Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a virtual SIM installed via QR code or profile onto your phone's built-in chip — no physical card needed. You can activate it at home before departure, eliminating the need to hunt for a local SIM vendor or swap cards. Supported on most devices from iPhone XS / Galaxy S20 onwards.

Depends on your travel style. (1) Budget short trips: Airalo or Nomad (Japan/Vietnam 3 GB/7d ≈ $6–8). (2) Unlimited data: Holafly (content creators, Zoom calls). (3) Europe / long-stay value: Ubigi 10 GB/30d. (4) Hotspot included: Airalo, Ubigi, Nomad, Saily (Holafly excluded). (5) VPN add-on: Saily (NordVPN option). Use the comparator at the top to auto-rank by price/GB.

Holafly's flagship product is "unlimited" data, so per-GB comparisons naturally push it down. For heavy users (video uploads, Zoom meetings, prolonged Google Maps navigation) unlimited coverage is invaluable. In this tool, unlimited plans are converted to "days × 1.5 GB/day" for ranking purposes — if your usage is higher, Holafly often wins on total cost too.

You need hotspot to share data with laptops, tablets, or travel companions. Holafly restricts hotspot to 2 GB/session or disallows it on many country plans — a big disadvantage for family trips or workcations. Airalo, Ubigi, Nomad, and Saily generally allow unlimited tethering, so prioritise these four if you plan to connect other devices.

Yes. Korean/Hong Kong/Singapore eSIMs route through international roaming networks, naturally bypassing the Great Firewall. However, you must choose a plan that includes "China + Hong Kong" coverage — not a China-only plan. Both Airalo and Holafly offer compatible configurations.

Not at all. After purchase you receive a QR code by email. On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Scan QR. On Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add → Scan QR. Takes about 5 minutes. Install before departure and simply toggle "Data Roaming" on when you land.

Yes. Most brands separate "installation" from "activation" (when the validity period starts). Install before you leave; the countdown begins when you connect to a local network or press the "Activate" button. Note: some older Airalo plans start the countdown immediately after purchase — always check the plan description before buying.

For trips of 7 days or more, almost always yes. Korean carrier roaming costs roughly ₩9,900/day = ₩70,000 for 7 days. The equivalent Japan 7-day eSIM (Airalo 3 GB) is about $8.50 (≈₩11,700) — more than 5× cheaper. If you need all calls to your Korean number automatically answered, carrier roaming is more convenient.

No. The tool uses a 2026-04-19 snapshot from each brand's official website. Actual prices vary with promotions, exchange rates, and regional pricing. Use this tool to shortlist your top 1–2 candidates, then verify the final price on each brand's official page before purchasing.

A "≈ XX,XXX KRW" conversion is shown next to every plan price, based on 1 USD ≈ 1,380 KRW. Your card's actual FX rate may differ by roughly ±1%.

Every time you change country or duration, the URL updates automatically. Click "Copy Share URL" at the top and paste into KakaoTalk or a group chat — the recipient will instantly see the same results. Great for coordinating costs with travel companions.

Yes. Use the 한국어 toggle in the top-right corner. The tool is bilingual (EN/KO) so Korean visitors planning eSIMs for Korea, and foreign visitors buying eSIMs for Korea, can both use it.