Derek Alvarez

99esim Review (2026): 155 countries, custom plans, group sharing

A year of testing 99esim across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the US: where it wins (custom plans, group eSIMs, country count), where it falls short, and who it's for.

9 min read

Airalo alternative: 99esim compared (2026)

Looking for an Airalo alternative? 99esim head-to-head with Airalo — country count, plan structure, group sharing, North America scope, support speed.

9 min read

The Cruise Passenger's connectivity playbook

Port-hopping with shore time, ship Wi-Fi that costs $30/day, and data needs only when you're off the boat. eSIM picks for cruisers, what works in port, and the case against the ship's package.

7 min read

The First-Time International Traveler's connectivity playbook

First passport stamp coming up. The plain-English explainer of what an eSIM is, why it beats the alternatives, and the simplest setup that just works without learning the telecom jargon.

7 min read

Does my phone support eSIM? How to check in under a minute

A 30-second dialer check, the Settings path on iPhone and every major Android, a full compatibility list by brand and year, and the carrier-lock gotcha that trips people up.

8 min read

Can I use eSIM and physical SIM at the same time?

Yes on every modern iPhone and most Android flagships. Here's how dual-SIM actually works, the setup for travel (home SIM for 2FA, eSIM for data), and the device-specific gotchas.

7 min read

eSIM not working: 10 fixes to try first

The eSIM troubleshooting checklist — in the order problems actually happen. Airplane-mode reset, Data Roaming toggle, line priority, APN, carrier lock, signal. Works for iPhone and Android.

8 min read

Can I hotspot from a travel eSIM?

Usually yes — most travel eSIMs allow hotspot/tethering. Cheap plans sometimes restrict it, unlimited plans sometimes throttle it. Here's what to check before relying on it for a laptop or tablet.

6 min read

How much data do I need for travel?

Data usage by app (Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, streaming), rule-of-thumb tables, and a light/moderate/heavy framework to pick the right travel eSIM plan size.

6 min read

How to install an eSIM on iPhone: step-by-step

Every iPhone eSIM install method in one place — QR scan, manual entry, iOS 17.4+ direct install, and eSIM Quick Transfer from an old iPhone. Plus the setup steps most guides skip.

7 min read

Best eSIM for Bahrain

Best eSIM for Bahrain: starting prices, Batelco and STC coverage, F1 weekends and business trips to Manama, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Bangladesh

Best eSIM for Bangladesh: starting prices, Grameenphone and Robi coverage, Dhaka business and Cox's Bazar trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Belgium

Best eSIM for Belgium: starting prices, Proximus and Orange coverage, Brussels EU trips and Bruges canals, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Bosnia and Herzegovina

Best eSIM for Bosnia and Herzegovina: starting prices, BH Telecom and m:tel coverage, Sarajevo and Mostar trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Cambodia

Best eSIM for Cambodia: starting prices, Cellcard and Smart coverage, Angkor temple weeks and Phnom Penh trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Cayman Islands

Best eSIM for Cayman Islands: starting prices, FLOW and Digicel coverage, Seven Mile Beach weeks and dive trips, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for China

Best eSIM for China: starting prices, China Mobile and China Unicom coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Colombia

Best eSIM for Colombia: starting prices, Claro and Movistar coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for the DRC

Best eSIM for the DRC: starting prices, Vodacom and Orange coverage, Kinshasa trips and eastern deployments, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Costa Rica

Best eSIM for Costa Rica: starting prices, Kölbi and Liberty coverage, volcano trips and Pacific-coast beach weeks, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for diaspora travel

Best eSIM for diaspora travel: 99esim's 49-country plan spans the EU, Balkans, Central Asia, parts of Asia, and parts of the Americas.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Dominica

Best eSIM for Dominica: starting prices, Digicel and FLOW coverage, Boiling Lake hikes and whale-watching trips, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for El Salvador

Best eSIM for El Salvador: starting prices, Claro and Tigo coverage, San Salvador trips and El Tunco surf weeks, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Ethiopia

Best eSIM for Ethiopia: starting prices, Ethio Telecom and Safaricom coverage, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Finland

Best eSIM for Finland: starting prices, Telia and Elisa coverage, Helsinki weekends and Lapland northern-lights trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for French Polynesia

Best eSIM for French Polynesia: starting prices, Vini and Vodafone coverage, Bora Bora honeymoons and Tuamotu diving, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Gibraltar

Best eSIM for Gibraltar: starting prices, GibTel coverage, day trips from Spain and longer stays, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Guyana

Best eSIM for Guyana: starting prices, Digicel and GTT coverage, Georgetown trips and Kaieteur Falls flights, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Hong Kong

Best eSIM for Hong Kong: starting prices, CSL and 3HK coverage, short business visits and cultural weekends, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Iceland

Best eSIM for Iceland: starting prices, Síminn and Vodafone Iceland coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Indonesia

Best eSIM for Indonesia: starting prices, Telkomsel and Indosat coverage, Bali weeks and Jakarta business trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Kenya

Best eSIM for Kenya: starting prices, Safaricom and Airtel coverage, safari trips and Mombasa beach weeks, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Kyrgyzstan

Best eSIM for Kyrgyzstan: starting prices, MegaCom and Beeline coverage, Bishkek trips and Song-Kul horse treks, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Liechtenstein

Best eSIM for Liechtenstein: starting prices, FL1 and Swisscom coverage, Vaduz day trips and alpine hikes, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Madagascar

Best eSIM for Madagascar: starting prices, Telma and Orange coverage, Antananarivo arrivals and lemur-reserve trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Mexico

Best eSIM for Mexico: starting prices, Telcel and Movistar coverage, CDMX trips and Yucatán circuits, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for the Middle East

Best eSIM for the Middle East: one plan across 11 countries. Compare 99esim, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, and Ubigi by coverage and price.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Monaco

Best eSIM for Monaco: starting prices, Monaco Telecom and Orange coverage, Grand Prix weekends and Riviera circuits, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Mongolia

Best eSIM for Mongolia: starting prices, Mobicom and Unitel coverage, Ulaanbaatar arrivals and ger-camp trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Montenegro

Best eSIM for Montenegro: starting prices, Crnogorski Telekom and Mtel coverage, Kotor bay visits and Durmitor hiking, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Montserrat

Best eSIM for Montserrat: starting prices, Digicel and FLOW coverage, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Morocco

Best eSIM for Morocco: starting prices, Maroc Telecom and Orange coverage, Marrakech trips and Sahara desert tours, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Mozambique

Best eSIM for Mozambique: starting prices, Vodacom and Movitel coverage, Maputo business trips and Tofo beach visits, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for New Zealand

Best eSIM for New Zealand: starting prices, Spark and One NZ coverage, North Island trips and Fiordland adventures, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Nicaragua

Best eSIM for Nicaragua: starting prices, Claro and Tigo coverage, Granada visits and San Juan del Sur surf trips, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Papua New Guinea

Best eSIM for Papua New Guinea: starting prices, Digicel and bmobile coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Portugal

Best eSIM for Portugal: starting prices, MEO and Vodafone Portugal coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Russia

Best eSIM for Russia: starting prices, MTS and MegaFon coverage, Moscow business and St. Petersburg cultural visits, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Rwanda

Best eSIM for Rwanda: starting prices, MTN Rwanda and Airtel coverage, Kigali business and gorilla-trek itineraries, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Saint Kitts and Nevis

Best eSIM for Saint Kitts and Nevis: starting prices, FLOW and Digicel coverage, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Saint Lucia

Best eSIM for Saint Lucia: starting prices, FLOW and Digicel coverage, Castries arrivals and Pitons resort trips, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Serbia

Best eSIM for Serbia: starting prices, A1 Serbia and Yettel coverage, Belgrade business and Novi Sad cultural trips, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Slovakia

Best eSIM for Slovakia: starting prices, Orange Slovensko and O2 coverage, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Taiwan

Best eSIM for Taiwan: starting prices, Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile coverage, Taipei stays and HSR rail trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Trinidad and Tobago

Best eSIM for Trinidad and Tobago: starting prices, Digicel and bmobile coverage, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read

Best eSIM for Uganda

Best eSIM for Uganda: starting prices, MTN Uganda and Airtel coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for the UAE

Best eSIM for the UAE: starting prices, Etisalat and du coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for the UK

Best eSIM for the UK: starting prices, EE and Vodafone UK coverage, London city stays, Scotland road trips, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for the USA

Best eSIM for the USA: starting prices, T-Mobile and AT&T coverage, and how the major providers compare.

6 min read

Best eSIM for Armenia

Best eSIM for Armenia: starting prices, Ucom and Viva-MTS coverage, Yerevan and the monasteries, and how the major providers compare.

5 min read