Orange Travel eSIM review (2026): Is it a good eSIM?

We installed the Orange Travel eSIM on an iPhone 17 Pro Max,  tested it, and ran a speed test in Antwerp. Is it as good as they say?

It is a good fit for travellers on a Europe trip who want a REFUND SAFETY NET and an operator they know. It is not for people who upload a lot of video or want the cheapest data.

We have tested 9 different eSIMs in Europe, so we know what to compare it to. Here is our honest Orange Travel eSIM review.

We tested the 3 GB Belgium plan in Antwerp. The Europe plan pricing below comes from the app and our price comparison.

Orange Travel eSIM review: pros and cons

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER before buying Orange Travel.

👉 DID YOU KNOW: A 2025 Proximus Global survey found that only 33% (!) of consumers have heard of eSIMs. So you are already ahead of the curve!

Who should buy the Orange Travel eSIM?

How does Orange Travel work?

This is the process, from buying to being online.

Step 1: Check that your phone is eSIM compatible

Do this first, especially with an older phone. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. We used an iPhone 17 Pro Max.

You can check if your phone is eSIM compatible through their website.

Step 2: Register your eSIM (with your passport)

Here is the part that surprised us. You must register your eSIM, which also includes uploading a copy of your PASSPORT, in accordance with French legislation.

It is the first time we have come across this, and it feels a bit bureaucratic to upload your passport for a travel eSIM.

Step 3: Install before you travel

The app recommends installing your eSIM a few hours before your trip, so you have internet as soon as you arrive.

Make sure you are connected to the internet during installation. Then tap Start installation and Install now. The app connects to the network provider, and your iPhone detects a new mobile plan.

From start to finish, it took us about 2 MINUTES.

👉 KEEP IN MIND: Do NOT delete your eSIM during installation. The app warns that it cannot be reinstalled.

Step 4: Turn it on when you arrive

At your destination, select your Orange Travel eSIM for Mobile Data, Calls and Texts, and enable Data Roaming.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Give your eSIM an obvious name in your phone settings. We used “Orange travel esim”, so we never mix it up with our main SIM.

The +48 phone number

Our eSIM came with a +48 number, which is the country code for Poland.

Orange Travel eSIMs can come with different regional prefixes depending on the package, including +48 (Poland), +33 (France) or +34 (Spain), so the prefix does not have to match the country you are visiting.

We believe the numbers are issued by different Orange operators in the group. It does not have any consequences for which country your number is issued in.

Orange Travel network coverage and speed

Orange Travel uses the Orange network, and we know that network well.

Alexander used BASE for years in Belgium while studying. BASE runs on the network of Orange, and it worked VERY WELL. He travelled across Europe on it.

The only downside: sometimes, when you cross into another country, the connection would DROP FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. So you are driving with offline maps.

👉 INSIDER TIP: Download offline maps before you cross a border by car. It saves you when the signal disappears.

We also ran a speed test with Ookla’s Speedtest app, on 4G with Orange Belgium in Antwerp.

The speed is OKAY. The download is good enough for everything you want to do on your phone, like maps, WhatsApp, social media, and streaming.

The upload is SLOW. So it is not ideal if you want to upload videos or photos.

Orange Travel pricing

We tested the 3 GB Belgium plan. It costs US$10.99 (€9.50) for 7 days, VAT included. That is about US$3.66 (€3.15) per GB. It also includes 200 SMS and 60 minutes of calls to the world, plus unlimited hotspot.

The 20 GB Europe plan is where the value is. It costs about US$1.45 (€1.25) per GB, against US$3.66 (€3.15) per GB on the small Belgium plan.

⚠️ The app also shows 50 GB and 100 GB plans for 30 days, plus data-only unlimited plans (up to 25 days).

Orange Travel vs Sim Local vs Nomad vs Holafly

Prices below are for 20 GB unless noted, checked September 2026.

• Orange Travel (US$28.99): wins if you want a big operator, a refund safety net, and a phone number.
• Sim Local (US$23.50): wins on price and also uses the Orange network. Read the Sim Local review in our best eSIMs for Europe post.
• Nomad (US$22.10): wins if you simply want the cheapest 20 GB.
• Holafly: If you want unlimited data on every plan and a super simple “set and forget” eSIM, read our Holafly eSIM review.

Orange Travel refund policy

The refund is the feature we see least often in the eSIM world, so we are surprised to see that Orange promises a 100% REFUND on an unused eSIM.

However, Orange states that they will CHECK that you have not used the eSIM before they give you a refund.

We did not request a refund ourselves. We are relaying Orange’s stated policy, so check the terms in the app before you buy.

The app shows your data usage, and it is only updated every 15 minutes.

👉 INSIDER TIP: If you are not sure about your trip yet, do not switch on the eSIM or use any data until you are.

Orange Travel customer service

We always test customer service to see how quickly we reach a REAL PERSON and not a bot.

We tried Orange’s support center, which was indeed human and available 24/7.

In the chatbot, you just fill in some details about your query, and it forwards the conversation to an employee.

We like that, as sometimes with AI bots you get stuck in a loop without having your problem solved.

Would we use Orange Travel again?

Yes, we would use Orange Travel again for a trip in Europe.

The install took two minutes, the download speed is good, and we know the Orange network from years of using BASE. It is also nice to have a phone number and a refund if the trip falls through.

Buy the 20 GB Europe plan if you want a refund safety net, an operator you know, and a hotspot for two. Skip it if you upload a lot of video or you just want the cheapest data.