chloedickensonLast Updated on 24th January 2026
ad This Sim Local eSIM review contains affiliate links and features mentions of sponsored content. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own; please see my disclaimer for more.
Are you looking for an eSIM for your next trip and wondering how to find the best eSIM providers? My ultimate Sim Local review includes everything you need to know about purchasing, installing, and using an eSIM, and I also have an exclusive discount code for you!
As a full-time travel writer and digital nomad who has been lucky enough to travel to over 50 countries and dozens of cities in five continents (so far!), having a decent internet connection is something that is super important to me, not only to run my business online, but to stay in touch with friends and family back at home in the UK.
Having said that, even in 2026, internet connection can be pretty hit and miss in some places, especially in remote countries and towns where free Wi-Fi still isn’t quite widely available just yet. The solution to this problem?
A travel eSIM that connects you to the world’s best data providers which allows you to avoid excessive roaming charges and enjoy super-fast 4G and 5G signal in over 150 countries across the world. And my favourite eSIM provider that offers exactly this kind of service?
Enter: Sim Local travel eSIM.
In my Sim Local review, I’m sharing everything you need to know about how an eSIM works, how to activate your eSIM, as well as an exclusive Sim Local discount code for readers of I’m Just A Girl!
Sim Local Discount Code
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a small chip that is built into your phone that works exactly the same as the little plastic SIM card that you usually insert into your device.
Instead of swapping out physical SIM cards every time you’re in a new country that has different network providers, an eSIM allows you to load a mobile plan onto it digitally.
You can activate an eSIM plan by downloading it straight to your device, usually through a QR code or an app (such as the Sim Local app), rather than inserting a physical SIM card. It’s much easier and quicker to set up, and you don’t have to worry about purchasing a physical SIM card and swapping them out every time you need to connect to a new network provider.
Most eSIM plans don’t include phone calls or texts as part of their plan, only data coverage, but if you’re familiar with using WhatsApp/Messenger for your calls/video calls/messages, this won’t be too much of an issue.
Sim Local, however, do offer several eSIM plans that also include phone calls and texts, many of which are similarly priced to the regular data plans!
Why I love using eSIMs while travelling
When Matt and I quit our jobs back in 2019 and began a life of full-time travel and digital nomadism, we relied solely on free Wi-Fi spots wherever we were for the first 6 months of our trip. This meant no data at all in places such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Vietnam!
While this was certainly a fun and freeing way of travelling, as we didn’t have instant access to the internet at all times, it did make certain aspects of travelling more difficult, especially when it came to ordering taxis or navigating around a city without the help of Google Maps.
However, since 2022, when I first discovered how awesome eSIMs are, I’ve used various eSIMs in dozens of countries, including the USA, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Japan, and many more, and I love the convenience of having instant access to the internet whenever I land in a new country.
It enables me to message my parents via WhatsApp to let them know I’ve landed safely, it allows me to plan my route around a new city using Google Maps, it grants me instant access to my New York Facebook Group so that I can check in with my 300,000+ members whenever I need to, and it provides me with the ability to order an Uber or Bolt or Grab taxi in order to get from the airport to my hotel or Airbnb.
In the simplest of terms, an eSIM offers safety and security and comfort and convenience, all with just a few clicks on my phone in order to set it up.
How does Sim Local work?
Sim Local are an incredible eSIM (and physical SIM card!) provider with coverage in more than 150 countries worldwide. From Albania to Australia, Guatemala to Grenada, Madagascar to Malaysia, and so many more; chances are, if you’re travelling abroad, Sim Local will offer an eSIM to cover wherever you’re visiting!
What’s more, they also offer global and multi-destination eSIMs, such as their Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania plans, so if you’re travelling to multiple countries in one continent, you can purchase an eSIM that will cover numerous destinations in your location!
How to activate your Sim Local eSIM
Activating a Sim Local eSIM is SO quick and easy; it can be done in less than 5 minutes!
There is an entire guide on the Sim Local website that takes you through the entire activation process step-by-step for both iOS devices and Android devices, so I won’t share the entire steps in depth below, but I did want to make a note to reassure you that set-up/activation is super quick and easy!
One of the things that I was most worried about when purchasing an eSIM was how easy it would be to actually install on my device, but thankfully, it’s incredibly easy and the step-by-step instructions provided by Sim Local make it an absolute breeze!
The most important thing to note is that you should install and activate your eSIM while you still have a Wi-Fi connection (I always activate my new eSIM while waiting for my flight using airport Wi-Fi). The Sim Local website has a super easy-to-follow guide about exactly how to set-up/install/activate your eSIM.
Using Sim Local eSIMs in Asia (and beyond!)
At the time of writing/updating this guide, I’ve used a Sim Local eSIM in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore, and I’m delighted to say that they’ve worked perfectly everywhere that I’ve tried them so far (even in the middle of the ocean on a day trip from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands!).
I’ve used a Sim Local eSIM for everything from Google Maps to WhatsApp to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, my currency app, PayPal, Google Analytics, YouTube, and so much more, and I truly haven’t encountered any issues at all.
Yet another thing that I love about Sim Local is their incredible customer service support; the team can be reached via WhatsApp 24/7, so if you have any issues setting up your eSIM, activating it, or just any general questions you may have at any time of day, the team are on-hand at all times to help you out!
What eSIM plans do Sim Local offer?
As I mentioned above, Sim Local offer many different eSIMs in over 150 countries worldwide, including dozens of countries in Europe, Africa, Oceania, Asia, and so many more.
Below, you can find some of the most popular destinations and the best deals on some of the Sim Local eSIM plans for each country.
- 50GB Thailand eSIM for for 10 days from £13
- 10GB Australia eSIM for 30 days from $17
- 10GB Vietnam eSIM for 30 days from $18
- 10GB New Zealand eSIM for 30 days from $23
- 18GB USA eSIM for 30 days from $25
- Unlimited Japan eSIM for 10 days from $26
Do you need an unlocked phone to use an eSIM plan from Sim Local?
Your device must be unlocked in order to use a Sim Local eSIM.
When should you install your eSIM?
It’s best to download and install your eSIM just before you travel (just before you get on your flight to your destination) as you need to be connected to Wi-Fi (or 4G/5G if you’re using data to install your eSIM plan).
Can you have more than one eSIM on your device at the same time?
While you can’t use two eSIMs at the same time (for example, you can’t have your Thailand eSIM connected at the same time as your Japan eSIM), you can have multiple eSIM plans added to your device, so you can easily switch between them depending on where you’re travelling to.
Is Sim Local worth it? Sim Local eSIM review – conclusion
As someone who travels a lot and requires the use of the internet on a daily basis, in order to contact friends and family back home and to run my business, I would 100% recommend a Sim Local eSIM.
Most of their eSIM plans are super affordable, and I love how they offer a range of smaller GB data plans (such as 3GB, 5GB, and 10GB plans), as well as unlimited eSIM plans for very competitive rates.
I’ve never had any issues at all using any eSIM from Sim Local, and I love how quick and easy it is to set up. In short, if you’re looking to get an eSIM for your next trip, I would highly recommend checking out Sim Local and remember, you can get 15% off with my discount code JUSTAGIRL15.
I hope you found this review of Sim Local helpful and I hope it’s helped you to decide whether a Sim Local eSIM is worth buying!
