HelloRoam vs Mint Mobile: which eSIM works for NZ travellers in 2026?

Install your HelloRoam eSIM using the Auckland Airport terminal Wi-Fi before your flight. Open your HelloRoam confirmation email, scan the QR code, and the eSIM installs in about five minutes. Your plan's days don't start until you arrive and connect to a local network at your destination.

HelloRoam covers the USA with connections to the AT&T and Verizon 4G and 5G networks. NZ travellers visiting New York, Los Angeles, or Hawaii can buy a plan before leaving Auckland and be connected straight away on arrival. US plans are prepaid, with no monthly subscription. Note that an eSIM profile is not transferable between devices once installed.

Most Samsung Galaxy S21 and newer models (not the S21 FE) sold in New Zealand support eSIM, and so do the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold series. To check, go to Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager. Some budget A-series models don't include eSIM, so check yours before you buy. If your Samsung supports eSIM and is unlocked, it works with HelloRoam straight away.

HelloRoam supports hotspot sharing on every plan, on phones that allow hotspot. Turn on Personal Hotspot on your phone and connect your travel companion's device through it. Hotspot use counts towards your plan's data. This works well for couples or small groups where one person has a HelloRoam eSIM and the others connect through them. If everyone wants their own data allowance, a plan for each phone is the better pick.

Yes. Open the HelloRoam app, pick your current destination and choose another data package. This is handy on longer trips to Bangkok or Phuket, where you end up using more data than expected. Mint Mobile isn't an option here, because its international passes only work on top of a US Mint Mobile plan.

Your phone needs to be unlocked and support eSIM. That includes the iPhone XS and newer, most Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models, and the Google Pixel 4 and newer. Some budget and mid-range phones don't have eSIM, so check your phone's settings. You need Wi-Fi to install the eSIM before your trip, and the profile can't be moved to another device after installation. These are minor trade-offs, and every travel eSIM works this way. The upside is paying a flat prepaid rate instead of daily roaming charges from Spark, 2degrees or One NZ that pile up over any trip longer than a few days.

HelloRoam covers South Korea with connections to the SK Telecom and LG Uplus networks. Korea has grown as a destination for NZ travellers in recent years. Activate a plan before leaving Auckland and arrive at Incheon Airport with your data ready to go. Plans are prepaid with no ongoing commitment.

iPhones sold in New Zealand from the iPhone XS and XR (2018) onwards support eSIM. Most NZ models are sold unlocked, so HelloRoam works straight away. If your iPhone is locked to Spark, 2degrees or One NZ, ask your carrier to unlock it before adding an eSIM.

HelloRoam covers Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and most of Southeast Asia. NZ travellers backpacking through the region can use regional plans covering multiple countries under one purchase. This is more convenient than hunting for a local SIM card in each country. Plans are prepaid, with no contract.

HelloRoam's Europe regional plan covers the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and many other countries under one purchase. On a European holiday, you avoid buying a separate SIM card in each country. Europe regional plans are a one-off prepaid purchase, while daily roaming charges from Spark, 2degrees or One NZ add up over two weeks in Europe.

HelloRoam covers Fiji, Samoa, French Polynesia and other Pacific destinations. Instead of paying daily roaming charges to your NZ carrier, you get affordable prepaid data on a local network in each place.

Keep your 2degrees SIM in the physical SIM slot for NZ calls and texts. HelloRoam goes in the eSIM slot for data abroad. Your 2degrees number stays active so people can reach you on your usual number. Set HelloRoam as the data line in your phone settings when you land at your destination.

Yes, on many models, including most Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer models and the Google Pixel 4 and newer. Not every Android phone has eSIM, and many budget and mid-range models don't, so check yours. On a Pixel, go to Settings, then Network and internet, then SIMs. On a Samsung, go to Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager. If you see an option to add an eSIM, your phone supports it. If it's also unlocked, it works with HelloRoam.

Buying a local SIM abroad often means queuing at an airport counter and sorting out paperwork before you can get online. HelloRoam installs in about five minutes before you leave home, and your NZ number stays active on your physical SIM. On most trips to popular destinations, skipping the local SIM queue is well worth it.

HelloRoam is a solid pick for trips to Australia, the UK, Japan, Bali, Thailand, Fiji or any of its 185+ countries. Plans start at NZ$1.77 with no monthly fees or daily charges. Setup takes about five minutes at home or at Auckland Airport. 24/7 support via WhatsApp is there if anything goes wrong on your trip.

Mint Mobile's main limits for international use are a daily roaming fee on top of your monthly US plan, no unlimited international data option, and no sign-up for people outside the US. Mint Mobile roaming adds up fast on longer trips, and NZ residents can't sign up without a US address. HelloRoam covers 185+ countries, with plans from NZ$1.77, no US account needed and support that answers in your own language.