It’s time for old-school SIM cards to step aside, the eSIM is here, in full force, and it’s here to stay!
There can be an overwhelming number of eSIMS for travel available today, so it can be difficult to choose who is the best for your needs.
Recently, I’ve been testing a new eSIM provider, “Sim Local”, and I’ve got great things to say about it. So below I give you an in-depth review of Sim Local and why they should be your next choice as an eSIM for travel!
Why trust me? I’ve been reviewing eSIMS for the last 3 years (since I started using them in 2022), and I’ve been testing and trialing a range of providers in a variety of countries to really see who works and who doesn’t! Oh, and I only write about eSIMs that I’ve actually tested myself!
Okay, let’s get started…
Sim Local is your passport to seamless global connectivity.
These guys offer travelers a hassle-free way to stay connected wherever you roam. With a focus on affordability, reliability, and convenience, their range of SIM cards ensures you'll never miss a beat while exploring new destinations.
They offer eSIM plans in over 195 countries and offer a range of both local eSIMS (country-specific), and area-specific too, such as Europe & WorldWide.
They're also pretty well known and well established in both the sim and eSIM network.
When you fly into London airports, you may even spot the Sim Local brand!
But naturally they are moving into the eSIM market more and more since eSIMS are the future of data connectivity!
If you're not already familiar, an eSIM operates as a virtual substitute for a physical SIM card.
Instead of relying on a traditional SIM card each time you switch locations, an eSIM serves the same purpose.
Rather than physically inserting a SIM card into your device's tray, you activate an eSIM by scanning a QR code or entering a number manually, depending on your phone and eSIM provider.
Moreover, you can add multiple eSIMs if needed, which proves handy for toggling between your home network (for calls and texts) and an eSIM for data.
As for the pros and cons, eSIMs boast more advantages than disadvantages, so let's explore some of them.
One of the only real “disadvantages” I could think of for eSIMS was the fact that you didn't get a local number, but that’s all changed now.
You CAN get local numbers with selected eSIMS, and specifically, you can get local numbers with particular eSIMS from Sim Local.
I got a French number, and I’ll go into more detail about this later on.
But even if your eSIM doesn’t have a local number included, you can typically just use WhatsApp for your daily needs.
Plus, you can make sure of dual sims nowadays, which means you can set your eSIM to data and set your normal sim to calls and texts (which is exactly what I do when I’m travelling).
As of 2024, this is the current list of eSIM-supported devices:
With over 195 countries covered by Sim Local, you’re pretty much covered for everywhere you choose to travel.
This may seem like a pretty standard advantage, but there are plenty of eSIM providers that do not cover a full range of countries.
Some are limited to 80, some even 50, so this is a great advantage!
What’s great about Sim Local is the amount of options available for where you are traveling.
You can opt for single destination countries (at great prices), or you can choose a specific region.
For example, if you’re visiting a bunch of countries whilst in Europe, it would be wiser to opt for a Europe eSIM plan.
Here you can see they offer an EU eSIM with a generous 30GB (and a local number) that covers 36 countries!
This is under the Orange network, which is truly the best in terms of coverage across European countries.
OR, if you’re hopping through different countries internationally (this is common if you’re going a long haul adventure with stopovers in different countries), then you can opt for a Global eSIM plan that covers 149 countries and a reasonable 10GB for less than £30. That’s very good value!
Another very good advantage of Sim Local is just how great the prices are!
It’s extremely competitive.
Let’s take a popular backpacking destination such as Thailand.
You can get 1GB for £3.50 (perfect for when you just need to check maps ect), up to 20B for £27 which lasts 30 days (and since our Thailand backpacking itinerary is 3 weeks, that’s a perfect amount of time and GBs to last you!)
Then take somewhere like Canada (which has been famous for it’s pricey physical sim data plans!), and you can get 5GB for £12 (you’ve no idea how good value this is until you’ve actually been to Canada- trust me, I have, and I know!)
Sim Local provides SIM cards and plans without the need for long-term commitments or the obligation to stick with an eSIM for a year (sometimes a requirement with other eSIM providers).
This option is ideal for those seeking flexibility and aiming to steer clear of being locked into a particular provider or plan for an extended duration.
All eSIMS are pretty much activated in the same way. It’s simple, quick and takes less than 2 minutes.
The most common way to activate an eSIM is via scanning the QR code that’s been given to you.
You send that QR code to a different device, then open your camera app, point it at the eSIM QR code, and a prompt will appear on your screen.
You simply tap it and follow the instructions to install your eSIM.
This is what I do and it’s super easy and simple (I have a Samsung Galaxy S21 and Brad has an S22 and it’s the same on his device too).
Or you can do it manually by going to your settings, and search for Sim Manager, and add an eSIM, then it will prompt you to scan your QR code.
SOME eSIM plans will also ask you to enter a code, the code will appear after you’ve purchased your eSIM so you know what to use.
It’s 0000, so easy enough to remember ;)
I was traveling Iceland and the Faroe islands, so I wanted an option that included both countries and would provide me with a decent amount of data to not only browse the internet, check Google Maps etc, but to stream Netflix and maybe download a few episodes on Disney+.
After a quick bit of research on the website, I found the Orange EU eSIM plan which covered 36 countries, including both the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and it offered 30GB of data which was more than enough data!
This was a really good option for me too as I often use my home sim in European countries (when I’m not hot spotting), but my home network actually didn’t include the Faroe Islands, and the fees to get data there were extortionate!
The setup took me about 2 minutes to complete and I was up and running!
I had 4G instantly and absolutely no issues with the signal.
I was actually on a ferry crossing the North Sea, and the Orange eSIM picked up a signal in random places that my home sim didn’t and I was able to have come connectivity in the most random of places- which was awesome!
One thing that was really cool about this eSIM was that it came with a French number, that included 120 minutes of calls from Europe to worldwide, and 1000 texts!
You could also hot spot this eSIM to a laptop (which you all know by now is SUPER important to me!) and there is no usage limitations!
I’ve really only got good things to say about Sim Local. I think the website is slick, easy to use and looks great, and I think the eSIMS are some of the best-priced in the market.
The app is easy to use, super functional and doesn’t crash, and I will absolutely use this eSIM provider on my future trips!
The only downfall they have is that in terms of regional eSIMS, they don’t have as wide a range of regions as some providers. For example, they don’t have a South East Asia, Caribbean or Latin America specific eSIM.
Perhaps this is something that will change over time.
Absolutely! I’d go as far to say that Sim Local is one of my top 3 best eSIM providers I’ve tested.
You’ve got great coverage, great options and prices for both individual countries and more regional eSIMS. And as I’ve said before, the prices are excellent for the eSIM market!
Go on, get your Sim Local eSIM today!
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