Over the past few years, I’ve travelled to numerous countries and tried about a dozen different eSIM providers. It always annoyed me that I had to sort out internet connectivity and VPN separately, until I came across Yesim eSIM. This Swiss provider offers something the competition doesn’t: you get a free VPN with every eSIM. And that’s not all – you also get a virtual phone number. Sounds almost too good to be true, right? That’s exactly why I decided to write this Yesim eSIM review.
After several months of testing in different countries, I can say that Yesim definitely has a lot to offer, even though it has its quirks. The eSIM + VPN combo is brilliant, but some things could work better. Read on for my full Yesim eSIM review.
TL;DR
- Yesim is a Swiss eSIM provider with free VPN included in every plan. It covers 182 countries, has reasonable prices, and as a bonus offers virtual phone numbers. The biggest advantage is the VPN automatically included – ideal for secure connections on public Wi-Fi.
- Downsides: VPN only works on iPhone, “unlimited” data has a 50 GB cap, and customer support is slower than the competition.
- Best for: iPhone travellers who want eSIM and VPN sorted in one go.
- Not ideal for: Android users or those who need truly unlimited data.
What is Yesim eSIM and What Does it Offer
Yesim eSIM comes from Switzerland and operates under Genesis Group AG. It’s been on the market for a few years and has built a solid position among eSIM providers. Their main motto is simple: offer the widest range of telecom services with a focus on security.
While most competitors focus solely on eSIM mobile data, Yesim goes further. You get:
- eSIM for 182 countries worldwide (local, regional, and global plans),
- Free VPN with every eSIM,
- Virtual phone number for receiving SMS,
- Loyalty programme with cashback.
Their Yesim international eSIM is particularly interesting – it works in 134 countries, has no time limit, and you top it up as needed. That’s brilliant for frequent and spontaneous travellers.
eSIM Data Plans
Let’s take a closer look at the eSIM data plans on offer.
Country Coverage
With 182 countries, Yesim’s coverage isn’t the widest – Airalo, for example, covers 210 destinations. But honestly, for the average traveller, it’s more than enough. They cover all popular destinations plus plenty of off-the-beaten-path corners of the world.
You have access to:
- Local plans for individual countries,
- Regional plans for 10 different regions,
- Global plan for 134 countries.
Data Volumes and Validity
The plans range from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus “unlimited” tariffs. I have to be upfront here – those unlimited tariffs aren’t truly unlimited. You can use a maximum of 50 GB within 30 days, then an additional 5 GB at reduced speed.
Validity depends on the plan size:
- 1 GB and 3 GB → 7 days,
- 5 GB → 15 days,
- 10 GB and 20 GB → 30 days.
When you run out of data, you can buy a new plan or, with the global plan, simply top up with more data.
Yesim eSIM Pricing Compared to Competitors
Price-wise, Yesim sits somewhere in the middle. It’s not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either. For example, for Turkey, 1 GB for 7 days works out at roughly €1.03 per day, which is quite decent. For some countries, it even beats Airalo on price.
The unlimited tariffs are competitively priced with Holafly, but that 50 GB cap is a real pain. If you genuinely need unlimited data, you might want to look elsewhere.
Free VPN – The Main Competitive Advantage
This is the feature that makes Yesim eSIM worth considering. With every eSIM, you automatically get a VPN that provides:
- Security on public Wi-Fi – you no longer need to worry about logging into online banking at the airport or in a café.
- Bypassing geo-blocking – if you want to watch your home country’s Netflix abroad or access websites blocked in a particular country, the VPN sorts it out.
- Data encryption – all your data is encrypted, so you can be sure nobody is eavesdropping.
- The VPN is activated directly in the Yesim app with a single tap. It works even when you’re connected to Wi-Fi or someone else’s hotspot.
- But beware – VPN currently only works on iPhone! Android users will have to wait.
Virtual Phone Numbers
Another handy feature that very few providers offer. For €3, you can buy a virtual number for 30 days that can:
- Receive SMS (such as verification codes),
- work in apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, and more,
- be used for registrations where you don’t want to share your personal number.
Numbers are available from 4 countries: USA, Canada, Netherlands, and Israel. You can’t make calls or send SMS though – the number is for receiving only.
This is useful when you need to register an account on a local app or when roaming charges for receiving SMS are too steep.
Ycoins – Loyalty Programme
Yesim eSIM has a pretty decent loyalty programme. For every purchase, you get 5% back in so-called Ycoins, which you can then use towards future purchases.
There’s also a referral programme – when you recommend Yesim to a friend and they spend at least €10, you both get €5 in Ycoins. You can use the Yesim eSIM promo code from the referral link to get started.
Just watch out for expiry dates – Ycoins expire after one year, so don’t forget to use them.
How Purchase and Installation Works
How does buying and setting up Yesim work? Let’s walk through it.
Registration and Purchase
You can sign up via Apple ID, Google account, or a classic email address. The process is quick and painless.
When purchasing, you can choose whether to activate the eSIM immediately or later – you have up to 12 months. That’s a great feature for those who like to plan their trips well in advance.
Payment options include card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, or even BINANCE Pay. Yes, you read that right – you can pay with cryptocurrency. I haven’t seen that with any other eSIM provider.
How to Activate Yesim eSIM
After purchase, you’ll receive instructions with a QR code via email. Scan it with your phone’s camera and the eSIM will install. If you buy the eSIM through the app, you can launch the installation directly from there.
Important note: Never delete the eSIM from your phone settings! You’d have to buy a new one. When you no longer need it, simply deactivate it.
Personal Testing Experience
Let’s move on to my personal experience testing the Yesim eSIM.
Connection Quality
I tested Yesim in Turkey, Egypt, and several European countries. In all cases, the connection was stable and fast. I appreciated the automatic switching to the best available network – when 5G was available, Yesim connected to it automatically.
In Turkey, I was getting speeds around 50 Mbps. In Egypt, it was more modest – around 20 Mbps – but still more than enough for everything I needed.
Hotspot Works Without Issues
You can share all your data via hotspot, which comes in handy when travelling as a couple or in a group. Even with “unlimited” tariffs, the hotspot works – just keep an eye on that 50 GB cap.
The App is User-Friendly
The app is available in English and is very intuitive. You can see your data usage in real time, buy additional plans, or top up your global plan. When you’re running low on data, the app sends you a notification.
Comparison with Competitors
Let’s see how Yesim stacks up against the competition.
Yesim vs Airalo
- Airalo has wider coverage (210 vs 182 countries) and faster customer support (7 minutes vs 5 hours). But it doesn’t offer a VPN or virtual numbers.
- Yesim is more appealing for those who want everything in one place – eSIM, VPN, and a virtual number.
Yesim vs Holafly
- Holafly offers truly unlimited data without caps, but it’s more expensive and doesn’t include a VPN.
- Yesim is cheaper, but that 50 GB limit on unlimited tariffs is a real drawback.
What Could Be Improved?
So, what could be better?
VPN Only for iPhone
The biggest issue I see is that the VPN service is iPhone-only. Why doesn’t VPN work on Android? You’d think a Swiss company would know there are other phones besides iPhones. Hopefully, this will change soon.
Unlimited Data Isn’t Unlimited
The 50 GB cap on unlimited tariffs is a bit misleading. Either it’s unlimited, or it isn’t.
Slow Customer Support
A 5-hour response time is quite a lot in this day and age. Airalo responds within 7 minutes. Sure, it’s rarely a crisis, but when you have a problem while travelling, you want it sorted quickly.
No Data Top-Ups
With standard plans, you can’t top up your data – you have to buy an entirely new plan. That’s impractical and also more expensive.
Customer Support
Support is available via in-app chat or email. You’ll first be greeted by a bot that handles basic queries. If it can’t help, it passes you on to a human or sends your question via email.
Availability is from 8:00 to 01:00 (GMT+2), so for those in the UK, that’s roughly 7am to midnight.
The average response time is around 5 hours, which isn’t great. However, the answers are thorough and do resolve your issue.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Yesim is an interesting provider that brings something extra to the table – free VPN and virtual numbers. If you have an iPhone and are looking for a simple eSIM + VPN solution, Yesim is an excellent choice. Prices are reasonable, coverage is sufficient, and connection quality is good.
I recommend Yesim for:
- Travellers with iPhones,
- those who want VPN and eSIM in one package,
- people who occasionally need a virtual phone number,
- travellers who don’t use more than 40–50 GB of data per month.
Not ideal for:
- Those who need fast customer support,
- Android users (due to the missing VPN),
- travellers with high data consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you activate a Yesim eSIM?
After purchase, you’ll receive a QR code via email. Scan it with your phone’s camera and follow the on-screen instructions. You can also launch the installation directly from the Yesim app.
Does Yesim support hotspot?
Yes, you can share all your data via hotspot, including on unlimited tariffs. Just be aware that data consumption will be faster when sharing.
How do you use a Yesim promo code?
Enter your promo code at checkout in the app or on the website. The discount is automatically deducted from the total amount.
Can I make calls and send SMS with Yesim eSIM?
No, all eSIM plans are data-only. For calls and SMS, you’ll need to purchase a virtual number for €3.
Is unlimited data really unlimited?
No, there’s a 50 GB cap within 30 days, plus an additional 5 GB at reduced speed. It’s somewhat misleading marketing.
Can I top up data on standard plans?
No, with standard plans (1–20 GB), you can’t add more data. You’ll need to buy a new plan. Top-ups only work with the international eSIM plan.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
