We recently came across Firsty eSIMs. An originally Dutch company with the ambition to completely shake up the eSIM market. Now that sounds definitely interesting to the Traveltomtom Team.
We are all about eSIMs at Traveltomtom so we jumped straight at it to discover everything about Firsty eSIMs and whether the sky-high expectations are actually met.
We ordered a Firsty eSIM, downloaded their app and tested their service. Here is our unbiased review!
About Firsty
To be honest, Firsty seems and feels like a game-changer in the world of eSIMs and global data. Firsty offers travelers instant and seamless access to cross-border mobile data connectivity without ever having to switch eSIM cards or data plans.
Firsty offers a freemium service, where free data is offered in exchange for viewing ads. The premium versions, Comfort+ and Firs Class, offer unlimited data starting at 1 euro per day. It's Firsty's mission to make mobile data connectivity accessible to everyone around the world.
Firsty is a brand new company. The beta version of the Firsty app was launched across Europe, the UK, Turkey, Switzerland and the US in January 2024. Now they operate in 160 countries and are constantly adding more.
See here the list of countries where Firsty operates eSIMs with free data.
Firsty is a European based company and prices on their website and in the app are all in Euros, not in USD. There is no option to change the currency as of writing this review.
Firsty App
At Firsty it all starts with downloading their app. You can't use Firsty without their app, so that's good to know. You can log in and link with a Google Account, or you can create an account based on your phone number.
You can then choose from the three eSIM types that Firsty offers, Firsty Free, Comfort+ and First Class. Once you have chosen one of the three plans you can activate the Firsty eSIM with a simple push on the button.
Click here to check the Firsty website with the links to download the Firsty App.
Firsty Free
How does Firsty Free work? Do you really get free data with a Firsty eSIM? And does it really work?
After you have downloaded the app and activated the eSIM, you are ready to go. At first you see that you have 0 minutes of data and it seems as if you cannot do anything. But, Firsty Free works on watching (short) advertisements. From the app you can watch an ad that then gives you 60 minutes of free data at a reduced speed.
We have of course looked at what you can actually do with this free, delayed data. They promise that you can use apps, emails and maps, and that turns out to be completely true. Basic apps, maps and emails are hassle-free with Firsty Free.
We also tried to watch a video on YouTube, but that didn't work. But that is entirely in line with expectations and what Firsty promises on their website. From the app you can also buy-out the advertisements for 30 days for €4.50 EUR. So if you are satisfied with the basic speed and capabilities of Firsty, but do not want to watch an advertisement every time, this is a good option!
Comfort+
Is the basic connection and basic speed not sufficient for you? Then you always have Comfort+. This allows you to get faster internet, turn off the advertisements and in addition to messages, mail and maps, you can also use social media and surf the web.
You can buy Comfort+ via the app from €1 EUR per day. If you buy it for just one day, Comfort+ costs €1.45 EUR. From 15 days onwards the daily price is €1 EUR.
The info on the Firsty app is clear but there are many questions left especially about the data speed. Comfort+ is defined as High Speed data. What is High Speed? What data speed are we talking about!? At Traveltomtom we like to see numbers, not promises. So that is definitely something to work on for Firsty in our opinion.
First Class
If you want to be able to do what you want online without any worries, there is also First Class. You will then receive extra high internet speed and, on top of the other packages, you can also stream and use your phone as a hotspot. You can also buy First Class via the app. This costs €2,50 per day and becomes a bit cheaper if you purchase it for several days.
It is also good to know that after purchasing one or more days of Comfort+ or First Class, you will have the option to activate it immediately or activate it later. This is of course very useful if you want to buy all your data in advance and only really activate it on the spot. This is possible with the Firsty App.
Same remark from the Traveltomtom Team about the data speed of the First Class package. Data speed is defined as Extra High Speed. What does that mean Firsty?
Pause data
A useful feature that Firsty offers is pausing your data. When you purchase Comfort+ or First Class for more than 2 days you will have the option to pause your purchase and therefore your data. In terms of data, you will then return to the speed of Firsty Free and you can switch your data back on whenever you want.
Comparison Firsty vs. other eSIM providers
Of course we compared Firsty with other eSIM providers. Two other major eSIM brands started giving away free data for some selected destinations as well, some even up to 500 MB. Firsty has a different approach and gives you 60 minutes free data with reduced speed in all 160 destinations they cover.
At Firsty you have to watch ads for it, but it is so simple that after watching an advertisement you get instantly 60 minutes of data.
The paid packages may sound a bit more expensive at €1 EUR - €2.5 EUR per day. But, you get 5 GB data for €2.50 EUR per day. The more days you buy, the cheaper it ultimately becomes. If you buy 30 days, it will cost you €58.50 EUR.
Compared to others, that is slightly higher, but don't forget that with Firsty you get 150 GB of data. Most other eSIM providers only give you 30 - 50 GB data for that price.
Clcik here for more detailed info about using Firsty.
Our experiences with Firsty
We're honestly impressed with Firsty approach of the eSIM market. It is actually very basic, no fancy features or an extensive website. Just a simple and clear app that allows you to get free data anywhere in the world as standard.
In addition, they offer two paid packages that allow you to decide for how long and how much data and speed data you purchase.
The app is very user-friendly. At 'home' you can see which package you currently have and you can easily purchase additional packages, days or countries. Under 'profile' you will find all your personal information and under 'help' you can find the FAQ or the live chat.
Their customer service is available 24/7 via the chat in the app. We tested this extensively on a Sunday and in the evenings and every time we received an answer immediately or within a few minutes.
While using the Firsty app and researching what exactly Firsty is and offers, we came across an interview. In this interview Firsty was compared to WhatsApp. We thought that was a nice comparison and we explain why.
WhatsApp was introduced as a free messaging service at a time when we only knew paid text messages. They were revolutionary and let's face it, who still sends text messages these days apart from Americans?
WhatsApp has taken over the world of messages and texts and Firsty is trying to the same in the world of data eSIMs.
Using data abroad can be very expensive if you don't know how eSIMs and data roaming abroad works. From our own local sim card providers, data roaming abroad are sometimes unaffordable. The eSIM industry is therefore big business and growing rapidly.
By purchasing an eSIM you can use data in your destination at local rates. Firsty is the first to do this in a significantly different way, and just like Whatsapp at the time, offers this service for free.
The fact that you now only get the free data by watching advertisements may be an obstacle for some people. But, we also have to give Firsty the chance and the time to grow and develop. They only started in early 2024 and have already achieved so much in just one year. We are convinced that they will take many steps in the future and we are very curious to see how they will develop.
Let's see whether Firsty can really deliver and become the WhatsApp of the telecom market. Can they actually shake up the eSIM market? We'll have to wait and see, but we're certainly excited about Firsty's courage and enthusiasm!