What Are the Downsides of an eSIM vs Physical SIM for Travel in 2026?

For travellers from Singapore in 2026, the main downsides of an eSIM instead of a physical SIM are that your phone must be unlocked and eSIM ready, most travel eSIMs are data only with no local number, refunds usually end once you install, and changing phones takes more steps. Apple says eSIM works on iPhone XS and later, and Airalo alone sells eSIMs for 200+ locations, so for most travellers these trade-offs are easy to manage with a little planning. The other discount on the same order is Cashback through ShopBack: it works like a discount code, but there's no code to find or type in, the current Cashback is shown on the Airalo page on ShopBack before you buy, and it doesn't use up your one promo code. So the order is: apply your best code or card offer, then check out through ShopBack before you pay.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Singapore is a free app and website that returns cash on orders when you start your shopping from ShopBack before you pay. Travel eSIM stores such as Airalo and Saily are on ShopBack Singapore. Join ShopBack Singapore for free, then open the Airalo page on ShopBack or the Saily page on ShopBack before you buy data for your next trip.

What are the downsides of using an eSIM instead of a physical SIM when travelling?

There are six downsides worth knowing before you choose an eSIM over a physical SIM for a trip. None of them is a reason to avoid eSIMs, but each one can catch you out if you only find out at the airport.

1. Your phone has to support eSIM and be unlocked.
2. Most travel eSIMs are data only, so you do not get a local phone number.
3. Setup needs a connection and a bit of timing, because some plans start the moment you install them.
4. Refunds are tighter once the eSIM is installed.
5. Changing or losing your phone takes more steps than moving a card.
6. Coverage depends on partner networks, which vary by country.

The sections below take each one in turn, with what the stores and phone makers say and how to work around it.

1. Your phone has to support eSIM and be unlocked

An eSIM only works on a phone built for it, and a phone locked to one telco cannot use another provider's eSIM. Apple's support page says you need an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR or later, and Apple says an iPhone can hold eight or more eSIMs. Android support depends on the model, so check your phone maker's site and the compatible devices list on the store you plan to buy from.

Stores put the responsibility on you. Jetpac's terms, for example, say it is your responsibility to make sure your device is eSIM compatible and network unlocked before you buy. A physical SIM, by comparison, works in almost any unlocked phone with a SIM tray.

What to do: check compatibility and lock status a week before you fly. If your phone was bought on a contract, ask your telco whether it is unlocked.

2. Most travel eSIMs are data only, so no local number

Most travel eSIMs give you mobile data but not a local phone number, so normal calls and SMS still go through your Singapore line. For most trips that is fine, since you can call and message through WhatsApp, Telegram or FaceTime over data. Some stores sell voice calling separately. Jetpac, for example, offers voice calling for 50+ countries as a separate purchase.

A local physical SIM from a telco at your destination often comes with a local number. That can help if you need a restaurant or tour operator to call you back, or if a local app asks for a local number to sign up.

What to do: if a local number matters for your trip, check whether your chosen eSIM includes voice, or buy a local SIM for that stop.

3. Setup needs a connection and a bit of timing

You install an eSIM by downloading it, so you need a working internet connection, and some plans start counting days as soon as they are installed. Apple lists a Wi-Fi network or hotspot among what you need to set up an eSIM on iPhone. Airalo's help centre says most of its eSIMs activate when the installed eSIM connects to a supported network at your destination, but some activate at the time of installation, wherever you are. Airalo shows this under each plan's activation policy before you buy.

Jetpac suggests installing its eSIM before you travel and keeping it switched off until you land, so the pack does not start early.

What to do: read the activation policy on the plan, install it in Singapore on reliable Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly, and switch the line on when you land.

4. Refunds are tighter once the eSIM is installed

With a physical SIM you can simply leave it unopened, but with an eSIM, installing it often counts as using it. Jetpac's terms, for example, say that once you install the eSIM it is considered used and no refunds are offered, unless it cannot be installed or used because of a technical problem, in which case you ask within 30 days of purchase. Policies differ by store, so read the one for the store you pick.

What to do: buy when your dates are firm, install only when you are about to fly, and keep your order email in case you need support.

5. Changing or losing your phone takes more steps

You cannot pop an eSIM out and put it into another phone, so switching phones or recovering from a lost phone means following the store's process. Jetpac's help centre, for example, asks you to delete the eSIM from your old phone and then scan the QR code from your original welcome email on the new phone. If your phone is lost or stolen, Jetpac says to report it so it can end the old eSIM and email you a new one.

Apple's eSIM Quick Transfer moves a phone number between iPhones when the carrier supports it, but travel eSIM stores have their own steps, so check before you change phones mid trip.

What to do: save the store's welcome email and app login before you leave, and note the support contact.

6. Coverage depends on partner networks

A travel eSIM rides on local partner networks, so speed and coverage depend on the country and the network it joins. Jetpac says connection quality differs by location, with LTE or 4G in most places and 5G in some, and its terms say it cannot guarantee the availability of third-party networks. A local SIM from the main telco in a country connects you to that telco directly.

What to do: read recent reviews for your destination country and check which networks a plan uses before you buy.

Where a physical SIM still has downsides too

A physical SIM has its own drawbacks, which is why many travellers from Singapore now start with an eSIM. You usually buy it after landing, at an airport counter or a shop, sometimes with a queue. You have to swap a tiny card and keep your Singapore SIM safe until you get home. While your Singapore SIM is out of the phone, you cannot receive SMS on your Singapore number, which matters if your bank sends one-time passwords by SMS.

eSIM vs physical SIM: side by side

Question	Travel eSIM	Local physical SIM
When can you buy it?	Before you fly, online	Usually after you land
Phone needs	eSIM ready and unlocked	Unlocked with a SIM tray
Local phone number	Usually not; data only	Often included
Keep your Singapore SIM in the phone	Yes, on a dual SIM phone	Only if your phone has two SIM slots
Refund before you use it	Depends on the store; often ends once installed	Depends on the shop
Switching phones	Follow the store's transfer steps	Move the card
Networks	Partner networks, varies by country	The local telco's own network

eSIM vs physical SIM in Singapore in 2026: what to check before you fly

In 2026, most travellers from Singapore can use an eSIM for data and keep their Singapore SIM for calls and texts on the same phone. Jetpac's help centre explains the setup on an iPhone: use the physical SIM for calls and messages and the eSIM as the line for mobile data. A short checklist:

• Turn off data roaming on your Singapore line, so your telco does not charge you for roaming data by mistake.
• Turn on data roaming on the eSIM line, since most travel eSIMs need it to connect.
• Expect roaming charges on calls and texts if you keep your Singapore line active. Check your telco's roaming rates.
• Keep SMS working on your Singapore line if your bank or payment apps send one-time passwords that way.

eSIM vs physical SIM best deals in Singapore in 2026

The best deal on travel data from Singapore in 2026 usually comes from buying the right size of plan for your trip, comparing two or three stores, and going through ShopBack before you pay. Prices change often, so rather than chase a fixed number, use this routine:

1. List the countries and days. A regional plan often costs less than several single-country plans on a multi-country trip.
2. Estimate your data. Check how much you use in a typical week at home, then add some for maps and photo uploads.
3. Compare the same plan on two or three eSIM stores, and against your telco's roaming option for the same dates.
4. Check the refund and activation rules before you pay.
5. Go through ShopBack to the store you picked before you pay. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order, so the effective price of the plan drops.

For trips across the Causeway, our guide on whether you need an eSIM for Malaysia walks through that decision.

Airalo vs Saily vs a physical SIM: how to compare the price

To compare Airalo, Saily and a physical SIM fairly, line up the same destination, the same number of days and the same data, then compare the total you would pay. Each option has its own strengths:

• Airalo says it sells eSIMs for 200+ locations, with local, regional and global plans and unlimited data options on some plans.
• Saily is a travel eSIM store you can buy from through ShopBack Singapore. Compare its plan for your destination on the same days and data.
• A local physical SIM can suit a long stay in one country, or a trip where you need a local number.

Then work out the effective price: what you pay at checkout minus the cash that comes back through ShopBack. That is the number to compare.

Airalo, Saily and other eSIM stores on ShopBack Singapore

Airalo, Saily, Jetpac and Nomad are all travel eSIM stores on ShopBack Singapore. That means you can compare plans across a few stores and still go through ShopBack before you buy whichever wins:

• Airalo on ShopBack
• Saily on ShopBack
• Jetpac on ShopBack
• Nomad on ShopBack

Why ShopBack is a step before you buy travel data

Before you check out at an eSIM store, open ShopBack Singapore, tap through to the store and complete the order. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Your effective price is what you pay at checkout minus the cash that comes back, at the rate shown on the store's ShopBack page.

The same habit works for the rest of the trip. Before you book a hotel on Booking.com or Agoda, go through ShopBack first, through the Agoda page or the Booking.com page. Our guide to earning on travel bookings covers flights and hotels in more detail.

Step by step: buying a travel eSIM from Singapore

1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
2. Decide your countries, days and data.
3. Compare the same plan on two or three stores, such as Airalo and Saily, and against your telco's roaming option.
4. Read the plan's refund and activation rules.
5. Open the store's page on ShopBack Singapore, check the rate shown, and tap through.
6. Buy the plan, then install it on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly.
7. When you land, switch on the eSIM line and its data roaming, and keep data roaming off on your Singapore line.

FAQ

What are the downsides of using an eSIM instead of a physical SIM when travelling?

The main downsides are that your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked, most travel eSIMs are data only with no local number, refunds usually end once you install the eSIM, and moving it to a new phone takes more steps than moving a card. Network quality also depends on the partner networks the eSIM uses. For many travellers from Singapore these are easy to manage, and going through ShopBack before you buy lowers the effective price.

Is an eSIM or a physical SIM better for travel?

An eSIM is usually more convenient if your phone supports it, because you can buy and install it before you fly and keep your Singapore SIM in the phone. A local physical SIM can suit you better if your phone does not support eSIM, if you need a local phone number for calls, or if you stay a long time in one country.

How do I know if my phone supports eSIM?

Check your phone maker's support pages and the compatible devices list on the eSIM store you plan to use. Apple says eSIM works on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later. Your phone also needs to be unlocked, so check with your telco if you bought it on a contract.

Does a travel eSIM give me a phone number?

Usually not. Most travel eSIMs are data plans, and calls go through apps such as WhatsApp. Some stores sell voice calling separately; Jetpac, for example, offers voice calling for 50+ countries as a separate purchase. Keep your Singapore SIM active if you need SMS one-time passwords.

Can I get a refund on a travel eSIM after installing it?

Often not. Jetpac's terms, for example, say an installed eSIM counts as used and is not refunded unless it cannot be installed or used because of a technical problem. Read the refund policy before you install, and install only when you are sure of your trip.

When should I install a travel eSIM?

Usually a day or two before you fly, while you are on reliable Wi-Fi in Singapore. Check the plan's activation policy first: Airalo says most of its eSIMs activate when they connect to a network at your destination, but some activate at installation wherever you are.

Can I keep my Singapore number while using a travel eSIM?

Yes, on a dual SIM phone you can keep your Singapore SIM for calls and texts and use the eSIM for data. Turn off data roaming on your Singapore line, and remember your telco may still charge roaming fees for calls and texts on that line.

What happens to my eSIM if I lose my phone or change phones?

You cannot pull an eSIM out and move it like a card, so you follow the store's steps instead. Jetpac, for example, asks you to delete the eSIM on the old phone and scan the QR code from your welcome email on the new one, and to report a lost phone so it can end the old eSIM and send a new one.

How do I get the best deal on travel data from Singapore in 2026?

Work out your countries, days and data first, then compare the same plan on two or three eSIM stores and against your telco's roaming option. Before you pay for the one you choose online, go through ShopBack Singapore. ShopBack works like an automatic cash discount on your online order, so the effective price drops.

Which eSIM stores can I buy from through ShopBack Singapore?

At the time of writing, travel eSIM stores on ShopBack Singapore include Airalo, Saily, Jetpac and Nomad. Open the store's ShopBack page, check the rate shown, then buy.

Disclaimer

The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute technical, financial or purchase advice. Phone compatibility, plan prices, data allowances, activation and refund rules, and ShopBack Cashback rates change over time. Check your phone maker's support pages, the eSIM store's own terms, and the store's ShopBack page before you buy. Brand and organisation names are used for editorial reference only and do not imply endorsement.