Thanks to the eSIM it is now possible to purchase a data plan and use it immediately, no matter where in the world we are, and of course, Spain is no exception. Even if we are already traveling in the Flemish country, we do not need to wait for the arrival of a physical SIM card.
All we need is to have an email address to which our trusted carrier will send us the QR code to activate the eSIM Spain. So, if you are already in this amazing country and you still don’t have an internet connection on your phone, don’t worry, here we will show you all the benefits of acquiring a virtual card with data to keep you always connected during your trip.
Cost of an eSIM card for Spain
Although the prices of eSIM cards vary depending on the company and the benefits it offers, it is true that these are usually one of the cheapest options to stay connected during your travels.
This is because in most cases the companies that offer eSIM only charge for the data plan, so it will be much cheaper than purchasing a Roaming service or even a traditional SIM card or a Pocket Wifi, for which you will have to pay for shipping, loss or theft insurance and even for the return.
But how much does it really cost to buy an eSIM? In companies such as the Spanish online store Holafly, you will find virtual cards for Spain from $27 USD to $49 USD, however, remember that this will always vary depending on the amount of data and days of use offered by each company. So we recommend you to be clear about what you need for internet during your trip and then make the purchase. This way you will avoid inconveniences, for example, in case you go to Spain on business and need to spend a large amount of data per day.
How long does it take to activate the eSIM Spain?
Another of the benefits of acquiring an eSIM, apart from the fact that they are usually very cheap and easy to acquire, is that it only takes a couple of minutes to activate it.
Since it is a 100% virtual card, you do not need to wait for it to arrive at your home or for the company to activate it for you in a couple of days or when you are already in Spain. The only thing you need is an email to which the eSIM is sent, that is, a QR code that you must scan with the camera of your cell phone and that’s it, you have your eSIM.
The only thing that takes is how long it takes to arrive in your email, which is usually done immediately after you make the purchase, and how long it takes you to scan the code and activate it.
How many eSIMs can I have?
In most devices that are compatible with eSIMs, you can store more than one virtual card at a time, but this does not mean that you can use them all at the same time, as usually, you can only use one at a time.
In addition to this, most travel eSIMs cannot be used again after deleting them, so we recommend that if you have any problems with your eSIM, do not delete it, but contact the company you purchased it from and try to solve the problem directly with them.
Can I make and receive calls and text messages from an eSIM for Spain?
Several of the companies that offer eSIM for travel only provide virtual cards with data, which means that you will not be able to make or receive analog calls with your eSIM. But you can always make virtual calls in applications such as iMessage, WhatsApp, or Skype, apps with many benefits such as free incoming and outgoing calls, plus the possibility of being able to communicate abroad with your family or friends at no additional cost.
On the other hand, there are some companies that sell eSIM with phone numbers. With these eSIMs you should be able to receive calls and text messages during your trip, but we recommend that you do not buy something without first checking the experiences of customers. In many cases, eSIMs with this benefit do not work very well at the destination or the plan you purchased tends to run out very quickly due to the number of SMS or emails received.
In addition, in many cases, these companies do not usually give a local number but an international number, so it will most likely correspond to a country other than Spain.
In addition to this, since eSIMs allow you to return to your mobile dual SIM (if your cell phone allows the use of a SIM Card), you can have a SIM card at the same time as your eSIM with data for your trip in Spain. So if you are not going to receive many analog calls you could make use of roaming and receive an extra cost only for the establishment and incoming and outgoing calls, if you see fit of course.
But if you only need data or your operator handles very high roaming costs it is best to always try to keep this service deactivated as you could receive surprise bills.
How to set up an eSIM
If this is the first time you are going to purchase an eSIM for travel and you do not have the slightest idea of how to activate it, here is a general step-by-step guide on how to activate it on most phones. But remember that all devices are different so this guide may not fit with the names of applications that your mobile uses or the eSIM configuration may be different in your case.
As always, it is recommended that you follow the step-by-step instructions provided by the company with which you purchased the eSIM.
- Download the QR code sent to your email address.
- Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Add Data Plan
- Scan the QR code with your cell phone.
- Continue and enter the name you want for your eSIM card.
If you are asked for an activation code, enter the code provided by the eSIM company and that’s it, all that’s left is to activate your mobile data and you should be able to use your virtual card in Spain.
Are there devices only for eSIM at the moment?
Just as we currently have devices that allow the use of SIM card and eSIM at the same time, there are also devices that went a step further and only allow the use of eSIM, for example, the Motorola Razr, so if you are a user of one of these devices you should have no problem with the acquisition of an eSIM for your trip in Spain.
But if you are not a user of the latest generation, that is, your mobile is not so recent, it is best that before buying an eSIM you check with the company if your mobile is compatible, because, just as not all new devices accept SIM cards, not all older cell phones have the technology to have an eSIM.
We anticipate that iPhones are usually the favorite phones for the use of eSIM, so if you are an Apple user, your phone is most likely compatible with this technology. On the other hand, there are also some cell phones that can still be considered the latest generation that does not have it included, such as the Huawei P40 Pro Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition).
