eSIM vs. physical SIM: Pros, cons, and core differences

eSIM vs. physical SIM

The main difference between an eSIM and a physical SIM is that one resides permanently on your phone and the other is a physical card you can insert or remove. 

A physical SIM (subscriber identity module) card is a chip that you slide into your phone, available in standard, micro, and nano sizes. You know the type — they usually sit in a little tray that slides into the side of the device (a tray that can only be opened using a tiny pin that you can never find). 

An eSIM (embedded subscriber identity module) is built directly into your device's hardware — embedded, just as the name suggests. It’s hard to access and harder to remove, and that’s by design. If you want to switch mobile carriers, you download a new SIM profile onto your eSIM. No need to start looking for that tiny pin, right?

But that's not the only difference! Other differences can be found in their:

• Activation process. Activating a physical SIM card usually requires that you slot the card into your device and contact your carrier, which can then initiate the process. An eSIM is activated digitally with a QR code or through your carrier's app. With an eSIM, the activation process is quicker and doesn't require you to physically change SIM cards. 

• Flexibility. eSIM-compatible phones allow users to store multiple eSIM profiles (up to eight), which means you can switch between carriers or plans without physically swapping cards. This is particularly useful for people who often travel internationally or want to use personal and work phone numbers on the same device. 

• Durability and size. When smartphones no longer require a SIM tray, it frees up valuable space for other improvements (like a bigger battery or a better camera). It's also easier to keep eSIMs undamaged and working smoothly — there's less chance they will come into contact with water or dust.  

• Availability and carrier support. While eSIMs are globally supported by a growing number of carriers, they aren’t universally available yet. Physical SIMs are still widely used and supported by virtually every mobile device, making them a little more accessible. That said, most phones produced after 2020 come with eSIM capabilities.

eSIM pros and cons 

Before we can engage in a direct comparison — eSIM vs. physical SIM — we have to start by understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both technologies. Let’s begin with the pros and cons of eSIMs.

Advantages of eSIMs

The benefits of eSIMs are many — they’re easy to use, quick to set up, and can enhance your security both on and off the internet. 

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  Convenience. The ability to manage multiple subscriptions from a single device without needing to swap out physical SIM cards makes eSIMs very convenient, especially for those who travel frequently or need to use two phone numbers. If you go abroad regularly, you might be wondering — how long does it take to activate an eSIM? You don’t want to be hanging around the airport waiting for a connection so you can call your cab. The good news is that eSIM plans activate instantly. If you’re using an eSIM app like Saily, you can set up a data plan in advance that’s ready to activate as soon as you arrive at your destination.

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  Security. An eSIM is safer than a physical SIM because it is embedded directly into your device, so you’re less likely to lose it. Even better, if you’re accessing an eSIM through an app, you might get access to additional in-app security features. For example, when you get online with Saily, malicious ads and malware-delivery websites are blocked.

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  Environmental benefits. Millions of tiny plastic SIM cards end up in landfills every year. This is especially true of disposable short-term SIMs, like those people use on vacation. When you change eSIM plans or activate a new data package on an eSIM app, you don’t have to throw away any plastic — it’s all digital. 

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  Carrier switching. You can change a plan or your carrier online without needing to visit a store and get a new SIM card. With an eSIM, the SIM profile is just downloaded onto your device, rather than being carried on an external chip. With eSIM apps, you don’t even need to think about the carriers that operate the networks you’re using — the app provider finds the best networks for you to use in the destination you’re visiting. 

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Disadvantages of eSIMs

As useful as eSIM technology is, it has some limitations. Whether or not these cons are major problems will depend on the user and their specific needs.

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  Not suited for long overseas trips. Travelers are increasingly using eSIM apps to get online overseas because these services offer flexible, affordable plans for relatively short trips. If you think you’ll be abroad for more than a month, however, buying a prepaid local SIM card with a large data allowance might be a better value proposition.

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  Device compatibility. Many pre-2020 phones don't support eSIMs, limiting your choice of device. Even if a phone is relatively new, you should double-check whether or not it supports eSIMs because cheaper models sometimes don’t.

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  Problematic transfers. Transferring an eSIM from one device to another is more challenging than simply swapping a physical SIM card, especially if you're switching to a new OS. 

Physical SIM card pros and cons 

Physical SIM cards have advantages and disadvantages, with the latter mostly stemming from the fact that you have to rely on a physical, insertable chip.

Advantages of a physical SIM card 

Let’s start with the good news — what are the pros of physical SIM cards?

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  Universal compatibility. SIM cards are universally compatible with all mobile phones that have a SIM slot, making it easier for you to switch brands and models. Even eSIM-compatible devices usually have a slot for a physical SIM card as well.

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  Easy to transfer. SIM cards can be quickly moved from one device to another, allowing you to change phones quickly without informing the carrier or asking for its intervention.

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  A good option for long trips overseas. As previously mentioned, travelers who need to connect to the internet on a long trip — 30 days or more — may find that a physical SIM card offers the best value for money. If a trip is only for a few days or weeks, an eSIM app should do the trick.

Disadvantages of a physical SIM card  

Physical SIM cards have some real drawbacks, which is why eSIMs are starting to catch on.

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  Physical vulnerability. Physical SIM cards can be lost, damaged, or stolen. This can be a real problem because personal data is often stored on the SIM card. It’s also linked to your phone number, so if someone steals it, they could use your number to launch phishing attacks against your contacts.

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  Environmental impact. While SIM cards are small, their production, shipping, and disposal still generate more waste compared to digital eSIM profiles. 

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  Inconvenience. When compared with eSIMs and eSIM apps, physical SIM cards can be cumbersome to set up. You need to eject your old card, often using a tiny pin, then place the new SIM card in the tray, all while worrying about scratching the chip. If you’re buying a SIM card on vacation, you might have to purchase a prepaid option from an airport kiosk, dealing with long lines and language barriers. 

eSIM vs. physical SIM: Comparison of differences 

To get a better understanding of the differences between eSIMs and physical SIM cards, let’s compare their features directly.

Physical form and portability

The big, obvious difference between eSIMs and physical SIM cards is that you’ll never actually see your eSIM. It lives inside your device, and you can download SIM profiles directly onto it. For example, when traveling, you can use an eSIM app like Saily to connect to local networks in the area you’re traveling to — no need to start physically swapping plastic chips in and out of your smartphone. 

Signal strength 

When considering signal strength, there's virtually no difference between an eSIM and a physical SIM card. Both of them rely on the same network technology and are affected by the same things — your provider's infrastructure, your location, and the device you use. 

Your choice between an eSIM and a physical SIM should be based on other elements, like convenience, flexibility, and device compatibility. Signal strength is a critical aspect, but it doesn't depend on the type of SIM you use.

Travel flexibility

Whether you opt for an eSIM or a physical SIM card, traveling abroad means the same thing: expensive roaming fees. Unless your phone plan offers international data, you will most likely have to get an eSIM app or buy a local or international SIM card for iPhone or Android devices to stay connected. 

If your phone supports eSIMs, getting an eSIM app like Saily for a vacation or business trip is usually worth it. With an eSIM app, you avoid roaming charges, can choose flexible data plans tailored to your requirements, and benefit from any extra features provided by the app. 

The installation process is easy and only takes a few minutes. Then when you land in the country you’re visiting and turn off airplane mode, your eSIM plan will instantly activate. 

Phone compatibility

The big barrier to entry with eSIMs used to be compatibility but that’s becoming less of a problem as time goes on. Many devices made after 2020 have eSIM functionality built into them, and this trend will only increase with time. The inclusion of eSIM compatibility doesn’t mean your device will be more expensive, either — plenty of cheap, eSIM-compatible phones are now on the market. 

On the other hand, physical SIM cards offer nearly universal compatibility. Virtually every mobile phone made in the last 20 years is equipped with a SIM card slot, making physical SIMs a versatile and widely accepted choice. Just remember that your device will need to be unlocked if you’re going to switch SIM cards. A locked device can only be used on its original carrier, and you’ll need to call the company to which the device is locked to get that changed.

Security and privacy

Physical SIM cards present a host of security and privacy issues that eSIM users don’t need to worry about. Many people save information like phone numbers, message histories, and even images onto their SIM cards. If they lose their SIM card — for example, while traveling and switching between SIMs — it’s very easy for someone else to insert that chip into their own device and view any data stored on it.

Contrast this with eSIMs, which are always embedded into your device. As long as you have your phone, your eSIM is with you too (and is protected by the same passwords and biometrics that secure the device as a whole). If you’re traveling and using an eSIM app to get online, you might have access to additional eSIM security features, like the Saily app’s ad blocker, tracking shield, and built-in protections against malicious websites.

Because eSIM technology is relatively new, people have understandable concerns and questions about it. It’s natural to wonder — is an eSIM safe for banking, or can my eSIM be hacked? The good news is that an eSIM is just as secure for online transactions and handling sensitive data as a SIM card. If you’re using an eSIM app, your account on the app could theoretically be hacked — that goes for every online account — but your eSIM itself is unlikely to be a target for hackers any more than a physical SIM would be.

Network speed  

Network speed depends almost entirely on factors beyond the control of a SIM card or an eSIM. The data plan you’re using, the network provider that gets you online, the infrastructure that facilitates your connection — many factors determine network speed, and none of them are the physical hardware that houses your SIM profile. On this comparison point, both options are equal. 

If you’re using Saily, however, you might actually notice an increase in speed, but that’s nothing to do with the eSIM profile itself. The Saily app’s ad block feature stops online ads from appearing in your browser, and this allows pages to load faster. It also conserves data (saving, on average, 28.6% of your data per page), so you’ll get more out of your eSIM package. 

Ease of setup and activation  

Activating a physical SIM card requires that you insert the card into your device and ask your carrier to activate it, either in person at a store or through your account on the carrier's website. That takes time and can be particularly inconvenient if you’re abroad (when waiting to leave an airport, for example).

An eSIM is activated digitally with a QR code or through your carrier's app. It makes the process quicker and doesn't require you to physically change your SIM card. If you’re using an app like Saily, you can have a travel SIM ready to activate instantly when you arrive at your destination.  

Cost and plan flexibility

Cost and plan flexibility vary massively for both SIM cards and eSIM deals. Globally, thousands of mobile carriers offer different plans at different prices. If you’re traveling regularly, however, an eSIM might have the edge here. 

Prepaid international SIM cards often come with a lot of data but require that you pay for a longer period of time, like a month. If you only need a small data allowance for a few days abroad, that’s not a great deal. An eSIM app, on the other hand, provides far more flexibility. Take Saily, for example — users can choose a wide range of durations and data deals, starting from 7 days with 1 GB of data all the way up to 30 days of unlimited data (with the Saily Ultra plan, for example).  

Other SIM options 

Beyond traditional physical SIMs and eSIMs are emerging technologies that aim to make connectivity even more seamless. Two of the most notable are iSIMs and SoftSIMs — both designed to take the concept of the SIM card a step further by integrating it more deeply into devices or software.

iSIMs  

An iSIM (integrated SIM) is built directly into a device’s main processor rather than being a separate chip or card. This means it has no removable or even visible SIM component — it’s part of the device’s hardware itself. iSIMs offer the same functionality as eSIMs but take up less space and use less power. They’re likely to play a big role in the smartphones of the future but aren’t widespread at the moment.

SoftSIMs 

A SoftSIM is entirely software based — it doesn’t require any dedicated SIM hardware at all. Instead, it relies on encryption and secure software environments to store and manage your mobile identity. While this makes SoftSIMs flexible and cheap to deploy, they’re a lot less common than eSIMs or iSIMs due to stricter security and regulatory requirements. Again — an interesting concept, but not one that is widely used for now.

So which one is better — an eSIM or a physical SIM?

An eSIM is better than a physical SIM card in most ways — it’s easier and safer to set up and use and is usually a more flexible and affordable option for travel. Most devices released since the early 2020s are eSIM compatible.

If you think you might be switching your eSIM from an iPhone to an Android smartphone, you should consider the complicated eSIM transfer procedure beforehand. But if you're a die-hard Apple fan, an eSIM is probably in your future. It’s likely that physical SIM cards will soon disappear from our iPhones, just like the headphone jack did. The sooner you adopt the technology and get used to it, the smoother the transition to eSIM technology will be.

Ultimately, the choice between eSIMs and physical SIM cards comes down to your needs and what technology you have access to. If you’re thinking about getting online while traveling, though, using an eSIM app is probably the way to go. With Saily, you can enjoy a reliable connection in more than 200 destinations around the globe, with easy setup, instant activation, and enhanced security online.