THE COMMON ALTERNATIVES
Relied on roaming passes or airport SIMs before?
Why the three usual ways to stay connected abroad let travelers down.
“I’ll just turn on my carrier’s $12/day pass.”
Reality: 10 days adds $120 per person ($240 for a couple). Many passes also slow you down after a daily allowance.
“I’ll buy a SIM at the airport kiosk.”
Reality: A 30-minute line after a long flight, a passport scan, tourist pricing and a paperclip.
“I’ll use hotel and café Wi-Fi.”
Reality: It disappears at the curb. No ride pickup, no subway transfers, no messages to your host.
HEAD-TO-HEAD MATRIX
Unpack vs. carrier roaming
Based on published carrier rates and typical travel pricing.
FEATURE
US CARRIERROAMING
Starting rate
$12–$15 / day
$1 (1 GB welcome offer)
10-day trip
$120–$150 per line
$12–$13 total
Speed
Slowed after daily cap
Full-speed 5G / LTE
Setup
Automatic, at a cost
Under 60 sec, at home
SIM swapping
Not needed
100% digital
Keep your number
Yes, for $12/day
Yes. Works alongside your home SIM
Auto-renewals
Renews every 24 hours
None. Fixed price.
Coverage
Varies by plan
190+ countries
Refunds
Billing disputes
30-day refund policy
Get 1 GB for $1
30-day refund policy · 60-second install · 190+ countries · Keep your number
SELF-SELECTION FILTER
This is for you if… and not for you if…
An honest checklist to see if digital travel data fits your next trip.
THIS IS FOR YOU
You want working 5G/4G the moment you land.
You’re tired of surprise $100+ roaming bills.
You have an unlocked phone from late 2018 on (iPhone XS+, Galaxy S20+, Pixel 3+).
You still need your number for WhatsApp and bank codes.
You're done with SIM cards, pins and kiosk lines.
NOT FOR YOU IF
$12–$15/day roaming bills don’t bother you.
Your carrier’s roaming works fine and doesn’t bother you.
You only go online on hotel Wi-Fi
You rarely travel abroad.
Checked anything in green? Unpack eSIM was built for your next trip.
Get 1 GB for $1
30-day refund policy · 60-second install · 190+ countries · Keep your number
<60s
Setup time
Download to installed travel profile.
$1
Welcome offer
1 GB in France, UK, Turkey and more.
190+
Destinations
Local 5G and 4G partner networks.
0
SIMs or pins
Nothing to swap, store or lose.
2018+
eSIM phones
iPhone XS/XR, Galaxy S20, Pixel 3 and newer.
THE 10-DAY TRIP AUDIT
Your roaming bill is huge. Your data is throttled.
What a typical 10-day trip looks like on paper.
From $1 for your first GB. Instead of a $150 carrier bill.
Get 1 GB for $1
FRICTION-FREE SETUP
Set up in under 60 seconds
No tech skills needed. Do it from your couch before you leave.
STEP 1 · AT HOME OR THE GATE
Download Unpack and pick your destination
Claim the $1 welcome offer. No contracts, no paperwork.
STEP 2 · ONE TAP
Install eSIM
Tap Install. Your phone sets itself up. Your home line stays on for calls and WhatsApp.
STEP 3 · ON LANDING
Touch down connected
Use your Unpack line for data. Order a ride and open maps right away.
COMPATIBILITY CHECK
Does your phone support Unpack eSIM?
THE 5-SECOND TEST
*#06#
Dial it on your Phone keypad. See an EID number? Your phone has a digital SIM.
Apple iPhone
iPhone 16 / 15 / 14 / 13 / 12 / 11 series, XS, XS Max, XR, SE (2nd gen or newer).
Samsung Galaxy
Galaxy S24, S23, S22, S21, S20 series, Note 20, Z Flip and Z Fold.
Google Pixel & others
Pixel 9 to Pixel 3 / 3 XL. Motorola Razr (2019+) and other unlocked flagships.
* Your phone must be carrier-unlocked.
DESTINATION RATES
Simple rates in 190+ destinations
The price you see is the price you pay. No roaming fees, no auto-renewals.
Get 1 GB for $1
Pick your destination in the Unpack app · Installs in 60 seconds
WHAT $1 GETS YOU
What can you do with 1 GB?
With hotel Wi-Fi at night, 1 GB covers your daily essentials on the go.
1+ hrs
Google Maps navigation
50+
WhatsApp / iMessage texts
20
mobile web pages
4+
Uber, Lyft or Bolt rides
At ~75 MB a day, 1 GB easily covers 10 to 13 days of everyday essentials. Estimates based on ~25 MB/hr navigation, ~250 KB per text/photo thread, ~1.5 MB per web page (~670 pages/GB), and ~2 MB per ride request (~500 rides/GB). Actual usage varies by app settings and background activity.
The 30-day peace-of-mind policy
Plans change, flights get canceled, phones turn out to be locked. If your trip is canceled or your phone isn’t compatible before you activate, message us within 30
30 DAYS
Before activation
FULL REFUND
In clear cases
EASY HELP
24/7 in the app
VERIFIED REVIEWS
What travelers say
Real reviews from the App Store and Google Play.
Travel buddy
“From now on this is going to be my go to app for data whenever I travel. Extremely user friendly design and easy to use! Definitely recommend!”
flawsomesofi · App Store
Jun 20, 2026
Great app!
“Easy to set up and worked instantly when I landed. No hassle, fast connection. Highly recommend for travel.”
erikamg7 · App Store
Feb 9, 2026
“I’ve used several eSIM apps while traveling, but Toggle stands out as the best overall. I appreciate its simplicity and straightforwardness. The customer support is also impressive: they respond quickly and are friendly. I’ll definitely be using this app on my travels from now on.”
Maksim Sianko · Google Play
May 8, 2026
Ready to stop paying the roaming tax?
Download Unpack, claim 1 GB for $1, and land connected.
Get 1 GB for $1
30-day refund policy · 60-second install · 190+ countries · Keep your number
This article is an advertisement paid for by Unpack. Results described may vary by device, destination and network. Prices shown in USD at time of publishing.