An eSIM (embedded SIM) is soldered onto the phone's board rather than being a card you slide in and out. Operators write the subscriber details onto that chip as a downloadable profile, which is why a travel data plan arrives as a QR code or an activation string instead of something physical.
Three practical consequences: no queue at an airport counter, no loose SIM card to lose in a hotel room, and your home number can stay active alongside the travel plan — when you get back you simply switch the travel line off.
| eSIM | Local SIM | Roaming | Pocket WiFi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Buy online, QR code by email | Find a counter or shop on arrival | Enable with your home carrier | Rent before you go, return after |
| Swap cards? | No | Yes — keep your original safe | No | No, but it is another device to carry |
| Home number | Stays active, texts still arrive | Offline while removed | Stays active | Stays active |
| Sharing | Hotspot works, though not every device combination is guaranteed | Same | Same | Best option for a group |
| Watch out for | Phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked | Language barrier and queueing | Usually the most expensive | Charging it, carrying it, returning it |
Travelling alone or as a pair with an eSIM-capable phone, the eSIM is the obvious choice. For four or more people sharing one connection, or where someone's handset has no eSIM, a pocket WiFi device still earns its place.
Not sure? Check the list of eSIM-compatible phones, or message us on LINE @peanutmo / WhatsApp +886-921-963-203.
The sequence is short: receive the QR code, scan it somewhere with stable Wi-Fi, then on arrival turn on Data Roaming for that eSIM and set it as your mobile data line.
Timing is where people go wrong. Most plans are best installed the day before or the morning of departure, while Wi-Fi is easy. But some destinations — Thailand most often — sell plans that can only be installed and activated after you land. The product page and your order email always state which rule applies.
Step-by-step screenshots: eSIM installation guide.
Do not take the smallest plan. Navigation, maps, translation, social apps and messaging add up faster than people expect, and running out abroad is the worst place to do it. Around 3GB a day suits most travellers. Where a destination offers a total-volume plan (10GB, 20GB for the trip), we usually recommend that first — one heavy day will not cut you off, and the allowance spreads across the trip. If you stream, upload a lot of photos, or share the connection, an unlimited plan is simply less to think about.
Count days from your arrival date to your departure date, adding one for an overnight flight.
No. Travel eSIMs are data-only, so there is no number attached and you cannot place local calls. Use LINE, WhatsApp or Messenger for calls over the internet, or keep your home number on roaming (which your carrier will bill separately).
Yes. Your physical SIM stays in the phone, so calls and SMS — including bank one-time passwords — still arrive. Note that answering a call or sending a text may still incur roaming charges from your home carrier.
Hotspot sharing is supported by the eSIM itself, but whether it works smoothly depends on your handset and the device connecting to it, so we cannot guarantee every combination. We also do not recommend long hotspot sessions — one eSIM per phone is the reliable setup.
QR codes have an activation window that varies by product; your order email states the exact period. An expired code may no longer work, so buying months ahead is no advantage — one to two weeks before departure is usually right.
No. A QR code installs once. Changing phones or deleting the profile means buying again, so confirm you are installing on the phone you are actually travelling with.
Check three things: Data Roaming is on for the eSIM, mobile data is set to the eSIM rather than your home line, and the phone is not in aeroplane mode. If it still will not connect, message us on LINE @peanutmo / WhatsApp +886-921-963-203 — qualifying cases are refundable.
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Last updated: 2026-08-02