First-Time Guide to How Does eSIM Work + My Airalo Review (The Best Travel eSIM)!
When I first travelled to USA I wondered how does eSIM work before I researched, purchased and completely transformed my travel experience.
Read my guide to ditch physical SIM cards and learn whats an eSIM with my explanation, eSIM meaning, step-by-step guide and where to start with Airalo, the world’s largest eSIM store. This is my Airalo Review (the best travel ESIM imo)!
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Contents
What’s an eSIM / Electronic Sim Card / Embedded SIM?
Long gone are the days I pay my current phone plan an arm and a leg for using data abroad, hovering outside McDonalds for free WIFI or getting ripped off at the airport for a physical sim abroad.
Once again the digital age has triumphed and we finally have eSIMS! And I’m not mad about it.
What does eSIM mean: Embedded Sim, Electronic Sim Card or Virtual Sim Card
Okay but what is an eSIM? Read on!
An eSIM is a sim card that is installed digitally to your device without the hassle of removing/inserting a tiny card that you worry about losing so much you put it in the best hiding place that you forget yourself and it reappears years later…
You can access cellular plans while abroad without using a physical SIM card! Yes.
- You choose your plan online
- Purchase the eSIM
- Follow my instructions for how to download it to your device
- Activate the new sim when you land in your travel destination
- Voila! You have data, and/or calls/texts as you touch down and all of the stress is eliminated
- Back in your home country, deactivate the sim and go back to your regular phone plan
Already Know eSIMs are The Way to Travel? Buy Your Airalo eSIM right away!
How Does eSIM Work?
Now you know what is eSIM, let’s discuss how eSIM works.
It is a digital sim card that allows you to have a mobile plan for a short period of time in any country from a local network provider and overrides your home plan.
What an eSIM card is, is the perfect travel resource.
How to Check Your Phone is Compatible for eSIM
For iPhone eSIM Compatibility: Go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to Network Provider Lock and if it says ‘No SIM restrictions’, your iPhone is good for an eSIM card.
For Samsung eSIM Compatibility: Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager. Your device will support eSIMS if you see the ‘Add eSIM’ option.
For Google Pixel 7 eSIM Compatibility: Go to Settings > Networks and Internet > Advanced/Mobile Communications > Add Operator.
9 Reasons Why You Need an Electronic Sim Card for Travel
- 1) Safety: With data you can easily use maps, order Ubers and share your location with family/friends
- 2) Staying connected abroad: Research things on the go, update your IG, connect to family/friends easily with a reliable internet package,
- 3) Local calling: You can call or text other numbers abroad while keeping your own number, make sightseeing and restaurant reservations using the package to get updates
- 4) WhatsApp: Always use WhatsApp with data but don’t switch your number (you can use the same number with any eSIM)
- 5) Compatible: Use with IOS and Android devices
- 6) Convenient: Having data saves you so much time on your trip so you don’t have to find WiFI, you can put maps in get to your next destination and you can quickly research restaurants before you sit down
- 7) Options: There are Global Packages, Regional Packages or esims specific to countries
- 8) Easy to top up plans: If you run out of GB you can easily top up eSIM on the go
- 9) Futuristic: One day, Apple will be doing away with physical sim card slots as noted in this article. This means goodbye to physical cards and hello to eSIMS. If you’re reading this then you know what is an eSIM card and you’re already ahead!
How to Buy eSIM
I truly believe that Airalo is the best eSIM provider. I’ve got plans with them over 5 times now and recommended them to friends who have also approved and reused.
Getting an eSIM from somewhere you know other people have used gives you a sense of relief and follow the below steps for buying the right eSIM from the correct website for your travel plans.
Scroll down for instructions on how to use eSIM in iphone.
Which e SIM Card to Choose?
Global Packages
If you’re on a gap year, epic honeymoon or travelling to multiple countries over several countries, wouldn’t it be great to have one eSIM that’ll last you the whole time? Airalo’s worldwide eSIM is one sim for 136 countries!
By Region or Country
By region, for example, you could choose between the best eSIM for Europe or the best eSIM for Asia, North America, South America and so on. Shop for regional sims here.
I knew I was travelling to both Portugal and France in the same month so I chose a European eSIM that even turned out to be best eSIM for UK when I returned home.
Including Texts/Calls
For a global package that includes data, texts and calls you’ll need an eSIM with phone number. Same for a regional package and an individual country package.
These types of eSIMS will allow you to call and text within the country/region and helps for things like making reservations and receiving touristic photos.
$3 Discount For Above: SHIREE9313
What Are eSIMS: My Airalo Review
I used Airalo to purchase my first ever eSIM when I travelled to New York City because I knew I’d want mobile data on the go to ensure I maximised my travel time for going between places, ordering Ubers, moving money, researching filming locations on maps and updating friends and family along the way.
I used another travel blogger’s referral code, when I researched how does eSIM work, to get the cheapest and most convenient plan for me. Now I have my own, you can use my referral code for $3 off by using SHIREE9313 at the checkout.
I downloaded this to my device while in the airport, turned on airplane mode, and as soon as I landed I turned off the airplane mode and I was already connected.
The Airalo sim was reliable, easy to download, quick internet, cheap and lasted me for my entire trip. It’s one the best eSIM providers for travel and certainly the best eSIM for USA.
Purchase Airalo SIM Here and Use $3 Discount Code: SHIREEN9313
How to Install & Activate eSIM to Your Device
This is my step-by-step guide to downloading an international eSIM to your phone. Please note: this is specifically for eSIM iPhone as I did this on my iPhone and this is my personal advice.
How Does Airalo eSIM Work:
- Check your device is compatible (see above)
- Download the Airalo App
- Purchase your package
- Ensure you’re connected to a stable WiFi
Sim Activation
- Click the button that says ‘Install eSIM’
- Choose ‘Primary’ for your default line
- Rename your eSIM plan to recognise easily
- Click that name and ‘continue’
- Wait for a few minutes while it installs
- Go to Settings > Mobile Data > SIMs
- ‘Turn on this line’ and select your new eSIM to access data
- When you arrive in your new destination, wait a few minutes, and it should connect
- Do not remove the eSIM until your trip is complete
Ready? Shop Your Airalo Sim Here For Easy Travel!
13 Quick eSIM Tips
- Read this to understand how does eSIM card work
- Ensure you know exactly how to add an eSIM
- Download to your device before you travel (I did this at the airport)
- Consider removing your physical sim card if you’re worried about being charged (this is not necessary but I did it and kept it in a safe place)
- Don’t change your WhatsApp number
- Use my $3 discount code (SHIREEN9313) for cheaper plans
- Leave data off when you can connect to accommodation/cafe/restaurant WiFi
- Turn data off for all apps unless you will be using them regularly (if you need them you can just turn them on as you go)
- If you’re travelling to various countries, consider a Global Package over a country-specific one
- Check your device is compatible BEFORE purchasing (see instructions above)
- Decide whether you need a Data Only Sim or a Data/Call/Text Sim (I use Data Only because I use WhatsApp to call or message people)
- Download the app so you can keep an eye on how much data you’ve used
- Tell everyone how good the eSIMS are and send them here to learn how to use eSIM
Now you know how to use an eSIM you’ll quickly realise how much it helps enhance your travels!
What is an ESIM and How Does it Work: Pin It!
Interesting well written as always shireen love what you do āļøš