Yesim
UPeSIM
Yesim vs UPeSIM: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated September 14, 2026
The Short Answer
Pick Yesim if you travel often and want unused data to roll over to your next trip, plus a real refund option if plans change. Pick UPeSIM if you just want a straightforward, cheaper prepaid plan for one trip and don't care about a safety net. They're both data-only prepaid eSIMs, but Yesim charges more for flexibility that UPeSIM doesn't offer.
The Core Difference: Rolling Balance vs. Fixed Block
Yesim's "Pay & Fly" plans work like a topped-up balance: you pay in dollars rather than a fixed GB amount, priced from $1.10/GB, and whatever's left over rolls into your next purchase instead of expiring. UPeSIM sells a plain fixed block of days or gigabytes that expires once it runs out, with no rollover and no auto-renewal, so there's never a lingering balance to manage either way.
That difference matters most if you travel more than once a year. A Yesim balance you don't fully use on one trip is still there for the next one. A UPeSIM plan you don't finish is gone the moment it expires, full stop.
Price Snapshot (before any code)
| Destination | Yesim | UPeSIM |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $8.40 (1 day) | $5.55 (1GB) |
| Thailand | $8.40 (1 day) | $3.50 (1GB) |
| Japan | $19.80 (7 days) | $5.80 (1GB) |
| UAE | $7.70 (1 day) | $7 (1GB) |
Yesim prices by the day, UPeSIM by the gigabyte, so these aren't a direct apples-to-apples rate. On this site, Yesim sits in the "Expensive" price bracket and UPeSIM in "Average."
Discount Codes
- Yesim: TEE20, 20% off your first esim purchase, first purchase only. Full code list →
- UPeSIM: REDDIT10, 10% off all plans. Full code list →
Neither is our own code. Both providers run on public codes rather than the kind of affiliate program that would let us have a code here.
Is Yesim or UPeSIM the Right Pick
Go with Yesim if…
- You travel more than once a year and want leftover data to carry forward
- You'd rather pay more for a real refund option on an unused plan
- You don't mind paying by the day instead of by the gigabyte
Go with UPeSIM if…
- It's a one-off trip and you don't need the plan to outlast it
- You want the cheaper per-GB rate and can live without a refund
- You'd rather set the eSIM up ahead of time and forget about it until you land
Two Things Worth Knowing Before You Decide
Yesim's refund policy is unusually generous. It advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on unused plans, not just ones that failed to activate. UPeSIM, like most prepaid eSIMs, treats a purchased plan as final once bought.
UPeSIM's plan doesn't start counting down until you land. It only begins once your phone actually connects to the destination network, so you can install it well ahead of a trip. The catch: an installed-but-never-activated UPeSIM profile goes stale after 60 days, so don't set it up for a trip that's still months out. Yesim's balance model sidesteps that problem entirely since unused funds simply roll over rather than expiring on a fixed clock.
For device setup and eSIM basics that apply to both providers, see our eSIM compatible devices guide.
Yesim vs UPeSIM FAQ
Which is cheaper, Yesim or UPeSIM
UPeSIM, in most cases. Yesim sits in our "Expensive" bracket and UPeSIM in "Average," and UPeSIM's per-GB rate usually beats Yesim's per-day rate for a single trip.
Which is better for someone who travels several times a year
Yesim, mainly because of the rolling balance. Money left on a Yesim Pay & Fly plan carries into your next purchase, where a UPeSIM plan expires and any leftover data is gone.
Can I get a refund if I don't end up using the plan
Only with Yesim, which advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on unused plans. UPeSIM treats a purchase as final once it's bought.
Do either of these include a phone number or calls
No. Both are data-only. Voice calls route over apps like WhatsApp on the data connection for both providers.
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.