As the CRTC continues probing the Big Three Canadian telecom companies over their expensive roaming rates, you can avoid those costs entirely this travel season by using an eSIM card instead.
For those who haven’t tried one before, eSIM cards let you buy data and/or phone plans right from your device. You can browse a variety of data options and install one on your phone in a few simple steps.
Most modern phones also allow you to install multiple eSIM cards, so you can have your regular SIM and a travel SIM so you can still browse the web, send iMessages and more when on the go.
For example, if you travel to Costa Rica for nine days, you would spend roughly $135 using the average roaming costs in Canada. Or, you could buy a temporary pre-paid eSIM for around $45-$50 for 10GB of Costa Rican data.
There are a few caveats. Your temporary eSIM will have its own phone number or might be data-only, so be prepared for those options. Some carriers, like Rogers, allow you to enable Wi-Fi calling via your eSIM so you can still use your number for calls, but this gets more complex, so we’ll worry about that later.
Where Canadians can buy travel eSIM cards
Most of the popular travel eSIM retailers operate online or via apps. That said, sometimes you can also see them at physical locations in airports and other tourist-heavy locations.
Buying online makes it easier and allows you to get your eSIM installed before you leave. Some of the top sites include:
There are tons of others online, so make sure that you shop around to get the best deal. Different online providers sometimes offer alternative local carriers, so it’s worth making sure that the carrier has good service in the area you’re visiting.
How to install and use an eSIM card
Most apps and websites will provide you with an install button. Click it, and your phone will walk you through the rest.
If you were provided a QR code, you may need to print it out or display it on another screen so you can scan it. Once scanned, it should also walk you through installation.
Once installed, your second SIM will appear in your device’s network/cellular settings under the name you gave it during installation. I recommend calling it something like ‘travel’ so it’s easy to find.
Turn on your travel SIM by tapping on the new card in your settings, and make sure to double-check that roaming is disabled on your primary SIM card.
Different eSIM providers and carriers might have different rules, but on eSIM cards I’ve bought from Airalo before, it’s asked me to turn the data roaming on for my travel SIM. Make sure to read the rules provided when you buy your eSIM card since each local carrier might work a little differently.
Other options and tricks
Traditional roaming is always an option, but it will cost you somewhere between $10-$20 per day, depending on your carrier and where you travel.
Wi-Fi calling over eSIM works on Rogers networks. It allows you to leave your primary Rogers SIM card enabled with roaming turned off, so when you get a call, it still comes in and you can answer it using your travel eSIM data.
If you travel a lot to Mexico or the United States, Freedom and Public Mobile both offer really affordable data plans that let you roam for free in most of North America.
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