Why I stopped buying SIM cards abroad

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After a year or two of full-time travel, I decided to cancel my U.S. phone plan. It didn’t make sense to continue paying T-Mobile $50+ per month for a plan when I also purchased a local SIM card in every new country I lived in. I ported my U.S. phone number to Google Voice so I could continue using it for two-step verification for all of my accounts, and I haven’t looked back.

Unfortunately, things got a little complicated whenever I upgraded my phone. If you have a newer iPhone model, you know that there isn’t a physical SIM card tray. While much of the U.S. has adopted the eSIM model, the rest of the world hasn’t caught on as quickly. In most of Latin America, if a carrier offers an eSIM at all, it requires a month-to-month contract and a local ID, while physical SIM cards are prepaid and available to anyone.

After a lot of testing, I found two online eSIM providers that consistently provide great data at affordable prices: GigSky and Airalo. Here’s how they differ and why they are my favorite options for travelers.

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GigSky is my go-to provider as a digital nomad. GigSky offers a ton of different products and plans, ranging from prepaid data plans to cruise Wi-Fi and even in-flight connectivity. However, I subscribe to GigSky One — a plan designed specifically for digital nomads.

For just $33.99 per month, I get 25GB of data in 120+ countries worldwide. If you frequently bounce from country to country, you know how much of a hassle it is to constantly buy new SIM cards or not have connectivity when you land. I love knowing that as soon as I touch down in a new country, I can contact my loved ones, ask my Airbnb host questions, or call an Uber.

GigSky also works great as a hotspot. I’ve had a lot of trouble with Wi-Fi in various Airbnbs over the past few months, and GigSky consistently saves the day. The one drawback is that GigSky One doesn’t work in much of Africa, so always double-check the destinations before subscribing.

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If you don’t travel full-time and only need a data plan for your vacation, Airalo is a better option. And in my experience, Airalo offers the best connectivity of any eSIM provider. I have a Global eSIM from Airalo that offers up to 20GB of data and is valid for an entire year. Whenever GigSky coverage lapses, I enable Airalo, and it almost always works.

Plus, as a travel rewards expert, I love that Airalo offers a loyalty program of sorts. Airalo offers a form of elite status, and the higher you climb, the more cash back you earn on your purchases. Cash back is earned as Airmoney, which can be applied toward future eSIM purchases:

• Earn Traveler when you sign up, receive 5% Airmoney on all purchases
• Earn Silver after spending $20, get 6% Airmoney on all purchases
• Earn Gold after spending $70, earn 7% Airmoney on all purchases
• Earn Platinum after spending $200, get 10% Airmoney on all purchases

To put that into perspective, I’m a Platinum member, and on my $66 Global eSIM purchase, I earn $6.60 in Airmoney that can be used toward my next data purchase. Airalo already charges lower rates than many other eSIM providers, and the opportunity to earn real rewards on your purchases is phenomenal.

A local eSIM (in a country that offers it) might be slightly cheaper than GigSky or Airalo, but it also takes a lot of time to set up. A task that seems quick is often never actually quick — going to a carrier to get an eSIM can easily take two hours or more, and then you have to go back to the store to add more data when you run out.

GigSky and Airalo are easy, predictable, and all online, so they are simple to set up. If you travel long-term and want a phone plan (including connectivity in the U.S.), GigSky is the best option. But for affordable rates on your next vacation and cash back on your purchases, Airalo is the way to go.

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