Our review of Sim Options eSIM: is it worth it?

At Passporter we know that eSIM cards are the best option to have internet connection when traveling abroad. If you feel the same way, you’ve probably heard of several brands of eSIM cards such as SimOptions and would be interested to know what other users think and what their experience has been. That’s why we have prepared this Sim Options review.

In this post, in addition to everything you need to know about SimOptions we will share with you our experience and opinion about their eSIM cards and the advantages and disadvantages compared to other brands such as Holafly, Airalo or Truphone. We should mention that SimOptions is a marketplace where eSIMs of different brands are sold, and although it offers quite a variety, the selection is not easy.

Do you want to know what we think about SimOptions at Passporter and what our experience with their eSIM card has been like? Read on to find out.

Comparison table with SimOptions eSIM features

In this table you will see all the features of SimOptions eSIM cards, which we will discuss in detail below. We’ve also scored each aspect from 1 to 5 based on our experience with their cards.

Features	Details	Score (1-5)
Plan duration	10, 15 and 30 days	4
Price	10$ – 49$	3,5
Speed	1GB, 6GB, 10GB and 20GB	4
Payment currencies	Can only be paid in US dollars	3
Customer support	In English, via bot	3
Data sharing	Some eSIM	4
App	No	0

1. SimOptions review: eSIM speed and data limit

One of the biggest drawbacks of SimOptions eSIM cards is that they don’t have unlimited data plans like other brands such as Holafly, but instead most of their plans have a data limit between 5GB and 20GB. This means that, if you haven’t calculated your connection needs properly during your trip, you will most likely run out of data and have to top up your eSIM and pay again.

Here we have prepared this table to help you make an estimate of the gigabytes you will need during your trip, although at Passporter we recommend you to get an eSIM card with unlimited data such as the ones offered by Holafly.

Plataform	GB consumption per hour
Instagram	0,12GB – 0,18 GB
Facebook	0,12GB – 0,18 GB
Twitter	0,06 GB
Tiktok	0,18 GB – 0,8 GB
Netflix	0,3GB – 7GB
Youtube	0,14GB – 1,7 GB
Amazon Prime	0,8GB – 6GB

2. Sim Options review: Duration plan

SimOptions eSIM plans have a duration of 15 and 30 days, which is usually not suitable for all types of trips and as not all of their eSIMs allow recharging, you will have to buy another eSIM and repeat the installation in the middle of the trip. That, or buy a 30-day plan and have data left over.

In this regard we at Passporter recommend the Holafly cards with unlimited data that suit all types of travel.

3. SimOptions review: SIM pricing

SimOptions is one of the most expensive options on the market. This is due to the fact that it is a marketplace for eSIM cards. From our point of view it is possible to find cheaper alternatives with better features.

4. SimOptions review: Technical Support

SimOptions cannot assure a quality technical service as it depends on each eSIM card provider that sells their products on the platform. On their website you can find a chat bot that will solve general questions, but only in English.

5. SimOptions review: Ability to share data

Some SimOptions cards offer data sharing, but not all of them. On the website you will see this information in the “more details” section under each of the eSIMs they offer per country.

Although the eSIM allows data sharing, be aware that data will be used up sooner if multiple devices are using the same plan.

6. SimOptions review: eSIM purchase and installation process

The process of purchasing and installing eSIM cards of any brand is very simple and takes no time at all. It is important that before making the purchase you check if your phone is compatible with eSIMs.

To purchase your SimOptions eSIM card you will need to go to their online store and click on the eSIM cards tab. Be careful not to click on SIM cards, as the company also works with these. Next, choose the country you are traveling to and there you will see the carriers that SimOptions works with.

Sometimes it can be a bit of a hassle with so many brands offering different data plans for the same country. When you have chosen the plan that best suits your trip you can make the payment securely with MasterCard, Visa, CB, JCB, American Express, Paypal and AliPay. You will then receive an email with instructions on how to complete the installation.

The installation of your eSIM card will only take a few minutes. It is as simple as following the instructions that you will receive by email as soon as you complete the purchase, which you can also find very well detailed on the web. To proceed with the installation you will need to have internet. There are two options to install the SimOptions eSIM card:

• Code QR: this is the easiest way and usually recommended. From the settings section of your mobile, under “data”, “networks” (the name varies depending on the brand of your mobile), you will see the option to “add data plan”. There you can scan the code to finish the installation.
• Manual installation: What if I can’t scan the QR code? No problem, you can also do the installation manually. In the email where you will receive the QR code you will find another numeric code that you can type in manually in the same section of “add data plan”.

7. Recharge SimOptions eSIM (if you run out of data)

One of the big disadvantages of SimOptions eSIM cards is that their data plans are limited, which means that you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip. It’s quite tricky to make an accurate estimate of the gigabytes you’ll need as travel is unpredictable.

If you run out of data there are some brands that allow you to recharge the eSIM card without installing a new one. On the same web page you can complete the recharge, but check this detail before purchasing.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of SimOptions’ eSIM cards?

SimOptions eSIM cards offer many advantages, however, that doesn’t mean they are suitable for all types of travel. That’s why here we list the advantages and disadvantages so you can decide if SimOptions cards are for you.

Advantages	They offer regional, country or global data packages. SimOptions eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. Some plans include calls and SMS. 24/7 customer support.
Inconveniences	Gigabytes are limited to 20GB, they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. The duration of data plans is limited to 14 and 30 days. Technical support is only in English. It is one of the most expensive brands.

What are the reviews of SimOptions eSIM cards on Trustpilot?

For our SimOptions review we found some opinions given by the customers who have tried their eSIM cards. The reviews are from Trustpilot, one of the most reliable sources of reviews and where you can compare and read what thousands of users think about all kinds of brands. Trustpilot rates brands from 0 to 5, and SimOptions has a score of 3.5.

It was a friend of mine who told me about Sim Options for whenever I have to travel, either personally or professionally. Now I always use them when I travel and believe me it changes my life, I don’t have to spend a lot of money on a phone anymore! I recommend it

Anays Hernandez, Trustpilot

It has been a good option for keeping my cell phone connected to an internet service. The costs are reasonable. I bought a SIM to use in Canada. I look forward to using them on my next trips.

Gabriel Ramos-Toledo, Trustpilot

Scam. If you buy US eSIM from AT&T they are going to give you a Chinese eSIM that has nothing to do with what it said on the website. Half an hour with customer service and they have done nothing but waste time and lie. SCAM!!!!

Ciro Djodeyre, Trustpilot

For those who love to travel as much as I do, simoptions is a blessing. The website is very convenient and easy to use, support that helps you choose the best solution, everything is good

Teresa Ryal, Trustpilot

Our Sim Options review of their eSIMs

We at Passporter have used SimOptions eSIM cards on a trip to the UK, in which we reached several conclusions about its performance and efficiency. On the one hand, it is true that the brand offers a wide variety of eSIMs from local providers, however, so much variety can be a point against it as the products are not standardized and each plan is completely different. This means that you will find it harder to choose as you will have to read about each eSIM.

On the other hand, it is one of the most expensive brands on the market and its technical service is not very reliable, and it is only in English. In general, it is a brand that does not give much confidence.

Also keep in mind that they do not offer plans with unlimited data, and it is possible that your gigabyte plan will run out and you will have to recharge your eSIM or buy and install a new one, as not all of their eSIMs offer the ability to top it up.

That’s why at Passporter we always recommend Holafly’s unlimited data cards for worry-free travel.

What are the alternatives to SimOptions’ eSIMs?

In the current market there are several brands that market eSIM cards to have internet on the mobile when traveling abroad. Here are some alternative brands to SimOptions so that you can choose the eSIM card that suits you best, such as Holafly, Airalo or Maya Mobile.

Brand	Plan duration	Data sharing	Unlimited data	App	GB per plan	Support	Price	Trustpilot	Score
Airalo	7, 15 and 30 days	Yes	No	Yes	1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB	In English, via a bot	5€ – 185€	3,9	3,8
Holafly	5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days	No	Yes	Yes	Datos ilimitados en todos los planes	In English (and other languages), direct chat and WhatsApp	19€ -99€	4,6	4,3
Maya Mobile	30 days	Yes	Yes	No	1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and ilimitado	In English, via a bot	13€ – 141€	4,5	3,2
Simoptions	15 and 30 days	Sometimes	No	No	1GB, 6GB, 10GB and 20GB	In English via chat	10,9$ – 49$	3,5	3

1. Holafly, eSIM cards with unlimited data and English customer support

Advantages	Disadvantages
Unlimited data. 24/7 technical support in English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese. You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. Many data plan options: 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. App where you can check the remaining days of the contract.	Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it is worth it because they do not run out of data and do not need to be recharged. They do not allow data sharing with other devices. Installation cannot be done through their App.

Holafly is a Spanish company with more than 100 employees and offices in several countries around the world, which offers customers eSIM with unlimited data and 24h technical support in English and other languages. Holafly cards are a good option for traveling abroad as they have coverage in 160 destinations and their packages have unlimited data, meaning you won’t run out of data at any point of your trip and you won’t have to monitor your internet usage. In addition, the purchase and installation process is really simple. Once you have chosen the data package that suits you best and completed the purchase on their website, you will receive an email with a QR code to scan and complete the installation. You can also do the installation manually with a numerical code that you will receive by email or that you can check in your App.

Another advantages of Holafly is that the duration of the plans is very flexible and you can choose between 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and up to 90 days in most countries. This is a great point in its favor since the packages are adapted to each type of trip, whether for pleasure or business. And finally, it should be mentioned that Holafly provides its customers with a 24h technical support service in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Japanese that will help you throughout the purchase and installation process and in the unusual case of having any problems.

Here is the ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of Holafly eSIM cards based on our experience. And if you want to know our opinion about Holafly’s eSIM card visit this post: Our opinion about Holafly’s eSIM

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data Sharing	Currencies	Total
5	5	4,8	3,5	3,5	4,8	3,5	4,5	4,3

2. Maya Mobile, data packages with the GB you need

Advantages	Disadvantages
– eSIM cards are available for 194 destinations. Possibility of internet sharing. Flexible pricing. To recharge you can configure the auto-recharge after 30 days. They offer data packages for continents and countries.	– Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. – They do not have an App – Support only in English via a bot. – They only have data plans for 30 days.

Maya Mobile is another eSIM card provider with a very good reputation, as reflected by its score of 4.4 on Trustpilot. The company offers 4G and 5G data plans for 194 destinations in Europe, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of their sign-up and installation process, which is also done via a QR code that you get in the mail. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy in case the data does not work, which is not usual since they have at least two data providers in each country where they offer their services.

The price of its data plans ranges from €5 to €139 and can be chosen for both specific countries and continents, which is a great advantage when we want to travel across several countries.

The disadvantage of this brand is that all its plans are for 30 days, which means that for short trips you will have days left over. The price of each plan varies depending on GBs, which range from 1GB to 10GB. In some destinations they also offer unlimited data, but it’s a bit more expensive than other brands like Holafly.

Here is the table with the score for each of the features of their eSIM cards.

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data Sharing	Currencies	Total
4	3	3	4	0	4,5	4,5	3	3,2

3. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand

Advantages	Disadvantages
It is the cheapest brand in the market. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM there. It allows you to recharge the eSIM. Their eSIM card allows sharing data with other devices. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries.	Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less. They do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of the plans is limited to 7 and 30 days. Their technical support is only in English and takes a long time to respond.

Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, the truth is that in the long run it can get expensive since their data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and their technical service takes a long time to respond.

Airalo, along with Holafly, is one of the most well-known brands in the world to buy an international travel eSIM. This company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.

Airalo’s eSIM card data plans typically have a duration of 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $5 to $185. The brand has an App where you can buy and install the eSIM, and later recharge it when you run out of data.

We’ve compared customer reviews and feedback on Trustpilot and found that Airalo has one of the lowest scores at 3.7. Here’s the ranking for each aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our review of the brand: Our opinion of Airalo: is it worth it?

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data Sharing	Currencies	Total
4	4	3	4.5	4	4	4,5	3	3,8

Which is our favorite eSIM card for our trips?

At Passporter we know that eSIM cards are the best option to have internet on our trips abroad, however, we wondered which brand would be the best. That is why we have tested in our trips both SimOptions eSIM cards and those of many other brands such as Holafly, Airalo, Nomad or Maya Mobile and we want to share our experience in our SimOptions review.

In general, with the vast majority of brands the installation and purchase process is very simple and immediate. The problem arises when it comes to choosing a data plan based on contract length, connection speed or price. Most brands have data plans for eSIM with a duration of 7 or 30 days, which is a bit limited depending on the kind of trip you’re planning. Holafly is the brand that offers more flexibility in this regard as its plans can be for 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 20, 30 or 60 days.

For us the most important thing is not to run out of data in the middle of the trip, that’s why at Passporter we consider eSIM cards with unlimited data to be the best option when traveling. A company with unlimited data eSIM cards is Holafly. In their online store you can also find a wide variety of data plans for many destinations.

Another advantage that Holafly has is that they offer a service of 24h technical support in English and other languages. In short, SimOptions cards are perfectly valid to have internet abroad, but if you want to have no worries, we recommend Holafly’s unlimited data eSIM cards.

Questions to consider before buying an eSIM card from SimOptions