Has Anyone Used a 'Switch by Plan B' eSIM Adapter?

Russ on 05/05/2025 - 18:16
Last edited 23/05/2025 - 01:09

Edit: I've ordered the "Switch by Plan B" adapter. Nobody else has reported having it, so I'll be the guinea pig and try it out. I was tempted by the 5ber adapter mentioned by a few people, as it's almost exactly the same delivered price, and seems to work. But having more options is better for everyone, so I went with Switch. Delivery takes "6-18 business days", I'll report back after I've received it and tried it out.

Edit 2: The adapter arrived, it works, and I've written a detailed review in this post.

—Original Post—-

My mobile doesn't have eSIM capability, and I'd like to add it, for two reasons:

  • Ease of accessing mobile data while on overseas holidays

  • Saving on monthly mobile fees, as I use very little data normally. See this post for details about how I think I can get my monthly mobile expenditure below $7/month: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/16487692/redir

An eSIM adapter is like a physical SIM (e.g. nano-SIM or micro-SIM), except that you can "download" eSIM profiles to it, using an app on the phone the card is installed in. Your mobile phone (or other SIM-using device) thinks it's a normal SIM, so you can add eSIM capability to devices that can't normally use eSIMs.

There are a few well-known eSIM adapters, named eSIM.me and 5BER. These seem rather expensive, and eSIM.me seems to have a subscription model, where you have to pay fees to change anything.

I found a different, less expensive eSIM adapter, here's their website: https://www.switchesim.com/

And here's a YouTube video with someone explaining how they load eSIMs into the adapter, and use the adapter in a mobile WiFi hotspot:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l2PyjlwfaHw

That's all the information I can find.

I went half-way through the checkout process to find the delivered cost, and it's 22 AUD for the "Switch eSIM Adapter Pro (Android)" plus 16 AUD international shipping to Australia, so a total of 38 AUD. They have one that works with IOS too (i.e. you can use your iPhone to "download" eSIMs to the card), it's more expensive.

Has anyone had experience with this eSIM adapter, or any other eSIM adapters around the same price?

Thanks!

Mobile eSIM

Comments

  • spackbace on 05/05/2025 - 18:43

    How about a phone upgrade? Phones with esim aren't that expensive these days

    Looking at that switchesim thing, it requires an app to work… What happens if the app is buggy, or if 1 day it's just removed and the company folds?

    • Russ on 05/05/2025 - 19:19
      +1

      Phones with esim aren't that expensive these days

      Phones with eSIM capability cost significantly more than $38!

      At $38, the savings from my crazy mobile phone plan gives a payback period of 11 months.

      Also, when my phone wears out, I can just move the eSIM adaptor to the new phone, saving money again.

      • spackbace on 05/05/2025 - 19:26

        Also, when my phone wears out, I can just move the eSIM adaptor to the new phone, saving money again.

        Again, you assume the app and the company are still in business to make this work. That site was only created less than 12 months ago.

        • Russ on 05/05/2025 - 19:31

          All of the eSIM adapters are less than 5 years old. No phone had eSIM 10 years ago. So youth isn't unexpected.

          If the company goes bust and it causes the app to stop working, then I've wasted a small amount of money.

          People buy much more expensive robotic vacuum cleaners with the same limitations, it's a risk you take.

    • Russ on 05/05/2025 - 19:25

      What happens if the app is buggy, or if 1 day it's just removed and the company folds?

      I always save my apps to SD card, using an app backup utility. I've been re-installing "removed" apps for many years, with only a few failures. The failures were mostly due to not having access to a "menu" button that was deprecated sometime around Android 5.

  • scotty on 05/05/2025 - 20:59
    +2

    I have been using 5ber eSIM for a while (with an old OnePlus and an old Realme phone) and you can get the Premium one for US$25 delivered which is the same as Switch by Plan B (A$22 card + A$16 postage). It's more fiddly than phones with built in eSIM, but gives a lot more flexibility — for example moving eSIMs between phones. However there are some providers that use apps to detect existence of eSIM on the phone which doesn't really work with those adapters (i.e. eskimo).

    • Russ on 05/05/2025 - 21:54

      Thanks for the info! Annoying about Eskimo, as that's the eSIM provider I was hoping to use, as it looks to be the cheapest for long-expiry plans.

      I wonder if the problem is the Eskimo app thinking the mobile isn't eSIM compatible? The "Switch by Plan B" adapter has its own app for installing eSIMs from a QR code, so maybe I can avoid using the Eskimo app. I'll contact Eskimo and ask for help, and ask if they can use either "brand" of eSIM adaptor.

      Otherwise, there are loads of eSIM suppliers. Did you get the 5ber adaptor working, and which eSIM provider worked with it?

      Thanks!

      Edit: I messaged Eskimo, and they replied "We have many users using Switch eSIM adapter". It took a while though, maybe the CSO had to consult their supervisor.

      • scotty on 06/05/2025 - 06:59
        +1

        You can still get QR code for eskimo but you have to contact their support, rather than from within the app.

        I have also got TravelKon & FlexiRoam working on 5ber.

        • Russ on 06/05/2025 - 12:22

          Thanks!

          It appears that Eskimo have changed, and now always email a QR code. On the front page of their website, it says

          Instant eSIM Delivery
          Instantly uploaded to your Eskimo account in-app and QR code sent to your email.

    • bazingaa on 06/05/2025 - 12:17

      5ber eSIM

      it is good to know about this, just in case :D

  • seefu on 06/05/2025 - 06:53
    +2

    Have used a 5Ber whilst overseas on a Moto G84 which doesn't have eSim support. My wife with a Pixel 6a had eSim support so I was easily able to compare the 2. Native eSim support is definitely better, it just works better and can store what seems to be unlimited number of eSims.
    My 5Ber for the first couple days didn't work until I swapped the physical adapter to the main slot, I've since switched it back to sim slot 2 and it works so maybe it was a seating issue but it atleast works now.

    5Ber I think came with 2 free eSim adds and anymore you want to use, you'll need to pay a couple $; that means don't remove an eSim and add it again or you'll have to pay. So essentially, it can store heaps of eSims but you have to pay for them. I also have a feeling the eSims stay on the phone and not on the physical Sim so keep that in mind if you plan on changing phones later too - this is just a hunch and I have not tested it personally.

    • scotty on 06/05/2025 - 07:03
      +1

      The US$12 5ber Standard can only download 2 eSIMs, but the US$25 Premium is unlimited. The actual eSIM is recorded on the SIM card so it's possible to take the SIM and use on other phones.

      • Russ on 06/05/2025 - 12:32

        I was a little confused by the way you used "unlimited", so I checked, and I'll spell it out for anyone else reading.

        There are three variants of the 5BER eSIM card. All of them have storage for up to 15 eSIMs on the card.

        The difference between the variants is:

        • Standard (12USD): you can only load the first 2 eSIMs onto the card for free. There is a charge for every download starting from the third download - even if you deleted the first two eSIMs. You can only download eSIMs onto the card using an Android app running on an Android phone.

        • Premium (25USD): eSIM downloads are always free, unlimited quantity. You can only download eSIMs onto the card using an Android app running on an Android phone.

        • Ultra (28USD): same as Premium, but you can use an IOS app running on an iPhone to download eSIMs. So you can download eSIMs with Android phones and Apple phones.

    • Russ on 06/05/2025 - 13:14

      Thank you!

  • bazingaa on 06/05/2025 - 12:16

    We have gone full circle, haven't we? When I was a kid, there was something called a super SIM which could hold like 5 normal SIM cards by copying them, I am talking about GSM days lol.

  • Oofy Doofy on 06/05/2025 - 12:29
    +2

    I use JMP eSIM Adapter

    I'm just commenting about it here in case someone doesn't know about it already.

    • Russ on 06/05/2025 - 12:44
      +1

      I did see that one, and it looks a little confusing. You can use an Android app to download eSIMs.

      Optionally, if you purchase the "USB reader" (10USD), you can plug the eSIM into that (fiddly according to a review I read) and upload eSIMs using a PC or Mac, with open-source software.

      It is more expensive (40USD plus shipping), and they're vague about how many eSIMs it can store, saying

      The storage capacity is 420KB and you can store as many profile as will fit in that space. Profiles from different carriers vary in size.

      How did you find it? Easy to use? Have you ever tested how many eSIMs it can store? Which eSIM suppliers have you tried, and were there any eSIM suppliers you had difficulty using?

      Thanks!

      • Oofy Doofy on 06/05/2025 - 12:50
        +1

        between 4 and 8 profiles, depending on the size. You'd probably average about 6. Plenty of space for the average Joe. I've not needed to use an adapter to transfer profiles.

        I eSIM swap every so often, but so far with all the common ones that pop up on Ozb, I've had no issues. I honestly can't see where there would be an issue in any case.

        • Russ on 06/05/2025 - 12:55
          +1

          Thank you! Excellent information!

          This post already has more information about eSIM adapters than all the other posts on OzBargain combined, which is what I had hoped for.

  • Russ on 10/05/2025 - 16:25
    +1

    For anyone looking for data eSIMs with long expiry, for data use in Australia, here are the ones I found:
    Eskimo are about 3 AUD per GB with 2-year expiry. Can top-up to extend expiry. Uses Optus: https://www.eskimo.travel/plans/australia-esim/10gb
    BNESIM are about 5 AUD per GB for their "Lifetime data" option. Uses VF: https://shop.bnesim.com/plans/au/
    Roamless are about 4 AUD per GB on their "Pay as you go" option, never expires, uses Optus 4G and Telstra 4G: https://roamless.com/esim/australia-esim
    NxtlSim are about 4 AUD per GB, and can be used worldwide but pricing varies. Unknown carrier: https://nxtlsim.com/pricing/

  • Russ on 23/05/2025 - 01:10

    Thanks everyone, I received the adaptor and it works. I wrote a detailed review in this post.

  • Russ on 11/08/2025 - 00:33

    Update: 5BER no longer exists, according to this Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/eSIMs/comments/1kqkfny/my_experienc…

    The reddit post links to a post on medium.com, it appears there are still ways to use your 5ber adapter, if you have one.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join