An excellent international eSIM plan can make it easy to stay connected on vacation without running up data roaming charges. But how do you choose the right one?
You need to know whether your phone supports an eSIM (not all do) and what kind of coverage you want. Then, it’s time to compare providers and plans.
Know Your Needs
An international eSIM makes your travels more accessible and more cost-effective. It benefits frequent travelers or digital nomads who frequently transfer between two countries. With eSIMs, you can easily connect to local networks and continue using your home number while abroad. This allows you to keep in touch with your family and business contacts while staying mobile. It also eliminates the need to give out a new number or use risky public wifi networks that hackers often target.
The eSIM app can be downloaded onto your phone, and you can then purchase a plan from the provider of your choice. Typically, you can choose a prepaid eSIM for a week or a month at affordable rates. However, you can also get a postpaid eSIM for extended stays or recurring trips.
When choosing an international eSIM, consider how much data you will need for your trip. This will depend on your usage habits, such as how often you check your email and Facebook feed or stream movies. Also, consider the number of devices you will be tethering to your handset.
You can find an eSIM that offers competitive data rates in the countries you visit. For example, a company offers a global prepaid eSIM with competitive roaming rates in 197 countries. It also has a handy app that lets you make internet calls, check your balance, and more.
Check the Networks
When shopping for an international eSIM, you’ll want to check the provider’s network coverage in the countries and regions you plan to visit. This will help ensure you get the most value from your eSIM and avoid bill shock.
You can do this by looking at the list of countries an eSIM provider covers or by reviewing the cellular network’s website for details. Also, consider whether your eSIM will allow you to tether your phone to other devices like tablets or laptops. This can be especially useful for extended trips or cruises where you might use your phone to navigate or to look up train times.
The good news is that many international eSIMs have solid global network coverage and can connect to most major cellular networks. Some even offer global roaming, which means you can use your same phone number while traveling abroad.
A company, for example, offers an international prepaid eSIM that works in 197 countries with competitive rates starting at 0.01EUR per megabyte and 0.03EUR per minute. You can order a plan online and manage it through an app that displays real-time balances in terms of money and data. That way, you can avoid bill shocks and keep track of your expenses.
Choose a Plan
With an international eSIM, you don’t have to worry about bill shock because you only pay for what you use. And you don’t have to waste time finding a physical SIM card at your destination – you need to download an app like Airalo, choose a plan, and follow a few steps. Airalo connects travelers with local service providers and towers that offer prepaid eSIM data plans. It’s a fantastic option for people who travel regularly or want to stay connected in one particular country for an extended period.
A few things to remember when choosing an eSIM plan is whether the provider offers plans for regions instead of individual countries. This is especially important if you plan to travel to multiple countries on your trip and want to keep your networks the same each time you cross the border. Another important consideration is your web speed – how fast will it be?
An eSIM provider known for its transparency and auto-installation feature. They also have various plans to choose from, including unlimited data. You can check their plans and prices by visiting their website or downloading their app. They also have a sound rewards system for their customers and are known for their excellent customer support.
Check the Cost
When looking at the different eSIM providers, you should always check their websites to see if they offer calls/texts and how much data they include in their plans. This is especially important if you use your mobile device as a hotspot and connect other devices (e.g., laptops, friends’ phones) to your eSIM via wifi.
The best eSIM providers are transparent and offer a clear understanding of their plans and pricing. For example, a company provides a free app that lets you track your usage and top up through an easy process. Additionally, it has a handy data calculator that allows you to figure out how much data you’ll need based on the apps and activities you plan to do while traveling abroad.
Moreover, eSIMs are less expensive than purchasing multiple local SIM cards for your trip. They are also easier to keep track of and won’t be lost or stolen like physical SIMs can. Plus, they don’t require users to remove them from their phones when swapping out networks, making eSIMs more secure than physical SIMs.
Another bonus is that you can only pay for the time you use, eliminating bill shocks and saving money. Lastly, eSIMs provide more excellent network coverage than most local SIMs, and most of the latest mobile devices have a slot for them.
