If you’re looking for a value-for-money data plan then you really should consider Sim Local. I’ve tried lots of eSIMS during my travels and my experience using Sim Local was honestly hugely positive. Easy-to-use and competitively priced, it makes staying connected while you’re on the road a breeze.
In this Sim Local review I share exactly why I think these eSIMs are a game changer for travel.
It wasn’t that long ago that a trip overseas meant being completely disconnected – I still remember travelling abroad and using Internet cafes to contact my parents back home. These days, however, it’s so much easier to stay in touch when you’re away, especially when you choose an eSIM provider such as SIM Local.
As a frequent traveller Sim Local invited me to test out one of the eSIM plans on two recent trips to the United States to see what I thought and I honestly had a great experience. Using the Sim Local eSIM was easy to set up, simple to manage and it meant that I was connected from the moment I touched down in Utah and later in Denver, Colorado.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I have been or could be if you click on a link in this post compensated via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post. See our full disclosure policy for more details.
What is an eSIM?
Table of Contents
Smartphones have come a long way since they were first introduced, not only in terms of design but how they connect to mobile networks.
Until fairly recently, smartphones used physical SIM cards, small, fiddly slivers of plastic that stored all the information. If you wanted to avoid international roaming fees when travelling abroad, you would typically have to find a tiny metal pin to open the equally tiny plastic tray and trade your home SIM card for one local to your destination.
If this wasn’t tricky enough, you were then challenged with not losing your home SIM card during the two week holiday. It was a clunky but necessary process in order to stay connected without racking up a huge international roaming bill.
An eSIM is a digital alternative to the traditional plastic SIM cards and is built directly into the phone’s hardware. So, instead of trying to put physical local sim cards into your phone, you download a data plan directly to your device and simply switch it on when you land in your destination.
eSIMs have been around since 2016 but it’s only in the last few years that they have really gained in popularity and are making a big impact on travel.
Who are SIM Local and how do they work?
Sim Local started in Dublin in 2011 and have been growing steadily ever since, connecting an incredible four million customers worldwide.
What makes them stand out from other eSIM brands is that Sim Local partners with the best local network in each destination. Most other eSIM companies rely on global roaming agreements whereas Sim Local partners directly with top-tier network operators, whether that’s EE in the UK, Orange in France or TIM in Italy.
What this means in practice, is that you’re guaranteed good, reliable connections wherever you are in the world. They operate in over 200 destinations from Albania to Vietnam and everywhere in between including Mexico and Japan.
They also offer a huge range of plans including plans for individual countries – for example if you’re spending a couple of weeks in France. Alternatively if you’re heading off interrailing around Europe then you can opt for a European plan.
There are also regional plans for places including South America and the Caribbean and even global plans if you’re lucky enough to be travelling around the world.
Choosing an eSIM & setup
Sim Local offers a huge range of eSIMs to choose from depending on what kind of international travel you are doing. I had two trips to the United States coming up for work taking place within a month and so opted for Sim Local’s 18GB eSIM plan valid for 30 days.
If you’re not sure which plan is right for you – and given how many options there are, choosing one can be overwhelming – then Sim Local have a a Find My Plan tool, which will help you choose the best plan for you according to where you are travelling and how much data you need.
The only thing that you need to check before travelling is whether or not your device is compatible. Most modern smartphones are but a handful aren’t – a friend recently discovered that the phone she bought in the UK was actually one made for the Korean market and did not have the option to add an eSIM. If you’re unsure, Sim Local has a handy feature on their website where you can check if your phone is going to work.
Some travellers say that the main downside of eSIMs is that they are usually data-only, meaning that they do not include a local phone number for local calls and SMS. However, Sim Local does provide local eSIMs that include calls and texts. Most travellers will be happy using apps like WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime that work perfectly over data but if you want to be able to call then make sure you choose a plan that allows this.
Installing my Sim Local eSIM
After purchasing the plan on the website, I received an email with a step-by-step installation guide detailing how to install my eSIM.
Now, you may think that you need to be tech-savvy in order to set up an eSIM but the good news is that you don’t. The set-up is easy (far easier than trying to remove a physical SIM from your phone!) and there’s help at hand if you get stuck.
Sim Local offer customer support via email, online chat and WhatsApp 24 hours a day, which means they’ll get you up and running quickly no matter where you are in the world.
In addition to the email instructions there was a link to a video to watch that walks you through the installation process. This is especially handy if it’s your first time installing an eSIM.
There are various ways you can choose to install a Sim Local eSIM on your phone and the Sim Local website offers detailed instructions for each.
There’s the option to install the eSIM manually as well as using the Sim Local app. I have an iPhone and so the process was very straightforward. After purchasing and downloading the plan, I scanned a QR code, followed the prompts and the eSIM was installed.
There are a couple of things to note: with this plan I had to register my USA eSIM with Lycamobile, which was a really quick process and again, Sim Local gave instructions on what to do.
The other thing you need to remember is to make sure “Allow Mobile Data Switching” is turned OFF in your mobile settings so that you don’t get any nasty surprise charges.
Using my eSIM in North America
As soon as I landed in Salt Lake City in Utah, I flicked the toggle for my eSIM in my phone settings and, a couple of minutes later, it connected to Lycamobile US and I was ready to go.
It’s worth noting that while you can download an eSIM plan when you arrive in your travel destination, it’s well worth doing it before you travel as you will need a stable internet connection and you don’t want to incur roaming charges in order to do this (that’s the whole point of having an eSIM!). Your plan starts as soon as you connect to the network in your destination.
Throughout my week-long trip in Utah, my Sim Local eSIM worked perfectly. As this was a work trip I relied heavily on my phone for not only reading and replying to emails but making sure I was connected on social media for posting about the trip. My eSIM was flawless throughout – speedy and reliable and I was permanently connected.
When I arrived back head back in London after my trip to Utah, I toggled back onto my UK mobile network and was reconnected to Vodafone.
Two weeks later, I was back in the USA, this time in Colorado and again, I simply toggled between my SIM cards in my phone settings and I was once again connected to my Sim Local eSim.
My experience using the SIM Local eSIM
Overall I had a really good experience using my Sim Local eSIM and I would highly recommend it as a great option for anyone travelling overseas.
In summary, the things I like best about Sim Local eSIMs:
- The pricing is really competitive and very reasonable. My 30 day 18GB eSIM cost just $33.00.
- The plan is really easy to download and install and came with step-by-step instructions, including video demos and 24/7 live support
- There are lots of plans to choose from around the world with a quiz to help you find the best plan for you from short trips to long trips.
- They partner with the best local networks in each destination meaning that you are guaranteed reliable connection from the moment you arrive.
So, when you’re ready to get your own Sim Local eSIM, take a look here and enjoy your next adventure!
