Introduction
There is a specific moment most expats in Barcelona will recognize: you’re trying to open a bank account, register for something official, or sign up for a service, and the form asks for a Spanish phone number. Not your home country number. Not a virtual number. A Spanish number, one that proves you’re actually here.
Getting a local number is one of the quiet milestones of building a life in Barcelona. It’s what gets you into WhatsApp groups, what Spanish contacts will actually message, what banks, landlords, and half the apps on your phone expect when they send a verification code. And yet it’s one of those things that somehow always seems to get deprioritized in the chaos of everything else.
An eSIM with a Spanish number included is, ultimately, the fastest, cheapest way to solve this problem, no phone shop visit, no contract, no paperwork (in a language you’re still learning). And because the eSIM market is so crowded, figuring out which provider is actually worth it takes longer than it should.
So we’ve done that research. Here’s what you need to know, and why Holiday eSIM is the provider we recommend to the Penya community.
What Is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card built directly into your phone. Instead of inserting a physical plastic card, you simply scan a QR code and your mobile plan activates instantly, no store visit, no waiting for mail, no fumbling with a SIM tray pin.
Most smartphones made in the last four years support eSIM, including recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel models. If you’re unsure, you can check your phone’s settings under “Mobile/Cellular Data” for an option to add an eSIM, or look up your model online.
In practice, the biggest advantage is this: your phone can run two numbers simultaneously, your regular Spanish or home-country SIM for calls and verification codes, and an eSIM for data wherever you are.
Getting a Spanish Number as an Expat: Why It Matters More Than You Think
A Spanish phone number is one of the most practical milestones of expat life in Barcelona, and one of the easiest to overlook until you actually need one.
Where It Shows Up in Daily Life
Your bank, for instance, requires a Spanish number to send 2FA codes. Your landlord texts it, not WhatsApp. Meanwhile, Spanish government portals, Correos, health center registration, Glovo, and Wallapop, nearly every local service defaults to a Spanish number for verification and contact. And socially, being added to neighborhood WhatsApp groups, local expat networks, or anything organized by Spanish contacts becomes far smoother when you’re not the one person with a foreign number.
Overall, it’s a small thing that compounds quickly. The longer you’re without one, the more friction it creates in daily life.
Why an eSIM Beats the Traditional Route
The traditional solution would be going to a phone shop, navigating a contract or prepaid plan in Spanish, and waiting for a physical SIM. That works, but it’s exactly the kind of errand that gets pushed back repeatedly. By contrast, an eSIM that includes a Spanish number activates in minutes from your phone, with no store visit and no paperwork.
This, in fact, is one of the reasons we recommend Holiday eSIM specifically: their European plans include a real local phone number and calls, not just data, something neither Holafly nor Airalo offers on their standard plans.
Why Expats in Barcelona Use eSIMs
For expats, eSIMs solve a specific problem: staying connected across multiple countries without paying roaming fees or buying a new SIM at every border.
Staying Connected Across Europe
If you live in Barcelona but regularly travel within Europe, visit family abroad, or take work trips, managing connectivity is an ongoing cost and hassle. An eSIM with regional or global coverage, however, handles it cleanly: buy once, activate instantly, and stay connected from Barcelona to Berlin to New York.
A Reliable Data Backup at Home
Beyond travel, there’s also a more day-to-day use case: having a reliable data backup. Your Spanish plan may have gaps, so an eSIM on a separate network gives you a fallback. And when you’re using an app like Penya to navigate the city and act on recommendations in real time, consistent data matters more than ever.
The Key Benefits
No roaming bills. Buy a local or regional data plan in advance, so there are no surprise charges when you land.
Instant activation. Simply scan your QR code and you’re connected. Setup takes a few minutes, and you can even do it before you leave home.
Keep your home number active. Because your eSIM runs alongside your regular SIM (dual SIM), you keep your primary number for calls, texts, and 2FA codes while using the eSIM for data.
No physical SIM to lose. There’s nothing to misplace, bend, or drop, since it lives on your device.
Multi-country coverage. With one plan covering dozens of countries, this is ideal if your travel isn’t limited to a single destination.
How the Major eSIM Providers Compare
Overall, Holiday eSIM offers more value than Holafly, Airalo, or Saily for most expat use cases in Barcelona, particularly for European travel. Here’s the honest breakdown:
| Holiday eSIM | Holafly | Airalo | Saily | Popcorn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | From €47.93 | From ~€68 | From ~€45 | From ~€27 | $69 |
| Data (30 days) | 100GB | Unlimited* | 20GB | Unlimited* | Unlimited |
| Local Spanish number | ✅ Included in select plans | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Keeps US number | ➕ Via dual SIM | ➕ Via dual SIM | ➕ Via dual SIM | ➕ Via dual SIM + add-on | ✅ Primary number |
| Hotspot / tethering | ✅ Unlimited | ⚠️ 500MB/day cap | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Countries (Europe) | 52 | ~35 | 42 | ~40 | Works globally |
| Money-back guarantee | ✅ 30 days | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Customer rating (2026) | ⭐ 4.8/5 (Google) | ⭐ 4.6 (Trustpilot) | ⭐ 4.0 (Trustpilot) | ⭐ 4.5 (Trustpilot) | N/A |
*”Unlimited” plans from Holafly and Saily are subject to fair use policies; independent testing shows speeds can drop significantly after 4–5GB of heavy use.
A few things are worth noting here:
Holafly’s “unlimited,” for instance, has real limitations. Independent testing shows speeds can drop significantly after around 4–5GB of use, and tethering (using your phone as a hotspot for your laptop) is capped at 500MB per day. So if you work remotely or use your phone as a hotspot regularly, this matters.
Airalo, meanwhile, is flexible but data-only. There are no calls and no local number included on most plans, which makes it good for light travelers but less ideal for expats who need a full connectivity solution.
Saily (by NordVPN), on the other hand, is aggressively priced and has recently launched a US phone number add-on for $0.99/month, useful for Americans abroad who need to maintain a US number for banking, Venmo, or 2FA. That said, plans are lighter on data and coverage.
Popcorn, by contrast, is built for a different goal entirely. At $69/month, it’s the most expensive option here, and its pitch is essentially the opposite of what most expats in Barcelona actually need: it keeps your US number as your primary line so you never have to change anything. That works if you’re actively trying to maintain your life in the US, but it doesn’t give you a Spanish number, doesn’t help with local integration, and costs significantly more for the privilege. So if you’re building a life in Barcelona, not just visiting it, Popcorn is solving the wrong problem.
In the end, Holiday eSIM is the only provider that includes a real phone number and unlimited calls with every European plan, at prices that undercut Holafly by 20–30% for the same duration.
Why We Recommend Holiday eSIM
Holiday eSIM is Europe’s #1 SIM and eSIM distributor by volume, recognized as the best eSIM provider in Europe 2024 by TechRadar, and has been operating for 14 years, longer than most of the newer consumer-facing apps in this space. Altogether, they’ve sold over 1 million SIMs and currently distribute over 100,000 per month.
Specifically, here are the practical reasons we recommend them for the Penya community:
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees. What you see at checkout is what you pay, with no activation fees and no overage surprises.
Instant delivery by QR code. Buy it, receive it by email, scan it, done. The whole process, in fact, takes under five minutes.
Global coverage when you need it. Beyond Europe, Holiday eSIM covers 200+ countries, so it also works for trips home to the US, UK, Australia, or wherever you’re from.
24/7 customer support. This is available via WhatsApp and online, not a chatbot redirect.
30-day money-back guarantee. It’s the only major eSIM provider offering one.
Get your Holiday eSIM →
A Note on Penya
Part of what makes Penya useful is that it works best in the moment, when you’re standing on a corner deciding where to eat, when a friend asks where to go on a Saturday night, when you want to share a discovery before you forget it. Because of this, reliable data wherever you are in the city, and wherever you travel, is essential. An eSIM that keeps you connected across Europe without roaming charges is, practically speaking, what makes the app worth having on the road.
So if you’re already using Penya in Barcelona, Holiday eSIM is the connectivity layer that makes it work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get a Spanish phone number as an expat? The easiest way is through an eSIM that includes a local Spanish number, no phone shop, no contract, no physical SIM required. Holiday eSIM’s European plans include a real Spanish number and calls as standard. Traditional options (going to Vodafone, Orange, or Movistar in person) work too, but they require a store visit and, in some cases, your NIE or padrón registration.
Do I need a Spanish phone number to live in Barcelona? Not legally, but practically yes. Spanish banks, government portals, landlords, and most local services require a Spanish number for verification codes and contact. Without one, you’ll hit friction repeatedly, from 2FA on banking apps to joining local WhatsApp groups.
What is the best eSIM for expats in Barcelona? For expats in Barcelona who travel within Europe, Holiday eSIM is the strongest option, since it includes a real phone number with calls, covers 52 European countries, has unlimited hotspot, and prices its 100GB/30-day Europe plan from €47.93. Holafly and Airalo, in comparison, are data-only and more expensive for equivalent coverage.
What is the best eSIM for Spain? Holiday eSIM’s Orange Holiday plans work across Spain with 4G/5G coverage on Orange’s network. For Spain specifically, a 100GB European plan covers you both domestically and across any travel within Europe.
Does Holiday eSIM work in Barcelona? Yes. Holiday eSIM uses Orange’s network in Spain, which has strong 4G and 5G coverage across Barcelona and throughout the country.
Can I keep my home number while using an eSIM in Barcelona? Yes, most modern smartphones support dual SIM, meaning your home or Spanish SIM stays active for calls and texts while your eSIM handles data. Additionally, Holiday eSIM’s European plans include a local phone number and calls if you need them.
Is Holiday eSIM cheaper than Holafly? Generally yes, and with more included. Holiday eSIM’s 100GB Europe plan (€47.93, 30 days, includes calls) is 20–30% cheaper than Holafly’s equivalent unlimited plan (~€68), which is data-only and caps hotspot use at 500MB/day.
Does my phone support eSIM? Most smartphones released in the last four years support eSIM, including iPhone (XS and later), Samsung Galaxy (S20 and later), and Google Pixel (3 and later). You can check your phone settings under “Mobile/Cellular Data” for an “Add eSIM” option, or search your exact model online to confirm.
What is the difference between an eSIM and a regular SIM? A regular SIM is a physical chip you insert into your phone, whereas an eSIM is digital, embedded in your device and activated by scanning a QR code. Because of this, eSIMs activate instantly, can’t be lost or damaged, and let you run two numbers simultaneously on a dual-SIM phone.
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