Going abroad shouldn’t mean losing touch with your loved ones back home — and it certainly shouldn’t mean you have to saddle yourself with pricey roaming fees.
Mobile service company Firsty seems to agree, saying on their site, “If you ask us, mobile connectivity is a basic human right.”
That’s why they’ve created an app that offers users a way to avoid roaming charges by providing unlimited mobile data that allows for global messaging, WhatsApp, emailing and Uber while overseas.
The best part? It’s free.
They do this through an eSIM — a digital subscriber identification module that acts as a memory card that connects mobile users to their mobile network. Although SIM cards were traditionally physical and placed manually into a phone, many companies use fully digital cards now.
You don’t have to replace your usual service provider’s eSIM card with Firsty’s, and you can even have both active at the same time.
Firsty has a list of eSIM-compatible devices, and it’s pretty extensive. Plus, because it’s an eSIM, users don’t have to worry about switching phone providers or phone numbers like they may have previously when traveling.
Firsty’s service is usable across more than 120 countries, and their website says they’re still adding more to the list.
But you’ll have to watch a 30-second ad after every 60 minutes of usage if you want to take advantage of the free unlimited data.
There’s a paid option called Firsty Fast, which, as of publishing, starts at 1 euro a day or about $1.09. Firsty Fast provides high-speed data and allows users to use the network connection on any app, unlike the free version. This makes Firsty Fast ideal for travelers who want access to streaming, video calling and remote work.
Firsty Fast also allows users to enable a Wi-Fi hotspot if their device supports it.
However, data for this tier isn’t unlimited. While Firsty Fast users get faster and more quality network connections ad-free, their data is limited to 512 MB. They do have unlimited messaging and calling, though.
Firsty has an additional tier called Firsty Ultra, which starts at 4 euros a day or about $4.35. Ultra users get 2 GB of data and enjoy the perks of the previous tiers.
Firsty users don’t have to commit to a plan, either. Those who pay can terminate and reactivate their plans whenever they want and are only charged for days their Firsty plan is active.
