If you’ve looked into staying connected while living or working abroad, you’ve probably heard the term “eSIM” thrown around. It sounds modern, hassle-free, maybe even essential. But what actually is an eSIM, how does it work in practice, and — the question we answer dozens of times a week at ConnectPls — is it always the right choice for digital nomads and long-term travelers?

This guide breaks down eSIM technology from an operator’s perspective, explains when it works well, and shows you the alternative connectivity options (including subscription-based portable WiFi and Cloud SIM services) that often make more sense when you’re on the road for months, not days.

What Is an eSIM? The Technical Basics

An eSIM — short for embedded SIM — is a tiny chip built into your phone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike a plastic SIM card you swap in and out, an eSIM is activated remotely. You scan a QR code or download a carrier profile, and your device connects to a mobile network without touching any physical hardware.

The chip has been inside compatible devices since around 2018, starting with the iPhone XS and newer Android flagships. The profile you install is what changes: the carrier, the data plan, the country coverage.

Most newer phones support eSIM. Recent iPhones (XS and later), Google Pixels (3 and up), Samsung Galaxy S20 onwards, and many mid-range Android models all work. But plenty of perfectly good phones — especially bought outside North America or Europe — still don’t. And laptops, cameras, and other WiFi-only devices never will.

“We managed to stay always connected while travelling around Europe, without having to buy SIM cards in every country and ending up with a handful of them with different balances we couldn’t use. Excellent support team.”
— Patrícia Reis de Magalhães, verified ConnectPls customer

How Does an eSIM Actually Work When You Travel?

Here’s the typical flow. You buy an eSIM data plan online, usually for a specific country or region. The provider emails you a QR code. You scan it in your phone’s settings, the eSIM profile downloads, and you toggle it on when you land. Your phone connects to a local or roaming network using that profile, and you have mobile data.

You can store multiple eSIM profiles on one device and switch between them. This helps if you’re hopping between Spain and Portugal with separate country plans. Some phones, like recent iPhones, let you use two lines simultaneously: one physical SIM, one eSIM, or two eSIMs at once.

When the data runs out or the validity period ends (most eSIM plans last 7 days, 30 days, etc.), you either top up or buy a new plan and repeat the process.

When an eSIM Makes Sense — and When It Doesn’t

eSIMs work well for short, single-country trips. A week in Japan? A business meeting in Dubai? Buy a 7-day eSIM, land, scan, done. No hunting for a SIM vendor at the airport, no passport photocopies, no language barrier.

But the trade-offs show up fast when you’re traveling long-term or across multiple countries:

• Your phone has to support it. If you’re using an older iPhone, a budget Android, or you just upgraded and your new phone doesn’t have eSIM enabled in your region, you’re stuck.
• It’s one device only. Your laptop, tablet, travel partner’s phone, or backup device can’t share the connection unless you turn on personal hotspot — which drains your phone battery and often isn’t allowed on cheaper eSIM plans.
• Country-by-country purchasing gets expensive. If you’re spending three months across France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, buying separate eSIM plans for each country or renewing a regional plan every 30 days adds up. You’re constantly managing expiry dates.
• No flexibility if plans change. Most eSIM plans are prepaid and non-refundable. If you leave early or your itinerary shifts, that unused data is gone.
• Support is often automated. When something goes wrong (wrong APN settings, activation fails, coverage is patchy), you’re usually dealing with chatbots or email queues, not a real support team.

We see this pattern constantly: a digital nomad buys an eSIM for Spain, then realizes they need to tether their laptop for client calls, or their partner’s phone doesn’t support eSIM, or they’re driving into France next week and don’t want to buy another plan. That’s when they come to us asking about alternatives.

eSIM vs. Portable WiFi vs. Local SIM vs. Roaming: What’s Best for Long-Term Travel?

Here’s how the main connectivity options compare when you’re living, working, or road-tripping abroad for more than a few weeks:

Option	Best For	Pros	Cons
eSIM	Short trips, single traveler, compatible phone	Fast setup, no physical card, works immediately	One device only, country-by-country costs, rigid validity, phone must support it
Portable WiFi (subscription)	Multi-month travel, couples, van lifers, multiple devices	Connects 10 devices, works across 160+ countries, monthly billing, device included, no phone dependency	Requires carrying a small router (about the size of a phone)
Local SIM card	Staying in one country 3+ months	Often the cheapest per-GB in one country, local phone number	New SIM every country, local ID/address sometimes required, one device, airport kiosk queues
Home carrier roaming	Very short trips, emergencies	Zero setup, same number	Extremely expensive (often £5–15/day), surprise bills, coverage gaps

Why Subscription-Based Portable WiFi Works Better for Digital Nomads

If you’re working remotely across multiple countries, on the road for months at a time, or traveling with a partner or in a campervan, a subscription-based portable WiFi service solves most of the problems eSIMs create.

Here’s how it works at ConnectPls: you subscribe monthly to a mobile hotspot plan. We ship you the device (a pocket-sized router), shipping included, delivered in 2–3 days across Europe or 4–5 days to the UK. The device arrives ready to go. You turn it on when you land, it connects automatically using Cloud SIM technology (it picks the best local network in each country), and up to 10 devices connect to it like any WiFi network.

The billing is monthly and flexible. You’re not locked into a year-long contract or paying for 12 months upfront. Use it for the months you travel, pause it when you’re home. If you cancel a mobile router subscription within the first three months, there’s a £25 fee to cover shipping and return logistics. Otherwise, no penalties, no surprises.

The Plus Europe package covers 70 countries with truly unlimited data (no fair-use throttling): UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, all the Nordics, Turkey, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. If you’re van-lifing through France and Spain, doing a summer road trip across Portugal and Italy, or splitting time between London and Berlin, you have one plan, one device, one bill.

Other countries (Japan, Singapore, Thailand, China, UAE, India) offer 4G unlimited data but may slow after about 5GB in a day. That’s still plenty for work calls, mapping, and social media. More remote destinations like Brazil, Egypt, or Morocco give you 500MB/day at full speed, then throttle to 256kbps, which is fine for messaging and light browsing.

The device uses Cloud SIM (automatically switches carriers as you cross borders) plus a backup physical SIM slot if you ever need it. And because you’re connecting through a dedicated router, your phone battery isn’t drained running a personal hotspot all day, your laptop gets a stable connection for video calls, and your travel partner’s devices are covered without needing their own plan.

When a Local SIM Card Still Makes Sense

If you’re genuinely staying in one country for three or four months and have straightforward data needs, a local SIM card can still be the cheapest option. In Spain, France, or Australia, you’ll find monthly prepaid SIM plans with large data allowances for less than most international roaming or eSIM bundles.

The catch: you need a compatible unlocked phone, you’ll usually need local ID or an address (not always enforced, but often required), and every time you cross a border, you’re either paying roaming fees or buying a new SIM. For a single long stay, that’s fine. For multi-country travel or if you’re moving every few weeks, it’s a constant reset.

Real Scenarios: eSIM, Portable WiFi, or Both?

We support travelers in all these situations every week, so here’s what actually works:

• Three-month campervan trip through France, Spain, and Portugal: Portable WiFi subscription. One device, unlimited data across all three countries, connects your laptop, phones, tablets, and streaming stick. Much cheaper than three separate eSIM plans and no expiry-date juggling.
• Ten-day work trip to Japan: Either works. If your phone supports eSIM and you’re traveling solo, a 10-day eSIM is simple. If you’re with a colleague or need to connect a laptop reliably, a portable WiFi rental (or a short subscription if you travel to Japan often) is easier.
• Six months bouncing between UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Nordics: Portable WiFi subscription, no question. One plan covers all of them with unlimited data, monthly billing, and you’re not buying a new SIM or eSIM every country.
• Weekend city break in Paris: eSIM or just use your home carrier’s roaming (if it’s a flat daily rate). Not worth a monthly subscription unless you’re going back regularly.

What About Costs? eSIM vs. Portable WiFi Breakdown

Pricing varies hugely by provider and region, so we won’t invent numbers, but the pattern is consistent. eSIM plans for Europe typically charge per country or region, per time period (7, 14, or 30 days), with data caps (1GB, 3GB, 10GB, sometimes “unlimited” with throttling). If you’re in three countries over two months, you’re buying multiple plans.

Portable WiFi subscriptions (like ConnectPls) bill monthly and cover multiple countries in one plan. You’re paying for the service plus the included device, but you’re not buying hardware upfront, and there’s no per-country or per-week cost stacking up. For long-term or multi-country travel, the monthly model almost always works out cheaper per day of actual connectivity. And you’re covering multiple devices, not just one phone.

Local SIM cards are often the lowest per-GB cost in a single country, but remember the hassle cost: airport queues, new SIM every border, no multi-device sharing without draining your phone battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an eSIM and portable WiFi at the same time?

Yes, and some travelers do. You might keep an eSIM active for your phone number and calls, and use portable WiFi for data and other devices. They don’t interfere with each other. This setup works well if you need a local number for banking or two-factor authentication but want reliable multi-device internet from a subscription service.

Do all phones support eSIM?

No. Recent iPhones (XS and newer), Google Pixels (3 and up), and Samsung Galaxy flagships (S20 onwards) do, but many mid-range and older Android phones don’t. Also, some phones sold in certain regions (like China or parts of Asia) have eSIM disabled even if the model technically supports it. Check your phone’s settings under “Mobile Data” or “SIM” to see if you have an “Add eSIM” option.

Is portable WiFi actually unlimited, or is there a catch?

It depends on the provider and the country group. At ConnectPls, the Plus Europe package is truly unlimited across 70 “Group 0” countries (UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Nordics, Turkey, Canada, Mexico, Australia, NZ) with no throttling. Other countries (Japan, Singapore, Thailand, etc.) offer unlimited but may slow after about 5GB in a day. A few more remote countries have a 500MB/day cap before throttling. We’re upfront about this because we’d rather you know what to expect than promise “unlimited everywhere” and disappoint you in rural Morocco.