Do travel eSIMs work on iPads and laptops?
Yes, on devices with eSIM hardware: cellular iPads, many Windows laptops with LTE/5G, and some Android tablets. The same travel plans usually work and are data-only anyway, a perfect match. No cellular hardware? Then hotspot from your phone instead.
Travel eSIMs are data-only products, which makes tablets and laptops their most natural home: no number needed, just internet. Cellular iPad models have supported eSIM for years (check Settings, Cellular Data), and a growing share of Windows laptops, especially business lines, ship with 5G modems and eSIM support. Installation works the same as on a phone: scan the QR code or enter the activation details, done.
A few practical wrinkles: some providers' apps are phone-first, so on a laptop you may need to install via the QR/manual route from their website. Per-device plans mean a phone plus an iPad need either two eSIM purchases or, more economically, one eSIM on the phone shared via hotspot. And check the provider supports the device class; most plans from Airalo, Saily, and GigSky simply work on anything with standard eSIM hardware.
If your device lacks cellular hardware, nothing is lost: your phone's hotspot covers the laptop fine, which is exactly why hotspot policy is worth checking before you buy a plan. For heavy laptop use abroad, that hotspot allowance, not the tablet question, is usually what decides which provider to pick.