Travel Sim vs Pocket Wifi vs Data Roaming
You’ve just planned an amazing getaway to a new country. Your hotels and transportation have been booked, now all there is to worry about is reliable internet where you are going. With today’s technological advances, gone are the days of getting around with just maps and asking for directions. Although some would say that is the best part of traveling, others might find it stressful. Free wifi might also be a challenge to find and not very reliable. It is often only available after buying a coffee at a coffee shop.
These days, most travelers opt for getting a travel sim or pocket wifi, or if they don’t mind shelling out extra for data roaming. What are the differences between these three options and which one is right for you? Let’s take a look.
Pocket Wifi
Pocket wifis are probably one of the easiest wifi solutions out there when it comes to traveling because you don’t have to worry about unlocking your phone. You begin the process by choosing a pocket wifi company and registering for x-amount of days for your trip. Providers of pocket wifi offer plans starting at 1GB of data per day to up to 200GB per month. Simply choose the right plan for you and your travel companions. You can opt to either send the device to your residence and take it on your trip with you or have it sent to your destination, like the airport or your lodgings. Be sure to check your city to see if you can get the device locally too. Once you get the device, simply turn it on and start using it. Most pocket wifis can connect up to five devices at a time. Returning the device is also very easy since most companies will often send the mobile device with a return envelope, so just make sure to drop it in a post box the day your rental expires.
Pocket wifis have wide coverage and are capable of being used in multiple cities, states, and countries around the world. The one thing you’ll have to worry about is battery life and having an extra device to charge. It is recommended to charge the pocket wifi for at least 3 hours or overnight.
Travel Sim
Travel sims are becoming increasingly popular among travelers and are usually the more practical solution for long-term travelers. Unlimited data is generally offered for short-term plans and plans starting at 1GB to 30GB for long-term users.
Travel sims generally work on any unlocked device so make sure you’re using a region-free device or check with your carrier to see if they can unlock your phone for you. Carriers generally tell you you can unlock your phone after a year or after your contract is up, because unlocking it voids the warranty on your phone. Unlocking before your contract is up may cost an extra fee so make sure you ask carefully.
Sims come ready to use so you can easily install the card into your phone while you’re still on the plane. You may need to change your APN (Access Point Name) but your sim card should have instructions on how to do that. The APN is used so that the carrier knows what time of network connection will be created for your device, which security method it should use, and which IP address will be assigned to it. Incorrect APN settings will not let you use the mobile internet network. There are a variety of different plans but you choose based on how many days or how much data. Some companies even let you recharge your sim card for an extra fee if you require more data. Travel sims are a bit more expensive than pocket wifis are but you won’t have to worry about carrying an extra device when you have a travel sim.
Data Roaming
Out of all the available options, data roaming is arguably the easiest option out there, but the least popular. Just bring your phone abroad and you can start using. Most major phone plans have a data roaming option, however, no one really opts for it because the biggest caveat is the price for how little data you can get. Basically don’t do it if you don’t want to shell out extra cash paying for your next phone bill.
TL;DR
Pocket Wifi
Con
Extra device to carry around and must be charged for at least four hours or overnight.
Pro
Pocket wifi is the easiest solution. Just turn it on and you’re good to go. It also has a wide range of coverage.
Travel SIM
Con
A bit more pricey than pocket wifis. If the incorrect APN is used, the SIM card will not work. You also need to make sure you’re using a region-free phone or unlock it with your carrier.
Pro
Convenient and ready to use, can be installed and set up while on the plane. Comes in many different plans calculated by data or time. Some companies allow you to recharge your SIM card.
Data Roaming
Con
EXPENSIVE for what little data coverage you get.
Pro
Easiest option. Just bring your phone on your trip and start using.