Before you buy
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of putting a plastic chip in a tray, you scan a QR code and the plan installs itself. Your physical SIM stays where it is.
Will it work on my phone?
Only if your phone has eSIM hardware and is not locked to a carrier. Dial *#06# on your phone: if an EID number appears next to the IMEI, you have eSIM. Our compatibility page lists known models and the three things that most often block an install.
Do I lose my own number?
No. Your physical SIM stays in the phone and keeps your number for calls and WhatsApp. The eSIM only carries data, and you choose which line the phone uses for mobile data.
Can I make calls or send SMS with it?
Not on our plans, they are data only. Calls and messages over the internet work normally: WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram, Signal and anything else that uses data.
Can I buy one for someone else?
Yes. The QR code goes to the email address entered at checkout, so either use theirs or forward the email. Nothing is tied to your account until the eSIM is installed on a phone.
Coverage & countries
Will it work everywhere in the country?
Coverage matches our partner network's coverage in that country, which is normally very good in cities and along main routes, and thinner in remote areas.
Are there countries where this will not work?
Some countries restrict international travel eSIMs. Where a restriction applies to a destination we sell, we state it on that product page.
Buying and delivery
How fast will I get the QR code?
Usually within a couple of minutes of payment, by email. It is sent automatically, so it does not depend on office hours.
The email has not arrived. What now?
Check the spam folder first, then search your inbox for CometSIM. If it is still missing, email support@cometsim.com with the order number and we will resend it. We keep a copy of every QR code we issue.
Which payment methods do you take?
Card payments in US dollars. Prices on the site are the prices you pay; we do not add a booking fee or a service charge at checkout.
Installing it
When should I install it?
At home, on Wi-Fi, before you travel. Installing does not start the plan, so there is no reason to wait. Doing it at the airport is the one thing that turns a two-minute job into a problem.
Can I install it after I land?
Yes, but you will need Wi-Fi to do it, which is exactly what you are trying to avoid needing. Install before you fly.
How long can I wait before installing?
Each plan can be installed for a set period after purchase, shown on the product page as the install window. For most plans this is 180 days, which is why buying early is safe.
Can I move the eSIM to another phone?
No. Once a QR code has been scanned it is bound to that phone. If you change phones you will need a new plan, so install it on the phone you are actually travelling with.
Using it abroad
When does my plan start counting?
When the eSIM first connects to a network at the destination, not when you buy it and not when you install it. So you can install it weeks early without losing a day.
What happens when the data runs out?
The connection stops. There is no slow-speed mode and no automatic top-up, so you cannot run up a bill without deciding to. Buy another plan whenever you want more.
Can I share the connection as a hotspot?
Yes on most destinations, and it draws from the same allowance. A small number of local networks block tethering; where that happens it is a network restriction, not a CometSIM one.
Which network will I be on?
Each product page names the local operators the plan uses, so you can check them against the coverage where you are going before you buy.
Do I need to turn anything on when I land?
Turn on Data Roaming for the CometSIM line and set it as your mobile data line. That sounds wrong but it is correct: the eSIM is a foreign profile roaming on the local network.
Money and problems
Can I get a refund?
Yes, within 180 days, as long as the eSIM has never been installed or activated. Once a plan is installed and has started using data it cannot be refunded. The full terms are in our Refund Policy.
I bought a plan and my phone turns out not to support eSIM.
That is refundable, because you will not have been able to install it. Email us with the order number.
The eSIM installed but I have no signal.
Check three things: Data Roaming is on for the CometSIM line, the CometSIM line is selected for mobile data, and the line itself is switched on. If all three are right and it still fails, email us the destination and phone model and a person will work through it with you.
Is the speed guaranteed?
No, and nobody honestly can guarantee it. You get the fastest technology your phone and the local network both support, and real speed depends on that network, congestion and where you are standing. It is the same connection a local SIM would give you.