Pocket WiFi, SIM Card, eSIM, Data Roaming: Which Is Better for Your Travel Needs?

While it’s always nice to get away, in today’s interconnected world, having absolutely no internet access can be a hindrance rather than a nice way to disconnect.

You mightn’t even need to use the internet much while you’re traveling, but it can make a difference when it comes to planning excursions, booking activities, restaurants, or accommodation. It can also be lifesaving in emergencies.

Travelers have a few solutions when it comes to internet access while traveling and while data roaming is probably the easiest to set up since it’s provided directly through your current mobile carrier, there are other options like Pocket WiFi, SIM cards, and eSIM cards, which each come with their own benefits.

Summary

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• Understanding Your Options: Pocket WiFi, eSIM, SIM Cards and Roaming
• What is Pocket WiFi?
• What is a SIM Card?
• What is an eSim Card?
• What is Data Roaming?
• Pocket Wifi, SIM Cards, and Data Roaming: Detailed Comparison
• Budget
• Pocket WiFi
• eSIM Card
• SIM Cards
• Data Roaming
• Connectivity
• Pocket WiFi, eSIM Cards, and SIM Cards
• Data Roaming
• Portability
• Pocket WiFi
• eSIM Card, SIM Cards, and Data Roaming
• Device Compatibility and Setup
• Pocket WiFi
• eSIM Card
• SIM Cards
• Data Roaming
• WiFi and Data Options Comparison

Understanding Your Options: Pocket WiFi, eSIM, SIM Cards and Roaming

There are 4 main ways to access mobile data while traveling: Pocket WiFi, a SIM card, an eSIM card, or through data roaming.

What is Pocket WiFi?

Pocket WiFi is an additional device that connects to a mobile network connection and creates a WiFi network for your other WiFi-enabled devices to connect to.

Small, light, and convenient, pocket WiFi allows for several devices to connect to a mobile WiFi hotspot that you carry with you.

While it does mean you have an extra device to carry around, the clue’s in the name and most Pocket WiFi devices are around the same size as your other portable devices like smartphones.

What is a SIM Card?

While traveling, you can always buy a SIM card for the country or region that you’re in. The SIM card is what allows your mobile device to connect to the mobile network and your phone already has one in it.

With a travel SIM card, you circumvent costly data roaming charges and pay for temporary internet access, calls, and text messaging where you are.

This means that you may have to remove your current SIM card (if your device only has space for one) and use a different phone number while traveling. However, with internet-based messaging apps, this doesn’t normally matter too much to users.

What is an eSim Card?

eSIM cards are becoming increasingly common in more modern versions of smartphones. Rather than using the small card with a chip that mobile devices have used for decades, they’re now integrated into the phone.

Rather than having one card per SIM, eSIM uses software to allow users to “swap SIMs” without the need for multiple physical cards.

Users with newer phones with eSIM can enjoy the benefits of a travel SIM without having to add or remove a physical SIM card.

What is Data Roaming?

Last and possibly least, data roaming is the service provided by your domestic mobile carrier. In many cases, you can simply contract a data roaming service before you travel or your carrier will automatically charge you for the data you use.

Beware of the latter option as if you haven’t precontracted a data roaming service with your network, you’ll likely pay very high fees for any data, calls, or messages while traveling.

Pocket Wifi, SIM Cards, and Data Roaming: Detailed Comparison

Now that you’ve seen each of your options, what are the key differences between them?

The main factors you need to consider when choosing a data roaming option are the cost, connectivity, portability, and compatibility.

Here, we have a comparison of each factor for each international data solution.

Budget

For many travelers, budget is their main concern for internet access while traveling. After all, you don’t want to pay as much for your internet access as you do for your trip.

Pocket WiFi

Pocket WiFi is usually cheap and affordable. You can connect several devices at once a pocket WiFi device (up to 10), too.

Hippocketwifi charges between €3.90 and €9.90 a day. The exact rental costs depend on several factors. The length of your trip (there are cheaper long-term rents available, too), your data limit, and whether you’ve opted for single-country or regionwide coverage can all make a difference.

eSIM Card

You can buy an eSIM card for your travels for a week starting at around €4. While the cheapest options are cheaper than pocket WiFi, the cost can add up if you need them for multiple devices.

You can always buy an eSIM for one device and then set up a mobile hotspot from that device. Just remember that this can quickly drain the device’s battery.

SIM Cards

SIM cards are usually more expensive than eSIM cards since you’re also paying for the physical SIM (and often an unnecessary amount of packaging).

Deals on SIM cards for France, for example, start at around €20 for 5 days of unlimited data. These options start getting cheaper the more days you pay.

Data Roaming

The cost of data roaming can vary wildly depending on your mobile carrier and the package you currently have.

Uncontracted data roaming (i.e. using data abroad without an agreement in place with your carrier) always ends up being very costly.

Even contracted data roaming is expensive and reports have indicated that it’s more expensive than it needs to be.

Unless your network offers very affordable data roaming (check the terms and conditions, too!), it’s rarely a sound financial decision.

Connectivity

When you travel, you want an internet connection that’s just that; connected!

Different solutions offer different levels of connectivity.

Pocket WiFi, eSIM Cards, and SIM Cards

Pocket WiFi connects to the mobile network in the same way as a SIM card and eSIM card would. After all, a pocket WiFi device connects using its own SIM card.

Essentially, each of these are mobile devices connecting to land-based cellular networks. Each of the factors that affect one would affect the others.

Connectivity for any device depends on which network you’re using and the coverage they provide.

Data Roaming

Data roaming also connects you to the network through your mobile device’s SIM card. Providers have agreements with one another. This means that the service for a roaming customer mightn’t be as good as that for a direct customer.

Portability

When traveling, you have enough stuff to take with you without having to worry about even more things.

Pocket WiFi

When it comes to portability, pocket WiFi is the outlier. It’s the only solution where you need an extra device.

However, your typical pocket WiFi device is very small and neither larger nor heavier than other portable mobile devices.

eSIM Card, SIM Cards, and Data Roaming

Since an eSIM is already integrated into certain smartphones, there isn’t any extra weight to worry about. Similarly, a SIM card is a tiny object that weighs between 1 and 2 grams. This is about the weight of a paper clip.

Data roaming is a contracted service so there’s no physical weight. You don’t need an extra device, either.

Device Compatibility and Setup

Lastly, users want a mobile data roaming solution that’s compatible with their other devices, offers ease of use, and is easy to set up.

Pocket WiFi

Pocket WiFI devices are rented from a provider and are usually preconfigured and ready to go. To set up a pocket WiFi device, you usually just have to turn it on.

From there, you can connect your other WiFi-enabled devices to it in the same way you’d connect to any other WiFi network.

eSIM Card

Setting up an eSIM is done natively on the device that has the eSIM. The settings to configure an eSIM are usually found in the “Mobile Network” or “Cellular Data” of your device settings.

On most devices, you then “Add” a new eSIM to your phone through the settings. You’ll have been given the information and details for your roaming eSIM from the provider. In some cases, this can be quickly set up using a QR code.

SIM Cards

With roaming SIM cards, you need to open the slot on your phone. Remove your current SIM card (if your smartphone has only one slot) and put your new SIM card in.

Keep your other SIM card safe as it’s very small and easy to lose. If you have multiple SIM card slots in your phone, make sure your phone is configured to use the correct connection.

Data Roaming

You can set up data roaming through your current network provider. You can usually do this in the same way you’d contract other services.

Some providers allow you to contract roaming through an app, their website, by contacting customer service, or by even sending a text message to a specific number.
Arguably the easiest to set up, this is the one area where data roaming beats the other solutions.

WiFi and Data Options Comparison

	Pocket WiFi	Sim Cards	Data Roaming
Budget	Medium	Low to High	High
Connectivity	Good	Good	Depends on Roaming Partners
Portability	High	Medium	Depends on Device Compatibility
Compatibility	Depends on Device	Depends on Device	Depends on Roaming Partners