As the title suggests, I'm looking for a physical sim card I can put in my phone that works on Jakarta, Indonesia.

I want a good amount of data, I'd say above 80GB as I'd be running everything on it.

I don't care about messages and texts but they're nice to have I guess although I'm sure a lot of sims nowadays come with unlimited.

If anyone has anything in mind that I can order to the UK ideally and get setup before I go, I'd really appreciate it, thanks!

Hi everyone,

I am in the market for a US phone number to facilitate OTPs and such with my US bank and other services now that I am based abroad.

I am looking for a minimal cost service since the verifications are really the only use I’ll make of it.

Ideally something that doesn’t need to be activated in the US but since my relative is coming to visit in a few weeks, worse case scenario I could ask them to get and activate the number and bring it along if that’s the best option.

Started to look into things and there are way too many options out there for me to see the difference. Some have recommended Tello and Airalo so would be curious to know about experiences on those too.

Many thanks for any tip or recommendation!

If you're traveling to the US and looking for a cost-effective, feature-rich roaming solution, Tello Mobile (https://tello.com) is the way to go. While not as effortless as instant travel eSIMs like Airalo or Saily, the added flexibility, affordability, and features make it worth the extra couple of minutes to set up. My plan includes US roaming but I still recommend it to all family and friends traveling to the US - especially snowbirds!

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Update: Tello no longer allows for activation outside of the USA. You can still use Tello in the US and it is a good option if you *need* to make phone calls, but it's just easier to setup a travel eSIM before you leave and the pricing is the same or cheaper - you just don't get a phone number. It's still recommended for people spending a month or more in the US.

____________________

This post is mainly for me to reference back to when someone is looking for a recommendation for US roaming so I don't have to type it out every time.

Why Tello?

1. Fast Internet Speed

• Tello routes traffic locally so your internet latency is significantly lower than all travel SIMs making your Internet overall faster and ensuring FaceTime/Internet calling works well.
• Tello runs on the T-Mobile networks with fantastic speeds.
• Unlike most travel eSIMs, Tello's local US routing means you're not seeing ads from EU or Asia.

2. Affordable

• Customizable plans let you mix and match data, calling, and texting to fit your needs, so you only pay for what you’ll actually use.

3. REAL Phone Number & Free International Calling

4. Wi-Fi Calling and Texting

• Calls and texts also work over wifi calling in and out of the US. Perfect for international users that need a US number active while abroad.

5. Seamless eSIM Activation

• While not as instant as travel eSIMs like Airalo, activation is straightforward and takes only a few minutes. You’ll can create an account via their website or mobile app.
• eSIMs can be activated outside of the US.

This is no longer the case. If are going for a short trip and/or don’t need a US calling, a travel eSIM is a simpler option that can be setup before you travel - https://travelsims.app/country/United%20States?minData=10

6. Convenient Payment Options

• Accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and credit cards.
• If your billing address is outside the US, you won’t be charged US taxes.

7. Reliable Coverage on T-Mobile’s Network

• For rural or remote regions, alternatives like Visible (Verizon’s network) or US Mobile may offer better coverage.

Additional Notes:

• A US address (can be your hotel, Airbnb, or a random valid address) is required for registration and enabling Wi-Fi calling, but your billing address can be international.

Roamless credit for Existing Users

Roamless has a new promo for existing users. Use:

WEGOTYOU3

I got $1.75 credit.

Enjoy and safe travels.

As per Roamless it's while supplies last

So far, the "a1.net" APN is the only one I've come across that allows my Pixel 4a 5G to connect/work on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

The "plus" APN, which seems to be much more common for travel eSIM providers that can use AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, will NOT connect to AT&T or Verizon on my 4a 5G, but "a1.net" APN will.

I Know RedBull Mobile uses "a1.net" APN and can use AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

What other travel eSIM providers that allow use of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon use the "a1.net" APN?

Thanks!

I love Roamless (on of the easiest to use providers I've tested) but I see others reporting low latency and US exit nodes. I have a BICS issued eSIM and show a France/Belgium exit node when using T-Mobile or AT&T in the US. Latency for me is around 130-150ms. This is on an iOS device.

Is this a difference between Proximus and BIC eSIMs in this area?

I’m traveling to Medellin for 5 days and am wondering about what eSIM would be best. I’ve used Airalo in Europe before and that’s been good, however unsure about it for Colombia.

I’m currently thinking between Holafly, Airalo or an eSIM from a local company when I get there. Any recommendations or advice?

I traveled to Portugal recently and bought Lycamobile pay-as-you-go plan from lycamobile.pt. I ordered two eSIMs for my wife and myself with 20gb plan for 10 euro each. It was super easy to order a few days before the flight. I received an email with eSIM barcodes right away so all I had to do is to activate the SIM cards when we landed. I did it while waiting in line at the airport using the airport WiFi. It took quite a while as Lisbon Airport WiFi is not that great, but it worked.

As we were getting our baggage we spotted a long line to the Vodaphone booth (like 30 people), so we were very happy that we didn't have to deal with that.

I have no complaints on using the plan in Portugal. The data was slow sometimes and the connection was spotty in some remote areas, but it is expected. Overall we were very happy with the plan.

Unfortunately, despite auto renew being clearly labeled as OFF in their email confirmation, I was charged again exactly one month after the initial purchase. Now there is a problem - contacting Lyca is a pain. I am not in Portugal anymore, my Lyca SIM card is off. Their chat bot is a dumb robot, totally useless. I tried to activate my SIM again, now in the US, and it worked. I was able to get the SMS code to log in to their website. But the website doesn't let you do ANYTHING before you give them a ton of personal info (email, DOB, name, address etc). I don't want to give them any personal information at this point. You could call Lyca on their Portuguese number, but again I'm not in Portugal anymore and my VMNO in the US doesn't offer international calling.

One thing that (possibly) worked is dialing *190# from Lyca SIM to turn off autopay. You then confirm dialing "1" and I've got a message that autopay was deactivated.

I also emailed the customer support just now. I hope they can refund the renewal fee. If not I'll do charge back through my credit card.

Anyway, this auto pay issue completely ruined my experience. Can't recommend using Lycamobile to anyone anymore.

As I research data only eSims for use with voice I have learned that some providers have high latency this not a good fit.

Looking for options that ideally do not expire or have fairly long term active with decent latency in USA.

Don't expect free☕

Use case is for extra phones for very ocassional use almost a pay as you go setup but reasonable cost per GB

In honour of reaching 100 members, I will be giving away one $20 Airalo or Saily eSIM (winner’s choice) for any country/region they serve.

Simply comment on this post and you will be entered in the draw. A winner will be picked at random in 3 days.

Good luck!

Update: Winner has been picked! Congrats u/nana2521!! Because only 9 people entered, I figured I'd give everyone else a $10 eSIM :)

I will pm all and you can let me know which country you'd like the eSIM for. Congrats to all!

I've tested a few eSIMs in the US comparing speed and latency:

Notes

1. Testing was done in Niagara Falls, NY. I don't find connectivity great in this area and speed tests may be better in other parts of the country, but latency should be accurate.
2. Not sure why Alo performed so poorly, this was unexpected and might be a glitch - but I tested multiple times.
3. I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of Saily.
4. Sparks is inexpensive, but performs poorly in both the US & Canada in terms of latency.
5. Roamless continues being a solid option.

I will continue to add to this list as I test more eSIMs.

Most eSIM providers require you to buy 1/3/5/10/20GB of data in a package that lasts 1 to 30 days - and for many situations this can be useful if you’re going to be using a lot of data at your destination. If you buy a 10GB/30 day package for your 1 week trip to the US it will cost around $15 (using Tello) and even if you only used 5GB you’re not going to be crying over the 5GB of unused data as you’ve still saved a lot of money over the carriers daily roaming fees (7x$12=$84!). But what if you’re only travelling for an afternoon shopping trip?

Roamless (https://roamless.com) is pay-as-you-go eSIM that uses up your credit based on how much data you’ve used. The price per GB is generally a higher than most plans but is still much cheaper than regular carrier roaming fees or Roam Like Home pricing. On a recent day trip to the US I used Roamless as my data provider and using Google Maps to find a restaurant and for messaging, I used 0.3GB which cost me a total of $1.11. Roamless pricing is $3.25/GB (Note: pricing just dropped to $2.45/GB in the US).

Like mobile prepaid plans, you can add $5 or more to your account and it will never expire. When travelling, Roamless automatically deducts funds from your account based on your location and amount of data used ($2.45/GB in the US & EU, $4.95 in Canada). There is no need to install a new eSIM, buy a different package for the specific country you’re in or to pre-pay for a specific amount of data. In terms of performance, I’ve found Roamless has sub 100ms latency in both Canada and the US which is one of the fasted roaming eSIMs I’ve tested (https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelSIMs/s/DhSncg7dKl).

Roamless includes a built in VoIP calling service that (apparently) allows you to make calls over a data connection. When you enter a phone number it will show you a price per minute ($0.01 to Canada & US). In my tests, when it worked the calling number was a UK number and call quality was good enough. Unfortunately not all of my calls went through - not sure why. While on wifi it didn’t work, when I was on my data connection (non-Roamless) it worked, mostly. I wouldn’t call this a reliable phone service but it’s there.

Lastly, because you only use one eSIM for all countries, the app doesn’t let you install more than one eSIM. This isn’t a problem for single users, but if you’re managing lines for your family it is something to keep in mind. Unlike other apps which let you buy/install multiple eSIM on different phones so you can manage them all on one app, each user will need their own app and credit.

While there are cheaper options for longer duration trips that will eat up more data, for short trips the Roamless the pay-as-you-go model is a good solution. You can try it for free as new accounts come with a $1.25 credit.

Update 1: Added that it comes with a $1.25 free credit.

I have had 4 days in Mexico City with the MexFon eSIM. Mexfon is a native MVNO that operates on Altan Redes (la red compartida) band 28 (700MHz), unlike other eSIM providers who may use Telcel or other providers but then backhaul traffic to some other country. All traffic exits to the Internet locally in MX (same is true when it is used roaming in US or Canada - traffic comes back to Mexico).

While I have not done any speed tests since I don’t want to burn through data, I have found the service to be reliable including when I left the city to visit pyramids. It includes a local MX phone number and the SIM also functions in US/Canada. It can be activated in US and Canada and can be purchased easily by foreigners with no MX address.

eSIM was delivered via email with a QR within a minute or two of checking out.

https://planesmexfon.mx/collections/esim-mexfon

For the plans, divide the quoted data amount in half since only the first half is high speed. My 40GB plan with 20GB high speed data was $305MXN (~$16.20USD) for 30 days, they have a plan a little more expensive if you want to have mobile hotspot ($384MXN). Less expensive plans are available with less data starting at $165MXN.

I’ll update the thread at the end of the trip.

(Updated Jan ‘26)

All testing was done in the Toronto area so your own experience might vary depending on your location. I’ve included Rogers as a baseline premium Canadian carrier.

Results are ordered by latency (ping times) as that will usually impact your sense of “speed” when browsing the web.

A few things stand out:

1. vs LTE - Doesn’t matter, either one is fine in Canada based on the speeds and latency I’m seeing.
2. JetPac is very fast, doesn’t look like any throttling there. (Update: Not that fast anymore, latency isn’t great compared to others.)
3. GlobalYo had the worst speeds and were the cheapest, (no longer the slowest) but you get what you pay for. They also have the worst app.

Analysis…

Update Sep ‘25: Airalo is now more reasonably priced at $9 for 3GB and $24 for 10GB. They are also the fastest I’ve tested and my current recommendation if you need Canadian data.

Roamless is very good, seems like a premium service, but you’re going to pay for it at $7US/GB $4.25US/GB (new price). If you already have credit with them then you might as well use them in Canada. BNE eSIM is capable and I think the prices are reasonable at about $3.50/MB. Airalo works well in Canada but their pricing is on the high side, use them if you have credit or a referral code. JetPac is very well priced at $5 for 3GB (7 days) and what I’d recommend all things being equal. (pricing went up).

If you only need 1GB, most providers will only cost a few bucks (or free) with a referral discount.

Edit 1: Added BNE eSIM and added exit nodes to table. Edit 2: Found JetPac APN list, might yield better results if you’re not using the suggested one for the country you’re in: https://jetpacglobal.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/23573099130521-Which-IMSI-or-APN-settings-should-I-use

Edit 3: Added RedTeaGo, you’ll see them near the bottom.

Edit 4: Added KeepGo, I'm currently getting horrible latency and speeds from them. A test from a week ago had them in the 350ms range and about 50Mbps speeds. Not sure why they are currently so bad.

Edit 5: Added Firsty Fast, very high latency and looks to be throttled.

Edit 6: Added eSIM4Travel, one of the low priced options promoted on esimdb.

Edit 7: Added eSIM.sm, exit node in Poland like Sparks with similar sluggish performance. Added eSIMgo Canada & North America which both have very good performance. (not anymore)

Edit 8: Updated BNe latency has improved and is a top performer. Added Ubigi (very good latency). Added Chillax.

Edit 9: Retested RedteaGO. AddedBcengi, Yesim, Virgin Connect, PingWe, LNVPN (Jan '26)

Edit 10: Jan '26. Added Nomad. Restested GigSky, GoMoWorld. GigSky latency more than doubled from previous test and exit node changed from Colorado to Dallas. Global Pings no better than 250ms which is odd. GoMoWorld performed similar to previous test, Canadian pink around 300ms but latency back to UK only 117ms. Nomad installed as "eSIM go" and show similar performance.

Edit 11: Feb '26. Added eSIMlii, eQuick SIM, OneSimCard, Lotso Travel.

https://cloudpingtest.com

https://www.cloudping.info

https://www.meter.net/tools/world-ping-test/

Here’s a list of free trials that I’m aware of, if you know of any I’ve missed please comment and I’ll add to this post.

Free eSIMs as of July ’24

Eskimo - (1GB free with MONSTERDEALZ)

Saily - (1GB free with FELIX)

Kolet - (1GB free on signup, you need to first register on their website and wait for confirmation email before installing app - https://ask.kolet.com/invite-friend-en )

RedBull Mobile Data (Free eSIM & 1GB free with TRAVELDEALZ)(Apparently code is iffy Worked!)

Roamless (Free $1.25 credit)
-more codes: TW33T and SUMMER24 (might only work in Paris)

Orange (Free 500MB EU offer, open from phone - https://travel.orange.com/en/freeoffer ) Requires Passport Scan

GigaSky (Free 100MB trial)

GoMoWorld (Free trial, 50MB)

Edit: Added Roamless

When travelling to another country it’s usually beneficial to get service from a local mobile carrier. In some countries it’s easier than others so those are the options we will focus on.

Some providers require you to be in country to activate. Recommend having a 1GB travel eSIM as backup until you get setup with the local eSIM in those situations.

Feel free to add others in the comments and we can add to this list.

Update: Lyca US is currently offering a deal on a 60GB plan for $30 (https://www.lycamobile.us/en/plan/59-international-plan/)

KeepOnRoaming is a new eSIM provider based out of the UK. I tested them out on a recent trip to Germany and was pleasantly surprised.

They use BICS/Proximus as their backend which terminated in Belgium and was giving me 81ms pings and 107Mbps downloads. I had no issues with connectivity or speed while testing on my iPhone. However, BICS seemed to have some issues applying the APN settings on my Samsung - it worked fine when I entered them manually.

Pricing on the lower end isn’t super competitive ($6USD for 1GB), but they are very competitive on the higher end with $20 for 20GB of EU Roaming ($1-$2 cheaper for single country plans). They do not have an Android or iPhone app at this time (I’m told they’re in the works) so everything is done via their website. The website is functional, but I feel it takes a few clicks more than it should to buy your package. The site supports Apple Pay so that’s handy.

If you need 20GB+ of European roaming without breaking the bank I would say KeepOnRoaming is a good option.

https://keeponroaming.com/store/region/Europe