Traveltomtom has recently discovered and tested a new eSIM provider. For a recent trip we decided to test the eSIM services of eSIMple. eSIMple promises fast data and a reliable eSIM for every trip. That naturally made us curious, so we decided to purchase their eSIM, use it and write a review about this new eSIM provider.
Table of Contents
Why eSIMple?
eSIMple is a fairly new player on the market, but there are already around 200,000 people who use their eSIM solution. As a traveler, you obviously don't want to have to look for a physical SIM card upon arrival at an airport. You don't want to stand in line like all other travelers to purchase a SIM card immediately after arrival.
The name of the brand says it all. eSIMple makes eSIM solutions SIMPLE!
With eSIMple you have an eSIM that is instantly activated on your phone in just a few steps. You experience seamless connectivity within minutes. eSIMple is available in a lot of destinations around the world. Their eSIM offers global coverage in over 69 countries. They offer flexible plans that tailor every traveler and their needs.
Customer service
eSIMple has a customer service that is active all days of the week. In fact, they guarantee support services every day of the week with human response and help for any problem.
eSIMple has an online chat on their website where you can contact their customer service with all your questions. When you send them a question they state that their usual reply time is under 30 minutes.
We had to put that to the test of course. Well, we got a reply within 5 minutes after sending our question. That is super quick and exactly what you want as a customer.
It is also good to mention that we were not dealing with a chatbot, but actual human interaction. That is nicer and more pleasant than with a chatbot that most other eSIM providers offer as costumer support.
Compatible devices
You're probably wondering whether your device is suitable for using eSIMs. eSIMple has a clear and helpful overview on their website with a list of compatible devices for all common smartphone brands.
If you have an iPhone XS or newer you are good to use an eSIM. All Samsungs newer than the Galaxy S20 are also eSIM compatible. For all other mobile phones we refer to the table below to check if your device is eSIM compatible.
Getting started
Getting started with eSIMple eSIMs is actually super easy. Once you have decided the destination you want an eSIM for, check out the website and see the different packages they offer for your destination. Choose the data size and trip duration and simply purchase the eSIM on the eSIMple website.
Once you have decided on the package, just click 'buy now'. You fill out your information and pay, that's it. You can pay through PayPal, iDEAL or credit card.
Once payment is done, you get a couple of e-mails from eSIMple. The first e-mail includes the eSIM setup instructions. The email has a QR code which you need to scan to install your purchased eSIM. It also gives you manual setup instructions just in case setup through the QR code doesn't work. You will also receive an email with the invoice and another email with proof of payment.
Big plus about buying an eSIM from eSIMple is that you can directly order an eSIM on the internet, without downloading an app. You will have to set up a profile though before purchasing an eSIM.
Many eSIM providers require to download their app first before you can buy an eSIM.
Setup
Setting up the eSIM is really simple. You scan the QR code from the email you received. You confirm that you want to add an eSIMple eSIM to your phone and just like that, the eSIM is installed and you are immediately online.
Very impressive how smooth and hassle-free the setup and installation of this eSIM is.
My eSIMs
Once you have purchased your eSIM from eSIMple you get access to their 'my eSIMs' section. After purchasing you can find your eSIM here. You can keep track of your usage during the validity of your eSIM.
It shows the expiry date of your eSIM as well.
Top Up
At eSIMple you can refresh your eSIM with data anytime. You can simply add data in case you need more or stay longer. You can top up from as little as $2 USD.
Last but not least the my eSIM page also shows the installation guide for Android and IOS and also your QR code.
eSIM for the Netherlands
During our trip we used an eSIMple eSIM for the Netherlands. Their cheapest eSIM for the Netherlands started from $9 USD, but you get 3 GB data. They do not offer smaller and cheaper eSIMs.
You get 20 GB data for $21 USD which is approximately $1 USD per Gigabyte.
Check out the eSIMple website and find your plan for your destination.
Our experiences
What I immediately noticed is that eSIMple does not have an app that you can download and use. From experience with other eSIM providers, I have always found the app to be very nice and helpful. We believe that developing an app can definitely add value to eSIMple.
Having an app improves the user experience. That said, on the other hand it also feels great that you do not need to download an app when buying an eSIM from eSIMple.
After using eSIMple I can conclude that they live up to their name. They keep their service and website simple and clear. No fuss, I like that. The website shows exactly the information you are looking for and no unnecessary things to make it fancy.
eSIMple has a nice overview online in which they indicate what you can expect from the number of Gigabytes you buy from them. This is of course very useful if you are not sure how many GBs you need.
Only our experience shows that this does not entirely correspond to reality. For example, eSIMple says that for 1 GB data you get about 11 hours of social media. Our experience is different, 1 GB data provides at most 1 hour of social media!
At Traveltomtom we do not really recommend using this table as a reference!
In addition, they also show a map showing their Internet Accessibility and Speed in the chosen destination. What is striking is that they always mark the entire country on these maps. We wonder whether this is realistic? Or in fact we know it is not realistic and therefore we doubt this feature on the eSIMple website is actually helpful.
Final words on eSIMple
All in all, the experience with eSIMple was very positive. The Traveltomtom Team tested, reviewed and approved using eSIMple eSIMs for your next trip. A reliable eSIM service!
The purchase and installation went very smoothly. I feel that with other eSIM providers it took me longer, more steps and more effort to get the eSIM installed. That was a piece of cake with eSIMple.
We are also very pleased with the prices offered. At first they seem on the high side, but if you get three times as much data for it, it turns out not to be too bad in the end.
We would definitely think it would be a bonus if eSIMple came up with an app, so you can keep an eye on your usage even more easily. But we do favor eSIMple over other eSIM providers for not making it mandatory to download an app before you can purchase an eSIM.
For more info check out the eSIMple website.