eSIM Data-Only vs. Voice Plans: What's the Difference?
Most travel eSIMs are data-only, meaning no local phone number, calls, or SMS — you keep your home number and use apps like WhatsApp over data instead. A small number of providers, like Yesim and Airalo on select plans, include a real local number for calls and texts.
What Does "Data-Only" Mean for an eSIM?
A data-only eSIM gives you mobile internet access on local or regional networks, but no phone number, no ability to make or receive traditional calls, and no SMS. It's the standard setup across most of the market — Saily, Ubigi, Holafly, and Nomad are all data-only across every plan. You keep your home SIM active for your real number and use internet-based apps for communication.
Which Providers Offer Voice and SMS?
| Provider | Voice/SMS support |
|---|---|
| Yesim | Virtual number with SMS on every plan |
| Airalo | Calls and texts on select global plans only |
| Saily | Data-only, no option |
| Ubigi | Data-only, no option |
| Holafly | Data-only, no option |
| Nomad | Data-only, no option |
How Do You Stay Reachable on a Data-Only eSIM?
Most travelers rely on WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Signal for calls and messages over data, which works well as long as the people contacting you use the same apps. Your home SIM can stay active on the same phone (most eSIM-compatible phones support dual SIM) so you can still receive calls and texts on your real number if needed, just without using it for data abroad.
Do You Need a Voice Plan for 2FA Codes?
Not necessarily. A data-only eSIM can't receive SMS verification codes on a new number, but keeping your home SIM active for texts solves this in most cases. An authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy) is an even more reliable workaround, since it doesn't depend on any SIM at all.
Need an actual phone number abroad? Yesim is the one major provider that includes it on every plan.
Frequently asked questions
Are most travel eSIMs data-only?
Yes. The large majority of travel eSIM providers, including Saily, Ubigi, Holafly, and Nomad, sell data-only plans with no local phone number, calls, or SMS included.
Which eSIM providers offer a local phone number?
Yesim includes a virtual phone number with SMS on every plan. Airalo offers calls and texts on select global packages, though not on most of its local, single-country plans.
Can I still receive a verification code (2FA) with a data-only eSIM?
Not by SMS to a new number, since a data-only eSIM has no phone number. Most travelers work around this by keeping their home SIM active for 2FA texts, or by using an authenticator app instead of SMS codes.
Do I need a voice/SMS eSIM plan if I use WhatsApp?
Usually not. WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Signal all work over data, so a data-only eSIM covers most travelers' communication needs as long as the people you're contacting also use those apps.
Is a voice/SMS eSIM plan more expensive than a data-only plan?
Generally, yes, since a local number requires the provider to lease additional telecom infrastructure. The price difference is usually modest, but it's worth confirming whether you actually need it before paying extra.