aloSIM is a Canadian travel eSIM provider built by AffinityClick, the same company behind the popular calling app Hushed. That connection is key, because it’s the reason aloSIM offers something genuinely different from most of its competitors: a real phone number and a small bundle of calls and SMS included with every data plan. The service covers more than 170 countries and is aimed squarely at travelers who want a clean, no fuss way to get online abroad, all without giving up the ability to make the occasional phone call.

aloSIM is primarily app based. You download it, browse plans by country or region, purchase, and install, no physical SIM card or trip to a local phone shop required. Installation is handled directly within the app and only takes a couple of minutes. Once set up, your aloSIM connects to whichever local partner network is available at your destination, and you’re online. Your home SIM stays in your phone the whole time, which means you can still receive calls and messages on your regular number.

Frequent travelers, remote workers and holidaymakers who want a reliable data connection without roaming fees are aloSIM’s core audience. The app’s clean layout and step by step guidance also make it one of the more approachable options for people who haven’t used an eSIM before. The added phone number feature makes it particularly handy for anyone who occasionally needs to make local calls while abroad, booking restaurants, contacting accommodation, coordinating with local guides, and so on.

aloSIM covers destinations across Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Oceania. It’s worth noting that aloSIM doesn’t offer a global plan, so if you’re doing a trip across multiple continents you’ll need to purchase plans separately. There’s also no continent wide Africa plan currently available.

---

aloSIM works on most modern smartphones, including iPhones from the XS onwards, eSIM capable iPads and Android phones with eSIM support. You’ll need a device that’s unlocked and dual SIM-capable, which covers the vast majority of mid range and flagship phones from the last four or five years. It’s worth double-checking your specific model before purchasing, as eSIM compatibility can vary by region and carrier version.

aloSIM doesn’t own network infrastructure, it works by partnering with local carriers in each country. Depending on the destination, you’ll connect to either a 4G LTE or 5G network. In some countries, aloSIM lets you choose between multiple available networks from within the app, which is a useful feature if you want to experiment with signal strength in a particular area.

Performance varies by destination, as it does with any eSIM provider. Based on real-world testing, here’s a general breakdown:

Strong performers: The UK, UAE, South Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the USA all deliver consistently fast speeds. Belgium in particular stands out as one of the quickest results recorded.

Mid-range: Indonesia and Malaysia both deliver workable speeds for general travel use: maps, messaging, social media, though they’re not standouts. Colombia functions adequately in cities and well connected areas.

Weaker: Portugal is the notable underperformer. Despite solid signal coverage, speeds tend to lag behind what’s available from other providers in the same country.

Country Plans: The default choice for single destination travel. These offer the best per-GB value and come with a set validity period tied to the data amount. Smaller packages are typically valid for around a week; anything from 3GB upwards generally runs for 30 days.

Regional Plans: Cover a group of countries within the same continent or area. Useful if you’re moving across borders frequently, but you’ll pay a premium per GB compared to buying country-specific plans. Unless the convenience factor is essential, country plans are usually the better deal.

Unlimited Plans: aloSIM now offers unlimited data options too. These are a good fit if you’re a heavy data user or just want peace of mind of not tracking your usage.

aloSIM does not currently offer global plans. If those are important to you, it’s worth factoring that in when comparing providers.

This is aloSIM’s most distinctive feature and genuinely sets it apart from the majority of travel eSIM providers. Every new plan purchase comes with a temporary phone number, you can choose a US, Canadian, or UK number, and even pick the area code, plus a small credit for voice calls and SMS messages via the Hushed app.

To access this, head to the Profile tab in the aloSIM app and look for the Calling & Texting section. You’ll receive an email guiding you to download Hushed and log in. Call quality is decent rather than exceptional, it’s VoIP over your data connection, so don’t expect crystal-clear landline audio, but it works well enough for practical purposes like calling a hotel or grabbing a taxi. SMS works quickly and reliably.

A couple of things to keep in mind: the phone number is temporary (valid for the duration of your plan) and this bonus only applies to new plan purchases, not top ups.

Hotspot: aloSIM supports tethering in all countries tested so far, so you can share your data with a laptop or tablet when you need to.

AloCash Loyalty Scheme: Every purchase earns you 5% back as AloCash credit, which can be used to discount future plan purchases. It’s simple, transparent, and never expires, though at 5% it’s on the modest side compared to some competitors.

aloSIM sits in the middle of the market on price, not the cheapest option available, but not the most expensive either. Pricing is most competitive in European destinations and parts of Asia; Latin American countries tend to cost more per GB relative to what other providers charge for the same regions. There are no global plans, which limits flexibility for some travelers.

The included phone number and call credit add real value that pure data plans don’t offer, so the slightly higher per GB cost compared to some competitors is at least partially offset by those extras.

This varies a lot depending on how you use your phone, but as a rough guide: navigation uses roughly half a MB per minute, web browsing sits in the range of 1 – 3MB per minute and social media runs at a similar rate for photo content, significantly more for video. Streaming video can eat through around 1GB per hour at standard quality and considerably more in HD.

When in doubt, it’s worth buying slightly more than you think you need rather than running short mid-trip.