The downsides of travel eSIMs that nobody mentions
We sell travel eSIMs, and we think they are the best way for most people to get online abroad. They still have limits, and it is better to hear them from us before you buy than to find them in an arrivals hall. Here is the honest list.
1. Most are data only
RoamMore plans give you data, not a phone number. You cannot receive a normal call or text on the eSIM itself.
What to do: keep your home line switched on for texts and bank codes, with its Data Roaming off, and use WhatsApp, iMessage or FaceTime for calls. Our guide on keeping your home number shows the settings.
2. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked
Older phones, some regional models and phones locked to a carrier cannot use a travel eSIM at all.
What to do: dial *#06# and look for an EID, then check your phone is carrier unlocked. Our guide on whether your phone supports eSIM takes a minute. If it turns out not to, and the eSIM is not installed, you can get a full refund within 30 days.
3. Installing needs internet
Installing an eSIM downloads a profile, so you need wifi or another data connection at that moment.
What to do: install at home before you fly. If you forget, airport or hotel wifi works too.
4. Deleting it is usually final
An eSIM is not a card you can take out and put back. Delete it from your phone, and in most cases the same QR code will not install it again.
What to do: never delete an eSIM to "reset" it. Turn the line off instead, or contact us. If it had not been used yet, we can reissue it.
5. Your data may exit in another country
Most travel eSIMs route your data through a hub, so websites and banking apps may think you are in another country. That can trigger extra login checks and change which content you see.
What to do: read where your eSIM's internet comes out. Every RoamMore destination page lists the exit country for each plan.
6. Unlimited is not unlimited full speed
Unlimited travel plans give you a daily amount at full speed, then slow down until the day resets, on RoamMore plans to between 128 kbps and 1 Mbps depending on the plan. On Endless, never under 384 kbps, and 1 Mbps at 1GB a day in 136 of 218 destinations. That is fine for messages and maps and poor for video calls.
What to do: if you stream or hotspot a laptop, pick a plan with a larger daily full speed amount, or a large fixed plan. See our unlimited travel eSIM, Endless.
7. Roaming visitors can come second at busy times
A travel eSIM connects to local networks as a roaming visitor. On some networks, at very busy times and places, roaming users can get lower priority than local customers, so speeds can dip at a stadium or festival.
What to do: nothing most days. If a crowded place is slow, try again a few minutes later or away from the crowd.
8. No signal where there are no towers
A travel eSIM works where local networks reach and nowhere else. That includes most of the open sea, where ships use their own satellite networks.
What to do: read our guide to remote areas and backup plans before a trip off the beaten track.
9. Once it is installed, it is yours
Under our terms, once an eSIM has been installed or activated the sale is final, apart from your rights under New Zealand consumer law.
What to do: check your phone and your trip before you install, not after.
So is a travel eSIM worth it?
For most trips, yes: you land connected, you keep your home number, and you avoid roaming charges. It is the wrong choice if you need a local phone number, or you are staying for many months where a local plan is far cheaper. Our guide on how to choose a travel eSIM walks through the comparison.
Prices for popular trips
Cheapest plan with 1GB or more, in US dollars from our catalogue, updated 27 Sep 2026.
Questions travellers ask
Is a travel eSIM worse than a local SIM?
For most trips it is easier, because you install it before you fly and land connected. A local SIM can be better if you need a local phone number, or if you are staying for months and a local plan is much cheaper.
Can I get a phone number with a RoamMore eSIM?
Not at the moment. Our plans are data only. Keep your home line switched on for texts, and use messaging apps for calls.
What happens if I delete my eSIM by accident?
In most cases it cannot be reinstalled from the same QR code. Contact us before doing anything else. If it had not been used yet, we can reissue it.
Are travel eSIMs slower than local plans?
They use the same local networks. On some networks roaming visitors can be given lower priority at very busy times, so speeds can dip in crowded places. Unlimited plans also slow down after their daily full speed amount.