Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Save big on Singapore trips with eSIM technology
Moneymagpie Team
23rd Apr 2025
Singapore boasts a futuristic skyline, making it one of the most recognizable city-states. Additionally, it’s known for its vibrant street foods with mouthwatering flavors. Tourists flock to this state to explore exclusive culinary experiences and witness cultural diversity.
However, globetrotters must navigate international roaming charges to reduce inflation on exploration costs. Enter eSIM technology, a digital tool explorers need to activate mobile connectivity anywhere on the planet.
We’ll explore how eSIM provides seamless communication while reducing exploration costs in the Lion City. By providing internet connectivity, eSIM also helps you share unforgettable moments online. Read on for more information.
- Understanding eSIMs: a traveler’s guide
- Cost benefits of using eSIM in Singapore
- How to set up your eSIM before departing
- Comparing eSIM plans for Singapore visitors
- Real-life savings: testimonials from eSIM users
Understanding eSIMs: a traveler’s guide
Thanks to eSIM technology, traveling beyond a country’s border is more convenient than ever. People can travel to a foreign country like Singapore and connect with friends and family back home without incurring exorbitant roaming charges.
eSIM is a chip built into a smartphone, allowing mobile device users to download a digital mobile data plan. The activated mobile data plan gives access to the internet without the need for a physical SIM.
Travelers with smart investor insights can now venture deep into Singapore while keeping in touch with business partners with an eSIM plan for Singapore. You only need to purchase an eSIM plan and activate it for your smartphone to connect to the internet.
What’s even more impressive is that eSIM makes and receives phone calls. eSIM has a few benefits for travelers:
- Dual-sim functionality
- Portability
- Enhanced subscriber security
eSIM Service
A smartphone with a built-in eSIM chip lets you download and activate eSIM for travelers and enjoy architectural marvels in Singapore. Esim providers offer mobile connectivity plans depending on your length of stay. For example, a 5-day plan costs $19, while a 90-day plan costs $99.
Whichever plan you choose, here are a few benefits for travelers exploring Singapore:
- Flexible mobile connectivity: Holafly’s eSIM can provide multiple local numbers in Singapore. You can switch from one number to another when making calls.
- Cost-effective: eSIM enables your smartphone to connect to the local cellular network without roaming charges. Travelers who use a traditional SIM card from a home carrier to connect to local networks in Singapore will incur expensive connectivity charges.
- Convenience: Most eSim providers allow you to activate your plan remotely, eliminating the need to buy a SIM from a local vendor.
Cost benefits of using eSIM in Singapore
Saving money on travel expenses allows you to explore Singapore more. eSIM slashes exploration expenses significantly since it eliminates expensive roaming charges. You’ll save costs with an eSIM plan in the following ways:
- Lower connectivity costs: Major mobile carriers like Verizon and Vodafone can charge $10–$15 daily for mobile data on international roaming. eSIM services charge only $6.90 daily for unlimited mobile data.
- No hidden fees: A traditional SIM subscription can expose you to hidden fees when connected to the internet. Usually, they charge per-MB data fees if your mobile data runs out. eSIM provides a prepaid plan, shielding you from hidden fees.
- No extra costs: Buying a physical SIM is an extra cost. eSIM requires no physical SIM since mobile devices have a chip that carries eSIM services.
How to set up your eSIM before departing
- Visiting Singapore or traveling internationally with your iPhone lets you purchase and activate an eSIM plan. Other smartphone brands like Huawei and Google Pixel also include the eSIM chip for compatibility with eSIM plans. You’ll follow the steps below to use an eSIM plan:
- Check device compatibility: First, check that your smartphone has an eSIM chip built-in. iPhone 11+, Samsung S20+, and Google Pixel 4+ are compatible with eSIM plans. Go to Settings on your smartphone, select Mobile Network, and click Add Carrier to check if your device supports eSIM.
- Buy eSIM plan: Many companies provide eSIM plans. You’ll choose the one you prefer or the one that’s best for you. Select a plan corresponding to the length of your stay in Singapore. Pay for the selected plan, and the eSIM provider will send a QR code to your email address.
- Activate eSIM plan: Go to your smartphone settings and select the mobile data option. Click on Add Data plan, and your smartphone will prompt you to scan a QR code sent to your email. This step requires internet connectivity.
- Label eSIM service: You can label the active eSIM as Singapore eSIM or give it a name for easy identification. You also want to set your mobile device to choose eSIM mobile data for internet connectivity.
Comparing eSIM plans for Singapore visitors
Singapore has eSIM providers that provide tourists with local eSIM services. Their services are prepaid, meaning tourists must pay for a plan before receiving internet connectivity. Prices for the plans vary depending on the mobile data volume offered and call minutes.
Singtel is one of the local eSIM providers in Singapore. It provides mobile data plans costing $12 – 50. The basic plan lasts 14 days, while the other two last 28 days. At the same time, tourists receive unlimited data plans for the two top-tier plans.
However, Singapore’s eSIM provider subjects users to a fair usage policy of 100GB of mobile data. This ensures you can connect to the internet anywhere, even in areas outside Singaporean borders.
Real-life savings: testimonials from eSIM users
People have experienced better mobile connectivity in foreign countries due to the innovative design of modern smartphones. Tourists exploring exciting attractions have attributed eSIMs to better mobile connectivity in the following ways:
- Substantial savings on network roaming costs: Many people have chosen eSIM for international travel for its cost-effective performance. Your eSIM subscription allows your mobile to connect to the local cellular network even without a physical SIM. Since your traditional SIM doesn’t need to roam for a nearby cellular network, you save money on roaming charges.
- Ease of use: At the same time, users can activate multiple eSIM profiles and switch between them, depending on their needs. eSIM also doesn’t need a visit to a physical SIM shop, making them even easier to use.
- Space-saving design: Travelers have appreciated how portable today’s smartphones are. Manufacturers don’t need extra hardware for the physical SIM slot, making modern smartphones more compact and portable.
eSIM technology has improved international travel by cutting travel costs and providing efficient connectivity. Travelers, therefore, need it to stay connected away from home and share their journey with friends on social media platforms.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
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