Provider Review : Why Orange's Holiday eSIM is a Great option for trips to Europe

A few years back, eSIMs were a foreign concept for the majority. Except for a relatively small group of the tech-forward, most considered the idea of using an embedded SIM strange and even unrealistic.

But since then, the telecommunications market has changed and evolved, and now it is clear that eSIMs are the future of connectivity for travel. As traditional SIM cards (especially when traveling) are progressively phased out, more and more providers are releasing venturing into creating eSIM plans targeted at tourists and travelers.

So how can you know which one is the best? We've done the work for you!

In our review series, we're testing and trying the most popular eSIM providers on the market. Let's jump in and see whether Orange's eSIM is as good as they boast!

What is an eSIM and why is it great for travel ?

If you've never used an eSIM and don't know what the hype is all about, don't worry! It's not too late to join the party. An eSIM works exactly like your traditional, physical SIM card. However, it's directly built into your phone, which means you don't have to swap it out each time you want to change your plan.

While there are numerous benefits to using an eSIM, the biggest is its convenience. The setup process is near-instant and requires less time and effort than a traditional SIM. You can simply buy a plan online (through esims.io), scan a QR code, follow the instructions, and, voila, you're good to go! 

Plus, you can skip those terrifying roaming fees while adventuring around the globe. It sounds great, doesn't it? To read more about the benefits of eSIMs, you can have a look at our FAQ here.

Before you go ahead and purchase an eSIM plan, make sure to check whether your device supports it. In most cases, it does, but it's still better to be safe than sorry. See the full list here.

Orange – the quality pick for a reasonable price

If you're living in Europe, chances are you've heard about the star of our today's article – Orange.

The multinational telecommunications corporation has over 250 million customers and is the third-largest mobile network operator in Europe.

While that's impressive as it is, the company also prides itself on having one of the best networks worldwide. Considering this, their eSIMs should be great too, right?

Well, we're about to find out!

Purchasing the eSIM

After you've decided to test an eSIM, you'll have to find a place to purchase it. On esims.io, you can compare different plans and packages, making the entire process much easier.

All you have to do is type in your destination (in my case, Latvia) and see several options pop up. Since there is quite a big choice, it's best to use filters. This will help you find the most relevant plans based on your budget and other needs.

esims.io's a comparison platform, but happens to be selling directly a few plans by Orange.

The one I tried is 'Orange Holiday Zen'. For €19.9 before taxes, it offers 12GB of data valid for 14 days.

Sold by esims.io

Data

30 GB

Validity14 day(s)

39 countries

Data and Phone number*

Orange - by eSIMs.io - Orange Holiday Europe

$32.10

$1.07/GB

Out of stock

Learn more ›

I usually don't need too much data, so I've decided to pick their plan, 'Orange Holiday Zen.' For $29,90, I'll get 8 GB of data that should be used within two weeks. What's great about this plan is that it includes unlimited calls and texts from Europe to Europe and comes with a French phone number – not something you often see. Likewise, this is a regional eSIM, which means you can use it in 39 different countries. A great pick for travelers!

Orange offers other eSIM plans sold on esims.io that are mostly targeted at France, and Europe.

Sold by esims.io

Data

50 GB

Validity14 day(s)

39 countries

Data and Phone number*

Orange - by eSIMs.io - Orange Holiday Europe 50GB

$42.81

$0.86/GB

Learn more ›

Sold by esims.io

Data

12 GB

Validity14 day(s)

39 countries

Data and Phone number*

Orange - by eSIMs.io - Orange Holiday Zen

$21.30

$1.78/GB

Learn more ›

Like with other providers, you must first fill out your contact and delivery information (the eSIM is delivered by email) before you can purchase the eSIM.

Orange's setup instructions & eSIM information delivery email after purchasing on esims.io

I paid by credit card and my eSIM was instantly delivered. Within a couple of seconds, I received a QR code in my e-mail, plus instructions on how to setup and activate it (both for Apple and Android devices). So far, so good!

My setup experience with Orange Holiday

Switching to Orange's eSIM was a breeze. After I scanned the QR code, all I had to do was swipe a few times, and that's it! Just remember to turn on data roaming, and you're good to go. 

Since this Orange eSIM also includes free calls and messages, I received a temporary French number.

This is great for travelers who don't want to worry about expensive calls during their abroad adventures.

Overall, I give this setup experience 10/10. I've tested a couple of eSIMs before, and this has been the smoothest process of all. Even if you don't consider yourself tech-savvy, you'll easily understand what to do.

What was it like to use the eSIM

Now comes the fun part – testing the eSIM! Using Orange's plan, I could roam on the LMT network. That's good! Latvia – where I'm currently based – has three major telecommunications companies, and LMT is, arguably, the best of the three.

The data speaks for itself.

One thing to note though, which is quite obvious, is that my data roaming happened through France (Orange servers are located in France), which means that my internet traffic was routed through France and that my IP address was French !

Orange's internet traffic is routed through France while I am in Latvia

Despite being 2000KM away from Paris I could tell that Orange's eSIM worked great and latency.

Safari, Mail, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are my favorite apps on my phone, and they all worked without any glitches. The quality of the videos was great – in fact, if I didn't know, I couldn't tell I wasn't using my regular SIM. Most of the time, I had access to a 4G network; however, 5G was at times available, too.

Conclusion

I'm no stranger to eSIMs. I've tested a bunch of different plans, so I have something to base my opinion on. Of all the eSIMs I've tried, Orange's stands out as the best. The entire process, from purchase to setup, has been seamless, and my overall experience has been excellent. 

If you're new to eSIMs, opting for one of Orange's plans might be a great choice. They are incredibly user-friendly, plus you can take advantage of free calls and messages! Something you won't often see with other providers.

The only downside is the price and package diversity. There are not many plans to choose from, meaning you might buy more data than you need (and therefore overspend your budget). 

Nevertheless, you won't regret picking Orange if you're looking for a package with a decent amount of data. The company offers quality eSIMs, which are especially convenient for travelers wishing to explore several countries.

Don't forget to check out our other review articles (Nomad, YohoMobile, and more) to find the best eSIM provider for your specific needs!