Roamless Hands-On eSIM Review
Founded in November 2022, Roamless is one of the newest players in the eSIM game. Marketed as "The only eSIM you’ll ever need", Roamless is a unique all-in-one global eSIM solution that offers data, calls, and messaging in more than 180 destinations.
But how do they stack up against the other eSIMs?
We put it to the test on our travels to give you an honest look at its real-world performance, helping you determine if this eSIM is the best fit for you.
How We Tested Roamless eSIM & Why Trust Us
As digital nomads, we're big believers in thoroughly testing new eSIMs, as connectivity is crucial to our day-to-day work. That's why we share our firsthand insights in our dedicated eSIM section to help other travelers find the most reliable eSIMs.
For this Roamless eSIM review, we trialed our iPhones in China, specifically Shanghai and Hangzhou, to really test the limits of this eSIM provider.
Roamless eSIM Data Plans, Packages and Coverage
The main selling point of Roamless lies in the product description: it’s a single eSIM that offers data, calls, and text messages in more than 180 different countries.
What we like is that there are no plans, packages, or confusing contracts. It’s simply a universal eSIM with a pay-as-you-go model. These are the top features we found great for this eSIM:
Automatically works in all countries
Instead of purchasing country or region-specific eSIMs for a predetermined period, Roamless offers more than 180 destinations with an eSIM that never expires. With this eSIM, you are able to get internet and calls in top destinations like the US, the UK, Australia, Turkey, Thailand, Spain, Japan and Italy, plus a whole load of other countries. All in one go.
The data is charged on a pay-as-you-go system with a different rate for each destination.
A single eSIM with one-time activation and lifetime use
Unlike the competition, one of the big pros of Roamless lies in the activate and ignore setup.
Users do not require specialist location packs, regional SIM upgrades, or a monthly contract. Instead, Roamless has just one option: global. It never expires and it works in 180+ destinations (soon in 200, according to their site).
You will simply install it once, set up your eSIM and you’re ready to stay connected wherever you go. Pay-as-you-go and you’re ready to tackle international travel without worrying about SIM sourcing ever again.
Pay-as-you-go data and international in-app voice calls
This is probably what sets them apart from other eSIMs. With this eSIM, you don't get a set amount of GB as many providers do. What you do is just top up the funds in your wallet and you will be able to use them both for calls or internet data.
This has the advantage of not getting you stuck with a destination and only using the GB (or making the international calls) you really need. This is great if you are not sure how many GB you plan to use and you want to maximize your expenses.
How Much Does Roamless eSIM Cost?
Roamless prices for data and internet
Although innovative, the Pay-as-you-go data offered by Roamless is not the cheapest one. In our tests, we added $25 of funds to our pay-as-you-go wallet to use our eSIM in China. According to the rates transparently shared by Roamless on their site, we paid $3.95/GB. Here are the following rates for mobile data in China:
Roamless data rates in China
| Price (USD) | Data Allowance |
|---|---|
| $5 | 1.27 GB |
| $10 | 2.53 GB |
| $25 | 6.33 GB |
| $50 | 12.66 GB |
| $100 | 25.32 GB |
And if you need more examples of prices, let's pick two different countries such as the US and Indonesia.
In the US, you can expect a PAYG rate of $2.45/GB, whereas in Indonesia, you can expect a rate of $3.85/GB, highlighted in the table below:
Roamless data rates in the US and Indonesia
| Price (USD) | Data (Indonesia) | Data (US) |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | 1.30 GB | 2.04 GB |
| $10 | 2.60 GB | 4.08 GB |
| $25 | 6.49 GB | 10.20 GB |
| $50 | 12.99 GB | 20.41 GB |
| $100 | 25.97 GB | 40.82 GB |
As you can see, prices are relatively affordable in Western countries like the US (and it's similar for European countries or the UK), but they get on the pricier side in Asian countries, including China where we tested our eSIM.
Roamless prices for international calls
Roamless also supports in-app voice calls for more than 200 destinations, which is a fantastic addition to the eSIM. Most eSIM companies simply do not offer calls and we often have to fall back on VoIP apps like WhatsApp or Skype Credit to make contact.
The Roamless rates for calls are incredibly affordable, with pay-as-you-talk prices starting from $0.01/min. You simply use the same in-app wallet as the data plan to connect your voice with your loved ones around the world.
How Does Roamless eSIM Work?
Downloading the Roamless app and setting up the eSIM is a simple, one-time process. As iPhone users, we followed the single-click iOS setup process to get up and running with the eSIM.
Here is a quick overview to get up and running with Roamless if you are in a rush:
If you want a more detailed guide on how to install and activate your Roamless eSIM, here is the step-by-step process we followed:
1. Sign up with Roamless
Head to the Roamless website or download the app to create an account with them. You will receive instructions in your email.
2. Activate eSIM
After creating an account, you'll need to activate your eSIM. Choose "Activate Now" > "Start Activation" > "Allow" and then "Continue".
The eSIM will then take between 1-2 minutes to activate. Ensure the screen remains on throughout this process.
3. Configure iOS Settings
After the eSIM is activated, the screen will display "Celluar Setup Complete". Choose "Continue" before selecting the following settings:
- Default Line: Primary
- iMessage & Facetime: Primary
- Cellular/Mobile Data: Primary
Make sure to turn "Allow Data Switching" on before continuing.
4. Turn Data Roaming On
The eSIM will be automatically labeled by your device (make note of the name which is often "Travel" or "Business"). You will need to turn the Data Roaming "On" for your new eSIM.
Navigate to "iPhone Settings" > "Cellular/Mobile" > scroll down to the SIMs section. Click on the Roamless eSIM and turn "Data Roaming" on.
Next, turn "Data Roaming" off for your primary SIM to avoid data roaming charges.
4. Configure eSIM Settings
Finally, it’s time to configure the Cellular/Mobile Data Settings. Navigate via "iPhone Settings" > "Cellular/Mobile".
If you prefer your Roamless to automatically take over when you're abroad for cellular/mobile data, Turn on "Allowing Data Switching" on the Primary SIM.
If you instead prefer to manually select when to use Roamless eSIM for cellular/mobile data, select the Roamless eSIM when travelling abroad. Select the Primary SIM when returning home.
Our Real-World Experience Using Roamless eSIM
Testing the Roamless eSIM in China has been a blast. The connectivity has been great, the data speeds have been super quick and the app is super easy to use. In our case, we had to use a VPN to take full advantage of their speed, so speeds will greatly vary from the VPNs you choose to use.
The pay-as-you-go system is a model we appreciate to avoid data waste while traveling. You only pay for what you actually use, making it a better deal for all. However, the data rates for popular backpacking destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are often more expensive: for example, in China, we paid $3.95/GB. There are definitely cheaper eSIMs out there, but none of them offer the same benefit of a pay-as-you eSIM that works in all countries at once and lets you avoid data waste like Roamless does.
As far as convenience goes, Roamless is also among the best. It’s a download, install, and forget-about kind of eSIM. The coverage of more than 180 destinations is fantastic and with in-app international phone calls available, it’s hard to complain.
Following our time using the Roamless eSIM in China, that's the pros and cons we observed for this provider:
Is Roamless eSIM Worth It? Our Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the Roamless eSIM is a fantastic tool best suited to fast-paced digital nomads and international travelers.
The data rates are slightly expensive for many popular non-Western countries (this isn’t the eSIM you want for backpacking), but the quality is high. We loved using ours over the last couple of months and hope to continue testing it around the globe.
You can always check out Roamless for yourself and download one of their eSIMs to see whether is best suited for your travels.
Are There Any Alternatives to Roamless eSIMs?
The Roamless eSIM is great for fast-moving digital nomads and international travelers, but there are, of course, other options if you wish to. Here are three main competitors to the Roamless eSIM, although they all offer a different model than them.
Roamless vs Holafly
If you are looking for international eSIMs with both regional and country-specific options available, Holafly is a fantastic choice for slowmads on the move. You can select your destination of choice and a period of coverage and you’re good to go. It’s cheaper than the Roamless eSIM, but it’s not quite as flexible as Roamless is (they don't have a PAYG system).
Roamless vs Airalo
As direct competitor to both Holafly and Roamless, Airalo offers cheaper local, regional, and global eSIMs, great for faster-moving international travelers. With 136 countries covered in the global eSIM, there are fewer destinations available than the Roamless eSIM. Data is also typically more expensive with Airalo with similar global packages.
Roamless vs Jetpac
Another eSIM provider offering affordable local, regional, and global solutions is Jetpac. Known for its additional perks, including airport lounge access, it’s great for those looking for the biggest bang for their buck. Compared to Roamless, there are just 100 countries covered with their global pack and data packages must be purchased within a maximum period of 30 days.
Ready To Try Roamless Yourself?
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