International SIM Cards: Providers, Prices and Benefits in 2021

Whether you frequently travel to the end of the world for business meetings or if you’re planning to backpack across another continent, you'll need to consider how to get online, without blowing up your budget and having to get a new SIM every time you cross a new border.

Arguably, the best solution will be to invest in an international SIM card, an easy, hassle-free way to get online abroad, which often works out a lot cheaper than what one may imagine. Find out all the details below.

What is an International SIM Card?

 An international SIM card is a SIM card that enables to get access to the internet abroad, on any local network, without any price variation between one country or another included in your package. You can thus use your phone in France and a variety of countries, too.

 Depending on the brand of the SIM, it can either be charged up by purchasing credit or bought with a plan and a fixed number of gigabytes to be used.

 Thanks to this system, you can go online in over 200 countries with just one unique SIM card in your phone.

International SIM card or local SIM card: which is best for me?

While it is usually easy to get access to free wifi abroad in cafes, hotels and restaurants, it is can be a little risky to rely on it, plus it is rarely of good quality. To put your mind to ease, is thus recommended to arrive to destination with an already planned out internet solution.

Whether you're better off opting for an international SIM card or purchasing a local SIM card in the country you are visiting will largely depend on your reason of travelling and how long you need access to the internet in said country.

Below is a guide to which SIM will be the best adapted to you, depending on your situation.

As demonstrated in these different cases, getting an international SIM card is more advantageous in some cases than others, it all depends on your situation. If you feel like this is the way you want to go, below are a few of the international SIM card providers available to purchase in 2019.

Staying in France for over 3 months?If so, it's worth signing up for a postpaid mobile phone plan. In the long run, these are cheaper than pay-as-you-go and offer better calling time/data allowances. Call our English-speaking customer service line at 09 77 55 72 27 (Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 9 pm and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Saturdays and on Sundays 9 am to 5 pm), or ask for a free callback to help you find a plan that meets your needs

Flexiroam, a microchip for international data roaming

Founded in 2011, Flexiroam is a worldwide virtual operator which offers roaming services that can be used in over 130 countries. A great and simple way to stay connected during your trips or holidays, without being concerned about going over your allowance or running out of data.

Flexiroam is a very thin microchip that works by being stuck to an original SIM card. It then gives access to over 580 networks worldwide, and the microchip will automatically connect to the most efficient network in every location.

Using this microchip requires to download the Flexiroam app, through which you will be able to select which of the Flexiroam SIM card or your own you want to use at any given time. The app also enables you to keep track of your allowance and recharge it if needed.

Flexiroam offers a selection of Starter Packs, with various gigabytes allowances.

To give you a better idea of prices, $1 is equivalent to €0.87. Meaning that the 1Gb package costs €26,13, and the 7Gb one will be priced at €179,24.

You can then easily charge your international SIM card by purchasing Xtra data at any time:

• 100Mb for $5,99, available for 10 days
• 500Mb for $20, available for 30 days
• 1Gb for $29,99, available for 90 days
• 5Gb for $149,99, available for 360 days
• 7Gb for $199,99, available for 360 days
• 11Gb for $319,99, available for 360 days

Other International SIM Card Providers

There are a fair number of international SIM card providers to choose from in addition to Flexiroam. Here is a selection of some of them.

Explod

The Explod SIM card gives access to a US phone number that can be used in 194 countries. It is available to order and delivered anywhere worldwide, contract-free, and can be recharged at any time using a credit card or PayPal. Note that the SIM card will already be activated when you receive it, so it is best to order it a few days before your trip.

Once you wish to start using it, simply insert it in your phone (make sure it’s unlocked and switched-off ) Then, just turn your device on and wait until it picks up a signal (Explod will automatically register on the best network available at any given location)

The Explod app gives access to real-time data consumption and helps you track your data usage, and also allows you to make VOIP calls.

For trips to Canada, Japan or South Korea, your phone will have to be compatible with 3G in order to support the Explod SIM, so make sure this is the case before placing an order.

Explod offers 4 different packages, which all come with a SIM card:

The Explod website has a fee calculator which helps you find out how much you will be charged depending on which countries you plan to visit. Simply select the country you will be visiting and the country you will want to contact - for instance, you will be in Thailand and will want to call a French number - to find out how much calls, texts and data will cost you.

SIMplicITI

The international SIM card offered by SIMplicITI allows to use a phone and get online on over 200 countries, for no extra roaming fees and without being bound to a contract.

A strong selling point of SIMplicITI is that unlike others, it doesn’t have a use-by-date, meaning there is no pressure to use up its credit over a restricted period. The SIM can be recharged via PayPal in chucks of $5 to $25. Alternatively, you can also purchase ready-made plans, with 4 to choose from:

• $25: unlimited calls, 100 SMS, no data
• $35: unlimited calls and SMS, no data
• $40: unlimited calls, 100 SMS, 1Gb data
• $60: unlimited calls and SMS, 2Gb data

WORLDSIM

The WORLDSIM card is used as a regular SIM and works in and to over 200 countries, and receiving calls is free in over 118 countries. To activate the SIM, simply insert in the phone, wait until it picks up the local network and then it’s ready to be used.

WORLDSIM offers packages prices at $30, $45, $75 and $150 as credit to be used at leisure, depending on which countries you are visiting and contacting.

Like the other SIM providers, WORLDSIM offers country-specific packages, for places such as the United States, Thailand or Japan.

Telestial

The Telestial international SIM card allows you to use data in over 200 countries, with prices starting at $14.95. It also offers additional data packages covering different geographical zones:

• Zone A: 1Gb of data costing $19.95, that can be used in over 60 countries (across Europe, Australia, Brazil, China, Thailand, the US…)
• Zone B: 150Mb to 2Gb to be used in 110 countries (across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam…) with prices ranging from $15 to $99.90.
• Zone C: 5Gb priced at $45, to be used in 30 countries (the UK, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe, Ireland…)

Telestial also offers an international SIM card which includes calls, SMS and data. The card alone costs $19.95 and comes with $5 credit, with the option to purchase more allowance if needed (in packages of $30, $50 or $100).

International SIM cards: which should I choose?

With so many offers on the market, choosing the international SIM card right for your needs and budget can seem like an overwhelming task. It all depends on your data consumption and how much you are willing to spend for it. Each provider and plan will have its own advantages, so it’s just a matter of identifying which will suit you best:

• The Flexiroam system has the advantage of allowing you to freely and instantly switch between the international and the regular SIM. The packages are pricier than the average on the market but also come with higher data allowances. Flexiroam also offers discounts for long term subscriptions.
• Explod comes with the perk of allowing to make VOIP calls through WiFi
• As for SIMplicITI, its prices are cheaper than the average but the allowances are lower than the average too, and might not be enough for people who plan on browsing the web extensively while abroad.
• WORLDSIM is particularly interesting for making calls abroad, as with it it is free to receive calls in over 118 countries.
• Telestial is interesting in that it offers a big variety of plans and country packages, meaning you can easily find a plan personalised to your data needs and destination.

Need help choosing a SIM card in France?If so, you can get help finding the right one for your needs and budget by calling our English-speaking customer service line at 09 77 55 72 27 (Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 9 pm and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Saturdays and on Sundays 9 am to 5 pm), or ask for a free callback.

Here is a comparison of all the international SIM cards mentioned above: