Frequently asked questions
How a Simtegre plan works before, during and after a trip — including trips that cross more than one border.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM already built into the phone. Instead of swapping a plastic chip, you install a plan onto it — normally by scanning a QR code — and the phone treats it as another line. Your existing SIM stays exactly where it is.
Does my phone support eSIM?
Most phones sold since 2018 do: iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and most recent mid-range and flagship Android models. The phone also has to be carrier-unlocked. Our setup guides show where to check, device by device.
When should I install it?
Over Wi-Fi before you leave. Nothing starts counting at that point: a plan begins when the eSIM first connects to a network in the place it was bought for, so an early install costs you nothing.
Will I keep my own number?
Yes. Every plan is data-only, so your home line stays active for your number, your calls and the one-time codes your bank sends. Point mobile data at the eSIM and leave the rest alone.
How fast is it?
Plans run on established local networks, so the speed is whatever those networks provide: 4G/LTE as the baseline, 5G where the local network and the plan both support it. Enough for maps, video calls and working from a laptop over the hotspot.
Do I have to remove my physical SIM?
No. The two lines run side by side. The only setting that matters is which line carries mobile data — point it at the eSIM so your own SIM never roams.
What happens when the data runs out?
You top up in the app. Where a plan supports it, the data lands on the eSIM you already installed and there is no second QR code. Where it does not, buying again means a new install, and the app says so before you pay.
Can I share it as a hotspot?
Yes, tethering is included. One plan can cover a laptop, a tablet and the people travelling with you.
Do I need internet to install the eSIM?
Yes — the download needs a working connection, which is the reason to do it at home. Once installed, it activates by itself on arrival without a connection of its own.
Can I make calls and send SMS?
Not on our eSIM. Plans carry internet, not a phone line, so no number is attached to them and ordinary calls and SMS stay on your own SIM. Which internet services a network permits is decided by that network and by local regulation, not by the plan you bought.
How long is a plan valid?
It depends on the plan, and each one shows its own length and allowance before you buy. The clock starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination, not on the day you pay.
Does one plan work in more than one country?
A single-destination plan works where it was bought for. Regional plans are the ones that cross borders: one purchase covers every destination listed on that plan's page. If your route touches several, compare the regional plan with the single-destination ones before buying — the regional plan is usually the cheaper answer.
Is payment secure? Can I get a refund?
Payment goes through the App Store or Google Play, so we never handle your card. If an eSIM cannot be installed or activated on a compatible phone, contact support in the app and we will sort it out.
How is this different from roaming?
Roaming is your own carrier reselling you a foreign network at a price it sets, billed after you get home. This is a prepaid plan on a local network, priced before you leave and paid once. Look up your carrier's rate for where you are going and compare the two totals — that comparison is the whole argument.