Jun 5, 2023, 6:06 pm
Last edit by: username
Free data/trials (control-f to find the actual section for each provider)
Be ADVISED: ALL Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong version of EVERY Phone DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT for eSim
eSIM features to consider
Unique feature
Longer term data (180day to no expiry)
PAYG data
Eskimo 1GB 2year(Note: May 2024 - Eskimo said this offer has ended but there are 500 MB referral codes out there) - Note: Even though Eskimo is based in Singapore, Singapore is not one of the included countries, probably due to regulatory reasons- RedBullMobile 100MB 1year
- Yesim 350 coins 1 year
- ExtremeConnect
Be ADVISED: ALL Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong version of EVERY Phone DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT for eSim
- Best device = Apple iPhone
- Supports dual eSIM (most android phones w/ eSIM have 1 physical + 1 eSIM slot, but cannot use 2 eSIMs together)
- Depending on carrier, supports DSDV (VoLTE voice calls on sim1 gets routed through sim2.data, as though you were doing WiFi calling)
- Some androids might support DSDV
- esim.me
- Allows you to use eSIM on non-native eSIM device
- Requires supported/modern phone
- Pricey / confusing options
eSIM features to consider
- Network coverage
- which networks are supported (not all eSIM list the networks, and networks can change overtime)
- You may want to avoid lower-tier networks or if your phone doesn't support their LTE/5G bands
- Amount of data
- "Unlimited" data typically has fair usage in ToS/fineprint, eg 0.5-1GB per day or 1GB every 3 days, reset on 4th day midnight. may or may not allow hotspot
- Generally data-limited plans allow full-speed w/ hotspot, some offer slow 128kbps after you hit the limit while others cut you off immediately)
- length of coverage
- eg: 1 day, 3 day, 7 day, 30day, 180day, 365day, noExpiry
- Country coverage (single country, regional/EU, global)
- Proxy/Latency/IP
- Most eSIM providers route you back to their main network, which can incur latency
- Your searches will probably geo-locate back to that main network (instead of the country you're in)
- Some of your apps may not work (eg Pandora radio only works in USA, won't work in another country)
- Data sharing / transfering of eSIM to new device
- A few providers allow you to share data, so you can split one plan with multiple eSIM devices (Eskimo, Dent, Vegolink)
- Many providers only allow you to activate eSIM profile once. if you have to switch phones, you either lose that data, or have to pay a token amount to get a new eSIM profile with the remaining balance
- Price/GB
- How data is counted per session
- Usually in ToS, usually its rounded up per 1KB/10KB/100KB/1MB increments. Obviously smaller increment is better
- Method of activation
- Some providers require you to use their app to load the eSIM
- Others send you QR code and/or activation URL, for you to manually load onto phone
- You need valid network access (via wifi or existing mobile data) to activate eSIM
- Expiry countdown
- Some providers start counting down expiry once you purchase, or once you activate eSIM onto phone, or once you set foot into country
- Speed
- generally these eSIM providers get low priority, could be a problem if there is network congestion
- you may want to consider a proper provider over an MVNO
- Visual Voicemail - it seems depending on the phone and carrier, Visual Voicemail might require a Cellular Connection through your provider or their roaming partners. So, Visual Voicemail might not work if you are using a data-only eSIM with roaming turned off for your "home line"
Unique feature
- Ubigi
- free eSIM profile. If you don't have valid plan, the eSIM still allows you to connect & browse ubigi.me (and purchase data via creditcard/paypal)
- Seems native geo-located IP but still through a regional proxy with some latency (Transactel owns part of Ubigi, and Transactel has their own backend)
Longer term data (180day to no expiry)
- Yesim (coins expire 1 year)
- Dent (1 year)
- Eskimo (2 year)
- Esimplus (no expiry)
- AIS eSIM2Fly topup (365 day)
- 3HK (365 day)
PAYG data
- Yesim (varies, deducts from sharedWallet)
- Dent (10/GB)
- RedBullMobile (varies, need to prepay per GB)
eSIM thread
Dec 9, 2023, 7:29 am
#661
formerly rt23456p
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,214
Am I the only one buying country-specific eSIMs as opposed to universal eSIMs? I usually sort out the order the night before my departure, and often find that country-specific eSIMs are ridiculously cheap compared to universal eSIMs. For example, for 10 USD, I can get a Japanese eSIM with 15 GB of high-speed data for 15 days, with no calling feature, but after exceeding the limit, I still get unlimited 3G (Docomo provider). Similarly, for 18 USD, I can get a US eSIM with 1000 GB of high-speed data for 15 days, including unlimited calling (T-Mobile provider).
Dec 9, 2023, 3:23 pm
#663
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,192
If I know that I'll be heading to a location with cheap tourist SIMs, such as Singapore, I'll just buy a physical SIM upon arrival.
I'm looking ahead to a trip I have booked to the Cook Islands in 5 months, and none of my usual options have coverage: T-Mobile, Solis (Skyroam), or even Airalo. Vodafone Cook Islands does have an eSIM available with remote provisioning for NT$49 ~= US$30 for 10 GB data, 30 minutes of talk time (including to some international destinations), and 300 texts. I then have to decide whether to unplug for a few days or stay connected.
Dec 10, 2023, 12:00 am
#664
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,199
I had a similar issue with Airalo once in HK. Could connect to the network but no data transferring. Airalo support is usually quite fast but first bothers you will all these standard questions. At the end it turned out that the default APN was wrong and I had to set another one. Then all was fine. I assume it was the same issue with your Global Yo eSIM.
FWIW, the Vodacom (physical) SIM I ended up buying in South Africa has international data roaming for 99 rand (US$5) for 1GB for 7 days. Which is cheaper than any of the eSIMs that were available for my next country, so for now I'm simply using that!
Dec 10, 2023, 12:26 am
#665
Join Date: Nov 2023
Programs: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 229
It depends on the travel. If I want to visit several countries in a certain region, I usually go for a regional eSIM. If it is just one country, then eSIm for that specific country. For Europe I have a lifetime eSIM.
Dec 10, 2023, 2:28 am
#666
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,192
...which is cheaper than any of the eSIMs that were available for my next country, so for now I'm simply using that!
Dec 10, 2023, 3:43 am
#667
formerly rt23456p
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,214
https://m.tb.cn/h.5m79UGX
Dec 10, 2023, 4:23 am
#668
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 603
I purchased it before on taobao, the process is very simple if you understand some basic level of Chinese
https://m.tb.cn/h.5m79UGX
https://m.tb.cn/h.5m79UGX
Dec 10, 2023, 5:50 am
#669
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,459
I am interested in which service that marketplace offered the MVNO that you used. That link looks like it is a "AliExpress" type vendor, and any info about the sim you acquired would be helpful. It seems others here on FT would also like to know. A Terabyte of data for $18 makes this worth pursuing.
My guess is that they're reselling TMobile directly as a business, instead of white labeling some mvno/travel provider, and TMobile doesn't have any data limits
Dec 10, 2023, 6:23 am
#670
formerly rt23456p
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,214
[MENTION=10140031]PES_B1[/MENTION] can you provide details on how they activate the ESim? You can hide the unique activation code, just interested in the server.
My guess is that they're reselling TMobile directly as a business, instead of white labeling some mvno/travel provider, and TMobile doesn't have any data limits
My guess is that they're reselling TMobile directly as a business, instead of white labeling some mvno/travel provider, and TMobile doesn't have any data limits
This is their manual.
Dec 10, 2023, 6:36 am
#671
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,459
https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/com...code_for_esim/
Yeah, so they're connecting to T-Mobile directly some how. Maybe a special business plan to allow for free calls to china
Yeah, so they're connecting to T-Mobile directly some how. Maybe a special business plan to allow for free calls to china
Dec 10, 2023, 3:05 pm
#672
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,192
My guess is they're reselling some business account service (perhaps against the T&Cs).
T-Mobile does have a test drive option, which is an official way of getting connected to their network without any middleman, but I imagine that might be one time use.
T-Mobile does have a test drive option, which is an official way of getting connected to their network without any middleman, but I imagine that might be one time use.
Dec 11, 2023, 1:51 pm
#673
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 846
I am interested in which service that marketplace offered the MVNO that you used. That link looks like it is a "AliExpress" type vendor, and any info about the sim you acquired would be helpful. It seems others here on FT would also like to know. A Terabyte of data for $18 makes this worth pursuing.
Dec 11, 2023, 1:55 pm
#674
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 846
these sellers are doing crazy staff, they will sell one euro prepaid sim to multi users, since most chinese oversea tour just last 10 days, so they can sell a monthly prepaid sim to 3 users!
Dec 11, 2023, 2:26 pm
#675
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 846
Is there a short term (less than a week) eSim plan someone can recommend for use in Europe? The ability for phone calls would be more important than data, as I can get wifi pretty much everywhere I need to be. Thanks.
Also, have an unlocked phone if swapping physical sim might be cheaper.
Also, have an unlocked phone if swapping physical sim might be cheaper.