Say goodbye to roaming and hello to eSIMs!

Digital nomads like me travel from one destination to another. As a traveler by profession, I need safe and reliable access to the internet wherever I go. 

Throughout my years of traveling, I’ve had to rely on different methods to stay connected to the internet. I remember subscribing to my carrier’s international roaming service, which cost me hundreds of dollars monthly! I was able to pay my carrier bills on time, but I wanted a more cost-efficient method—so I tried using local SIM cards. As much as possible, I avoid using public WiFi, because it isn’t secure. 

Local sim cards gave me low-cost access to the internet, and all I had to do was subscribe to cheap data plans that fit my browsing needs. This is a method I used occasionally because of these drawbacks:

• I spent a lot of time doing research on my destination’s local network providers to find out which of these were the most reliable.
• I had to find out how to buy local SIMs. Some countries require tourists to register their passport along with the local SIM card they bought to a database. This process took time and effort.
• In some destinations, local SIMs are cheaper if bought outside the airport. However, it makes you an easy target for scammers. On one of my trips to Bali, some guy charged me USD 15 for a SIM card that didn’t work! 
• I had no idea how these networks handled user data. So I made sure my VPN was always on. (Pro tip: always use VPNs, regardless of where you are in the world.)

As you can see from my experience, switching from one SIM card to another in a foreign country is a hassle. Luckily, there’s another solution!

The Embedded Subscriber Identity Module (eSIM, for short) works the same way as a physical SIM card does, except it’s embedded directly to your smartphone. The eSIM can be easily reprogrammed through mobile applications, giving you the option to seamlessly change carriers. However, there’s a catch––not every device supports this feature. 

Smartphone manufacturers, like Apple, Google, and Samsung have adopted this technology for their flagship devices. With time, I’m sure eSIMs will become available for other devices too. 

For those who have an eSIM-compatible smartphone, switching between eSIMs is easy. You can find eSIM applications in the App Store and Google Play Store. 

Word of advice: Don’t get an eSIM from your local carrier, since you’ll have to pay for roaming charges when you travel abroad.

What to consider when picking your eSIM

There’s a lot of eSIMs for users to choose from in the App Store and Google Play Store. The eSIMs I’ve found vary in functionality, pricing, and coverage. These are my primary considerations in choosing the right eSIM for my internet connectivity needs.

To make your search a little easier, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on three of the most interesting eSIMs I found on the App Store. Android users shouldn’t worry, as these applications are also available in the Google Play Store.

The applications that caught my attention are Airalo, MobiMatter, and Yesim. All of these eSIMs provide internet access to different regions. Mobile data plans are available to users with different consumption requirements. Plans are region-locked, unless end users opt for global plans that provide internet connection in selected regions covered by an eSIM. Unfortunately, Yesim doesn’t offer this service. 

In my opinion, Airalo is the best out of all three. This eSIM gives users internet access in over 190 countries. As an added bonus, the app is user-friendly, making navigation very easy. Meanwhile, Yesim is the most expensive. This eSIM has the distinction of being the only one that comes with a VPN while offering its clients wireless network access in over 120 countries.

MobiMatter is the cheapest, but its global and data plans only cover 100 countries.

Your choice of eSIM depends on your budget and mobile data consumption patterns. I suggest comparing eSIMs that fit your travel requirements like I did!

Comparing eSIMs based on travel requirements

When traveling abroad, I consume around 20 to 30 gigabytes of mobile data per month. I also need a large network coverage because I fly to different destinations in the span of a month. With these requirements in mind, I picked between Airalo and MobiMatter’s global plans and here’s what I found out:

• Airalo’s global plan will cost me at least USD 140 per month. 
• MobiMatter’s global plan will cost me USD 60 per month.
• Airalo gives its users mobile data access to over 190 countries. 
• MobiMatter covers only 100 countries.

I chose Airalo as my primary eSIM because of its wider coverage. My only gripe with it is the price I have to pay. 

Remember, you don’t have to stick to one eSIM. You can seamlessly switch between eSIMs depending on your situation. In my case, I’m sticking to one eSIM because I think Airalo is good enough for me.

I hope you found my article on eSIMs useful! I’m glad we have access to this technology nowadays because it makes traveling easier for me and for everyone. 

A note about using eSIMs in Turkey

Before I end my discussion about eSIMs, I would like to share with you what I know about its usage in Turkey. As some of you may know, local SIMs purchased in the country have to be registered along with your visa, passport, and smartphone to a database. You may be wondering if the same applies to eSIMs. 

Since eSIMs function differently, you will have to contact your provider directly for guidance in this matter. If your stay in Turkey exceeds 120 days, Apple recommends registering your IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number to the Turkish government’s website. If you fail to register, your smartphone won’t be able to access mobile networks in Turkey.