Before buying an eSIM for your trip, the usual question arises: can an eSIM be used for calls and SMS, or is it only for internet? The short answer is that most are data-only, but you can make calls and receive messages with a few tricks. In this guide, we clarify the difference between data-only eSIMs and those with voice, and how to continue 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 those buying their first eSIM. One thinks "SIM card = calls," but a travel eSIM is designed for what you really use abroad: internet for maps, messaging, and social networks. "Traditional" voice calls and SMS are the exception, not the norm, and for a good reason: today almost everyone calls using apps. Even so, there are cases where you need real voice or SMS (a phone reservation, a bank verification code), and for that, there are specific solutions that we will discuss below. The important thing: you can make calls, the question is how.
Data-only eSIM vs. eSIM with voice and SMS
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-only eSIM | Internet only | Tourism: maps, apps, social networks |
| eSIM with voice and SMS | 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-only eSIM is the most common and cheapest, perfect for travel. eSIMs with voice and SMS (which come with a local number from the country) 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-only eSIM with your regular SIM in dual SIM mode, the best of both worlds.
Practical rule: for a tourist trip, use a data-only eSIM and call via WhatsApp. Only consider an eSIM with voice if you plan to make many calls to local landlines or mobile phones in the country.
Calling over the internet: WhatsApp and others
With a data-only eSIM, you can talk as much as you want, as long as the other person (or service) also uses an app. Calls over the internet don't consume minutes: they consume data, and very little. A voice call on WhatsApp consumes barely a few megabytes per minute, so with a modest data plan, you can talk for hours.
The most commonly 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're traveling for work.
The only condition is to have active data, which is exactly what the eSIM provides. If you want details on how to configure it and how much it consumes, we have guides on how to use WhatsApp with eSIM and how to make cheap calls from abroad. For 95% of travelers, this is more than enough.
How to receive bank SMS messages abroad
This is the point that causes the most headaches. 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 left unable to confirm a purchase or log into your online banking. The typical mistake is thinking that the data-only eSIM will receive these messages: it won't, because it's not your number.
The solution is simple and costs nothing: keep your Spanish SIM active only for calls and SMS, with its data turned off, and use the travel eSIM for internet. This way, your number continues to receive bank SMS messages without incurring high data roaming charges (receiving SMS is usually free or very cheap within the EU, and missed calls cost nothing). This is exactly what dual SIM mode is for. If your phone supports eSIM, it almost certainly supports this dual use: your physical SIM for the number and the eSIM for data, coexisting without conflict.
Calling real 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 number, and that person doesn't have WhatsApp? In that case, apps won't work, and you need real voice. You have several options depending on the frequency:
- Occasional call: use your Spanish SIM and accept the cost of the roaming call (within the EU it's limited; outside it can be expensive). For one or two calls a year, this works.
- Frequent calls: consider an eSIM with voice that includes a local number, or VoIP services with credit (Skype, for example) that call real landlines and mobile phones at low per-minute rates.
- Long stay or work: a local SIM/eSIM with voice from the destination country is more cost-effective than roaming.
For most leisure trips, however, it's almost never necessary: you book online, the hotel reception replies by email, and you resolve everything else through apps. If you're going to a specific country and want to know which voice option makes sense there, check the destination-specific guide in our collection.
Which eSIM to choose depending on your needs
Let's get to the point with a mini-guide so you get it right the first time:
- Tourism only (maps, social networks, messaging): Data-only eSIM. You call via WhatsApp. It's the cheapest and most common.
- Receive bank SMS messages: Data-only eSIM + your Spanish SIM in dual mode with data turned off.
- Frequently call local numbers: eSIM with voice and local number, or VoIP with credit.
- Don't know where to start: look up your destination in the collection and choose the data plan with the gigabytes you need.
Before deciding, make sure your phone is compatible and that you have the right amount of data: the guides on how much data you need for travel and how to keep your same number while using an eSIM will help you. If you're clear on that, take a look at all the destinations in our eSIM collection and choose yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make calls with an eSIM?
Yes, but usually over the internet: with a data-only 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 an eSIM with voice that includes a local number, or a VoIP service with credit.
Does an eSIM receive SMS?
A data-only eSIM does not receive SMS messages from your Spanish number, because it's not your number. To receive bank codes or other SMS messages, 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.
Why isn't my eSIM receiving calls?
Because most travel eSIMs are data-only and do not come with a voice number, so they cannot receive traditional calls. To have people call your usual number, leave 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 barely a few megabytes per minute, and a video call slightly more. With a modest data plan, you can talk for hours without depleting your gigabytes. Therefore, for a tourist trip, a data-only eSIM more than covers your calling needs.
Are there eSIMs with a phone number?
Yes, there are eSIMs with voice and SMS that include a local number from the destination country, but they are a minority and usually cost more than data-only eSIMs. They make sense if you plan to make many calls to local numbers or for a long stay. For normal tourism, a data-only eSIM is more practical and cheaper.
Conclusion
A travel eSIM is perfectly suitable for communication: you make calls and send messages over the internet with 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 an eSIM with voice make sense. Choose the option that suits you and travel connected without surprises on your bill.
