How we rank eSIM providers
SignalRank scores are based on real performance data — not commission rates, paid placements, or provider-supplied statistics. Here is exactly how we calculate every score.
Why this data is different
Most eSIM comparison sites show providers ranked by commission rate — the provider paying 40% commission appears first, regardless of performance. SignalRank was built to fix this.
The MVNO routing analysis draws on 11 years working in telecoms pre-sales consultancy — structuring MVNO agreements and IP transit deals across European and Middle Eastern carrier ecosystems, working alongside carriers including NTT, BT, AT&T, Orange, and Deutsche Telekom at the wholesale layer. This background enables us to identify which physical network each eSIM provider routes through in each country, not just what the provider claims on their marketing page.
In cities like Tokyo, the difference between NTT Docomo direct and IIJmio (a virtual operator using Docomo's network) can be 20–30 Mbps at peak hours. That difference matters when you need reliable connectivity for calls and navigation.
Overall score calculation
Each provider gets a score from 0–100 per city. The overall score is a weighted average of four component scores:
Coverage score
Signal strength across city centre, transport hubs, suburban areas, and rural fringes — weighted by frequency of use.
Speed score
Average download/upload speeds during business hours local time, measured on Speedtest CLI across 3+ test locations per city.
Reliability score
Consistency of signal and speed across tested locations. Penalises providers with high variance between locations.
Value score
Price-to-performance ratio relative to other providers in the same city. A cheaper plan with similar coverage scores higher.
How coverage is measured
Coverage score is a weighted average across four zones, reflecting how travellers actually use mobile data:
City centre
Where most travellers spend the majority of time. Tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, business districts.
Transport hubs
Airports, train stations, metro/subway systems, bus terminals. Critical for transit connectivity.
Suburban areas
City outskirts, residential areas, day-trip destinations within 30 minutes of the centre.
Rural fringes
Areas 40+ km from city centre. Relevant for travellers hiring cars or visiting countryside.
Data sources
Traveller reports
1,200+Structured reports from verified travellers — device model, carrier, test location, speed measurement, and notes on specific issues.
Speedtest CLI
3+ tests/cityAutomated Speedtest CLI measurements at city centre, transport hub, and suburban test points. Run during local business hours to reflect peak congestion.
MVNO routing analysis
5 providersIdentifying the underlying wholesale carrier each eSIM uses in each country — not just what the provider claims, but the actual IP routing.
Network operator data
OngoingMNO coverage maps, spectrum allocations, 5G deployment schedules, and network sharing agreements — cross-referenced with real-world results.
What the badges mean
Highest overall weighted score for that specific city. One per city.
Value score ≥85 and ranked 3rd or higher. Best performance-per-pound in the city.
Holafly — the only provider offering genuinely unlimited data without throttle on most plans.
4S eSIM — direct MNO agreements in Japan (NTT Docomo), Thailand (AIS), Singapore (SingTel), Indonesia (Telkomsel).
How often data is updated
- →Major cities (top 30): Updated quarterly — January, April, July, October
- →All other cities: Updated twice yearly — January and July
- →Breaking changes: Major network changes (carrier mergers, 5G rollouts, outages) are updated immediately. Provider plan changes are updated within 72 hours.
Affiliate disclosure
SignalRank earns a commission when you purchase an eSIM through our links. Commission rates vary by provider: Airalo (10%), Holafly (30%), Nomad (25%), Amigo (40%), 4S eSIM (35%).
Commission rates do not affect ranking position. Amigo pays the highest commission (40%) but consistently ranks 4th or 5th in most cities due to weaker coverage scores. The algorithm is: weighted score = coverage×0.30 + speed×0.25 + reliability×0.25 + value×0.20. No manual adjustment.
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