If you are like me and you are tired of having to always purchase physical SIM cards whenever you enter a new country before you can get internet access then you should check out the Airhub eSIM.
Airhub offers data packs at local rates and affordable prices, hence saving you from paying outrageous roaming fees before you can use local networks and surf the internet.
I have used this eSIM over a certain period so, if you are curious — How good is the Airhub eSIM?
In this review, I will be sharing my personal experience while using this eSIM, and so much more so that you can be able to decide whether this eSIM is an ideal choice for you or not.
What You Need To Know About The AirHub eSIM
AirHub is an eSIM store that offers diverse, affordable plans that you can choose from.
They have plans for a single country, regional plans, and global data plans that cover different countries and regions in the world.
They also offer an unlimited plan that provides you with unlimited data and unlimited phone calls within a specified timeframe.
Since they do not operate as a stand-alone service provider, they collaborate with diverse network providers in different parts of the world to provide global coverage and reliable internet access in more than 170 countries.
Let’s look at how to install and activate this eSIM, and then we can go ahead and look at my honest review about it.
How To Install and Activate the AirHub eSIM
The installation of an AirHub eSIM is an easy process and the steps are forward and straight to the point.
First, you need to create an account with Airhub.
You can do so immediately after you get into the Airhub App or website, which is before you begin the installation process, or you can do so during the installation process.
Owing to the fact that you will be asked to create an account while you are installing the eSIM, I suggest that you do so before you go ahead to purchase a new eSIM.
Once you have created an account, you are three steps away from having your eSIM up and running.
1. Choose A Country And Your Preferred eSIM Plan
When you log into your Airhub eSIM profile either on the website or app, you will see a search bar at the top which you can use to search for the country you are traveling to.
When you select the country you are traveling to, you will be shown all the data packages that are available for that coverage area.
These packages usually have varying offers, timeframes, and price tags, hence giving you diverse options to make the perfect choice of the best eSIM data plan for your travel needs.
2. Make Payment
Once you check through the available packages and make your choice, it’s time to pay for it.
There are usually diverse payment methods provided by Airhub so choose the one that you prefer and make the purchase.
Note: If you use your credit or debit card to purchase an eSIM, you will be charged a small processing fee for every transaction you carry out.
3. Install and Activate the eSIM
When you successfully make a payment for any of Airhub’s eSIMs, a payment confirmation will be sent to the email address you provided.
This email will contain a QR code, an activation code, and useful information on how you can go about installing your eSIM.
Note: QR code can only be scanned and installed once, so ensure you do not make any mistakes the first time you are carrying out the installation.
Since the activation of this eSIM doesn’t require an internet connection, I usually do it immediately after I get to my destination country so that I can enjoy instant connectivity, so I would advise you to do the same.
The activation process is simple and can be done in just a few steps so you don’t break a sweat.
Remember that for you to be able to use the Airhub eSIM, your mobile phone must be an eSIM-compatible smartphone.
Advantages of Using The AirHub eSIM
Global Coverage
Airhub provides network coverage in more than 170 countries, and this is all thanks to its collaboration with multiple service providers such as AT&T, T mobile, O2, and Sonaecom, amongst several others.
Through these collaborations, you can be assured of mobile data when you travel to different parts of the world and you can be rest assured that the availability of diverse network providers will mean you will be automatically connected to the best option in any region you travel to.
Diverse Plans
Without a doubt, when it comes to offering diverse and expansive plan options, Airhub is one of the best eSIM providers in that aspect.
I love that they offer vast plans and give me a lot of alternatives that I can choose from.
For example, their United States plan has more than 30 different packages available which I can choose from.
Meanwhile, their regional plans cover the Middle East, South Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands, amongst other regions.
Plus, they have a Global plan that covers different countries from different regions all in one package.
They also have offers for unlimited plans that allow me to use unlimited data and unlimited call time within the timeframe that is stipulated.
With these numerous plans available, Airhub’s local eSIMs offer me the flexibility to be able to choose a good option that fits both my budget and travel needs.
Ease Of Use
The website and app of this eSIM card are very user-friendly and easy to use.
They are built in a way that even first-time eSIM users can conveniently navigate around them and manage their operations without stress.
The process of installing and activating is also very stress-free and doesn’t take a lot of time to execute.
Free Pre-Purchase Trial
One of the features that blew me away about the Airhub eSIM is this offer.
If you are not sure of whether to purchase any of Airhub’s eSIM plans or not, you can use its pre-purchase trial plan that gives you Free 200MB data which you can use in over 80 countries.
There is no pressure to necessarily patronize the brand after you are done using this trial.
If at the end of the trial period, you are satisfied with their services, you can purchase a top-up on any of their platforms, and if you aren’t satisfied, you can look for another provider.
You won’t be asked to input your financial information before you can start using this trial so there is no pressure whatsoever.
All you have to do is to visit the Airhub website and input your email address and you will be sent an email with all the information you need to install and start using the trial offer.
Local Geographic Number for Phone Calls and Text Messages
Airhub data packages come with local phone numbers which you can use to make calls when you are in a foreign country.
Although not all packages come with this offer, others come with unlimited call time for the entire period of your data plan.
Secure Payment
Airhub has made several payment methods available which you can use to pay for the purchase of their plans.
And each one of these methods is properly secured.
To ensure that your financial information is secured, Airhub uses only the most renowned and trustworthy payment methods.
You can use Google Pay, Apple Pay, CashApp Pay, PayPal, AliPay, and WeChat to pay for any package that you pick.
You can also use your credit card or debit card or pay through your bank directly.
Paying directly can enable you to get $5 back if you meet the criteria stipulated.
Money-back Guarantee
If you purchase any of Airhub’s eSIM plans and you encounter a connection problem that you report back to the Airhub team and it can’t be resolved, your order will be reimbursed.
And if the eSIM was unable to connect to the Internet entirely, you will get a 100% refund.
This offer lasts for 30 days, beginning from the day you purchase the eSIM.
Note: If you are to be refunded, the processing fee which was charged at the time of purchase won’t be refunded.
Several Partner Programs
Airhub offers diverse partner programs that you can benefit from as a registered user of their platform.
These partner programs include a Wholesale Program, an Enterprise Program, a Voucher Program, and an Affiliate Partner Program.
There are also other amazing programs offered by Airhub such as the API Partner Program and the White Label Partner Program.
Let’s look at some of these programs.
As its name clearly states, the Affiliate Partner Program rewards you when you refer someone to register with Airhub and purchase eSIMs.
These rewards come in the form of a commission for every successful conversion that is carried out through your referral link.
If you are an eSIM reseller, then you will love the Enterprise Program that allows you to partner with Airhub and offer your customers the brand’s flawless eSIM solutions while making money in the process.
The Voucher and Wholesale programs can also do you a lot of good if you are an eSIM reseller.
Incoming Family Plans and Cruise Packages
Despite all these features, Airhub has more exciting upcoming launches on the way.
At the time of writing this article, Airhub is about to launch interesting new packages such as Family Plans and Cruise Packages.
Cruise Packages are very unique packages that are not offered by only a handful of eSIM providers.
This package is for business travelers and nomads who travel on cruise ships and want to enjoy a reliable internet connection on the go.
Cons Of Using the AirHub eSIM
Limitations of Plans
First off, Airhub eSIMs do not have customizable plans.
On my last trip to South Korea, I was supposed to stay for 20 days, so I was forced to purchase the 30-day plan because the 15-day plan wouldn’t have been enough.
However, purchasing the 30-day plan meant I purchased too much data than I needed and hence spent more money than I should have — which would have been avoidable if the plans were customizable.
That’s not all.
For example, if you are traveling to certain countries, there is no plan available that you buy and use for that particular country alone, you need to purchase a regional or global plan for you to have access to that plan.
So, you have to purchase a global or unlimited plan you don’t plan on buying and possibly more mobile data than you need, for you to be able to use Airhub’s eSIM services in certain countries.
It seems the focus and target audience of Airhub’s Unlimited Plans are heavy data users and not necessarily travelers who mostly go on short trips.
Also, I once purchased one of the global plans for $29 and I was unable to make calls outside Europe and discovered that outbound text messages are not supported.
However, I was able to make unlimited local calls, and I was given up to 500 minutes worth of EU-to-EU calls.
Another limitation I noticed is that its monthly plans, which have unlimited data and call offers, are only available in popular destinations like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Varying Experiences in Performance and Customer Service
I noticed that I experienced inconsistent and unreliable connections when I traveled to certain locations, especially if they were remote areas.
Although their support team has been helpful to me in a few scenarios where I needed help, there have been far too many complaints about them from a lot of their customers.
I was able to reach their customer support team through live chat, and I got a response in little to no time, but the reviews and complaints I saw about their customer service on Reddit and Trustpilot were too much to ignore.
With a 3.1/5 rating on Trustpilot and the first review about it on Reddit titled “Stay Away From Airhub eSIM”, you can say for a fact that not everybody enjoyed the value for their money.
FAQ
Does AirHub eSIMs Come With A Local Number for Phone Calls?
Yes, AirHub eSIMs come with a phone number that you can use to make local calls and send text messages.
Unlike other eSIMs that offer no phone numbers or an international phone number for international calls, Airhub eSIMs offer you a local geographic number that you can use to make local calls wherever you are in a foreign country.
However, not all data plans feature this offer, so you need to check through properly to ensure the plans you choose have that offer.
Can I Install Multiple AirHub eSIMs On One Mobile Device?
Yes, you can multiple AirHub eSIMs on your mobile device.
AirHub eSIMs are digital SIM cards so they do not have physical restrictions like physical SIM cards do, so you can install as much as your device and its storage space can carry.
What’s the Internet Speed Of AirHub eSIMs?
AirHub eSIMs offer both 4G LTE and 5G connection but most of the plans use 4G LTE speed.
Plus, those who offer 5G speed are usually more expensive.
Does AirHub eSIMs Support Tethering and Hotspot?
Yes, AirHub eSIMs Support Tethering and Hotspot sharing. However, not all plans offer this feature.
How Much Does AirHub eSIM Plans Cost?
The cost of AirHub eSIM plans differs depending on your preference. The prices of these plans range from $3 to $51.
Conclusion
The journey of my product hunt for a good eSIM for my travels took me to the path of the Airhub eSIM and after using it, I discovered there is a lot to be desired.
Its local data plans have fair pricing, plans are vast, and coverage is wide, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to the network speeds and the response time of the customer support channels.
However, because they haven’t been in the eSIM business for that long, I can say they are doing a great job so far, but there are a lot of things they need to improve on for them to go par for par with the Nomad eSIM and other heavyweights in the eSIM industry.
Did You Like This AirHub eSIM Review?
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