What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone — it connects you to mobile data without a physical card. SimForMe offers eSIM data plans for travelers visiting 200+ destinations worldwide.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a small chip built into modern smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. It does everything a traditional SIM card does — connecting your device to a cellular network — but without requiring a physical card to be inserted.
With an eSIM, you can download a mobile data plan directly to your device. This means travelers can purchase a local data plan from SimForMe before arriving at their destination and activate it instantly — no need to find a local SIM shop or swap tiny cards.
eSIMs also support multiple profiles at once. You can keep your regular phone number active on one profile while using a SimForMe travel data plan on another, all on the same device.
How does an eSIM work?
An eSIM uses preinstalled software on your device to work just like a physical SIM. Once you activate it, you can connect to a cell network and use mobile data. Most modern phones will have built-in eSIMs, but check our list of eSIM-compatible phones to see if yours does.
To start using an eSIM, just buy an eSIM plan from SimForMe and complete a quick setup. No need to remove your current SIM card — it can stay where it is, whether you decide to keep using it or not.
Choose a data plan
Select the country you're heading to and pick a plan that fits your trip — from 1 GB to unlimited data.
Install your eSIM
After purchase, scan the QR code or follow the automatic setup to install the eSIM profile on your device.
Connect automatically
Your eSIM data plan activates when you arrive at your destination. No manual setup needed — just turn on data roaming.
How to set up an eSIM
Follow these steps to start using an eSIM on your iPhone or Android.
Set up an eSIM on your iPhone with the SimForMe app
Pick an eSIM data plan for your trip
Select the country you're heading to and choose a plan.
3 GB
30 days
Download the eSIM profile
Tap "Install eSIM" and follow the steps on the screen.
eSIM installed
Your plan will automatically activate
Get ready for your trip — your plan will activate when you arrive.
Set up an eSIM manually on your iPhone
- Go to "Settings".
- Tap "Cellular data" or "Mobile data".
- Tap "Add cellular plan" or "Add eSIM".
- Touch "Enter information manually" at the bottom of your iPhone screen.
- Paste the eSIM information shared by SimForMe.
What is the difference between an eSIM and a physical SIM?
The main difference between an eSIM and a traditional SIM card is that an eSIM is digital while a SIM card is a physical chip.
Up to two*
Up to two
As many as you like
Up to two
Deactivate the profile
Remove the SIM card
Manual or automatic (plan activates at your destination)
Manual (need to insert a card into your device)
Newer devices only
Old and most new devices
Affordable — easy to get data plans for different countries
May be expensive due to roaming
*SimForMe is all about mobile data, so we don't support phone numbers yet.
eSIM advantages and disadvantages
No high roaming fees
Travelers can buy eSIMs that connect them to local carriers and avoid unexpected roaming fees.
Multiple profiles
You can have multiple virtual eSIMs on one device, making it easy to switch between different carriers and phone numbers.
Pay for what you need
Off to Japan for a week? Get a 7-day plan instead of monthly, and save your yen for an extra okonomiyaki.
Saves space
The absence of a physical SIM card slot frees up space for other device upgrades (like a bigger battery or more handset features).
Can't get lost or stolen
Swapping out tiny SIM cards is tricky, especially if you're on the move. An eSIM is built in, so it won't get lost or stolen.
Less waste
A single plastic SIM won't destroy the planet, but getting a newly packaged SIM card for every trip adds up over time. Use an eSIM and reduce your plastic footprint.
Get an eSIM data plan
Find a mobile data plan for your next trip — search our list of destinations.