Pros And Cons Of An eSim
If you travel regularly, you have probably heard of an eSim. Nowadays, I think an eSim is the most convenient way to get mobile data and I always download an eSim before I go on a trip.
In this blog post, find out about the pros and cons of an eSim, what to look out for when choosing and some other tips for eSim cards.
What is an eSim?
First of all, what actually is an eSim, and how does an eSim work?
An eSim is a digital simcard that you can download to your phone, instead of a physical simcard. The phone needs to be eSim compatible to be able to use an eSim, but I would say, most newer phones (the ones that came out 2018 or later) are compatible.
You can simply activate the eSim in your destination and you will be able to have internet and make calls, depending on the plan you get.
Pros of an eSim
The biggest pro of an eSim is the convenience. Simply purchase and download the eSim via your preferred service before your trip, install it and then activate it once you arrive in your destination.
I usually activate it once the plane has landed and I have internet connection! I can then plan my onward travel to my accommodation, without needing to connect to the airport wifi.
Another pro is the affordability. It depends on the country too, but it is generally very cheap to get an eSim.
And another big pro is being able to top it up easily via the app. If you see you are running out of data, you can simply purchase another data plan via the app of whatever eSim service provider you are using. I use the Saily app and it’s super easy to top up my data. I also receive a notification when it’s running out, so I don’t need to check myself.
Another benefit is that eSIM technology enables multiple service plans on a single device, perfect for separating work and personal lines or adding international plans without impacting the main service. So you can still use your ‘normal’ phone number and sim card whilst using your eSim for international travel.
Cons of an eSim
I don’t actually think there are many disadvantages of an eSim, but maybe one that I can mention is that it might be at first a bit challenging to set up.
Depending on the service you use, sometimes you need to make sure the “APN settings” are correct and if you’re not connecting to the network, sometimes you need to do some troubleshooting. If you’re not super tech-savvy this might be a challenge. So, for example, I don’t really think my parents would be able to set it up themselves 😅
That being said, eSim service providers are constantly improving their services and making it easier to purchase and set up the eSim. I can definitely see a big improvement in terms of ease of use in just a few years.
Another con is that in some countries and cases, getting a physical simcard might be the cheaper option and gives you more benefits as well. This largely depends per country, so do some googling before deciding whether to go for a physical or eSim for the specific country.
Can I call or text with an eSim?
This actually depends on the eSim service provider you choose. However, I have been researching and I would say most of them are actually data only and don’t offer plans that includes calls and texts. So that might be another downside!
Of course, you can always call and text using internet data via apps like Whatsapp or similar.
When to choose a physical Sim vs an eSim
There are a few scenarios where it might be better to choose a physical simcard instead of an eSim. Especially if you are staying in a specific country for a longer period of time (e.g. more than 3 months), it may make sense to get a physical one - then you can also have a local number which you can use for calls and texts.
Another reason might be, that in some countries, physical simcards could be cheaper. For example, in Thailand getting a physical simcard, e.g. from AIS, is very cheap, and you will get a bigger data plan then with an eSim provider, as well as a local phone number.
Recommended eSim Services
I always use the Saily eSim application, as I think it’s the best value for money, it’s easy to use and the company behind it (Nord Security) is reputable. Saily covers over 200 countries and territories. With Saily, the eSIM must be installed only once, so you don’t need to install a new eSIM for each country they visit.
Additionally, users can easily top up their plan and continue using the services without interruption if they run out of data.
📱 You can buy a Saily plan via this link. If you use the discount code TND5 you get 5% off your Saily plan.
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