We’ve said it countless times, we love travel eSIMs because they save us money, we don’t have to hold on to tiny and fragile physical SIM cards, we don’t have to go to stores to make a purchase, we don’t even have to talk to anyone. They’re just so convenient, right? Well, mostly…

When you use travel eSIMs regularly, across many providers and in many countries, things can get just a bit confusing. That’s where we, the (Travel eSIM) experts, come in to help make simplify things to make it as easy as possible for you. This guide will help you master your mobile and ensure you’re organizing eSIM profiles as efficiently as possible.

1. Understanding eSIM Technology

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM (Embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that replaces your old school physical SIM cards. They can be purchased, downloaded, installed and activated online, without you ever having to leave the house. We think they make international travel a lot easier than before by getting you online at reasonable prices. We’ve broken it down in great detail on our page: what an eSIM is and how it works.

How eSIM profiles work

eSIM “Profiles” are essentially the different eSIMs that you have downloaded or set up. Each eSIM profile is different, you can have:

• Travel eSIM profiles (our focus): From the likes of Nomad, Airalo, etc. These eSIMs contain a plan that will work in either a single country, a region of the world or even globally. Sometimes these plans can even switch between multiple networks in each country, great news when your current network’s signal isn’t too great.

• Traditional network eSIM profiles: These are eSIMs available instead of physical SIMs from the traditional, single country home networks such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile etc. Since the iPhone 14, Apple has actually got rid of physical SIMs altogether in the USA so these might be a little more familiar to you now.

eSIMs have made it easier to switch between different plans, especially as an international traveler looking to avoid those high roaming fees.

2. Setting up your eSIM profiles before travel

Choosing your eSIM providers

The first step and most important part, choosing the right travel eSIM provider is essential. Our top factors for selecting an eSIM (in no particular order):

1. Signal: So that you will be able to use your device in as many locations as possible.
2. Speeds: So you can browse, view, work or achieve whatever you need to online.
3. Price: All while getting the best price. We often advise to compare against competitors and be aware of the overall cost per GB.

These factors can then be paired up with what we consider to be secondary factors, such as: Discounts, app usage, customer support, loyalty programs etc. Which travel eSIM is “best” generally depends on what country you’re heading to, as performance varies. We test travel eSIMs in every country we go to and put together our Buying Advice and Review articles to help you make informed decisions.

As a whole, our current top 3 travel eSIMs are:

1. Airalo
2. Nomad
3. Ubigi

Installing eSIMs

Installing travel eSIM profiles to your device is usually pretty straightforward. Most providers will offer you the option of installing the eSIM directly from the app, installing via QR code or installing manually (not recommended!) For detailed instructions, refer to our eSIM activation and setup page, which walks you through the process step by step.

3. Managing eSIM profiles on the go

How to switch eSIM profiles

To switch between eSIM profiles, you will need to head to your device’s settings menu. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

1. Access settings: Open the settings app on your smartphone.

2. Select cellular/Mobile data: Go to Cellular/Mobile Data/Mobile Data.

3. Choose the eSIM profile: You should see a list of the available eSIM profiles stored on your phone. Go ahead and select the one you wish to activate.

4. Activate the profile: Tap on the profile and choose “Turn On This Line” or “Activate”. Depending on how many eSIM profiles you have active, you may be presented with a notice that you need to switch off an existing active profile. Go ahead and deactivate the profile that you don’t need.

5. Define eSIM roles: If you have more than one eSIM active, you will have to select which eSIM profile you want to: A. Mobile data and B. Default voice line.

Monitoring data usage across profiles

It’s all well and good switching eSIM profiles, but if you’ve used your data allowance across them all, you won’t get very far. Be sure to keep an eye on your data usage across your various plans. The main way to do so is on your travel eSIM app, most will have a “My eSIMs” or similar sounding section that will contain all of your eSIM plans as well as your data used and days of validity remaining.

We also love a feature on Airalo and Nomad where you can add iOS widgets to your homepage for a quick view of how much data you’ve used. Great thinking.

4. How to delete an eSIM profile?

For iPhone users 

To delete an eSIM on an iPhone, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Tap on Cellular or Mobile Data, depending on your region.

3. Select the eSIM plan you want to remove.

4. Scroll down to the eSIM details and tap on Delete eSIM or Remove Cellular Plan.

5. A confirmation prompt will appear, and you need to confirm by tapping Delete eSIM again.

Note: Remember, removing the eSIM won’t cancel your plan. In most cases, this won’t be an issue as most travel eSIMs are prepaid. However, we did have an experience in Dubai, UAE, where we found ourselves with a recurring Airalo eSIM plan that renewed itself. This wasn’t our intention, but it’s a good reminder to always double-check your eSIM plans, especially before deleting them. 

For Android users

To delete an eSIM on an Android device, the steps can vary slightly depending on the brand and model of your phone, but here’s a general guide that should help:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.

2. Tap on Connections or Network & Internet, depending on your device.

3. Select SIM card manager or Mobile Network, again depending on what is available on your device.

4. Find the eSIM profile you want to delete and select it.

5. There should be an option to Remove or Delete the eSIM. Tap it and confirm the deletion.

5. Troubleshooting common eSIM issues

Connectivity challenges

1. Activation issues: In order to install a travel eSIM, you will need a solid internet connection. Once installed, they require activation. This process of finding a local network to connect to and “activating” may take a few minutes and can sometimes cause issues.

2. Variable network performance: Depending on the local network partnerships of the eSIM provider, the signal and speeds can vary significantly from one country to another. This can impact internet speed, connectivity and your overall experience.

3. Provider coverage gaps: For regional or global plans, make sure you check that your plan covers every country you plan to visit. Not all travel eSIM providers work in every country.

4. Switching delays: Switching between eSIM profiles can sometimes take some time. This is usually due to the device finding a connection with a new network.

For further support, check out our troubleshooting eSIM issues page. This resource provides solutions to all of the common problems you may encounter.

Our conclusion:

Managing and organizing eSIM profiles while traveling doesn’t have to be a hassle. With minimal preparation and some understanding of how eSIMs work, you can switch between profiles and plans with ease.