First Trip With an eSIM? Answers Before You Fly
If this is your first trip with an eSIM, you probably have a list of small questions: which plan, how much data, when to install, whether "data roaming" will cost you. Here are straight answers, in the order you will need them.
Before you buy
Will it work on my phone?
It will if the phone has an eSIM chip and is carrier-unlocked. As a guide: iPhone XS, XR and newer, Pixel 3 and newer, Galaxy S20 and newer, and most flagships from 2020 on. On iPhone, Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock should say "No SIM restrictions". The full check is in does my phone support eSIM.
Country plan or regional plan?
One country: take the country plan, for example Japan. Several countries on one trip: a regional plan such as Europe covers them on one install. Check the country list on the product page, because a country plan stops at the border.
How much data do I need?
Use the daily rates our recommender uses: about 0.2 GB for maps and messaging, 0.5 GB for socials and photos, 1.3 GB for streaming or hotspot. Multiply by your days and add 15%. A week of socials is 3.5 GB, or about 4 GB with headroom. Two weeks of maps and messaging is 2.8 GB, or about 3.2 GB.
Fixed data or unlimited?
If you can estimate your use, a fixed plan is simple. If you stream, video-call or work on the road, an unlimited plan may suit you better. It is unlimited, with the daily high-speed cap shown on the plan; after the cap, speed drops until the next day.
How do I pay?
Apple Pay, Google Pay or card. Your account is created from the payment, with no form. Nothing auto-renews.
Installing
When should I install it?
At home on Wi-Fi, a day or two before you fly. Installing early costs no days. The new line will say "No Service" until you arrive; that is normal, so don't delete it.
How do I install it?
After payment the install page opens, and the link is also in your receipt. On iPhone, tap the install link. On other phones, scan the QR code from a second screen. Step by step: iPhone, Android.
Does my physical SIM have to come out?
No. On most eSIM phones both lines run at once: the home SIM for calls and SMS, the travel eSIM for data. See eSIM vs physical SIM.
On the trip
Why do I have to turn on data roaming?
The travel eSIM is a visitor on the local network, so your phone treats it as roaming. Turning Data Roaming on for the travel line is how it connects, and it costs nothing extra because the plan is prepaid. Keep data roaming off on your home line; that is what stops your own carrier charging you. More in data roaming settings explained.
When does my plan start?
When the phone first connects to a network the plan covers. If a regional plan also covers your home country, such as a Europe eSIM bought in France, keep the travel line off until you leave. The same goes for a layover in a covered country: keep the line off until your final stop, or the clock may start early.
Can people still call and message me?
Yes. WhatsApp, iMessage and similar apps stay on your usual number and work over the eSIM's data. Normal calls and SMS reach your home line if it is on, under your carrier's own terms. Details in keep your WhatsApp number abroad.
What happens when I run out?
A fixed plan stops; an unlimited plan slows after its daily allowance. Top up from your account page with a deliberate tap. Nothing renews by itself.
Is it safe to use?
Yes. There is nothing to pull out of a stolen phone, and using mobile data instead of open Wi-Fi is a sensible habit. We keep an anonymous device id, your receipt email if you give one, and the order; no contacts and no location. More in is an eSIM safe.
After the trip
Do I need to cancel anything?
No. The plan ends when its data or validity runs out, and nothing renews. Set your home line back as the data line, and remove the travel eSIM from Settings once the plan has ended if you want a tidy list.
Is it better than roaming?
It depends on what your carrier includes. If your home plan already covers the destination at home rates, you may not need an eSIM. If not, compare the two in eSIM vs roaming. Heading to Europe from outside the EU? See roaming in Europe without an EU SIM.
Your five-step first trip
- Check the phone is compatible and unlocked.
- Pick the destination and plan on the eSIM page.
- Install at home on Wi-Fi and label the line "Travel".
- Set Travel for data with Data Roaming on; home line for calls with data roaming off.
- Land, switch off Airplane Mode, and you are connected.
Want the whole picture first? Read what an eSIM is and how a travel eSIM works.
Questions
Can I buy now for a trip next month?
Yes. Validity starts when your phone first connects to a network in the destination, not when you buy or install.
Will I get a local phone number?
Most plans are data only, so you keep your home number for calls and SMS and use apps like WhatsApp over the data. The US and UK also have a few plans with a local number plus minutes and SMS.
Can I share data with my laptop?
Most plans allow sharing, but it depends on the local network. Check the plan details before you rely on it, and budget data at the streaming rate.
What if the eSIM doesn't work when I land?
Check that Data Roaming is on for the travel line and that it is your data line, then toggle Airplane Mode once. If it never connects, email hello@e-sim.net with your order id for a full refund.