SIMs vs. eSIMs for Travellers: Which Are Better?

If you’re a bit of a jet-setter and enjoy exploring lots of different places, there’s a chance you’ll have a bit of a routine when it comes to your technology and keeping in touch. Do you keep the same SIM, for example, when you travel overseas, or do you always make sure to buy new ones depending on where you travel?

There are pros and cons to either option – and, there’s eSIMs to consider, too! Unlike regular SIMs, you can install or embed eSIMs directly to your devices – but, that’s not the only difference worth keeping in mind before you travel.

eSIMs are becoming more and more widely adopted by mobile networks across the globe – meaning now really is the time to compare regular SIMs alongside and to think about which option suits you best.

Let’s put SIMs up against eSIMs in a head to head and see which options come out on top for travellers.

Ease of Setup

These days, SIMs are generally pretty easy to set up and start using. Just pop one in your phone or tablet, follow a few instructions, and away you go.

However, when you’re buying and installing SIMs from foreign countries, you may have to take a language barrier into account – and, constantly having to swap out different international network SIMs can get confusing.

With eSIMs, all you have to do is purchase a package, embed to your device, and activate with a QR code. And, with a service like SIMOVO, you can purchase different eSIMs for different destinations before you travel, meaning you won’t have to hunt around for local network cards when you touch down.

Winner: eSIMs

Cost-Effectiveness

Let’s all agree on one thing – roaming charges and international data costs with your usual mobile network will probably be pretty pricey. In some cases, you can set up a reasonable tariff that covers you for what you need at a price you can afford – but then, you might often find you’re limited in terms of data and allowances.

With eSIMs, you have access to stacks of affordable data from the get-go. And, with SIMOVO in particular, you can cut the cost of sticking with your usual network’s rates and choose a specific region you want to travel through. That means you’re always clear on the rates you’re paying before you travel, and you won’t have to worry about budgeting for exorbitant rates with different networks.

Winner: eSIMs

Network Access

Getting access to 4G and 5G while abroad can sometimes be pretty tricky depending on where you travel, and the network you’re connected to.

If you’re using your normal network SIM or have installed an international card to cover you while you travel, you’re restricted to that one specific network – meaning if you hit a 5G blind spot, for example, you might need to connect to local WiFi (and hotspots aren’t always the safest things in the world).

Guess what – with eSIMs, you have access to incredible coverage potential. SIMOVO eSIMs connect you to the best available coverage depending on where you are at any one time. Say you buy our European eSIM – no matter where you go across the continent, you’ll connect to the best possible service with the best available networks in the region.

That means you don’t have to keep switching SIMs out just to access different networks. With an eSIM embedded in your phone before you travel, you can just rely on your device to swap connections whenever needed.

However, we do advise our customers that, sometimes, 4G and 5G simply aren’t accessible – for example, if you’re scaling the heights of Machu Picchu, you might be out of luck if you want to watch a bit of Netflix!

Winner: eSIMs

Environmental Impact

This one’s a no-brainer. According to Thales Group, SIM production results in 20,000 tons of plastic waste every year. That’s a jaw-dropping figure considering just how small these mighty little cards can get!

While the SIMs you buy while abroad will only be a drop in the ocean in this figure, every little helps when it comes to preserving the environment. Plastic waste is choking our waters – and you can do your bit to fight back by refusing to use traditional SIMs in future.

And, yes – it’s here where eSIMs come in handy. Every eSIM you download and embed has an expiry date, and there’s zero plastic produced – meaning you’re taking plastic out of the ocean, one card at a time, every time you buy with SIMOVO instead of installing a new card.

Winner: eSIMs

Ease of Use

Think back to earlier on in this article – if you’re purchasing and installing a local SIM from a country where you might not know the local language, which can also make getting started and actually using your new SIM pretty tricky!

What’s more, if you’re inserting a new SIM into your device, you might have to remove your usual card – meaning that, for the duration of your travels, you’ll have to change your number. That might not be a major issue if you’re using messaging apps through data and calling people through video, but for many phone users, keeping the same number is simply convenient.

With an eSIM, you can embed an international data SIM to your phone and keep your existing, physical SIM and number. There’s no need to swap out or tell people you’ll be unavailable. You can run both at the same time – just make sure that your phone or device accepts eSIMs and has roaming switched on before you get started.

Winner: eSIMs

There’s a Clear Winner!

For cost-effectiveness, convenience, and even eco-friendliness, there’s no better choice for travellers than a flexible eSIM. If you’re travelling soon and want access to international data without the rising costs and the hassle of swapping out cards, check out SIMOVO’s fantastic range of travel eSIM packages and scan a QR code before you touch down. Happy travels!