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cambookpro

macrumors 604
Original poster
Feb 3, 2010
7,228
3,365
United Kingdom
Hi

Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonable eSIM plan in the UK? Ideally not with EE, as I like to have a different network to my phone for redundancy.

I have bought and am using a £7/month 25GB SIM from iD Mobile which on the face of it is great, but I can’t receive SMS to setup my account with them, so am unable to manage/change it. Anyone been in a similar position and know a solution?

If not, any other networks to try? I used to have a Lebara SIM on my old iPad which I was very happy with, but they don’t seem to offer eSIM in the UK yet.

I ideally want to spend <£10/month for 8GB+ of data.
 
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AVBeatMan

macrumors 603
Nov 10, 2010
5,967
3,848
I used to buy a preloaded Sim (physical) from 3 that lasted 2 years for around £35. Now I can’t find anywhere similar for eSIM?

Anyone know of a PAYG eSIM anywhere?
 

marmiteturkey

macrumors 6502a
Aug 27, 2005
956
1,080
London
I‘m on EE on my mobile with stacks of data (250gb) each month - I have a cheap pay monthly sim in my iPad (250mb for a tenner) and just gift 40gb from my phone to my ipad at the start of each month. So my iPad sim with 40gb costs me a tenner basically. That’s as good a deal as I can find. Only downside is that I don;’t get 5g on my iPad, only 4g, but it’s rarely a problem.
 

AVBeatMan

macrumors 603
Nov 10, 2010
5,967
3,848
I‘m on EE on my mobile with stacks of data (250gb) each month - I have a cheap pay monthly sim in my iPad (250mb for a tenner) and just gift 40gb from my phone to my ipad at the start of each month. So my iPad sim with 40gb costs me a tenner basically. That’s as good a deal as I can find. Only downside is that I don;’t get 5g on my iPad, only 4g, but it’s rarely a problem.

Yeah, but the point is, is that the new iPad’s can only take eSims. Was a lot easier when they took physical sims. Now, I can’t find any eSIM for iPad.
 

marmiteturkey

macrumors 6502a
Aug 27, 2005
956
1,080
London
Yeah, but the point is, is that the new iPad’s can only take eSims. Was a lot easier when they took physical sims. Now, I can’t find any eSIM for iPad.
Mine is an eSIM, in an m4 iPad Pro. Also have an eSIM in my iPhone. You can order them online and have the code delivered instantly, or pick one up at an EE shop.
 
Last edited:

ACDeag

macrumors regular
May 25, 2008
228
82
UK
I used to buy a preloaded Sim (physical) from 3 that lasted 2 years for around £35. Now I can’t find anywhere similar for eSIM?

Anyone know of a PAYG eSIM anywhere?
Bought the £35 one off Amazon the other day, problem again will be Three send you an SMS sometimes when you want to login (random intervals).
 

ACDeag

macrumors regular
May 25, 2008
228
82
UK
You can get a Vodafone PAYG esim, then convert it to a Voxi one, but I don’t know if they send SMS’s to login.
 

ACDeag

macrumors regular
May 25, 2008
228
82
UK
i have gone for Giffgaff until Smarty do them. You can set the eSIM up from within their app and you can get authorisation codes by email
 

AVBeatMan

macrumors 603
Nov 10, 2010
5,967
3,848
Anyone tried these that are already on the iPad?

dd08f4949b018d956b208f8b660d039a.png
 

ACDeag

macrumors regular
May 25, 2008
228
82
UK
You will need to pick up a plastic Giffgaff sim first, activate it on the website, download the app and do a sim swap in the app. The authentication codes by default go to the phone number but you can pick email after the sms is sent.

Giffgaff sims seem to be for sale in many shops.
 
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ACDeag

macrumors regular
May 25, 2008
228
82
UK
You can’t get an eSIM though can you?
You can buy it, activate it in a phone and register it, then convert it to an eSIM by logging into the Three app on your iPad. Once done it will work fine, the problem will be monitoring usage as to login to your account they send an SMS every so often. If you are happy monitoring usage in the iPad’s settings you will be fine.
 
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polyphenol

macrumors 68020
Sep 9, 2020
2,134
2,607
Wales
Hi

Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonable eSIM plan in the UK? Ideally not with EE, as I like to have a different network to my phone for redundancy.

I have bought and am using a £7/month 25GB SIM from iD Mobile which on the face of it is great, but I can’t receive SMS to setup my account with them, so am unable to manage/change it. Anyone been in a similar position and know a solution?

If not, any other networks to try? I used to have a Lebara SIM on my old iPad which I was very happy with, but they don’t seem to offer eSIM in the UK yet.

I ideally want to spend <£10/month for 8GB+ of data.
I know this was posted a while back, but I have just gone for RWG and got an eSIM (on Three) to replace my old Three SIM (via Smarty) and a multi-network physical data SIM. Where I live, none of the networks is that good in terms of coverage. That data SIM obviously overlaps where there is a good Three signal, but provides EE as well - who possibly have the best coverage. (Partner has EE and we have always split across networks on purpose.) I'm not concerned about missing calls but do like to have internet access everywhere I can.

I would have preferred a single multinetwork full service SIM but I couldn't find one!

Both paid a year up front to get the best prices.

Three has been reasonably OK but with all too many gaps.

 

ACDeag

macrumors regular
May 25, 2008
228
82
UK
I know this was posted a while back, but I have just gone for RWG and got an eSIM (on Three) to replace my old Three SIM (via Smarty) and a multi-network physical data SIM. Where I live, none of the networks is that good in terms of coverage. That data SIM obviously overlaps where there is a good Three signal, but provides EE as well - who possibly have the best coverage. (Partner has EE and we have always split across networks on purpose.) I'm not concerned about missing calls but do like to have internet access everywhere I can.

I would have preferred a single multinetwork full service SIM but I couldn't find one!

Both paid a year up front to get the best prices.

Three has been reasonably OK but with all too many gaps.

Terrible customer service with RWG in my experience
 

polyphenol

macrumors 68020
Sep 9, 2020
2,134
2,607
Wales
Terrible customer service with RWG in my experience
Been OK for me - so far! Just took a day longer than expected.

And my fingers are well and truly crossed.

My first experience was a simple very long duration (years) SIM for very occasional use in my iPad. Might never need it but good to have the option. No issues at all.
 

vine-boating

macrumors 68020
Aug 10, 2017
2,227
570
Why don't you just use EE and gift data from your mobile plan? It probably works out even cheaper....
 
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