Global eSIM Awareness in 2025: Why Most Travellers Still Stay Offline

It’s 2025, yet nearly 80% of travellers worldwide still avoid using their smartphones abroad—choosing instead to disconnect entirely from mobile networks.

The reasons? Fear of sky-high roaming costs and a lack of awareness about global travel eSIMs.

This surprising reality was highlighted in the Kaleido Intelligence Travel Survey (Q2 2025), which reveals the uneven adoption of eSIMs around the world.

A Mixed Global Picture

Even though almost every flagship smartphone today supports eSIM, the average traveller still isn’t fully aware of it—or how simple it is to use.

Here’s how awareness breaks down in key markets:

• United States 🇺🇸 & Canada 🇨🇦 – Awareness sits at just 40%. In two of the world’s most advanced mobile markets, the majority of travellers still don’t realize they can skip roaming fees with a global travel eSIM.
• Singapore 🇸🇬 – A clear leader, with more than 70% of travellers aware of eSIMs—the highest globally.
• Brazil 🇧🇷 – Around 40% awareness, showing steady growth in Latin America.
• China 🇨🇳 – Still struggling, with awareness below 30%, despite being home to the world’s largest smartphone user base.

This uneven awareness highlights a clear opportunity: as more travellers discover eSIMs, the global travel experience will shift from “disconnect to save money” to “stay connected everywhere, affordably.”

Why Travellers Still Stay Offline

According to Kaleido’s research, two main reasons keep travellers from staying connected abroad:

1. High roaming fees – $10–$15/day roaming passes make people switch off mobile data altogether.
2. Unawareness of alternatives – Many travellers don’t know that global travel eSIMs exist, or assume they’re difficult to set up.

As a result, millions of travelers rely solely on hotel or café Wi-Fi, missing out on real-time navigation, ride-hailing services, translation apps, and easy communication while exploring abroad.

Apple’s eSIM-Only Push Will Accelerate Adoption

Apple’s release of the **iPhone Air—the first eSIM-only iPhone worldwide—**is a bold move that’s accelerating the market shift.

By removing the physical SIM tray, Apple forces the question: Which eSIM will you use? Rather than Do you want an eSIM?

This change will drive massive awareness and adoption, making eSIM the standard method for international connectivity.

Awareness is Still Too Low

Despite all the momentum, the truth is this: global eSIM awareness is still too low.

In 2025, the majority of travelers are unaware of eSIMs or don’t realize how fast, easy, and affordable they are.

That’s where Roamvy steps in—bridging the gap by making eSIMs accessible and traveller-friendly:

• Instant setup – Buy and install before your trip. Activate automatically on arrival.
• No roaming shock – Transparent pricing with plans starting from $1.40/day.
• 200+ countries covered – One app, global coverage.
• Flexible plans – Choose Regular (fixed GBs), Unlimited, or Build-Your-Own options.

At Roamvy, our mission is simple: to make staying connected as easy as unlocking your phone.

FAQs on eSIM Awareness & Travel

1. Why don’t most travellers know about eSIMs yet?
Because traditional SIM cards have been the norm for decades, and many carriers still market expensive roaming passes. Education about eSIMs is only now becoming mainstream.

2. Which countries have the highest eSIM awareness?
According to Kaleido’s survey, Singapore leads with over 70% awareness, followed by markets like Spain, Hong Kong, and Brazil.

3. Why is awareness so low in the US and Canada?
Despite high smartphone adoption, many travellers rely on carrier roaming bundles and haven’t explored alternatives. This creates a big education gap.

4. How do I know if my phone supports eSIM?
Most new iPhones, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy devices support eSIM. You can check under Settings > Mobile/Cellular > Add eSIM to confirm.

5. What’s the easiest way to avoid roaming fees abroad?
Download a Roamvy eSIM before your trip. Install it in minutes and activate instantly upon landing. No waiting in airport kiosks, no swapping SIM cards.

The Bottom Line

The data is clear: traveler awareness of eSIMs remains far too low in 2025.

However, with Apple making eSIM the default and providers like Roamvy offering simple, affordable solutions, the shift is underway.

Because no traveller should have to choose between saving money and staying connected.

With Roamvy, the future of travel is already here. 

To learn more about the latest eSIM trends and insights, click here to read the full article.