You may’ve heard the term eSIM and not paid much attention, but the technology has been around for 4 years now. So why is it something that should be on every international traveler’s radar? Because it takes the hassle out of staying connected across the globe, and is more flexible than traditional ‘travel SIMs’ have been.
How does it work?
An eSIM replicates the functionality of a physical plastic SIM card, but in digital form. This allows them to be sold, installed, and removed without even powering off your phone. For everyday domestic use a physical SIM card is ‘set and forget’, but as soon as you jump on an overseas flight things get trickier.
How many times have you visited a new country and had to:
- research all the local SIM cards and network options
- hunt down a place to buy one
- fumble through removing your current one (unless you’re lucky enough to have a Dual SIM phone), and installing the new one
- follow the sign-up steps
At best you might get through with only a brief stop at an airport kiosk if you know what you’re buying. But what if you could be browsing your phone the minute your airplane touched down instead?
Benefits of eSIMs over Physical SIMs
The benefit of not hunting for travel SIMs in each place you visit is a huge one, but it’s not the only way in which eSIMs outplay physical ones. Other benefits of going digital include:
- Purchase and setup can happen in advance before you travel
- As most eSIMs are ‘roaming SIMs’, you can buy coverage for multiple countries or regions at once
- Buy whatever data you need, knowing you can top-up through an app if you run out (no more calling up or rushing to kiosks)
- You can even share data plans with other travelers (selected eSIM providers only, see my pick below)
What type of phone do I need?
If you’ve upgraded your mobile in the past 3 years then chances are you already have eSIM support and didn’t know it. iPhone 11, Galaxy S20 and Pixel 4 were the first major phones to support – all released in late 2019 or early 2020.
Similar iPad and Galaxy Note models have support too, but budget phones are yet to see this feature added.
What eSIM provider do I use?
In 2023 there are over 20 eSIM providers that provide roaming coverage, as well as other local providers popping up. We researched all the major ones – I’m unlikely to hit 10 countries in a trip, but having consistent coverage and easy setup was important. In the end we went with Flexiroam, who have one of the widest networks, an easy-to-use Android/Apple app, and a Data Share feature that was great for us as a couple.
Setup took under 2 mins, with both of us purchasing an eSIM through the app, installing onto our Galaxy phone, and then buying a data plan to share. We usually buy a few GB to start and then top-up if needed, which can be done in a few clicks through the app.
Everything works as pre-paid for a set number of days, so no lock-in past that point luckily. Have a go and hope you find it as useful as we did!
