eSIM unlimited vs. per-GB: which to pick
It's THE decision when buying an eSIM. The practical rule: if you'll use more than 1 GB per day (normal travel usage), unlimited almost always wins on total cost. Below that, per-GB can pay off.
The break-even point
A 10-day trip with real usage consumes 10-30 GB. At market prices, 15-20 GB at per-GB brands costs the same as or more than VoaSim's 10-day unlimited (from USD 30.90). And if you run short, the mid-trip top-up costs more and arrives exactly when you're offline and can't buy it.
When per-GB pays off
- Short trip (2-4 days) with Wi-Fi everywhere
- Second phone / backup phone
- "Just maps and text WhatsApp" profile, genuinely disciplined
When unlimited wins
- Normal usage: maps + social + photos to the cloud + video calls
- Laptop hotspot (remote work, shows at the hotel)
- Trips of 7+ days — the per-day price drops with duration (VoaSim: down to USD 1.59/day)
- Watch out for "unlimiteds" with fair use: if they throttle after X GB/day, they're a per-GB plan in disguise. VoaSim's don't throttle.
VoaSim starting prices today (truly unlimited internet, today's promo)
| Days | Price | Per day |
|---|
| 5 days | USD 16.90 | USD 3.38/day |
| 7 days | USD 23.90 | USD 3.42/day |
| 10 days | USD 30.90 | USD 3.09/day |
| 15 days | USD 42.90 | USD 2.86/day |
| 20 days | USD 51.90 | USD 2.60/day |
| 25 days | USD 58.90 | USD 2.36/day |
| 30 days | USD 62.90 | USD 2.10/day |
| 60 days | USD 112.90 | USD 1.89/day |
Starting prices with today's promo (Europe and most destinations); each destination has its own price. 2 to 4 eSIMs in the same order get an extra 10% off.
Get your price for your exact travel dates — it takes 1 minute and needs no sign-up.
See my price →Frequently asked questions
What does "fair-use policy" mean?
The plan is called unlimited but speed drops after a certain usage (e.g. 1-3 GB/day), leaving you with "survival" internet. Always read the fine print; VoaSim applies no throttling.
Can I start per-GB and top up if I run short?
You can, but mid-trip top-ups usually have worse per-GB pricing than the initial plan, and you have to buy them right when you're offline.
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