Travel eSIM: mobile data abroad without roaming fees
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM you download to your phone to get mobile data in another country: no plastic card, no shop visit and no roaming bill from your home carrier. Choose a plan for your destination on Onlineselling, install it with the details from your order page, and switch to it when you land.
- Install before you fly
- Keep your home SIM
- Plans by country
- Card or crypto
Gift cards and eSIM in the shop
eSIM data plans sit in the same shop section as gift cards. The live list shows what’s open now and the starting prices.
Gift cards & eSIM: coming soon
How a travel eSIM works
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Most recent flagship phones do; see the checklist below.
Pick a plan for your destination
Choose the country in the eSIM store and a plan with enough data and validity for your trip.
Install it before you leave
Add the eSIM over Wi-Fi with the installation details from your order page. It’s easier at home than at an airport.
Switch on arrival
In your phone’s mobile data settings, choose the eSIM line for data and turn on data roaming for that line. Your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts.
Is your phone eSIM-compatible?
Most recent iPhones, Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxy phones support eSIM, and many other brands’ newer models do too. Some models sold in certain regions don’t, so check your own phone rather than the model name.
On an iPhone, look in Settings > Mobile Service (or Cellular) for an option to add an eSIM. On Android, look in Settings > Network or Connections > SIM manager. Menu names vary by brand.
Your phone also has to be carrier-unlocked. If it came on a contract, your carrier can tell you whether it’s locked.
Travel eSIM vs roaming vs a local SIM
| Travel eSIM | Home roaming | Local SIM card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Online, before you go | Nothing, it’s already on | Buy in a shop after you arrive; ID may be needed |
| Cost control | Prepaid, fixed allowance | Depends on your carrier; can be expensive | Prepaid at local rates |
| Your home number | Stays active on the physical SIM | Stays active | Usually swapped out of the phone |
| Calls and SMS | Travel plans are mostly data-only; check the plan | Yes | Yes |
How much data do you need?
Data use depends far more on what you do than on how long you travel. Use this as a rough guide when choosing a plan.
| Activity | Data use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging and email | Very light | Text messages in chat apps use very little; photos and voice notes add more |
| Maps and navigation | Light | Download offline maps on Wi-Fi before you go to use even less |
| Browsing and social media | Moderate | Autoplaying video in social feeds is what eats data |
| Video calls | Heavy | Switch to audio-only when you don’t need the picture |
| Video streaming | Heaviest | Streaming services estimate up to about 3 GB an hour in HD |
Multi-country and regional plans
If your trip covers several countries, a regional plan that includes all of them saves you installing a new eSIM at every border. Check the list of covered countries in the plan details, including any you only pass through.
Plans in the eSIM store are listed by destination, so you can see what’s available for each country on your route before you choose between one regional plan and several single-country ones.
Installing a travel eSIM on iPhone and Android
Connect to Wi-Fi
The phone downloads the eSIM profile, so it needs a stable connection.
Add the eSIM
iPhone: Settings > Mobile Service (or Cellular) > Add eSIM. Android: Settings > Network or Connections > SIMs > Add eSIM or Download a SIM. Then scan the QR code or enter the details from your order page.
Label the line
Name it something like “Travel” so you can tell it apart from your home line in the settings.
Set it as the data line on arrival
Choose the travel line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Keep your home line for calls and texts if you want.
Avoid surprises on your trip
Check when the plan starts
Some plans start counting days when installed, others on first connection in the destination. The plan details say which.
Turn off roaming on your home line
Set mobile data to the eSIM line and switch off data roaming for your home SIM, so it can’t use data abroad by accident.
Size the plan to your trip
Maps, messaging and browsing use little data; video calls and streaming use a lot. Pick a plan with some headroom.
Plans are final once delivered
eSIM plans can’t be returned after delivery, so check device support and the destination before you buy. Failed orders are refunded to your balance.
Travel eSIM: FAQ
How does a travel eSIM work?
You buy a data plan for your destination, download it to your phone as a digital SIM, and switch your mobile data to it when you arrive. Your physical SIM can stay in the phone.
Does my phone need to be unlocked for an eSIM?
Yes. A phone locked to a carrier usually can’t use another provider’s eSIM. Ask your carrier if you’re not sure.
When should I install my travel eSIM?
Before you leave, while you have reliable Wi-Fi. Then switch to it when you land. Check the plan details for when the validity period starts.
Can I keep my WhatsApp number with a travel eSIM?
Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your phone number, not to the line that provides data, so your chats keep working over the eSIM’s data.
Do travel eSIMs include calls and texts?
Most travel plans are data-only. You can still call and message over the internet with apps, and your home SIM can receive texts if you keep it active.
Can I get a refund on an eSIM?
eSIM plans are final once delivered. If an order fails before delivery, the amount is refunded to your balance.
Can I use my travel eSIM as a hotspot?
Many plans allow tethering, but not all. Check the plan details before you buy if you want to share data with a laptop or another phone.
Related guides
Gift cards
Buy digital gift cards with crypto or a card, from the same shop section.
Read the guide →Prepaid virtual cards
A card number for online payments, loaded from your balance.
Read the guide →Virtual phone number
Need to receive a sign-up code while your SIM is off? Pick the right number type.
Read the guide →Get data sorted before you fly
Pick your destination, install over Wi-Fi at home and switch on when you land.
Check that your device supports eSIM and the plan covers your destination before buying. Plans are final once delivered; see our Terms of Service.