To ask how an eSIM actually works?

[stopthewedding]

I’m on holiday right now and eating into data a lot more than expected. I get 12gb on my phone’s fair usage plan and I’m 2.5gb down after a day!

I’m looking at an eSIM for unlimited data, as that works out at £2 a day as opposed to my network’s £7 a day pass after I hit 12gb.

But how does it actually work? Do I just install it on my phone and turn off roaming on my other sim, so I just use the esim for data? Does all of my WhatsApp etc stay the same?

I can’t really find an answer online!

Anyone,

You need a phone that has an esim in it.

What make and model do you have?

I’ve Got an iPhone & use an eSIM every year , super simple … comes under mobile service , you just activate it & go from there . I use Airalo

Everything stays the same yes , you just choose the second sim rather than the primary

I have an iPhone 17 pro max, I know it’s compatible with an eSIM.

my question is whether the eSIM will still leave my WhatsApp etc intact, and how it works.

You’re basically right. You just get a QR code once you pay, scan it and then go into settings and designate that SIM for data. Then your phone sort of hotspots itself but it doesn’t mess with your primary number for calls WhatsApp etc There are various providers. I use Holafly but there are loads.

Oh amazing.

I’ve found one for eu that’s £2.45 a day, and I’m debating just getting it now vs waiting to use the other 9gb 🤣

On an iPhone the settings are within “mobile service”.

Yes super easy. You install the eSIM and turn off roaming on your “Primary” line and switch on for the eSIM. You can fine tune options further in the mobile settings but that’s the gist of it.

Google

how to use esim iphone 17 video

A lnd watch the videos

Check whether the provider is well rated for the country you are in. You want to make sure you get good coverage and some eSIMs use cheap service providers with bad coverage. I fell into the trap of using a cheap one in Switzerland and literally never got a 4G connection the entire time I was there. Just do a quick search for best eSIM provider for the country you are in.

I use BNE esim and get the one that does not expire so I can use it for other holidays.
WhatsApp and everything else just works the same, you just swap to the eSIM as your primary data.
BNE has a 25% off with the code August25

I have a physical sim and an eSIM.

My primary line is set to my physical sim no.

my mobile data is set to my e-sim number.

My whatsapp, although it uses data, it’s logged in under the phone number I set it up with - my physical sim.

it’s DEAD easy to do and has been a game hanger for me in my town where the mobile data is almost non existent all of a sudden on O2.

Sounds like it could be useful to me at home too to be honest

I have no idea what’s eaten my data this time but I’m by myself and don’t want to risk being without data for maps etc!

Might be worth checking your app usage as I’m sure iPhones tell you that…

The amount you seem to have gone through is a lot - have you been streaming videos or music? I play an online game and can be out for hours playing it (Pokemon go so it’s out and about) - I barely use 5gb a month doing that and I play a LOT. I also use it for maps, WhatsApp, emails, etc. I also hotspot other local players who are struggling for a signal, and was hot spotting a second device to play on for myself for a few months. So for you to use as much as you did, it sounds like you’ve downloaded or streamed something quite large.

I usually use about 40 of my 160gb a month. It’s probably just sending photos or something but I’m not too concerned, because like I say I’ll just get an eSIM!

That’s loads (and I send lots of photos too - mainly screenshots). Until you can get eSIM sorted, definitely worth holding off for free WiFi places if it really is from photos… but I’d be shocked if it were. Hope you get sorted and enjoy your holiday!

I use Lyca Mobike and Spusu for e-Sims.. the latter is better imho, but the first is fine. I googled “cheapest EE e-sim” and found a great deal through USwitch I think it was that was a cheaper price than on the Spusu website.

So, does your phone number stay the same?

Everyone uses different amounts of data. I’m not too bothered it’s just surprised me!

It’s gone down to only 2gb used, so I think something is slightly amiss there!

However I had to set up an eSIM for my trip to Monaco today and it was just as easy as everyone said!