What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. It does the same job as the plastic SIM you already know — connects you to a mobile network — except you download it instead of slotting it in. For travel, that means no SIM swap at the airport, no extra plastic, no roaming bill surprises.
An eSIM is software, not hardware. Your phone has a tiny chip soldered to the motherboard that can hold mobile-network profiles. Adding an eSIM means downloading one of those profiles, usually by scanning a QR code. Most phones from 2019 onwards support it.
How does an eSIM work?
Inside your phone there's an embedded chip called an eUICC. It's permanently fixed to the motherboard — you can't take it out the way you pop out a physical SIM. What it can do is hold one or more digital network profiles, each of which has the credentials your phone needs to connect to a specific carrier.
When you buy an eSIM from someone like IQ Travel, we generate a profile, encode it into a QR code, and email it to you. Your phone scans the code, downloads the profile to its eUICC, and from that point on your phone can connect to that carrier's network exactly as if you'd inserted a physical SIM. The whole download takes a few seconds over Wi-Fi.
Most modern phones support multiple eSIM profiles at once — typically eight stored, two active simultaneously. So you can keep your home plan running for calls and texts, switch on a travel eSIM for data while abroad, and switch it off when you're back.
eSIM vs physical SIM card — what's actually different?
| eSIM | SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Software profile, downloaded | Plastic card, mailed or bought in shop |
| Switching plans | Tap a setting, instant | Find a SIM tool, swap the card |
| Multiple plans | Up to 8 profiles, 2 active at once | One physical card per slot |
| Buying abroad | Online, before or after you land | Find a shop, queue, ID check |
| Risk of loss | Tied to your phone, can't lose it | Easy to misplace, especially when swapping |
Why travellers use eSIMs
No SIM swap at the airport
Buy a travel eSIM at home, scan the QR code on your phone, land in Paris with mobile data already working. No queue at the airport kiosk, no risk of losing your home SIM in a tray.
Multiple plans on one phone
Keep your UK number active for calls and texts; use a separate travel eSIM for cheap data abroad. Both visible at the top of the screen, both pickable per-app.
Skip roaming bills
Most network operators charge £6+/day for roaming once you leave the EU (and post-Brexit, even within Europe for some networks). A travel eSIM gives you local rates from the network in the country you're visiting, often a fifth of the cost.
Activate before you leave
An eSIM you bought at home is ready to go the moment you land — your phone connects automatically. No frantic searching for Wi-Fi to activate it, no waiting for an SMS verification.
Is my phone eSIM-compatible?
Almost certainly yes if you bought your phone after 2019. Quick check by manufacturer:
iPhone
Every iPhone from XS / XR (2018) onwards supports eSIM. iPhone 14 and 15 sold in the US are eSIM-only — there's no SIM tray at all. Anywhere else, you can use both a physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time.
Android
Pixel 3 onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 onwards (Note 20, Z Fold/Flip series too), most modern OnePlus, Xiaomi 13/14 series, Sony Xperia 1 V and later. If you're not sure, the easiest way is to dial *#06# — if you see an EID number alongside your IMEI, you have an eSIM.
Some carriers lock eSIM functionality to phones bought from them. If your phone was free with a contract, check with your carrier that eSIM is enabled. Most are now — it was a real issue 3-4 years ago, much less so today.
How to install an eSIM in 60 seconds
Buy and receive the QR code
Buy an eSIM online — for IQ Travel, sign up, and we email you a QR code immediately. Most providers do the same.
Scan it from your phone
On iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data (or Cellular) → Add eSIM → Use QR Code. On Android: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add eSIM → Scan QR code. Point the camera at the QR on your laptop screen — it picks up in a second.
Switch on data when you arrive
Your eSIM appears alongside your home SIM. When you land, toggle the eSIM as the data line and you're connected to the local network. Total time from sign-up to working data: under a minute.
Common questions
Will my home phone number still work?
Yes — adding a travel eSIM doesn't affect your home SIM at all. Your home number keeps receiving calls and texts as normal. You're just adding a second mobile line on the same phone.
Can I use an eSIM in any country?
An IQ Travel eSIM works in 195+ countries. The plan you choose dictates which countries are covered — buy a Europe eSIM for European trips, a regional Asia eSIM for Asia, or a global eSIM that works everywhere. Coverage map: /coverage.
Do I need to remove my old SIM?
No. The two coexist. Most phones let you keep your home physical SIM in the tray AND an eSIM downloaded — that's the whole point of dual-SIM. You decide which one is the data line and which handles voice/SMS.
What if I run out of data?
Top up from your IQ Travel dashboard — the same eSIM gets a new bundle of data, no need to install anything new. Or switch back to your home SIM and your phone reverts to whatever roaming rate your home carrier charges.
Can I transfer an eSIM to a new phone?
Sort of. eSIMs are tied to one device at a time. With IQ Travel you can transfer the line to a new phone from your dashboard — we revoke the old profile and email a new QR code for the new phone.
Does an eSIM use more battery than a normal SIM?
Negligibly. The chip is on the same hardware lane as the SIM tray and uses the same radio. A second active line (your home SIM + an eSIM both in dual-standby) draws slightly more power than a single line, but the difference is single-digit percentage points over a day.
Is an eSIM secure?
Yes — arguably more secure than a physical SIM. The profile lives in a tamper-resistant chip; you can't pop it out, lose it, or have it stolen with the phone (it's locked to your account). The QR code is single-use — once scanned, it can't be re-used to clone your line.
What's the difference between an eSIM and a virtual SIM?
An eSIM is a profile on a real chip in your phone, connecting to a real mobile network operator. A 'virtual SIM' usually means a Wi-Fi-only or VoIP service that only works when you have internet. eSIMs work everywhere there's a cell tower; virtual SIMs depend on Wi-Fi.
Try one yourself — it's free
500MB across Europe, 2 days, no credit card. Sign up, scan the QR, you'll have hands-on experience with an eSIM in under a minute.