Renowned for the versatility of its banking offers, Revolut announces that it is integrating an eSIM service, to allow owners of its payment cards to connect to the Internet in 100 countries without exploding their extra-package counter.
“Welcome to your destination. Here, take advantage of your Internet package for €18.48/MB ».
This terrifying SMS, everyone who has ever traveled abroad has already received it. Assuming that a visit to Instagram downloads around a hundred megabytes, that’s 1,848 euros for two minutes on the social network. Enough to quickly spoil the holidays.
Regular travelers know: you should not rely on your operator abroad (apart from special offers, such as the Free package which works in many countries). Tourists can turn to travel options, local operators or companies specializing in tourist SIM cards, such as Holafly. In all cases, you have to organize in advance.
This is where Revolut comes in. The mobile bank, which already offers fee-free bank cards abroad (many sign up just for this use), now offers an eSIM for tourists. From its application, you can recharge it with data valid in the countries you visit.
Revolut eSIM: local, continental and global offers
Since March 25, French Revolut customers, who have recently had a French IBAN, can configure their eSIM in the travel menu of the application (which offers to book hotels, activities, access airport lounges, etc.)
Once configured, the Revolut eSIM allows you to choose between three types of offers:
- Local : valid in one country only.
- Regional: valid on a continent.
- International : valid worldwide.
The prices of the offers vary depending on the quantity of storage desired, are not necessarily cheaper than with local operators, but offer ease. In the case of a trip between several countries, it seems difficult to do better. Certain countries offered by Revolut, notably in Asia, are not available in the Free offer for example. On the other hand, for use in a single country (for example in the United States), local offers are not very competitive.
Revolut allows you to mix several offers (20 GB Asia + 5 GB Thailand for example), to adapt to different trips. Its eSIM can be installed on a smartphone now, without a plan (its partner is 1GLOBAL). As an introductory offer, Revolut is including 100 MB for free, even for its free cards. Revolut Ultra subscribers, the ultimate offer at 45 euros per month, have 3 GB of Internet available worldwide every month.
Revolut, soon essential for travel?
Is the Revolut eSIM offer a golden deal for tourists? To find out, you will have to test it abroad. Will the flow rates be there? Will the application allow you to recharge your plan quickly? On paper, it is in any case very attractive. Revolut also had the good idea of making access to its application free from abroad, even without an active offer, so that customers can recharge without Wi-Fi. This also makes it possible to receive payment notifications even without Internet (you have to activate the eSIM, of course).
With its 0% fees abroad, the possibility of going to ATMs, cashback on hotels and activities, Revolut is gradually establishing itself as the best offer for a trip. The addition of eSIM, especially if the network keeps its promise, makes the banking application an essential super-application for managing your travels. We can’t wait to go on vacation!
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