We compared aloSIM eSIM plans against the three major US carriers for a 10-day trip to 10 popular destinations.
The Short Version
eSIM wins every single time. The average savings across all destinations was 78%.
The Numbers (10-Day Trip)
| Destination | AT&T Day Pass | Verizon TravelPass | aloSIM eSIM | Savings |
|-------------|--------------|-------------------|-------------|---------|
| Italy | $150 | $120 | $18 | 85-88% |
| Japan | $150 | $120 | $25 | 79-83% |
| UK | $150 | $120 | $22 | 82-85% |
| Thailand | $150 | $120 | $15 | 88-90% |
| Australia | $150 | $120 | $26 | 78-83% |
Why Carriers Are So Expensive
International roaming is one of the most profitable products carriers sell. They charge $10-15/day because most travelers don't know there's a better option. The infrastructure cost to carriers is minimal — they're essentially reselling access to local networks at a massive markup.
The One Advantage of Carrier Roaming
Your existing phone number works for calls and texts without any setup. With eSIM, you still keep your US number for calls and texts — the eSIM only handles data. So there's actually no advantage to carrier roaming for most travelers.
Bottom Line
If your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XR or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3+), there's no reason to pay carrier roaming rates. The setup takes 5 minutes and the savings are immediate.
