eSIM for multi-country travel - Airalo
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Having access to the Internet while traveling can be a real boon. You can use it to navigate new cities, find new vacation spots, and keep in touch with friends and family. Plus, remote workers can use a mobile hotspot abroad to work without being tethered to free Wi-Fi.
But there's no doubt that international data can be frustrating. Buying a local SIM card can be a tedious process and operators like MTS, Kyivstar charge huge fees for using data plans abroad.
On the other hand, Vodafone offer free international mobile data, but outside of the package you're limited to slow 2G speeds.
Luckily, we've found a cheaper and more convenient solution for international mobile internet: Airalo.
Important! At the end of this article is a free $3 bonus to your Airalo account!
Airalo is an eSIM marketplace that smartphone users can use to purchase temporary mobile data plans when traveling abroad. eSIM cards are like regular SIM cards that live digitally on your phone, allowing you to use a different cellular network while traveling.
This means that Airalo's mobile data plans are completely separate from your standard mobile data plan and run on a different network.
Sounds complicated, right?
It can be hard to wrap your head around. So, in this article, we'll look at what eSIM cards are, discuss how the Airalo service works, and give a full overview of the service.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM stands for "electronic subscriber identification module."
They act like any other SIM card and contain your phone number and data plan, allowing your smartphone to connect to the cellular network for data, calls, and text messages.
Unlike standard SIM cards, however, eSIMs are built into your phone or tablet. You typically add these eSIMs to your mobile device by scanning a QR code or entering a code on your device - in short, it's a software SIM card.
Many major cell phone carriers in Europe, Ukraine and Russia have already started offering eSIM cards to their customers - something useful for switching carriers on the fly, since you don't have to go to a phone store to buy a new phone service.
But eSIMs do come in handy when traveling. That's because you can remotely buy local eSIMs through select eSIM marketplaces like Airalo.
Essentially, these marketplaces sell temporary phone services that you can use abroad. The advantage of this is that you can buy mobile data plans at near local prices without having to physically buy a SIM card from a cell phone store.
This will save you a lot of time, especially if you are traveling to a country like Poland where your passport is scanned and registered when you buy a SIM card.
You can also buy these eSIM cards at will, and they usually work for a certain period of time. When that period ends (or you run out of data), you can simply top up the eSIM or buy a new one from another operator.
Which smartphones support eSIM?
eSIM is a relatively new technology, so only newer phones support it.
In terms of iPhones, the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max all support eSIM. We assume that all future iPhones will support this technology, but not all previous iPhones.
Several flagship Android phones also support eSIM, such as the Pixel 3, Pixel 4, and other devices. However, not all Android phones are supported by Airalo, so be sure to check out the full list of supported phones, tablets, and computers on the service for more information.
Don't worry, you can also use 2 SIM cards at the same time
Both iOS and Android support eSIM and standard SIM card sharing.
This means that you can set up your physical SIM card to handle voice and text messages, while your eSIM card handles all your mobile data - used solely for intenet connectivity.
This is especially useful for iOS users, as you can leave your Ukraine or Russia phone number active for Telegram or Viber when traveling abroad and use the eSIM for data transfer.
Now let's get more familiar with Airalo, the leading eSIM marketplace.
eSIM marketplaces are a real boon for travelers who want to stay connected. They make it easy to buy cheap data from local carriers, saving you valuable time and money.
Getting to know Airalo's eSIMs
Airalo is one of the first eSIM marketplaces for iOS and Android.
All eSIMs available on Airalo are data-only, which means they don't have a phone number assigned to them and can't make or receive calls or text messages. They do, however, provide super-fast mobile internet at almost local prices.
Make calls and send text messages using popular services such as FaceTime, iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, Viber and Facebook Messenger. All these applications work through mobile data.
You can purchase Airalo eSIMs through the Airalo mobile app or on the Airalo website. Once purchased, you will receive a QR code that you can scan with your phone to install on your iPhone or Android device that supports eSIMs.
Airalo offers eSIMs for over 100 countries around the world, so you'll have a hard time finding a country it doesn't support. Simply install the app on your device and you can connect to mobile data almost anywhere in the world!
Airalo offers many different eSIM plans
Airalo sells 3 types of eSIMs: local, regional, and global.
As you would expect, local eSIMs are cheaper but only work in one specific country, while regional eSIMs are more expensive but allow you to connect in multiple countries with 1 plan. Global eSIMs include 84 countries (at the time of writing). Although these sim cards are the most expensive, you don't need to buy and install a separate card if you change countries frequently.
One thing that is similar about all of these plans is that they are all prepaid and do not automatically renew, meaning there are no conditions. Also, you don't have to worry about canceling your plan or dealing with your carrier when you leave the country.
Tariff plans, prices, and data volume vary depending on where you're traveling. For example, you can buy a 1GB Polish SIM card valid for 7 days for just $5 USD. On the other hand, the same plan in Colombia costs $8.
Here are some examples of local eSIM pricing in the Airalo app:
Examples of regional eSIM pricing in the Airalo app:
Global eSIM pricing:
While it may seem like a good idea to buy a global sim card, it doesn't support all countries, and prices will be higher than local and regional rates.
There are some notable exceptions, such as the US, Canada, most African countries and all Caribbean countries, among others. World eSIM is more of a package for Asia and Europe, with some other countries added (like South Africa). New countries are added to the tariffs all the time though, so check the app itself or the website for up-to-date information.
Make sure you always check which countries are supported before you buy an Airalo regional eSIM. You can see this by tapping on the name of the regional eSIM in the Airalo mobile app or by clicking on it on the Airalo website.
My experience using Airalo abroad
Now that you know what Airalo is, I want to tell you about my experience using the service during a 20-day trip through Europe.
Although I have "Affordable Roaming from Vodafone" which includes free international data, it is limited to 10Gb. I knew I needed to work while traveling, so being able to use my iPhone's "Personal Hotspot" feature was extremely important. Therefore, it was necessary to find a solution to get additional internet traffic.
During my trip I traveled to 5 different countries: the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Germany.
All of these countries are part of the EU, so I could buy a local SIM card in the first country and use it without roaming charges. However, with such limited time in each country, I didn't want to waste precious vacation time in a Vodafone store in Prague or Warsaw.
With this in mind, I went through the plans for this trip both around the world and across Europe. The ideal option for me was a regional SIM card for Europe. If I bought a virtual eSIM for each country, I would just lose the rest of my traffic when I moved to a new country. With the regional plan, this is eliminated and you don't have to install a new SIM card every time.
The 10GB plan for Europe costs $37 for 30 days and the 20GB plan for the world costs $89 for the full 180 days!
Buying and setting up an Airalo eSIM for Europe
Once I found the type of eSIM I wanted to purchase, I downloaded the free Airalo app to my iPhone 11 Pro and created an account. This account allows you to buy eSIM cards and earn Airmoney. As you might expect, Airmoney is Airalo's loyalty program that gives you up to 10% back on all Airalo purchases in the form of store credits.
I then found Europe eSIM under the "Regional eSIMs" tab on the app's home page and clicked on it.
Here you can view detailed information about the eSIM. Different countries have different eSIM operators (Vodafone, Orange, O2, Telenor, SFR and others). The regional card will be connected to them automatically.
After a bit of research, the intended audience for the global eSIM is seafarers who need to stay connected when docked in different countries. Of course, you can also purchase this eSIM card.
I clicked the "Buy Now" button at the bottom of the screen and was given the option to pay by credit card (American Express, Mastercard, Visa), via PayPal or from my Airmoney balance.
I didn't have enough Airmoney in my account, so I decided to pay with PayPal.
The eSIM appeared in my Airalo account immediately after purchase under the "My eSIMs" tab. On this screen, you can view and set up all the eSIM cards you have purchased. Just click the "Details" button under the purchased eSIM to view it.
My experience connecting to the Airalo network
On the eSIM screen, you will see various information and buttons. The first 3 buttons are installation buttons: 1 for quick installation, 2 for installation via QR code, and 3 for manual installation.
You will have to choose quick or manual installation if you are installing the eSIM on the device you purchased it on. This is because the QR code installation requires you to scan the code with your phone's camera, which is impossible if it's displayed on your phone's screen.
But don't worry - quick or manual installation is not difficult. It was with the quick install that I installed my European eSIM from Airalo.
Here's how the process went on my iPhone:
- Tap "Install SIM," tap "Continue" twice, and wait a bit. Your eSIM will connect to the network (this may take a few minutes), then tap "Done."
- Select the label for your new eSIM tariff (I specified Europe).
- For the default number, select "Primary" (this is your number from the physical sim card), then click "Continue".
- Select "Primary" to be used with Telegram, Viber, iMessage and FaceTime for your Apple ID, then click "Continue".
- Select a new SIM rate (Europe in my case) for cellular data, then click "Continue".
Access traffic:
- In your phone settings, go to "Cellular Data" and select the eSIM downloaded to your device. Activate "Enable this number" and select the new eSIM's cellular data plan.
- If the eSIM is connected to the wrong network, tap "Select Network", disable "Automatic" and then manually specify a supported network (see in the Airalo app).
- Enable "Data Roaming" for your new eSIM tariff.
In some cases you may need to wait a little while for the eSIM to connect to the network. If it doesn't, check the instructions from the app to see if you've set everything up correctly. Or you can contact tech support, which they are awesome! They will help you get the problem resolved quickly.
Using Airalo eSIM in Europe
After I landed in Prague - the first actual destination on my mini European tour - I noticed that my phone was showing "No Service" after turning off airplane mode.
Remembering the settings recommendations, I manually selected the network and voila! A few minutes later I had Airalo cellular service again, this time on Vodafone CZ.
I had to do this every time I moved to a new country in Europe. While not convenient, it was a time saver compared to going to a cell phone store. My phone wouldn't connect in Germany even after changing carriers, but I eventually connected after rebooting my phone.
Because of these issues, Airalo can seem a little clunky at times. It would be nice if new carriers would connect immediately when I land in a new country. However, in Airalo's defense, this is likely a problem with the phone modems, not a service bug. Incidentally, this problem hardly ever appears on newer iPhone models (12 and up).
However, it was actually very easy to use the Airalo eSIM.
I experienced full 4G LTE speeds and was able to stream videos, download images, and even connect to my laptop using a personal hotspot. There were no glitches and the service was the same as if I had bought a physical SIM card at my local phone store. And in Portugal, I connected to a super fast 5G network.
It was nice to have access to multiple carriers with the European eSIM. In some countries, I had access to 2-3 different carriers at the same time, which meant I could switch carriers if I found myself without cell service from my previously chosen carrier.
Bonus $3 dollars to your Airalo account!
If you decide to try out this eSIM, I have a pretty nice bonus for you: you get $3 dollars to your account after you sign up and make your first purchase. Some plans will cost you $4.5, and with the bonus, it will only cost you $1.5.
So, how do you get the $3 USD discount on your Airalo account? When you sign up, you need to enter the following referral code: VOLODY5018
To download the app, use this link: https://ref.airalo.com/QeQT. Or find the app in the AppStore or PlayMarket.
After making your first purchase the bonus will be credited to your account and you will be able to use it for further eSIM payment.
Summary of Airalo's eSIM experience
Overall, Airalo is an incredible service for frequent travelers, digital nomads, and anyone who needs to stay connected while traveling abroad.
The service is also cheaper than buying an international roaming plan from a US carrier, and it's much more convenient than buying a physical SIM card from a phone store. And because you can also leave your number active, you'll never miss an important call or message while traveling abroad.
But the service isn't without its problems.
It's not exactly easy to use, and it requires some troubleshooting in the beginning. But once everything is working, it will provide a stable high-speed connection. If something goes wrong, you can count on Airalo's customer support to get you up and running without any problems.
In short: I can't recommend Airalo highly enough. Try it on your next trip abroad and try it for yourself - with eSIM plans starting at $3, you have almost nothing to lose.
