and Holafly (36,822) have been around longer; eSIM79 is a new app with no rating history yet.
eSIM79 vs the competition in other destinations
Most popular destinations — cheapest plan (≥1 GB, ≥7 days) at each app. eSIM79 is cheapest in 135 of 195 countries in the full comparison.
Pick a country, see who is cheapest
Ranked from cheapest to most expensive — updates instantly with the country and category.
Turkey
- 1eSIM791 GB · 7 days · 5G · Turk TelekomCheapest$3.38Buy on eSIM79
- 2Nomad1 GB · 7 days · 5G · Avea+18% vs cheapest$4.00Source
- 3Airalo3 GB · 7 days · 5G · Turk Telekom (Avea)+92% vs cheapest$6.50Source
- 4HolaflyUnlimited · 7 days · 5G · Turkcell+714% vs cheapest$27.50Source
United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Kuwait
Bahrain
Oman
Jordan
United Kingdom
France
Italy
SpainSpeed & network
The highest network technology each app advertises for the country, and the local operator its eSIM runs on. Figures come from the providers' pages and directly from eSIM79's suppliers.
eSIM79
5G
on Turk Telekom · Turkcell · Vodafone · Avea
Airalo
5G
on Turk Telekom (Avea)
Holafly
5G
on Turkcell
Nomad
5G
on Avea
5G: up to ~1 Gbps in theory, 100–400 Mbps in practice · 4G/LTE: up to ~150 Mbps in theory, 20–60 Mbps in practice · real speed depends on the operator's coverage where you are and network load.
How to activate an eSIM79 eSIM in Turkey
Four steps from download to data. Installing needs a stable connection — do it at home before you fly.
1
Get the app and pick the destination
Install eSIM79 from the App Store or Google Play, then search for Turkey. The app checks eSIM support on your phone automatically.
2
Choose a plan and pay
Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or wallet balance. The eSIM is ordered from the carrier the moment you pay, and the install details arrive within minutes.
3
Install before you travel
Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → scan the QR code. It installs once only; don't interrupt the process and don't delete the eSIM afterwards.
4
On arrival, turn on data roaming
Select the eSIM79 line for mobile data and enable "Data Roaming" on it. Validity starts at the first network connection in Turkey, not at purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Is eSIM79 cheaper than Airalo in Turkey?
It depends on the plan. At 7 September 2026 prices, eSIM79 is cheaper on the smallest plan ($2.29 vs $4.00) and on 7-day unlimited ($21.16 vs $24.50), while Airalo is cheaper on large 30-day bundles such as 5 GB ($10.00 vs $11.00). The table above has every figure.
What is the cheapest eSIM for Turkey?
Among the four providers compared here, the cheapest plan is 500 MB · 7 days from eSIM79 at $2.29; the cheapest at Airalo is $4.00 (1 GB · 3 days) and at Holafly $11.90 (Unlimited · 3 days).
Do I need internet to activate the eSIM?
Yes. Installing needs a stable connection (Wi-Fi or your current data) because the phone downloads the eSIM profile from the carrier's server. Install at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Does it work across all of Turkey or only Istanbul?
The eSIM runs on a national network covering cities and tourist regions across Turkey, not just Istanbul. Actual speed follows the local carrier's coverage where you stand, like any local SIM.
What happens to my own number?
Nothing. The eSIM79 eSIM is data-only and runs next to your primary SIM: you keep receiving calls and texts on your number and use the new line for internet. The same is true of Airalo, Holafly and Nomad.
Can I get a refund?
Because the eSIM is bought from the carrier the moment you pay, sales are final in normal cases. But if the eSIM could never be installed or never connected because of a fault on our side or the carrier's, email support@esim79.com within 14 days with your order reference and screenshots; after verification you get a free replacement eSIM or a full refund — your choice.
Does hotspot / tethering work?
Yes on eSIM79 plans; unlimited plans may be slowed after the daily fair-use allowance, and GB plans are consumed by whatever you share. Holafly caps sharing at 1 GB per day.
When does validity start?
At the first network connection in Turkey — not at purchase and not at installation. You can buy and install days before the trip without losing a day of the plan.
Is my phone eSIM-compatible?
iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most recent phones. Make sure the phone is carrier-unlocked. The app checks compatibility automatically, and the full guide is on the installation page.
Are there limits on using an eSIM in Turkey long-term?
For tourism, nothing is required. For long stays (months), Turkey may require registering your phone's IMEI to keep using any local SIM; that applies to every provider, not just eSIM79.
Ready for Turkey?
Get eSIM79, pick Turkey, and you'll be online before the plane lands. Plans start at $2.29.
Or browse every Turkey plan on the website →Note: the comparison above is by price — on speed the picture is even clearer
The table and the picker above rank the apps by price only. Ranked by speed the result would be clearer still: eSIM79 does not buy the cheapest network in each country, it contracts with the strongest operators there, which is why its eSIM runs on 5G in 118 countries, on the highest technology available among the compared apps in 145 of 202 countries, and in 161 countries connects to more than one local network, switching automatically to the strongest signal where you stand instead of being tied to a single operator. The network you actually get is named in every row — we don't hide it behind the words "great coverage". Bottom line: eSIM79 competes on price and on speed, and is the cheapest in 135 of 195 countries at 7 September 2026 prices.
Why travellers trust eSIM79
- 209 countries and regions with local, regional and global eSIMs, priced live from the catalogue — no screenshots, no promises.
- Instant delivery: the eSIM is ordered from the carrier the moment you pay and the install details arrive within minutes; validity starts at the first connection at the destination, not at purchase.
- Secure payment via Stripe by card, Apple Pay and Google Pay with 3-D Secure, plus a USD wallet you top up once and buy from for the whole family.
- A clear guarantee: if the eSIM could never be installed or never connected because of a fault on our side or the carrier's, you get a replacement eSIM or a full refund within 14 days — your choice.
- A full Arabic app in 12 languages, live support inside the app, and the Flame Coins programme that gives part of every purchase back.
- Transparency: every competitor price on this page has a source link and a date, and every empty cell means we could not find the figure — we don't invent.
eSIM79 — travel eSIM for 209 countries: cheapest in 135 of 195 countries among the best-known apps, on 5G networks in 118 countries, with instant delivery and a 14-day replacement-or-refund guarantee.