Best Free eSIM Plan for Travel: Try Before You Buy

I recently came across an established eSIM provider that has just started offering free eSIM data plans for travel.

Yes, free.

It seemed too good to be true, so I did some research and tried it out. The results were surprising.

Pleasantly surprising.

The feeling of free mobile data!

How to get a Free eSIM Plan for Travel in 5 Minutes

I’ll get straight to the point so you can install and use your free eSIM from GigSky in just a few minutes - no payment method required! As a bonus, I’ll show you how to claim free extra credit as well.

Later, I’ll explain how it works and share my experience with it, along with a bit more detail about the company behind it - GigSky.

Let’s dive in.

1) Firstly, check if your smartphone is compatible with eSIM technology. If you already know the answer, then skip this step. If your phone does not have an embedded eSIM chip, then you’re out of luck, sorry.

2) Now visit this free eSIM plan page and type your desired destination in the search box (eg. France) to ensure its covered. If you’re not travelling yet, you can just enter your home country.

3) This will redirect you to the country page (France in this case). Scroll down, and you’ll see the free data plan for 100MB. Click on this.

4) The paid plans can be purchased via the website, however the free plan can only be claimed on the GigSky mobile app. A pop-up will appear. Click the button “Continue in the GigSky App”. If you’re on a mobile device, you’ll automatically be directed to the relevant app store based on your operating system. If you’re on a desktop computer, you’ll need to download the iOS or Android app.

5) Once you’ve installed the GigSky app, the first screen will ask you to log in. If you didn’t create an account on the GigSky website before this point, click “Sign up” at the bottom of the screen.

6) Enter your full name, email, password and country of residence. Remember that password because you’ll need it to log in. Click “Click here” next to “Have a referral code?”. In this field, enter “JOSH338” for a bonus US$3 credit you can use on future eSIM plans. Once you’ve finished, press the “Create account” button. Now you’re logged in.

7) Swipe through the intro until you get to the app home screen. Under “Explore” type in your desired destination (I used Thailand).

8) Click on the “100MB” plan with “Free trial” next to it. Check out, and you’ll see a loading animation saying “Transaction in progress” followed by “Transaction successful”.

9) You’re ready to download your eSIM. Choose “Yes” when prompted. This will take a few seconds. It’s important that you’re on a stable Wi-Fi connection for this step.

On Android, you’ll be prompted to use your new eSIM for data. If you’re ready to start the trial offer, tap “Use GigSky”. Here are the specific eSIM activation steps for Samsung phones and Apple iPhone.

10) When that’s completed, your plan is visible from the “My plans” icon at the bottom of the screen. In my case, you can see my paid plan for Thailand, but it looks the same for the free eSIM plan. The data allowance and remaining time/bandwidth are shown as a green bar so you can easily track your usage.

You’re done!

When you’ve finished trying out the GigSky eSIM, you can switch it off from your phone settings. But I recommend that you don’t delete it. It’s easier to re-use the same eSIM and just top up or change your plan from the GigSky app - no more fiddly eSIM installation steps!

This is the simplest eSIM installation process I’ve ever used, hands down.

Is this eSIM Really Free?

I understand your hesitation. The word “free” gets thrown around online far too easily.

Some other eSIM providers give you a “free” eSIM but then charge for the data plan. This paradigm is a carryover from the old days of using plastic SIM cards, which were often sold to tourists for a flat fee PLUS a data plan. If you search Google for “free eSIM,” you’ll find some frustratingly outdated web results and articles that promise “free eSIM” but then say no… they are really just “low cost”. If you’ve spent a few minutes searching around, you’ll find there are very few options for a genuinely free eSIM data plan.

GigSky is a completely free 100MB eSIM data plan. Simple as that.

You can try it out any time you like to ensure you’re comfortable with the service and get the hang of installing your first eSIM. It’s true - there’s no such thing as a free lunch. And GigSky is hoping that you’ll love it and want to upgrade to use more data on a paid basis. 

But there is absolutely no obligation or commitment. 

You’ve got nothing to lose.

Who is GigSky?

Most eSIM providers you’ve encountered resell someone else’s services. GigSky is different—it is an actual network operator (a full MVNO), partnering with over 400 mobile networks worldwide, while having full control over the eSIM and network. Apart from being able to resolve network issues much faster, this means GigSky users only need to install a single eSIM once and use the same eSIM at every destination. GigSky will automatically shift over the plan to the country you’re in. There is no need to uninstall and re-install a new eSIM, which can be time-consuming and fiddly.

GigSky’s resilient multi-operator network allows them to switch users between entire networks in case of an outage (as in the case of AT&T in the United States in February 2024).

In addition to covering 190 countries, GigSky is the only eSIM provider to offer service on 190 cruise ships, offshore (in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea), and on flights from 20 airlines.

Based in Silicon Valley, the epicentre of tech innovation, GigSky has a long history of innovation since its inception in 2010. They started collaborating with Apple in 2014 to develop eSIM technology for data roaming, which was publicly launched in the first eSIM-compatible iPhone in 2018. GigSky helped Apple develop its proprietary eSIM for iPad and both companies partnered together to standardise eSIM through the industry body GSMA.

GigSky has also teamed up with Visa to offer 800 million complimentary data plans for users with Visa cards from partnering issuers. You can check your eligibility by clicking “check eligibility” from the GigSky app's home screen.

GigSky also serves enterprise clients as one of the largest global cellular providers for the airline industry, delivering access not just for airline pilots and maintenance workers but for core parts of the aeroplane itself. There’s a good reason GigSky is trusted to provide mission-critical global data service to dozens of airlines, avionics companies and even the U.S. Department of Defense.

Their reputation is rock solid.

How to Choose an eSIM Data Plan

Ok, so you’ve tried the free eSIM plan, and you want to take the next step. Here’s the process to follow. 

Start with the destination. Are you going to just 1 country or several? GigSky offers regional eSIM plans for Europe, North America, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. Or if you’re a super globetrotter, there’s a Global 30-day plan, too.

Next, decide on the length of time you need mobile data. You want to activate the eSIM as soon as you walk off the plane so you can book a rideshare or check public transport schedules. Depending on the destination, GigSky plans start at 7 days and stretch up to 90 days.

Finally, calculate how much data you need. If you’re not sure, try these 2 free calculators to calculate a monthly quota: simple and more complex. If I’m trying hard, I can get down to 2GB per month, but an average month of travelling would require 6-10GB as a benchmark.

Here’s my simple guide:

• Light users will just browse social media and post the odd image of sipping an espresso in front of the Trevi Fountain. 100-400MB of data per day should suffice.
• Mid-range users might download large app updates, browse lots of high-quality images on social media, and stream travel videos on YouTube, so data usage can add up very quickly. Between 300-500MB of data per day should be enough for most travellers.
• Heavy users may tether a laptop and download large attachments for remote work, or run offsite backups. That could drive up data usage to 500-800MB per day.

You’re better off choosing a plan that’s a little too small and then upgrading it later rather than going with a plan that’s too big and paying for data you’re not using. Also, try turning on data usage limits to receive a notification when you get close to using up your allowance.

My Experience using GigSky’s Travel eSIM

I tried using GigSky on a recent 1-week trip to Thailand. The entire process, from beginning to end, was smooth and simple.

The free eSIM data plan only included a 100MB data quota, which I knew wouldn’t be enough, so I upgraded to the 5GB (30-day) plan. It turned out to be overkill, and I could have survived with the cheaper 3GB (15-day) plan.

The network reliability was solid – both in big cities and remote beaches with download speeds hovering above 20Mbps. A few times, the network would fall back from 4G/LTE to the slower HSPA+ connectivity standard (which is a hybrid of the 3G and 4G standards). During those dips, the speed would drop to around 13Mbps – see this screenshot:

Considering the location’s remoteness at the time, I was pretty happy with that. There were zero drop-outs and no downtime at all for the entire week. I was an eagle eye nit-picking the network ping time, jitter and other technical stats, but an average traveller would never notice the difference.

Pro Tips for your Free eSIM from GigSky

Start early 

You can get an eSIM plan from GigSky up to 30 days before your intended start date. If this is your first time using an eSIM, I don’t recommend leaving it to the last minute. Leave the day before your trip for things like frantically packing a suitcase.

Instead, get familiar with the eSIM installation process. Here are step-by-step instructions for Samsung Galaxy, other Android, and Apple iPhone.

Note: only “activate” the eSIM (the final step) once you’ve arrived at your destination.

Hotspot it like it’s hot 

If you have multiple devices, you can use your phone as a hotspot (also called “tethering”) with GigSky. This is ideal if you use a tablet or laptop in addition to your phone or if you’re travelling with a partner or in a group. Just remember to turn off any apps on your laptop that might use data in the background (such as operating system updates). Or, to be safe, simply disconnect from the hotspot when you’re not using it. I learned that lesson the hard way. Ouch! 

Get help

If you get stuck, 24x7 help is available from GigSky. Simply open a support ticket, fill in the contact form, send an email, or call +1 650 924 9022 (US) or +44 203 608 0394 (UK). Unfortunately, there is not a live chat option on their website for now.

Keep an eye on your data balance

You might be used to a large or an “unlimited” data allowance on your home SIM, so tracking your data usage might feel a bit weird. It’s a good habit to get into. That way, you won’t be stuck on a Seine River cruise without any connection to the outside world. Read up on how to track your data usage on iOS or Android.

The Bottom Line

There you have it. One of the first truly free eSIM data plans for travel, and from one of the top eSIM industry players, if not, THE top. They literally wrote the standard for eSIMs with Apple that everyone uses today.

GigSky is now offering 100MB of data usage for free to try out their service. There really are no strings attached. If you’re super light on data usage (with occasional pre-downloaded Google Maps, and a rideshare or two) then it might even last you for 1-2 day trip.

But once you’ve had a taste of GigSky’s eSIM data service, I’m confident you’ll want more, just like I did.