How roaming works, and why the bill can surprise you
When you land abroad with your usual SIM, your phone joins a partner network in that country and your home operator bills you for what you use there, at its roaming rates. Little on screen changes, so it is easy to forget.
Home operators sell roaming packages for a day, a week or a trip. They are convenient, but they can be expensive for the data they include. Without a package, or once it runs out, data is usually charged out of bundle per MB, and that adds up quickly.
The surprise often comes from data you didn't knowingly use: photo backups, app updates, autoplay videos and maps running in the background. Terms differ between operators, so if you plan to roam, check yours before you leave.
How a travel eSIM is different
A travel eSIM is a prepaid data plan for your destination, delivered as a digital SIM. You choose the destination, the data and the days, pay once in advance, and install it. When the data or the days run out, the plan stops. No bill is waiting when you get home.
With Shpper, you buy and manage eSIMs in the Shpper app on iPhone and Android, paying by card, wallet or Shpper points, and the QR code is ready right after purchase. The plan starts when the eSIM first connects to a network abroad, not when you buy it, so it is safe to install before you travel.
Shpper covers 190+ countries with single-country plans, regional packs (Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania and combinations) and a Worldwide plan. Plans run from 1 GB to unlimited data, valid for 3 to 90 days depending on the destination.
eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM: the comparison
How the three options compare for travel data abroad.
- Cost predictability. Roaming depends on your package and usage, and out-of-bundle data is charged per MB, so the bill is hard to predict. A local SIM and a travel eSIM are both prepaid, but with the eSIM you know the full cost before you leave home.
- Convenience. Roaming works the moment you land. A local SIM means finding a shop, and many countries ask for a passport to register it. A travel eSIM is installed before you fly and connects on arrival.
- Keeping your number. Roaming keeps it active. A local SIM in a single-SIM phone replaces your home SIM with a new local number. A travel eSIM on a dual-SIM phone leaves your home SIM in place for calls and SMS.
- Setup. Roaming needs none, though you may need to buy a package. A local SIM means swapping cards, sometimes with settings in an unfamiliar language. A travel eSIM installs from an app or QR code.
- Several countries. Roaming coverage depends on your operator. A local SIM usually works in one country. A regional pack or the Worldwide plan covers several countries on one eSIM.
Keeping WhatsApp and your number
Yes, you keep your number. Shpper eSIMs are data only. On a dual-SIM phone, your usual SIM stays in and keeps your number for calls and SMS, including bank OTPs, while the Shpper eSIM carries the data.
WhatsApp and other messaging apps are tied to your account, not to the line carrying the data, so your chats and groups carry on under your usual number over the eSIM data.
Two caveats. Calls and SMS on your home line abroad still go through your home operator, which may charge for incoming calls while roaming. And some countries restrict internet voice and video calls, so app calling may not work everywhere even when messaging does.
How to avoid roaming charges on your home line
If your home SIM stays in the phone, make sure it isn't quietly using data abroad. Menu names vary by phone, but as general advice:
- Install the Shpper eSIM before you fly and label it clearly, for example Travel.
- In your mobile data or SIM settings, choose the Shpper eSIM as the line for mobile data.
- Turn Data Roaming off for your home SIM. Leave the line on if you want calls and SMS.
- Turn Data Roaming on for the Shpper eSIM. It needs this to connect abroad, and it adds nothing to your home bill.
- On iPhone, consider turning off Allow Cellular Data Switching so the phone doesn't fall back to your home line on a weak signal.
- If the eSIM is connected but pages won't load, set its APN to globaldata.
How to choose a plan size
Buy for how you actually use your phone, not for the worst case.
- Light use: maps, messaging, email, ride-hailing and some browsing. A smaller plan is often enough.
- Moderate use: the above plus social media, photo sharing and the odd video call. A mid-size plan usually suits.
- Heavy use: streaming, regular video calls, remote work or sharing your connection by hotspot, which Shpper supports. Go larger, since video usually uses the most data.
Validity, top-ups and multi-country trips
Match the validity to your trip, with a day or two spare. Visiting several countries? A regional pack or the Worldwide plan means one eSIM instead of several, and hotel Wi-Fi stretches any plan further.
Shpper sends usage alerts when data runs low and before the plan ends, and you can add data in the app. A top-up replaces the current allowance on that eSIM, so top up when you are close to running out.
Setting up your Shpper eSIM
- Check your phone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked: iPhone XS/XR or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer, and most phones from 2018 on.
- Buy a plan for your destination in the Shpper app.
- On iPhone, use one-tap install in the app. Otherwise, scan the QR code from another screen or enter it manually.
- Turn Data Roaming on for the Shpper line and make it your mobile-data line.
- Install on the phone you travel with: an installed eSIM cannot be moved. Support is available 24/7.
