Having reliable mobile data when you travel is a must these days. It’s helpful not only for finding things to do or the right bus route, but communicating in an emergency and locating your accommodation if you get lost.
While I think a lot of travelers spend too much time on their phone, the fact of the matter is that modern travel requires mobile data.
In the past, that meant paying excessive roaming fees to your phone provider or finding and buying physical SIM cards at the airport. I used to spend fortune on mobile data whenever I went on a long trip. It sucked.
Fortunately, today, there’s a cheaper and more convenient solution: eSIMs.
I started using eSIMs recently and they’ve been a game changer.
So, in this post, I’ll break down what exactly an eSIM is and share my favorite eSIM companies so that you can stay connected on your next trip — without breaking the bank.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card is a small memory card that you insert into your smartphone in order to make calls and use mobile data. It has unique identifiers that ensure that when people call you, the call comes to your device (and not someone else’s). You generally get one from your phone provider when you sign your contract.
An eSIM is a digital version of this.
Instead of a physical memory card, you instead install software on your smartphone that replicates the same functions as the physical card. Most smartphones only have a single port for a physical SIM card, so the benefit of using eSIMs is that you can have multiple eSIMs on a single device.
For example, if you’re from Germany and are visiting the United States, you’ll need to physically remove your German SIM card on arrival and install a physical US SIM card if you want to avoid paying excessive roaming fees. But once you swap SIM cards, you won’t be able to receive calls or texts to your German phone number unless you physically remove the US SIM card and put the German SIM card back into your phone.
This is a tedious process if you need to access multiple numbers during your trip. Hence the convenience of eSIMs. They make it super easy to visit multiple countries each year without having to juggle SIM cards. And since they let you get set up before you arrive, you can get mobile data the minute you touch down.
Why use an eSIM?
Convenience – Not only can you set up your eSIM from the comfort of home, but you can do it before you leave so it’s ready when you arrive. (If you forget to do so, you…
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