eSims, what is your experience.

[moa999]

Hard to know exactly what went wrong as every SIM and phone can be a bit different.

But key items is the SIM needs to be selected. It needs to be the primary/data SIM and it needs to have Roaming turned On. Sometimes one needs to play with APN settings but that's pretty rare these days.

As a cheap test before travelling try downloading Firsty (free 30min for watching an add on Wifi). Then disable your Australian SIm, and see if you can get a connection (albeit slow) on Firsty.

 

[Maca44]

Where / how did you get your phone?

There was some recent discussion up thread about whether a “Locked” phone can or can’t use the eSIMs.

As a start, on your phone goto
Settings/General/About and see if there’s SIM restrictions against “Service Provider Lock”.

Otherwise, Saily is pretty good functionally.

Bought iPhone 15 pro in Sydney, with Telstra and tried everything, but could not get it to work. Checked to ensure it was unlocked. Anyway, have been back in Aus since September so doesn't matter now but on my next trip will be staying for nearly 3 months so will purchase a local phone.

 

[SYD]

Bought iPhone 15 pro in Sydney, with Telstra and tried everything, but could not get it to work. Checked to ensure it was unlocked. Anyway, have been back in Aus since September so doesn't matter now but on my next trip will be staying for nearly 3 months so will purchase a local phone.

As mentioned above, you could try out a free/cheap eSIM for Oz and see if you can get that to work at home ahead of your next trip.

Once working, eSIMs are more convenient than carting two phones around.

Some were mentioned already, but important steps:

1. Read the installation/setup instructions first and during (if the eSIM comes via email QR code, hand to have that email open in another device).

2. ALWAYS install an eSIM over stable wifi (if you use data, the setup will potentially disconnect the data line as it tries to turn on the eSIM causing the install to fail or get corrupted),

3. When the eSIM is installed correctly, it should turn on that line and try and connect to a network. If it does (you see signal bars), that’s obviously a good sign! But it probably won’t show 4G/5G until you adjust things,

4. As mentioned earlier, most eSIMs need to be set to “Roaming”. With the eSIM turned on, go to its settings and scroll down and turn roaming ON.

5. You’ll also need to set the eSIM as the default for Mobile Data. Leave your default Voice Line set as Telstra.

By Step 4/5, the eSIM should be up and connected and activated (unless there’s a further Activation control in the relevant app - if any).

Apologies if some of that is teaching to suck eggs, but hopefully you can get it to work.

 

[siri]

Has anyone had any experience with the xe.com eSIM offering? I’m interested to give it a go, but they seem a bit coy about their pricing structure (which puts me off). I might be missing something, but I can’t see anything on pricing on the website.

Try downloading Airalo app for esims since I used it in Dubai and it worked beautifully since Dubai is quite restricted esim apps.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Try downloading Airalo app for esims since I used it in Dubai and it worked beautifully since Dubai is quite restricted esim apps.

Thanks. I’m currently using Eskimo, and pretty happy with it- particularly their generous data rollover rules (unused data stays live for 2 years, and gets refreshed every time more data is added). I just wanted to support xe.com *if* their offering was competitive. But they don’t seem keen to provide any pricing details, which makes me suspect that they’re not…

 

[SYD]

Thanks. I’m currently using Eskimo, and pretty happy with it- particularly their generous data rollover rules (unused data stays live for 2 years, and gets refreshed every time more data is added). I just wanted to support xe.com *if* their offering was competitive. But they don’t seem keen to provide any pricing details, which makes me suspect that they’re not…

Yep, Eskimo has become my “Go To” eSIM. As you say, the long validity and rollover are very attractive. They’ve also recently expanded coverage to most of Sth America on their Global Plan (which was a bit of a gap).

If anyone is just after some cheap, short duration plans, a few of us are getting good value out of Frewie (supplementing other eSIMs). Scroll thru, but basically, heaps of ~US$1 / 1GB / 3d plans. Perfect for transits/short visits.

Thread 'eSIM from Pelago - Free Data'

Jan 6, 2026

I have a booking on SQ later this month and received an email today offering up to 2GB of complimentary data for "3 [Calendar] Days":

---

Dear Mr serfty,

COMPLIMENTARY ESIM
FOR YOUR UPCOMING TRIP

As a KrisFlyer member, we're pleased to offer you a complimentary Global Data eSIM1 for your upcoming travel on Singapore Airlines.

Click on the button below for the promo code and instructions on how to redeem.

We wish you a pleasant trip ahead!

1Global eSIM has 3 days validity from the selected date of activation. Powered by Pelago, the travel experiences arm of Singapore...

• serfty
• Replies: 16
• Forum: Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer

• 
• 

 

[SuePa]

Does anyone have any experience with bcengi?
You only pay per GB for what you use, the prices in the countries I've looked at (UK, Jordan, Morocco) are good and there is no expiration date.
They get 4.6 on Trust Pilot.
No 5G, but I think I can live with that.

 

[Kremmen]

2. ALWAYS install an eSIM over stable wifi (if you use data, the setup will potentially disconnect the data line as it tries to turn on the eSIM causing the install to fail or get corrupted),

3. When the eSIM is installed correctly, it should turn on that line and try and connect to a network. If it does (you see signal bars), that’s obviously a good sign! But it probably won’t show 4G/5G until you adjust things,

4. As mentioned earlier, most eSIMs need to be set to “Roaming”. With the eSIM turned on, go to its settings and scroll down and turn roaming ON.

5. You’ll also need to set the eSIM as the default for Mobile Data. Leave your default Voice Line set as Telstra.

2. Nope. Installing an eSIM is nothing to do with enabling it. If, say, you install an eSIM from Frewie through Singapore Airlines (which I happen to be using right now), you want to wait until you need it before activating it, as it starts its timer at that point. It's fine to have no connectivity at all when you activate it.
3. If an eSIM is installed correctly, it should sit and do absolutely nothing until you enable it. I was using another country's eSIM when I installed the Frewie one. It would have been disastrous to enable it at that point, as the 3 days would have run out before I even wanted to use it.
5. For "Telstra", substitute any less expensive carrier.

 

[SYD]

2. Nope. Installing an eSIM is nothing to do with enabling it. If, say, you install an eSIM from Frewie through Singapore Airlines (which I happen to be using right now), you want to wait until you need it before activating it, as it starts its timer at that point. It's fine to have no connectivity at all when you activate it.
3. If an eSIM is installed correctly, it should sit and do absolutely nothing until you enable it. I was using another country's eSIM when I installed the Frewie one. It would have been disastrous to enable it at that point, as the 3 days would have run out before I even wanted to use it.
5. For "Telstra", substitute any less expensive carrier.

In my comment above, turning “Roaming” on can activate some eSIMs if they’re on the relevant network but yes, don’t automatically activate necessarily.

Ironically, Frewie installation instructions state the plan activates on installation - which they don’t from experience.

The better services with apps generally let you positively control activation thru the app.

 

[burmans]

2. Nope. Installing an eSIM is nothing to do with enabling it. If, say, you install an eSIM from Frewie through Singapore Airlines (which I happen to be using right now), you want to wait until you need it before activating it, as it starts its timer at that point. It's fine to have no connectivity at all when you activate it.

Not sure what you are saying 'Nope' to here given all eSim providers I've used make exactly this suggestion. They are all quite insistent that a eSim can only be installed once and as I understand it (again from what they say on their website) is that if install fails on connection issues there is a risk the eSim provider will think you've already installed and prevent another installation.

Nothing to do with activation which is another step (though I've has some eSims which do activate automatically in some circumstances)

 

[Kremmen]

Not sure what you are saying 'Nope' to here given all eSim providers I've used make exactly this suggestion. They are all quite insistent that a eSim can only be installed once and as I understand it (again from what they say on their website) is that if install fails on connection issues there is a risk the eSim provider will think you've already installed and prevent another installation.

Nothing to do with activation which is another step (though I've has some eSims which do activate automatically in some circumstances)

You said to install over wifi. I said nope to that and stated pretty clearly why. You used setup (which would activate it) as the justification. Now you are saying activation is another step, which is what I said.

 

[burmans]

You said to install over wifi. I said nope to that and stated pretty clearly why. You used setup (which would activate it) as the justification. Now you are saying activation is another step, which is what I said.

Actually it wasn’t me that said any of this (it was SYD) and as an independent observer for me setup could mean either install or install and activation, it was you who has chosen to interpret it as the latter, I certainly don’t. For me this all seems down to interpretation.

 

[SYD]

Actually it wasn’t me that said any of this (it was SYD) and as an independent observer for me setup could mean either install or install and activation, it was you who has chosen to interpret it as the latter, I certainly don’t. For me this all seems down to interpretation.

Yep.

You “Install” an eSIM (which might be 1:1 eSIM / plan or capable of multiple plans 1:many).

You “Enable” a line by turning it on / off. Every eSIM I’ve ever installed (many) turns on the line as part of the install process. But that doesn’t necessarily activate the relevant plan.

You “Activate” an eSIM plan via an app, or enabling “Roaming” or in some cases just turning on the line.

Always read the installation and activation instructions carefully.

 

[burmans]

And I’d like to reiterate that installing an eSIM over a secure wifi seems a good idea given all eSIM providers I have used make a point of saying you must do this.

 

[Quickstatus]

The best way to instal eSims is in airplane mode using wifi as the internet connection.
All of the eSims I have installed have been via Wifi. I have not installed them with mobile data - only because the recommendations have been to always install over Wifi.

So pre-departure from Australia I always install the travel eSim while in airplane mode over a good wifi connection.
That way the eSim is installed and can't be automatically activated - as there is no mobile network when in airplane mode
Once installed go into the eSim menu and label the eSim appropriately.
Ensure the correct eSim/sim is operational by toggling the correct eSim/Sim depending on the country you are in
If installing an eSim predeparture, ensure the travel eSim is toggled off.
Once this is done I toggle airplane mode off.

Most (all of the ones that i have used) Travel eSims are activated via their corresponding App. Even without activation, the eSim will detect a local network (signal bars) BUT not connect to the local network (signal bars + 3/4/5G + name of network) until Roaming for that eSim is toggled on, the eSim is compatible with that network AND the eSim is sctivated via the App

 

[Kremmen]

Actually it wasn’t me that said any of this (it was SYD) and as an independent observer for me setup could mean either install or install and activation, it was you who has chosen to interpret it as the latter, I certainly don’t. For me this all seems down to interpretation.

No, he said "setup". It was his interpretation, not mine. The eSIM can be installed (i.e. downloaded) without any form of setup whatsoever and, as such, it doesn't matter how it's downloaded. (I guess the apps are confusing people. I've never used an app to install an eSIM.)

 

[burmans]

I'm not going to argue with someone who insists on his interpretation despite the OP being very clear that wasn't his intent.

And installing an eSIM over a secure wifi is still a good idea despite your claim of 'Nope'.

 

[SYD]

No, he said "setup". It was his interpretation, not mine. The eSIM can be installed (i.e. downloaded) without any form of setup whatsoever and, as such, it doesn't matter how it's downloaded. (I guess the apps are confusing people. I've never used an app to install an eSIM.)

I used “setup” deliberately to cover off the total process for the person who was having difficulty with using an eSIM. I then explicitly stated that the install can fail using data (rather than wifi). If it happens you could be stuffed if you’re not familiar with the workarounds (which usually requires turning on another SIM to force the new one to turn off - requires 3 or more SIMs installed or hope a phone restart clears it).

BTW, installing and managing eSIMs via apps (some are better than others) make life very easy.

Frewie is one of the worst I’ve come across.

 

[Quickstatus]

Frewie is one of the worst I’ve come across.

Ive found Holafly in Asia quite reliable with easy setup (install + activation) and network service.

My first time using Holafly I neglected to read the instructions fully which advised to toggle on roaming before it can be used after activation.
Sent an email with a prompt reply with number one recommendation in the email to turn on Roaming. I suspect a lot of people dont read the instructions fully.