E-sim on iPhone for international travel: In few days I will be traveling to Portugal and am trying to decide on phone connectivity. I am considering e-sim on my iPhone 15 Pro Max...

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

In few days I will be traveling to Portugal and am trying to decide on phone connectivity. I am considering e-sim on my iPhone 15 Pro Max, such as AloSIM, AirALo, etc. But I am confused about e-sim capabilities and online search didn't really clarify this adequately for me. Here are my questions:
1. For e-sim card to be used during travel, is a wifi connection required?
2. Almost all if not all e-sim cards are data only. Would I be able to use text or voice functions to stay in touch? If so, how?
3. Which e-sim cards are recommended?
Thank you.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Why the e-sim?
Won't the phone work internationally?

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

Call your carrier and ask them to activate international service.

rcarol

Frank T wrote:

Call your carrier and ask them to activate international service.

Not all providers offer international service.

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

Longshadow wrote:

Why the e-sim?
Won't the phone work internationally?

Yes, it will work but not cheap

IzzyKap Loc: Rockville, MD

rcarol wrote:

Not all providers offer international service.

VZ does offer international service at $10/day. Just having your phone on without use, triggers the automatic daily charge. eSims are lot cheaper, but I am unclear about their limitations as per my original questions.

JimG1 Loc: Waxahachie, TX

Frank T wrote:

Call your carrier and ask them to activate international service.

That's all I do when we travel outside the US.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

IzzyKap wrote:

Yes, it will work but not cheap

So what does the e-sim do?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

IzzyKap wrote:

VZ does offer international service at $10/day. Just having your phone on without use, triggers the automatic daily charge. eSims are lot cheaper, but I am unclear about their limitations as per my original questions.

Yes. We have Verizon.
We keep the phones in Airplane mode until we need to use the "phone".
Didn't use the "phone" in Iceland or Mexico, no $10 charges showed up.
We did use local WIFI though.

Bmarsh Loc: Bellaire, MI

Longshadow wrote:

So what does the e-sim do?

Nothing magical about an eSIM. It is merely a better method than using the small SIM cards of the past.

But, any eSIM/sim is used to identify your phone to a provider.. so your real question should be: " what provider do I want for international travel?" Might be your current provider as mentioned.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Bmarsh wrote:

Nothing magical about an eSIM. It is merely a better method than using the small SIM cards of the past.

But, any eSIM/sim is used to identify your phone to a provider.. so your real question should be: " what provider do I want for international travel?" Might be your current provider as mentioned.

Ahhh.
Thanks.
I guess we'll stick with Verizon then.
(They already know my phone.)

pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs

IzzyKap wrote:

VZ does offer international service at $10/day. Just having your phone on without use, triggers the automatic daily charge. eSims are lot cheaper, but I am unclear about their limitations as per my original questions.

If your iPhone is in Airplane mode with the WiFi and Bluetooth turned on you will not be charged on the international plan during that time. When I have Airplane mode turned on and my settings enabled for WiFi calling I’m able to make calls and send/receive text with most any hotel’s WiFi connection. I travel internationally often and that’s what my Lady and I do to keep our bills manageable.

Editing note:
If you use the App called WhatsApp you can also use the phone or send and receive texts when on airplane mode and connected to WiFi with anyone else who is using WhatsApp too.

DMB70

pmorin wrote:

If your iPhone is in Airplane mode with the WiFi a... (show quote)

Make sure to turn off data not just airplane mode. Then use Whats ap on wifi from your hotel.
ESIM will most likely cover calls and some amount of data. and will not use youe USA carries data

capmike Loc: New Bern, NC

We have found upon arrival in almost any foreign country, in the baggage claim area of the airport, there are several booths selling local sims. We buy one that will last the length of our visit, usually anywhere from $20 to $50. Have always worked well. When we return to the airport to depart, we go back to the booth and have then reinstall our old sim.

wireloose

I’ll second pmorin on Whatsapp. Works for both audio and video calls anywhere you have WiFi. Tmobile has global free roaming as
well though they do limit your data speed in some countries beyond a set limit.