How can I get internet abroad?
There are four main ways to get internet abroad: activate international roaming with your usual carrier, buy a physical SIM upon arrival, install an eSIM before or during your trip, or rent a portable Wi-Fi router. Each uses a different app to function, and that's what this guide is about.
What often confuses first-time international travelers is not the technology itself, but that there are two entirely different types of apps mixed under the same question. On one hand, there are apps that get you internet: the one that activates your eSIM, the one that locates free Wi-Fi, the one that manages your data plan. On the other hand, there are apps that use that internet once you have it: maps, translator, messaging, banking. Confusing these two is why someone might arrive in another country with their phone full of downloaded travel apps, yet unable to open any of them because they never solved the first problem: having mobile data working.
This guide separates the two categories and explains, with a real travel example, in what order to use them.
What types of apps do you need for traveling with data?
Think of it in two layers. The first layer is the connection: without it, no other app is useful. The second layer is everything you do with that connection once it's active.
For the first layer, your options are your usual carrier's app (if you're using roaming), the app for the local SIM you buy upon arrival, the app for the eSIM provider you choose, or the app for the portable Wi-Fi device if you opt to rent one. You only need one of these four, not all of them.
For the second layer, the list is longer because it depends on your itinerary: maps to navigate, a translator to read a menu or a sign, a messaging app to let people know you arrived safely, and probably your bank or digital wallet to pay. None of these require special installation: they are the same apps you already use in your country, just now they depend on the first layer being resolved.
An example helps clarify this. Imagine you're flying from Bogotá to Tokyo for a ten-day trip. Before boarding the plane, your priority is the first layer: activating the eSIM or data plan you'll use in Japan. Once you land at Narita Airport, with data working, you move to the second layer: you open the map to get to your hotel, the translator to read the menu at the first restaurant, and WhatsApp to text your family. The order matters, because trying to solve the second layer without having solved the first is the most frequent cause of frustration on the first day of travel.
Apps to activate data as soon as you land
eSIM apps are, today, the most direct way to resolve the first layer. An eSIM is a digital chip integrated into your phone: instead of inserting a physical card, you scan a QR code or install a profile from an app, and your phone gets a new data line without touching your usual SIM. If you don't know exactly what it is or how it differs from a traditional SIM card, the guide what is an eSIM explains it from scratch.
The interesting thing about these apps is that you can install the data profile using your home Wi-Fi, days before traveling, and have it ready without activating it yet. When you land, you activate the line from your phone's settings and the connection usually starts working in about a minute, without having to look for a physical store or wait in line at the airport. If you've never done it before, the complete process—buying, installing, and activating—is detailed step-by-step in how to install an eSIM.
Before choosing this route, it's advisable to check if your phone is compatible: not all models, especially older ones or certain versions sold outside specific markets, come with eSIM functionality enabled. The list of eSIM-compatible phones saves you the surprise of finding out at the airport.
A useful fact when planning: PuraSIM travel data plans cover more than 200 destinations, have 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp, and once purchased, you have 180 days to activate them, so there's no rush to use them as soon as you buy them. You can check available plans by country in the international eSIM collection.
Apps to find free and reliable Wi-Fi
If your plan is to rely on open Wi-Fi networks —from cafes, airports, libraries, or public spaces— there are collaborative apps that show maps of access points reported by other users, with passwords included when the network isn't completely open. They work well as a complement, but they have three limitations you should know before depending on them.
The first is coverage: in large, tourist-heavy cities, the database is usually updated, but in rural or less visited areas, the information might be old or nonexistent. The second is security: connecting to an unknown public Wi-Fi network exposes your traffic to other devices on the same network, so avoid banking transactions without an additional layer of protection. The third is real availability: there's no guarantee that the cafe is still open or that the password reported months ago is still valid.
For these reasons, most travelers use public Wi-Fi as a complement —to save data when a reliable network is available— and not as their sole source of connection for the entire trip.
Roaming, local SIM, eSIM, or portable Wi-Fi: how to choose
Each of the four ways to get internet abroad works differently and is suitable for different circumstances. The following table summarizes the practical differences.
| Method | How it works | Main advantage | When it's suitable |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Roaming | Your usual carrier extends your line to the country you visit | You don't change your number or settings | Very short trips where simplicity is prioritized over cost |
| Local physical SIM | You buy a new SIM card upon arrival at your destination | Local rates, sometimes the cheapest | Long stays in a single country and an unlocked phone |
| Travel eSIM | Digital data profile installed before leaving and activated upon arrival | No need to change physical cards or find a store | Most trips, especially if visiting several countries |
| Portable Wi-Fi (mifi) | A small router you rent and carry with you, creates its own Wi-Fi network | Multiple people or devices share a single connection | Groups or families traveling together with multiple devices |
The difference between eSIM and physical SIM is often the one that causes the most doubts, because at first glance they seem to solve the same problem. A detailed comparison is in eSIM vs. roaming, which also explains why roaming from your home carrier can be more expensive than activating a local, digital data line designed for tourists.
Essential apps once you have data
With the connection resolved, the second layer of apps is what you'll actually use during your daily travel. Not all of them need active data all the time: some can be prepared in advance to work even without a signal.
| App type | Purpose | Works offline? |
|---|---|---|
| Maps (Google Maps or other) | Locating yourself, calculating routes, finding transportation | Partially, if you download the map of the area before traveling |
| Translator | Reading menus, signs, or conversing with someone who doesn't speak your language | Partially, if you download the offline language pack |
| Messaging (WhatsApp and similar) | Communicating with those waiting at home or coordinating with other travelers | No, requires data or Wi-Fi |
| Banking or digital wallet | Paying, checking balances, making transfers | No, requires data for security |
| Local transport apps | Requesting a ride or buying public transport tickets | No, requires real-time data |
Of this list, maps and the translator are the only ones you can semi-prepare before leaving home, by downloading the offline package for the city or region you're visiting. The rest depend on having active data, so again, the first layer—the connection—determines whether this second layer works or not.
Step-by-step: preparing your cell phone for an international trip
Let's go back to the Tokyo trip example, this time with the concrete steps you would follow to avoid arriving without a connection.
- Before leaving home: check that your phone is eSIM compatible and buy the data plan for your destination in advance, using your home or office Wi-Fi.
- Install the profile without activating it: most eSIM apps allow you to install the data profile days before the trip and leave it inactive until you need it.
- Download what can work offline: the Tokyo map and the Japanese translator pack, still using home Wi-Fi.
- Upon landing, activate the data line: from your phone's settings, in the mobile lines or plans section, activate the eSIM you pre-installed.
- Verify that the phone uses the new line for data: on some models, you have to manually confirm which of the two lines (home and travel) is used for mobile data, to avoid roaming charges from your usual line.
- With the connection active, open the second layer: map, translator, messaging, and you're ready to go.
The most expensive mistake is usually not technical, but sequential: activating the eSIM at the airport, without Wi-Fi, when the app needs a connection to complete the profile installation for the first time. Installing at home and activating upon arrival completely avoids this problem.
What if the trip includes several countries?
When the itinerary crosses borders—a tour through several European countries, or a cruise that makes stops in different ports—the logic of the applications changes slightly. Instead of buying a plan per country, it makes more sense to look for a regional data plan, which covers several destinations with a single active line, so you don't have to reinstall a new profile every time you cross a border.
If your next trip has multiple stops, the definitive eSIM travel guide reviews how to choose between a country-specific plan and a regional one based on your route. A particular case is a cruise, where the phone spends hours without any operator signal at sea and then reconnects in each port: network behavior at sea has peculiarities that don't apply to a land trip, so it's best to plan for it separately.
Common mistakes when preparing your phone for travel
Most connection problems abroad are not a technology failure, but a skipped step. Three are the most common.
The first is leaving activation until the last minute, without Wi-Fi available to complete the profile installation. The second is not checking phone compatibility before buying a plan, especially for second-hand phones or those brought from another country, where the eSIM function might be factory locked. The third, less known, has to do with the data access point (APN): when the phone has two active lines—the usual one and the travel one—it sometimes continues to use the home line's network settings for data, even if the travel line is active. The symptom is that the eSIM appears active in the settings but the phone doesn't browse; the solution is almost always to manually check, within the travel data line settings, that the APN corresponds to that line and not the usual one. This and other similar symptoms are explained in more detail in common eSIM problems.
A fourth, more fundamental error, is assuming that all connection applications are interchangeable. They are not: a roaming app, a local SIM app, and an eSIM app solve the same problem in different ways, with different purchase, activation, and support processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install multiple apps to get internet abroad?
No. You only need one app for the connection (your carrier's for roaming, the local SIM's, or your eSIM's) and the apps you normally use—maps, translator, messaging—for everything else.
Can I install an eSIM before traveling and activate it later?
Yes. Most eSIM apps allow you to install the data profile using Wi-Fi, before the trip, and only activate it when you arrive at your destination.
What if my phone isn't eSIM compatible?
In that case, the alternatives are roaming with your usual carrier, buying a local physical SIM, or renting portable Wi-Fi. You can check your model's compatibility before deciding.
Are free Wi-Fi apps enough for the entire trip?
They work as a complement, but their coverage is patchy outside tourist areas and they don't guarantee the network will still be available. It's not advisable to rely solely on them.
How long does it take to activate an eSIM when arriving in another country?
If the profile has already been installed beforehand, activation usually completes in approximately one minute from the phone's settings.
Do I need to buy the data plan on the same day as my flight?
No. You can buy it in advance: with PuraSIM, you have 180 days from purchase to activate the plan, so you can buy it weeks ahead without rushing.
What apps should I download before having active data?
Those that can work offline: the map of your destination and the language pack for the translator. The rest—messaging, banking, transportation—only work with active data.
Is there support if an eSIM app has problems during the trip?
With PuraSIM, yes: support is available 24/7 in all languages via email and WhatsApp, not by phone.
In summary
Having internet abroad doesn't depend on one magical app, but on solving two layers in the correct order: first the connection, then everything you do with it. For most trips, installing an eSIM before leaving and activating it upon arrival is the simplest way to solve the first layer without relying on physical stores, public Wi-Fi, or expensive roaming from your usual carrier.
If you want to start from scratch, this guide serves as your map: check your phone's compatibility, install the profile with Wi-Fi before leaving, and activate the line upon arrival. When you're ready, you can check the available plans for your next destination in PuraSIM's international eSIM collection.
