eSIM Plans: Compare Travel Data Packages in Rand
Pick your destination, trip length and how you use your phone. We match you with live data-only packages, priced in rand and delivered by QR code in minutes.
Quick answer: To choose an eSIM plan, start with where you are going: a local eSIM for one country, or a regional or global eSIM for several. Next, match the validity to your trip length in days. Then pick the GB for how you use your phone. Light users need far less than remote workers.
Every Goshen Telecoms eSIM plan is prepaid and data-only. You pay once in rand, nothing renews, and your South African SIM stays in your phone for WhatsApp and banking OTPs. The packages below come straight from our live catalogue, so what you see is what you can buy today.
Three things decide the right plan: the countries you will visit, how many days you need data and how many gigabytes you will use. The plan finder does that maths for you, and the comparison table lets you check every option side by side, including the price per GB.
Local, regional, global, unlimited and top-ups explained
Local eSIM (one country)
Suits: Trips to a single country, such as a week in London or a family visit in Kenya.
Pros: Usually the lowest price per GB. Widest choice of data sizes and validity. Simple to compare.
Watch out for: Stops working when you cross a border. Buy a second plan or a regional eSIM for side trips.
Regional eSIM (for example Europe or Africa)
Suits: Multi-country trips inside one region, like a Schengen tour or a Southern Africa road trip.
Pros: One QR code for many countries. No need to swap plans at each border. Good for coach tours and rail trips.
Watch out for: Check that every country on your route is listed. Price per GB is often a little higher than a local plan.
Global eSIM
Suits: Multi-continent trips, long layovers and travellers who do not know their full route yet.
Pros: Covers the widest list of countries. Handy for cruises with port stops and round-the-world trips.
Watch out for: Costs more per GB than local or regional plans. Coverage lists differ per plan, so check before you buy.
Top-ups
Suits: Anyone who has already installed a Goshen Telecoms eSIM and needs more data or more days.
Pros: Add data to the same eSIM without a new QR code. Paid in rand from your phone.
Watch out for: Only top-ups offered for your exact eSIM are available. Top-ups are bought after the original plan.
How much data do I need?
| Activity | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Maps and navigation | About 5 to 20 MB per hour |
| WhatsApp text messages | Under 1 MB for a few hundred messages |
| WhatsApp voice call | About 30 to 60 MB per hour |
| WhatsApp video call | About 300 to 700 MB per hour |
| Social media scrolling (with video) | About 500 MB to 1 GB per hour |
| HD video streaming | About 1.5 to 3 GB per hour |
| Video meetings | About 500 MB to 1.5 GB per hour |
| Email (without large attachments) | About 10 to 20 MB per 100 emails |
| Trip | Data | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend city break (2 to 3 days) | 1 to 3 GB | Maps, WhatsApp, a few photos shared and some browsing. |
| 1 week holiday | 3 to 5 GB | Daily navigation, social posting and the odd video call home. |
| 2 week Europe tour | 5 to 10 GB | Train times, maps in every city and evening scrolling. |
| 1 month business trip | 15 to 20 GB | Email, video meetings and hotspotting a laptop now and then. |
| Digital nomad (30 days or more) | 20 GB or unlimited | Remote work every day. Pair with a top-up or an unlimited plan. |
Recommended plans by trip type
Europe and Schengen trip
A regional plan keeps you online across borders. Pick EU plus UK if London is on the route.
UK visit
A local United Kingdom eSIM is usually the best value for a stay that does not leave the UK.
USA trip
Choose a United States plan, or North America if Canada or Mexico is also on the itinerary.
Dubai and the UAE
Short layovers and longer stays both suit a local UAE eSIM. Add the regional plan for side trips.
Southern Africa road trip
Crossing several borders by car is where a regional Africa plan earns its keep.
Asia: Thailand, Japan and China
Local plans suit one country. The Asia regional plan covers multi-stop trips.
Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia
Install before you fly so you can reach your group and share your location from arrival.
Cruise or multi-country trip
A global or regional plan covers port stops on land. Ships at sea use their own onboard network.
Validity and activation explained
When validity starts
For most plans the validity period starts when the eSIM first connects to a supported network in your destination, not when you buy it. The plan details on each destination page confirm how that plan works.
Install before you fly
Scan the QR code at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you leave. Keep the eSIM line switched off until you land, then turn it on and enable data roaming for that line only.
Hotspot
Most plans allow you to share data with a laptop or tablet through your phone's hotspot. Hotspotting uses data quickly, so size your plan up if you work from a laptop.
Keep your South African SIM
Your normal SIM stays in the phone. You keep your number for WhatsApp, and bank OTP messages still reach you on your South African line when it can connect. Turn data roaming off on that line to avoid roaming charges.
Top up in rand
If you run low, buy a top-up for the same eSIM from the manage page and pay in rand. There is no new QR code to scan.
Why buy your eSIM plan from Goshen Telecoms
- Pay in rand via Yoco: Your South African card is charged in ZAR through Yoco, so there is no foreign-currency conversion on your statement.
- Instant QR by email: Your QR code and install steps arrive by email straight after payment.
- WhatsApp support in SAST: Chat to our South African team on WhatsApp +27 64 520 4019 during South African hours.
- VAT invoice: Ask for a VAT invoice for business travel and claims.
eSIM plan questions
- Which eSIM plan should I buy?
- Choose a local eSIM if you are visiting one country, a regional eSIM for several countries in one region and a global eSIM for multi-continent trips. Then match the validity to your trip length and pick enough GB for how you use your phone. The plan finder on this page does this for you.
- How many GB do I need for 1 week?
- Most travellers use 3 to 5 GB in a week for maps, WhatsApp, social media and some browsing. If you stream video, make video calls every day or hotspot a laptop, plan for 10 GB or more.
- What is the difference between a regional and a local eSIM?
- A local eSIM works in one country and usually has the lowest price per GB. A regional eSIM covers a group of countries on one QR code, so you do not need a new plan at every border. Check the coverage list before you buy.
- Do Goshen Telecoms eSIM plans include calls or SMS?
- No. Goshen Telecoms travel eSIM plans are data-only. Use WhatsApp or another internet calling app for calls and messages, and keep your South African SIM for your normal number.
- Can I top up my eSIM?
- Yes, when top-ups are available for your eSIM. Open the manage page, enter your order details and buy more data in rand. The top-up is added to the same eSIM, so there is nothing new to install.
- Can I use my eSIM as a hotspot?
- Most plans allow hotspot sharing with a laptop or tablet. Hotspotting uses more data, so choose a bigger plan if you will work from a laptop.
- When does my eSIM plan start?
- For most plans the validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a supported network in your destination. The plan details on each destination page show how that specific plan works.
- Can I buy an eSIM before travelling?
- Yes, and we recommend it. Buy and install your eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, keep the eSIM line off and turn it on when you land.
- What happens if I run out of data?
- Your eSIM stops using data until you add more. Buy a top-up from the manage page if one is offered for your eSIM, or buy a new plan for your destination.
- Do unused GB carry over?
- No. Unused data expires at the end of the plan's validity period, unless the plan details say otherwise. Choose a size that matches your trip rather than buying far more than you need.