Do you need calls and SMS on a travel eSIM?
For many holidays, a data-only travel eSIM is enough. You can use maps, messaging, social media and internet-based calling apps without buying traditional call minutes or SMS. Whether an app-based call connects also depends on the service being available on the network you are using.
But there are situations where calls and SMS matter. You might need to receive a bank verification code, call a hotel directly or use a service that requires a local phone number. The important thing is understanding what a data-only eSIM can do and whether you can keep using your existing number alongside it.
What does data-only actually mean?
A data-only eSIM gives your phone access to mobile internet without including conventional mobile call minutes or SMS messaging.
That doesn't mean you can't communicate with people. It simply means you're using an internet connection rather than your mobile network's traditional calling and texting services.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
| Feature | Data-only eSIM |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp messages and calls | Uses data, where the service is available |
| FaceTime audio and video | Uses data on supported Apple devices, where available |
| Telegram and Messenger | Yes |
| Google Maps and travel apps | Yes |
| iMessage | Yes, with an active internet connection and appropriate device settings |
| Traditional mobile calls | No, not through the data-only eSIM |
| Standard SMS messages | No, not through the data-only eSIM |
| A new mobile phone number | No |
If you already have WhatsApp installed, for example, you don't need to buy a travel eSIM with a phone number just to continue using it.
Will WhatsApp work with a data-only eSIM?
WhatsApp uses mobile data or Wi-Fi, so you do not need call minutes or SMS included in your travel eSIM to use it. Messaging works over an internet connection. Voice and video calling can be affected by local restrictions or the way a provider routes traffic, so check calling support when it matters to your trip.
You can continue using your existing WhatsApp account and phone number without changing them to match your travel eSIM.
For example, if your WhatsApp account uses your UK number and you're travelling to Thailand, you can install a Thailand data-only eSIM, select it for mobile data and continue messaging or calling through WhatsApp as normal.
You don't need a Thai phone number for WhatsApp to work.
Avoid unnecessarily deleting WhatsApp or registering a different number while travelling. If you need to verify your account again, you may need access to the original number to receive a verification code.
Can you still receive SMS verification codes abroad?
A data-only travel eSIM cannot receive traditional SMS verification codes itself. However, you may still receive them through your normal SIM if it remains active and your home network supports receiving SMS while roaming.
This matters when accessing:
- Bank accounts and payment services
- Online accounts using two-factor authentication
- Airline or travel booking services
- Government and identity verification services
- Accounts requiring confirmation of your existing mobile number
If you need an SMS code sent to your usual number, it must reach that number through your home mobile service. The travel eSIM's data connection does not automatically deliver conventional SMS addressed to your home number.
Receiving SMS abroad is free on many UK mobile plans, but charges and availability depend on your operator, tariff and destination. Check before travelling, particularly outside Europe.
Can you use your normal SIM and a travel eSIM together?
Yes, many modern iPhones and Android phones support dual SIM functionality, allowing you to keep your existing mobile number while using a separate travel eSIM for internet access.
A common travel setup looks like this:
- Travel eSIM: Selected for mobile data, including maps, browsing, WhatsApp and other apps.
- Home SIM: Kept available for incoming calls and SMS to your usual number.
- Data roaming on your home SIM: Disabled to reduce the risk of using expensive home-network mobile data abroad.
This arrangement can be useful because you don't have to give up access to your usual number simply to use a cheaper travel data plan.
However, dual SIM support and settings vary between devices. Some phones cannot keep every SIM combination active simultaneously, and some support only one active eSIM at a time.
Will keeping your home SIM active cause roaming charges?
It can, even if you're using a travel eSIM for mobile data.
Turning off data roaming on your home SIM helps prevent ordinary mobile data roaming, but it doesn't necessarily stop charges for answering calls, making calls or sending SMS through your home network.
Some phones also offer automatic mobile data switching between SIMs. If enabled, your device could use the home line for data under certain circumstances, depending on its settings.
Before travelling:
- Select your travel eSIM as the mobile data line.
- Disable data roaming on your home SIM.
- Disable automatic mobile data switching where available.
- Check your home provider's charges for incoming and outgoing calls and texts.
- Keep your home SIM enabled only if you need access to its number.
On some devices, Wi-Fi Calling or calling features that use another SIM's data connection can introduce additional billing considerations. Check your operator's terms if you plan to use these features.
Which type of eSIM should you choose?
| Your situation | What to look for |
|---|---|
| A week of sightseeing, maps and messaging | A data-only eSIM is usually sufficient. |
| You need bank codes sent to your existing number | A data-only eSIM for internet plus your home SIM enabled for SMS, if your operator supports it. |
| You need to call local hotels or businesses using ordinary phone numbers | A plan with conventional calling, or a suitable local SIM. |
| A booking or app requires a number from the country you are visiting | Confirm the plan supplies a local number in that country. Voice support alone is not enough. |
| You are visiting several countries | Check whether a regional data plan covers every destination and whether you need conventional calls anywhere. |
For example, a traveller using Google Maps, WhatsApp and hotel Wi-Fi in Thailand will often have no reason to pay extra for traditional call minutes. Someone arranging local deliveries or receiving business calls may need a plan with a real telephone number. Check the plan details rather than assuming all eSIMs include the same features.
When is an eSIM with calls and SMS worth buying?
There are situations where having traditional mobile calling and texting is more useful than relying entirely on internet-based apps.
Calling local businesses
You may need to call a hotel, restaurant, tour operator or local service that doesn't use WhatsApp or another internet calling app.
A travel eSIM with included calls can help, but check which destinations and number types the allowance covers. A plan offering local calls isn't necessarily suitable for calling other countries.
Business travel
If you regularly need to make conventional phone calls, receive SMS or give clients a reachable mobile number, a plan with voice and SMS features may be more practical.
Check whether the plan includes an actual mobile number and whether incoming calls, outgoing calls and SMS are supported. These features are not always bundled together.
Services requiring a local number
Some local services ask for a domestic phone number when creating an account or confirming a booking.
A data-only eSIM won't provide one. However, buying a plan with calls and SMS doesn't guarantee a number from the country you're visiting. Some international travel eSIMs provide numbers registered in another country.
If a local number is essential, confirm the number's country code and supported services before purchasing.
Can you call emergency services with a data-only eSIM?
A data-only travel eSIM does not include a conventional voice calling service. You should not rely on it as your only way to contact emergency services.
Many mobile phones support emergency calling through available cellular networks even without an active voice plan, subject to the device, network and local regulations. However, availability is not guaranteed in every location or situation.
Before travelling, check the emergency telephone number for your destination and understand how your phone can place emergency calls. Keep your home SIM available where appropriate and consider alternative communication arrangements for remote areas.
How to compare travel eSIMs with calls and SMS
Not every travel eSIM is data-only. Some providers offer packages that include mobile data, call minutes, SMS allowances or a phone number.
When comparing these plans, look beyond whether the package simply says it supports calls.
- Phone number: Does the plan include one, and which country is it registered in?
- Incoming calls: Can you receive calls, and are they charged separately?
- Outgoing calls: Are minutes included, and which countries can you call?
- SMS: Does the plan support sending, receiving or both?
- Validity: How long do the number and allowances remain active?
- Restrictions: Are there activation, identity verification or other requirements?
You can compare available travel eSIM packages on eSIM Indexer and use the available filters and plan details to identify options with the features you need.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make phone calls with a data-only eSIM?
You can make internet-based voice calls through supported apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio and Messenger, where those services are available. A data-only eSIM does not include traditional cellular calling through its own mobile number.
Will I lose my normal phone number when installing a travel eSIM?
No. Installing a travel eSIM does not replace or cancel your existing mobile number. Whether you can keep both lines active at once depends on your phone's dual SIM capabilities and settings.
Can I receive bank SMS codes using a travel eSIM?
Not through a data-only eSIM itself. You can receive codes sent to your existing number if your home SIM remains active and supports SMS roaming in your destination. Delivery also depends on the bank and mobile network.
Does a data-only eSIM work with iMessage?
Yes, iMessage uses an internet connection. However, sending and receiving iMessages through your usual phone number depends on your Apple account, number registration and device settings. If iMessage isn't available, messages sent as standard SMS require a line that supports SMS.
Do I need a local phone number when travelling?
Not for ordinary travel apps, navigation or WhatsApp. A local number becomes useful when a service specifically requires one, or when you need conventional local calls and SMS.
Related guides
If you are new to digital SIMs, start with what an eSIM is and how it works. If you are comparing travel connectivity options, read our eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM guide. You can also check whether your phone is unlocked for a travel eSIM before buying.
So, do you actually need calls and SMS?
For a typical holiday involving sightseeing, navigation, messaging and occasional internet calls, a data-only travel eSIM is usually the simpler choice.
If you need SMS verification codes, keeping your normal SIM available alongside the travel eSIM can be a practical solution. If you need to make conventional calls or use a local number, compare plans that explicitly include those features.
The key is choosing the features you will actually use rather than paying extra for call minutes or texts you do not need. Compare plan details before purchasing, particularly the phone number, SMS support and permitted calling destinations.
Editorial note: Calling, SMS, dual SIM features and roaming charges depend on the device, operator, destination and plan terms. Confirm essential services with the relevant provider before travel.
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