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Why I travel with an eSIM & why you should try it too

Traveling is not always fun. There is always something to ruin your peace of mind on an otherwise peaceful trip. As a digital nomad, staying connected is one of the most important things I worry about while traveling. So, the one thing that upsets me on every travel is the huge roaming charges that I have to bear each time. The longer the trip is, the bigger this expense grows. It gets even worse when your provider does not have any coverage in the country you are visiting.

Using local SIM cards did help me to overcome the roaming charges to some extent. But, it did create several other inconveniences. There was always the hassle of finding a store to buy it. Some countries had long activation procedures.

Last year while visiting Bolivia, I was talking about this to a fellow traveler and he told me that he was using eSIM. I was immediately fascinated by the idea and after some research found out that eSIMs are the perfect solution for my roaming issues.

So, what exactly is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a virtual SIM card that is permanently embedded in your smartphone. It can connect you to any operator providing the services without changing a physical SIM card. It functions exactly like a traditional SIM, but you can only buy and activate it digitally.

Why eSIM is better than a physical SIM?

If you are a frequent traveler, then eSIMs are the best solution to avoid the expensive roaming fees. The best part of having an eSIM is that you don’t need to worry about the hassle of finding a SIM store to buy the sim or waiting for a long time to get it activated. There is no need for you to keep a SIM ejector tool or a paperclip with you for replacing SIMs.You can use multiple providers and change them conveniently by switching the eSIM profile on your phone.

Best eSIM available

Over the past few months, I have tried almost all the eSIMs out there and I believe that ZIM is the best one available right now. I stumbled upon their website while I was planning a trip and was immediately impressed by the number of countries and plans they provide. You can compare and choose the correct packages for your trip from the long list of global, regional, and local plans from their app.

The prices are at the local rate and you can save some more money by activating the plan later when you reach the destination. ZIM’s eSIM plans can be used all over the world and you can purchase and manage the plans through their app.

How to buy and activate the eSIM?

Purchasing and installing an eSIM through the ZIM app is an extremely easy process. Here is how you can buy and activate your eSIM plan.

1. To buy an eSIM, the first thing to do is to download the ZIM app on Play Store or the App Store.
2. Sign up and create an account. You can use an existing Apple ID, your Google, or Facebook for this. You can also create an account using an email address and password.
3. Once the account is set up, open the app and select the destination you are planning to visit. A list of available data plans will appear based on the location you selected.
4. Compare and choose a plan best suit your needs. You can purchase it using Paypal, Google Pay, or your Credit Card.
5. You will get a QR code through email. Scan it to activate the eSIM plan.
6. You can also purchase the plan in advance and delay the activation till you reach the destination.

Why should you delay the eSIM activation and how?

Once you purchase the eSIM, you don’t have to activate it immediately. You can delay the activation to a later date, or to the date you arrive at the destination. This can help you save the validity period and enjoy the package more seamlessly.

In order to delay your eSIM activation, purchase the plan like you normally do. On the checkout page, there will have options to activate the eSIM then or later. Choose later and select the date on which you want the plan to be activated. You can scan the QR code and add the eSIM profile to your phone, but the plan will only be ready to use on the date you have selected.

Why you should get the eSIM?

eSIMs are undoubtedly the future of connectivity. I am both fascinated by this technology and thankful that it exists. We human beings have always been looking for ways to optimize our time and convenience. With the world becoming increasingly digital, we will be depending completely on eSIM eventually. It has many advantages and here are some of the major ones.

Saves a lot of time and money

As a traveler, the most important benefit you will be getting from eSIM is your time and money. You don’t have to worry about the expensive roaming charges. You don’t have to worry about all the hassle of finding a store to buy a local SIM card.

Manage multiple eSIMs easily

One of the best advantages of using the eSIM is it easy to manage multiple providers. You can switch from one SIM profile to another with just a touch. You don’t need to change the SIM cards physically or get stuck with a bad internet connection. Plus, you can get multiple plans for multiple purposes- like one for the internet and another for calling.

More secure than traditional SIMs

The eSIMs are as secure as your removable SIM card. You don’t have to worry about doing any online shopping or banking while you are roaming. With a secure internet plan from your eSIM, you don’t need to put your internet security at risk by connecting to your hotel wifi.

It is the future

It might take some time for eSIM to become mainstream. Still, it is the future. The rise of 5G networks will make some significant changes in mobile and internet connectivity. eSIMs will play a major role in driving this new network technology to impressive speed and unparalleled connectivity across borders.