For years, I have been going the easy (and expensive) route to stay connected while traveling. This means opting to use Roam Like Home from my Canadian wireless carrier to enjoy my phone as I do at home. It’s a simple, no worry solution which is why so many people do it. The cost depends on the country to which I’m traveling. But typically, it’s $12-$15/day to be able to call, text, and use the same data bucket I have at home, as if I’m there. For a seven-day business trip, this equates to at least $84. While it sounds convenient in theory, that’s a pretty hefty price to pay over and above your regular monthly bill. That’s especially so for frequent travelers.
For a recent business trip to Japan, I decided to finally take the leap and try an eSIM. After a great experience, an idea began to brew about testing others so I could compare some of the most popular options. As luck would have it, I had two other trips coming up, so the timing couldn’t have been better.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is an electronic SIM card loaded to your compatible smartphone to use exclusively while traveling. They are usually offered in packages to cover short periods of time, from a single day to up to 30 days. But there are also longer-use options and monthly rates for those who travel to the same destination every month, for example. The cost to sign up is nominal, even for large roaming packages with upwards of 10GB of data or more. Some allow you top-up data on the fly if needed (usually at a higher rate). No matter how you slice it, however, you’re paying much less than you’d pay with your carrier.
Benefits and Drawbacks
The benefit is that you’re enjoying roaming data for a fraction of the price. The disadvantage is that if you turn off your regular plan, you won’t have access to whatever voice calling and texting options come with it. If you turn off data roaming but leave your regular plan’s calling and texting active, you’ll be able to make and receive calls and send SMS through your local carrier, but you’ll pay long distance and per-use texting fees (unless you have a specific talk and text plan with your carrier for the destination to which you’re traveling).
Considering most of us use data only while traveling, and with RCS messaging now available for iPhone-Android and vice versa, you might be fine without voice and text anyway. What’s more, even if you had a few cellular network conversations at a long-distance rate, in the end, it would likely still be less than what you would have paid for a roaming package with your carrier at a flat per-day fee. Plus, when you get back home, you still have all your data to continue to use for the rest of the month.
How Do You Set Up an eSIM?
Set up a typically the same for each eSIM. Once you purchase an eSIM pack for the location to which you’re traveling, the duration of time you need, and the amount of data you want, you’ll get an e-mail with the details. Follow the instructions to install the eSIM on your device, then activate it when you’re ready. Make sure to turn off data roaming via your cellular network before you arrive at your destination. With most carriers, the roaming package kicks in as soon as it latches onto the partner network, so if you don’t do this ahead of time, you’ll be dinged by your carrier for at least that first day. I’d suggest turning the eSIM on and turning off data roaming once you board the plane and right before putting your device into airplane mode. From there, you’ll be able to use the eSIM plan upon arrival. (It might take a few minutes to latch onto a network and kick in.)
Which One Should You Choose?
Now comes the question: which eSIM provider is the best? While there are many options, I tried three of the top eSIM providers over the last few months. I used Jetpac Mobile in Japan, Airalo in Miami and The Bahamas, and Always Mobile in Las Vegas. Here’s my take.
Note: For comparative pricing purposes, I used the location of Japan for all three. Pricing differentials could vary based on your specific destination.
Jetpac
Offerings: Data pack options for 200+ destinations
Pricing: Incredibly affordable. For Japan, pricing starts at $6 for 1GB for four days (on sale at the time of this writing for about $1.50) up to $78 for 50GB over 10 days, often on sale for big discounts (Note: it’s billed in U.S. funds but for the sake of consistency, I have converted these fees to the Canadian dollar equivalent). Even that large pack is still significantly cheaper than what I’d normally pay for Roam Like Home for half the data (though I’d also not likely use that much).
What Did I Get? A 30-day pack for Japan with 10GB for $25 regular price (on sale for $15)
Ease of Purchase Set-up
It’s easy to choose by inputting the desired location in the “Where are you going?” field on the Jetpac Mobile homepage. Then, select your plan including how much data you want and for how long you need it, and place the order. When loading the eSIM, you can give it whatever name you want. I called mine “Travel.” Setting up this eSIM was incredibly easy.
The App
You can buy eSIMs directly from the app (as well as the website via browser) and use the app to keep tabs on your data usage and add more data if needed. The app affords access to other perks as well as assistance through the help tab if you run into issues while traveling. Some perks include free lounge access, though I did not make use of this.
How Well Did It Work?
This eSIM is what made me fall in love with eSIMs. The process was so smooth from start to finish and the eSIM worked flawlessly throughout my five days in Japan. I never had connectivity issues, and connectivity was lightning fast and reliable. I was blown away by how well it worked. Combined with using Wi-Fi in the hotel and cellular data for roaming while doing things like navigating to destinations on foot, I barely cracked two gigs.
Months later, I recommended Jetpac to a friend who was traveling to Mexico, and she found it easy to set up and use as well. In fact, with her new phone having trouble connecting to the resort’s Wi-Fi, having this eSIM was a lifesaver, allowing her to connect to others back home without having to pay through the nose to do it.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely! Jetpac Mobile is one of the most affordable eSIM options. It’s easy to install in just a few steps. There are plenty of package options to choose for numerous destinations around the world. I love the ability to top up data if you need it in the app. The app also has tons of other useful information, a help tab if you’re having trouble connecting, plus rewards and perks that frequent users will appreciate. This includes a referral program that will earn both you and the person you refer US$5 ea. in credits.
Best for: Both infrequent and frequent travelers, namely those who travel for shorter periods of time but want loads of data when they do.
Airalo
Offerings: Data pack options for 200+ countries and regions around the world. Also offers packs that include calls and texts.
Pricing: More expensive than others. An eSIM for Japan, for example, is $7 for 1GB, up to $38.50 for 20GB for up to 30 days.
What Did I Get? A 3-day 500MB data pack for Miami that was being offered as a free welcome promo for new users and a seven-day 1GB data plan for The Bahamas (says it covers 21 countries) for $14.
Ease of Purchase Set-up
I thought set-up was relatively simple as I purchased both cards via computer then loaded them on my phone. However, it seems when loading the cards, I was given an option to rename one and I did so as “Business.” (I named the other “Airalo (Bahamas)” for easy identification.
When I arrived to Miami and tried to activate and use the Business eSIM (after having turned off data roaming from my primary carrier) it wasn’t working. Through a series of mishaps, I frustratingly turned data roaming on for my standard carrier so I could get things done, knowing I would be charged by my carrier for that one day in Miami but having no other option.
Later, it was discovered that somehow, the renamed SIM was my primary one, not the Airalo card. Once this was fixed, however, the line still didn’t seem to want to connect even when I turned my primary carrier roaming data off and tried to revert to it for the sake of testing.
I hoped the issue would be resolved for a cruise to The Bahamas. I suspected I wouldn’t need much data since the ship has Wi-Fi, but I wanted to get a plan to use during the times when the ship’s Wi-Fi would almost certainly be slow and inconsistent. Unfortunately, I still had issues, despite the set-up process having gone similarly and as smoothly as with the others.
The App
The app is simple, allowing you to search for and purchase eSIMs and review the eSIMs you currently have, including archived ones. You earn credits each time you purchase and use an eSIM to use towards future eSIM purchases. There’s also a referral program whereby you get $4.50 in credit for each friend who signs up and they get the same amount off their first purchase.
How Well Did It Work?
Despite the card being turned on after I fixed the initial issue in Miami, and data roaming for my primary SIM turned off, it didn’t seem to work. I cannot determine if this was related to the mistaken renaming issue, or the fact that I chose the free 500MB promotion (I was going to be in Miami for less than 24 hours, so this was sufficient).
After leaving Miami, I was aware that connectivity on a cruise ship is spotty at best and traveling on the open seas means the network wouldn’t connect when I was technically not in The Bahamas. However, even when I knew with certainty that I was in The Bahamas, enjoying a lovely day off the ship and at the beach in CocoCay, it still wouldn’t connect.
Was this user error? It’s possible I did not set the eSIMs up correctly from the get-go. I also became frustrated quickly and resorted to my primary line since I had limited time in Miami. It might also, as noted, be an issue with the free welcome eSIM. Plus, admittedly, testing on a cruise ship wasn’t entirely fair.
Nonetheless, when traveling, especially for a work trip, you need it to just work. The fact that I didn’t run into a similar issue with other eSIMs leads me to believe that even if a user error caused the issue in the first place, there’s something confusing about the set-up process that drove this to happen. The other eSIMs were set up without a hitch, and kicked in once I arrived without issue, so I was left with a sour taste for this one.
Would I Recommend It?
Unfortunately, due to my experience, I would not recommend Airalo. I will give the eSIM another try for another trip and update this review accordingly should my experience change. For now, I ended up with a massive carrier bill for my trip to Miami and the cruise that I was hoping to avoid. Beyond my failed connectivity issues, the pricing for Airalo is generally higher than others as well. Regular pricing might only be a few bucks more in some cases, but other eSIM providers have frequent sales. Nonetheless, the option to get a pack that includes voice and text as well (I did not get this) is a valuable differentiator. And you experience might be different from mine.
Best for: Frequent travelers who will make use of the lengthy validity periods to spread out data and want to leverage talk and text as well. You accumulate earnings over time to use towards future eSIMs, which can add up, making it a valuable option for heavy travelers.
Always Mobile
Offerings: Data pack options for 170+ destinations worldwide.
Pricing: $5 for a 1GB, 7-day plan for Japan or $48 for 50GB that can be spread across 180 days, making it the most affordable option.
What Did I Get? A 90-day 20GB data pack for Las Vegas for $22.
Ease of Purchase Set-up
Set up for Always Mobile was super simple. Once set up, I waited until I boarded the plane for CES 2025 to turn off data roaming and my cellular line entirely. Once landed in Sin City, it took a few minutes before Always Mobile connected and then I was off to the races.
The App
Always Mobile does not have a companion app, so set up needs to be done through the website on your laptop, tablet, or phone’s browser. However, the company advises that they are working on an app for both iOS and Android with a goal of launching it by summer 2025. So, while this means you’re missing perks or a simple way to top up data, having to log in via the website is just a minor inconvenience.
How Well Did It Work?
Always Mobile worked beautifully for the entire week I was away in Las Vegas. I was able to talk to the family back home using WhatsApp, iMessage, and Facetime Audio and Video. I kept my girlfriend’s chat going via iMessage, though it did revert to my e-mail address as the sender versus phone number, which posed challenges since that automatically creating a duplicate chat group. (This would happen with any eSIM, unless you already use your e-mail versus phone number for iMessage).
At times, I completely forget I was no longer connected to my carrier at all. (That is, until I got back home and some missed SMS messages finally came through). I never ran into connectivity issues whether I was walking down the busy streets of the Las Vegas Strip, walking through a hotel, or navigating the busy trade show floor. I was thoroughly impressed.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes! Always Mobile is simple to set up, there are plenty of country and destination options (albeit not as many as others), and pricing is reasonably affordable, especially if you travel often and need minimal data while you’re away. For someone who travels to the U.S. once a month, for example, you can get a plan for very little and spread out the data through each trip, activating the eSIM whenever you need it. It doesn’t hurt that the company is based in Canada as well!
Best for: Travelers who go to the same destination often for short periods or multiple times throughout a year for longer periods and don’t need a ton of data each time.
What Else to Note About eSIMs
There are a few things to note when using eSIMs to ensure you get the most out of them and save the most money.
Work Around Phone Calls and Texts
While in Japan, my son called me a few times and there was a simple workaround. I declined the call then called him right back using FaceTime Audio or Video, which uses data versus cellular network calling. If you communicate with a family member, friends, or colleagues back home using text messaging, you’ll have to find a data workaround, like signing up to a service like WhatsApp or Signal beforehand or using Facebook Messenger. This means if someone tries to send you an SMS while you have your carrier service off, it won’t go through. Does anyone really use text messaging anymore anyway, though?
Maximize Options
If you travel often, look into monthly plans. Even if you only travel every second month, you may find it still saves you loads. You may find that one plan can cross over as well. If you’re going to Miami in mid-February then heading to New York at the end of March, find a 60-day generic U.S. plan that you can use for both locations.
Weigh The Cost Per Minute For Calls
Some businesspersons are reluctant to use eSIMs because they need to be able to accept traditional phone calls from clients and colleagues. You aren’t going to decline a phone call from a client, after all, to try and call them back using FaceTime. If this is the case, weigh the cost of per minute calls against what you’d typically pay for data roaming. Chances are you’d likely still come out ahead unless you were taking hour-long phone calls daily.
Consider that with Rogers, standard long distance calling rates are about $1 per minute without a long-distance plan. So, depending on how often you’ll use voice calls, it’s worth using an eSIM and paying the long-distance rates on top of it. If you’ll need to make more cellular calls, however, consider an eSIM from a provider like Airalo that includes a voice plan (though this will assign you a new number).