Arriving abroad and discovering a roaming bill of several hundred euros: it is one of the worst travel surprises. eSIM has become the simplest way to avoid it.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a fully digital SIM card, built directly into your phone, with no small physical card to insert. You buy a data plan online before you leave, and activate it in a few minutes by scanning a QR code.
Why it is useful when travelling
- You keep your usual number active on your physical SIM card (for calls and texts)
- You add a local eSIM just for internet data, at a much lower price than standard roaming
- Activation can be done before you even land, so you have internet as soon as you step off the plane
- No more stress looking for a shop or a physical SIM card on arrival
Is your phone compatible?
Most recent smartphones (released since around 2019) are eSIM compatible, which is the case for the majority of iPhones and many high-end and mid-range Android models. A quick look in your phone’s network settings will confirm whether it offers this option.
How to choose the right plan
Compare the price per gigabyte rather than the total price, check the plan’s validity period (some expire after just a few days even if the data has not been used), and prefer a provider that properly covers your exact destination country rather than a general “worldwide” plan that is often more expensive per gigabyte.