If you've booked an overseas trip lately, you've probably seen "eSIM" pop up in travel forums, airline emails and on your phone's settings screen. It sounds technical, but the idea is simple, and for most Australian travellers it's now the easiest way to get mobile data abroad. Here's what an eSIM is, how it works, and what to check before you buy one.
An eSIM is a SIM card that lives inside your phone
A traditional SIM is the small plastic card you push into a tray on the side of your phone. It holds the details your phone needs to join a mobile network. An eSIM (embedded SIM) does the same job, but it's a chip soldered into the phone. Instead of posting you a card, a provider sends you a digital profile, usually as a QR code, which you install in a minute or two.
Most phones that support eSIM can hold several eSIM profiles and use two lines at once. That's the part that matters for travel: your Australian SIM stays put, and the travel eSIM sits alongside it.
Why travellers use eSIMs
- No SIM shop at the airport. You buy and install before you leave, while you're on home Wi-Fi, and you're online as soon as you land.
- You keep your Australian number. Your regular SIM can stay on for calls and texts (and bank SMS codes) while the eSIM handles data.
- Nothing to lose. There's no tiny card to swap in a taxi or misplace in a hotel room.
- Clear costs. A travel eSIM is a prepaid data plan, so you know what you'll pay up front rather than finding out from a roaming bill.
- Multi-country trips are easier. Regional plans cover several countries on one eSIM, so you don't need a new SIM at every border.
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most recent phones do, including iPhone XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, along with many other Android models. Two things need to be true: the phone has eSIM hardware, and it's carrier-unlocked. A phone bought outright is usually unlocked; one on a plan may be locked to your Australian carrier until it's paid off.
The quickest check is on the phone itself. On an iPhone, go to Settings → General → About and look for an EID. On Android, look for an "Add eSIM" option in your SIM settings, or dial *#06# and see whether an EID appears. You can also search your model on our compatibility page.
How an eSIM works on a trip
- Choose a plan for your destination, with the data and number of days you need.
- Install it at home on Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code or tapping the install button on the phone. Our installation guide walks through it step by step.
- Leave the eSIM switched off until you arrive. For a Travel eSIM, the plan usually starts when it first connects to a network at your destination.
- When you land, switch the eSIM on, set it as the line for mobile data, and turn on data roaming for that eSIM.
- Turn off data roaming on your Australian SIM so your home carrier doesn't charge you for data.
Types of eSIM plan
Not every eSIM is a short-term travel plan. At Pure Freedom there are three kinds:
- Travel eSIMs: affordable data for a trip, with a set amount of data for a set number of days.
- No Expiry eSIMs: data that doesn't expire, so you keep the eSIM and top it up when you need. Popular with frequent travellers and digital nomads. More in our No Expiry eSIM guide.
- Voice & Data eSIMs: a plan with a real phone number, calls and SMS, plus data.
Is an eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Often, especially for data-heavy trips, but it depends on your carrier's international add-ons and how much you use. We compare the options honestly in eSIM vs roaming vs a local SIM. The short version: if you mainly need data and want to keep your number, an eSIM is usually the simplest and best-value choice.
What an eSIM can't do
A data-only Travel eSIM doesn't come with a local phone number, so you'll make calls through apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Messenger, or on your Australian number at your carrier's roaming rates. And an eSIM profile can generally be installed only once, so don't delete it from your phone until you're sure you've finished with it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an eSIM and my normal SIM at the same time?+
Yes. Phones that support eSIM can run two lines at once. Keep your Australian SIM on for calls and texts and use the eSIM for data. Turn off data roaming on your Australian SIM to avoid charges from your home carrier.
When should I install my travel eSIM?+
Before you leave, while you're on Wi-Fi. Leave it switched off until you arrive, then turn it on and enable data roaming for it.
Will I keep my Australian phone number?+
Yes. Your number stays on your regular SIM. A data-only travel eSIM adds data alongside it without replacing your number.
What if my phone is locked to my carrier?+
A locked phone won't accept another provider's eSIM. Contact your carrier to unlock it before you travel; once a phone is paid off, carriers will generally unlock it on request.
Ready to get connected?
Instant delivery, and you keep your own number.