When I first started working remotely from different countries in 2018, staying connected meant hunting down a local SIM card at every airport, dealing with language barriers at carrier shops, and carrying a drawer full of tiny plastic SIMs. The arrival of eSIM technology genuinely changed that—no more physical cards, instant activation, and the ability to switch between carriers without tools or trips to a shop.

But after years of supporting digital nomads at ConnectPls who work from Lisbon one month and Barcelona the next, I’ve learned that while eSIMs solved several problems, they didn’t solve all of them. Whether an eSIM is actually the right solution depends entirely on how you work, how many devices you carry, and how long you stay in each place.

Why eSIMs Became Essential for Digital Nomads

The shift to eSIM made three things dramatically easier. First, you can activate a plan before you leave home and have working data the moment you land—no queue at the airport kiosk, no hoping the convenience store has the right carrier in stock. Second, you can keep your home number active on one line while running a local data plan on another, which matters when you still need to receive banking codes or client calls. Third, you’re not locked into whatever single carrier a physical SIM forces you to use.

For short trips—a week in Tokyo, two weeks in Bali—this model works brilliantly. You buy a data bundle, it runs out, you move on. The problem shows up when your travel pattern looks different: month-long stays, frequent moves between countries, or work that requires more than just your phone connected.

“ConnectPls has allowed us to work and travel across multiple countries. After trying several different providers over a year, we think it’s the best solution for digital nomads wanting to stay connected within Europe.”
— Jess & Marcus Woodbridge, verified ConnectPls customer

The Real Limitations Digital Nomads Hit with eSIM-Only Setups

Most eSIM plans are sold as single-country or regional bundles with a fixed amount of data. If you’re island-hopping across Southeast Asia or van-lifing through Europe, you end up buying a new plan every time you cross a border. That’s fine if you’re on a two-week holiday, but when you’re living this way, the constant top-ups and country switches get tedious.

The bigger issue is that eSIMs sit inside your phone. If you’re working from your laptop, sharing connection with a tablet, and maybe running a video call while your partner streams on their device, you’re either burning through your phone’s battery as a hotspot or buying multiple eSIMs for multiple devices. Neither option is practical when you’re trying to run a business from a co-working space in Medellín or a mountain cabin in the French Alps.

Then there’s the question of how much do portable WiFi cost versus stacking up several eSIM plans. A single device that connects up to 10 devices at once often ends up cheaper than multiple eSIM subscriptions, especially if you’re sharing connection with a travel partner or team.

When Portable WiFi Makes More Sense Than eSIM Alone

Portable WiFi subscriptions (properly structured ones) fill the gaps eSIMs leave. At ConnectPls, we ship a mobile router that’s included in your monthly plan, and it works across 160+ countries using Cloud SIM technology that switches between local operators automatically. There’s also a backup physical SIM slot if you need it.

Here’s where that model works better than eSIM: if you’re moving between France, Spain, and Portugal over three months, the device keeps working without new plans or activations. The Plus Europe package covers about 70 countries (including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Nordics, Turkey, and even Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand) with truly unlimited data and no fair-use throttling. That’s the kind of coverage digital nomads actually need when they’re not following a fixed itinerary.

It also solves the multi-device problem. You connect your laptop, phone, tablet, and e-reader once, and everything stays online without draining your phone or juggling hotspot settings. If you’re working from a campervan—motorhome broadband for France and Spain is a common search among van lifers—a portable WiFi subscription gives you stable connection while you’re parked at a vineyard or a coastal spot without cell towers nearby.

Delivery and Flexibility That Matches Nomad Timelines

One advantage ConnectPls users mention is that the device ships in 2-3 working days across Europe (4-5 in the UK), and delivery is included for most EU, UK, and US addresses. You activate it for the months you’re traveling and pause when you’re back home or staying put. Monthly billing without long-term contracts means you’re not paying for months you’re not moving.

If you cancel a mobile router plan within the first three months, there’s a £25 fee to cover shipping and return logistics. That’s the only commitment. Otherwise, you stop and start as your travel changes, which is how most digital nomads actually live.

Comparing Your Real Connectivity Options as a Digital Nomad

Real Use Cases: When Digital Nomads Choose What

If you’re flying into Paris for ten days to work from cafés, an eSIM makes perfect sense. If you’re spending three months moving between Lisbon, Porto, Seville, and Bordeaux while working full-time, a portable WiFi subscription saves you the hassle of topping up plans and keeps all your devices online.

We work with digital nomads who do repeat business trips. Renting pocket WiFi in Japan becomes simpler when it’s the same device and plan they used in Berlin last month. The Plus Europe package even covers Japan as a Group 1 country with 4G unlimited data (may slow after about 5GB per day, which is still more than most daily work requires).

For van lifers crossing Europe, the question of best pocket WiFi rental Europe usually comes down to whether the provider actually understands long-term travel. A monthly subscription model (where the device is included, not rented per day) fits the way you actually move. You’re not calculating daily rates or worrying about return deadlines when you change your route.

Australia, Spain, France: The Usual Questions

Common searches like cheapest pocket WiFi Australia or cheapest WiFi in France or how to get portable WiFi in Spain all point to the same underlying need: reliable connection without local paperwork, foreign bank accounts, or daily rental stress. A UK-based subscription service that ships to you and works across those countries solves that. You’re paying a predictable monthly rate, not worrying about per-day costs or dealing with return logistics in a city you’re leaving tomorrow.

Does Portable WiFi Work Anywhere?

This is the other question digital nomads ask: does portable WiFi work anywhere? The honest answer is no. Coverage depends on the provider’s network reach. ConnectPls covers 160+ countries, but performance varies by region. The Plus Europe package (70 Group 0 countries) is truly unlimited. Group 1 countries like Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and the UAE have 4G unlimited with potential slowdown after about 5GB per day. Group 2 countries like Brazil or Morocco give you 500MB per day at 4G, then drop to 256kbps.

That’s more honest than claiming “works everywhere perfectly.” The device uses Cloud SIM technology to connect across multiple local operators automatically, and there’s a backup physical SIM slot if you need to pop in a local card for redundancy in a remote area.

When to Stick with eSIM, When to Add Portable WiFi

If your work fits on your phone and you’re moving every few days through well-connected cities, eSIM-only is probably enough. If you’re running a full remote setup (laptop, calls, shared connection) or staying in each place long enough that buying a local SIM every week feels wasteful, adding a portable WiFi subscription makes your life simpler.

Many ConnectPls customers use both: eSIM for their phone line and WhatsApp, portable WiFi for their actual work devices. That combo gives you local presence and stable multi-device connection without the battery drain or constant hotspot fiddling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same portable WiFi device across multiple countries without buying new plans?

Yes, if it’s a subscription model with multi-country coverage like ConnectPls. The Plus Europe package works across about 70 countries with truly unlimited data (France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy, UK, Nordics, Turkey, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and more) without needing to activate new plans or swap SIMs as you move. You pay one monthly rate and the device connects automatically via Cloud SIM.

Is portable WiFi actually cheaper than using multiple eSIMs across several countries?

It depends on how many devices you’re connecting and how often you move. If you’re buying eSIM plans for your phone, tablet, and laptop every time you cross a border, a single portable WiFi subscription that connects up to 10 devices usually costs less and removes the activation hassle. For short single-country trips, a local eSIM is often cheaper.

How long does it take to get a portable WiFi device before a trip?

With ConnectPls, delivery is 2-3 working days across Europe and 4-5 days in the UK, included in your plan. You activate it before you leave home, so you have working connection the moment you land. That’s faster and less stressful than hoping to find the right SIM card at the airport or setting up a rental pickup in an unfamiliar city.