Your Phone Died Abroad Again? An eSIM Card Can Keep It (And You) Alive

If you watch horror movies, you probably already know that one of the most useless items you can find is a cell phone, especially when the plot of the film involves visiting some tourist location. Whether the protagonists are being chased by a serial killer or a monster, lost in the forest, stranded somewhere high up or underground, they turn to their phone in a desperate attempt to get help. Then all the problems begin, mainly due to the lack of reception or other service issues. The phone “doesn’t work”, “there is no signal”, and “there is no one to save us”, which sometimes ends in the most tragic way imaginable. Hint: It’s not just these characters’ phones that are dead.

The good news is that, unlike horror movies, in reality, you probably won’t find yourself running for your life while traveling abroad (unless you arrive in advance at tourist sites that are considered scary, but that’s another story). The bad news is that these horror movie clichés are not entirely unfounded. In reality, many tourists also arrive with the hope that their phone will somehow work, which creates a recipe for a horror movie. Or they find an expensive solution (for example, a cellular package through their mobile operator), which pretty much murders their bank account.

To prevent your next trip from becoming a horror movie, there is one solution – accessible and relatively cheap – that you can consider. An embedded SIM card, also known as an eSIM, may help you survive international travel. So what are its advantages, why should you pay attention to it, and which cards do we recommend?

What is an eSIM?

In recent years, eSIM cards – short for Embedded SIM (and not “Virtual SIM” or “Electronic SIM” as used by many) have become a very popular choice among travelers abroad. These are SIM cards built into the device, unlike the small physical cards that many of us use for making calls, sending SMS messages, and using the Internet from the local provider.

Without delving into too much detail or using technical terms to explain how does eSIM work for travel, these cards identify the subscriber on the cellular network and verify their authenticity. The innovation offered by the eSIM card abroad is that the smart card is built into the device, allowing for seamless connection to a specific cellular network (in our case, a network in the country you are traveling to) through a dedicated app or with the help of a QR code. Such Apps remotely burn the ID, encryption keys, and everything else needed to connect to the network.

In other words, with eSIM cards, there is no need to purchase a physical card and insert it into the phone in place of the existing card, which means that this service is exceptionally accessible and inexpensive.

What Are The Advantages of ESIM?

It would be too short to detail here how to install an eSIM, especially since there are different instructions for each card or even between different devices (the central division, of course, is iPhones versus Android devices).

The bottom line is that eSIM card installation is generally effortless in most cases. First, select a package that suits your destination, trip duration, coverage, and anticipated level of usage. You can do most of the operations before traveling abroad, so that after landing, you will only need to change the SIM through the device settings – and that’s it, you’re all set. This means you don’t have to rush to the shops at the airport or in the city to buy a SIM, nor try to understand the operating instructions in a foreign language.

Believe it or not, unlike cell phones in horror movies, it’s also likely to work for you at the moment of truth. And that’s a relief, because you probably don’t want to be that character in a horror movie who discovers a little too late that her phone doesn’t work, leaving her in her own hands.

Another significant advantage is that with the help of a travel eSIM card, you can activate multiple numbers simultaneously: on the one hand, keep your local number, and at the same time, surf the Internet via your original provider. You don’t even have to look for your SIM ejector pin or your wife’s earring to open the SIM card tray on your phone, or worry about losing the SIM somewhere at home (true story).

Please note! Before purchasing a package, it’s essential to verify that your phone supports eSIM technology in advance. Most models on the market today have this support. In fact, in recent years, even mobile phone companies themselves have moved into the embedded card game, so it seems only a matter of time before we see tiny physical SIM cards becoming increasingly rare.

How Much Does An ESIM Cost?

Full disclosure: I used to be horrified by the astronomical costs of international calls and Internet packages from local cellular providers. On one memorable trip, I tried to travel without Internet for “economical” reasons, hoping that there would be a wireless network on every corner that I could use. After several unpleasant incidents that seem like they came out of a horror movie – like driving in the middle of the night in a dark forest in Italy without Internet and especially with no idea where you were going, or a breakdown in a rental car without the ability to contact the rental company – I also came to an understanding. There is no substitute for surfing the Internet, and preferably for basic communication, when you are traveling abroad.

Luckily, you don’t have to pay the high prices of some cellular providers, which can be pretty expensive for an elementary package. The cost of an eSIM from the recommended SIM providers is affordable, ranging from a few dollars to tens of dollars for a package that provides exactly what you need.

Even if you discover at the last moment that the package you bought is not enough, because your children are using it to watch hours of YouTube videos (Oops!), you can increase it with a few clicks of a button.

Recommended ESIMS For Your Next Trip

Today, several companies offer eSIM cards for a wide range of destinations worldwide, so ultimately, the choice is yours. Like many other products and services, it is highly recommended not to pay attention only to the price, because in the end you want peace of mind: to reach a situation where you have a package that you can trust, and not a cheap package that turns out to be an absolute waste of money. Of course, price can be a factor in your decision, and you will be pleased to know that today, you can find excellent packages at affordable prices. so what are the best travel eSIM cards available today?

We begin the review with eTravelSIM, a successful international brand based in Singapore that offers packages in approximately 200 countries. One of the most notable advantages of eTravelSIM is that the amount of data provided in their packages is crazy. There are many packages with unlimited data or with 50-100 GB of data. There is a small asterisk here, indicating that the packages are unlimited only within the context of a fair use policy. As far as we know, this is a considerable amount of 4 GB per day, and if you exceed it, the rest of your browsing will be done at a slower speed.

Another plus of eTravelSIM is that the company tries to offer “real connectivity, not just data.” Some packages include the option of calls, sometimes even unlimited. You can also find packages with free incoming calls. The prices are affordable, with some destinations being desirable compared to most competitors, such as the United States, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, and India. The packages start at only $4, and the price per GB is hugely worthwhile. For example, mid-level packages offer a value of $1/GB (i.e., UK eSIM 20GB 30 Days at $19.99). You can find unlimited data plans starting at $19 for 7 days, and most plans include calling options. For high data usage, eTravelSIM offers, for example, a plan of 50GB with calls in Thailand for $8.50, while 100GB in Vietnam will cost you as little as $15.

The installation of eTravelSIM is straightforward, eliminating the need for a QR code. The company also prides itself on its service, which is provided 24/7 without the use of bots, AI, or whatever they call it these days.

Airalo is another significant player in the field, founded in 2019 by Abraham Burke and Adir Ozdemir, and currently serves over 20 million users worldwide. Airalo’s prices are affordable, with payment made in advance according to the package’s features.

Airalo’s service enables you to purchase digital browsing packages in over 200 countries, available for periods ranging from a few days to 30 days. Installing the package on your mobile phone is quite convenient, whether you use the Airalo app or a QR code. Afterward, activate it when you arrive at your new destination.

In our opinion, the prices are generally a little higher than those of eTravelSIM. Please note that the remaining package is not saved for new trips, even to the same destination; you will need to purchase a new package.

There are other eSIM services you can consider, like Saily, Yesim, Nomand, and Holafly.

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