URL: https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/canada/
Buy: https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-canada/
Source: eSIM World (esimworld.co.uk)
Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimworld.co.uk/author/
Updated: 25 October 2026
Prices: in pounds (GBP) at the rate of 31 Oct; the site shows the rate of the day.

# Canada SIM card or eSIM from the UK: roaming costs and what to choose

The best eSIM for Canada from the UK depends on your network. Roaming in Canada on UK networks runs from 1p per MB on Tesco Mobile to £26.50 for 7 days on EE. Sky charges £2 a day (checked on 24 October 2026, [Tesco](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming), [EE price guide](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf)). Our Canada eSIM from the UK is £8.99 for 3 GB over 7 days, data only, on Bell.

This site is not affiliated with any of the networks mentioned here; we sell eSIMs. [How we compare](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-we-compare/)

You have four ways to stay connected in Canada: your UK network, a travel eSIM, a local Canadian SIM or a pocket Wi-Fi. You may not need an eSIM: several UK plans include Canada (below), and Tesco's 1p per MB covers light use. Our GB and days plans run 3 to 30 days, so a stay of over a month needs a second purchase.

Canada is a family trip and a summer one. Of 629,000 visits to Canada by residents of Great Britain in 2025 (ONS), 59.8% were to friends and relatives. The average stay was 16.5 nights, and 49.8% of visits fell in July to September ([ONS Travel trends 2025](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2025)).

[See our Canada eSIM plans](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-canada/)

## Is roaming free in Canada on my UK network?

Only on a few plans: Vodafone Global Roam, Three Complete, O2 Ultimate, Volt and selected Plus, and Sky VIP Diamond. Every other plan pays by the day, the pass or the MB (all rows checked on 24 October 2026).

| UK network | What it charges for Canada | Condition | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|
| [EE](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf) | £5.50 for 24 hours, £26.50 for 7 days | Rest of World Zone 1; uses your UK allowance, runs from purchase; no data without a pass | 24 October 2026 |
| [Vodafone](https://binaries.vodafone.co.uk/gbnnsauqav4t/3ynRZJ6BvgpyYyPmoIAHX0/8db1261c02e0d6da7ce38860abd57b86/evo-paym-charges-guide.pdf) | £8 a day of use; included on Global Roam | Zone C, pay monthly from 11 August 2021 (£6 on earlier plans); 25GB fair use | 24 October 2026 |
| [O2](https://www.o2.co.uk/international/data-roaming-bolt-ons) | O2 Travel £7 per 24 hours; Data Roaming Bolt Ons £6 for 1GB, £13 for 3GB, £18 for 5GB | Zone 1, Pay Monthly only; included on Volt, selected Plus and Ultimate; no bolt-on, no data | 24 October 2026 |
| [Three](https://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming-and-calling-abroad/roaming-abroad/go-roam) | £8 a day; passes 3 days £17.50, 5 days £29.75, 7 days £42, 14 days £84; included on Complete | Around the World Extra; £8 for Lite and Lite+ joined or upgraded from 18 December 2025; not on PAYG | 24 October 2026 |
| [Sky Mobile](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming) | £2 a day; nothing on Sky VIP Diamond | Roaming Passport Plus; a call you make, a text you send or over 10MB starts 24 hours | 24 October 2026 |
| [Tesco Mobile](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming) | 1p per MB | Region 3, pay monthly and pay as you go | 24 October 2026 |
| [Asda Mobile](https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad) | 20p per MB | USA / Canada / Australia / NZ / Switzerland group | 24 October 2026 |
| [giffgaff](https://www.giffgaff.com/roaming) | 20p per MB, or a travel data add-on | Zone A; add-ons from £4, Canada's price in the app only | 24 October 2026 |
| [SMARTY](https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf) | 25p per MB | Roaming 2, from out-of-plan add-ons; none loaded, no data | 24 October 2026 |
| [Lebara](https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/roaming-add-on/p/44000067.html) | 4GB for £5 over 8 days, 7GB for £10 over 15 days | Zone 4 add-on | 24 October 2026 |
| [Lyca Mobile](https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/roaming/) | 2GB for £10 over 7 days, 4.5GB for £20 over 14 days | PAYG country pass from top-up credit; up to 5 in 30 days | 24 October 2026 |
| [iD Mobile](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming) | 2GB for £5 over 1 day, 10GB for £20 over 5 days, 20GB for £35 over 10 days | Roam Beyond add-on | 24 October 2026 |
| [Talkmobile](https://talkmobile.co.uk/booster-details) | 500MB for £5 over 1 day, 5GB for £20 over 8 days, 8GB for £30 over 15 days | World Holiday Booster, Zone B; no data without one | 24 October 2026 |
| [VOXI](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/articles/what-are-global-roaming-extras-and-how-do-they-work----2cc71973-bb4a-436f-a6cd-1497441ed34d) | 2GB for £16 over 8 days, 4GB for £26.60 over 15 days | Global Roaming Extra with minutes and texts; counts from purchase | 24 October 2026 |
| [BT Mobile](https://www.bt.com/help/mobile/going-abroad/buying-mobile-data-add-ons-to-use-abroad/bt-mobile-travel-data-pass-add-on) | Travel Data Pass, 500MB for 24 hours | BT's pages give three different prices, so we print none | 24 October 2026 |

Tesco says roaming "now costs only 1p per MB of data for the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand", on pay monthly and pay as you go. That makes 1,000MB £10; at Asda's or [giffgaff](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/giffgaff/)'s 20p, 100MB is £20 (our arithmetic).

Network passes use your UK allowance on your own number; ours is a separate data-only eSIM. Full rates: [Tesco](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/tesco-mobile/), [EE](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/ee/), [Vodafone](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/vodafone/), [Three](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming/three/).

## A fortnight in Canada: the sums

Fourteen days of use in Canada come to £28 on Sky, £53 on EE and £112 on Vodafone (our arithmetic, checked on 24 October 2026). Our 30-day plan with 5 GB is £15.99, data only.

| Network or plan | 14 days of use (our sum) | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lebara | £10 | 7GB add-on valid 15 days |
| O2, Pay Monthly | £18 for 5GB | one Zone 1 Data Roaming Bolt On, data only |
| Lyca, pay as you go | £20 | 4.5GB pass valid 14 days |
| Sky, not VIP Diamond | £28 | 14 days at £2 |
| EE, Zone 1 | £53 | two 7-day passes at £26.50 |
| Three, Lite and Lite+ from 18 December 2025 | £82.25 | three 3-day passes and one 5-day pass; the 14-day pass is £84 |
| O2 Travel, Pay Monthly | £98 | 14 days at £7 |
| Vodafone, pay monthly from 11 August 2021 | £112 | 14 days at £8 |
| Tesco | £10 per 1GB used | 1p per MB |
| Our Canada plan, data only | 5 GB, £15.99; 10 GB, £19.99 | one 30-day plan each |

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Sky, EE, Three, O2 Travel and Vodafone charge per day of use, not per day away. For Three we tried every mix of its 1-, 3-, 5-, 7- and 14-day options; the mix shown comes to the least.

For a week, Sky comes to £14 on your UK allowance and number. Ours is £8.99 for 3 GB, data only, at a price fixed before you fly.

## Which eSIM for Canada? What we look at

Four questions decide the best eSIM for Canada, in this order. Does your plan already include Canada? How many days will you use the phone? How much data a day? Do you need calls on your UK number?

| Our Canada plan, data only | Data per day (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|
| £8.99, 3 GB, 7 days | about 429MB |
| £15.99, 5 GB, 30 days | about 167MB |
| £19.99, 10 GB, 30 days | about 333MB |

Maps and messaging fit in 167MB a day; video calls, hotspot and tethering do not. Check your data counter for a week at home first.

The plan data lists one network, Bell, on 4G (LTE), and names neither Rogers nor Telus. Check 4G/5G coverage on Bell's map; in the Rockies and national parks signal drops on any network, so download offline maps.

The plan starts on first connection to a network in Canada: install before you travel, at home over Wi-Fi ([how to install an eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/how-to-install-esim/)). The plan notes keep one eSIM active for at most 90 days (catalogue checked on 24 October 2026). Our longest plan is 30 days, so a six-week summer means two purchases.

## Canadian SIM card or travel eSIM?

Canada SIM card vs eSIM comes down to timing and your UK number. A Canadian SIM comes on a Canadian network's own terms. We have not checked them, so we quote no price or registration step; bring your passport.

In a single-SIM phone it replaces your UK SIM, and with it your bank texts. A travel eSIM on an eSIM-[compatible phone](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-compatible-phones/), installed at home, connects as you land and leaves your UK SIM in place. We hold no pocket Wi-Fi prices.

Banks text one-time passcodes to your UK number, and a travel eSIM has none: see [keeping your UK number](https://esimworld.co.uk/help/keep-your-uk-number/) and [roaming or eSIM](https://esimworld.co.uk/roaming-or-esim/). For entry rules, read the [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advice for Canada](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/canada).

## Canada and the USA on one trip

We sell no USA and Canada combined plan: our catalogue lists them as separate data-only plans, so a trip to both means two installs. On 12 of the 15 UK networks the two share a zone and a price (checked on 24 October 2026). Three, SMARTY and Lyca split them.

| UK network | USA | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Three | Around the World, 7-day pass £30 | Around the World Extra, 7-day pass £42; an Extra pass also covers the USA |
| SMARTY | Roaming 1, 10p per MB | Roaming 2, 25p per MB |
| Lyca Mobile | 3GB for £10 over 7 days | 2GB for £10 over 7 days, a separate pass |

Three's £8 daily charge is the same in both bands. The [USA plans](https://esimworld.co.uk/esim-united-states/) are on their own page.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best SIM card for travel to Canada?

There is no single best eSIM for Canada: it depends on your UK network. Vodafone Global Roam, Three Complete, O2 Ultimate and Sky VIP Diamond include Canada. Elsewhere Tesco charges 1p per MB, Sky £2 a day and EE £26.50 for 7 days (checked on 24 October 2026). For data alone, a travel eSIM installed at home; for calls on your own number, keep your UK SIM.

### Do Canadian iPhones support eSIM?

Check the phone, not where it was sold. A phone takes a travel eSIM if it has eSIM and is unlocked: dial *#06# and look for an EID. A phone locked to a network will refuse the eSIM.

### What is the disadvantage of eSIM?

A travel eSIM is data only: no UK number, no calls, no texts. It needs an eSIM-compatible, unlocked phone and Wi-Fi to install. Your UK SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank texts, so the phone runs two lines.

*Sources are linked in the text; reviewed by Nadezhda Semenova. For the terms of your own contract, check with your network.*

More country guides: [SIM cards and eSIMs abroad](https://esimworld.co.uk/sim-card/).

## Sources

- [Tesco Mobile roaming](https://www.tescomobile.com/roaming)
- [EE price guide, 31 March 2026 (PDF)](https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/terms-and-conditions/price-plans/mobile/sim-only-price-plans/_ee-pay-monthly-standard-and-non-standard-price-guide-31st_March_2026_1.1.pdf)
- [Vodafone pay monthly Charges Guide (PDF)](https://binaries.vodafone.co.uk/gbnnsauqav4t/3ynRZJ6BvgpyYyPmoIAHX0/8db1261c02e0d6da7ce38860abd57b86/evo-paym-charges-guide.pdf)
- [O2 data roaming Bolt Ons](https://www.o2.co.uk/international/data-roaming-bolt-ons)
- [Three Go Roam](https://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming-and-calling-abroad/roaming-abroad/go-roam)
- [Sky Mobile roaming](https://www.sky.com/shop/mobile/roaming)
- [Asda Mobile roaming](https://mobile.asda.com/roaming-calling-abroad)
- [giffgaff roaming](https://www.giffgaff.com/roaming)
- [SMARTY price guide (PDF)](https://cdn.smarty.co.uk/files/SMARTY-Price-Guide.pdf)
- [Lebara roaming add-ons](https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/roaming-add-on/p/44000067.html)
- [Lyca Mobile roaming](https://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/roaming/)
- [iD Mobile roaming](https://www.idmobile.co.uk/help-and-support/roaming)
- [Talkmobile World Holiday Booster](https://talkmobile.co.uk/booster-details)
- [VOXI Global Roaming Extras](https://www.voxi.co.uk/help/articles/what-are-global-roaming-extras-and-how-do-they-work----2cc71973-bb4a-436f-a6cd-1497441ed34d)
- [BT Mobile Travel Data Pass](https://www.bt.com/help/mobile/going-abroad/buying-mobile-data-add-ons-to-use-abroad/bt-mobile-travel-data-pass-add-on)
- [FCDO: Canada travel advice](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/canada)
- [ONS Travel trends 2025](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/articles/traveltrends/2025)