eSIM for iPhone, done in Settings
Every iPhone since 2018 has eSIM built in. Buy a plan from $5.00 in Safari, scan the QR into Settings, land connected — paid in crypto or card, no app, no account.
No account · No KYC · Instant QR, email optional
Apple built eSIM into every iPhone from the XS and XR onward — and made US iPhone 14+ models eSIM-only — precisely so mobile plans could be software. That means no app, no store visit and no SIM tool: buy here in Safari, scan the QR in Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM, and your travel data runs alongside your own number. Ten-second compatibility check: dial *#06# — an EID line means you're ready.
Last reviewed 2026-07-23 by the Buy Crypto Sim team.
Compatibility at a glance
✓ eSIM-ready iPhones
- • iPhone XS, XS Max, XR (2018) and everything newer
- • All 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 series
- • iPhone SE (2020) and SE (2022)
- • US iPhone 14+ — eSIM-only by design, the ideal case
Two requirements that trip people up
- • Carrier-unlocked: Settings → General → About must show “No SIM restrictions”. Contract phones may be locked until paid off.
- • iPhones bought in mainland China (and some HK/Macau models) have no eSIM support at all — a regional hardware difference.
Install in five steps
- 1
Check compatibility (10 seconds)
Every iPhone from the XS / XR (2018) onward supports eSIM. Dial *#06# — if an EID appears, you're ready. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked.
- 2
Buy your plan in Safari
Pick a destination and plan here — no app needed. Pay by crypto or card; with the tracking-code option, no email either. Your QR code appears instantly.
- 3
Add the eSIM in Settings
Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code, and scan the code (on another screen, or use the manual entry details on the same page). Do this at home over WiFi.
- 4
Label the lines
Name the new line 'Travel data', keep your main line as default for calls and iMessage, and leave the travel line off until you fly.
- 5
On landing: three taps
Settings → Cellular: turn the travel line ON, set it as Cellular Data, and enable Data Roaming for that line. You're online before baggage claim.
iPhone eSIM FAQ
Which iPhones support eSIM?
Every model from the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR (2018) onward — including all SE models from 2020, and every 11/12/13/14/15/16-series phone. US-market iPhone 14 and later have no physical SIM tray at all, so eSIM is their only option. The phone must be carrier-unlocked.
Can I use two SIMs at once on iPhone?
Yes — that's the standard travel setup: your main line (physical SIM or eSIM) keeps your number and iMessage, while the travel eSIM carries data. iPhone 13 and later can even keep two eSIMs active simultaneously.
My iPhone is US model with no SIM tray — does this work?
Perfectly — eSIM-only iPhones are the ideal case. Your carrier's eSIM stays for your number; ours installs alongside it for travel data.
Does installing the eSIM start my plan?
No — validity starts on first connection at your destination. Install at home over WiFi days early; nothing is consumed until you land and connect.
Will iMessage and FaceTime keep working abroad?
Yes — they're tied to your Apple ID and number, not to which line carries data. They run over the travel eSIM's data with everything unchanged.
I deleted the eSIM from my iPhone — can I get it back?
Retrieve the QR any time on the My eSIM page with your email or tracking code and re-add it in Settings. While the plan is valid, reinstalling on the same iPhone is generally fine.
Do I need to unlock my iPhone first?
If it was bought on a carrier contract it may be locked to that carrier, which blocks other eSIMs. Check Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock — it must say 'No SIM restrictions'. Carriers unlock on request once the phone is paid off.
Ready to stay connected?
Two minutes in Settings and your iPhone travels on Buy Crypto Sim data — paid in crypto if you like.
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