At Traveltomtom we are major users of eSIMs and there are few providers who can still surprise us. But, if a provider comes along who does things significantly different from the competitors, then we are all ears.
For example, an eSIM provider that offers data plans without an expiration date is a game changer and Traveltomtom wanted to hear all about it. Roamless is this new eSIM provider that offers eSIMs without expiration. The Traveltomtom Team just had to give Roamless a go and tested them extensively in the last weeks.
Find here Traveltomtom's honest review of Roamless including all pros and cons.
What is Roamless?
Roamless is still pretty new to the eSIM business, as they only started back in November 2022. The reason for getting Roamless started was very simple. They experienced something that was not working, so they decided to fix it for good. Roamless' goal is very simple and clear; they want to make it easy, reliable and affordable for travelers like themselves to get connected and stay connected seamlessly and effortlessly as they roam the world.
What makes Roamless different?
What we immediately noticed when installing, purchasing and downloading the eSIM is that at Roamless you do not buy an eSIM package for one specific country, but you activate an eSIM without expiration that you simply top up when you need it. So you have a general balance that you can use however and wherever it suits you. Compared to other providers, where you buy specific packages for a destination, this is innovative when it comes to eSIM packages.
Roamless Pros
As a traveler you are always looking for flexibility and convenience, and that is exactly what Roamless offers and which are definitely their strengths.
Pay-as-you-go flexibility
Roamless offers pay-as-you-go flexibility which is new and innovative when it comes to the eSIM business. Most of Roamless competitors offer fixed plans by country. With Roamless you basically have a wallet which you can top up by adding funds to your wallet. You can freely use those funds for mobile data or calls or both in any Roamless destination.
Data and Calls
Unlike other providers, where you often only buy data or only calls, the Roamless balance offers room for both. You can use your balance exactly how you want, whether you use mobile data from it or use it to make calls.
The ultimate flexibility, never have to think about which package you need, but simply top up your wallet and use it.
Never expiring account balance
The fact that Roamless dispenses with predefined packages and works with a wallet is definitely a game changer. With this they also go to the next level by never allowing their wallet and balance to expire. For us as travelers this is absolutely fantastic. From buying set packages to ultimate flexibility. The never expiring balance and eSIM really sound like music to my ears.
Pay for what you use
We have often experienced that we have GB's left over and that is a shame if your eSIM expires after the 7 or 14 days that come with your eSIM plan. Roamless has no packages.
You only pay for what you use and no more. Mobile data is charged per used MB and calls are charged per minute of talk time. Not using your balance? You don't pay anything. You now don't have to estimate or calculate how much data you might use on your trip anymore.
Destinations
You can use your Roamless wallet almost everywhere across the world. Your funds for data can be used in 167 destinations and calls can be used in over 200 destinations.
Not country specific
This is definitely a plus for frequent travelers. The Roamless funds in your wallet are not country specific. You can use them how you like anywhere Roamless has coverage.
If you think Roamless is the perfect eSIM for you then check out the Roamless website with more detailed info.
Roamless Cons
At Traveltomtom we think Roamless has a lot of advantages over many of their competitors, but of course there are always things that can be improved.
Mandatory to create an account
There is no option to check out as a guest, you will always have to create an account before start using Roamless. You will have to register with your name, email and create an 8 characters password before you can continue with buying a Roamless eSIM plan. This may for some people be a barrier.
From the website you are everywhere directed to download the app, but it is not a mandatory step. It might seem a bit confusing, but you can also use Roamless without downloading their app.
Especially people who are less tech-savvy they may see the 'obligation of downloading the Roamless app' as a deal breaker.
No physical SIMs
Unlike many other eSIM providers, Roamless does not offer physical SIM cards. They are really solely focused on eSIM.
Support
According to Roamless they have 24/7 support but there is no live chat availability. We had some questions about our account and our balance. It would of course be very nice if your questions are answered immediately and you can move on.
The experiences with Roamless are that this is not the case. You can fill in the support form with the questions you have. You will then receive an answer to your question by email. You will receive this email at the address you used to create the account.
That said, we got a reply within 10 minutes of sending my questions in. So they can still deliver quick answers, but we do miss the live chat availability.
Roamless App
With some eSIM providers you don't even have to create an account to purchase an eSIM. Which will of course be a plus for many eSIM users.
Roamless, on the other hand, does work with a mandatory account and actually only works via their app. The app is very user-friendly. No fuss, just straight to the point. At Traveltomtom we absolutely love it when technology gets so easy to use.
When opening the app you immediately see your wallet dashboard with your current balance in money and data. It also shows your usage of the current day, the current month and the previous month.
You can also click on 'calls' in the lower right corner. By doing this you give the Roamless app access to your contacts. This allows you to use the Roamless app for in-app calls.
You can very easy top up your wallet from the app. You can add as little or as much funds as you like. It takes just three steps to get the funds added to your wallet.
They have kept their app very simple and functional. Not too many useless functionalities, but just one dashboard homepage from which you have immediate insight into everything.
Installation and activation
Installation and activation of Roamless and your new eSIM is very easy. You start by downloading their app. Once you have it on your device you can create an account through their app.
In fact, you can only use the app when creating an account. So it's a mandatory step.
Once you have created the account you get to see your dashboard. The next thing to do is to activate your eSIM. You get instructions to do so via an e-mail confirmation. They send a very clear PDF attached to the confirmation with all settings you need to check in order to be able to use the eSIM.
You then have to add money to your wallet in order to be able to use your eSIM. Funds can be added from as little as $1 USD.
Once you have added funds to your wallet, your eSIM is ready to be used in all Roamless destinations. Your balance can be used for both data and calls.
Final thoughts
As frequent users of eSIM we often purchase set packages for a destination. These packages always contain a certain amount of GB for a set period of time. These plans are always country-specific eSIMs. You should always estimate in advance how much data you will use during your stay at a destination.
With Roamless that is all a thing of the past. No more set packages, no more set period of time and no more expiring eSIMs. The biggest plus Roamless offers as a traveler is the 100% flexibility in all areas.
The wallet balance is always secure and never expires. So you can safely and easily top up with 20, 50 or 100 USD without having the fear of losing it. If you top it up with $50 USD, travel to one of Roamless' destinations and spend let's say $25 USD during your trip on data and calls, then the remaining balance remains intact until your next adventure. Very simple and convenient.
With a filled wallet you can go online immediately as soon as you arrive at a destination.
Technology is becoming increasingly important and we see it more and more in our daily lives. Even though we love the Roamless app, the fact that you can only use Roamless via the app, is still a limitation.
Unlike many other eSIM providers, they do not offer online support in the form of a live chat, which is another disadvantage. You may sometimes encounter problems regarding settings or a purchases, and in that case you would prefer to have direct contact. Having that said, we filled out the online support form to test it and received an answer within 10 minutes, on a Sunday!
The Traveltomtom Team believes in this new concept of eSIMs and recommends Roamless for staying connected when traveling abroad.
Roamless is still pretty new on the eSIM market, but with their innovating and different eSIM approach the Traveltomtom Team thinks they could quickly take over the market and become a solid competitor to brands like Sim Local, SimOptions, Jetpac, Airalo, Holafly, etc.