SimLocal
eSIM Card
SimLocal vs eSIM Card: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated October 2, 2026
The Short Answer
Pick SimLocal if you want a plan that comes with a real phone number already built in, and you'd rather have a no-questions refund if it doesn't work out. Pick eSIM Card if you want to size a plan to the exact GB and day count you need and are willing to pay separately for a number. Both are marketplace-style sellers covering a wide range of countries; the actual difference is in what's bundled versus sold as an add-on.
The Core Difference: A Bundled Number or a Paid Add-On
Most SimLocal UK plans include a full UK phone number for calls and texts alongside the data, confirmed by buying one ourselves. eSIM Card doesn't bundle a number into its data plans at all; instead it sells a separate virtual phone number add-on, starting around $2.40, through the same app as its regular data eSIMs. If having a real local number matters to your trip, SimLocal gets you there without an extra purchase for UK travel specifically; eSIM Card gets you there everywhere else, but it costs more on top of the data plan.
The two also split on how precisely you can size a plan. eSIM Card's United States page alone lists roughly 30 combinations across seven fixed-data tiers (1GB through 100GB) at validity windows from 3 to 90 days, plus two separate unlimited tiers. SimLocal sells country, regional, and student-specific plans, but not that same granular per-day, per-GB matrix; it's built more around picking a destination and a bundle size than dialing in an exact data-and-day combination.
Price Snapshot (United States, before any code)
| Plan | eSIM Card |
|---|---|
| 1GB, 3 days | $1.92 |
| 10GB, 30 days | $12.86 |
| Unlimited, 7 days | $12.05 |
SimLocal doesn't publish a single comparable US per-GB rate the same way; its pricing is set per destination and plan rather than a flat per-GB matrix like eSIM Card's. Prices above are eSIM Card's own listed US rates at the time we checked and can change.
Discount Codes
- SimLocal: ADAMANDLINDS, 10% off all plans. Full code list →
- eSIM Card: ESIM10, 10% off esim. Full code list →
SimLocal's code is ours, confirmed by buying a real UK plan with it. eSIM Card doesn't run the kind of affiliate program that supports a code like that, so ESIM10 is the best public code we've verified, found advertised directly on eSIM Card's own homepage.
Is SimLocal or eSIM Card the Right Pick
Go with SimLocal if…
- You're heading to the UK and want a real local number for calls and texts, not just data
- You want a no-quibble refund if the eSIM doesn't work out
- You'd rather message support on WhatsApp than dig through a help widget
Go with eSIM Card if…
- You know your exact data need and trip length and want a plan sized to match
- You want the option to add a virtual number or a voice-enabled eSIM outside the UK
- You're confident about the plan before buying, since there's little room to change your mind after install
Two Things Worth Knowing Before You Decide
Refund policies run almost opposite. SimLocal advertises a "No Quibble Refunds" policy: get your money back if you change your mind, no explanation required. eSIM Card's own policy page describes eSIMs as fundamentally non-refundable once installed or used, with exceptions limited to narrow cases like a genuine coverage failure, claimed within 30 days. If there's any chance you'll want to back out, that difference alone could decide it.
SimLocal has a small physical footprint eSIM Card doesn't. SimLocal runs a handful of staffed airport counters, including one we've seen ourselves at Heathrow, on top of its app and website. eSIM Card, like most providers on this site, is app-and-browser only. If you'd rather have someone walk you through setup in person, that's a real point in SimLocal's favor, though only near one of its limited locations.
If neither fits, AloSIM bundles a free Hushed-based international number into its plans at no extra cost, a third approach worth a look if a phone number matters but you're not headed to the UK.
For device setup and eSIM basics that apply to both providers, see our eSIM compatible devices guide.
SimLocal vs eSIM Card FAQ
Which is cheaper, SimLocal or eSIM Card
They're not priced on the same scale: eSIM Card lists granular per-GB, per-day US pricing starting under $2 for a small bundle, while SimLocal prices per destination and plan rather than a flat per-GB matrix. For UK trips specifically, SimLocal's bundled phone number can make it the better value once you account for what a separate number would cost elsewhere.
Does either one give me a real phone number
SimLocal does, as part of most UK plans, confirmed by buying one ourselves. eSIM Card sells a number as a separate paid add-on, starting around $2.40, rather than bundling it into the data plan.
Which has the better refund policy
SimLocal, by a wide margin. Its "No Quibble Refunds" policy gives your money back if you change your mind, no explanation required. eSIM Card's policy treats eSIMs as non-refundable once installed or used, with only narrow exceptions.
Can I buy either one in person at an airport
SimLocal runs a small number of staffed airport counters on top of its app and website. eSIM Card is app-and-browser only, like most providers on this site.
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.