In a nutshell
- An eSIM is a super handy alternative to a physical SIM card. You simply book a data package for your destination and don’t have to mess around swapping cards.
- The best part is that it works alongside your regular SIM. So you can go online the moment you land – super practical!
- Our tip: check out the eSIMs from Saily. They’re affordable, super easy to set up and the reception has been great in our experience. Plus, with the discount code 22places, you’ll get 5% off all eSIMs.
Why Should You Travel with an eSIM?
Because honestly, using an eSIM while traveling is just way easier than dealing with a physical SIM card.
You can set everything up before your trip, take your time comparing providers and data packages, and avoid the stress of figuring it all out after you land. Buying a SIM in a local shop can be a real hassle, especially when you’re tired from the flight and faced with way too many options.
And the best part? No hunting for SIM card stores or fiddling with your phone. With an eSIM, you’re good to go in minutes – sometimes even while you’re still on the plane.
Your regular number still works, by the way. The eSIM just adds a second data plan on top.
What are the Pros and Cons of an eSIM for International Traveling?
Pros of an eSIM for international traveling
- Super practical for traveling
- No need to change cards
- You can’t lose it
- You can have several tariffs at the same time
- Cross-country tariffs are possible
- More environmentally friendly than physical SIM cards
- Fast activation
Cons of an eSIM for international traveling
- Only the newer phones support it (e.g. from iPhone XS/iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy S20 /S20 Ultra)
- If you have problems, you usually need WiFi
- Not available in all countries (but in most)
- If your phone is broken, your eSIM is gone as well
- Usually more expensive than physical SIM cards
Our Recommendation: eSIM Cards from the Provider Saily
For your trip, we recommend using an eSIM from Saily. The provider is super easy to use and usually cheaper than many others. It’s a great option if you’re going on a classic round trip and don’t need tons of data.
Saily offers eSIM plans for over 200 countries, including regional packages like the Caribbean.
The setup is simple: just open the Saily app, choose your destination, and pick a data plan that works for you. In most cases, you can choose between 1 GB for 7 days or 3, 5, 10, or 20 GB for 30 days.
You can pay with credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. After buying, you have 30 days to activate the plan. It starts automatically as soon as you arrive.
Pros of Saily
- Cheaper than other providers
- Very easy installation and activation
- Hotspots are allowed
- Valid for a certain duration
- Consumption and duration at a glance in the app
Cons of Saily
- Prices are in USD
- No unlimited data volume possible
- Remaining volume expires. But you can rebook at any time if you have too little.
To the eSIM for international travel from Saily
With the discount code 22places you get a 5% discount on your eSIM.
Other Providers of Travel eSIMs
Of course, there are other good providers for eSIMs for international travel out there too. In most cases, the differences between them aren’t huge. It really depends on how you want to travel and use your data.
In our opinion, the three main alternatives to Saily are Nomad, Airalo, and Holafly:
- Nomad is a good pick for longer trips. If you’re traveling for around 20 to 30 days or more, their plans often work out cheaper than Saily.
- Holafly is ideal if you need a lot of data. They offer unlimited data packages for a set number of days. But those come with a higher price tag.
- Airalo sits somewhere in between. You can choose between set data amounts or unlimited plans, depending on your needs.
How Do You Set Up an eSIM?
Setting up an eSIM for international travel is pretty similar across most providers.
You usually buy your eSIM either through the provider’s app or their website. You choose your destination, select the duration and a data package, and that’s it. After purchasing, you just need to install and activate it. Make sure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection. Ideally, do it before you leave for your trip.
Installing and activating a Saily eSIM
With Saily (and a few other providers), the app takes care of most of the setup for you. Just tap the install button, confirm the installation, and agree to activate the eSIM.
Next, give your new travel eSIM a label – i. g. something like Mobile Data – and set it as your default for mobile data. Important: turn off Mobile Data Switching to avoid using the wrong connection.
It might take a few minutes for the eSIM to fully install. Don’t worry if it activates right away. It won’t have any signal until you arrive at your destination. Once you land, your phone will automatically switch to your eSIM data plan.
Before your flight, just make sure to turn off data roaming on your regular SIM (or eSIM).
Installing and activating other eSIMs
With some other providers, you’ll need to install the eSIM for international travel manually through your phone’s settings. Head to Mobile Settings and select Add eSIM. Then scan the QR code or enter the activation code you received.
For calls, FaceTime, and as your default line, select your regular number. For mobile data, choose the new eSIM provider.
The rest of the steps are basically the same as with Saily.
Once you arrive, go into your settings, select the eSIM, and click on Turn On This Line. Again, make sure to turn off data roaming on your regular SIM.
Keep in mind: as soon as you activate the eSIM, your data plan starts. So if you’re using a provider like Holafly – where the plan is valid for a fixed number of days – don’t activate it before you leave your country.
FAQs about Travel eSIMs
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (short for embedded SIM) is the digital alternative to a physical SIM card. It’s a small chip built directly into your phone. You activate it online through an eSIM provider.
Just like a regular SIM, an eSIM gives you mobile data and can even come with a phone number. But when you’re traveling, you usually just book a data-only plan without a number. That’s all you need.
You can use an eSIM alongside your regular SIM card or replace it entirely. It’s super flexible and perfect for traveling.
What is the difference between an eSIM and a physical SIM?
A physical SIM is the classic plastic card you insert into your phone. You usually buy it locally and have it installed by a store employee.
Most phones support one – sometimes two – physical SIM cards. But some newer phones are now being released without a SIM card slot at all.
An eSIM, on the other hand, is built right into your phone. You simply download your mobile plan digitally from an eSIM provider. This only works with newer smartphones that support eSIM technology.
You can store up to 10 eSIM profiles on your phone and usually use 2 at the same time. It’s super convenient if you travel often or switch providers frequently.
How does an eSIM work?
With an eSIM, you use the built-in chip in your phone to load a digital SIM card. Most smartphones released since 2018 already have this chip. You simply buy an eSIM package and activate it. It’s quick and easy.
Once activated, the eSIM works just like a physical SIM. You’ll have signal and can use mobile data as usual.
If you’re buying an eSIM for travel, it won’t come with a local phone number. Your regular number stays active for all your important apps like WhatsApp.
Just a tip: only make calls when you’re connected to Wi-Fi – ideally via WhatsApp. That way, you avoid high roaming charges for regular calls with your regular number.
What is the difference between eSIM and international roaming?
When roaming, you keep using your regular SIM card abroad. Your phone automatically connects to local networks. You don’t have to change any settings or install anything.
However, roaming fees can be very expensive, often much higher than eSIM plans.
With an eSIM, you install a completely new data plan for your travel destination. When you travel, you switch from your regular plan to the travel eSIM provider’s plan and surf using that. You’ve already paid the price upfront, so no nasty surprises.
These were our tips if you want to travel with an eSIM
Do you want to get an eSIM for international travel? Do you still have questions? Which travel eSIM provider have you chosen? Let us know in the comments!