Ottawa-based eSIM app Helps Canadian Travellers Avoid Roaming Charges

aloSIM is a free eSIM app created by Ottawa software developers. PHOTO: aloSIM

Every Canadian traveller seems to have a vacation horror story about arriving back home to a very expensive phone bill.

“It’s the kind of mistake most of us make at least once, and you feel sort of embarrassed about it,” says Heather Clarke, who once racked up nearly $300 in cellular roaming charges on a week-long trip to Florida.

“It’s not always obvious how to use your phone on vacation without spending a fortune, and a lot of people don’t understand what ‘roaming’ means, or how much it’s going to cost.”

When Clarke joined Ottawa-based AffinityClick – the software creators behind the top-grossing Hushed app – she became excited about their mission to help her fellow Canadian travellers, who are already paying some of the highest travel roaming rates in the world.

The free aloSIM app is already one of the highest-rated eSIM apps available on the App Store and Google Play, with more than half a million happy customers – including many of their fellow Canadians.

How does eSIM work?

The concept is simple. Travellers use the free aloSIM app to purchase prepaid data packages for their destinations, and install virtual SIM cards (called ‘eSIMs’) directly on their phones. When they arrive in a new country, their eSIM connects to a local network and the data starts flowing.

“We believe Canadians should have the freedom to travel, enjoy their trip, and not worry about how much it’s going to cost to use their phone on vacation,” says Clarke, who manages marketing and communications for AffinityClick. “Using an eSIM saves time and money. It’s the way of the future.”

In the free aloSIM app, you can buy mobile data in the United States for $6 CAD for a full week (85 cents a day), which is significantly cheaper than paying $15-$20 for a daily carrier roaming plan.

An eSIM takes less than two minutes to install on an eSIM compatible phone or tablet, and it never expires.

“If you return to the same country year after year, you can use the same eSIM on each trip and just top it up with a new data package,” adds Clarke. “We have a lot of Canadian customers who regularly pop down to the States, and it takes two seconds to add a few gigs to the eSIM that’s already installed on their phone.”

aloSIM data packages are available for 180+ countries, starting at 1GB to be used over seven days. Travellers going on longer trips (or planning to consume more data) can opt for bigger data packages ranging from 2GB up to 100GB that last weeks or months. Data packages include a free international phone number from Hushed, and aloSIM will soon be adding unlimited eSIM plans to the lineup.

Canadians helping Canadians

Before eSIMs were introduced, some travellers would remove their physical SIM card and swap it for a SIM card purchased at an airport or train station once they arrived at their destination. But that meant losing access to their regular phone number, potentially losing or damaging the cards, and being susceptible to inflated prices and scams.

But buying an eSIM doesn’t require visiting a brick-and-mortar store. They can be purchased online in seconds, and used moments later. Travellers can install them ahead of their trip, and connect to a network as soon as they land.

As more travellers ditch the physical SIM cards and move forward with the flexibility of downloadable eSIMs instead, Clarke says aloSIM’s been able to stand out from other eSIM apps by offering exceptional customer service and that famous Canadian friendliness.

“We have employees working around the clock, so our customers always have someone to contact if they have a question – no matter where they are in the world,” says Clarke. “We receive positive comments daily about the quality of support we provide, and we’re very proud of that.”

aloSIM has also become a major player in the eSIM space by developing innovative tools to help travellers preparing to use their phone abroad. Their eSIM compatible phone checker is the only one of its kind, their travel data calculator helps travellers decide how much data they’ll probably use on their trip, and their vacation cheat sheet simplifies how to use your phone on vacation – data, calling, and texting.

“We know that not everyone has heard of an eSIM, so we’re always looking for ways to explain things simply,” says Clarke. “Most people know the pain of roaming charges, so they like the idea of spending a lot less money and having data whenever they need it.”

No need to rely on Wi-Fi

Some travellers opt to switch off their Canadian SIMs entirely when they leave the country, but then they’re stuck without any internet connection – unless they scrounge up some free Wi-Fi at the hotel or a local café.

Using a local eSIM means you get to take the internet everywhere you go, and use it for booking rides, messaging, checking email, confirming flight itineraries, buying tickets, streaming music, and making reservations.

“Wi-Fi is usually available at your hotel, but that doesn’t help if you’re driving your rental car down a random road and you’re totally lost,” says Clarke. “Having mobile data to pull up maps and driving directions can save the day.”

eSIM technology is easy to use, and Clarke says it’s a common misconception that only younger travellers have switched from physical SIMs to eSIMs.

“Some of our very best customers are actually in their 60s and 70s. These are Canadians who travel every few months, and they appreciate getting a good deal on roaming data,” says Clarke. “They open the app, pick out where they’re going next, and get all the data they need for a great price. They love it!”

aloSIM is a free download on the App Store and Google Play. Learn more on alosim.com.