KnowRoaming Travel SIM Review

Chris Holmes Staff Writer

Updated 29 May 2026

Contents

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What is KnowRoaming?
Plans
My Firsthand Experience
Things to Keep in Mind
Verdict
How to Contact KnowRoaming

Article Summary

KnowRoaming is a travel SIM carrier with a variety of reasonably-priced data plans to keep you connected abroad. These days the service is eSIM-based, so there's no physical SIM card to order or swap, just a digital profile you install before you leave. Their data prices compare favorably to the competition, though talk and text is pay-as-you-go.

I had the chance to give KnowRoaming a spin during a recent trip to Europe, an experience I've recounted below. Before we get into that, though, here are some basics that you need to, well, know about KnowRoaming.

What is KnowRoaming?

KnowRoaming is a travel data provider that sells prepaid eSIM plans for use in 200+ countries and destinations. Instead of paying your home carrier's roaming rates or hunting for a local SIM the moment you land, you buy a KnowRoaming plan before your trip, install it as a digital eSIM, and you're connected when you step off the plane.

Here's the basic idea. KnowRoaming partners with mobile networks around the world and resells their data at a flat, prepaid rate. You pick a plan based on where you're going and how long you'll be there, pay up front, and there are no surprise charges waiting for you when you get home. That last part matters more than it sounds, because international roaming bills have a long history of ruining otherwise great trips. If you've never quite understood why those bills get so ugly, our explainer on how international roaming really works is worth a read.

KnowRoaming is data-only. There's no included talk and text, which sounds like a dealbreaker until you remember that WhatsApp, FaceTime, and every other calling app run just fine on data. For most travelers that's the whole game now.

KnowRoaming SIM options

KnowRoaming is an eSIM provider these days, which means there's no physical SIM card to order, wait for, or jam into a tray with a paperclip. You buy a plan, scan a QR code or auto-install it through the KnowRoaming app, and the digital profile loads onto your phone.

That also means your phone needs to support eSIM. Most recent devices do, including iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and Google Pixel 3 and newer. If you've bought a flagship phone in the last few years, you're almost certainly covered. If the whole concept of a digital SIM is new to you, our guide to eSIMs breaks down what they are and how they work.

One more requirement: your phone has to be unlocked from your carrier before any travel eSIM will work. If you're not sure, check first. For more on this topic, these guides will help:

KnowRoaming Plans

KnowRoaming sells global data eSIM plans that work across the world, ranging from small fixed-data allotments to longer unlimited options. Here's a look at where pricing lands.

KnowRoaming Global Data eSIM Plans

Plan	Data	Validity	Price
1GB	1GB	7 days	$6.50
3GB	3GB	10 days	$16.00
5GB	5GB	15 days	$22.00
10GB	10GB	30 days	$37.00
20GB	20GB	30 days	$60.00
Unlimited	5GB/day high-speed	3 days	$39.95
Unlimited	5GB/day high-speed	5 days	$59.95
Unlimited	5GB/day high-speed	10 days	$114.95
Unlimited	5GB/day high-speed	30 days	$340.00

A quick note on the unlimited plans: "unlimited" here means 5GB of high-speed data per day, after which your speed drops until the clock resets the next morning. You won't get cut off, but you won't be streaming 4K either. For maps, messaging, and the usual travel stuff, 5GB a day is plenty.

KnowRoaming: My Firsthand Experience

I had the opportunity to try KnowRoaming during a recent trip to Europe—specifically, Norway, Hungary, Austria and Germany. At the time I signed up for a 5GB Europe eSIM plan. KnowRoaming has since reworked its lineup around the global data plans listed above, so the specific plan I bought isn't sold in the same form today, but the setup and service experience below still reflects how the eSIM works.

KnowRoaming Setup

KnowRoaming's setup process was remarkably easy. I simply scanned the eSIM code they sent me with my Google Pixel 3 XL, and followed their directions to get my phone configured. I was up and running in a couple of minutes, and was able to make sure my service was working before I departed, since KnowRoaming also works in the United States.

KnowRoaming Service

KnowRoaming offered perfect data coverage across the countries I traveled to, allowing me to use Google Maps, Instagram and all of the other apps as I normally would back in the U.S. I was half expecting slow speeds and intermittent dropouts as I traversed Europe, and was pleasantly surprised to find that these were very rare occurrences.

I planned to limit my smartphone use to data while I was abroad, so the lack of included talk and text didn't bother me. It should be noted that while KnowRoaming's pay-as-you-go rates for talk and text are reasonable, they can really add up if you do a lot of it. As such, the service is really more ideally suited to the data-only user like me.

KnowRoaming: Things to Keep in Mind

1. Your Phone Must Be Unlocked

As mentioned, in order to use KnowRoaming's services—or any travel SIM provider's for that matter—your phone must be unlocked from your carrier. Travel SIMs and eSIMs all play by similar rules here. Our guide to global and travel SIM cards covers the wider landscape if you're weighing your options.

2. eSIM Functionality

KnowRoaming's service is eSIM compatible. This means that if you have an eSIM-ready device like a Google Pixel 3 or iPhone XS, all you have to do is scan a code to get going with KnowRoaming.

3. No Unlimited Talk and Text

KnowRoaming's SIM plans offer data only; talk and text is done via pay-as-you-go rates, deducted from a credit you have to add to your account. If you plan on doing a lot of talking and texting, buying a local SIM probably makes a lot more sense.

4. "Unlimited" Means a Daily Allowance

KnowRoaming's unlimited plans aren't truly bottomless. You get 5GB of high-speed data per day, then your speed drops until the next daily reset. It's still usable for messaging and maps, just not for heavy streaming once you've hit the cap.

KnowRoaming Travel SIMs: Verdict

KnowRoaming's products are a welcome addition to the surprisingly thin field of travel SIM plans. Many of their competitors charge exorbitant amounts for data, and don't get us started on the cost of using your home major carrier plan while abroad. KnowRoaming's only potential shortcomings are a lack of included talk and text (other than pay-as-you-go), and the daily speed cap on its unlimited plans. KnowRoaming is a solid pick, but it isn't the only game in town. We stacked it up against the other major players in our best eSIMs for international travel guide.

Pros:

Great 4G coverage and speeds across Europe and many other parts of the world
eSIMs work in United States too, so you can confirm everything's working before you board the plane
eSIM compatible, so setup is just a quick code scan
KnowRoaming app makes it easy to add credits or top up your plan

Cons:

No calling or texting included, though you can pay for it as you go with KnowRoaming credits
"Unlimited" plans cap high-speed data at 5GB per day before throttling

How to Contact KnowRoaming

Contact Page	https://www.knowroaming.com/contact
Website	https://www.knowroaming.com
Twitter	@knowroaming
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/Knowroaming/

Chris Holmes

Staff Writer

Chris Holmes is a Contributing Writer for WhistleOut, where he covers the cell phone and internet industries. His work has been cited in publications like The Verge, The New York Times, and WIRED.

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