2026-05-26
If you’ve ever travelled overseas and dealt with expensive roaming fees, airport SIM queues, or swapping tiny plastic SIM cards, eSIM was created to make international connectivity much simpler.
An eSIM is a digital SIM built directly into your phone. Instead of inserting a physical SIM card, you install a mobile plan digitally — usually by scanning a QR code.
Today, most newer iPhones, Samsung Galaxy devices, and Google Pixel phones support eSIM technology. It has become especially popular with travellers and digital nomads because you can connect to mobile data almost immediately after landing in another country.
At eSIM Story, travellers use eSIMs across 100+ countries without needing to visit a mobile store or replace their existing SIM card.
One of the biggest advantages is flexibility. Instead of paying for large fixed plans, travellers can choose only the amount of data and travel days they actually need.
| Daily Data Options | Best For |
|---|---|
| 500MB/day | Light travel usage |
| 1GB/day | General travellers |
| 2GB/day | Heavy mobile users |
| 3GB/day | Digital nomads & hotspot use |
Flexible durations are available from 1 to 30 days.
This makes eSIM particularly useful for:
Many travellers simply prefer paying only for what they actually use rather than buying oversized roaming plans.
An eSIM stands for “embedded SIM”.
Unlike a traditional plastic SIM card, an eSIM is already built into your device. You simply download a mobile profile from a carrier or travel eSIM provider to activate it digitally.
| eSIM | Traditional SIM |
|---|---|
| Built into the device | Physical plastic card |
| Digital activation | Manual insertion |
| QR code setup | Store purchase often required |
| Easy to switch plans | Requires SIM replacement |
In practical terms, that means:
Most eSIM installations today happen through:
Apple describes eSIM as an industry-standard digital SIM that allows users to activate a mobile plan without using a physical SIM card.
eSIM works by downloading a carrier profile directly onto your phone.
Instead of inserting a plastic card, your phone securely stores the network credentials digitally through a process called Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP).
The actual mobile connection works almost identically to a physical SIM once activated.
GSMA — the global organisation behind mobile standards — defines eSIM as a technology that enables remote SIM provisioning on mobile devices.
The biggest difference is convenience.
A physical SIM requires you to insert and remove a plastic card. An eSIM is completely digital.
| eSIM | Physical SIM |
|---|---|
| Digital activation | Manual SIM insertion |
| QR code setup | Physical card required |
| Easier for travel | Requires SIM swapping |
| Multiple profiles possible | Usually limited |
| Harder to lose or damage | Can be lost easily |
For travellers, this becomes especially useful.
Many people now keep:
This avoids removing your primary SIM while travelling.
Apple also notes that eSIM is more secure because it cannot be physically removed if your device is lost or stolen.
Travellers mainly choose eSIM because it removes friction.
Instead of:
you can install your mobile data before your flight and connect within minutes after landing.
After a long flight, most travellers simply want internet access that works immediately for:
That’s one of the main reasons travel eSIM usage has grown so quickly.
| Primary SIM | Travel eSIM |
|---|---|
| Calls & SMS | Overseas mobile data |
| Banking verification | Maps & apps |
| Normal phone number | Travel internet access |
One common travel setup is:
That means services like WhatsApp, Uber, Google Maps, and banking apps continue working normally.
Digital nomads also prefer eSIM because they can move between countries without replacing physical SIM cards every time they travel.
If you travel frequently, it’s worth checking regional or country-specific plans on eSIM Story before your trip so your data is ready before departure. If you're heading somewhere specific, dedicated guides like our Japan eSIM guide, Egypt eSIM guide and Singapore eSIM guide show exactly how much data to buy and what a trip really costs.
Yes — in most cases, eSIM is significantly cheaper than international roaming.
Traditional roaming from major carriers can become expensive very quickly, especially when using:
Travel eSIMs are usually prepaid and data-focused, which helps travellers avoid unexpected roaming bills.
| Option | Typical Experience |
|---|---|
| Roaming | Expensive daily charges |
| Local SIM | Often cheaper but inconvenient |
| Travel eSIM | Flexible and easy setup |
For example:
One reason many travellers prefer eSIM Story is flexibility.
Instead of forcing travellers into large expensive plans, users can simply choose:
For example:
With flexible durations from 1 to 30 days, travellers only pay for what they actually need instead of overpaying for unused roaming data.
For most short-term travellers, eSIM is usually:
The fastest way is to check whether your phone has an “Add eSIM” option. For the full list — plus the mainland-China models that quietly block travel eSIMs — see our eSIM compatibility guide.
If you can see it, your iPhone likely supports eSIM.
The wording may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Most travel eSIMs are designed to be beginner-friendly.
The setup process usually takes only a few minutes. Our step-by-step eSIM install guide walks through every screen for both iPhone and Android.
A common recommendation among experienced travellers is:
This makes the whole process much smoother once you arrive overseas.
Some Android devices may require Wi-Fi during activation.
If you’re new to eSIMs, many travellers start with a short-term prepaid plan from eSIM Story to test compatibility before longer trips.
Yes.
Most modern smartphones support Dual SIM functionality using:
This is one of the biggest advantages for travellers.
| SIM Type | Usage |
|---|---|
| Physical SIM | Home number & SMS |
| eSIM | Travel data |
This allows you to:
Not necessarily.
An eSIM is simply another way of delivering a mobile plan. Your number depends on the carrier and plan you activate.
Many travel eSIMs are data-only plans, which means:
Yes.
You can delete an eSIM profile from your phone settings at any time.
However, some eSIMs cannot be reinstalled after deletion, so travellers should read provider instructions carefully.
One common mistake is deleting the eSIM accidentally before the trip is finished.
Yes.
Many newer phones can store multiple eSIM profiles simultaneously, although usually only one or two can remain active at the same time.
This is especially useful for:
Generally, yes.
Because eSIMs are embedded into the device, they cannot be physically removed like traditional SIM cards.
Like any technology, vulnerabilities can exist, but modern eSIM systems follow strict GSMA security standards.
In most cases, yes.
Many travel eSIM plans support hotspot and tethering functionality just like a regular SIM card.
This is especially useful for:
However, hotspot availability can vary depending on the network or specific plan.
Yes — in most cases, you need a stable internet connection to activate and install an eSIM.
During setup, your phone needs to:
Because of this, installing your eSIM before travelling is strongly recommended.
This usually makes the connection process much smoother and reduces stress while travelling.
For first-time users, installing your eSIM before flying is one of the most important tips to avoid connectivity issues overseas.
