Frequently asked questions
How the Europe eSIM plan works before, during and after a multi-country trip — including the places it does not cover.
What is an eSIM, and why does it suit a multi-country trip?
A digital SIM built into the phone. Instead of pushing a plastic chip into a tray in every country, you install the plan once by scanning a QR code, and your usual SIM stays exactly where it is. Every border after that is the phone's problem, not yours.
Will my phone take a Europe eSIM?
Most phones from 2018 on can install one — iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, plus most recent Android models — as long as the phone is carrier-unlocked. Our setup guides show where to confirm both in a couple of taps, best done before the trip rather than at the gate.
Should I install it at home or after I arrive?
Over Wi-Fi at home, a day or two before you leave. Nothing starts counting at that point: the plan begins when the eSIM first connects to a network in a covered country, so an early install costs you nothing and saves you doing it on airport Wi-Fi.
Do I keep my own number for the whole trip?
You do. The plan carries data only, so your physical SIM stays in and your number, SMS bank codes and messaging apps work exactly as before, in every country on the itinerary. The one setting to change: mobile data goes to the eSIM.
What speeds should I expect?
It runs on local partner networks: 4G/LTE in cities and along the main routes, and 5G where a network offers it. Enough for maps, video calls, and a laptop on the hotspot. In the mountains or on a remote stretch the signal thins out the same way it would on a local SIM.
Does my physical SIM have to come out?
No — leave it exactly where it is for the whole trip. The eSIM installs alongside it, and the only setting that matters is pointing mobile data at the eSIM, so your home SIM sits there without roaming while the eSIM does the work.
What if the data runs out halfway through the trip?
Top up in the app. The data lands on the eSIM you already installed, so there is no second QR code, no reinstall, and nothing to do beyond the purchase itself.
Can one plan feed all my devices over a hotspot?
Yes, tethering is included. One plan can cover a travel companion's phone, a tablet on the train and a laptop at the hotel.
Do I need a connection to install it?
For the install itself, yes — the eSIM profile has to download, which is exactly why the right moment is home Wi-Fi before departure. From then on it needs nothing: it registers on a local network by itself when you land, and again in each country after that.
Can I make ordinary calls and send SMS on it?
Plans are data-only: they carry internet, not a phone line, so ordinary calls and SMS stay on your home SIM and your number goes on working everywhere. Calling apps run over the data like anything else.
When does a plan's validity clock start?
Every plan shows its own validity before you buy. The clock starts when the eSIM first connects in a covered country, not on the day you pay — so buying and installing early costs you nothing.
Which countries does it cover?
Dozens of European destinations on one plan — EU members and non-EU countries alike, with the full list printed on the home page, on the pricing page and in the app before you pay. A handful of places in Europe are outside it — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova and the microstates among them — and this site names them rather than letting you find out on arrival.
How is payment handled, and what if it will not install?
Through the App Store or Google Play, on the store account you already trust — your card details never reach us. And if a plan cannot be installed or activated on a compatible, unlocked phone, write to support inside the app; we will put it right, refunding you where that is the fair outcome.
Is one Europe plan better than a separate eSIM per country?
For a trip that touches two or more countries, usually: one install, one balance, and no juggling profiles on a platform between trains. Bought one country at a time, the same trip means several purchases and several leftover scraps of data. The honest flip side: if the whole trip stays inside a single country, that country's own plan is often the better buy — the same app sells those too.