There are SO many eSIMS on the market today that it can often be confusing to find the perfect provider, especially since most of them do the same thing, but at different prices.
So, to stand out today, an eSIM provider needs to offer something unique.
Well, thankfully, Jetpac does just that!
I’ve tried out Jetpac in France, Paris recently, and will also be using them in future trips to Europe (and I’ll continue to update this guide as I try!).
I’m going to take you through everything you need to know about Jetpac eSIMS and whether they’re worth using on your next travel adventure.
First things first,
Just in case you’re not 100% aware, an eSIM is basically a digital SIM.
You don’t need a physical SIM card to get data each time you enter a new country, you simply use an eSIM!
Rather than inserting a sim into your sim card tray on a phone, you simply activate an eSim via scanning a QR code or sometimes entering a number manually into your phone. (Depends on the phone and the eSIM provider!) -- You can also use multiple eSIMS if you want.
There are a lot of advantages to eSIMS (and maybe 1 disadvantage ;)).
One of the main disadvantages is that you don’t get a local number (but actually this is changing for some eSIM providers), but you can always make phone calls via WhatsApp, which we always find is the best way to communicate when abroad anyway!
You can also dual sim on a lot of phones, which basically means you can switch to your normal phone when you want to make a phonecall, and switch back to your eSIM for data, or on my Samsung, I can actually set my calls to my own sim, and my data to my eSIM which is perfect and fuss free!
As of 2023, this is the current list of eSIM-supported devices:
Apple Phones:
*iPhones purchased from China or Hong Kong are dual sim, with no eSIM.
Samsung Phones:
*The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G or 5G is not compatible with eSIM.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Hybrid Dual SIM – Samsung produces both eSIM and no eSIM versions.
Google Phones:
*Pixel 3a purchased in South East Asia
Huawei Phones:
Huawei P50 Pro and Huawei P40 Pro+ has no eSIM support.
Other Devices:
If you’re a frequent traveller, or you’re doing a backpacking trip that’s taking you through multiple countries, then this is a GREAT advantage.
You will only need this 1 eSIM to cover you for the entire duration of your trip.
The 50 countries include:
I LOVE this little bonus! I haven’t used it yet (touch wood) because I haven't had a delayed flight.
It’s called “Smart Delay” and it’s basically a unique service that offers complimentary airport lounge access in the event of a flight cancellation or delays.
You basically register your flight with the SmartDelay service before travelling and if the airline announces a delay that meets or exceeds the qualifying delay threshold or your flight is cancelled, you will be given a voucher for LoungeKey™ voucher that provides access to a lounge at the airport where you are delayed.
There are of course some T&Cs for the Smart Delay, and they’re based on 'gate' delay reporting from airlines and airports to FlightStats (which is a third-party flight data tracker). If the system reports a qualifying delay the system will issue the lounge vouchers.
Since I’m a full time digital nomad, I need access to internet on my laptop (As well as my phone).
My current network provider (o2) stopped allowing me to hotspot my device when I am using the device abroad (so outside the UK), and this therefore means I need to find an alternative internet provider to hotspot my laptop to work from it.
Lots of eSIMS have started limiting the ability to hotspot, but thankfully Jetpac is not one of those eSIM providers!
I can freely hotspot my eSIM to multiple devices.
Another annoying quality of some eSIM providers is that they will begin to throttle your speed once you’ve used a certain number of GBs.
Again, Jetpac eSIMS do not do this.
They allow you to use your entire GB allowance at the full speed intended.
READY TO BUY!? Get it here.
As well as their “global” plan with 50 countries, Jetpac also do more regional plans with specific areas. Currenty they offer:
Backpacker South East Asia: 5GB for $15 across 5 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam
Explorer South East Asia: 20GB for $20 across 5 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, The Philippines, and Vietnam
Jetsetter Asia Pacific: 5GB for $20 across 15 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong. India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam
Europe: 5GB for $18 across 28 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Vatican City
It’s worth noting that all their plans are valid for 30 days.
It’s simple!
There are manual ways to add your eSIM, and it will explain to you how to do this on the app.
On a recent trip to France, (specifically Paris and Disneyland Paris) I tested the Jetpac eSIM. It took me less than a minute to set it up on my phone and start getting internet. I had constant access to the internet on the trip, and it didn’t struggle with the large crowds at Disneyland. I actually had more internet on a consistent signal level than I did with my current operator (o2). I also tried hot spotting the eSIM to my laptop to make sure it ran smoothly, and again, had no issues (hot spotting is something I can’t do with my current provider).
I've also been using the eSIM in different parts of the UK, and I find it can get me signal in areas that my phone simply doesn't, which has been a great backup source!
I’ll be testing this eSIM further in the new year and will update with my results.
Yes, your phone will need to be unlocked before purchasing a Jetpac eSIM as they are the only ones which are compatible with eSIMs. (this is pretty standard for all eSIM providers!)
Nope! You can simply keep the eSIM for future use. When you've downloaded the Jetpac eSIM, all you need to do is top up with a new pack each time you head out on a new adventure.
In my opinion, absolutely! I think they are excellently priced, easy to use, user friendly app and the fact that if you have a flight delay, you can gain access to a lounge, is a REALLY nice touch, and something unique that other eSIMS providers are not offering.
Get yours here today!
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