eSIM for travel: €4.50 instead of €40-80 in roaming
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Roaming with your own carrier outside your home zone typically runs €40-80 a week — often more than the flight itself. An eSIM is a data plan you install before you leave: no shop, no physical card, no deposit.
- 5GB for 7 days costs €4.50 with YeSIM against roughly €8 with Airalo, the other major option — use code FALLY20 for 20% off.
- You install it from your phone in about five minutes, before departure nothing to pick up on arrival.
- Hotspot sharing is free on every plan, and your normal number keeps working for calls and texts: the eSIM only carries data.
Common questions
Does my phone support an eSIM?
Most phones sold since 2018 do: iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later. Open Settings and look for the option to add a mobile plan or eSIM — if it is there, your phone works. One exception matters: a handset bought on a carrier contract can be network-locked, and a locked phone refuses any other operator, eSIM included.
Do I keep my own number and WhatsApp?
Yes. The eSIM is a second line used for data only, so your physical SIM stays in the phone and keeps your number for calls and SMS. WhatsApp, Telegram and your bank app are tied to that number, not to the data connection, so they keep working. Turn data roaming off on the physical line and the carrier has nothing to bill you for.
When should I install it — before or after landing?
Before you fly, on your home Wi-Fi. Installing an eSIM needs an internet connection, which is exactly what you do not have while standing in an arrivals hall. Install it at home, leave it switched off, and enable the line when you land. The plan itself normally starts counting from first use, not from purchase.
How much is a week in Europe, really?
Around €4.50 for 5GB over 7 days. The same week on your own carrier outside its home zone typically costs €40-80 in roaming — often more than the flight you are reading about. That gap is the whole reason this page exists: it is the single largest avoidable cost of a cheap trip.
What happens if I run out of data?
You top up inside the app, in a minute, without changing anything on the phone: the line stays the same. If you are unsure how much you need, start small — 5GB covers maps, messaging and normal browsing for a week, and video is what actually burns a plan. There is no deposit and no contract to cancel.
Can I share it with my laptop?
Yes — hotspot sharing is included on every plan, so one eSIM covers a phone, a laptop and a travelling companion at the same time. That is the part that changes the maths: the alternative is paying roaming on each device separately, or paying a hotel for Wi-Fi that is open anyway. Battery is the only real cost of using the phone as the hotspot.