Can I switch from physical SIM to eSIM?+
Switching from a physical SIM to an eSIM is a straightforward process with all three major Canadian carriers. Log into your Rogers, Bell, or Telus account through their app, find the eSIM or digital SIM option, and request a transfer. The carrier sends a QR code to your email or displays one in the app. Scan it on your phone, confirm the install, and your digital profile is active. Your physical SIM stops working once the eSIM takes over, so verify the switch is complete before you remove the old card.
Is eSIM better than a physical SIM card?+
Is eSIM better than a physical SIM card? For most travellers with an eSIM-compatible phone, yes. That includes iPhone XS and newer, most Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models, and Google Pixel 4 and newer. It installs over the air with a QR code scan, with no card to swap, no store visit and no delivery wait. The eSIM vs physical SIM comparison consistently favours eSIM on convenience, security, and cost. HelloRoam covers 185+ countries, including the US, Mexico, and Europe. HelloRoam plans start from CA$1.44; prices vary by destination. A physical SIM still makes sense for phones that lack eSIM hardware or for destinations where local carrier eSIM support is limited.
Is eSIM more secure than physical SIM?+
An eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM card in one clear way: the chip is soldered inside your phone and cannot be popped out or swapped into another device. A physical SIM can be taken out of a lost or stolen phone and used in another one. SIM swap fraud is different: it happens at the carrier, when an attacker gets your number moved to a new SIM, so it can target either type. Your HelloRoam eSIM profile is locked to your device using GSMA encryption standards and stays on the phone you installed it on.
Should I get an eSIM or local SIM for Mexico or the USA?+
An eSIM is the practical choice for most Canadians travelling to the US or Mexico. Local physical SIM cards in both countries can cost less per gigabyte, but buying one requires finding a carrier store, presenting ID, and waiting for activation. A HelloRoam prepaid eSIM activates from home before your flight, so you land in Fort Lauderdale or Cancun already connected. For a March Break trip or a quick cross-border weekend, eSIM convenience is hard to beat.
What are the advantages of eSIM over physical SIM?+
eSIM advantages over a physical SIM card include QR code activation with no store visit, no plastic card to lose at any point during your trip, and the ability to hold multiple carrier profiles on a single device. The difference between eSIM and SIM is that physical sim vs esim comes down to hardware: eSIM is embedded, physical SIM is removable. HelloRoam eSIM connects you to 212+ networks across 185+ countries. Activate your travel plan from your couch before leaving for the airport and switch between countries without stepping inside a phone shop at any stop.
Is eSIM more private or secure than a physical SIM card?+
An eSIM provides the same level of privacy as a physical SIM card. Both use identical protocols to connect to cell towers, and the same network-level data applies to each. The security edge eSIM holds is physical: no one can remove the chip from your phone or slip it into another device. HelloRoam eSIM profiles are device-locked and encrypted to the GSMA standard, so your connection stays tied to your phone throughout your trip.
Can I have two eSIMs on one phone?+
Most modern smartphones can store more than one eSIM profile. iPhone XS and newer models with a SIM tray run one physical SIM and one eSIM at the same time. The iPhone 13 and later can run two eSIMs at the same time with no physical SIM needed. Google Pixel 7 and later can also run two eSIMs if your carrier allows it. HelloRoam lets you load a travel data eSIM alongside your Bell, Rogers, or Telus line so your Canadian number stays reachable while you're away.
Can your eSIM be hacked?+
An eSIM has one clear security edge over a physical SIM card: it is built into your phone, so no one can pull it out and put it into another phone the way they can with a SIM card. GSMA encryption covers every HelloRoam eSIM profile in all 185+ of our countries. A thief who takes your phone cannot pull out the eSIM and use it elsewhere. SIM swap fraud happens at your carrier, not on the phone, so it can affect either type of SIM.
Do eSIMs give you a phone number?+
HelloRoam eSIM plans are data-only and do not assign a new phone number to your device. Your existing Canadian number stays active on your primary carrier line as usual. This two-line setup works well for travel: Rogers, Bell, or Telus handle your calls and texts while HelloRoam delivers data in 185+ countries. If you need a local number at your destination, a carrier eSIM from a local provider would be needed for that.
Do you keep your phone number with an eSIM?+
Your phone number belongs to your carrier account, not to the SIM type. Moving from a physical SIM to an eSIM with Rogers, Bell, or Telus keeps your number exactly the same. Adding a HelloRoam travel eSIM does not touch your existing Canadian number at all. Your home line stays active for calls and texts while HelloRoam handles data in 185+ countries abroad.
