eSIM With a Phone Number: Do You Need One for Travel? (2026)
By
Hieu Nguyen
Most travel eSIMs are data only. Here's when you actually need a phone number abroad, for ride-hailing apps, bank codes and calls, and the ways to get one.
Most travel eSIMs are data only. Here's when you actually need a phone number abroad, for ride-hailing apps, bank codes and calls, and the ways to get one.
Quick answer: most travel eSIMs are data only, so they come without a phone number and can't receive normal SMS or calls. That's usually fine, because you can keep your home SIM switched on for texts and verification codes while the eSIM handles data. You need an eSIM with a phone number only if your home SIM won't work abroad, or you want a separate number for calls and texts on the trip. In that case your options are a local carrier's tourist eSIM, a travel eSIM that includes a number (such as BitJoy's UK +44 eSIM), or a virtual number app.
This guide explains when a number actually matters abroad (ride-hailing apps, bank codes, booking calls), which type of eSIM gives you one, and how to pick the right setup for your trip.
Table of contents
Data-only eSIM vs eSIM with a phone number
An eSIM is just a digital SIM. What you get depends on the plan loaded onto it:
| Data-only eSIM | eSIM with a phone number | |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile data | Yes | Yes |
| Phone number | No | Yes (local or foreign, depending on the plan) |
| Receive SMS and verification codes | No | Yes, on that number |
| Normal phone calls | No (app calls like WhatsApp still work over data) | Yes |
| Typical use | Maps, messaging apps, social media, ride apps | Local calls, SMS codes, services that need a number |
Most travel eSIMs, including BitJoy's country and regional plans, are data only. That's why they're cheap and quick to set up: there's no number to register. If you're not sure whether eSIMs come with numbers at all, see are eSIMs attached to phone numbers?
When do you actually need a phone number abroad?
For most trips, the number you need is your own home number, not a new one. It matters in these situations:
- Signing up for ride-hailing apps. Uber, Grab, DiDi and Japan's GO accept foreign numbers, but they send a one-time code by SMS. A data-only eSIM can't receive it, so your home SIM needs to be on.
- Bank and card verification codes. Banks send OTPs to the number on your account. Many reject new or virtual numbers.
- Calls with hotels, tour operators and drivers. A local number is easier for them to call, and local calls are cheaper.
- Apps that require a local identity check. Some services in Korea, such as Coupang, verify you through a Korean phone number registered in your name. No foreign number or travel eSIM can pass that check.
Here's how popular travel apps handle phone numbers:
| App | Foreign number accepted? | How it verifies | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uber | Yes | SMS code | Uber's help centre notes carriers may block its short-code texts |
| Grab | Yes | SMS code | A data-only eSIM can't receive it; keep your home SIM on |
| GO (Japan) | Yes, since November 2023 | SMS, or email plus passport and selfie | Register before you fly |
| Kakao T (Korea) | Difficult | Kakao account | Visitors usually use K.Ride, TABA or Uber instead |
| DiDi (China) | Yes, in the international app | SMS code | The WeChat version is harder with a foreign number |
| Coupang (Korea) | No | Korean identity check | Needs a Korean number in your name |
Data: 5GB
Validity: 30
Days
Your options for a phone number while traveling
1. Keep your home number (dual SIM)
The simplest option. Modern iPhones and Android phones can run two lines at once: your home SIM for calls and texts, and a travel eSIM for data. Apple confirms that with Dual SIM both numbers can make and receive calls and send and receive SMS, while only one line uses mobile data at a time.
- Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line.
- Leave your home line on so SMS codes arrive, and turn off data roaming on it to avoid data charges.
- Check with your carrier what receiving texts and calls costs in your destination. Inside the EU, "Roam like at home" rules mean receiving texts costs nothing extra.
More on this in can I keep my phone number with an eSIM? and our guide to receiving bank SMS codes abroad.
2. A local carrier's tourist SIM or eSIM
Many countries sell tourist plans with a real local number, data and minutes. In the UAE, for example, du and Virgin Mobile sell tourist eSIMs, and du hands out a free tourist SIM with 10 GB for 24 hours at Dubai airport immigration. In most countries you register the line with your passport, and you get a local number that works for local calls and most local apps.
The trade-off: you usually buy it after landing, prices and rules vary by country, and a local SIM in a single-SIM phone replaces your home number for the trip.
3. A travel eSIM that includes a phone number
A few travel eSIMs come with a number. BitJoy's Data, Calls & SMS eSIMs are UK eSIMs with a +44 number, from $26 (Starter Boost, 40 GB). Things to know before you buy:
- It's a UK number, not a local number in your destination. Check the product page for which countries include calls and texts.
- Roaming data has its own cap. On the Starter Boost plan, up to 6 GB of the 40 GB can be used while roaming outside the UK.
- It works for receiving SMS from services that accept UK numbers, but it won't pass identity checks that require a local number (like Korea's).
4. A virtual number app
Apps such as Google Voice (US sign-up only), Quo (formerly OpenPhone) and TextNow give you a number that works over the internet. They're handy for calls and texts with people, but many banks, WhatsApp and ride-hailing apps reject virtual (VoIP) numbers for verification. See our list of temporary number apps for details.
Which option should you choose?
| Your situation | Best setup |
|---|---|
| You need data and your bank or app codes | Data-only travel eSIM + home SIM kept on |
| Your phone can only use one SIM at a time | Roam on your home SIM, or use a local SIM with a number and switch back to your home SIM when you need a bank code |
| You want cheap local calls with hotels and drivers | Local carrier tourist SIM or eSIM |
| You want one extra number that works across several countries | Travel eSIM with a number (e.g. UK +44) |
| You need an app that requires a local identity check | Local SIM registered in your name (no eSIM workaround) |
What to check before buying an eSIM with a number
- Which country the number belongs to. A UK or US number is not a local number in Japan or Thailand.
- Where calls and texts are included, and whether incoming calls cost extra.
- Roaming data limits, which can be smaller than the headline data amount.
- Whether your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM.
- Whether the services you need accept that number. Test bank and app logins before you fly.
Need a number as well as data?
BitJoy's Data, Calls & SMS eSIMs come with a UK +44 number, from $26.
See Data, Calls & SMS eSIMsFrequently asked questions
How can I get an eSIM with a phone number?
Buy a plan that includes a number: a local carrier's tourist eSIM in your destination, or a travel eSIM that comes with a number, such as BitJoy's UK +44 Data, Calls & SMS eSIM. Data-only travel eSIMs don't include one.
Is it possible to get an eSIM online?
Yes. Travel eSIMs are bought online and installed by scanning a QR code, usually before you leave home. Local carrier eSIMs often still need your passport, either online or in a store.
Can I receive SMS with a data-only eSIM?
No. A data-only eSIM has no number, so normal SMS can't reach it. Keep your home SIM switched on to receive texts, or use messaging apps that work over data.
Can an eSIM phone number receive bank verification codes?
Only if your bank sends codes to that number. Banks send OTPs to the number on your account, so in most cases you should keep your home SIM active for bank codes rather than change the number.
Will installing a travel eSIM change my phone number?
No. Your existing number stays on your home SIM. The travel eSIM is added as a second line.
Does a US travel eSIM give me a US phone number?
Not usually. Most US travel eSIMs, including BitJoy's, are data only. If you need a US number, look for a US carrier prepaid plan or a virtual number, keeping in mind that some apps reject virtual numbers.
