What is eSIM and How to Use it? – Internet Use Abroad

Internet use abroad is becoming a bigger need and a bigger expense item every day. At this point, eSIMs entered our lives and made our lives much easier. eSIM, which is short for Embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card technology that you can use on your phone without needing a physical SIM card. What is eSIM, how and where to get it, how to use it, which phones support it All the information you need to use eSIM is in this article, keep reading!

What is eSIM?

eSIM is a type of software that can be defined as a digital SIM card that can be used instead of the physical SIM cards we know. You do not need to buy a physical card to use eSIMs, also called Embedded SIM, embedded SIM and/or inserted SIM. All you have to do is activate the internet package you will purchase from the mobile application or website of eSIM service providers on your phone by following the instructions. eSIM user can easily use more than one SIM or phone number on the same phone.

Is eSIM Secure?

eSIM is more secure than physical SIM cards. Since it is a digital SIM, it can be deactivated remotely in case your phone is lost and/or stolen.

eSIM users can benefit from advanced security measures as they can set their own unique password.

Where to Buy eSIM?

You can purchase a package from the mobile application and/or website of any of the eSIM service providers by selecting the time and GB you need according to the region where you will use eSIM. You don't need to go to a physical store to get an eSIM.

I used two different eSIM applications at different times during my travels abroad; AirAlo and Mobimatter. Both were very simple to use and activate. Below you can find the reviews of both and the discount codes you can benefit from for the first time.

AirAlo eSIM Application

I used the AirAlo app for my 7-day trip to Italy. 5GB internet package was 15 USD. 5GB was easily enough for a week, and I did not experience any slowness in use. If you invite a friend, you get a 3 USD discount.

For AirAlo; SEVIL3082 code If you purchase with 3 USD discountYou can benefit from .

Mobimatter eSIM Application

During my 6-day trip to Germany, I bought the eSIM internet package through the Mobimatter application. Since two people will be using the internet, this time we bought a 10 GB package and paid 10 Euros for 13 GB. It is quite affordable compared to AirAlo. If you invite a friend, you can get a 5 USD refund.

At the end of 6 days, even though we were used by two people, we only used 4.5GB of internet, so there was no need to buy such a large package.

For Mobimatter; SEVIL80516 code If you purchase with Refund up to 5 USD that already has a high-level character.

You can use the mobile application or website of both applications. All you have to do is choose your package before you travel and activate it when you go. It is very easy and practical to use. During the purchasing phase, both e-Sims explain step by step what you need to do. 

There are many e-SIM applications similar to these two applications, you can choose the one that suits you best by looking at their prices and comments. 

How to Use eSIM?

Below is the step by step “How to use eSIM?” I answer the question;

• Decide on eSIM service provider. You can choose one of the companies I shared above or another option suitable for you.
• Select your destination and the internet package you need from the service provider you choose. You can get eSIM service in 190+ countries worldwide.
• Purchase the package of your choice. You can do this part before your trip.
• When you purchase the package, a special QR code will be created for you. Activate it by scanning this code with your phone. You will need a wifi connection for these operations.
• When you scan the QR code, your eSIM configuration will be completed and you can now use the internet freely. If you have problems scanning the QR code, you can activate your package by following the instructions of the service provider. No panic 🙂

Which Phones Support eSIM?

As eSIM service providers increase and eSIM usage increases, technology companies cannot resist this. Many phone brands support eSIM in their new models.

• iPhones that support eSIM; All iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR or later models with iOS 12.1 or later support eSIM.

• Huawei: P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro
• Samsung: Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, Z Fold 3 5G Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, Z Fold2 Galaxy S20, S20 Ultra and S20 Plus Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S22+, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip4 5G, Galaxy Z Fold4 5G,Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 5G
• Xiaomi: 13T Pro 5G, 13T 5G, 13 5G, 13 Pro 5G, 13 Lite,Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G, Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G

It would be a good idea to do a short research on the internet to find out whether your phone supports eSIM.

Other Alternatives for Internet Use Abroad

If you are going to travel abroad, you need to find a solution for internet use. This is no longer a luxury but a necessity. I have listed below the alternatives other than using eSIM for internet use abroad;

1. If your trip will be short, you can check the international packages of your current GSM operator. However, this option will be more expensive than all alternatives.
2. If your trip will be long, you may want to consider purchasing a local line from the country you are visiting, it is usually cheaper than eSIM.
3. If you think that you will not need internet all the time, you can now find WIFI almost everywhere in the world, you can take advantage of them. My advice for this option is to download the offline map of maps.me or Google Maps applications to your phone before you go and download Google Translate to the language of the country you are going to.

If this article was useful for you, don't forget to share it with your friends who you think will need it!