Traveler's Guide
How do eSIMs work?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. This guide covers what it is, how it works, which phones support it, and how to use one to stay connected abroad without roaming fees.
The short version
- An eSIM does everything a plastic SIM does — it just lives inside your phone as software instead of a card.
- You install a travel eSIM by scanning a QR code once. Setup takes about two minutes.
- Your regular SIM stays active alongside it, so you keep your phone number and don't miss calls or texts.
- Travel eSIMs replace international roaming with local data rates — usually 5-10× cheaper.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (short for embedded SIM) is a small chip permanently built into your phone. Instead of holding a single carrier's account like a plastic SIM, an eSIM can be reprogrammed over the internet to connect to any carrier that supports it.
Think of a physical SIM as a house key — you have to physically swap it. An eSIM is more like a keypad lock: the same hardware, reprogrammed with a new code whenever you need.
How eSIMs actually work
1. QR code = digital SIM
When you buy a plan, the carrier generates a digital profile identified by a QR code. That code is the equivalent of the plastic card.
2. Scan to install
You scan the QR from your phone's cellular settings. The profile installs into the eSIM chip in about a minute.
3. Connect to a network
Your phone authenticates with the carrier the same way a physical SIM does — the network sees no difference.
4. Switch anytime
You can store multiple eSIM profiles and switch which one is active from Settings without swapping anything.
How eSIMs work for travel
International roaming is expensive because your home carrier is billing you to route traffic across a foreign network. A travel eSIM skips that entirely — you buy a data plan from a local network directly, at local prices, and it sits on your phone until you arrive. (New to the terminology? What data roaming is, and what it costs.)
- 1Pick your destinationChoose the country or region you're traveling to on Wanderly and select a data plan that matches your trip length.
- 2Check out in under a minutePay with card, wallet balance, or crypto. Your QR code arrives by email within 30 seconds.
- 3Install the eSIMOpen your phone's cellular settings and scan the QR code. The eSIM profile installs in about a minute — do this on Wi-Fi at home before you travel.
- 4Activate on arrivalTurn on the Wanderly line in your settings when you land. Your plan's validity clock starts the first time the eSIM connects to a local network.
- 5Use your phone as normalData runs through the Wanderly eSIM at local rates; your home SIM keeps your regular phone number active for calls and texts. Some Wanderly plans include calls, texts and a number of their own if you would rather not rely on the home line.
Which phones support eSIM?
iPhone XS (2018) and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most Samsung Galaxy S20+, Fold, and Note phones from 2020 onward. iPhones sold in the US since 2022 are eSIM-only.
Check your exact deviceeSIM vs. physical SIM
| eSIM | Physical SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Scan a QR code (2 min) | Order and swap the card |
| Multiple plans | Store many, switch anytime | One card at a time |
| Buy from abroad | Instant online delivery | Store visit or shipping delay |
| Risk of loss | None — it's software | Can be lost or damaged |
| Keep home number | Yes, dual-SIM alongside | Only with dual-SIM tray |
Are eSIMs safe?
Yes. eSIM profiles are stored in the same hardware secure element that protects your Apple Pay or Google Pay credentials. The eSIM standard was developed by the GSMA (the same industry body that governs regular SIMs) and is used by every major carrier worldwide. Wanderly encrypts all provisioning traffic and never stores your payment details — checkout runs through PCI-compliant Zotlo.
Frequently asked questions
What is an eSIM?▾
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a small chip built directly into your phone that can be programmed with a mobile carrier's plan over the internet. It does exactly what a plastic SIM card does — connects your phone to a mobile network — but you never have to insert or swap anything physical.
How does an eSIM work?▾
When you buy an eSIM data plan, the carrier generates a digital profile identified by a QR code. You scan the QR code once in your phone's cellular settings, the profile installs, and your phone connects to that carrier's network. You can store multiple eSIM profiles and switch between them without physically changing cards.
How do eSIMs work for travel?▾
Before you leave home, buy a travel eSIM for your destination on Wanderly. Install the QR code — this can be done days or weeks in advance. When you land abroad, enable the eSIM line and you're on a local network within seconds, at local data rates, with no roaming fees. Your primary SIM keeps your regular number active for calls and texts.
Is an eSIM the same as international roaming?▾
No. Roaming lets your home carrier bill you (often at premium rates) to use foreign networks. An eSIM installs a local plan directly, so you pay local prices in advance and there's nothing surprising on your next bill.
Do I need to remove my physical SIM to use an eSIM?▾
No. On dual-SIM phones (all eSIM-capable iPhones and most modern Androids) your physical SIM and eSIM run at the same time. Keep your home SIM active for calls and texts, and route data through the eSIM.
Can I use an eSIM on multiple devices?▾
An eSIM profile is tied to one device at a time — the same as a physical SIM. If you switch phones, you'll need to transfer or reinstall the profile. Many carriers, including Wanderly's partners, allow one transfer within the plan validity.
Which phones support eSIM?▾
iPhone XS (2018) and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most Samsung Galaxy S20+, Fold, and Note phones from 2020 onward. Recent iPads and some Windows laptops also support eSIM. You can check your device in Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM, or use our compatibility checker.
Are eSIMs safe?▾
Yes. eSIM profiles are stored in the same hardware secure element that protects Apple Pay and Google Pay credentials. Wanderly encrypts all provisioning traffic and never stores your payment details — checkout runs through PCI-compliant Zotlo.
Do eSIMs work without Wi-Fi to install?▾
You need an internet connection (Wi-Fi or your existing mobile data) to install the eSIM profile from the QR code — that's why we recommend installing before you travel. Once installed, the eSIM connects to a mobile network on its own the moment you arrive at your destination.
Ready to try one?
Wanderly has travel eSIMs for 200+ countries starting at $1.99. Install now, activate when you land, and skip roaming fees for good.
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