Roamless eSIM Review
If you're a fan of pay-as-you-go pricing models, Roamless eSIM might be a better choice for you than fixed-plan competitors. We tested Roamless to compile this detailed review of the service, so read on to learn more.
— Last Updated: 2025-07-06T20:43:07+00:00 Facts checked by Simona Ivanovski
Key Takeaways: What Is Roamless eSIM & Is It Good to Use?
- Roamless is a pay-as-you-go eSIM service for travel purposes.
- eSIM plans are an alternative to using your main line (which can be expensive) or a physical local SIM card while abroad.
- We had a good experience using Roamless and are happy to recommend it.
Top Use Cases for Roamless eSIM:
- Mobile data for travel: Roamless provides mobile data by connecting you to local networks in more than 200 countries.
- Budgeting: Roamless is ideal for budgeting because you pay only for the amount of data you need. However, you can now buy a fixed Roamless plan if you prefer.
- Flexibility: Your Roamless funds never expire, and you can use them in any covered destination.
When we were first getting acquainted with the multitude of eSIM services on the market, Roamless immediately stood out for its unique pricing model. We took it for a full test run to see if it works as well as we hoped. This Roamless eSIM review has all the details.
We’ll cover Roamless’ features, coverage, pricing, speed, user-friendliness and more. If you’re curious to learn about the competition, you can dive into our guide on the best international eSIMs.
What Is Roamless eSIM & Who Is It For?
Roamless is an American pay-as-you-go eSIM mobile data provider, though it also sells fixed plans. Like other eSIM providers, Roamless is an alternative to physical SIM cards. It’s ideal for travelers who prefer to add funds to a virtual wallet to access data rather than purchase a fixed plan with a set amount of data and a set validity period.
- Release date: 2023
- Founded by: Emre Demirel, Selim Aykut, Ali Gazioğlu, Asim Alp, Yalti, Cengiz Oztelcan
- Operating systems: iOS, Android
- Devices: Most recently manufactured iPhones, including iPhone 11+, SE (2020 and 2022), SX and XR, and various Androids, including recent Samsung Galaxy, Huawei and Xiaomi models, among others
- Notable features: Pay-as-you-go pricing model, no expiration dates
- Pricing: From $2.45 (for 1GB in several countries)
The Cloudwards Expert Opinion: Roamless eSIM
The Cloudwards Expert Opinion: Roamless eSIM
I have a lot of positive things to say about Roamless: It’s easy to use and flexible in terms of pricing, and I’m impressed that Roamless wallet funds don’t expire. I had a good experience overall and would use Roamless again. On the flip side, it would be nice to have a live chat support option, despite how speedy the Roamless team is with responses.
Roamless eSIM Pros & Cons
How Does Roamless eSIM Work?
When you add funds to your Roamless wallet in the app, you can connect to local mobile carriers in more than 200 countries. This means you can browse the internet, go on social media, stream content and access call and messaging services like WhatsApp. This is a cheaper alternative to using your primary SIM when overseas.
| Features |  |
|---|---|
| Payment methods | Credit card, Debit card |
| OS | iOS, Android |
| Device support | Modern iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Huawei, Xiaomi |
| Global | 98 |
| Regional | 98 |
| Country | 200 |
| Ad-blocker | |
| Virtual location | |
| Web protection |
Features: What Makes Roamless Different From Other eSIMs?
Though Roamless recently added fixed plans (RoamlessFix) to its lineup, users can still benefit from the flexible pay-as-you-go system. We explain how this sets Roamless apart from competitors below.
User-Friendliness & Hands-On Testing
We had a very positive experience using Roamless. It’s easy to add funds, though you do have to add a minimum of $5 in the app. On the website destination pages you can add less than $5, but no matter which method you choose, there’s a $0.35 service fee for purchases under $20.
One thing we aren’t keen on is Roamless’ lack of live chat support. The team emailed us back quickly — within around 10 minutes — after we submitted our query, but we prefer to have a back-and-forth conversation to hash out concerns.
How to Install Roamless eSIM
The installation process might look a little different depending on the method you choose (QR code, manual or single click) or whether you’re using an iPhone or Android. In our case, we used the single-click method on an iPhone.
Installation is manual on Android devices, but you can still initiate it in the app — check out Roamless’ installation guides to see the Android steps.
- Tap the Install Prompt
After signing in on the app, tap the prompt to install Roamless.
- Tap “Install Now”
On the next page, tap “install now.” Alternatively, check out the guides on installing via a QR code or manually.
- Allow Activation
Tap the “allow activation” prompt and go through the remaining prompts. Keep your primary line as your default line. If you don’t want to use Roamless right away, leave your primary line as your cellular source when prompted. You can adjust this in the settings when you’re ready, as we show below.
How to Activate Roamless eSIM
You’ll need to adjust your cellular settings (iOS) or network and internet/connections settings (Android) to ensure Roamless activates when you need to use it abroad. We explain how this works below.
- Switch Roamless On
Go to your device’s SIM area in your cellular or network and internet/connections settings, and make sure Roamless is switched on and that data roaming is enabled.
- Set Roamless as the Data Source
Set Roamless as your data source if you haven’t already. Finally, go to the “data switching” tab in settings and disable it. This prevents accidental roaming charges.
- Add Funds or Buy a Fixed Plan
You get $1.25 of free funds when you install Roamless. To keep using Roamless, you can either add funds in the Roamless wallet or buy a fixed plan.
Coverage
Roamless’ overall coverage (more than 200 destinations) is very similar to that of competitors like Airalo and Saily. However, the number of countries that the regional fixed plans cover varies from provider to provider. For example, Roamless’ fixed Europe plan covers 37 countries, while Airalo’s covers 42.
Roamless’ fixed Africa plan is noteworthy for its higher-than-average coverage of 46 countries. Other Africa regional plans we’ve come across have been far less broad, with some (like Jetpac’s, with just eight) covering fewer than 10 countries. On the other hand, Roamless’ fixed global plan covers just 99 countries — fewer than many top competitors.
If you want an eSIM plan that you can use in all available destinations and doesn’t expire, the pay-as-you-go model is a better choice.
Pricing: How Much Does Roamless eSIM Cost?
We’re big fans of Roamless’ flexible approach to pricing. Let’s explore the options in detail.
Roamless Global eSIM Free
On both pay-as-you-go and fixed plans, you get $1.25 of data free when you start using Roamless. This doesn’t last long, but it’s perfect for testing Roamless out for free. Like the funds you add to your wallet, the free data doesn’t expire and covers all destinations.
Local, Regional & Global Pricing
Roamless has two pricing models, and the amount you’ll pay can vary depending on which plan you choose. The two tables below show what pricing looks like depending on the model.
RoamlessNumbers
Roamless is currently advertising RoamlessNumbers, an upcoming feature that will let you make calls and send texts. At the time of writing, you can make calls only in-app using your Roamless funds. The website invites customers to join a waiting list if they’re interested in RoamlessNumbers.
Payment Methods
Currently, bank cards are the only payment method Roamless accepts. Accepted cards include Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, UnionPay and more.
Speed
During testing, our Roamless plan started to work seconds after configuring our phone settings for activation. We also enjoyed a flawless 5G connection. However, as we touched on briefly, despite Roamless supporting 4G and 5G speeds in many destinations, local operator network availability and location play a big part in actual connectivity.
For instance, if you’re hiking in the mountains, you might experience slower speeds than you’d get in a buzzing city due to the remoteness of those kinds of places.
Customer Support
While most eSIM providers offer support via live chat, Roamless is an exception. Your options are browsing the FAQs or troubleshooting guides in the “support” part of the app, or submitting a query. The support team responds via email.
Live Chat Support Speed & Quality
Unfortunately, there’s currently no live chat option with Roamless, so it loses a few points on that basis. To be fair, we sent a query and received an email response within a few minutes, but when you need to get help quickly, having the option to chat back and forth with a live agent can make a big difference.
Roamless eSIM vs Other eSIM Services
Roamless’ pricing flexibility and comprehensive coverage certainly give it an edge, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be everyone’s top choice. Let’s take a brief look at how Roamless differs from other well-known providers.
Roamless eSIM vs Airalo
Roamless offers both pay-as-you-go and fixed plans, whereas Airalo sticks to the fixed-plan approach. It also has a few data, call and text plans with a phone number and some unlimited plans, such as for Spain and Singapore.
Airalo’s two global plans cover 137 and 138 countries, whereas Roamless’ fixed plan covers 99 destinations and its pay-as-you-go option covers more than 200. Both providers come with free trial data, but only in select locations in Airalo’s case. We have a full Airalo review if you’re curious to learn more.
Roamless eSIM vs Nomad
Nomad doesn’t have a pay-as-you-go structure, but it does offer two plan types: fixed and day plans. With the latter, you select the number of days you’ll need data and get a certain amount of high-speed data per day.
That said, day plans are available for countries only, not regions, and they’re not available in every covered country. Nomad has a free trial for 48 countries, as we explain in our Nomad review.
Roamless eSIM vs Saily
Like Airalo, Saily specializes in fixed plans, though it doesn’t offer packages for calls and texts. The service recently started rolling out unlimited plans in some destinations, including the U.S. and France.
Unfortunately, there’s no free trial with Saily, but it does come with some impressive security features, including an ad blocker, a virtual location feature and web protection. Learn more in our Saily review.
Community Feedback: Roamless eSIM Reviews on Reddit & Social Media
Based on recent Reddit reviews, Roamless has impressed customers by not imposing expiration dates on funds and by responding quickly to customer queries, which we also noticed during our testing.
On the other hand, one user mentioned that some destinations, particularly outside of Europe, can be pricier. On that note, pricing is pretty reasonable in several countries, as you’ll use up just $2.45 for 1GB on the pay-as-you-go plan.
By contrast, most competitors start from around $4 for 1GB. As the aforementioned user noted, though, there’s variation, and pricing is higher in some countries.
The Verdict: Is Roamless eSIM Good?
We wouldn’t hesitate to use Roamless again because we love that the pay-as-you-go data doesn’t expire — a rarity in the eSIM world. We found it to be a reliable mobile data service overall. Keep in mind that even without a local number, you can still make phone calls with an eSIM plan via VoIP services like WhatsApp.
What do you think of Roamless’ pay-as-you-go model? Is it something you’d consider, or are you more of a fixed-plan type of person? If you’ve personally used Roamless, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: Roamless App
Roamless eSIM works by first adding funds to your Roamless wallet on a pay-as-you-go basis and then using them to access mobile data in more than 200 destinations around the world. Alternatively, you can buy a fixed plan with a set number of GB and a set validity period
The main downside of eSIMs is that some phone models lack eSIM compatibility, especially older phones or those sold in certain countries. Chinese iPhones, for example, do not support eSIM technology.
What network Roamless uses depends on the destination. For example, T-Mobile and AT&T are available in the U.S., while Vodafone, Three UK and O2 are available in the U.K.
Roamless activates when you arrive in the destination country, provided you’ve already tweaked your phone settings (check the tutorial in this guide)
