Europe eSIM

A Europe eSIM is a digital SIM that allows travelers to access mobile data across multiple European countries without needing a physical SIM card. You can install it by scanning a QR code before or after arrival.

Gohub eSIM for Europe works with all eSIM-capable smartphones, including iPhone XS/XR and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later. Your phone must be network-unlocked; carrier-locked devices will not accept a third-party eSIM. Check Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM on iPhone, or SIM Manager on Android, to confirm support, or use our supported devices checker.

Installing adds the eSIM to your phone. Scan the QR code from your email while on Wi-Fi:
On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM.
On Android, go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager (Samsung) or Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs (Pixel and others).
When you arrive in Europe, switch the eSIM on and turn on data roaming for it. This doesn’t add roaming charges.
Some plans activate as soon as you install them, so check when your plan starts before you scan the QR code (see the next question).

It depends on the plan. Unlimited, daily data and Orange plans start as soon as you install the eSIM, while fixed data plans such as 20GB start when the eSIM first connects to a network in Europe. Check “Activation” in Plan details carefully before you buy and install, so you don’t use up days early. If your plan starts on installation, install it 2–3 hours before your flight or after you arrive. You need to activate the eSIM within 30 days of receiving your QR code.

Yes. One Gohub Europe eSIM works in every country your plan covers, and it switches to a local partner network automatically when you cross a border. You don’t need a new eSIM or QR code for each country.

It depends on the plan. Most plans cover over 30 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Norway and Turkey. Orange plans cover over 40 countries, adding Croatia, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, Andorra and more, but not Turkey. Check “Supported Countries” in Plan details before you buy, especially if your trip includes Turkey, Croatia, Ireland or Iceland.

No. You can buy and install a Gohub Europe eSIM online without a passport.

Most Gohub Europe eSIMs are data-only, so keep your home SIM on for calls and SMS, or use messaging apps over data. Orange plans include calls and texts: unlimited calls within Europe, plus international minutes and SMS from Europe to the rest of the world, depending on the plan.

Yes, Gohub Europe plans support hotspot, and shared data comes out of your plan.

It depends on the plan:

• Unlimited plans give you 500MB of high-speed data a day, then unlimited data at 10 Mbps.

• Daily and fixed data plans slow to 256 kbps.

• Orange plans stop when you use up your data. Dial #123# to check how much you have left.

On Unlimited and daily data plans, your high-speed data resets at midnight GMT+8, which is 5 PM in Paris or Berlin in winter and 6 PM in summer. On fixed data and Orange plans, each day is counted as a 24-hour period from activation.

Yes. Depending on your plan and country, it connects to leading local networks such as Telefónica in Germany and Spain, Free Mobile in France, KPN in the Netherlands, Swisscom in Switzerland, or Orange. Signal is best in cities such as Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Prague and Lisbon, and along major rail routes. It can be weaker in remote alpine areas, Nordic wilderness and on smaller islands.

Yes. It keeps working on high-speed trains such as TGV, ICE, Frecciarossa and AVE, and switches to a local network automatically when your train crosses a border. Signal can drop for a while in tunnels and mountain sections, so download your tickets and offline maps before you board.

Get Google Maps or Apple Maps for directions, and download offline maps for each country you’ll visit. Uber, Bolt and FreeNow cover rides in most big cities, Trainline and Omio are handy for booking trains and buses across borders, and WhatsApp is widely used to message hotels and tours.

For multi-country trips, an eSIM is more convenient because one plan covers every country on your route, and you can install it before departure. A local SIM may be better for long stays in one country or if you need a local phone number.

Don’t delete it, because the QR code works only once. Check you’re on Wi-Fi, your phone is unlocked and data roaming is on, then restart your phone. On Orange plans, turn on automatic network selection so your phone connects to Orange first. Still stuck? Contact our 24/7 support. Our 1-hour replacement covers activation and usage issues.

An eSIM is easier: there’s no device to carry, charge or return. A pocket WiFi connects several devices, but an eSIM can share data through hotspot too.