eSIM Planet has one of the most comprehensive list of eSIM questions and answers on the web! Every question you ever had regarding eSIMs – eSIM data, international travel, phone compatibility, eSIM gotchas, and more is answered below.
An eSIM is an electronic SIM card – a tiny circuit board inside your phone that acts like a regular physical SIM card. This virtual SIM card can actually hold multiple SIM cards. The beauty of this is that in addition to your traditional SIM card your carrier supplies you (like ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile) you can now add additional "phone lines" via eSIMs to your cellphone from OTHER carriers. So when it's time to go and travel overseas just add another carrier who has a far cheaper data rate!
Cost! eSIM plans are a lot cheaper than buying data from your existing cell phone provider. Without a plan for international data usage, rates of $2000 per Gigabyte are not uncommon. Even if you do arrange a plan beforehand, the savings with an eSIM can be significant. Verizon has a travel pass for $10 a day so that's $70 a week. If you're on vacation for a month that's $210. A 30 day eSIM can be had for $27.
1. Make sure you have a compatible phone that is carrier unlocked.
2. Sign up for an account at an eSIM provider and based on your destination and data requirement (in GB) choose an appropriate data plan.
3. Install the eSIM on your phone and you're all set.
If you don't arrange for a special international or travel plan with your carrier before you leave you will be in for a nasty surprise. Without a plan for international data usage, rates of $2000 per Gigabyte are not uncommon. Even if you do arrange a plan beforehand, the savings with an eSIM can be significant. Verizon has a travel pass for $10 a day so that's $70 a week. If you're on vacation for a month that's $210. A 30 day eSIM can be had for $27.
The first is travel destination. Certain eSIM plans are just for a single country while others can include multiple countries / a region eg all of Europe or N.America. Some are even world plans.
The second characteristic is duration such as 5 days, 10 days or 30 days. A few plans run for a year. Then data from 1Gb to 20Gb with a few being unlimited plans. Also look out for whether the plan support 5G speeds as some have only 4G speeds.
Sure, as long as the phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible. You can check if your phone is compatible using the device dropdown on this page.
Yes! The two can be thought of as two separate telephone lines. We strongly recommend turning off your existing line completely and just using an eSIM when going overseas.
Many phones have space for multiple eSIMs. The iPhone supports 8! However, you can only use two at a time.
You normally scan a QR code with your cell phone's camera to install an eSIM plan. Some eSIM carriers have iOS / Android apps that will install eSIM plans too.
Nothing. You still need to pay the bill every month. You can run the two in parallel although you will be asked what line handles data and what line is used for telephone calls.
1. You won't be able to make calls to landlines or other cellphones as an eSIM plan is just data and doesn't (normally) include a phone number. Workaround – use Skype or Google Voice instead to make calls and send SMS messages.
2. People won't be able to call you on your regular cell phone number. Workaround – they can leave you a voicemail instead and you can check your voicemail remotely. You can also instruct friends and family to use alternative ways to contact you like FaceTime, WhatsApp or Facebook messenger.
eSIMs can only be installed on cell phones and each QR code for activation works just once. If you switch phones, you'll need to request a new code.
Simple, just turn it off!!! Yes just turn off your main line!
No, they have no way of knowing you are using an eSIM. Of course if your phone is locked by your carrier they won't allow you to install an eSIM or any other SIM card until it's unlocked.
eSIM data plans ARE NOT like cellphone contracts. They just run the length of the eSIM plan, typically 5 days, 10 days or 30 days. Then they expire.
NO! An eSIM plan is a one off payment for data for a set period of time in a particular country or region. You just buy a bucket of data and when the period ends you don't have access to the data. It's a single charge on your credit card that's NON recurring. No data overages or $1000 bills. You get the amount of data for the amount of time listed in the plan, that's it. Once the data is over that's the end of the service.
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