I posted this in the tech forum also but I'm hoping I can get some info on this for someone who's currently traveling in Germany like I am right now...
Looking for a rec for a good eSIM for use in Germany. I have more than enough free fast Data through my US plan, I just need something to make calls within Germany. Maybe 30-60 mins is all I need. Any first hand, recent recs?
You really don't need a voice-only e-SIM unless you're maybe making a lot of calls for business or something. When I travel, I've just used VoIP apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype for the very few calls I had to make. Most businesses in Europe have WhatsApp numbers, so it shouldn't be an issue to connect with them.
I've always used Airalo, which I recommend, but if you really do want a voice eSIM, you could go with Orange, which is based in France. You'll have a French phone number, but you can use it to make calls. Another one I've heard of but have not used is Ultramobile, and I think that they offer voice as well as data.
With enough data volume I would use IP call solutions in messenger services. There are also enough free wifi spots available (look for "WLAN").
Read also this thread:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/sim-card-in-germany-0a6a1048-6455-4dc7-820b-bd99434773c6
I agree with the voip apps. I have a Roamless esim for data everywhere, but using their app, I can make calls worldwide for, i think, 4 cents/minute. Can't receive calls, though.
travelerguy:
Roamless just came out with new free telephone number feature. In the app, you can "verify" your cellular phone number, so that when you make a phone call from roamless, it appears to come from your cell phone number. You still have to pay $0.04 a minute for the call.
For receiving calls, I set up a free TextNow telephone number (US or Canadian). I then call forward my cellular number to TextNow. Anybody that calls my cellular from Canada/US (free) or overseas (long distance for them) will have their call forwarded to my TextNow app no matter where I am in the world. Note: I can use TextNow to phone back to Canada for free. However, if I use textnow to try to phone a number in the country I'm traveling in, that would be a long distance call which can only be done if I pay for it. Cheaper to use roamless above.
I find having the ability to make or receive a regular telephone call while traveling is very useful. For example, calling ahead to a hotel to verify reservation or inform hotel that I will be checking in late, calling local restaurants or attractions for reservations or tickets, and calls back home to friends, clients, banks, etc.
There is still no free or good solution for SMS texting, especially 2FA. Messaging via WhatsApp is about as good as it gets for me.
funpig, thanks for the heads up! I'll have to try the "free" option out. In their app, it also mentions texting. I wonder how that could work? I just tried to call the US from Ireland, kept getting an error. Could not do it with Google Voice either, so I called w/ Roamless app. Worked fine (just typed +1 nnn nnn nnnn). Finally realized my phone had Roamless esim1 set as default, so the Tmo sim would not call out. Oops. Then Tmo worked, for $ .25/ min.
travelerguy
My understanding is that "verifying" your cell number in Roamless for free only allows the in-app outgoing VOIP call to call display your cell number to the recipient. So, it only looks like you are phoning from your cell number. However, if somebody tries to call your cell number, that call cannot be received by you if you are not in your home network. Texting to and from your cell number will also not work if you are not in your home network.
On the other hand, if you subscribe for a number with Roamless (about $60 per year or about $7 per month) you will be able to make and receive calls on that number as well as send and receive texts using that number anywhere in the world. Roamless claims that the number is also good for 2FA texts. Currently, the paid Roamless numbers are only available from Canada, Australia and United Kingdom.
Thank you, funpig. Gives me another option. My tmobile # works everywhere, but if I only have wifi, better to have call "look like" my regular number.
