Electronically embedded SIM cards, or eSIMs, let you activate a phone plan without needing a physical SIM card. This can make switching carriers faster and easier. Several carriers are taking advantage of the benefits of eSIM to offer potential customers a free trial of their networks.
Below is a list of providers that offer free eSIM trials. But before signing up with one keep in mind:
You’ll need to be connected to WiFi to set up your eSIM trial
All trials are available on iPhones and most are also available on Samsung Galaxies and Google Pixels
Perhaps leading the way with eSIM free trial offers is T-Mobile. T-Mobile’s Network Pass will get you up to three months of totally free wireless service. Although this is the longest free trial offer available on the market, it’s not a full phone plan and does come with some catches.
For starters, it only comes with unlimited 4G LTE and 5G data but it does not offer texting or phone calls. And in order to get the plan, you have to have active service with another wireless carrier. If your phone isn’t already active with another carrier, you can’t signup for the trial offer. You are also ineligible for the offer if you have been a T-Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile customer within the past 90 days. Current T-Mobile MVNO customers are also excluded.
The plan itself also has a few other limitations to be aware of. Only 50GB of data each month is priority data. So customers who go over that threshold during a 30-day billing cycle may temporarily notice slower data speeds when the network is busy compared to other customers on the network. Once the billing cycle resets, subscribers get a fresh allotment of 50GB of priority data.
Finally, the plan does not allow hotspot/tethering and video streaming is limited to a resolution of 480p.
If T-Mobile’s eSIM free trial isn’t the industry’s best, Verizon Wireless’s free eSIM trial offer just might be.
Unlike T-Mobile, Verizon’s trial includes unlimited talk and text usage. It also comes with up to 100GB of premium 5G high-speed data which includes access to Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband network. You’ll get 480p video streaming when connected to Verizon’s 4G LTE or 5G Nationwide networks but 4K UHD streaming when connected to Ultra-Wideband. After 100GB of data usage, during times of congestion, data speeds will be reduced to 600Kbps.
The eSIM free trial does not even require a credit check. There’s no contract, billing information, or other obligations for that matter. And Verizon will give you a temporary number to use during the trial. Of course, your phone does need to be unlocked and compatible with Verizon’s network in order to take the trial. Signing up is as easy as heading over to this webpage and scanning a QR code. You can also just click the button below.
AT&T Network 30-Day eSIM Free Trial Offer Details
AT&T now has a free eSIM network trial available. Unfortunately, it is restricted to iPhone only users. AT&T’s free network trial is good for 30 days. It includes 100GB of 5G data and 25GB of hotspot data. Video streaming is limited to a resolution of 480p. Once you use up all the data, you are cut off until you upgrade to a paid plan.
The trial also includes unlimited talk and text from the USA to over 230 countries. Only one trial per user is allowed. You can’t port a number in for the trial. You will be assigned a new number to use. If you are happy with the service you can then port your number in. If you are unhappy, you cannot port the trial number out to another carrier. No credit card or other charges or commitments are required to get started. Eligible iPhone models include the iPhone 11 and newer.
If T-Mobile’s free eSIM trial offer isn’t the best offer out there for you and you want a prepaid provider, Visible by Verizon’s has to be.
Visible by Verizon has a free 15-day eSIM trial that does not require the use of a credit card or any other payment method! You’ll get unlimited talk, text, and high-speed 4G LTE and 5G data plus unlimited mobile hotspot. But there is a catch with the hotspot. Hotspot is limited to data speeds of 5Mbps and only one device can connect to the hotspot at a time.
The trial also comes with a temporary phone number to use. After the trial is over you can either keep the temporary number and make it permanent or you can port your own phone number in. You’re only allowed to try Visible for free once every 12 months.
If you decide you are happy with Visible, you can either signup for their $25 base unlimited everything plan or upgrade to their $45 unlimited everything plan that adds international calling and texting, 50GB of premium data, Mexico and Canada roaming, plus Ultra-Wideband connectivity. Taxes and fees are included in the price of each plan.
Visible’s free eSIM trial is available for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.
US Mobile is another provider that offers a free eSIM trial and offers you the choice of either the Verizon (Warp 5G) or T-Mobile (GSM) networks for coverage.
US Mobile’s free eSIM trial offers connectivity for 30 days. It includes unlimited talk and text with 30GB of premium priority data, which is data that doesn’t slow down compared to other customers on the network when the network is busy. It also comes with WiFi calling and access to Verizon’s Ultra Wideband (both 5G mmWave and C-Band) networks. It does require you to port your number and a valid credit card is also required to activate the trial. If it’s used on the T-Mobile network, it will still include 30GB of high-speed data but it won’t be premium priority data.
If you would rather not use eSIM a free physical SIM kit is available.
Once the trial is up you can pick any US Mobile plan to continue service with or leave for another provider. If you elect to stay with US Mobile, you’ll receive a $50 US Mobile rewards card after 12 months of continuous paid service on any plan priced at $15/month or higher. Customers with two lines can get two $50 rewards cards (1 for each line) and can share the same 30GB trial or get two separate trials. The rewards card is actually a prepaid Mastercard that is linked to your US Mobile account. It can be spent anywhere you’d like that accepts Mastercard. To qualify for the prepaid card, paid service must start within two days of finishing the trial.
US Mobile offers a wide variety of customizable plans. You can pick a pooled plan that starts at $10 for 2GB of data plus $8/line with additional data priced at $2/GB, a preconfigured unlimited plan with 35GB of full-speed data for $29/month (or $23/month with an annual plan subscription), or a premium plan with 100GB of high-speed data and 50GB of hotspot for $50/month (or $37.50/month with an annual plan subscription). Taxes and fees are included in the prices.
One important thing to be aware of about their free trial offer is that they will charge your card on file for a plan two days before the trial ends. Free trials with one line added during the first 30 days of the free trial will be renewed on the 12GB shareable data plan ($25/month) and free trials with two lines added during the first 30 day of the free trial will be renewed on the 30GB shareable data plan ($50/month), unless the renewal plan is changed or canceled before the end of the trial.
A rep has claimed on Reddit that this is to make the transition to a paid plan go smoother. Presumably without loss of service.
Mint Mobile offers a 7-day free trial on the T-Mobile network. Unfortunately, their trial isn’t nearly as generous as some of the others making this list. Mint Mobile’s free eSIM trial includes just 250 minutes, 250 text messages, and 250MB of data. If you are a speed test guru, you may run through that data after just a couple of tests. Like the other providers, you don’t need to port your number over to take the trial. Mint will give you a temporary number to use. If you’re happy with Mint Mobile after the trial is up, you can sign up for any plan. Mint Mobile’s phone plans start at $15/month for unlimited everything with 5GB of high-speed data each month.
The tryCricket App is required to activate Cricket Wireless’s Free eSIM Trial
Cricket Wireless has a free eSIM trial offer that lasts 14 days. It comes with unlimited talk and text but only 3GB of data. Video streaming is restricted to SD, 480p.
In order to get the trial, you’ll have to head on over to the Apple iOS app store and download the tryCricket app or get it from the Google Play store if you have an Android device. Cricket states that you can get your eSIM trial up and running in 15 minutes or less. If you don’t have an eSIM capable device, Cricket will send you a physical SIM card.
Like other free trials, this one comes with a temporary phone number to use. When the trial is up, the phone number cannot be retained or ported to another provider, it is considered the property of Cricket Wireless.
If you are happy with the service when the trial concludes, Cricket will provide you with instructions in the tryCricket app on how to port your number in to become a full subscriber.
Cricket Wireless is owned by AT&T and so it uses that network for coverage. Plans start at $30/month for a plan with 5GB of high-speed data.
Google Fi Wireless’s 7-Day eSIM Free Trial Details
Google Fi 7-Day Free eSIM Trial Offer For Androids and iPhones
Google Fi Wireless has a free trial that will get you seven days of service, and like the others, they give you a separate number to use so that it can work right alongside your current service provider. The trial offer is available to both Android and iPhone users. It comes with unlimited talk, text, and data. Only the first 10GB of data is available at up to 5G data speeds before throttling to an estimated 256Kbps.
In order to signup for the trial you’ll need to have a Google account. You’ll also need a credit card handy. With those things ready, you can download the Google Fi app from either the Google Play Store or Apple iOS store and get your service activated.
Keep in mind that the free trial can only be taken once per phone. And anyone who has been a Google Fi Wireless customer in the past 18 months or used the trial with another phone during that time span will not be eligible for the offer.
At the end of the trial, you’ll automatically be moved over to and billed for Google Fi Wireless’s $50/month Simply Unlimited plan with 35GB of monthly high-speed data. You can change plans at any time if you don’t want Simply Unlimited. And if you don’t want to stay on Fi after the trial ends you can simply cancel automatic renewal and you won’t be billed after the 7-day free trial ends.
Google Fi uses the T-Mobile network for coverage and offers free roaming on UScellular.
AirVoice Wireless 30 Day Free Trial With eSIM or a Physical SIM
Airvoice Wireless is offering a free 30 day trial with instant activation through eSIM but they also offer the trial with a physical SIM card. Airvoice runs on the AT&T network.
Airevoice Wireless’s free trial includes the following features:
10GB 5G data
Unlimited talk and text with calling to over 200 countries
Hotspot data
The trial does require you to submit your payment information, and your card may be charged a temporary authorization hold. The hold charge will be returned to you once the card is verified by Airvoice’s payment systems.
This offer is for new customers only, which Airvoice defines as someone who hasn’t used the service and taken a free trial in the previous six months. Free trial customers will receive a new phone number to use with the test drive.
The trial ends after 30 days or whenever you use up the 10GB of data. After the trial ends you’ll automatically be billed to renew the 10GB plan for $27/month. You’ll also be able to port in your number at the time. You can opt out of automatic renewal though or cancel anytime and still be allowed to finish the free trial offer.
UScellular 30 Day Free eSIM Trial With 50GB Priority Data
UScellular has a free eSIM trial but before going over the details there are a few things that need to be immediately gotten out of the way as you may need to skip this section as a result of those details.
UScellular is a regional carrier that is only sold in a few states and areas. Unless you are living in one of those areas you cannot sign up for the trial. UScellular services select locations in the following states:
California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
UScellular also has an agreement in place to sell its customers and some spectrum to T-Mobile at a deal valued at up to $4.4 billion. The deal still has to pass regulatory approval and may not do so until the middle of the year 2025. Understand that if you take this trial and like the service, you may one day become a T-Mobile customer.
Now, about that trial.
This eSIM based free trial offer is for a maximum of 30 days of service. During the trial you’ll receive unlimited talk and text with 50GB of high-speed data and 10GB of hotspot that you can use. During times of network congestion data speeds may temporarily slow. If you go over the high-speed data limit, data speeds will be reduced to 3G for the remainder of the trial. At least 50% of your usage must be in a market where UScellular has its own network towers.
A requirement to take the trial is that you must agree to allow UScellular to send you emails and text your wireless number with promotional offers and surveys among other items.
Red Pocket Mobile previously offered a free 7-day trial like Mint Mobile. However, their trial offer has been suspended indefinitely. While Red Pocket has not specified if the trial will return, a page on their website still explains how it works. Therefore, we’ll review the details in case the trial becomes available again
Red Pocket Mobile’s trial is for service on the AT&T network. The plan includes unlimited talk and text with the first 3GB of data available at up to 5G data speeds before throttling. It is for new lines only or customers that port a number in. You may have to be a little more careful with this trial though. Once the trial ends Red Pocket Mobile will automatically bill you $20/month to continue on that plan.
If you are unhappy with the service, you can of course cancel the trial and plan before it ends to avoid being charged for it. You can also switch to a more premium and flagship plan. Red Pocket Mobile’s flagship plan costs $50/month for unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data. The first 100GB of data on the plan is available at up to 5G data speeds before throttling to 2G data speeds.
