Travel eSIM: what it is, how it works and how much it costs
Online as soon as you land, with no roaming charges and no SIM swap: what a travel eSIM is, which phones support it, how to install it and what it costs for the United States, Switzerland, Turkey and over 150 destinations.
You land in New York, Istanbul or Bangkok and your phone is already online: no SIM cards to buy at the airport, no roaming charges from your own provider, no fiddling with a SIM tray and a pin. That is what a travel eSIM does: a digital SIM you download to your phone before you leave and use only for mobile data in the country you are visiting.
In this guide we explain what it is, which phones support it, how to install it and what it really costs, with the prices of our eSIMs for the most popular destinations.
In short:
- An eSIM is a digital SIM: you install it by scanning a QR code, with no physical card.
- It sits alongside your usual SIM: your number, calls and WhatsApp stay exactly as they are.
- It is most useful wherever roaming with your own provider is expensive or not included: for many travellers that means the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Asia.
- A 1 GB pack for 7 days costs €7.99; 10 GB for 30 days in the United States costs €19.99.
- Install it at home, on Wi‑Fi, before you set off.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a chip built into your phone that can hold one or more mobile network profiles. Instead of inserting a card, you download the profile by scanning a QR code: within a couple of minutes your phone has a new data line.
Almost all recent smartphones can use your usual SIM and one or more eSIMs at the same time. That is what makes an eSIM perfect for travelling: your home SIM stays where it is, and for data you use a line in the country you are in, at local prices.
Why use an eSIM instead of roaming?
If your SIM is from an EU country, roaming within the European Union (plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) works just like at home and you usually don't need an eSIM. Outside your provider's roaming area, however, data gets expensive: often several euros a day, or a few gigabytes at a high price. With an eSIM you pay for a local data pack, you know in advance what you will spend and there are no surprises on your bill.
- No hidden costs: you pay for the pack once, with no automatic renewals.
- Online as soon as you land: maps, taxis, translation apps and messages already work at the airport.
- Keep your number: you still receive calls and texts on your own SIM, and WhatsApp stays the same.
- Hotspot: in most cases you can share the connection with your laptop or your travel companions.
Does my phone support eSIM?
This is the first thing to check, before you buy.
- iPhone: every model from the iPhone XS / XR (2018) onwards. Open Settings › Mobile Service: if you see «Add eSIM», your phone is ready. The exception is many iPhones sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.
- Android: dial *#06# as if you were making a call: if an «EID» appears among the codes, the phone supports eSIM. On Samsung you will also find it under Settings › Connections › SIM manager. Many budget models don't have it.
- Unlocked phone: the phone must not be locked to a network. If you bought it on a contract or in instalments, check first.
Not sure? Drop in to one of our FIX4ALL shops and we'll check it with you in a minute. You will also find instructions on the eSIM page.
How it works, step by step
- Choose your destination and pack at fix4all.it/en/esim: how much data and how many days you need, or unlimited data.
- Get your QR code: it appears on your order page and is also sent to you by email.
- Install it at home, on Wi‑Fi, a few days before you leave. On iPhone just tap «Install on iPhone»; on Android go to Settings › Network & internet › Add eSIM and scan the QR code.
- When you arrive, switch on the eSIM line, select it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line. Keep data roaming off on your home SIM, so your provider doesn't charge you anything.
The days in the pack usually start counting when your phone first connects to a network in the destination country, not when you buy it, so you can install it well in advance.
How much does a travel eSIM cost?
It depends on the destination, how much data you need and for how many days. Some examples from our price list, VAT included, updated October 2026:
| Destination | 1 GB · 7 days | 10 GB · 30 days | Unlimited · 15 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | €7.99 | €19.99 | €26.99 |
| Switzerland | €7.99 | €19.99 | €23.99 |
| United Kingdom | €7.99 | €18.99 | €20.99 |
| Turkey | €7.99 | €17.99 | €24.99 |
| Thailand | €7.99 | €19.99 | €25.99 |
| Egypt | €7.99 | €22.99 | €36.99 |
You will find every destination, the multi-country packs (Europe, Asia, Latin America) and the worldwide pack on the eSIM page.
How much data do I need?
- 1–3 GB: a weekend or a few days with maps, messages and a bit of social media.
- 5–10 GB: one or two weeks of normal use, with photos and the odd video call.
- 20 GB or more: long trips, remote working, a hotspot for your laptop.
Unlimited packs
With an unlimited pack you don't have to count gigabytes: you just choose how many days you are away. The first 500 MB are at full speed, then the connection carries on at 5 Mbps, which is enough for maps, WhatsApp, social media and standard-quality video. Beyond a threshold linked to the length of the pack (25 GB for 7 days, 40 GB for 15, 65 GB for 30) the speed drops to 512 kbps until the pack expires. If you always need full speed, choose a data pack instead.
Switzerland: the destination next door where roaming costs extra
If you live in or are staying in Valtellina or Valchiavenna, Switzerland is just over the border: St. Moritz, the Engadine, the Bernina Express. But Switzerland is not part of the European Union, and with many Italian plans mobile data there is charged extra, sometimes at high rates. For a trip of a few days, a 1 GB Swiss eSIM costs €7.99; if you go often, there is the 10 GB pack for 30 days at €19.99.
If you cross the border to work in Switzerland every day, a travel eSIM isn't the most practical solution: a plan designed for cross-border commuters is a better fit. We are happy to talk it through in our shops, along with our mobile plans (page in Italian).
Run out of data? Top up the same eSIM
If your data runs out before the end of your trip, you don't need to install another eSIM: on your order page you can see how much data you have left and top up the same eSIM in a minute. If you choose the same pack, the new data is added to what you have left. We also email you when you have used half and 90% of your data, and the day before it expires.
Mistakes to avoid
- Don't delete the eSIM until the pack has run out: once removed, it usually can't be reinstalled with the same QR code.
- Don't leave it to the last minute at the airport without Wi‑Fi: install it at home, in your own time.
- Don't try to scan the QR code with the same phone: you need a second screen, or use the «Install on iPhone» button or the manual code on Android.
- Remember data roaming on the eSIM line: it is the most common reason why “the internet doesn't work” on arrival.
Why buy it from FIX4ALL?
You can buy an eSIM anywhere online. With us you also get real people: if something isn't working, just reply to the delivery email or message us on WhatsApp, and before you leave you can drop in to our shops in Sondrio, Tirano, Colico and Chiavenna to have your phone checked and install the eSIM with us. Prices include VAT, with no subscription and no automatic renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I keep my own number with an eSIM?
Yes. The travel eSIM is added alongside your SIM, which stays in the phone: you keep receiving calls and texts on your number and WhatsApp works as usual. Calls and texts on your number are still charged at your provider's roaming rates, so keep data roaming switched off on your home SIM.
Can I make phone calls with the eSIM?
Most packs are data only: to call, use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other apps. If a pack includes minutes or texts, it says so on its page.
When does the pack start?
Usually when you first connect to a network in the destination country, not when you buy it. That is why you can buy and install it a few days before you leave.
Can I use the same eSIM on another phone?
No: once installed, it stays on the phone you downloaded it to. If you change phone during your trip, you will need another eSIM.
Do I need an eSIM to travel in Europe?
With a SIM from an EU country, usually not in the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein: roaming works like at home, within the limits of your plan. You do need one in Switzerland, in the United Kingdom (with many plans), in Turkey and outside Europe.
Choose your destination and see the eSIM packs, or drop in to your nearest FIX4ALL shop: we'll help you work out how much data you need and install it for you.
