What is Sim Local?

Sim Local is a company that provides international SIM cards and eSIMs to help travelers avoid those painful international roaming charges we all dread. They were founded back in 2011 by Irish entrepreneur Killian Whelan, making them one of the earlier players in the travel SIM space. You’ve probably seen their SIM kiosks at international airports, where they’ve built up a pretty solid reputation over the years.

When it comes to eSIMs, they offer a good range of plans to suit different travel needs and styles. What we really like about them is that many of their plans include calls and SMS, not just data. Some plans even give you a real mobile phone number, which is super handy if you still use traditional calling or need to receive verification texts.

We’ve tested them ourselves in 16 Countries so far: Belgium, Colombia, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States to see how they actually perform.

Let’s dive in…

The key facts

Sim Local service overview

Sim Local offers 3 main types of plans and which one you pick really depends on your travel style.

Country specific plans

These are great if you’re staying put in just one country. They’re tailored to individual destinations and usually the most affordable option. You’ll find both fixed data and unlimited plans, with some including calls and SMS. Validity ranges from 4 to 90 days depending on the plan you choose.

As you know, we’ve tested Sim Local extensively. If you want to see how they performed in each location, check out our Country Guides for detailed breakdowns and recommendations.

Regional plans

These cover whole regions like Europe, Asia and Africa. They work as a single plan across multiple countries, which is perfect if you’re hopping borders and don’t want the hassle of switching plans every time you cross into a new country. They cost a bit more than single country plans, but if you’re visiting multiple destinations in the same region, the convenience (and avoiding buying separate plans) usually makes them worth it.

These regional plans run anywhere from 3 to 90 days. Just like the country plans, you’ll find options with calls and SMS included, plus both fixed data and unlimited data plans to choose from.

Regional coverage breakdown:

Global plans

If you’re doing some serious travel, like a sabbatical year or you’re a digital nomad bouncing between different countries throughout the year, Sim Local offers global plans that work in up to 153 countries worldwide.

Here’s what they’ve got:

As you can see, global plans run anywhere from 1 to 31 days. Some plans include calls and SMS, while others are data only. You’ll only find fixed data options here, no unlimited plans for global coverage. Like regional plans, global plans can be extremely expensive, so you are paying a big premium for convenience.

Unlimited plans

Sim Local also has unlimited plans in certain countries and regions. They offer unlimited options for the UK, USA, Japan, Turkey, Thailand, Australia and Europe, with plans ranging from 4 to 90 days. Some of these include calls and SMS as well.

It’s important to note that all of these plans come with fair use policies. This isn’t just Sim Local, all eSIM providers work this way. What it means is that each provider sets a daily data cap for high speed usage. Once you hit that limit, your speeds get throttled until the next 24 hour period resets.

The good news is that Sim Local’s daily cap is pretty generous at 10GB per day. For most travelers, that’s more than enough for browsing, streaming, navigation and sharing photos throughout the day. We’ve personally never hit the limit on any of Sim Local’s plans we’ve tested, and we do use our phones quite a bit while traveling.

Another interesting thing we found about Sim Local is that they claim to offer Emergency Data Extensions if you somehow manage to burn through your 10GB daily allowance. Their site says that all you have to do is contact their customer service team and they’ll give you an extra 1GB to keep you going. We haven’t needed to test this ourselves, but if it works as advertised, that’s a great backup to have.

Calls and SMS

Unlike many eSIM providers that only offer data, Sim Local includes calls and SMS in many of their plans across all plan types (country, regional, global, unlimited). This is a genuine advantage if you need more than just internet access.

Some plans come with real phone numbers, specifically UK (+44) and French (+33) numbers. These aren’t just nice to have, they’re actually useful when you need to receive verification codes, make locals calls or receive them.

Beyond basic calling, some plans include unlimited calls and SMS within the country you’re visiting. Others even include minutes for international calls, so you can call back home or to other countries without needing a separate service.

This focus on phone functionality is why we named Sim Local the Best eSIM with Phone Number for Study Abroad. From personal experience studying in France for years, having a local number is a great advantage. You might need it for opening a bank account, sorting out visa paperwork, signing rental contracts and handling all the admin tasks that come with living overseas.

Just keep in mind that plans with calls and SMS do cost more than data only options. For our short trips where we’re mainly using WhatsApp, FaceTime and other internet based apps, a data only plan does the job just fine and saves us money. But if you’re a student setting up life in a new country, or if you genuinely need a local number for work or a longer stay, then paying extra for this feature might be worth it for you.

Sim Local speed test: How fast is it really?

We’ve put Sim Local to the test in several countries, running it side by side against multiple other major eSIM providers in the exact same locations and conditions.

Let’s look at the speeds we got in each country:

The numbers speak for themselves, placing Sim Local’s performance in a solid mid to upper tier among eSIM providers, though results vary quite a bit depending on where you are. We’ve seen everything from excellent performance to a service with room for improvement.

Now, to determine how good Sim Local is (or isn’t), it’s important to remember that it’s not all about which number is bigger and which is lower. There are many factors to take into account, like the signal strength, whether you can actually get things done online regardless of speed, and of course, the general eSIM performance standards of each country. This means, for example, that even though Colombia had Sim Local’s lowest speed, it was still decent enough for Colombia’s standards.

What this means for travelers

Despite the mixed rankings, Sim Local’s actual speeds are more than adequate for typical travel needs. Every country we tested delivered functional speeds well above what you need for demanding mobile activities.

To put this in perspective, let’s break down what different speed ranges actually let you do:

• 52+ Mbps (Sim Local’s minimum in Colombia): This handles streaming, video calls, real time navigation, social media uploads and multi device hotspot use without any issues.

• 100+ Mbps (Sim Local’s typical performance): You’ll notice faster file downloads, seamless cloud sync and buffer free multi tasking across apps.

• 500+ Mbps (what we got in Portugal): This basically eliminates wait time for virtually any mobile task. Think perfect quality simultaneous 4k streams as the standard.

So what does this tell us? If you’re considering Sim Local for your next trip, we think you can choose it with confidence. Based on our experience and test results across 16 Countries, Sim Local delivers reliable, stable and consistently usable speeds that won’t leave you frustrated. While it rarely leads the pack in raw speed rankings, it clears the bar for very good travel connectivity in every market we tested.

If Portugal or UAE are your destinations, you’ll get exceptional performance. For UK and USA travelers, there are definitely faster alternatives out there, though whether you’d actually notice the difference in everyday use is debatable.

Note: Just remember, speed tests are never black and white. Things like 4G vs 5G access, your exact location and network congestion can affect how fast your data feels on the ground.

Sim Local pricing

Sim Local positions itself in the premium middle tier of the eSIM market. They’re not the cheapest option out there, but they stay competitive when you factor in service quality and features.

Pricing also varies a lot by destination and in some places their plans end up being more affordable than you’d expect. The same goes for many of their unlimited plans, which can be stronger value compared to the usual big providers.

Before diving into the details, let’s take a look at a full breakdown of Sim Local’s plans. Remember you can filter for your destination country:

After reviewing Sim Local’s pricing across regions and comparing it to the rest of the market, two patterns stand out:

1. Tiered product strategy

Sim Local uses a pretty clear tiering strategy that segments customers by need. They have three distinct product tiers:

• Data only plans (for budget conscious travelers): These have entry level pricing with the most affordable per GB rates. No calls or SMS means no extra overhead costs.

• Data + Calls + SMS bundles (for premium convenience): Available in popular destinations like the UK, USA, Australia, Japan and Portugal. They have a higher price point, which makes sense when you consider the added functionality. These are clearly aimed at business travelers and anyone who needs a local number.

• Unlimited daily data plans (for power users): These offer up to 10GB of high speed data per day and compete directly with providers like Holafly, Saily, Airalo and Truely. Despite being a mid to premium tier provider, Sim Local often ends up cheaper for similar or higher daily caps, which is one of the more surprising parts of their pricing.

2. Partnership driven value

Sim Local’s pricing in specific regions becomes much more competitive because of how they source their plans. They work directly with strong local networks, which normally increases costs compared to budget providers, but it also creates pockets of really good value.

This is especially noticeable across the European Union, the UK and Japan, where their direct partnerships allow them to offer plans that are priced much closer to budget providers. The combination of local network access and softer pricing creates some of the best value they offer, and it explains why their affordability varies so much depending on where you travel.

Sim Local free trial

Sim Local offers the best free eSIM trial we’ve seen so far. Travel ESIM Expert readers can get 1GB of free data for 3 days through 6 regional plans, giving you enough data and time to properly test the service rather than just checking that the eSIM connects.

The offer works for both new and existing Sim Local customers, there’s no credit card required and hotspot is supported. We’ve got 6 exclusive regional codes that turn the matching 1GB plan into a free eSIM at checkout:

• Asia 1GB eSIM: EXPERTASIA
• Europe 1GB eSIM: EXPERTEUROPE
• North America 1GB eSIM: EXPERTNAMERICA
• South America 1GB eSIM: EXPERTSAMERICA
• Oceania 1GB eSIM: EXPERTOCEANIA

Just make sure you choose the region that covers your destination. Each regional plan has its own list of included countries, so check the coverage before relying on it for your trip.

If you use one of the links above, the matching free trial code should already be applied. You can also see the full redemption process in our Best Free eSIM Trial guide.

So is Sim Local expensive?

Short answer: It depends on what you’re comparing it to…

• Compared to traditional roaming: No, it’s very cheap. You’re paying a fraction of what your home carrier would charge, usually around 10% of normal roaming rates.

• Compared to local physical SIMs: Yes, it can be slightly more expensive. But the tradeoff is convenience. You’re paying to skip the hassle of finding shops and dealing with physical SIM cards when you land.

• Compared to other eSIM providers: Mid tier. Like we mentioned, it depends on the destination and the partnerships they have in each country. Generally they’re slightly pricier than some providers, but there’s genuinely good value to be found in many of their plans.

Sim Local discount

We’ve partnered with Sim Local to give all Travel ESIM Expert readers an extra 25% off any plan. This is the biggest Sim Local discount available right now and all you have to do is use the code EXPERT25 at checkout to enjoy your discount.

If you want to learn how to redeem the code, we have a Sim Local discount code guide to walk you through everything you need to know.

Loyalty program and rewards

Sim Local doesn’t offer a traditional loyalty program. We’re big fans of earning credits or perks when we travel often and it’s always nice to feel rewarded for coming back to the same provider. Fingers crossed they’ll add something like that in the future.

Getting started with Sim Local: Our experience

Setup and installation

Before you can use Sim Local, your phone needs to meet a few key requirements:

• It must have access to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
• It must be unlocked to connect to different networks.
• It must be eSIM compatible.

Most mid to high end phones from the last few years will have no problem. If you’re not sure, you can save yourself a headache by checking our complete eSIM compatibility guide.

When it comes to the installation, it’s super easy. It took us about 1 to 2 minutes total to install both the app and the eSIM.

Here’s how we did it:

Purchase process

Once you have the app installed, it’s time to get a plan for your trip. It’s super easy:

The user experience: Website and app

We have to admit it, we use Sim Local’s app every time, but we gave the website a good look to be able to tell you how we feel about it.

The website experience

Sim Local’s website probably won’t win any web design awards, but it’s simple, clean and practical. The site is fast, mobile friendly and easy to navigate.

It’s easy to find what matters, like plan options, pricing and even their WhatsApp support channel.

There’s also a handy plan selector tool that asks a few questions and recommends the best plan for your trip, which is a nice touch.

The app experience

The Sim Local app is available on both iOS and Android. Easy to find, fast to install and we had zero issues getting started.

The design mirrors their website with the same sections and information, so much so that it actually feels more like a mobile optimized website than a standalone app, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Everything stays on brand with their signature green, blue and white colors, modern readable fonts and clean graphics. No animations or flashy extras.

What matters is that the app is fast, responsive and user friendly. You can easily find everything you need, like browsing plans, managing your current eSIMs and checking your eSIM history.

Navigation

The information is organized in 4 tabs:

1. Home: Search functionality, list of plans, help center and customer support
2. My eSIM: List of current and previous eSIMs
3. Account: Account information, order history, settings and more
4. Help: eSIM, installation, activation and troubleshooting guides. Also includes in app chat and WhatsApp chat

Key app features

• Plan purchase within app
• Purchase history
• Multiple eSIM management
• In-app chat 
• eSIM installation, activation and troubleshooting guides
• Account management

Sim Local customer support

Sim Local’s customer support is solid overall. The standout feature is their real human chat via WhatsApp, which is a big win in our books. Being able to message someone directly through an app we already use makes getting help way more convenient than dealing with traditional email tickets or chatbots.

That said, nothing’s perfect and there’s definitely room for improvement in certain areas. But the good news is that if you run into an issue, you’ll likely be able to get it sorted fairly easily and quickly.

Support channels and availability

Sim Local’s website has a pretty useful Help Centre where you’ll find step by step guides to help you get started with your eSIM, troubleshoot issues and install it properly. There’s also a FAQ section covering the most common questions, a contact form, a support ticket system, and a website chat with AI assistance. You’ll also spot quick links to chat with them on WhatsApp or check out their Instagram.

On the app, you’ll find the same guides and FAQs. If you need to reach out, you can send them an email, message them on WhatsApp, or use the in app chat (it’s the same system as the website). So you’ve got a few different ways to get help if you run into any issues.

The self service resources like the AI chat, guides and FAQs are available 24/7, so you can find answers anytime you need them.

When it comes to human support (whether that’s live chat, email, or the ticketing system), it’s a bit slower. In our experience, replies aren’t always instant and it doesn’t feel like support is fully 24/7. You might need to wait a bit longer if you’re reaching out late at night or during off hours, which is something to keep in mind if you’re dealing with an urgent issue.

Our experience with Sim Local’s customer support

We’ve used Sim Local a bunch of times and only ever ran into one issue. When it happened, we reached out on WhatsApp. The chat started with a bot asking us to pick from a few options. Once we went through those and still couldn’t fix the problem, we asked to speak to a human agent.

Our Sim Local strategy: How to get the best value

Sim Local is pretty straightforward. What you see is what you get, so using their service is intuitive. That said, we’ve learned a few things from our own travels that might help you pick the right plan for your trip.

The single country traveler

If you’re visiting just one country for a holiday, a single country eSIM is usually your best bet. It’s cheaper than regional or global options and super easy to set up. This works well for most typical travel needs like using maps, booking rides, uploading photos to social media and staying in touch with folks back home.

But let’s say you’re headed to one country for business and you know you’ll need tons of internet for video calls, emails and work stuff. In that case, we’d recommend going for an unlimited plan instead. You’ll get a generous 10 GB per day and if you somehow manage to burn through that (unlikely), you can contact customer support for a extra data. This also makes sense for content creators or gamers who need heavy data to support their online activities.

The regional hopper

Planning to visit several countries in the same area, like hopping around Europe or exploring South America? Sim Local’s regional plans are perfect for this. You install one eSIM and use it across all the countries in that region. It’ll automatically switch and connect to the best local network as soon as you cross a border.

The trick here is planning ahead. You need to estimate your total data needs and trip duration upfront, which can be a bit trickier than buying plans country by country. But the convenience of not switching eSIMs every few days usually makes it worth it.

The global nomad

Our team falls into this category. We’re constantly bouncing between different countries and need international internet for pretty much everything. If this sounds like you, then honestly, most plans can work. It just depends on your preferences.

We tend to buy single country plans as we go because we usually know how long we’re staying in each place. This makes it way easier to estimate data needs accurately. We’ve made the mistake of buying global plans before and completely misjudging our usage; we either ended up needing to top up (which gets expensive with global plans) or having leftover data we couldn’t use.

That said, if convenience is your priority and budget isn’t a concern, a global eSIM makes total sense. Install it once and you’re done. Just know that you might end up with unused data or need to top up depending on how much you travel and how heavily you use data.

And just like with single country travel, if you know you’ll be a heavy data user, unlimited plans are a great choice. Just double check they’re available in your destinations since they’re only offered in select countries.

The traveler who needs calls and SMS

This one’s straightforward. If you need calling or texting capabilities, make sure the plan you choose includes it. Sim Local clearly lists what’s included with each plan, so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for.

One nice perk is that if you’re heading to the UK or France, you can get a local number. This means people can actually call you at a local number and you can receive verification codes, which can be super handy.

Check out our Sim Local Brand Overview page for all the basics.

Sim Local FAQs