HelloRoam: Kiwis Shouldn't Pay Spark Roaming Rates Abroad.
No Spark Day Passes. Just Data.
HelloRoam is an eSIM company with coverage in 185+ countries. Skip the SIM card queue at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Queenstown airport. Get eSIM activation in minutes before your flight boards.
Secure paymentInstant activation180-day money-back guarantee
App Store
HelloRoam is a global eSIM company operated by Future Syncs Limited, a UK-registered business incorporated in 2024, with HelloRoam launching in August 2025. HelloRoam sells prepaid eSIM data plans for travellers visiting 185+ countries, with no physical SIM card swaps and no activation fees. Plans include fixed data packages and unlimited daily data, delivered digitally for instant eSIM activation. HelloRoam handles customer data in line with New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020. Payments are processed by Stripe at PCI DSS Level 1 standard. For Kiwi travellers, HelloRoam costs significantly less than Spark, One NZ, or 2degrees international roaming packs.
Why We Started This eSIM Company
Aqib Hassan (CTO) and Mubashir Gulab (COO) started HelloRoam after landing overseas and watching hundreds of dollars vanish on carrier roaming. Any Kiwi who has stepped off a plane in Sydney, Heathrow, or Narita and scrambled for Wi-Fi knows the feeling. Spark charged one rate, One NZ charged another, and neither was cheap enough to keep the data flowing for a whole OE.
HelloRoam launched in 2025 as the fix. Scan a QR code before your flight from Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, and your phone connects to a local network the moment you land. No SIM counter queue at the airport, no daily fees stacking up on your NZ bill. Kiwis heading to Australia, Fiji, Rarotonga, Japan, Bali, and the UK now pay a flat prepaid rate across 185+ countries.
Get your eSIMHow HelloRoam Compares to Other eSIM Providers
See how HelloRoam, the eSIM company built for travellers, lines up against Airalo, Holafly, and others on the features that actually matter.
| Feature |  | Airalo | Holafly | Nomad | Saily | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 180-day refund policy |  |  | | | | |
| 24/7 live chat support | |  | | | | |
| $0 activation fees | | | | | | |
| Own branded carrier identity (SPN) | | | | | | |
| No data overage charges | | | | | | |
| Instant QR code delivery | | | | | | |
| Premium US carrier networks | | | | | | |
| Own branded carrier identity (SPN) | | | | | | |
eSIM How It Works
eSIM Activation in Minutes
Secure eSIM Activation and Data Protection
Data Encryption
Your eSIM connection uses end-to-end encryption on every network you join overseas. Whether you connect in Sydney, Tokyo, or London, your browsing and banking data stays protected.
PCI DSS Compliant
Every HelloRoam payment runs through Stripe at PCI DSS Level 1 standard. Your card details are handled the same way as a purchase at a major NZ retailer.
180-Day Guarantee
Changed your travel plans? The 180-day money-back guarantee covers unused eSIM profiles. No catch, no small print.
GDPR Compliant
HelloRoam complies with New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020 and European GDPR. Your personal data is never sold or shared with third parties.
eSIM cards powered by premium networks (190+)
Your Phone Says HelloRoam
HelloRoam operates its own branded carrier identity. When you install a HelloRoam eSIM, your phone's status bar displays HelloRoam as the network name, not a local carrier.
Service Provider Name
HelloRoam provisions its own SPN in every eSIM profile. Your phone's status bar displays HelloRoam as the carrier name, just like it shows AT&T or T-Mobile on your primary SIM. Most travel eSIM resellers show the local carrier name instead.
Public Network Name
HelloRoam holds a registered Public Network Name with international telecommunications authorities. HelloRoam is recognized as a licensed service provider, not a white-label reseller operating under another carrier's identity.
Access Point Name
HelloRoam's APN configuration connects your device to the strongest local network infrastructure at your destination automatically. No manual APN setup is required on iPhone or most Android devices.
Prices are our retail rates. Plan recommendations are based on real traveller feedback and network performance data. Every purchase includes a 180-day money-back guarantee on unactivated eSIMs.
Meet the Founders
Two founders built this eSIM company because international roaming was too expensive and chasing down a physical SIM card at Auckland Airport was a waste of time.
Aqib Hassan
Co-Founder & CTO
Aqib Hassan is Co-Founder and CTO of HelloRoam, the eSIM company active in 185+ countries. He built the systems that process eSIM activation in under two minutes. Before HelloRoam, Aqib worked in fintech and mobile platforms, and he brought that background to making travel data genuinely simple and affordable for Kiwis and travellers everywhere.
Mubashir Gulab
Co-Founder & COO
Mubashir Gulab is Co-Founder and COO of HelloRoam, managing carrier partnerships across 185+ countries. He negotiates directly with mobile networks to keep eSIM plan prices well below what Spark, 2degrees, or One NZ charge for international travel packs. Those partnerships are why HelloRoam delivers competitive travel data with no long-term contracts.
“eSIM removes the last physical barrier to international connectivity. With HelloRoam, travelers activate data before they land. No airport kiosk, no roaming shock.”
“Our 63-language support means a traveler from Tokyo to São Paulo gets the same native experience. Pricing in their currency, support in their language.”
HelloRoam Reviews from Real Travellers
Verified reviews from the Apple App Store
Great service
So pleased with both the app (easy to use) and the ease of installing the eSIM - so so simple with step by step instructions
CharF38
Spain esim
Very good like it
Soul7x
Great experience
Super easy to set up, no hassle with physical SIM cards, and the connection was reliable the whole time I was travelling. Speeds were solid, and I stayed connected without worrying about crazy roaming charges.
Areesh72829
Best E-sim App
Very helpful, easy to use and straight forward. Highly recommend this app to everyone.
X99HAS
Travel Data
Absolutely Amazing
ui.riyad
Very Easy & Quick
Very Good Service, very affordable rates
Imrangulab
Find Us On
Loved by travellers worldwide
App Store
"Used HelloRoam eSIM across 8 countries in Europe. Connected every time, right from the airport. Saved over NZD 400 compared to my carrier's international roaming plan. I won't travel without it."
Sarah M.
"Picked up an eSIM plan before boarding to Tokyo. Had fast data the moment I cleared customs at Narita. No physical SIM card shops, no waiting. This is how travel data should work."
Michael Chen"Family trip to Fiji with 4 mobiles. 14 days of unlimited data for NZD 60 total. The kids were happy posting every beach photo and I was happy not stressing over the bill."
"Remote working across 12 countries for 180 days. HelloRoam's support team helped me sort eSIM issues twice. Both times they came back in under 10 minutes. That kind of service is choice."
Alex Rivera"Semester abroad in Barcelona. HelloRoam eSIM kept me connected without blowing my budget. eSIM activation took 2 minutes. Worked for 4 months straight, sweet as."
Emma Thompson
"Honeymoon in Bali and Singapore. Zero connectivity dramas. Our eSIM data plan worked everywhere we went, and the support team answered our questions the day before we departed."
James & Lisa K.Popular eSIM Destinations
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FAQs
HelloRoam is a registered eSIM company run by Future Syncs Limited, a UK business incorporated in 2024, with HelloRoam launching in August 2025. HelloRoam is safe to use and handles customer data in line with New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020 and the Commerce Commission's consumer protection framework. Payments go through Stripe at PCI DSS Level 1 standard. HelloRoam sells prepaid eSIM data plans for 185+ countries. You receive a QR code for eSIM activation within minutes of checkout. No physical SIM card required, and no activation fees.
HelloRoam covers 185+ countries, which is a broader footprint than FlexiRoam. HelloRoam includes a 180-day refund window on unactivated plans, no activation fees, and 24/7 live chat. FlexiRoam has no public money-back policy and shorter support hours. For price, coverage, and peace of mind, HelloRoam is the stronger pick for Kiwi travellers heading abroad.
HelloRoam eSIM plans start from NZ$1.77 per day for a data-only e-sim. Fixed data packages cover trips from 12 days upward, and unlimited data plans are available for 15-day trips and longer. That is up to 84% less than Spark NZ international roaming packs, which typically run around NZD 3 to 6 per day, and far cheaper than comparable One NZ travel add-ons at around NZD 5 per day.
Most HelloRoam eSIM plans provide data only, with no voice line or phone number attached. You get internet for browsing, apps, and video calls through WhatsApp or FaceTime. Keep your primary SIM active for calls and texts, then use the HelloRoam e SIM for travel data. Some plans include a local number, so check plan details before buying.
Your number stays on your primary SIM when you add a HelloRoam eSIM for travel data. Modern iPhones use eSIM instead of a physical SIM slot. eSIM compatible phones like iPhone XS and later or Samsung Galaxy S20 and later run dual SIM, so your NZ number stays active on one line while HelloRoam handles data on the other. Turn off mobile data on your primary line to avoid roaming charges from Spark, 2degrees, or One NZ.
Most eSIM phones store two or more profiles at once. eSIM compatible devices include iPhones from the XS onward, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later. Check Settings, then Connections, then SIM card manager. If an eSIM option appears, your phone supports it. You can switch between plans for different trips. An e SIM is not transferable between devices once installed. Contact HelloRoam support about reinstall options if you change mobiles.
HelloRoam eSIM profiles lock to your device hardware and cannot be physically removed like a SIM card. The GSMA, which manages eSIM standards, requires encrypted provisioning and user authorisation for every profile transfer. HelloRoam encrypts all account data end-to-end. Enabling two-factor authentication on your HelloRoam account adds extra protection against unauthorised access.
HelloRoam does not sell or share your location data with third parties. Like any cellular connection, your eSIM registers on local carrier towers to route data. HelloRoam stores only the data needed to manage your plan, in line with GDPR guidelines and New Zealand's Privacy Act 2020. Adding a VPN over your HelloRoam eSIM connection encrypts your browsing traffic for extra privacy while you are overseas.
The Samsung Galaxy M53 does not support eSIM. It has dual nano-SIM slots but no embedded eSIM chip. eSIM compatible phones from Samsung start with the Galaxy S20 series and newer flagships. Check Settings, then Connections, then SIM card manager on your device. If no eSIM option appears, your phone uses a physical SIM card only.
Adding a second eSIM to an iPhone takes about 2 minutes. Open Settings, tap Cellular, then Add eSIM, and scan the QR code HelloRoam sends after purchase. iPhones from XS (2018) onward support multiple eSIM profiles. Label each line so you know which handles data. Activating your e-sim before your flight means data is ready the moment you clear customs.
The Hola browser is a VPN-based browser with a history of security concerns. Its free VPN model has routed user traffic through other users' connections, raising real privacy risks. For travellers wanting secure data abroad, a HelloRoam eSIM for travel data combined with a trusted VPN app is a far safer combination than relying on the Hola browser.
An eSIM is worth it for any traveller facing carrier roaming fees when they head overseas. HelloRoam eSIM plans start at NZ$1.77 per day, saving up to 84% versus Spark NZ international travel packs or roaming add-ons from 2degrees and One NZ. Some carriers offer a free eSIM for their own network, but a travel-ready e SIM that works in 185+ countries does not exist for free. HelloRoam plans start from under a dollar a day with zero activation fees and no contract to sign. eSIM vs physical SIM, digital activation wins for anyone boarding a flight from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Queenstown.
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