International eSIM or Local SIM Card: Which is Better to Use When Traveling?

Is it worth switching to an eSIM? That is the question arising for an increasing number of people.

This innovation, which has been gaining popularity for several years, promises to soon push local SIMs out of the market. Such a transformation would bring a lot of changes that would be beneficial both for users and the environment as well. 

But will it really be like that? And if so, then in what ways eSIMs are superior to local SIMs? Let’s find out!

Which one is cheaper?

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Calls and messages

Price is often one of the factors determining our choice. This topic is no exception. Therefore, it is important to find out whether choosing eSIM or a local SIM is cheaper.

In this case, it is difficult to find an unequivocal answer. Depending on your needs, either option may be cheaper. For example, if you are going abroad and plan to reside in one country, getting a local SIM is a great choice. Especially if you need it only for calls and messages.

However, if you plan to travel to several countries, it means that you will have to purchase a new card in each one. In this case, the cheaper option is to use an eSIM rather than buy several local SIMs in different countries. 

There is also a third option, which is to travel abroad with your local SIM card and, if necessary, use roaming.

It is worth choosing because of the convenience: when traveling from one country to another, you will not have to do anything – you can connect to the network at any time and use a high-quality connection for conversations, messages, and the Internet. So, as it was mentioned, it can be a satisfactory solution, but often it is expensive and not worth it.

Portable WiFi vs. eSIM

Which option is more attractive financially if you need a SIM card not only for calls and messages, but also for Internet connection? If we had to compare prices, we would see that the portable WiFI costs more than using eSIM. Therefore, it is more worthwhile to choose it.

However, there are exceptions. If you are not traveling alone, but with a group and you know that both you and your fellow travelers will need to constantly use a high-quality Internet connection, then it is worth considering the portable WiFi option. In this case, for a group of people to use the Internet, portable WiFi can be cheaper than buying an eSIM for each of them. So, before choosing, always evaluate which of the options is more useful in your particular case.

Is eSIM or local SIM more convenient?

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ESIM is superior in several ways. First of all, using it will save you time. You will not have to look for where to buy a SIM card and you will avoid problems with their purchase and use. In order to use an eSIM, it is enough to purchase it online.

Secondly, eSIM allows you to use even several different mobile phone numbers on one phone. This means that you will not need additional phone devices to use them (after all, this is the only option left for those who use SIM cards).

Last but not least, when using eSIM, you no longer need to risk losing the SIM card, because the eSIM card is integrated into the device. So, in this way, you will avoid possible unpleasant possibility to lose your number – or worse the mobile data you've already paid for.

What is more, eSIMs allows you to toggle cards on and off as needed, when you are going back and forth between countries.

ESIMs are Environmentally friendly

It is also important to mention the fact that eSIMs are environmentally friendly. Their impact may often seem insignificant in nature, but that is until you see the statistics that show how many SIM-requiring devices are in use in the world.

In addition, most of them used or still use more than one SIM card. In this case, eSIMs eliminate the need for plastic cards and packaging. In this way, plastic waste is drastically reduced.

Are eSIMs complicated to use?

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This is one of the most common questions asked by customers interested in the benefits of eSIM. Actually, eSIMs are easy to use.

It will take you a few minutes to install it and you will be able to use it easily and conveniently. Therefore, it can be argued that those who say that eSIMs are too complicated to use are often hyperbolizing the situation or simply do not like changes.

Some skeptics question the benefits and necessity of this innovation, especially since a large number of devices still do not support eSIMs. However, the situation will change in the near future.

More and more devices are already being produced to support the eSIM function. Major manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung are also working hard for this. Almost all of their new tech devices have the ability to use an eSIM card.

Therefore, in the long run, SIM cards will become unpopular. Until eventually it will be hard to find a device that requires a SIM card to use.

To Sum Up

So, it is clear that both international eSIMs and local SIMs have many advantages. However, when it comes to choosing which of the two options is better, eSIMs has more advantages.

By using them, you can not only save money, but also enjoy other benefits provided by them. For example, thanks to eSIMs, you can use several mobile numbers in one phone and forget the days when you needed a separate gadget for each SIM card.

It can be assumed that the interest of major manufacturers to switch from SIM to eSIM cards will have a significant impact on their further development. Therefore, it is likely that they will soon delight us with even greater benefits than now.

What changes can we expect? Even higher eSIM capacities and greater ease of use. In this way, SIM cards that we have used for years will soon become a thing of the past.


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