International Roaming vs Travel eSIMs: Which is a better option?

In an increasingly interconnected world, staying connected while traveling internationally is more crucial than ever. Traditionally, international travelers who prioritised convenience over cost have relied on international roaming services provided by their home mobile carriers. However, the advent of embedded SIM cards, or eSIMs, has introduced an alternative which allows you to enjoy the convenience without having to incur exorbitant roaming costs. Trying to decide if you want to make a switch to eSIMs, and if they are any better than international roaming? Let’s take a look at the various factors to help you make a decision.

International Roaming vs Travel eSIMs: Convenience

No doubt international roaming is very convenient - all you need to do is to turn on data roaming on your device settings and you are set to go. You can get connected from the time you arrive at your destination without having to do anything else.

Travel eSIMs offer a whole lot of convenience when you compare them with traditional tourist SIM cards that you might purchase upon arrival. You no longer have to queue up at the counters to get a physical SIM card, and you don’t have to mess with your SIM card or SIM tray.

But, when compared to roaming, travel eSIMs are probably not as convenient - given you do still need to go through the process of buying and installing your eSIM, and updating your phone settings such that you are using data from the correct SIM.

That said, while travel eSIMs are not as convenient as simply turning on your international roaming, it really is just a matter of a few minutes and a few additional steps - which really isn’t all that bad.

International Roaming vs Travel eSIMs: Cost

It’s a commonly accepted fact that roaming isn’t cheap. In fact, it can get really expensive very quickly. Even as telcos roll out international roaming plans and packages, the prices aren’t exactly the friendliest.

Travel eSIMs, on the other hand, provide users with the option to get data and connectivity at much cheaper, near-local rates. In fact, there are times where getting a travel eSIM could actually be cheaper than getting a local tourist SIM card.

International Roaming vs Travel eSIMs: Features

Most travel eSIMs are data-only eSIMs, meaning they don’t give you a local phone number to make local calls or send messages. But that is pretty much the same as what would happen if you turned on international roaming.

If you made a call on your primary line while overseas, you will simply be charged for international calls. With a travel eSIM, while you don't necessarily have the ability to make calls using that eSIM, you can still make calls using your primary line even with your eSIM installed.

Simply ensure that your primary line is selected as the line that you will be making calls from and that your eSIM is used as the line for your data needs. Any calls that you make using your primary line will be charged for international calls.

International Roaming vs Travel eSIMs: Network Quality and Coverage

International roaming works through agreements that your primary telco have with other telcos internationally. Typically, your telco will work with only one provider in each country; and you don’t really have a choice as to which provider your telco will be working with.

Travel eSIMs, on the other hand, typically work with multiple networks, giving you the option to easily switch between your preferred network. This gives you the flexibility to connect to a network with stronger signals in case one network doesn’t provide good coverage where you are.

In addition, if you are using international roaming, data will often be routed back to your telco first before you connect to the internet - which will often result in higher latency if you are traveling somewhere across the globe.

It is important to note that travel eSIMs also typically route and channel traffic to a different location before connecting you to the internet. The location in which the traffic is routed to varies from provider to provider. If latency is a cause of concern for you, it is recommended that you read up on reviews or check with the providers to find out more about where your traffic is routed to.

Get a Nomad eSIM to help you stay connected when you travel

Nomad offers data plans in over 170 countries, and you can be sure to find one that is suitable for your travel needs. And if you will be traveling across multiple countries, there are also regional plans available so you can stay seamlessly connected as you hop between countries. Data plans are available from as low as $1.10/GB.

The networks that Nomad's eSIMs use for each plan are stated on the plan details on the web store and apps, so you can check which networks are supported before buying your plan. Data sharing and tethering is also supported on Nomad's eSIM plans.

With Nomad’s eSIMs, data is typically routed through a destination within the same region, ensuring that latency (if any) has a minimal impact on regular usage on your trip.

In the event where you run out of data, Nomad also allows you to purchase add-ons for your data pack. With a purchased add-on, you will be able to seamlessly stay connected with the same eSIM.