In this guide we talk about the benefits of an international eSIM for Australians travelling overseas in 2026 and how it can keep you connected.
When we travel, we use our phones for just about everything. From planning, booking hotels and rideshares to maps. Having reliable internet access available is necessary for us and when we arrive in a new destination the one thing on the top of our list is sorting out how to get a global SIM plan for our new location.
This normally involves seeking out a SIM card provider on arrival and configuring it for our phones. Sometimes that’s an easy task but at times it was a challenge especially in a foreign country where English is not the common language. We never bother with phone call plans as we always use internet apps for calls such as WhatsApp or Messenger.
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That’s why we now always use an international eSIM during our overseas trips.
The eSIM provider we prefer is simify. Read on for our eSIM review.
What exactly is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM profile that’s installed on your phone, so you can get mobile data without swapping a physical SIM. If your phone is relatively new, it likely supports eSIM.
Before you buy, Simify includes a quick compatibility check so you can confirm your device supports eSIM. If you run into trouble after purchase, Simify support can help you troubleshoot, and their money-back guarantee may apply depending on the situation.
No more juggling tiny SIM cards at the airport and watching them bounce onto the floor like they’re trying to escape.
You will still want to check one thing: is your phone carrier-locked? This can happen if it was bought on a contract plan. If it is locked, you’ll need to contact your carrier to unlock it before you can use any eSIM.
The major phone manufactures such as Google Pixel, Apple, and Samsung, all have eSIM compatibility and many other newer phone companies are also incorporating an eSIM. The list is constantly growing.
Benefits of a Travel eSIM
While global data roaming from your existing provider may be available it is fair to say it will come at a hefty price and we have all heard reports of travellers who have returned home to a huge bill.
That’s why purchasing country specific SIM cards when travelling is so appealing as local data charges often come at a much cheaper price and certainly way cheaper than global roaming.
By pre purchasing an eSIM online before you travel, apart from the obvious benefit of not having to first seek out a provider then change the physical card, the eSIM can be activated before or as you arrive and your online straight away and ready to explore your new location.
A travel eSIM is often much cheaper than roaming with your home carrier, and it takes minutes to set up. If you want to try Simify, you can use FT15 at checkout for 15% off.
Click here to get 15% Off Simify
Delivery is instant so no waiting around for physical cards to arrive in the mail or having to hunt out a provider at the airport when you arrive.
Once your eSIM is active you are using your own data plan so there is no need to rely on sharing public WiFi networks which is always a hacking risk.
Speed of the network is as good as other mobile providers as they use the same ones, and your speed should be the 4G or 5G networks. Naturally, this will depend on the quality of the providers at your destination. This would be the same with a physical SIM.
If you run out of data, you can easily update by tapping a few buttons on the providers website or app without the need to search out a physical store.
The eSIM providers give you control on the amount of data you need which is easy to check on your phone, so you won’t be in for any nasty bill surprises when you return home.
Tethering is also available to connect other devices just as it would be with your normal provider. Naturally, sharing your data will affect your data allowance so this needs to be considered if you plan to use this feature heavily.
As you’re not swapping the tiny SIM cards you won’t have to worry about losing them and searching for that paper clip to open the SIM tray.
Simify Unlimited eSIMs
If you use a lot of data (maps, WhatsApp, social, hotspot, work), Simify also offers Unlimited data plans, so you don’t need to stress about topping up mid-trip. If you want a simple travel eSIM with 15% off, Simify is a good option. Use code FT15.
Why use an eSIM when travelling abroad
Our first experience using an eSIM was for our travels in Vietnam where we spent time in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) before visiting Hoi An ancient town and the seaside village of An Bang Beach, before heading north to Hanoi.
As our arrival into Vietnam was not long after its reopening to foreign tourists we noticed as we departed the airport in Saigon that the usual SIM provider stands that had in the past been the place to purchase physical SIMS were all closed.
Thankfully, that didn’t bother us as our eSIM was activated and all we had to do was disable flight mode and we were instantly online. Such a simple process and hassle free.
The eSIM company we used was from simify. An Australian company that provides global eSIM’s and available for most countries we visit when departing from our home country of Australia.
Click here to get 15% Off Simify
How to set up an eSIM for international travel
How do eSIMs work overseas? The process from purchasing to activating is super easy. When you decide which plan suits your travel you just need to purchase online, and it will be sent to you via email with a QR code.
Step 1
Check that your phone is compatible (click here to check)
Step 2
Buy an eSIM – Click here to get 15% Off Simify
Step 3
Activate it via the QR code (or enter the code manually)
You will need internet access to activate the eSIM. The plans are based on the number of days you need, and amount of data required. Our suggestion is to activate it the day you commence travel or alternatively when you arrive at your destination. Just be aware that you will need to be on the internet when activating so if you do it when arriving you would first need to connect to WiFi. This is not a problem if the airport has free WiFi but we found it was easier to do it before we left.
The other thing you need to do is to disable (turn off) your existing physical SIM of your home country. Or just remove it from the phone.
When you return home turn back on your normal SIM.
What are the cons of an eSIM?
To be quite honest we haven’t found many but for the purpose of transparency we would highlight these.
Most plans are data only so you won’t be able to make a phone call like you would with your normal phone plan. For us this is not a problem as even in our home country we mostly use email or internet instant message apps. If when we are travelling, we want to voice call we use Skype to Phone via our Office365 subscription or WhatsApp.
The other issue we have encountered is if for instance our bank or other institution needs to send us a text for verification. This for us is rare but can happen. In those instances, we revert to turning on our home sim (global roam) to retrieve the message then just switch it back off.
Back in the day of the physical SIM swap this was much messier as you often have a time limit to verify.
What is the best eSIM for international travel
The best international eSIM is one that offers competitive pricing and most importantly easy to install. When we travel internationally saving money and time is important to us. Having an option to buy an eSIM before we leave home makes a huge difference as we can arrive in a new location knowing that we will have internet access.
We have found that the best eSim for travel is from simify. They are reasonably priced and they have suited our needs by providing a reliable data service in the countries we have visited. Therefore we are happy to suggest using simify to our friends when they travel abroad.
Can I use a VPN with an eSIM
Definitely. All your existing apps will work as normal just like a normal Sim card. When it comes to using a VPN, we always have one running on our phones especially when travelling. The VPN we use is NordVPN which is well-respected and one of the best known VPN providers. If you are considering a VPN which we highly recommend you do, we would suggest purchasing one prior to leaving home.
Check here for pricing and the benefits of using a VPN
Final words on International eSIM for travel
Using a travel eSIM has been a game changer for us and will be our go to way of accessing the internet when travelling the world. The best eSIM for international travel for us is the simify eSIM as they have some of the best eSIM plans available and we can highly recommend trying it during your next international travel.
Click here to get 15% Off Simify
PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓
Hello. Thanks a lot for your very valuable info about esim. I was not at all familiar to it, and after hearing about it from a relative, i came across your post, which is so well explained in layman terms that anyone can easily understand.
I have a question which you may help out. As per the list, my phone is not compatible to esims, but my son’s phone is. If i buy an esim for his phone, will i be able to tether and get internet access on my phone?
Hello, Thank you for your kind words. Yes you can tether a phone using an eSim providing the phone is not locked to a network. We have done that many times which works fine.
Thanks for the content and offering some excellent ESIM advice. A question if I may: Will a VPN conflict with an ESIM (data) when travelling, ie server selected in home country via the VPN, but attempting to join local network via phone in destination country??
Hi Darren, A VPN will work fine with an eSim. We use VPN full time when travelling and always connect to our home country.