Have you ever counted how many apps you use while on an international holiday or a workcation? There’s an app for every travel utility. One lets you book a flight, another a hotel, the next one insurance, and the fourth one transport from the airport in a jiffy. 

However, roaming still runs on the old model. Domestic providers set the terms, cap limits, and daily charges. Travel eSIMs shift the connectivity model from provider-first to app-first. eSIM providers like the Swiss company Yesim let you pick a plan, set it up, and test it before your journey begins. 

Roaming fits poorly with the reality of modern travel

When roaming was first introduced, staying connected abroad usually meant making the odd phone call and sending a handful of texts. Today, however, smartphones are continuously using data for navigation, transport services, banking, reservations, and messaging.

Internet access has become a necessity rather than a luxury, and travellers now need not only a reliable connection but also enough data to use their phones normally. Roaming through a home mobile operator, however, can still be highly restrictive and costly.

High prices, limited choice, and relatively small daily data allowances can leave travellers monitoring every megabyte to make sure their allowance lasts throughout the trip. Otherwise, they may need to pay for additional data to remain connected or risk spending much of their stay without internet access.

Travel eSIM as a modern alternative to roaming

eSIM technology has become a global service 

An eSIM is a microchip built into a device. Mobile carrier profiles are remotely downloaded and activated onto this chip. Travel eSIM is a service built around eSIM technology, and includes an app, data plans for various destinations, profile setup, and access to partner networks. 

Travellers can choose a data allowance or an unlimited plan in advance based on their specific travel plans. You can set up the eSIM at home. Simply download the app, select a plan, set up the profile, and activate mobile data upon arrival. This way, setting up the eSIM is no longer a rushed process at the airport.

The price on a specific route: what a week in Japan costs

Travel eSIMs have a price advantage over traditional roaming plans. For instance, EE’s official guide states per-day charges for Japan at £7.84 for 500 MB, which comes to £54.88 for a week. Travel eSIM providers like Yesim offer an unlimited seven-day plan for Japan at £22.05, with no daily data cap to worry about. 

With country-based pricing, you can predict data costs and prevent yourself from suffering through roaming bill shocks. 

Choose plans based on your travel destination 

With a travel eSIM, you can choose plans by country and trip length. Then you can choose a matching data allowance. With a roaming pass, however, you’re stuck with whatever your home operator has on offer for that particular zone. 

Yesim: a Swiss operator that’s been in this market since the early days

Yesim is a Swiss company that has been providing mobile internet services since 2019. It has been a pioneer in the travel eSIM market. More than 4 million users across 200-plus destinations already use Yesim.  Yesim is also the official global eSIM partner for the World Players Super League (WPSL). WPSL is the world’s largest golf tour by tournament volume. It has been running more than 1,800 events across upwards of 50 countries annually. 

Tariffs built around geography and time

To suit various travel needs, Yesim offers several plans for different countries. Its Global Package covers more than 80 countries. There are prepaid options from 10GB to 80GB, plus unlimited plans for up to 30 days. The plan is aimed at travellers who already know their route. The Global Plus Package stretches to over 140 countries. You can choose from 5GB to 40GB prepaid options and unlimited 7- or 15-day plans, for wider or less fixed itineraries. The Pay & Fly plan is a pay-as-you-go option spanning more than 170 countries. Under this plan, you are charged only for data actually used. 

Yesim runs on ‘switchless network’ technology that allows automatic switching to the strongest signal from one of 800 partner operators, wherever coverage isn’t guaranteed, such as remote coastlines or mountain routes. You can manage multiple eSIM profiles from a single account. For a family or group travelling together, only the account holder needs to install the app.

Testing it before you commit

Yesim offers a trial package at £0.45 for 500 MB. Use the trial package to check signal strength and quality before buying the full plan. Just make sure your device supports the eSIM technology. Yesim can be installed in a few simple steps through the Yesim app. New users can also get 15% off their first plan with the code GETYESIM15.

The bigger shift

Travel eSIMs have become a travel necessity, but that doesn’t mean roaming disappears overnight.  For very short or infrequent trips, sticking with whatever your home network already includes is still often the path of least resistance. But if you travel more than occasionally, or are tired of guessing which zone a country falls into, Yesim’s app-first model is best suited to you.

As Yesim’s founder and chief executive Dmitri Verbovski puts it: “For Yesim, freedom of connectivity is a fundamental human right that helps people stay close, communicate and share meaningful moments in spite of distance. We are proud to help millions of tourists around the world find a common language, and we are glad to be part of their exciting journeys.”