Maya eSIM Review
Maya Mobile's eSIM service has received glowing reviews on Trustpilot, but we wanted to give it a go for ourselves. My Maya eSIM review, based on real-world testing, shares all you need to know about the service.
— Last Updated: 2026-01-24T13:47:57+00:00 Facts checked by Simona Ivanovski
Key Takeaways: What Is Maya eSIM & Is It Good to Use?
- Maya Mobile is a fixed-plan eSIM service that sells mobile data packages for travel.
- Maya is good to use, with strengths including reasonable pricing, a wide range of plan types and quick customer support.
- If you need a regional North America or Africa plan, Maya is not the provider for you.
Top Use Cases for Maya eSIM:
- Physical SIM alternative: eSIM technology comes embedded in most modern phones, eliminating the need for a local, physical SIM for your travel destination.
- Budgeting: Using your home cellular provider’s data abroad can be costly. Prepaid Maya Mobile plans offer a way to use data abroad for cheaper.
- Flexibility: You can tailor Maya eSIM plans based on how long you’ll be traveling and how much data you require.
Travel eSIMs present an affordable and practical alternative to international roaming plans, so it’s no wonder they’re becoming so popular.1 Maya Mobile is one fish in a big pond of eSIM providers that have burst onto the scene in recent years, looking to make their mark. If you’re thinking of trying it out, check out my Maya eSIM review to learn all the ins and outs.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty, my guide to the best eSIMs for international travel has all the info on my favorite providers. If you decide not to go with Maya, you’ll find plenty of alternatives there.
What Is Maya eSIM & Who Is It For?
Maya Mobile is a travel eSIM (embedded SIM) provider headquartered in Delaware, U.S. Its international mobile data plans offer a more practical alternative to physical SIM cards and a cheaper alternative to using your existing phone plan while abroad.
- Release date: 2015
- Owner: Maya Virtual, Inc.
- Operating systems: iOS, Android
- Platforms: Various recently manufactured iOS and Android phones and tablets, plus Windows (Microsoft Surface Duo)
- Notable features: Optional auto-renew, China VPN
- Pricing: From $4.99
The Cloudwards Expert Opinion: Maya Mobile eSIM
The Cloudwards Expert Opinion: Maya Mobile eSIM
Maya Mobile gets the green light from me. I was able to access a good amount of data for a decent price (5GB for five days in France, $4.99), and I like Maya’s wide selection of plans. On the downside, it’s lacking in certain areas of regional coverage and doesn’t have a dedicated app.
Maya eSIM Pros & Cons
How Does Maya eSIM Work?
Once you’ve purchased and installed your Maya eSIM plan (see tutorial farther down) and are in your target destination, you can use the data to stream, browse the web, send messages and make calls via VoIP apps.
| Features |  |
|---|---|
| Payment methods | Credit card, Debit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay |
| OS | iOS, Android |
| Device support | Modern iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel |
| Global | 119 |
| Regional | 35 |
| Total Destinations | 200 |
| Ad-blocker | |
| Virtual location | |
| Web protection | |
| Other Security Features | Built-in China VPN |
Key Features: What Makes Maya Different From Other eSIMs?
Maya has one standout feature for people traveling for longer than 30 days: optional auto-renew. You can opt for your plan to renew monthly or enable this feature on your account’s data plan page. This is available for up to 180 days only, though, as Maya explains that it is meant to be used on a temporary basis.
In addition, China plans come with a built-in VPN designed to protect your privacy and allow you to access sites and services that are blocked in the country. However, we haven’t tested Maya’s China VPN, so I can’t confirm how fast or secure it is. Head over to our guide to the best VPNs to learn more about the providers we’ve tested and approved.
User-Friendliness & Hands-On Testing
Maya eSIM is a little different from competitors in that it doesn’t have a dedicated app: You buy and manage your plan via the website. If you’re traveling without a laptop, you’ll have to open the website in your mobile browser and log in.
I was a little worried this would be finicky, but fortunately, the mobile browser version is well conceived, with a handy chatbox immediately in evidence if you need help quickly. It may be a little annoying if you have to type out the web address and log in several times, though.
How to Install Maya eSIM
Once you’ve signed up for a Maya Mobile account, follow the steps below to install your plan:
- Buy a Plan
Go to the Maya Mobile website and buy a plan.
- Install Your Plan
In the “manage eSIMs” tab, click on “install eSIM.” Then, select iOS or Android to see the steps for your device. Scan the QR code and follow the prompts to complete installation.
Maya eSIM Activation Process
To use your Maya data plan when you get to your destination, you’ll need to go into your phone’s settings and enable it. Follow these steps:
I used my iPhone; the settings are different on Android. You can see the steps for activating the eSIM on an Android under the Android tab in the installation instructions.
- Enable Your Secondary Data Plan
In the “cellular/network & internet” settings, go to your SIM list and turn on the Maya line. Enable data roaming.
- Set Maya as the Data Source
Select Maya as your data source and toggle off data switching. If you’re in the right country, your data should now work.
Coverage
Maya offers more than 200 plans in total, made up largely of single-country plans. You can also opt for a regional or global plan. Maya Mobile’s global plan covers 119 countries, and it offers regional plans for the following destinations:
- Asia
- Europe
- Balkans
- Caribbean
- Middle East
- Latin America
Unfortunately, there is no regional plan for Africa or North America, which are pretty standard travel eSIM offerings. However, you can get single plans for countries in these regions, and the global plan covers African and North American countries, too.
Pricing: How Much Does Maya eSIM Cost?
I’m impressed by Maya Mobile’s pricing: Its plans are often cheaper than those of competitors (but not always). For comparison purposes, here’s an example of how Maya stacks up against two top competitors on its 20GB U.S. fixed plan (30-day validity):
- Maya: $24.99
- Saily: $36.99
- Airalo: $37
Because pricing can vary significantly, I also checked pricing for the same plan in various other countries:
As you can see, Maya is cheaper in most cases, but there are exceptions, such as Japan’s 20GB plan. In addition, Maya sets itself apart from the competition by offering 50GB and 100GB plans for some destinations, which is great for heavy data users.
I also appreciate Maya’s flexibility. It has a wide variety of plans for each validity period, while competitors are typically more limited in this area. Whether you need a plan lasting just five days or one stretching over several months, there’s a solution for everyone.
Maya plans come with a 100% money-back guarantee for situations including cancelled trips, lack of compatibility or unused plans.
Country Pricing Plan Breakdown
Local/country plans are plans for single countries. Maya has 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, 50GB and 100GB plans, and pricing varies depending on how many days you select (5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90 or 180).
For the table below, which shows a few popular plan destinations, I opted to focus on 30-day, fixed data. Check Maya’s plan pages to see pricing for other validity periods and full unlimited plan pricing.
| Country: | 3GB | 5GB | 10GB | 20GB | 50GB | 100GB | Unlimited Plan Range (5-180 days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. (30 days) | N/A | $9.99 | $15.99 | $24.99 | $39.99 | $62.99 | $17.99-$189.99 |
| Japan (30 days) | $8.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $28.99 | $52.99 | N/A | $17.99-$159.99 |
| France (30 days) | N/A | $8.99 | $12.99 | $21.99 | $34.99 | $57.99 | $14.99-$159.99 |
On a final note, you can pick between two unlimited plan types (speeds drop to LTE, maximum 1 Mbps for the day once the allowance has been used up):
- Unlimited Standard: 3GB of high-speed data daily
- Unlimited Max: 5GB of high-speed data daily
Global and Regional eSIM Plans
This table shows how Maya prices a few of its 30-day regional plans:
| Country: | 1GB | 3GB | 5GB | 10GB | 20GB | 50GB | 100GB | Unlimited Plan Range (5-180 days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe (35 countries) | N/A | N/A | $9.99 | $15.99 | $24.99 | $39.99 | $61.99 | $14.99-$159.99 |
| Asia (13 countries) | N/A | $8.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $28.99 | $52.99 | N/A | $17.99-$174.99 |
| Global (119 countries) | N/A | $14.99 | $21.99 | $35.99 | $54.99 | N/A | N/A | $24.99-$449.99 |
Business Plans
Maya also offers business plans, managed via a dashboard, for organizations that need travel data for employees. Check out Maya’s business plan pages to learn more about these.
Payment Methods
You can pay for your plan via credit card, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Payment method availability varies by location. For example, American Express users should note that Maya currently accepts cards from the U.S. only.
Speed
Maya Mobile supports 5G on several plans (you can see this information on each destination’s pricing page). Some plans, such as the Latin America regional plan, support up to 4G, while others, like the Swaziland plan, support 3G only — but this is the exception rather than the rule. The speeds offered depend on the local carriers Maya partners with.
Note that you might not get fast speeds even in 5G-supported locations if you’re visiting a remote area. Network congestion can also sometimes interfere with speeds in busy areas or during times of peak internet usage.
Customer Support
If you experience problems with your eSIM, you can ask Maya’s chatbot a question or type “agent” into the bot to speak to a human.
Live Chat Support Speed & Quality
When I asked to speak to an agent, someone got back to me with clear information within about five minutes. For me, that’s a great sign — some providers left me hanging for hours before I received a response.
Maya eSIM vs Other eSIM Services
Among Maya’s top competitors are Saily and Airalo, two of the most popular eSIM services on the market. Take a look at how they compare:
Maya eSIM vs Saily
Maya is similar to Saily in its offering of fixed data plans and speedy customer support. Saily stands out with its special security and privacy features, while Maya offers more flexibility with numerous plans for each validity period. Check out my full Saily review to learn more about this service.
Maya eSIM vs Airalo
Airalo is another fixed-plan provider, but it offers a valuable extra: call-and-text plans. Although you can use any eSIM’s data to contact people via services like WhatsApp, Airalo is ideal if you need a separate phone number while traveling. Check out my Airalo review to learn more.
Community Feedback: Maya eSIM Reviews on Reddit & Social Media
Maya reviews on Reddit and Trustpilot are mostly positive. In general, users say that Maya is reliable and fast, and one customer described its customer service as “brilliant” on Trustpilot. A few say they had spotty reception and slower speeds in some locations, but that can happen if you’re in a remote location or if the network is congested.
The Verdict: Is Maya eSIM Good for International Travel?
Yes, based on my experience, Maya Mobile’s eSIM is a good service for international travel. My customer service experience was great, and my data worked perfectly for streaming and browsing. However, it doesn’t have the broadest regional coverage, and it would be handy to have a dedicated app.
Which travel eSIMs have you used? Will you give Maya a go? Let us know about your experience in the comments. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: Maya Mobile eSIM Review
Yes, Maya eSIM is an official eSIM service, so it is safe to use.
I prefer Maya for its cheaper pricing and variety of fixed and unlimited plans (available in some destinations). However, Holafly, an unlimited data-focused provider, is a good choice if you need unlimited data in a location where Maya doesn’t offer it, such as Panama, Ivory Coast or Jamaica, to name a few.
No, Maya eSIM does not give you a phone number, but you can use your Maya data with services like WhatsApp and Messenger.
