The first time I visited Switzerland I was stupid enough to use my existing mobile phone plan to use Google Maps. That 5 minutes of trying to find my way cost me €40… Yes, this is what happens if you forget to buy a local SIM card. Luckily, the second time I visited Switzerland I prepared myself well and bought an eSIM!
Why did I decide to buy an eSIM? In short, it costs only 5 minutes to order, receive and install, and you can keep the existing SIM card of your home country. Convenient right? So no more hassling with trying to find a local SIM provider when you arrive in a new country. No, you just order yours online beforehand and install it the day you arrive.
Sound interesting right? Let me explain you everything about eSIMs, in particular my experience with Nomad eSIM for Switzerland!
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM or embedded SIM card is like a digital version of the regular physical SIM card you put in your phone to connect to a mobile network. But there’s a big difference: instead of a tiny plastic card, the eSIM is already built into your device, like a secret digital ID. The eSIM can connect to different mobile carriers so that you can easily switch mobile plans without needing a different physical card.
This means that if you travel to a new destination, you can simply buy an eSIM while keeping your existing local SIM card in your phone. So you can use 2 or more SIM cards at the same time. This is especially great if you’re traveling!
Benefits of an eSIM
Using an eSIM has countless benefits over using a regular SIM card. Let’s dive deeper into these advantages:
- no need to swap cards: Since everything happens electronically you don’t have to get your current SIM card out to replace it with another one.
- quickly ordered & installed: Simply order it on the website of an eSIM provider, receive it via email within a few minutes and install it just as quickly on your phone.
- instant activation: When you arrive at your destination, you can activate a local eSIM plan almost instantly. This saves you the time and effort of finding a local carrier store and waiting for a physical SIM card to be set up.
- multiple SIM cards at the same time: Most phones allow you to install several eSIMs at the same time. Are you traveling to different countries in a short timeframe? Just buy an eSIM for each of these countries, they can be installed and used at the same time. For example, iPhone allows up to 8 eSIMs at the same time.
- flexible carrier options: eSIMs allow you to choose from a variety of local carriers in the country you’re visiting. This means you can pick the carrier with the best coverage, data rates, and services that suit your travel needs.
- reduced risk of losing SIM cards: Physical SIM cards can be easy to misplace or lose while traveling. eSIMs are built into your device, so there’s no risk of losing them, and you can’t forget to put them back in your phone after swapping.
- cost savings: Using local eSIM plans often works out to be more cost-effective than paying for international roaming with your home carrier or buying a physical SIM card on the spot, which can be quite expensive.
- convenient top-ups: If your local eSIM plan runs out of data or minutes, you can quickly and easily top up your balance using your device, usually through an app or the device settings.
As you can see, there are certainly a lot of reasons why using an eSIM is a great option when traveling!
Disadvantages of an eSIM
Of course, there are certain disadvantages when compared with a traditional SIM card so that buying an eSIM might actually not be the best option for you. I’m quickly going to list the most important ones:
- limited device compatibility: Not all devices support eSIMs. Older smartphones and devices may lack the necessary hardware or software support, making it impossible to use eSIM functionality. Always check if your device supports eSIMs before buying one!
- carrier and region restrictions: eSIM availability varies by region and carrier. In some areas, not all carriers support eSIM, limiting your choices. Additionally, some carriers might restrict eSIM usage for certain plans or devices.
- lack of universal adoption: While eSIM adoption is growing, it’s not yet universally supported by all carriers and devices worldwide. This can limit your options, especially if you travel to areas with limited eSIM availability.
- device activation challenges: While eSIM activation is generally straightforward, it can be more complex in some cases because you should know which settings in your phone to turn on and off. Luckily for you, I’ll explain everything below!
Buying an eSIM
Where can I buy an eSIM?
There are different providers that offer eSIMs. First of all, you have the carriers that are located in the country you’re going to. For Switzerland, this is Swisscom for example. But there are also international players that offer eSIMs for a broad range of different countries such as Nomad, Holafly, and Airalo. You can easily check the prices on their websites and buy your eSIM online.
How do I buy & install an eSIM?
Let’s take the example of Nomad. You can easily search for the location for which you need an eSIM on their website. In my case, Switzerland! Simply tap in your preferred destination and you’ll see an overview of the possible data plans. You have several options to choose from, from 1 to 20 GB. Depending on the length of your stay you’ll want to choose the appropriate amount of GB.
For my 2 week trip to Switzerland, I had a data plan of 10 GB. As I spent a lot of time working on the train and creating content for social media I definitely needed that amount. Because I was not very careful I had to top it up with another 3 GB. But if you’re not constantly online like I was, 10 GB should definitely be enough.
Once you’ve selected your desired plan, you go to the checkout page and pay for the eSIM with either PayPal or a credit card. After payment, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to install and activate your eSIM.
If you’ve never used or installed an eSIM before, don’t worry, the instructions are very clear and honestly, it’s so easy that you can’t do anything wrong (except for deleting the eSIM again, don’t ever do that).
Once you’ve installed the eSIM on your device, don’t forget to download the Nomad app. With this application, you can activate the data plan (which is then valid for 30 days) and quickly see how much data you’ve already used and how much is left. Super convenient!
What if my eSIM doesn’t work?
In some cases, you’re eSIM might not work immediately. Don’t worry, this is quickly solved as you probably forgot something or need to change some settings on your phone. (Yes, I’m guilty of making these mistakes!). Here are 4 things you’ll want to check:
- Switch on ‘data roaming’ in your mobile network phone settings. When you install an eSIM on an iPhone and you go to the settings of your eSIM, data roaming is by default switched off. To make use of your data, however, you need to toggle the button on.
- Simply wait for a few minutes. Your eSIM needs some time to connect to a network.
- Activate your eSIM in the Nomad app. Some networks will activate automatically but others require a manual activation. So if your eSIM is not working, check in the instructions or in the app whether manual activation is needed.
- Switch your phone on and off. This just always works when there is a problem. 😉
Why you need an eSIM in Switzerland
As I mentioned before, Switzerland is not part of the EU and is also not a part of the EU agreements in terms of data roaming and phone costs. This means that SIM providers will charge you tremendous amounts of money for data roaming or calling in Switzerland. By purchasing an eSIM you can avoid these huge costs.
But can’t you just travel around Switzerland without data? Technically yes, as many places have public WIFI. However, chances are very likely that you will need to check your location or an app that gives you directions at some point. So it’s better and much more convenient to buy a data plan so you can access any app, whether Google Maps or Google itself, when traveling. You don’t want to get lost in the Swiss mountains, do you?
My Nomad eSIM review
After using Nomad eSIM for the past 2 weeks in Switzerland, I identified some pros and cons that I would like to share with you so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing a data plan.
The pros
Very transparent
With transparent I mean that it’s very easy to see how much data you have left in your plan. You simply open the app and check how much is left. When your data is 80% finished you also get a reminder to top up if necessary.
Clear instructions
After your purchase, you get very clear instructions on how to install your eSIM. They really take you step by step through the installation process which makes it super easy!
You can create a hotspot
My favorite pro! You can create a hotspot on the data plan to share it with your laptop or other devices. This is something I used a lot as I’ve been working at very random places. I was also very surprised about this because not all eSIM providers offer this option so this is really a huge advantage.
Quick customer service
When I had a question about my eSIM I could easily send a message to Nomad’s customer service and received a reply within an hour. Perfect!
The cons
No notification when running out of data
Running out of data really caught me by surprise. Because although you get a message when 80% of your data plan is used, you don’t get a warning when it’s actually finished. When your data is finished, the plan closes automatically and you cannot top up anymore. This means I had to buy and install an entirely new eSIM which was a bit of a hassle.
My overall Nomad eSIM review
I loved using Nomad eSIM! In the beginning, I was a bit skeptical about the amount of data and the entire installation process but it all turned out to work perfectly. I had a great experience using their data plan in Switzerland and always had great connection, even in the mountains. In short, I’d recommend it!
FAQ
How do I know if my phone is eSIM compatible?
Nomad has a list of all eSIM-compatible devices. If your device is on the list you can use an eSIM, if not, you’ll have to buy a regular SIM card (or change that old phone for a new one ;)). Generally speaking, if you have an iPhone newer than X, you’re safe. For Android, if you have a Galaxy newer than s20 you’re safe.
I installed my eSIM but it doesn’t work
You might want to try one of the following things:
- Switch on ‘data roaming’ in your mobile network phone settings. When you install an eSIM on an iPhone and you go to the settings of your eSIM data roaming is by default switched off. To make use of your data, however, you need to toggle the button on.
- Simply wait for a few minutes. You’re eSIM needs some time to connect to a network.
- Activate your eSIM in the Nomad app. Some networks will activate automatically but others require a manual activation. So if your eSIM is not working, check in the instructions or in the app whether manual activation is needed.
- Switch your phone on and off. This just always works when there is a problem.
Which countries can you buy an eSIM for?
For any country all over the world really! Whether it’s Africa, Asia, Europe, America… you’ll find a data plan for anywhere in the world.
Can I use my eSIM on multiple devices?
No, you can only use your eSIM on one device. Once it’s installed you cannot change devices because by deleting the eSIM from your phone you will end the data plan.
What if I run out of data?
If you still have some data left you can easily buy a top-up on the app. The prices for these top-ups are the same as if you were to buy a new eSIM, but you don’t have the hassle of installing a new one. If your plan is finished because you ran out of data, then you’ll have to buy a new eSIM and go through the installation process again.
