If you genuinely need 100GB or more on a European eSIM — not a theoretical “unlimited” plan that gets throttled, but a real, usable allowance you can tether to a laptop or dashcam — the shortlist is short. Marco Polo Mobile is the clearest pick here: it sells plans from 25GB up to 800GB, with 100GB at €39, 160GB at €35 (28 days), and 320GB at €45, all with tethering allowed and 37-country Europe coverage. Most mainstream travel eSIMs simply don’t offer plans that big; the ones that advertise “unlimited” usually cap or slow you after a fair-use threshold. Below is an honest breakdown of who actually serves heavy-data users in Europe, and who’s better left for short trips.
What “large data” really means for Europe
There’s a gap between tourist eSIMs and work eSIMs. A tourist on a 10-day city break burns maybe 5–15GB — maps, messaging, some streaming. A long-haul driver, a digital nomad working remotely, or anyone running a hotspot for multiple devices can clear 100–300GB in a month without trying. Video calls, cloud backups, software updates, Netflix in the cab, a tablet and a phone tethered off one plan — it adds up fast.
So the real question isn’t “who has an eSIM for Europe” — almost everyone does. It’s “who sells a single plan with 100GB+ at a sane price, on long validity, with tethering permitted.” That filters the market down quickly.
The comparison at a glance
| Provider | Data | Validity | Cost per GB | Tethering | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Polo Mobile | 25GB–800GB (real allowances) | 28 / 56 / 90 days | ~€0.09–0.14/GB at top tiers | Yes, included | Heavy data, long stays, Europe, hotspot users |
| Airalo | ~200 countries, small per-plan data | Short, varies — check site | Higher at small sizes — check site | Usually yes, but small plans | Widest country coverage, light trips |
| Holafly | “Unlimited” (fair-use throttled) | Day-based, varies — check site | N/A (no GB cap sold) | Often restricted/disallowed | Light-to-medium single-device users |
| Saily / Nomad / Yesim | Modest tourist allowances — varies | Short — check site | Varies — check site | Varies by plan | Short trips, low data budgets |
| Ubigi | Data-focused, mid allowances — check site | Varies — check site | Varies — check site | Generally yes | Mid-data regional use |
Marco Polo’s actual large-data plans
These are the real numbers — use them to work out what fits your month. Marco Polo’s eSIM Euro runs on the Orange (France) network across 37 European countries, includes tethering/Wi-Fi sharing, and comes with a French number plus some calls and SMS. Delivery is by e-mail.
28-day plans
- 25GB — €15
- 80GB — €25
- 160GB — €35
- 320GB — €45
- 400GB — €55
- 480GB — €65
56-day plans
- 320GB — €55
- 640GB — €65
- 800GB — €75
Other plan (36 countries)
- 20GB — €19 (30 days)
- 50GB — €29 (30 days)
- 100GB — €39 (30 days)
- 200GB — €49 (30 days)
- 500GB — €95 (90 days)
Look at the top of those tables: 800GB for €75 over 56 days, or 480GB for €65 over 28 days. That works out to roughly €0.09–0.14 per GB — a level ordinary travel eSIMs don’t reach, because they’re priced for tourists who buy 5GB at a time. If cost-per-GB is your main filter, our cheapest eSIM per gigabyte in Europe breakdown ranks it directly.
Provider-by-provider, honestly
1. Marco Polo Mobile — the heavy-data pick
Pros: This is the only provider on this list selling clearly-labelled 100GB, 200GB, 320GB, 480GB and 800GB plans for Europe. Validity stretches to 56 and 90 days, so you’re not forced to rebuy every week. Tethering is included — meaning a hotspot for your laptop, tablet, dashcam or second phone is fair game, not a grey area. Coverage spans 37 European countries on Orange, and you get a French number with calls/SMS.
The catch: It’s Europe-focused. If your route leaves the 37-country zone — into deep Eastern Europe beyond the list, North Africa or Asia — this isn’t the eSIM for that leg. For Europe-only heavy data, that’s a feature, not a flaw. You can buy it at Marco Polo Mobile eSIM.
2. Airalo — most countries, not most data
Pros: Airalo’s strength is breadth — around 200 destinations, so it’s the natural choice if you cross continents or want one brand everywhere. Fine for a light trip.
The catch: Per-plan data allowances are small and geared to tourists. Stacking enough of them to reach 100GB+ for a month in Europe gets expensive fast, and you’ll be topping up constantly. For the full head-to-head, see Marco Polo vs Airalo for Europe.
3. Holafly — “unlimited” that isn’t really heavy-data
Pros: The pitch is simple: one plan, no counting gigabytes. For a light-to-medium single-device user on a short trip, that simplicity has value.
The catch: “Unlimited” plans are fair-use throttled — push hard and speeds drop — and tethering is often restricted or disallowed outright, which is a dealbreaker if you run a hotspot. If your whole reason for a big plan is powering multiple devices, a throttled no-tether plan doesn’t solve your problem. See Marco Polo vs Holafly for the detail.
4. Saily / Nomad / Yesim — budget tourist brands
Pros: Clean apps, competitive pricing on small plans, and perfectly good for a short holiday with modest data needs. Check their current pricing — they move often.
The catch: These aren’t built for 100GB+ months. Allowances are modest, validity is short, and tethering support varies by plan. Fine as a backup or for a weekend; not a long-haul or nomad workhorse.
5. Ubigi — mid-data, data-first
Pros: A data-focused operator with decent regional coverage and generally tethering-friendly plans. A reasonable middle option.
The catch: Allowances sit in the mid range rather than the very-large bracket, and you’ll want to check their current pricing against cost-per-GB before committing to a heavy month.
Which plan for which user
Long-haul driver (3–5 weeks on the road)
You’re the textbook heavy-data case: maps, streaming in the cab, a tablet, maybe a dashcam uploading, plus tethering your personal phone. A Marco Polo 320GB/€45 or 480GB/€65 (28 days) comfortably covers a full tour, and the 56-day 640GB/€65 is ideal if you’re out longer between home resets. Tethering being included matters here more than anywhere. Our big-data Europe plans for long-haul drivers post goes deeper on sizing.
Occasional driver / medium data
Shorter runs, less streaming? The 80GB/€25 or 160GB/€35 (28 days) hits the sweet spot — plenty for navigation, calls and some downtime video without paying for capacity you won’t use. Compare against eSIM vs roaming over a month on the road to see the saving against your current SIM.
Digital nomad (long stay, multiple devices)
Working remotely means video calls, cloud sync and a laptop tethered all day. The 200GB/€49 (30 days) or the 56-day plans suit a settled month in one region; the 500GB/€95 over 90 days is built for a full quarter in Europe. Long validity means you set it once and work. More on this in best eSIM for digital nomads in Europe.
Short trip / light user
Honestly? You don’t need a large-data eSIM. A 20GB or 25GB plan, or a budget tourist brand, is fine. Buying 300GB for a long weekend is money wasted — match the plan to the trip.
How to pick, and common mistakes
- Estimate your real monthly data first. Check your current phone’s usage stats. Then add headroom for tethering — a laptop eats far more than a phone.
- Don’t be seduced by “unlimited.” If it’s throttled after fair use and blocks tethering, it may deliver less usable data than a clearly-labelled 160GB plan.
- Match validity to your trip. A 90-day 500GB plan beats rebuying four short plans if you’re out for a quarter. See 30, 60 and 90-day plans compared.
- Confirm tethering is allowed, not just technically possible. Hotspot users: this is the clause that trips people up. Marco Polo includes it; several “unlimited” brands don’t. See best eSIM for hotspot and tethering.
- Check your route stays in-coverage. If you cross borders constantly, read staying connected across borders to confirm every country on your run is covered.
- Don’t over-buy for a short trip. The biggest plan isn’t the smartest plan unless you’ll use it.
Rule of thumb: if you’ll clear 100GB in a month and you tether, buy on cost-per-GB and validity. If you won’t, buy small and save the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does any eSIM actually offer 100GB or more for Europe?
Yes — Marco Polo Mobile sells a 100GB plan at €39 (30 days), plus 160GB, 200GB, 320GB, 480GB, 500GB, 640GB and 800GB options. Most mainstream travel eSIMs stop well short of that and expect you to stack small plans or buy an “unlimited” product that’s throttled after fair use.
Isn’t an “unlimited” plan better than 100GB?
Not necessarily. “Unlimited” plans are fair-use throttled, so sustained heavy use slows down, and many of them restrict or ban tethering. A clearly-labelled large plan that lets you tether can give you more genuinely usable data. If you run a hotspot, a real GB figure you can share is usually the safer bet.
Can I tether a laptop and tablet off a Marco Polo plan?
Yes. Tethering and Wi-Fi sharing are included, so you can power a laptop, tablet, dashcam or second phone off one eSIM. That’s a key reason it suits drivers and nomads running multiple devices, where some competitors block hotspot use.
What happens if my route leaves the 37 covered countries?
Marco Polo’s Europe plan covers 37 countries on the Orange network; outside that zone you’d want a different eSIM for that leg. If you regularly cross into regions beyond the list, a wide-coverage brand like Airalo is worth keeping as a backup — check their current pricing for the destinations you need.
For heavy-data, long-stay, Europe-focused travel with tethering, the large-data winner is cl
