The Ultimate eSIM Guide

In the modern age, traveling without an internet connection is neither practical nor enjoyable. Whether it’s navigating unfamiliar streets, booking last-minute tickets, or sharing your journey with loved ones, staying online has become a necessity. However, relying on roaming services from your local network provider is almost always the worst idea, often resulting in exorbitant fees.

A much cheaper and more practical alternative is to either purchase a local physical SIM card at your destination or opt for an eSIM. With the rapid advancement of mobile technology, eSIMs have become the go-to solution. In fact, most modern smartphones are now designed exclusively for eSIM use, leaving physical SIM cards in the past.

This guide focuses on helping you compare providers and select the best eSIM for your needs, while my country guides offer tailored advice for specific destinations and trip lengths,

Before diving into this guide, I want to make it clear: I am not earning any money or receiving any sponsorship for this content. There are no affiliate links or paid promotions here.

eSIM or Physical Sim Card - A Brief Comparison

So, which option is better? The answer depends on several factors, the most significant being your destination and the duration of your trip. Before getting into how to choose the best eSIM for the best price, let us take a step back and compare eSIMs and physical SIM cards in detail. To help you decide, I’ve created a side-by-side comparison.

Feature	eSIM	Physical Sim
Availability & Setup	✅ Instant download and activation. Easy online setup via app, link or QR code.	❌ Must purchase locally at the destination. Requires visiting a vendor, waiting in line, and dealing with local language barriers.
Convenience	✅ No physical card required, fully digital.	❌ Requires swapping SIM cards and keeping track of a physical chip.
Cost for Short Trips	✅ Often cheaper for short trips due to flexible plans. (Depends on the Destination)	❌ Typically less cost-efficient for short trips. (Depends on the Destination)
Cost for Long Trips	❌ Can be pricier due to ongoing data plan fees.(Depends on the Destination)	✅ Often cheaper for long stays with local plans. (Depends on the Destination)
Provider Options	✅ Easily compare and purchase plans from multiple providers online, offering transparency.	❌ Less number of providers and inconsistent pricing changing from store to store.
Hotspot Sharing	❌ Limited with some providers, depending on the plan.	✅ Fully functional and reliable for most SIMs.
Eco-Friendliness	✅ No plastic waste, contributing to a greener planet.	❌ Creates plastic waste and packaging.
Customer Support: Installation	❌ May involve navigating app-based activation, which can be tricky for some users. Support is remote, via app or email.	✅ Installation is done in-store by employees, ensuring it works before you leave.
Customer Support: In Use	✅ Remote support via app, email, or chat is accessible globally and often multilingual.	❌ Finding support later can be difficult, especially in foreign countries with language barriers.

From the comparison, eSIMs often emerge as the better option for most travelers, though the choice still depends on your destination and trip duration—physical SIMs can occasionally be more practical.

The real challenge lies in finding the best eSIM provider at the lowest price. This guide will help you navigate that process, covering the benefits of eSIMs, setup tips, and how to choose the right plan for your trip.

Based on my experience testing eSIMs and physical SIMs across various countries, I’ve found eSIMs to be more convenient and cost-effective in most cases.

How to Choose the Best eSIM for Your Trip

Choosing the right eSIM depends on three key factors: your destination, the duration of your trip, and the amount of data you need. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in determining which provider and package will best suit your travel needs.

Step 1: How to Check if Your Phone is Compatible with eSIM (iPhone & Android Guide)

Before you dive into purchasing an eSIM, it’s crucial to ensure your device is compatible with eSIM technology. While most modern smartphones support eSIMs, there are a few checks you need to perform to avoid any issues. Here’s how you can do it for both iPhone and Android devices:

On iPhone:

Open the Settings app.
Go to General > About.
Look for the field labeled EID:
- If you see an EID number, your iPhone supports eSIMs.
- If the field is missing, your iPhone does not support eSIMs.

On Android:

Open the Settings app.
Navigate to About Phone or About Device (varies by model).
Look for EID or a second IMEI number:
- If either is present, your device supports eSIMs.
- If neither is present, your device does not support eSIMs.

Even if your device supports eSIMs, it must be unlocked to use eSIMs from different providers. Here’s how to check:

On iPhone:

Go to Settings > General > About.
Find the field labeled Carrier Lock or Network Provider Lock:
- “No SIM Restrictions”: Your phone is unlocked and can use eSIMs from any provider.
- “[Carrier Name] Only”: Your phone is locked to a specific carrier, and you’ll need to contact your carrier to unlock it.

On Android:

Open Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Network Unlock (or a similar option).
Check if the phone shows an option to “Request Unlock” or indicates that it’s locked:
- If locked, contact your carrier to request an unlock.

Step 2: How to Compare eSIM Options to Find the Best One for Your Next Trip?

The second and most important step is to compare eSIM providers and their packages. Fortunately, there’s an excellent tool to help with this: eSIMDB. This website allows you to easily compare different eSIM providers and plans tailored to your specific requirements.

Head over to eSIMDB and enter your destination country in the search bar. For example, if you’re traveling to Japan, type “Japan,” and the country will appear below the search field. Click on it to proceed.

Follow along because I’ll walk you through how to use eSIMDB effectively to optimize your search.

Once the country page loads, you’ll see a list of eSIM plans. Follow these steps to refine your search:

Select “Cheapest”: This will sort the plans by the lowest overall cost.
Activate Discounts: Make sure the “Apply discounts” toggle is turned on for better pricing.
Set Your Currency (Optional): If you’d prefer to view prices in your local currency, click the currency icon and choose your currency.
Click on “Filters” to further refine your results.

In the filter settings, do the following:

Set Minimum Data Volume: Decide how much data you’ll need (e.g., 10GB). There’s no need to set a maximum unless you’re looking for specific plans.
Set Trip Duration: Enter the minimum duration of your trip (e.g., 10 days).
Hide Plans with Daily Data Caps: I highly recommend enabling this option to avoid restrictions on your usage.

Click “OK” once you’ve adjusted the filters.

After applying the filters, the refined list of eSIM options will appear.

Focus on the top 3-10 options, as they usually contain the best deals.
In this example, the eSIMplus provider offers a plan for $5.67 USD, which is significantly cheaper than others.

Note down the top three options that match your needs. The next step involves checking customer reviews to ensure the provider’s reliability and service quality.

Step 3: How to Use Trustpilot to Compare eSIM Providers for Your Destination?

After comparing eSIM providers and packages using eSIMDB, we ended up writing down 3 of the best options. The next crucial step is to evaluate the customer experience for these providers. For this, I highly recommend using Trustpilot—a platform I’ve found to be unbiased and reliable, featuring real customer reviews for almost every eSIM provider.

When choosing a provider, the overall rating is a great starting point. A score above 4.0 stars generally indicates a safe choice. However, if you’re still unsure, it’s essential to dig deeper and look for reviews specific to your destination. eSIM providers often partner with different local networks in various countries, meaning that the experience for Country A may differ from Country B.

Here’s how to use Trustpilot effectively:

Identify the Actual Company Name:
Sometimes, the company name listed on eSIMdb differs from its official name. To find the real company name:

Open the chosen provider’s option on eSIMdb.
Click the “Official Website” button. For instance, eSIMplus corresponds to the company T-sim.hk.

Search on Trustpilot:

Go to Trustpilot.
Enter the company name in the search bar. For example:
- T-sim.hk (eSIMplus): It has 1 review with a rating of 3.7. While the limited reviews may seem risky, personal experience (like mine in Japan) suggests it can still be reliable.
- Airdatalink: It has a solid rating of 4.2 from multiple reviews, indicating a safe choice.
- Mobimatter: With a 4.2 rating and 17K reviews, this provider is highly reputable.

Refine Your Decision Based on Reviews:
If you’re unsure, look for reviews specific to your destination:

Use Trustpilot’s filter options to search for the country you’re visiting.
For example, enter “Japan” to the filters to see customer experiences in that specific country.

Understanding Bad Reviews:
Not all bad reviews are indicative of poor service. Many negative reviews arise due to issues like:

Misreading the installation guide: eSIM setup can be slightly tricky for those who don’t follow the steps exactly.
Phone compatibility issues: Sometimes, a negative review is due to users not checking if their phone is compatible with eSIM.

It’s essential to read through the reviews carefully and identify patterns. A few isolated bad reviews may not necessarily mean the provider is unreliable.

Final Decision:
Providers with a rating above 4.5 are generally safe bets. However, if you prefer to minimize risks, opt for the provider with the highest ratings and relevant positive reviews for your destination.

Final Words

Choosing the right eSIM for your travels can make all the difference in staying connected without stress. While this guide provides you with the tools to make informed decisions, the experience doesn’t stop here. In my specific destination guides, I’ll be sharing detailed reviews and personal experiences with various eSIM providers I’ve used in different countries.

From connection quality to ease of setup and customer support, you’ll find insights tailored to each destination, helping you make an even more confident choice. Stay tuned as I continue testing and sharing my findings to make your travel planning easier, smarter, and more reliable. Safe travels, and happy exploring!