How do I activate my Revolut eSIM?
To activate your Revolut eSIM, you need to purchase a travel data plan within the app, let the system automatically install the eSIM immediately after purchase, and finally, enable data roaming for that eSIM in your phone settings. In summary: purchase, install, activate.
This information is taken directly from Revolut's help pages, accessed on August 9, 2026. According to help.revolut.com, "you'll be prompted to 'Install eSIM' immediately after your travel data plan purchase is complete. This process is automatic." If the installation is interrupted halfway, you can resume it by tapping the banner that appears on the eSIM section's home screen within the app.
What is no longer automatic is the last step: activating data roaming. You have to do that manually in your phone's settings. It's an easy step to miss, and when the eSIM is installed but the phone still won't connect, it's usually because data roaming was left off.
What you need before installing the Revolut eSIM
Before getting to the installation part, there are three requirements that Revolut explicitly states in its Help Center (accessed on August 9, 2026):
- An open Revolut account. The eSIM is a feature within the Revolut banking app, not a standalone product: the first step of their own tutorial is "Join Revolut" and create an account.
- An eSIM-compatible and unlocked phone. Revolut explicitly states: "Your device also needs to be carrier-unlocked to work with Revolut's eSIM." If your phone is still tied to a network-locked carrier, the eSIM will not install even if the model is compatible.
- Already purchased a data plan. There is no "empty" eSIM to install first and decide on the plan later: you must choose and pay for the data plan in the Lifestyle → eSIM section before the app offers to install it.
If you're unsure what "eSIM-compatible" means exactly for a phone, it's worth checking which models allow it and what the difference is compared to a physical card — we explain this in detail in which phones are eSIM compatible and what an eSIM is, if this is your first time using this technology.
Installing the Revolut eSIM step-by-step: iOS and Android
Once the plan is purchased, the steps Revolut publishes for activating data roaming are different for iPhone and Android. Here's what their Help Center says, accessed on August 9, 2026:
On iOS: Go to Settings and select "Cellular." Choose your Revolut eSIM — the system may give it an automatic name, and it won't be your "Primary" line. Turn on "Turn On This Line" and, on the same screen, "Data Roaming." Go back to the main Cellular screen, tap "Cellular Data" again, and select your Revolut eSIM as the line that will use the internet.
On Android: Open Settings, go to "Network & internet," select "SIM cards," and choose your Revolut eSIM. Turn on "Use SIM." Return to the previous network settings screen and set your Revolut eSIM as the preferred mobile data SIM. Finally, turn on "Mobile data" and then "Roaming" on that same screen.
"eSIM data plans are provided by 1Global. Revolut is not a telecommunications service provider and acts as an agent on behalf of 1Global in offering these services."
— help.revolut.com and revolut.com, accessed August 9, 2026.
That nuance matters: when you buy an eSIM within Revolut, the network that actually connects you is not operated by Revolut, but by a wholesale connectivity provider (1Global) for whom Revolut acts as an agent. It's neither good nor bad in itself — it's simply how the service is set up, and it's good to know before buying.
If the general process of installing an eSIM is confusing to you beyond Revolut, we have a separate guide with screenshots and generic step-by-step instructions in how to install an eSIM.
How to get a Revolut eSIM in Mexico
Revolut sells both local plans by country, as well as regional plans and a global plan. For Mexico specifically, according to revolut.com/en-US/esim/mexico-esim/ (accessed August 9, 2026), the published process is:
- Download the Revolut app on an eSIM-compatible phone and open an account.
- Go to Lifestyle → eSIM, choose Mexico as your destination, and select the amount of data.
- Return to Lifestyle → eSIM to install and activate the eSIM before your trip.
The local plan sizes Revolut publishes for Mexico are the same as its country plan catalog: 1 GB for 7 days, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, and 20 GB for 30 days. If your trip is not limited to Mexico and you will cross into other countries in the region, Revolut also offers a North America regional plan and a global plan with broader coverage, according to its own page consulted on the same date.
One thing its website does not precisely clarify is the timeframe you have, after purchasing the plan, to install and activate it before its validity period begins — we did not find this figure published on the reviewed pages.
Why your Revolut eSIM isn't working (and how to fix it)
Revolut maintains a specific troubleshooting page for the travel eSIM (help.revolut.com, accessed August 9, 2026). The steps it publishes, in order, are:
- Confirm that the plan is still active. This is checked by going to the eSIM section of the app.
- Confirm that data roaming is turned on for that specific eSIM in the phone's network settings — not just installed, but selected as the active line for data.
- Verify that the eSIM was installed on the same device where the plan was purchased. Revolut is explicit about this: "eSIMs can only be installed and activated on the device they were purchased on." There's no way to buy the plan on one phone and activate it on another.
- Check the APN settings on Android if, with all of the above correct, there's still no data.
- Check the area's coverage and restart the signal search with airplane mode.
The fourth point, about the APN, is the most technical and most often overlooked, and it's precisely what Revolut publishes for when the phone "sees" the eSIM but can't get data on Android: you need to go to Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Access Point Names, select the eSIM, and check if the APN truphone.com is configured. If it's not there, manually add a new access point with the name "Revolut" and the APN truphone.com, and select it as the active APN for that eSIM.
If this sounds like a problem you've already had with any eSIM (not just Revolut's), a list of more general causes is in common eSIM problems and how to solve them.
What the Revolut eSIM covers: countries, prices, and plans
According to its own global eSIM page (revolut.com, accessed August 9, 2026), Revolut covers "100+ countries and territories." The global plan sizes it publishes are:
| Data | Validity |
|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days |
| 3 GB | 30 days |
| 5 GB | 30 days |
| 10 GB | 30 days |
| 20 GB | 30 days |
| 50 GB | 60 days |
| 100 GB | 60 days |
Revolut does not publish the price of each plan size separately on these pages, so the actual cost of a specific plan can only be seen by logging into the app with your payment method. We note that as it is: it is data that Revolut does not make public outside the app.
For those deciding between sticking with their home operator's roaming or switching to a travel eSIM — whether from Revolut or any other provider — it's worth understanding the real difference between both options: we explain it in eSIM vs. international roaming.
Revolut eSIM and PuraSIM: objective comparison
This table compares only data that can be verified on each company's official pages. For Revolut, everything has a source and date of consultation; for PuraSIM, it is the data we publish ourselves.
| Feature | Revolut eSIM | PuraSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Declared coverage | More than 100 countries and territories (revolut.com, accessed 8/9/2026) | More than 200 destinations |
| Customer support | Claims to offer "24/7" support, but its pages do not specify the channel (revolut.com, accessed 8/9/2026) | 24/7 in all languages, via email and WhatsApp |
| Activation time | Does not publish an estimated time; requires manual installation and roaming activation in phone settings after plan purchase | Approximately 1 minute |
| Timeframe to activate after purchase | Does not specify a deadline on the consulted pages | 180 days from purchase |
| Prerequisite | Requires opening and maintaining a Revolut bank account and its app (revolut.com, accessed 8/9/2026) | Only requires purchasing the plan; no bank account needed |
| Transfer to another phone | No: the eSIM is tied to the device where the plan was purchased (help.revolut.com, accessed 8/9/2026) | — |
No row in the table seeks to declare an overall "winner": it depends on what each person is looking for. If you already use Revolut for your travel finances and only need a few GB to stay connected on WhatsApp, having the eSIM within the same app can be convenient. If you're looking for a data plan without opening a new bank account or depending on which agent is behind the network, a dedicated travel eSIM solves that directly.
What the Revolut eSIM is NOT
To avoid surprises, here's what Revolut's own pages make clear (accessed August 9, 2026) and what you should keep in mind before buying:
- It is not a telecommunications operator. It is an agent of 1Global, according to its own legal text cited above.
- It is not a standalone product from its banking app. To use it, you need the complete Revolut app and an open account, not just a one-time download.
- It is not transferable between devices. If you bought the plan on an iPhone and then switch to another phone, you have to buy the eSIM again from the new device.
- It does not guarantee coverage by itself. Its own FAQ clarifies that "network coverage is provided and guaranteed by our local host networks in each destination" — meaning it depends on the local network that 1Global works with in each country, not Revolut.
None of this is a criticism: it's simply how Revolut describes its own service on its official pages.
When the Revolut eSIM is suitable and when another option is better
Using the Revolut eSIM makes sense if you already use the app for your payments abroad, need little data for a short trip, and don't mind doing the manual installation and activation in your phone's settings. Also if your destination is among the 100+ countries it covers.
It makes more sense to look for a dedicated travel eSIM if you prefer not to open a new bank account just for data, if your destination is not on Revolut's list, if you want plenty of time to activate the plan without rushing (180 days from purchase in PuraSIM's case), or if you prefer to be able to message customer support via WhatsApp when something isn't connecting, instead of relying only on the app.
To find out which option is best for your specific case depending on the country you're traveling to, the general guide to eSIM for travel in 2026 compares the criteria that truly matter when choosing, beyond the brand.
Which physical network you actually connect to
A travel eSIM is not a network of its own: it roams on local operators. Which ones you get decides your real coverage, and almost no provider publishes it. These are the networks a PuraSIM eSIM uses, taken from our own carrier agreements and checked on 2 September 2026.
| Destination | Networks you roam on | Technology | Top-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | NTT docomo · Rakuten Mobile · KDDI/au · SoftBank | 5G | Yes |
| United States | T-Mobile · AT&T | 5G | Yes |
| Spain | Orange · Movistar | 5G | Yes |
| United Kingdom | O2 · EE · 3 | 4G/5G | Yes |
| Thailand | TrueMove H · DTAC | 5G | Yes |
| Mexico | Telcel · AT&T | 5G | Yes |
| Greece | Wind · Vodafone | 5G | Yes |
| Turkey | Vodafone | 5G | Yes |
Two questions are worth asking about any travel eSIM, Revolut included. First, how many networks you get in your destination: where a plan runs on a single operator you have no fallback if that operator is weak where you are staying. Second, whether the plan can be topped up — if it cannot, running out of data means buying and installing a second eSIM mid-trip.
We publish this table because it is the part of the comparison you can check yourself: land, open your phone settings and read the operator name on screen. PuraSIM covers more than 200 destinations, and the network partners are listed on each destination page.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Revolut eSIM work on any phone?
No. You need a phone with an integrated eSIM and, in addition, it must be unlocked (carrier-unlocked). Revolut publishes a list of compatible devices in its own Help Center; if your phone is carrier-locked, the installation will not complete even if the model is eSIM-compatible.
Do I need to have a Revolut bank account to use their eSIM?
Yes. According to Revolut's own published process, the first step is to download the app and open a Revolut account; the eSIM is purchased and managed within that account, not as a separate product.
Can I use my Revolut eSIM and my physical SIM card at the same time?
Yes, on models compatible with dual SIM. You can keep your usual number active on the physical SIM for calls and SMS, and use the Revolut eSIM only for data. Revolut also clarifies that your usual operator may still charge roaming for calls or SMS even if the data goes through the eSIM.
Can I transfer my Revolut eSIM to a new phone?
No. According to their Help Center, the eSIM can only be installed and activated on the device where the data plan was purchased. If you change phones, you have to buy a new plan from the new device.
Does the Revolut eSIM charge anything in addition to the data plan price?
The consulted pages do not detail specific additional eSIM charges beyond the plan price. They do mention different fees for other app functions (such as ATM withdrawals or currency exchange outside the monthly limit), which are unrelated to the data service.
What is 1Global and what does it have to do with the Revolut eSIM?
1Global is the wholesale connectivity provider that actually provides the data service. Revolut states it on its own page: it is not a telecommunications operator, but acts as an agent on behalf of 1Global in offering the eSIM.
How do I know if my Revolut eSIM is still active?
By going to the Lifestyle → eSIM section within the app, you can see your active plans and how much usage you have left. Revolut recommends checking there before assuming there's a network problem.
Does Revolut guarantee data coverage in all the countries it advertises?
Not exactly: its own FAQ points out that coverage is provided and guaranteed by the associated local networks in each destination, not directly by Revolut. This is common in the industry, but it's good to know.
Conclusion
Revolut's eSIM is, first and foremost, a feature within its banking app: to use it, you need an open account, installation is automatic but roaming activation is manual, and the eSIM is tied to the phone where you purchased the plan, with no option to transfer it. It covers more than 100 countries according to their own pages, and the actual network service is provided by 1Global, not Revolut.
If that's exactly what you're looking for—having data within the same app you already use to pay abroad—it makes sense. If, on the other hand, you prefer an independent data plan, without the need to open a new bank account, with coverage in over 200 destinations, activation in approximately 1 minute, and a 180-day window from purchase to activate it when you need it, you can check the available plans for your destination in the PuraSIM international eSIM collection. And if you want to better understand how an eSIM compares to the physical card you probably already know, that comparison is in eSIM vs. physical SIM.
