Arialo esims Regional or Global

By texting do you mean iMessages only or do you need to send and receive SMS messages? Such as from banks or Android phone users?

If iMessage only then I would think a regional europe plan would suffice.

If you are only going to European countries you can get the regional Europe esim. It covers 39 countries and you can check their website to see those countries covered.

Thank you Carol

Beware that some Airalo eSIMs are data-only, however! So you can use them to email, send WhatsApp and iMessage, and so on. But they won't work for calls or texts! One workaround is that I have Google Voice installed on my phone and it'll relay calls and texts over data.

Beware that some Airalo eSIMs are data-only, however! So you can use them to email, send WhatsApp and iMessage, and so on. But they won't work for calls or texts!

amygee, the OP (Janet) said she does not need phone calls. And I would assume that she means to use iPhone Messaging not SMS texts. But amy has a good point, Janet. You can use WhatsApp if you want to text someone who does not have an iPhone. You also can use FaceTime Audio if you want to make a phone call back home, as long as the recipient has an iPhone.

The discussion of iMessage and texts I find bemusing, as an Android user. I have friends who express great consternation when I don't receive iMessages they try to send me.

A person who installs a data-only eSIM doesn't "lose" their phone call and text service unless one of the following is the case.

1. Both the home plan and the travel plan are on eSIM and the phone can't use two eSIMs simultaneously.
2. One removes one's home plan SIM.

However, calls and texts will be billed by one's home cell provider.

The discussion of iMessage and texts I find bemusing, as an Android user. I have friends who express great consternation when I don't receive iMessages they try to send me.

Luckily, Apple has agreed to start supporting RCS in IOS 18, which is due (Beta version) in about a month. And it's about time.

A person who installs a data-only eSIM doesn't "lose" their phone call and text service unless one of the following is the case.
Both the home plan and the travel plan are on eSIM and the phone can't use two eSIMs simultaneously.
One removes one's home plan SIM.
However, calls and texts will be billed by one's home cell provider.

I think everyone understands that you do not lose the ability to make calls and texts, but they also understand that they will be paying a lot of money for that privilege. Hence the eSIM.

I think everyone understands that you do not lose the ability to make calls and texts, but they also understand that they will be paying a lot of money for that privilege.

I'm not sure what everyone, or in fact anyone, understands about this whole business. It seems to me no one really knows all the subtleties of overseas cell phone use, since so many of the factors change based on who provides one's US cell coverage and what their Europe use pricing looks like; whether one uses iPhone, Android or some other operating system; whether one's home coverage is eSIM or hard SIM; specific handset model; whether one's phone is unlocked; etc. etc.

I'm fortunate to have Spectrum wireless, as texting is free overseas and calls are minimal cost, typically 5 cents per minute. They use the Verizon network in the US. Anyone who has Spectrum home cable or internet should look into their wireless service IMO.

Yep, as a person who has a US eSIM for my everyday service plus regional Airalo eSIMs installed for Europe, Asia, and Caribbean, I understand that one does not "lose" their ability to make phone calls and SMS-texts. I'm merely saying that these Airalo eSIMs only support data.

With an iPhone 15, Janet will be able to iMessage, use social media, email, FaceTime other iPhone users, call over data via WhatsApp, Google Voice, etc. However, opening the Phone app and placing a call won't work until she returns home and turns her home eSIM back on. Something to keep in mind if you expect to be placing lots of local calls for, say, dinner reservations.