Sim Local has simplified the eSIM process to the point where it’s now much cheaper, easier and much less stressful to dial in high speeds when your overseas.
Vicious roaming charges were once a bugbear for Aussies travelling overseas, but the widespread availability of SIM cards and the increasingly seamless set-up process changed that. And yet, in recent years, we’ve seen another steady revolution in technology, switching to eSIMs to make the end-to-end travel experience significantly less stressful, removing friction so there’s less room for stress and more room for adventure.
An eSIM – exactly as it sounds – is a digital SIM built into your phone. No tray. No pin. No swapping out your home SIM and hoping you do not lose it in a hotel room. You buy a plan, scan a QR code, and your phone connects to local networks the moment you land.
It is a small technological change with an outsized impact on how seamless you can move while on the road. And as any frequent flyer will tell you, part of the entire experience is figuring out how you can minimise stress without compromising on what you want to do. An eSIM is essential in that sense, and as inseparable from travel as luggage and transit these days.
How Sim Local has refined the eSIM
UK-based Sim Local have been refining this process for 15 years, keeping access, speed and generous data allowances at the forefront to remove any friction.
Coverage spans more than 220 destinations, but that statistic only matters because of how cleanly it is presented. You are not forced to decipher network jargon or gamble on whether a plan will actually work where you are going. You pick your destination, choose a data allowance that makes sense, and you are done.
There are no contracts and competitive pricing starts from just $1 per gigabyte. Plans on offer include high speeds up to 10GB per day, which blows past the standard eSim allowance (typically 1GB-3GB per day), and they include hotspots and tethering so you can give your laptop data wherever, and whenever, you want without having to worry about any surprise throttling after a week of fast speeds. Having real unlimited data plans without the threat of throttling helps chip away at a big source of stress for the modern traveller, helping make the travel experience much more engaging and calmer.
Sim Local began as a physical SIM retailer in airports and city centres, which means it understands traveller behaviour better than most digital-only competitors. The company partners with local providers so it can provide more efficienct, faster connections, as well as offer a more authentic, local experience.
The eSIM platform feels designed by people who have missed connections, burned through hotel Wi-Fi and sworn never again. You just need to hop onto the Sim Local website and use the “Find My Plan” tool to help you choose the right plan in just four simple steps, ensuring you only pay for what you need and nothing more.
And that’s what you want, really. The best travel products are born from fiction, with travellers coming up with solutions to make the entire experience that much better. And not running away when you’ve got any questions; a history of exceptional customer service support has seen Sim Local rated 4.6 on both Trustpilot and Google.
Can I even use an eSIM?
Before buying anything, the first step is checking whether your phone supports eSIM. Most iPhones from XS onwards do. On iOS, head to Settings, tap Mobile or Cellular, and look for the option to add an eSIM. If it is there, you are good.
On Android, it varies by manufacturer, but a quick path is Settings, Network and Internet, then SIMs. If you see an option to add or download a SIM, your device is compatible. If in doubt, Sim Local’s compatibility checker saves you from guesswork.
Once set up, the experience is refreshingly boring. The QR code arrives instantly. Activation takes minutes. You can even install the eSIM before departure and switch it on when you land. That matters when you want maps, rideshares and messages to work immediately, not after a hunt for patchy and insecure airport Wi-Fi.
I’ve personally used eSIMs in five different countries now, from the United States and Canada to Thailand and Japan. Sim Local is by far the easiest to use, and the speed at which it’s activated means I’m not being held up at the airport when I land; I can order a rideshare straight away and map out my next few days before I’m event at the hotel.
How does Sim Local size up to other providers?
Sim Local comes out ahead of competing brands with more daily data allowance, competitive pricing and plans that include complimentary hotspotting and tethering.
Sim Local does not exist in a vacuum. Its two biggest rivals are Holafly and Airalo, both of which have helped normalise eSIM travel. Holafly leans hard into unlimited data plans, which sounds ideal until you read the fine print around fair use and speed caps. It is a strong option for heavy social media users, but less flexible if you want to fine-tune spending.
Airalo, on the other hand, operates more like a marketplace. It offers a huge range of local and regional eSIMs, often at sharp prices, but the experience can feel fragmented. Different providers, different rules, different performance. For confident travellers who like to optimise every detail, that is fine. For everyone else, it can feel like extra unnecessary steps and choice anxiety.
Sim Local sits neatly between the two. Plans are straightforward, pricing is transparent, and performance is consistent. There is a noticeable absence of clever tricks. That restraint is its advantage. It feels closer to buying a local SIM from a trusted shop than navigating a global data exchange.
The eSIM is here to stay
The bigger picture is this: eSIMs have quietly solved one of travel’s most persistent annoyances. They keep your home number active for banking and two-factor authentication. They eliminate airport kiosks. They remove the low-grade stress of being offline in an unfamiliar place. Once you travel with one, going back feels archaic.
Sim Local’s strength is not that it invented eSIMs. These aren’t upgrades anymore, or technological whims. An eSIM is a necessary travel infrastructure that pulls together safety, entertainment and communication.
Ordering a rideshare in New York City at 3AM is easier. Watching Netflix during boring transit days is easier. With a lot of modern restaurants and services now using social media for reservations, that’s now easier too.
Life is just easier with a travel eSIM, and now that the technology has been around for a few years, we’re starting to see necessary fine-tuning from companies like Sim Local to make data even more accessible and seamless on the road.
Who Is Sim Local Best For?
Sim Local is best suited for travellers who need more data while travelling but want something they can adapt to their budget, without compromising on convenience. Sim Local removes all the usual points of friction when it comes to staying connected on the go.
If you’re constantly updating your social channels, needing to handle e-mails, and want to turn your phone into a personal hotspot whenever you need to take a business call on your desktop, it’s going to be hard to go back to anything less once you find the right Sim Local plan for you. And for extra peace of mind, Sim Local offers a full refund policy if you change your mind or experience issues with your eSIM – no questions asked.
Families and groups travelling together who need to be in constant contact with one another will also benefit profoundly from Sim Local. First off, you’ve got all members of your travel crew on the same network with fast, reliable speeds. Second, you don’t have to worry about any one of your fellow travellers running out of data and falling behind in the group chat; essential for when you need to plan things fast.
How can I get a local eSIM while travelling?
Got plans to head overseas? Make sure you head on over to Sim Local’s website and find the best plan for your trip. You’ll just need to enter your destination on the homepage, and Sim Local will show you all applicable plans, at all price points, so you’re only paying for exactly what you need, and for how long you need it for.
