eSIMs
eSIMs are a potential way to stay connected while traveling abroad. They provide connectivity via virtual mobile network operators and require several considerations before you decide that eSIMs are for you.
Considerations
For the list of considerations below, eSIM providers will be referred to as network operators. This is more precise, because eSIM providers can sometimes be resellers, but what we care about is the underlying network that the eSIM is hosted by.
- Host Country: Is the network operator located in a country with free and open internet? If not, the eSIM may have reduced connectivity to common American services like Gmail or Facebook.
- Bandwidth Throttle: Is the bandwidth throttled to a certain speed? Will this speed be fast enough for your required use case? If you don't know, you should pre-download any maps and apps you need and stick to a minimum of 5 Mbps.
- Latency: Countries are connected by undersea cables, so it is good to be mindful not to pick a country that is too far from the services you are trying to access. For example, if you're trying to access American services using a Korean network operator while in Germany, you might not have a fun time.
- VPN: Will you be using a VPN to access your services? This would increase your latency at the benefit of security and privacy. For a list of options and guide, see VPNs.
Guide
This is how I generally choose an eSIM:
- Search for and select eSIM candidates based on the countries I am going to.
- Research reviews, and flag potential network operators that may have issues, and reject those who definitely will have issues.
- Choose the cheapest eSIMs, and purchase and install them.
Reviews
The following is a list of quality reviews of each eSIM providers.
INFO
There aren't any reviews yet!
Resources
WARNING
This list of resources is not vetted, you should take caution and check for sponsors or malware before proceeding.