Airhub
ByteSIM
Airhub vs ByteSIM: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated September 27, 2026
The Short Answer
Pick Airhub if you want SMS and a local number handed to you automatically with a cheap data plan, no extra steps. Pick ByteSIM if you specifically need a real number that can make and receive calls, and you don't mind uploading a passport photo and a selfie to get it. Airhub's number is a bundled extra; ByteSIM's is the actual product.
The Core Difference: A Bundled Extra vs a Verified Real Number
Airhub folds a local phone number into most of its data plans without asking for any identity verification, but that number only receives SMS. It doesn't make or take calls, so it covers things like a verification text or giving out a number that isn't your personal one, not a phone-number replacement. ByteSIM goes further in select countries (the US, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Australia, Vietnam, South Korea, and Thailand): its number plans bundle in calls, texts, hotspot sharing, and a local IP address, a genuinely different product from a data-only eSIM. The catch is that ByteSIM's own site is explicit that local-number plans require identity verification, a passport photo and a selfie, per local telecom regulation, while its plain data-only eSIMs don't. Airhub's bundled number, by contrast, doesn't ask for any ID at all.
That trade-off shows up in the codes, too. Airhub's own affiliate code isn't currently applying a discount at checkout (we've reported it and expect it fixed), so ESIMOFFER5 is the Airhub code we actually recommend right now. ByteSIM's TPDBYTE is advertised elsewhere as 10% off, but tested on a real order it only saved about 5%, roughly matching the automatic Summer Sale ByteSIM already applies without any code. Neither provider's headline discount is quite what it first appears to be.
Price Snapshot
| Destination | Airhub | ByteSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | $6 (3GB), data only, no number | $13.90 (100GB + 15GB EU roaming + unlimited Spain calls + a real +34 number), $13.20 after ByteSIM's automatic sale |
| Thailand | $0.85 (1GB), data only | Local eSIMs start around $2.90, per ByteSIM's own site |
| USA | $2.82 (3GB), data + SMS + local number | Local number plans available; check current price on ByteSIM before buying |
These aren't apples-to-apples plans: Airhub's Spain price is data only, while ByteSIM's Spain plan bundles a huge data allowance with a working phone number that can call and text. Airhub is the cheaper way to get online with an SMS-capable extra number; ByteSIM is the more expensive way to get a number that actually functions like a phone number.
Discount Codes
- Airhub: ESIMOFFER5, 5% off. Airhub's own ADAMANDLINDS code isn't currently applying a discount at checkout; ESIMOFFER5 is the only one we've confirmed still works. Full code list →
- ByteSIM: TPDBYTE, advertised as 10% off but tested at roughly 5% in practice. Full code list →
Neither discount is large. If the code amount is the deciding factor for you, it shouldn't be, since both providers' real value is in what the plan itself includes rather than a percentage off.
Is Airhub or ByteSIM the Right Pick
Go with Airhub if…
- You just want an SMS-capable number bundled in without handing over ID
- You're headed somewhere Airhub prices sharply, like Thailand or Japan
- You don't need to actually make or receive phone calls on the number
Go with ByteSIM if…
- You need a real number that can call and text, not just receive SMS
- Your destination is one of ByteSIM's supported local-number countries
- You're fine completing ID verification for that specific plan
Neither of these is the only option if a real phone number isn't the point at all: AloSIM bundles a free Hushed virtual number with no ID check required, and SimLocal's UK plans include a real number with calls guaranteed, which we bought and confirmed ourselves. For eSIM device compatibility, see our eSIM compatible devices guide.
Airhub vs ByteSIM FAQ
Does Airhub's local number make calls
No. Airhub's bundled number receives SMS but doesn't handle voice calls. ByteSIM's local-number plans, in its supported countries, include actual calls alongside texts and hotspot sharing.
Do I need ID verification for either provider's number
ByteSIM requires a passport photo and a selfie for its local-number plans specifically, per local telecom regulation; its plain data-only eSIMs don't require this. Airhub's bundled SMS number doesn't ask for ID verification.
Which is cheaper, Airhub or ByteSIM
Airhub, for data-only pricing: it undercuts most competitors in destinations like Thailand and Japan. ByteSIM's plans that include a real, callable phone number cost more, since you're paying for a genuinely different product, not just data.
Is either discount code worth much
Not really. Airhub's working code, ESIMOFFER5, is 5% off. ByteSIM's TPDBYTE is advertised as 10% off but tested on a real order only saved about 5%, similar to ByteSIM's own automatic Summer Sale. Pick either provider for what the plan includes, not for the code.
Some codes and links on this page are affiliate codes and links, including our own (ADAMANDLINDS, where it applies). If you use one, we may earn a commission. We show our own code more prominently where we have one, not because it's automatically the best deal. See our about page for the full breakdown.