Before you buy: three things every BlingSIM eSIM has in common
- Data only. No phone number, no normal calls or SMS, and no emergency calls (112, 911 and similar). Keep your regular SIM active for those.
- Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Check first: an eSIM that has been installed cannot be refunded.
- Never delete the eSIM from your phone while you still need it. Deleting is permanent: it cannot be reinstalled or refunded.
Getting started
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM built into your phone. Instead of inserting a plastic card, you download a profile by scanning a QR code or tapping a link, and your phone can use it alongside your normal SIM.
How does BlingSIM work?
- Choose your destination — browse our 185 destinations and pick a data plan that fits your trip. The data allowance, validity and coverage are shown before you pay.
- Confirm and pay — tick the device checks, enter the email address that should receive the eSIM, and pay with your preferred method.
- Receive your QR code — usually within minutes after payment is confirmed, by email and in My eSIMs.
- Install and connect — install the eSIM before you travel (over Wi-Fi), then switch your mobile data to it when you arrive.
Is my phone compatible?
Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked by your home carrier. Phones that support eSIM include the iPhone XS, XR and every later iPhone (including the SE 3rd generation), Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Galaxy Z Fold 3 / Z Flip 3 and later, recent Galaxy A models such as the A54 and A55, Google Pixel 4 and later, and many recent OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola, Sony, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS and Nothing models. See the full list on our compatible phones page.
Two things to watch for: some versions of these models sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have no eSIM support, and some carrier-sold phones are locked. The reliable test is your phone's own settings: if there is no "Add eSIM" option, it cannot use our eSIMs.
Buying and paying
What payment methods do you accept?
- Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Link — through Stripe.
- PayPal — pay with your PayPal balance or a linked card.
- Aurexio — a card checkout widget that may process your payment through PayPal, Stripe or Airwallex.
- Cryptocurrency — through OxaPay. The invoice is valid for 60 minutes and you pay the blockchain network fee on top of the plan price; the OxaPay page shows the exact amount before you send anything.
Prices are shown in US dollars. We never see your card number: the payment provider collects it on its own page. The methods available at checkout may vary.
When will I receive my eSIM?
Your QR code and activation code are delivered usually within minutes after payment is confirmed, by email and in My eSIMs. Crypto payments are confirmed only after the blockchain network confirms the transaction, which can take a little longer. If nothing has arrived after 30 minutes, see the troubleshooting section below.
Can I buy an eSIM for someone else?
Yes. Enter the recipient's email address at checkout and the eSIM will be sent there. Please tell them it is coming, and that the address you entered becomes their My eSIMs sign-in.
Installation and activation
How do I install my eSIM?
Our installation guide has steps for each phone. In short:
- Open Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data (Android: Connections or Network & internet → SIMs).
- Tap Add eSIM and scan the QR code from your email or My eSIMs. On an iPhone with iOS 17.4 or later you can instead tap the Install on iPhone button in your delivery email.
- Give the plan a name (for example "Travel data") and keep your main SIM set for calls and SMS.
- When you arrive, set the BlingSIM eSIM as your mobile-data line and switch Data Roaming on for it.
When does my plan start?
For most plans the validity period starts when the eSIM first connects to a supported network in its coverage area, so you can install it at home before you leave. A few plans (including some small 100 MB plans) start when the eSIM is installed; if the plan details do not make this clear, ask us before you install. Unused eSIMs should be installed and activated within our provider's activation window, usually 180 days from purchase.
Using your eSIM
Can I make phone calls or send SMS?
No. BlingSIM plans are data only: there is no phone number and no calls or SMS, and you cannot call emergency numbers such as 112 or 911 with the eSIM. Keep your regular SIM active for that. You can use apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Zoom for calls over data where the local network and law allow them.
Can I use my phone as a hotspot?
Usually yes, but it depends on the local network and is not guaranteed unless the plan details say so.
Why does a website think I am in another country?
Many plans route traffic through a partner network, so your IP address may appear to be in a different country from where you are (for example the UK, the Netherlands, France, Singapore or Hong Kong). Some websites and streaming services may treat you as being in that country.
Troubleshooting
My eSIM is not connecting
- Make sure Data Roaming is switched on for the BlingSIM eSIM.
- Set the eSIM as your mobile-data line (not your home SIM).
- Restart your phone after installing.
- Check that you are inside the plan's coverage area and that the plan has not expired.
- Try selecting a network manually in the eSIM's network settings.
Still stuck? Email us with your order number and phone model and we will help.
I did not receive my QR code
- Check your spam or junk folder and search for "BlingSIM".
- Sign in to My eSIMs with the email you used at checkout: your QR code and activation code are always available there.
- If you paid with crypto, the eSIM is created only after the network confirms your payment.
- Otherwise email support@blingsim.com with your order number.
I deleted the eSIM by mistake
Unfortunately a deleted eSIM profile cannot be reinstalled, moved to another phone or refunded. Please contact us anyway: if the plan still has validity left we will do what we can to help.
Refunds and cancellations
Can I get a refund?
- An eSIM that has never been installed can be refunded in full if you ask within 30 days of purchase, for any reason, including a phone that turned out to be locked or incompatible.
- Once installed, an eSIM is refundable only if the service is faulty or not as described; we will offer a replacement, a credit or a partial or full refund.
- Consumers in the EU, EEA and UK also have a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal, which ends for the eSIM profile when it is delivered if you asked for immediate delivery at checkout.
- Free promotional eSIMs cannot be refunded.
Refunds go back to your original payment method within 14 days of approval; crypto refunds are paid in the US-dollar amount to a wallet you supply. Full details, including the model withdrawal form, are in our Refund & Withdrawal Policy.
Your My eSIMs account
How do I sign in to My eSIMs?
Go to My eSIMs, enter the email address you used to buy or claim your eSIM, and type the 6-digit code we email you (valid for 10 minutes). You stay signed in for up to 14 days on that device, or until you sign out. Claiming the free eSIM also creates a My eSIMs account.
How do I delete my account or my data?
Email privacy@blingsim.com from the address on your account. We delete your account and keep only the records the law requires. See our Privacy Policy for your rights.
Contact us
- Email: support@blingsim.com (Email support — we reply within 24 hours).
- Phone: email only.
- Post: BlingSIM, Registered address available on request from support@blingsim.com.
Please include your order number and, for connection problems, your phone model. To make a formal complaint, put "Complaint" in the subject line; we acknowledge within 2 business days and aim to answer within 14 days.