International SIM Card: Physical SIM vs eSIM and How to Buy
In this article
An international SIM card gets your phone online in more than one country without paying your home carrier's daily roaming fee. It comes in two forms: a physical SIM card that goes in your phone's SIM tray, or an eSIM card that you download and install at home. Neusuli sells the eSIM card. The Neusuli Global eSIM covers 117 destinations, with plans from $7.30 for 1GB over 7 days. It connects to local networks such as Verizon in the US, NTT docomo in Japan and Vodafone in the UK. If your trip covers only one country, a single-country plan costs much less: 5GB for 30 days in Italy is $3.97.
All prices below were checked on the Neusuli website and on AT&T's and Verizon's public pages on October 11, 2026.
Neusuli sells eSIM cards, while the carrier prices and phone details below come from the carriers' and Apple's own pages, with dates in the sources at the end.
Types of international SIM cards
An international SIM card is either a physical SIM card or an eSIM card, and both work in many countries on a single card. There are two other ways to get data abroad: a local SIM and your carrier's roaming pass.
Physical international SIM card
A physical international SIM is a plastic card that you put in your phone's SIM tray, usually in place of your home SIM. It's mailed to you, so you need to order it days ahead. Some of these cards include a phone number, which is useful for making calls abroad.
International eSIM card
An international eSIM card is a digital SIM that you download by scanning a QR code. It arrives by email, works alongside your home SIM, and usually gives you data only. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked.
Local SIM and roaming
A local SIM is a card you buy at the airport or in a phone shop after you land. Data is often cheap, but many countries require you to show ID to register it. Your carrier's roaming pass keeps your own SIM working abroad for a daily fee.
Physical SIM card or eSIM card: which is best for travel?
An eSIM card is the better international SIM for most travelers with a recent unlocked phone, because it arrives by email and your home SIM stays in place. A physical SIM card is the better pick when your phone can't take an eSIM or when you need a phone number that comes with the card.
| Physical international SIM card | International eSIM card | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Shipped to you, so order days ahead | Emailed as a QR code, usually within a few minutes |
| What your phone needs | A SIM tray | eSIM support and no carrier lock |
| Your home SIM | Usually comes out of the tray | Stays in the phone |
| Phone number | Some cards include one | Usually data only |
| iPhone 18 Pro sold in the US | Won't fit, since it has no SIM tray | Works |
Check your SIM tray before ordering a plastic card, as some new phones don't have one. Apple's US specifications for the iPhone 18 Pro say it works with eSIM only and isn't compatible with physical SIM cards.
Neusuli sells only the eSIM card, so if your phone has no eSIM support, a physical SIM card or a local SIM is the option that will work for you. Our compatibility checker tells you which kind your phone takes.
International SIM card vs roaming costs
For any trip longer than two days, an international SIM or eSIM usually costs less than your carrier's roaming pass. AT&T's International Day Pass costs $12 a day for one line, while Verizon's TravelPass costs $6 a day in Mexico and Canada and $12 a day in its other TravelPass countries. A week in Europe or Asia on either pass comes to $84.
| One week abroad | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T International Day Pass | $84 | $12 a day for one line |
| Verizon TravelPass | $84 | $12 a day outside Mexico and Canada |
| Neusuli Global eSIM, 10GB | $51.40 | 117 destinations, valid 30 days |
| Neusuli Japan eSIM, 5GB | $4.45 | Japan only, valid 30 days |
AT&T stops charging after 10 daily fees per line in one bill period, so a two-week trip inside one bill period costs $120.
A roaming pass still makes sense for a one- or two-day trip, or when you need to make lots of ordinary calls from your home number. Apple also suggests checking whether your current plan already includes roaming in some countries at no extra cost before you buy anything.
Should you buy a single-country, regional or global plan?
Physical SIM cards and eSIM cards are available as single-country, regional or global plans. On price alone, one plan per country beats a global plan, even when you visit several countries. Here is the same 5GB, 30-day allowance across our plan types:
| 5GB for 30 days | Price |
|---|---|
| Italy eSIM | $3.97 |
| Japan eSIM | $4.45 |
| Europe 33 Regions eSIM | $4.63 |
| Global 117 Regions eSIM | $27.40 |
Say you're flying from Japan to the UK and then on to Italy. A 5GB plan for each country costs $4.45 in Japan, $3.97 in the UK and Italy, or $12.39 in total, while 10GB on the Global eSIM costs $51.40. If the whole trip stays in Europe, the Europe 33 plan covers 33 destinations for $4.63.
A global eSIM earns its higher price in a few situations. It suits trips that cross several regions in quick succession, such as a cruise or a round-the-world ticket. It also suits travelers who would rather install one eSIM than five. The 1GB plan that stays valid for 365 days ($10.90) also works well as a standby line for layovers and short trips during the year.
Installing several eSIMs is easy on a recent phone, since the iPhone 18 Pro, for example, stores eight or more eSIMs and keeps two of them active at once.
Networks a global eSIM card uses
An international SIM card, whether physical or eSIM, uses local mobile networks in each country, and your phone joins one of them when you arrive. The Neusuli Global eSIM connects to these networks in some of the most visited countries, with 5G where available:
| Destination | Networks |
|---|---|
| United States | Verizon |
| Japan | NTT docomo, KDDI/au, Rakuten Mobile |
| United Kingdom | O2, Vodafone, 3 |
| France | Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free Mobile |
| Spain | Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, Yoigo |
| Mexico | Telcel, Movistar |
| Thailand | AIS, TrueMove H |
| Australia | Optus |
The full list has 117 destinations on six continents. Before you buy, check every stop on your route against the coverage list on the Global eSIM page, including any country where you leave the airport during a layover.
How much data does a multi-country trip need?
Your data needs are the same with a physical SIM card or an eSIM card. As a rough guide, maps, messaging and some social media use 3GB to 5GB a week. Uploading lots of photos, making video calls or watching video every day can easily double that.
The Global eSIM comes with fixed data or a daily allowance:
| Fixed data | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $7.30 |
| 1GB | 365 days | $10.90 |
| 3GB | 30 days | $17.50 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $27.40 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $51.40 |
| 20GB | 30 days | $90.40 |
| 20GB | 90 days | $100.15 |
The Global daily plans give you 1GB or 2GB of high-speed data each day, from 1 to 30 days. The 7-day plan costs $47.12 with 1GB a day or $79.36 with 2GB a day. When the day's high-speed data is used up, you stay online at 384 kbps until full speed is restored the next day.
For a two-week trip with normal use, the 10GB plan at $51.40 is the simpler choice. The daily plans make more sense if you stream every day or share your connection through your phone's hotspot, since you won't have to keep an eye on your balance.
Where to buy an international SIM card
You can buy an international eSIM card online from the US before you leave, and it usually reaches your email within a few minutes. Physical international SIMs are sold online too, but they have to be shipped to you, and they only work in phones with a SIM tray.
You can also buy a local SIM at the airport or in a phone shop when you arrive. The seller must register you first in many countries, and Spain, for example, requires operators to record each prepaid buyer's name, nationality and ID number. For most visitors, this means showing a passport.
How do you buy and set up an international eSIM card?
You buy an eSIM card online, install it at home on Wi-Fi and switch it on when you land:
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and isn't locked to your carrier. The compatibility checker confirms the first, and our guide to using an eSIM on a locked phone covers the second.
- Compare your route with the plan's coverage list and choose a fixed data plan or a daily plan.
- Buy the plan, and the QR code will be emailed to you, usually within a few minutes.
- At home on Wi-Fi, scan the QR code. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Cellular, then Add eSIM, while on Android you should look for SIM manager or Add eSIM in your connection settings.
- When you land, turn on the eSIM line, set it as your mobile data line and switch on data roaming for it.
A physical international SIM card is simpler, but you have to swap cards: put it in the SIM tray when you land, keep your home SIM somewhere safe and follow the card's instructions for data roaming.
If this is your first travel eSIM, our checklist for before and after you land covers each step in more detail.
Your plan's days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in a covered destination, so installing it a few days early doesn't use any of them. The first connection must happen within 180 days of purchase. If you haven't installed the eSIM, you can get a full refund any time within those 180 days.
When an international eSIM card is the wrong choice
An international eSIM card is the wrong choice when you need a local phone number because our eSIMs are data only. If you need to call drivers, restaurants or hotels on a local number, a local SIM or a physical international SIM that comes with a number is a better fit.
It also doesn't suit a phone that can't take an eSIM or is still locked to a carrier. And if you're staying several months in one country and using a lot of data, a local SIM will cost you less.
You may not need to buy anything if your phone plan already covers your destination. If your phone plan comes from an EU country, for example, you can roam in other EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway at home prices, although your operator can still apply a fair use policy.
FAQ
Can I buy an international SIM card in the USA?
You can buy an international eSIM online from the US before your trip and install it at home. You can also buy physical international SIMs online, but they take time to ship and you need a phone with a SIM tray.
How much does an international SIM cost?
Neusuli Global eSIM plans cost $7.30 for 1GB over 7 days, $27.40 for 5GB over 30 days and $51.40 for 10GB over 30 days. Single-country plans cost less, for example $4.45 for 5GB in Japan. AT&T and Verizon roaming passes cost $12 a day.
Which SIM card is best for international travel?
We sell eSIM cards, so please read this answer with that in mind. If your phone supports eSIM, an eSIM card is the simpler choice, and a single-country eSIM is the least expensive option for one country. For several countries in one region, a regional plan such as Europe 33 is usually cheaper than a global one. If your phone can't take an eSIM or you need a local number, a physical SIM card or a local SIM fits better.
Will I keep my own phone number?
With an eSIM card, your home SIM remains in your phone, and supported iPhone models can keep two lines active at the same time. You can continue to receive texts on your home number, but your carrier may charge roaming fees for calls and texts. If a physical SIM card takes your home SIM's place in a phone with one SIM tray, texts to your home number won't reach you until you put it back.
Does the Global eSIM include calls and texts?
The Global eSIM is data only and doesn't come with a phone number, although apps that send messages and make calls over data, such as WhatsApp, use your eSIM data like any other app.
Why do some websites show me a UK or Norway version?
Your data on the Global eSIM reaches the internet through the UK or Norway, so some websites and apps may load their UK or Norwegian version. You can usually switch the language or region on the site itself.
When should I install the eSIM?
Install it at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly. The plan's days don't start until the eSIM first connects in a covered destination.
Sources
- Neusuli Global 117 Regions eSIM, Japan, Italy and Europe 33 Regions product pages and supplier plan data, prices checked October 11, 2026.
- Apple, iPhone 18 Pro technical specifications, checked October 11, 2026.
- AT&T, "Get details about AT&T International Day Pass," last updated March 2, 2026.
- Verizon, TravelPass FAQs, checked October 11, 2026.
- Apple Support, "Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone," September 17, 2026.
- Spain, Law 25/2007, additional provision on prepaid SIM registration (BOE consolidated text).
- Neusuli refund policy.
- European Union, Your Europe, "Mobile roaming costs," last checked January 7, 2026.
