Best eSIM Inside a Banking App? Revolut eSIM Review (2026)

Travel apps are starting to blur into one.

Your banking app tracks your spending abroad, your airline app manages your boarding passes — and now, even your mobile data can live in the same place.

That’s exactly what Revolut is trying to do with its built-in eSIM and other extra services this online bank offers. Instead of juggling multiple apps or buying a separate plan, you can activate data directly inside your account and stay connected the moment you land.

It’s a smart idea — especially for frequent travelers.

But here’s the real question: is Revolut’s eSIM actually good enough to replace standalone providers like Airalo or Holafly — or is it just a convenient extra?

Revolut (eSIM) Review: Does it Work Well for International Travel?  

As a Revolut customer, you gain access to many benefits alongside your bank account, and one of them is the company’s e-SIM, offered through the 1GLOBAL network.  

Prices start from just £1.50 ($2.00) for a short three-day trip, and several packages are available at different price points. If you’re a Revolut Ultra subscriber, you even get 3GB of data included in your package.  

If you’re a Revolut customer or are planning to open an account in the coming days or weeks, find out how its e-SIM shapes up and whether it’s a viable option for you. 

Introducing Revolut’s e-SIM 

This e-SIM package is not currently available in the United States.  

Revolut launched its eSIM at the start of 2024, becoming one of the first UK-based financial apps to do so. It’s one of several supplementary products and subscriptions that Revolut customers can tap into, alongside travel insurance, VPNs, and other membership perks.  

To provide eSIM data coverage, Revolut partnered with 1GLOBAL, a London-based e-SIM online provider with global coverage in more than 100 countries.  

Though most major countries are covered, Revolut’s 108 countries won’t serve you well if you travel off the beaten path. Airalo (200+ countries) and Holafly (150+) are better options if Revolut’s data options are too limited for your travel plans. 

How & Where Does Revolut’s eSIM Work?  

This e-SIM is only available to Revolut customers. You must create an account and register with Revolut to buy an e-SIM bundle, which you can do in a few minutes if you’re based in the UK, EEA, or a few overseas territories.  

You’ll also need an e-SIM-compatible phone and have downloaded the Revolut app to get started. To activate the e-SIM and purchase a plan, navigate to RevPoints > eSIM. You can then select a Local, Regional, or Global data plan.  

Revolut currently offers data plans for 108 countries, and you can find your preferred destination using the list in your app. You may also choose from the following regional plans:  

• Africa (10 countries) 

• Asia Pacific (15 countries) 

• Europe (44 countries) 

• Latin America (19 countries) 

• North America (3 countries)  

Revolut eSIM Pricing & Plans: What Do You Get?

Revolut offers three types of eSIM internet data packages: Local, Regional, and Global. There are just over 100 countries where the Revolut eSIM is valid, significantly fewer than the 200+ countries covered by Airalo. 

Local e-SIMs start at £1.50 ($2.00) for 1GB of data, valid for three days. While Revolut isn’t upfront about pricing tiers, we contacted customer service and were told that 30-day plans, offering between 3GB and 10GB, cost £7 ($9.50) to £18 ($24.50) for current Revolut customers.  

These are data-only plans that don’t include minutes or texts. Revolut doesn’t currently offer an unlimited data plan. If you’re planning to use a lot of data on your upcoming trip, consider Holafly’s unlimited package, which currently costs $64.90 per month.  

As Revolut offers its e-SIM through its app, you’ll need to create an account and become a customer before you can use it. You’re eligible for Revolut’s e-SIM on the Standard (free) trial plan, but if you upgrade to Ultra, you’ll receive 3GB of free data for your travels. Here’s an overview of your options if you decide to sign up for a Revolut account:  

So, if you’re already a Revolut customer and use the app for everyday banking, its e-SIM can certainly work for you. The same is true if you were considering signing up for Revolut anyway and plan to use an eSIM in the near future.  

But as we explain below, there are several other e-SIM options, so it might not make sense to sign up for Revolut just to access its e-SIM.  

Revolut eSIM Discounts & Promotion Deals: What’s Actually Available

Unlike standalone eSIM providers, Revolut keeps things simple — and that means no traditional public promo codes like “20% off” at checkout. Instead, all official savings are built into its plans, perks, and subscriptions, rather than external coupons.

The main “discount” comes through Revolut’s paid tiers, especially Ultra, where users get 3GB of data included for free — effectively a built-in saving if you’re already paying for the plan. Across other tiers, pricing is already positioned as low-entry (from around £1.50), with occasional in-app travel campaigns or RevPoints offers rather than fixed promo codes listed on the website.

There’s also no referral-style discount specifically for eSIM purchases. Any referral bonuses Revolut runs apply to opening an account, not to reducing eSIM costs directly.

The key takeaway: Revolut doesn’t compete on promo codes. Instead of chasing 10–20% discounts, the value comes from bundled perks, free data on higher plans, and seamless integration inside the app — making it more of a convenience play than a deal-hunting one.

Reviews & Ratings: Does Revolut’s e-SIM Actually Work?  

As a financial app, Revolut has a rating of 4.7/5.0 from 389,552+ reviews. This makes it one of the most trusted financial institutions in Europe and justifies why Revolut is currently so popular.  

In these reviews, there are many positive testimonials about Revolut’s e-SIM, which is easy to activate and works seamlessly across many countries. For instance:  

Trustpilot review: “Great service. Never had an issue with my card across numerous Asian and European countries. Very competitive rates and services. Tried the e-SIM in Singapore on my last trip and it worked flawlessly. Highly recommend.” Wayne Taylor, AU 

We also checked independent reviews of 1GLOBAL’s e-SIM, which scored 3.1/5.0 on Trustpilot from 50 reviews. The positive reviews verify that the e-SIM works as it should, giving you peace of mind should you sign up through the Revolut app.  

Revolut App: Managing Data on the Go

Though this is a 1GLOBAL product, you can manage your e-SIM directly on your Revolut app. You’ll find it listed under RevPoints, where you can purchase bundles before leaving home.  

We encourage you to set up your eSIM a couple of days before you travel, as it’s easier to do this in your home country than when you touchdown elsewhere.  

If you have any issues with your Revolut eSIM, you can resolve them through the live chat on your banking app. The live chat is available 24/7, and response times are fast, usually within a few minutes.  

Alternatives to Revolut? Consider Airalo for a Standalone eSIM  

Revolut works well, but if you’re not already a customer, you might consider Airalo. It’s one of the top-rated standalone eSIM providers, with a highly rated iOS and Android app. Like Revolut, Airalo offers Local, Regional, and Global plans, so you can choose the level of coverage that suits you best.  

Unlike Revolut, though, you can also include minutes and texts in your data bundle when you use Airalo. This is ideal if you need to communicate locally in specific countries.  

If you’re looking for another company that offers e-SIMs as part of subscriptions, you might consider NordVPN. If you’re a subscriber, you can use Saily, Nord’s data-only e-SIM, valid in over 200 countries.  

Read our comparison of Revolut and Wise here.

Final Verdict: Should You Use Revolut eSIM?

Here’s why we think Revolut’s eSIM could work for you on your upcoming travels:  

✅Highly convenient if you’re a Revolut customer. Just activate it through your app, and billing is taken care of through your regular Revolut payments  

✅If you’re a Revolut Ultra customer, you’re eligible for a free e-SIM with 3GB of data  

✅Excellent flexibility, with plans for over 100 countries, including Malta, alongside regional and global options  

You might be better served by an alternative e-SIM for the following reasons:  

❌You’re not currently a Revolut customer – it doesn’t necessarily make sense to sign up for a Revolut account exclusively to use the company’s eSIM  

❌Revolut e-SIM plans are data-only. If you need calls and minutes, consider one of Airalo’s Global e-SIM packages 

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