An eSIM is a mobile plan stored on a chip inside your phone. How it works, how to check your iPhone or Android, and what it does not change.
An eSIM is a SIM that lives inside your phone as software instead of a piece of plastic. You add a plan by scanning a QR code or tapping a link, and it sits alongside your normal SIM, so you can keep your own number for calls and messages while a second line handles data. Nothing needs to be mailed, and there is no tray to open.
Planning the trip? See all our travel eSIM data plans and prices before you buy a plan.
What makes it different from a normal SIM
A physical SIM is a removable card that holds one subscription. An eSIM is the same subscription stored as data on a chip you cannot remove. That difference matters in three practical ways.
- Nothing to post or collect: a plan can be delivered by email in minutes, at any hour.
- More than one line: your home SIM stays active for calls and one-time codes while a travel profile carries the data.
- Switching is quick: turning a line on or off takes a few taps, and deleted profiles can be re-added by the provider if a plan is still valid.
How the technology works, in plain terms
Every phone that connects to a mobile network needs an identity that the network recognises. For decades that identity was a chip on a plastic card. The eSIM standard (GSMA's remote SIM provisioning) moves the same identity into a secure element built into the handset. The provider sends a profile over the internet; your phone stores it, and the profile is activated when you select it.
Because the profile is issued remotely, a provider can supply one from another region without shipping anything. That is why travel data is where most people first meet an eSIM.
Checking whether your phone supports it
iPhone
Open Settings, then Cellular. If you see Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan, the phone supports it. On newer models there is no physical tray at all in some markets, so eSIM is the only route. You can also dial *#06# and look for an EID - a 32-digit number or barcode means the handset is eSIM capable.
Android
Open Settings, then Connections, then SIM Manager. Look for Add eSIM. On Pixel and most current Samsung devices the option is on that screen; on some models it sits under Mobile Network instead. If the option is missing, the handset either does not support eSIM or your carrier's firmware has disabled it.
What an eSIM does not change
It does not give you coverage by itself - you still need a plan that works in the regions you are visiting. It does not make roaming free. It does not affect your phone number: your own SIM keeps working, and the travel line is only for data. And it is not a subscription you are stuck with: most travel profiles expire on their own and can be removed when the trip is over.
Two habits that avoid most problems
- Install at home on Wi-Fi, then keep the travel line switched off until you land. Some plans start counting from first connection, and installing early is harmless.
- Name your lines clearly. Keeping your own SIM as Primary and the travel profile as Secondary makes every later settings screen easier to read.
See the full list of regions covered on our coverage page.
What an eSIM is, in one paragraph
- An eSIM is a downloadable mobile plan stored on a chip inside your phone.
- It sits alongside your normal SIM, so your own number keeps working.
- Delivery is by email or QR code, which is why it suits travel.
- Check Settings - Cellular (iPhone) or Settings - Connections - SIM Manager (Android) to see whether your handset supports it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an eSIM and my normal SIM at the same time?
Yes. Most recent phones run your own line and a travel profile together, with data on one and calls on the other.
Does an eSIM work if my phone is carrier locked?
No. A carrier-locked handset only accepts profiles from the carrier that locked it. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
What happens if I delete the profile by mistake?
Tell the provider. A profile that has never been activated can usually be reissued, but one that has already been installed once often cannot be reinstalled.
Is an eSIM better than a physical travel SIM?
For most trips it is simpler: nothing to collect, no tray to open, and your own SIM stays in place. A physical card still makes sense for an older handset without eSIM support.
Do I need to turn on data roaming when using an eSIM abroad?
Usually yes - the travel line is treated as roaming on most networks, so the roaming switch for that line needs to be on even though the plan itself is prepaid.