What Is an eSIM? How It Works and How to Get One
Srujan YeletiFounder, Unlimit Mobile
4 min read
An eSIM is a SIM card that is built into your phone. Instead of putting a small plastic card in a tray, you download your mobile plan onto the chip, usually by scanning a QR code. The "e" stands for embedded: the chip is soldered into the phone and stays there, while the plans on it can change.
This guide explains what an eSIM is, how it works, which phones have one, what it costs and how to get one, so you can have a local number ready before you land in the USA, Canada or the UK.
What is an eSIM?
Every phone that connects to a mobile network needs a SIM: it proves to the network which plan and which number the phone belongs to. A physical SIM is a removable card. An eSIM does the same job as a chip inside the phone, and the details of your plan arrive as a download, called an eSIM profile.
Because nothing has to be posted or swapped, you can buy a plan online, install it in a couple of minutes and switch between plans without opening the SIM tray.
How does an eSIM work?
- You buy a plan. The provider sends you an eSIM QR code, usually by email.
- You scan the code. Your phone downloads the eSIM profile: the plan, its network and, if the plan has one, its phone number.
- You turn it on. The phone connects to the network like it would with a physical SIM.
Most phones can store several eSIM profiles and use one or two at a time. On a dual-SIM phone you can keep your home SIM for calls and texts from home while the eSIM gives you a local number and data. The step-by-step setup for iPhone and Android is in our eSIM installation guide.
Which phones have an eSIM?
iPhones from the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR onwards have an eSIM, and iPhone 14 and later models sold in the USA have no SIM tray at all: they are eSIM only. Many recent Android phones have one too, including Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy models, but it varies by model and by the country the phone was sold in.
Two quick ways to check your phone:
- iPhone: go to Settings, then Mobile Data (or Cellular). If you see "Add eSIM", your phone supports it.
- Android: look in Settings under Connections or Network for a SIM manager with an option to add an eSIM.
Your phone also has to be unlocked, meaning it is not tied to the provider you bought it from. A locked phone will not accept another provider’s eSIM.
Does an eSIM have a phone number?
The eSIM itself is only the chip. Whether you get a phone number depends on the plan you install. Many travel eSIMs are data only: they connect you to the internet but give you no number for calls, texts or verification codes. Every Unlimit Mobile plan comes with a local number in the country you are going to, so banks, landlords, universities and employers can reach you.
eSIM vs physical SIM
Both connect you to the same networks. An eSIM cannot be lost or damaged, cannot be removed from a stolen phone, and can be set up before you travel. A physical SIM is still useful if your phone has no eSIM. Our guide to the difference between a SIM and an eSIM goes into when each one makes sense.
Are eSIMs safe?
Yes. An eSIM works with the same network security as a physical SIM, and because it is built into the phone, nobody can pull it out of a lost or stolen phone and use your number in another device. Install eSIM QR codes only from the provider you bought your plan from.
How much does an eSIM cost?
The eSIM chip costs nothing extra: it is part of your phone. What you pay for is the plan you install on it. Unlimit Mobile plans for the USA, Canada and the UK are prepaid, with no contract and no credit check, and the table below shows today’s prices for the USA.
| Plan | Data | 1 month | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimit Loki | 2GB | USD $12 | USD $132 |
| Unlimit Rizz | 10GB | USD $23 | USD $252 |
| Unlimit Slay | Unlimited | USD $30 | USD $324 |
| Unlimit GOAT | Unlimited | USD $40 | USD $432 |
Going somewhere else? See the Canada plans and the UK plans.
How to get an eSIM before you travel
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
- Choose your plan for the USA, Canada or the UK and buy it online.
- Your eSIM QR code arrives by email. Scan it at home, before you fly.
- Your local number goes live 48 hours before your travel date, so it works when you land.
Frequently asked questions
Is an eSIM the same as an electronic or digital SIM?
Yes. eSIM, electronic SIM and digital SIM all mean a SIM built into your smart phone. Where do you get one? Order a plan online and the eSIM QR code arrives by email.
What does eSIM mean?
Embedded SIM: a SIM chip built into the phone that downloads mobile plans instead of using a removable card.
Can I use an eSIM and a physical SIM together?
On a dual-SIM phone, yes. Many travellers keep their home SIM for messages from home and use the eSIM for a local number and data.
Does an eSIM have a phone number?
Only if the plan includes one. Data-only travel eSIMs do not. Unlimit Mobile plans include a local number in the USA, Canada or the UK.
Can I move my eSIM to a new phone?
An eSIM profile belongs to the phone it was installed on. If you change phones, contact your provider for a new eSIM QR code for the new device.
How long does it take to set up an eSIM?
Installing it takes a few minutes once you have the QR code. With Unlimit Mobile, your number goes live 48 hours before your travel date.
