Meet eSIM.now: Cheaper Travel eSIMs With No App and No Account
You land, switch off airplane mode, and wait. Either your home carrier starts charging you by the megabyte, or you go looking for airport Wi-Fi so you can download an eSIM app, create an account, confirm your email, and only then buy a data plan that costs more than it should.
We built eSIM.now because getting mobile data abroad shouldn't take longer than ordering a coffee. Pick a destination, pay, scan a QR code. That's the whole process. And our plans typically cost 40% less than the same data on the major eSIM platforms, often much less.
What is eSIM.now?
eSIM.now is an online store for travel eSIM data plans.
An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. Instead of inserting a plastic card, you install a data plan by scanning a QR code. Your regular SIM stays where it is, so your number keeps receiving calls and texts while the eSIM handles your data abroad.
We offer local plans for nearly 100 countries and regions, plus regional plans for trips that cross borders: more than 600 plans across Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and Oceania.
What we took out of buying a travel SIM
Most popular eSIM sellers follow the same model: download our app, create an account, then buy. That works well for them, since an installed app is a marketing channel. For a traveler, it's three extra steps, another password, and another app asking for notification permissions.
We removed all of that.
No app to install
Your phone already knows how to install an eSIM. On both iPhone and Android, it's built into Settings. So there's nothing to download. You get a QR code, scan it, and you're done.
No account to create
At checkout we ask for one thing: an email address. Your eSIM arrives there, along with a permanent link to your order so you can pull up your QR code and installation details from any device later. No password, no profile, no sign-up form. If you ever lose the email, the Find my order page will get you back to it.
Ready the moment you pay
Your eSIM is issued as soon as the payment clears, not hours later after manual processing. The QR code appears on your order page and in your inbox within seconds. Buying at the departure gate is perfectly fine.
The part that matters most: price
Here's the biggest reason to choose eSIM.now. Our plans are usually 40% or more cheaper than comparable plans from mainstream eSIM sellers, and on many popular destinations the difference is even larger.
We keep the operation lean. There's no app to build and maintain, no app-store install campaigns to pay for, and checkout runs entirely on the web. That leaves room to price plans close to what the data actually costs, and to pass the savings on to you.
Some starting prices for popular destinations:
| Destination | Plans from |
|---|---|
| 🇯🇵 Japan eSIM | $1.99 |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand eSIM | $1.99 |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea eSIM | $1.90 |
| 🇨🇳 China eSIM | $1.69 |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan eSIM | $1.60 |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia eSIM | $1.20 |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam eSIM | $2.00 |
| 🇹🇷 Türkiye eSIM | $2.99 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom eSIM | $1.58 |
| 🇺🇸 United States eSIM | $2.49 |
Take Japan as an example. Our Japan plans run on NTT docomo, one of the country's largest networks:
| Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $1.99 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $2.99 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $7.99 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $12.99 |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $25.99 |
| 100 GB | 365 days | $55.90 |
A short city break with maps and messaging? 3 GB for $2.99. Two weeks of navigation, ride-hailing and photo uploads? 10 GB for $7.99. Compare that with what you'd pay elsewhere for the same allowance, and the savings speak for themselves.
Prices are just as low elsewhere in Asia: Thailand eSIM plans also start at $1.99, and China eSIM plans start at just $1.69.
Prices as of October 2026. Check each destination page for current plans.
New customers also get 10% off their first eSIM with code NOW10 at checkout.
Find a plan for your next trip
Whether it's a long weekend or a three-month backpacking route, there's likely a plan that fits. A few places to start:
- Asia: beyond the destinations above, we cover Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. See every Asia eSIM plan.
- Europe: single-country plans for France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece and Switzerland start at $2.49. Visiting several countries? A Europe eSIM covers multiple countries with one plan, from $2.59.
- North America: plans for Canada and Mexico start at $2.20, or pick a North America eSIM for a cross-border road trip.
- Further afield: browse our South America, Africa and Oceania plans.
How it works
Getting connected takes about a minute.
1. Pick a destination. Choose a single country, or a regional bundle if your trip crosses borders. Every plan clearly lists how much data you get, for how many days, and on which networks.
2. Pay and get your QR code. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, JCB, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay and PayPal. Your QR code shows up on screen and in your inbox seconds after payment.
3. Land and go. Install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before you fly. When you arrive, switch the eSIM line on. The plan starts counting the first time it connects to a network at your destination, not when you buy it.
Built for real trips
Cheap and simple is only useful if the connection holds up. Here's what else you get:
- Local partner networks. You connect to established local carriers, so coverage follows you out of the city center.
- One allowance for the whole trip. Your data is valid for the full plan period. Nothing resets daily and nothing is forfeited.
- Buy well ahead. Plans don't start until you arrive. Our Japan plans, for example, can be activated any time within 180 days of purchase.
- Hotspot sharing. Each plan lists whether tethering is included, so you can share data with a laptop or a travel companion.
- Keep your own number. The eSIM sits alongside your normal SIM. Calls and messages still reach you as usual.
- Automatic refunds. If a plan can't be issued for any reason, the refund happens on its own. You never have to open a ticket.
- Help at any hour. Whatever time zone you land in, our support team will get back to you the same day.
- No roaming bill. One price, paid before you leave. No per-megabyte surprises when you get home.
Will it work on my phone?
Your phone needs to support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Most phones sold since 2019 qualify, including iPhones from the XS and XR onward and recent flagship Android phones from Samsung, Google and others.
A quick way to check: dial *#06#. If you see an EID number on the screen, your phone supports eSIM. Our installation guide walks through setup step by step on both iPhone and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a local phone number? No. Our plans are data only, with no phone number or SMS. Your own number stays active on your regular SIM, and you can still call and message over apps like WhatsApp, iMessage or WeChat.
When does my plan start? The first time the eSIM connects to a network at your destination. Installing it at home before your trip doesn't use any of your validity.
Can I move my eSIM to a different phone? No. Once installed, an eSIM stays on that phone. Make sure you install it on the device you'll be traveling with.
What if something goes wrong? If a plan can't be issued, you're refunded automatically. For anything else, email us at support@esim.now, and you can find answers to common questions in our Help Center.
Get online before the plane doors open
Travel eSIMs don't need to come with an app, an account, or a markup. With eSIM.now you get fast, reliable mobile data in nearly 100 countries, delivered in seconds, at prices typically 40% or more below the big names.
👉 Browse destinations at esim.now and use code NOW10 for 10% off your first eSIM.
Want to know more? Read about eSIM.now, find more travel tips on our blog, or share eSIM.now with friends through our referral program.
Safe travels, and enjoy staying connected.