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What is an eSim?
Should I get one and will it save me money on my mobile bill?
Updated 27 February 2025
eSims have been around for more than a decade, but it's only recently they've become more widely available in the UK. Yet most UK firms still don't fully support them. Where they really shine is if you're planning a trip abroad. We take you through what an eSim is, how you can get one and whether it'll save you any money below.
This is the first incarnation of this guide. We'd love to know of your experiences with eSims, or if you've any feedback or questions we've not answered. Let us know in the What is an eSim? forum thread.
What is an eSim?
An eSim is a virtual version of the Sim cards we usually have in our phones and means an 'embedded' Sim. It controls our calls, texts and data, but it's all digital. Instead of a physical card, there's a tiny chip built into the phone or other compatible devices such as Apple watches or tablets (for example iPads) that support eSims. You can buy eSims online and activate it by scanning a QR code, and it starts working right away.
eSims aren't that common in the UK right now (see which providers offer them), but top international eSims can work out cheaper for roaming outside the EU – and you don't need to change your UK number. Read Martin's story of trying an eSim below (spoiler: it worked well and was far cheaper).
- Want a new phone? See our Cheap Mobile Finder tool.
- Going on holiday? Check out our Cheap mobile and data roaming guide for more tips and tricks.
Which phones are eSims compatible with?
There are loads of mobile phones available right now that are enabled for eSims. Most Google Pixels and Apple iPhones have been compatible since around 2018, while Samsung's flagship phones launched since 2020 can use eSims.
You can easily check if your phone supports eSim technology by dialing *#06# on your phone's keypad – if you see a pop-up which includes an EID number on the screen, then your device should be compatible. We've also listed the most popular models below:
An eSim could save you cash when travelling outside of Europe
While eSims aren't hugely beneficial for day-to-day UK use yet, and likely not worth it if you're travelling within Europe for a short holiday (due to cheaper roaming in the EU), for a trip further afield they can be a good option.
If you're travelling outside of Europe, international eSims can be much cheaper than using your provider's roaming add-ons, which can cost up to £8 a day depending on your provider and where you are roaming (see our provider-by-provider breakdown of non-EU roaming charges).
Just buy an eSim for the country you are visiting online in advance, adjust your phone's settings and it gives you a data allowance overseas (you can use internet-based apps such as WhatsApp for calls and texts). And to be clear, this is to use alongside your physical UK Sim card, meaning you don't need to change your number while abroad – and will still receive calls and texts, though you may be charged by your home network.
How much does an international eSim cost?
Prices can vary hugely and it's impossible for us to give an extensive comparison of eSims as there are so many different providers and combinations depending on where you are going and how much data you need. But to give you an idea of pricing, in the table below we've shown the prices from the biggest eSim providers for the USA and India for at least 10GB of data, which should be more than enough for most (they don't generally come with calls or any texts).
Note: We've little feedback on these firms, so can't vouch for how good the coverage or data speeds are.
eSim costs for the US and India
| eSim provider | USA | India |
| Airalo* | £21.50 for 10GB for 30 days | £20.50 for 10GB for 30 days |
| Breeze* | £10 for 10GB for 30 days | £57 for 10GB for 30 days |
| Easysim* | £16 for 10GB for 30 days | £32 for 10GB for 30 days |
| Firsty | €30 for unlimited data for 30 days (1) | €30 for unlimited data for 30 days (1) |
| GoMoWorld | €19.99 (£17) for 30GB for 30 days | €19.99 (£17) for 20GB for 30 days |
| Holafly | £60 for unlimited data for 30 days (2) | £90 for unlimited data for 30 days (2) |
| Nomad | £12 for 10GB for 30 days | £21 for 10GB for 30 days |
| uSwitch | £11 for 10GB for 30 days | £57 for 10GB for 30 days |
Updated February 2025. With the exception of Easysim and Breeze, these providers offer connectivity via a single provider. Easysim and Breeze offers a choice of multiple networks. (1) On its 'Comfort Plus' plan, its data speed is capped at 5Mbps and there's a daily usage cap of 1GB. After 1GB, data speeds are throttled. (2) Holafly only offers unlimited data eSims for USA and India. For the USA, you can choose the specific number of days you require.
Don't want to pay? There's a free alternative...
If you don't want to worry about the cost of data or just want something as a backup, there's a new eSim provider called Firsty. It offers unlimited roaming data in over 70 countries, including the US, Australia and Japan as well as most EU countries – see full list – you just have to watch ads. Too good to be true? See MSE Chris' blog post for a full breakdown.
"As I was going out of Europe for just under 10 days, I picked a one-month 10GB eSim for £18. My own network charges well over £6 a day for a 500MB daily data limit. I was a touch trepidatious about whether it would work, if the signal would be good (as it could only connect to two networks rather than all) and how it would work with messaging.
"The whole experience on my Android phone was easier and simpler than I expected. I loaded up the eSim at the airport just before leaving so it wouldn't start working too soon. Though I now realise I could've done it earlier, as once it's set up it's very simple to switch between your normal Sim and eSim.
"The set up took about six minutes. I found the instructions pretty simple for this eSim and suspect anyone used to playing with their phone settings could do it (I didn't even need to call upon Mrs MSE's tech-savvy help), though those who aren't tech-confident may struggle.
"Once I was abroad, after a little confusion that there was no homepage indication that a different Sim was being used (I found myself flipping to the eSim app, waiting to see if it was using up megabytes – after a couple of minutes it started to register) it was easy. I got a strong 4G signal virtually everywhere, and used the internet with the freedom and speed of home. The 10GB limit lasting my whole time away smacks the bottom of a 500MB daily limit, as you don't need to worry about busting it with one download.
"WhatsApp worked fine for me – no issue that it wasn't the Sim which is my phone number – even to make calls home without a problem. I didn't receive any calls during the week away, so can't say how that would have been (most unexpected calls are usually work calls and everyone knew I was off). Overall, a very simple experience. Then when I got home I just switched the phone settings back to my normal Sim in seconds.
"Of course this is just one trip with one eSim, but so far it's a thumbs up."
Finding the best international eSim for your travels
There are now several international phone carriers that support eSims and many apps offering global eSim plans, as well as comparison websites. We've listed a few of the comparison sites to help you find an eSims – though be aware, feedback is scant, so we don't know how good they are.
Travelling in Europe? Most are better off roaming with their current provider
If you're going to Europe for a week or less, for most pay-monthly customers, an eSim is unlikely to be cheaper, because many UK providers still allow you to use your UK allowance of minutes and data within the EU for a nominal daily fee – and some don't charge you anything extra at all.
For full info, see our guide to Cheap mobile and data roaming.
Bank with Revolut? You can get an eSim to use 3GB of data abroad
If you're a Revolt banking app customer on it's paid-for Ultra plan, it gives you a 3GB eSim every month, which you can use in over 100 countries (though don't get the account just for the Sim). The data will be available for seven days from activation. If you run out of data, you can top up via your Revolut app.
Prices for each country varies, with 1GB of data starting at £2. You'll be able to top up to a maximum of 20GB. You'll also have the option to choose from a regional or global data plan (covers multiple countries with one plan). You need to have an eSim compatible smartphone, and the latest version of the Revolut app. You can find out more details on Revolut's website.
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How to use an eSim as a secondary Sim for roaming: step by step
Some may be daunted by the prospect of using an eSim, concerned they may not set it up correctly leading to exorbitant roaming charges. We've tried to simplify the process for you below, though do bear in mind that all phones and eSim providers will have slightly different ways of doing this.
Step 1: Find an eSim
First compare providers to find the best price for your needs. You'll be able to select your destination, the length of time you'll need the data for (for example, for a two-week holiday, you'll likely pick a 15-day eSim) and the amount of data you want (anything from 1GB to unlimited).
Once you've purchased your eSim online, wait to receive the QR code (or other similar instructions) to download and install the plan to your smartphone.
Step 2: Change your data roaming settings in your phone and make your eSim the default for data
This part is key – make sure you change the data settings on your phone, so that the eSim is the default for data. You'll need to find the eSim you've installed, then select that and allow data roaming – see our full instructions by type of phone.
That's because your eSim data won't work without being able to roam because eSim providers have relationships with numerous local mobile operators, so it needs to be able to connect you to the best one for your location.
For your physical UK Sim, make sure you switch data roaming off, but you can still leave this as your primary number for voice calls and texts (do check costs for making and receiving calls and messages).
So remember, your eSim data plan should have data roaming switched on and your home (primary) data plan should have data roaming switched off.
Step 3: Once abroad, you can access the internet and make and receive calls using WhatsApp, Skype, Facetime etc
You should then be able to access the internet wherever you are and can use data to make calls and send messages via internet-based apps linked to your primary UK number, such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facetime, without incurring any roaming charges from your home network.
Whether you get charged for receiving calls or sending texts while abroad is down to your individual home network provider and calling plan. So check before you go and, to be safe while abroad, only answer calls you get through apps that use an internet connection rather than a mobile network.
Quick questions
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Which UK providers offer eSims?
Several mobile providers offer eSims now, including the big four (EE, O2, Three and Vodafone), and only some of these let you switch directly to an eSim without first switching to a physical Sim card. This defeats many of benefits of getting an eSim, so right now it's unlikely to save you any time, hassle or money moving your current UK call and data plan over to an eSim.
While UK providers are not fully supporting eSims right now, they can still be a good idea if you're travelling abroad.
Which networks offer eSims?
| Network provider | Can I switch to eSim without getting a physical one first? (1) | Available on pay monthly? | Available on pay as you go? |
| EE |  |
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| Giffgaff | |
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| Honest Mobile | |
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| iD Mobile |
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| Sky Mobile | |
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| Spusu | |
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| Tesco Mobile | |
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| Voxi | |
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Updated February 2025. (1) Some networks require you to order a plastic Sim, which can then be switched to an eSim.
The benefits of using an eSim
eSims offer additional flexibility over traditional physical Sims – the key benefits include:
- You can switch between different providers and data/calling plans. eSims can let you switch between providers and change your data/call plans without the need to remove an old physical Sim and replace it with a new one. Yet not all UK providers offer eSims, so you can't take full advantage of this just yet.
- You can store up to eight eSims on one phone at a time. You can have more than one eSim from more than one network on your phone at once – but you'll only be able to use one at a time, unless your device allows a dual-Sim (see below). This is handy if you travel regularly to the same destinations and want to have multiple eSim plans stored on your phone.
- You can use two data/calling plans at once with a dual-Sim. Some phones allow you to have two active data/calling plans at the same time: one on the eSim and the other on the physical Sim (or two eSims). This is different to having multiple stored eSims, as dual-Sim functionality allows you to use two different plans at once – good if you want separate lines for personal and business use, or for an expat who may regularly visit their 'home' country.
- Installing and activating an eSim is simple. While Sim cards need to be physically inserted into your phone for them to be activated, an eSim can be activated just by scanning a QR code, and usually starts working immediately.
How can I switch my existing Sim to an eSim?
First, you need to check your phone is compatible with an eSim. If it is, and you're on a pay-monthly plan with one of the providers in the table above, you should be able to request your Sim be switched to an eSim.
Your network provider will then email or post you a QR code, which you scan using your smartphone. Simply follow the instructions on your phone to activate the eSim on your device. It'll usually be done instantly, but it can sometimes take a few hours.
Swapping your physical Sim for an eSim shouldn't affect your existing contract, but do check this with your mobile provider first.
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