In short: an eSIM for SMS and calls almost always works via the internet (WhatsApp, FaceTime), because data-only eSIMs don't come with their own number. To receive a real SMS—your bank code, for example—keep your physical SIM active in dual mode alongside your eSIM, just for calls and messages, with data turned off.
Before buying an eSIM for your trip, the usual question arises: can an eSIM be used for calls and SMS, or only for internet? The short answer is that most are data-only, but you can call and receive messages with a few tricks. In this guide, we clarify the difference between data-only and voice eSIMs, and how to keep receiving bank SMS messages without paying for roaming.
Can a travel eSIM be used for calls?
Most travel eSIMs are data-only: they do not include a phone number for traditional calls or SMS, but they do allow you to make calls and send messages over the internet (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram). To receive bank SMS messages on your usual number, the solution is to keep your regular SIM active in dual mode. This way, you browse with the eSIM and continue to receive messages on your line.
This is the number one confusion for first-time eSIM buyers. People think "SIM card = calls," but a travel eSIM is designed for what you truly use abroad: internet for maps, messaging, and social media. Traditional voice calls and SMS are the exception, not the norm, and for good reason: almost everyone uses apps for calls today. Still, there are cases where you need real voice or SMS (a phone reservation, a bank verification code), and for that, there are specific solutions, which we'll look at below. The important thing: you can make calls, the question is how.
Data eSIM vs. Voice and SMS eSIM
Not all eSIMs are the same. It's advisable to distinguish between two main types before buying, as they cover different needs, and the price and coverage vary.
| Type | Includes | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Data eSIM | Internet only | Tourism: maps, apps, social media |
| Voice and SMS eSIM | Data + local number for calls/SMS | Long stays, work, frequent calls |
| Your regular SIM (dual) | Your number: receives SMS and calls | Receiving bank codes without data roaming |
The data eSIM is the most common and cheapest, perfect for travel. eSIMs with voice and SMS (which include a local country number) are a minority in the market and usually cost more, but they exist for those who need to call regular numbers frequently. And then there's the master move: combining a data eSIM with your regular SIM in dual SIM mode, giving you the best of both worlds. If it's your first time using one, start with how to install an eSIM step-by-step, so you don't get confused with the QR or your phone settings.
Practical rule: for a tourist trip, use a data eSIM and make calls via WhatsApp. Only consider a voice eSIM if you're going to make many calls to local landlines or mobile numbers in the country.
Calling via internet: WhatsApp and company
With a data eSIM, you can talk as much as you want, as long as the other person (or service) also uses an app. Internet calls don't consume minutes: they consume data, and very little of it. A voice call via WhatsApp uses only a few megabytes per minute, so with a modest data plan, you can talk for hours.
The most used options by travelers:
- WhatsApp: free calls and video calls to other users; the standard in Spain.
- FaceTime: between Apple devices, with very good quality.
- Telegram and Signal: also with internet calls.
- Google Meet or Zoom: for meetings if you travel for work.
The only condition is to have active data, which is precisely what the eSIM provides. If you want to understand why this is more cost-effective than roaming from your Spanish operator, we have a comparison of eSIM vs. roaming. And if you're worried about running out of data halfway through your trip from talking too much, check out our tips for saving data with your eSIM. For the vast majority of travelers, this is more than enough.
How to receive bank SMS abroad
This is the most headache-inducing point. Many banks, airlines, and services send verification codes via SMS to your Spanish number. If you turn off your SIM or remove it to put in the eSIM, you stop receiving these SMS, and you're unable to confirm a purchase or log into your online banking. The typical mistake is to think that the data eSIM will receive these messages: it won't, because it's not your number.
The solution is simple and free: keep your Spanish SIM active only for calls and SMS, with data for that line turned off, and use the travel eSIM for internet. This way, your number still receives bank SMS messages without incurring data roaming charges (receiving SMS is usually free or very cheap within the EU, and missed calls cost nothing). This is precisely what dual SIM mode is for. If your mobile supports eSIM, it almost certainly supports this dual use: your physical SIM for the number and the eSIM for data, coexisting without conflict. If you also want to understand why you are charged roaming just for having data activated outside of Spain, the guide on what data roaming is explains it without technical jargon.
Calling actual landline and mobile numbers
What if you need to call a regular number, like a restaurant's landline to make a reservation or your hotel's local mobile, and that person doesn't have WhatsApp? In that case, apps won't work, and you need actual voice. You have several options depending on the frequency:
- One-off call: use your Spanish SIM and accept the cost of a roaming call (in the EU it's limited; outside it can be expensive). For one or two calls a year, this is fine.
- Frequent calls: consider a voice eSIM that includes a local number, or VoIP services with credit (Skype, for example) that call real landlines and mobiles for low per-minute rates.
- Long stay or work: a local SIM/eSIM with voice from the destination country is more cost-effective than roaming.
However, for most leisure trips, it's rarely necessary: you make reservations online, the hotel reception responds by email, and you handle everything else through an app. If you're going to a specific country and want to know which voice option makes sense there, check the specific destination guide in our collection.
Which eSIM to choose based on your needs
Let's get straight to the point with a mini-decalogue to help you get it right the first time:
- Just tourism (maps, social media, messaging): data eSIM. You call via WhatsApp. It's the cheapest and most common.
- Receive bank SMS: data eSIM + your Spanish SIM in dual mode with data turned off.
- Call local numbers often: voice eSIM with local number, or VoIP with credit.
- Don't know where to start: check your destination in the collection and choose the data plan with the gigabytes you need.
Before deciding, make sure your mobile is compatible and that you understand exactly what you are buying: the guide to what a virtual eSIM is clarifies the technical part, and the guide to international chip vs. eSIM helps you if you are in doubt between the two classic travel options. If you are already clear, choose your destination: eSIM Spain or eSIM Europe are the most requested plans for these types of questions about calls and SMS.
What almost no one tells you before buying an eSIM for calling
So far, the obvious. Now for the details that can really spoil your trip if no one warns you beforehand:
- WhatsApp VoIP doesn't work in all countries, whether you have an eSIM or not. In the UAE and Qatar, for example, WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are blocked or highly restricted by local regulations, and neither a data eSIM nor your Spanish SIM will fix it: it's the country that blocks VoIP, not your operator. If you go to Dubai and need to talk to someone, then it makes sense to consider a voice eSIM with a local number, or resign yourself to calling via the normal mobile network.
- Check your default data line. This is the silliest and most common mistake: you install the eSIM, activate it, and still have no internet because your phone is still sending data through the physical SIM (which has data cut off or is very expensive when roaming). On iPhone, you change it in Settings → Cellular → Mobile Data; on Android, it's usually in Settings → Network → SIMs. One minute before leaving home saves you a surprise as soon as you land.
- iMessage and RCS still sneak through data. If you and your interlocutor both have iPhones, blue bubble messages (iMessage) travel over the internet, not the traditional SMS network, so you receive them with only the data eSIM active. The same goes for two Android users with RCS enabled (Google Messages "chats"). The nuance matters: you can "send SMS" with your usual contact without having a voice line, as long as both of you use the same system.
- Some verification codes arrive via call, not SMS. When a bank or social network can't send you an SMS (which happens more than it seems when roaming), they offer the option "call me with the code." If you don't have an active real voice line at that moment, that alternative won't work either, so the physical SIM in dual mode is still your safety net, not just for SMS but also for that automated call.
- When NOT to buy anything. If your Spanish plan includes roaming in the European Union and you're going to an EU country, your own SIM already lets you call, send SMS, and use data at national prices: buying an eSIM there is spending extra. The data eSIM clearly wins outside the EU, where your operator's roaming charges skyrocket.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make calls with an eSIM?
Yes, but usually over the internet: with a data eSIM, you make calls and video calls via WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Telegram using very little data. To call traditional landline or mobile numbers, you need a voice eSIM that includes a local number, or a VoIP service with credit.
Does the eSIM receive SMS?
A data eSIM does not receive SMS messages from your Spanish number, because it's not your number. To receive bank codes or other SMS, keep your regular SIM active in dual mode (with its data turned off) and use the eSIM only for internet. This way, you continue to receive your messages without data roaming charges.
Why isn't my eSIM receiving calls?
Because most travel eSIMs are data-only and don't come with a voice number, so they cannot receive traditional calls. For people to call your usual number, keep your Spanish SIM active alongside the eSIM in dual mode. WhatsApp calls do work with data only.
How much data do WhatsApp calls use?
Very little: a WhatsApp voice call consumes only a few megabytes per minute, and a video call slightly more. With a modest data plan, you can talk for hours without running out of data. Therefore, for a tourist trip, a data eSIM more than covers your calling needs.
Are there eSIMs with a phone number?
Yes, there are voice and SMS eSIMs that include a local number for the destination country, but they are a minority and usually cost more than data-only ones. They make sense if you're going to make many local calls or for a long stay. For normal tourism, a data eSIM is more practical and cheaper.
Can I send SMS with a data eSIM, not just receive them?
With a data eSIM, you cannot send traditional SMS messages because it does not have an associated voice number. What you can send is internet messaging (WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, or RCS if the recipient uses the same system), which for practical purposes covers almost all uses of classic SMS, except for pure SMS verification codes.
Does the eSIM work the same way in every country for WhatsApp calls?
Not always. In countries like the United Arab Emirates or Qatar, VoIP calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime) are blocked or restricted by the country itself, regardless of whether you use an eSIM, physical SIM, or roaming. If you travel to one of these destinations and need to talk on the phone, it's advisable to consider a voice eSIM with a local number instead of relying on apps.
Conclusion
A travel eSIM is perfectly suited for communication: you can make calls and send messages over the internet using very little data, and to receive bank SMS messages, simply keep your regular SIM in dual mode. Only if you need to make many calls to local numbers does a voice eSIM make sense. Choose the option that fits your needs and travel connected without bill surprises.
