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: 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 22, 2023, 8:41 pm
#676
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,164
Thankfully my bank was quick with the chargeback when I eventually got around to raising one.
Stay well clear of this mob - I can't really comment on their eSIMs (mine didn't work, but I'm willing to admit that might have been a one-off), but everything else about them is shady as...
Dec 27, 2023, 7:28 am
#678
Formerly known as koeche
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Switzerland
Programs: LX HON, QR Plat, Hilton Diamond, Windows 11, Adobe Creative Suite
Posts: 343
1. "World" is apparently limited to certain countries. Did not find Qatar for example, where such a plan could be useful for stop-overs
2. Did not manage to register as the OTP was not delivered (tried two numbers)
Dec 28, 2023, 1:24 am
#679
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,979
UAE is included but not Qatar...When I signed up a few months ago, I never got the OTP through WhatsApp. So, I switched to e-mail and it came. If this is the initial sign up, see the Wiki for another free 1 GB. Some people also have a referral code they make for an additional 500 MB.
Dec 28, 2023, 6:45 am
#680
Formerly known as koeche
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Switzerland
Programs: LX HON, QR Plat, Hilton Diamond, Windows 11, Adobe Creative Suite
Posts: 343
Yeah, their Global is like 80ish countries/regions UAE is included but not Qatar...
When I signed up a few months ago, I never got the OTP through WhatsApp. So, I switched to e-mail and it came. If this is the initial sign up, see the Wiki for another free 1 GB. Some people also have a referral code they make for an additional 500 MB.
UAE is included but not Qatar...When I signed up a few months ago, I never got the OTP through WhatsApp. So, I switched to e-mail and it came. If this is the initial sign up, see the Wiki for another free 1 GB. Some people also have a referral code they make for an additional 500 MB.
Dec 28, 2023, 2:25 pm
#681
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,979
:-( You did it on the App, right? I sent to https://eskimo.travel/free-esim from my phone, downloaded the App, etc.
Jan 5, 2024, 9:57 am
#682
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,441
iPhone > Settings > General > About > IMS Status
On my iPhone, if I go to Settings > General > About and then scroll down and touch Carrier, Carrier changes to IMS Status. Is this useful for anything in the context of IMS in this thread? (Right now, for IMS Settings, my iPhone says Voice & SMS. I'm in the iPhone's home country, USA, and do not have a second SIM active.)
Jan 5, 2024, 10:55 am
#683
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 1,454
On my iPhone, if I go to Settings > General > About and then scroll down and touch Carrier, Carrier changes to IMS Status. Is this useful for anything in the context of IMS in this thread? (Right now, for IMS Settings, my iPhone says Voice & SMS. I'm in the iPhone's home country, USA, and do not have a second SIM active.)
Carrier Lock just above should have the status No sim restrictions to add a second sim. My son had to submit his duty orders to ATT to be able to add an esim .
Jan 5, 2024, 6:42 pm
#684
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,441
And here I thought I'd discovered something new. But is it useful in any way?
That's what it says (although I hadn't noticed it before). But since I have added an eSIM on a few occasions, I wasn't worried about it.
That's what it says (although I hadn't noticed it before). But since I have added an eSIM on a few occasions, I wasn't worried about it.
Jan 9, 2024, 5:15 am
#685
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,132
Thanks for this: I was able to get a US Mobile prepaid plan for a month using a US-based credit card. Worked well, and was able to stop the next months automatic top-up with no issues. Only problem is the card is still captured against the account (cant remove it) and not sure how to close the account now, but not really a huge deal.
Jan 9, 2024, 7:45 am
#686
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 1,454
Thanks for this: I was able to get a US Mobile prepaid plan for a month using a US-based credit card. Worked well, and was able to stop the next months automatic top-up with no issues. Only problem is the card is still captured against the account (cant remove it) and not sure how to close the account now, but not really a huge deal.
Does your card allow a virtual card to be created? I have switched payment methods using a virtual card with a max payment amount less than a renewal.
Jan 9, 2024, 3:08 pm
#687
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,132
The card I got to use was an AmEx, so no.
Which is annoying, because I used to use AmExs freely-available virtual, single-use CC service for individuals a lot back in the early-2000s (they called it Private Payments, I believe?) until they withdrew the functionality circa 2005.
Which is annoying, because I used to use AmExs freely-available virtual, single-use CC service for individuals a lot back in the early-2000s (they called it Private Payments, I believe?) until they withdrew the functionality circa 2005.
Jan 14, 2024, 11:44 pm
#688
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 766
Have anyone gotten any of the eSIMs from the big Thai operators, AIS, dtac, True Move?
They seem to offer it directly on their website but I've heard they don't take US credit cards.
I know that you have to register a passport for prepaid in Thailand but there seems to be suggestions that you can submit a photo of your passport through their apps?
They seem to offer it directly on their website but I've heard they don't take US credit cards.
I know that you have to register a passport for prepaid in Thailand but there seems to be suggestions that you can submit a photo of your passport through their apps?
Jan 15, 2024, 7:27 am
#690
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,164