What is Revolut eSIM and how does it work?
The Revolut eSIM is a data plan purchased within the digital bank's app and installed as a digital SIM card on your mobile phone. It does not replace your number: it coexists with your physical SIM to provide you with internet in over 100 countries while you travel, without you having to search for a local chip at the airport.
Revolut does not operate its own mobile network. According to its own legal terms, the company acts as an intermediary for a wholesale operator that provides the actual data service behind the scenes. This is a common structure in the sector: the brand you see in the app is rarely the one that turns on the antennas.
"Revolut Ltd acts as an agent on behalf of 1GLOBAL, the provider of eSIM data plans."
— eSIM General Terms of Sale, revolut.com/legal/esims-1global (consulted August 11, 2026)
This legal clarification matters because it explains why the Revolut eSIM is purchased and managed just like any other financial product in the app: you first need to be a bank customer, and only then can you purchase data. If you have never used an eSIM before reading this article, it is worth reviewing what an eSIM is first to understand the technical basis on which everything else works.
How to get a Revolut eSIM?
To purchase a Revolut eSIM, you need three things: an active Revolut account, an eSIM-compatible mobile phone, and sufficient credit or balance to pay for the data plan within the app. There is no version of the eSIM that can be purchased without being a bank customer: unlike an independent travel eSIM, here the connectivity product is tied to the financial account.
The process, according to Revolut's own documentation, is as follows: you open the "eSIM" section within the app, choose a data plan by country, region, or the global plan for more than 100 countries, and complete the payment. Immediately after purchase, Revolut asks you to install the eSIM; this step is automatic and does not depend on scanning a QR code separately, as is the case with many travel eSIMs.
Before buying anything, it is advisable to verify that your device supports eSIM, because not all Android models support it yet. You can check the complete list in our guide to eSIM-compatible mobile phones.
How to get a Revolut eSIM in Mexico?
Mexico is the country in the region where Revolut's regulatory situation is clearest. The fintech closed its beta phase in the country on January 27, 2026, and already operates as a fully licensed bank, not just as a wallet or payment app (source: fintechexpert.mx, consulted August 11, 2026).
This means that if you live in Mexico, you can open a Revolut account and, from there, purchase eSIM data plans within the app. The account has different levels: the Standard plan does not charge a monthly fee, and higher levels (Premium, Metal, Ultra) do; the amount is published by Revolut on its website and changes by country and campaign. The account level you choose not only changes banking features: as you will see later, it also changes how much free data Revolut gives you each month.
The important thing to decide if this path is right for you is to understand that, before reaching the "buy data" screen, you will go through the entire process of opening a digital bank account: identity verification, proof of address, and other compliance procedures (KYC) that any bank requires. If you are only looking for data for a specific trip, this process is longer than installing a travel eSIM that can be purchased without a prior account.
Can Revolut eSIM be activated if you live in Argentina, Colombia, or the rest of LATAM?
This is where it is important to be precise, because there are two distinct questions that are often mixed: one thing is in which countries you can use data with Revolut eSIM when you travel, and a very different thing is in which countries you can open the account you need to buy it.
Revolut's list of destinations does include Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Mexico, among more than 100 countries and territories (source: revolut.com/esim, consulted August 11, 2026). But that list answers the first question, not the second. For account opening as a resident, the situation by country is different: Colombia obtained regulatory authorization to operate as a bank in October 2025, but at the time of this consultation, the implementation process was still underway, and account opening for local residents was not yet fully available; in Argentina, the app shows the country as a reference market, but personal account opening for residents was also not available (source: bloomberglinea.com, consulted August 11, 2026).
In practice, if you live in Argentina or Colombia and search for "Revolut eSIM Android" because you want to use it on your next trip, you will likely find that you first need an account that, at the time of this consultation, your country still cannot open as a resident. If that is your case, the alternative is an eSIM that does not depend on any bank account. For Chile, Peru, and other countries in the region, we did not find, at the time of this consultation, an equivalent public announcement about the availability of account opening; the most reliable thing is to check the country selector within the Revolut app itself before assuming you can register.
How to activate Revolut eSIM on Android, step by step?
Once you have purchased the data plan and the app has installed the eSIM, you still need to activate it in the system settings. According to Revolut's official support documentation, on Android the steps are as follows (source: help.revolut.com, "Installing and activating my eSIM", consulted August 11, 2026):
- Go to your phone's Settings.
- Enter "Network & Internet".
- Select "SIMs".
- Tap the Revolut eSIM in the list.
- Activate the "Use SIM" option.
- Go back to network settings and choose the Revolut eSIM as preferred for data.
- Activate "Mobile data" and then "Roaming".
Revolut clarifies that the exact names of the menus may change depending on the mobile phone manufacturer: Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, and Google do not always use the same text for the same options. If you have never installed an eSIM on an Android device, it is advisable to review our general guide on how an eSIM works on Android, which covers the differences between brands step by step.
What the Revolut data plan actually includes?
The Revolut data plan is exactly that: data. It does not include call minutes or text messages (SMS); for that, you still need your physical SIM or a separate local number (source: revolut.com/esim, consulted August 11, 2026). Dual SIM technology allows you to keep your physical line active for calls while the Revolut eSIM only handles internet, so you do not lose your number when traveling.
You can choose between three types of plans: local (for a single country), regional (for several countries in the same area, such as Europe or North America), and global (for more than 100 countries and territories with a single purchase). The country coverage announced by Revolut includes, within the region we are dealing with, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and several other countries in Central and South America (source: revolut.com/esim, consulted August 11, 2026). As we have already seen, being part of that list of destinations is not equivalent to being able to open the account necessary to purchase the plan if you reside in some of those same countries.
If you are still unclear on how this differs from continuing to use your physical chip in roaming with your usual operator, the complete comparison is in our guide on eSIM vs. physical SIM.
How much does Revolut eSIM cost?
Revolut's UK site publishes prices "from £3.49" for 1 GB, clarifying that the exact cost depends on the country you visit and is shown within the app before payment (source: revolut.com/esim, consulted August 11, 2026). There is no single figure in dollars or pesos that applies equally to the entire region: the final price varies according to the destination, the size of the data package, and, in part, the account level you have contracted.
This last point is key and often overlooked: the account level not only affects banking functions, it also changes how much free data you receive each month. According to Revolut's own documentation and blog, the free account (Standard) does not include any data; the Premium plan adds 1 GB per month at no additional cost, and the Ultra plan includes 3 GB per month within the subscription (source: revolut.com/esim and revolut.com/blog/post/revolut-esim-data-plans-review, consulted August 11, 2026).
| Account level | Included eSIM data (revolut.com, 11-Aug-2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard | None |
| Premium | 1 GB per month |
| Metal | Not published separately |
| Ultra | 3 GB per month |
If you travel infrequently, this free allocation may not offset the monthly fee of a paid account; if you already had it contracted for other reasons, it is an extra to take advantage of.
Revolut eSIM vs. an independent travel eSIM
Placed side by side, the main difference is not in coverage or technology —both are digital eSIMs that are installed similarly— but in what they ask of you before letting you purchase data.
| Requirement or feature | Revolut eSIM | Independent travel eSIM (PuraSIM) |
|---|---|---|
| Account needed to purchase | Active bank/fintech account, with identity verification | No financial account: plan is purchased directly |
| Countries and territories covered | Over 100 (revolut.com/esim, 11-Aug-2026) | Over 200 destinations |
| Calls and SMS included | No, data only (revolut.com/esim, 11-Aug-2026) | No, data service |
| Support | Revolut states "24/7" support for bank customers (revolut.com/esim, 11-Aug-2026) | 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp |
| Activation time | Automatic installation after purchase, within the banking app (help.revolut.com, 11-Aug-2026) | Activation in approximately 1 minute |
| Time limit to use purchased item | Not publicly specified at the time of this consultation | 180 days to activate the eSIM from purchase |
Neither option is "better" in the abstract: one is designed for someone who already lives within a digital bank ecosystem, and the other for someone who just wants to solve connectivity for a trip without opening any new financial product.
When is each option suitable?
It makes sense to use the Revolut eSIM if you are already a paying customer of the bank for other reasons —card, currency exchange, savings— and your next destination is on its list of over 100 countries: in that case, you take advantage of the data your subscription already includes and pay nothing extra for it. It may also suit you if you prefer to keep all travel management within a single app you already use daily.
It is not advisable, however, if you are not a Revolut customer and your sole objective is to get internet for a specific trip: you will first have to go through the process of opening a complete bank account, including identity verification, just to reach the data purchase screen. It is also not advisable if you live in a country where Revolut does not yet allow account opening as a resident, as was the case for Argentina and, in progress, Colombia at the time of this consultation: in that case, Revolut eSIM is simply not an available option for you, even if your travel destination is on its list of covered countries.
Before deciding, it is important to be clear about what problems usually arise with any eSIM —not just Revolut's— so as not to confuse a configuration error with a real service limitation; we review them in common problems with eSIM. And if this is your first eSIM with any provider, the complete guide on how to travel with eSIM in 2026 covers the rest of the process, from start to finish.
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
Do I need a Revolut account to use its eSIM?
Yes. Unlike an independent travel eSIM, Revolut's can only be purchased within its app and requires an active digital bank account, including identity verification (source: revolut.com/esim, consulted August 11, 2026).
How do I activate Revolut eSIM on Android?
After purchasing the plan and installing the eSIM from the app, go to Settings, then Network & Internet, select SIMs, activate "Use SIM" on the Revolut eSIM, choose it as preferred for data, and activate Mobile data and Roaming (source: help.revolut.com, consulted August 11, 2026).
Can I get a Revolut eSIM in Mexico?
Yes. Revolut closed its beta phase in Mexico on January 27, 2026, and already operates as a fully licensed bank, so you can open an account and purchase eSIM data plans within the app (source: fintechexpert.mx, consulted August 11, 2026).
Does Revolut eSIM work in Argentina or Colombia?
As a travel destination, yes, it is on the list of over 100 covered countries. The problem is prior: at the time of this consultation, opening a Revolut account as a resident of Argentina or Colombia was not yet fully available, and without an account, you cannot purchase the eSIM (source: bloomberglinea.com, consulted August 11, 2026).
Does Revolut eSIM include calls and text messages?
No. It is an exclusively data service; for calls and SMS, you still use your physical SIM thanks to dual SIM technology (source: revolut.com/esim, consulted August 11, 2026).
How much does Revolut eSIM cost?
The UK site publishes prices from £3.49 for 1 GB, but the actual cost depends on the country and is confirmed within the app; additionally, paid account levels may include data each month (source: revolut.com/esim, consulted August 11, 2026).
Who actually provides the data service behind Revolut eSIM?
According to its own terms, Revolut Ltd acts as an agent for 1GLOBAL, the wholesale operator that provides the data plans (source: revolut.com/legal/esims-1global, consulted August 11, 2026).
What if my phone doesn't support eSIM?
Neither Revolut eSIM nor any other eSIM will work on a device without that technology. Check your model's compatibility before purchasing any plan.
Conclusion
Revolut eSIM is a real and well-documented product, not a marketing trick: it works, covers over 100 countries, and, at its paid account levels, includes data every month. But its limit is also real and verifiable: to purchase it, you first need to be a bank customer, with all that implies in terms of identity verification, and that account is not yet available to residents of all countries in the region —Argentina and, in process, Colombia are the clearest examples at the time of this consultation.
If you're looking to solve your connectivity needs for your next trip without opening a new financial product, without depending on whether Revolut is already available in your country, and with over 200 destinations, activation in approximately 1 minute, 180 days to activate the eSIM from the purchase date, and 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp, you can check out the available plans in PuraSIM's international eSIM collection.
