How to get a prepaid eSIM?
To get a prepaid eSIM, you need a compatible cell phone, Wi-Fi, and a digital profile from your chosen provider: a local operator or an eSIM designed for travel. This profile arrives as a QR code, which you add from your phone settings, activate the line, and you'll have data without a physical chip or waiting in line at a store.
The general process is almost identical regardless of who issues the eSIM:
- Confirm that your phone supports eSIM (we explain how to check this below).
- Choose your provider: an operator with coverage in the country where you will live or stay, or an international eSIM designed for travel between countries.
- Receive the QR code or profile, usually by email or within an app.
- Install it while connected to Wi-Fi, as downloading the profile takes more data than using it afterward.
- Activate the data line when you intend to use it.
The real difference lies in step 2: this is where a local operator—like WOM, which issues prepaid lines for its own network—and an international travel eSIM, which does not depend on a single operator but on agreements with networks in different countries, diverge. You can see the full technical details of how to install any eSIM in our step-by-step installation guide.
What is an eSIM and why does it appear next to "WOM"?
An eSIM is simply a SIM that, instead of coming on a physical card, exists as a digital profile within the phone. The technology is not owned by any particular operator: it is used by local companies like WOM, Entel, or Claro, as well as providers designed exclusively for travelers. When "WOM" and "eSIM" appear together in a search, it usually means one of two things: someone who is already or wants to be a WOM customer in the country where it operates, or someone who is traveling and confuses the general concept of "prepaid eSIM" with the specific product of that brand.
WOM is an operator with its own network that provides service within the countries where it is licensed; its prepaid eSIM is designed for someone who will use that network as their primary line, not for someone spending a few days as a tourist in another country. This distinction resolves most of the following questions. If you want a complete technical overview, we have a dedicated guide on what an eSIM is and how it works, and another on the differences compared to the traditional physical SIM.
How can I request a WOM prepaid eSIM?
As a local operator, WOM manages its prepaid eSIMs through its own app or official website, within the countries where it provides service. The usual process for this type of operator includes choosing a plan, verifying your identity as a new customer, and receiving the QR code to install the line. Since the requirements and exact process can change without notice, the most reliable way to check them is directly through WOM's official channels when you are ready to request it.
What you should be clear about before requesting it is what you will use it for. If you are moving to a country where WOM operates—for work, studies, or relocation—a prepaid local line makes sense: you will need a local number and a plan designed for daily use there. If, on the other hand, you are only passing through, or your trip includes more than one country, that registration and management with a local operator might be more hassle than you need. If your question arises because you are already a WOM customer and are traveling to another country with that line, roaming functionality is a separate topic that we cover in WOM roaming in Brazil.
How much does a WOM eSIM cost?
We cannot give you an exact figure: operator prices vary by country, promotion, and over time, and publishing an outdated number would do more harm than good. What you can understand is the logic of prepaid billing, which is the same for any operator: you pay before using the service, by loading a plan or balance that is deducted based on your consumption, without a contract or subsequent monthly billing.
For the exact and current price of a WOM prepaid eSIM, the reliable source is always the WOM app or official website in the country where you want to contract it: there you will see the real price of the day, not one someone copied months ago in a blog.
How to install a WOM eSIM?
eSIM installation works the same way regardless of who provided it, including WOM: the difference is where you get the code, not how you install it on your phone.
Generally, the process is as follows:
- iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM → Use QR code, and point the camera at the QR code provided by the operator.
- Android: Settings → Connections (or Mobile network) → SIM Manager → Add eSIM, and scan the same code.
- If the provider offers direct installation from a link (without a QR code), you just need to open that link from your phone.
- Give the line a name to differentiate it from your physical SIM, if you plan to use both at the same time.
- Activate the mobile data for that line when appropriate.
Always do it while connected to Wi-Fi: the eSIM profile downloads better this way, and many operators—including WOM—require a good connection for installation to avoid errors during the process. If the QR code doesn't work or your phone doesn't recognize the option to add an eSIM, we'll review the most common causes below.
Prepaid local eSIM vs. international travel eSIM
Before deciding which one is right for you, it's useful to look at both options side by side. It's not that one is absolutely better than the other: they address different needs.
| Criterion | Prepaid Local eSIM (e.g., WOM) | International Travel eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Intended for | Living or staying for a long time in the operator's country | Traveling through one or several countries without settling down |
| Where to contract | Operator's app or official website, within its coverage country | Before leaving home, from any country |
| Registration process | Usually requires identity verification as a local customer | Direct purchase, no residency process | Coverage | The operator's network within its country (e.g., only where WOM is licensed) | Partner network in over 200 destinations |
| When to buy | Usually upon arrival or already in the country | Up to 180 days before the trip |
| If something goes wrong | Local operator's channels, in that country's language | Email and WhatsApp 24/7, in multiple languages |
If your plan is to stay, a local prepaid operator will be better for you in the medium term because it's designed for daily use within that network. If your plan is a trip—even a long one, but with a return date—an international eSIM saves you the hassle of opening an account with a new operator in each country you visit. You can read more about this general comparison in eSIM vs. traditional roaming.
How to check if your phone is eSIM compatible?
The quickest way is to look for the option directly on your device: if "Add eSIM" or "Add Mobile Plan" appears in your network settings, your phone supports it. But there are other things to check before trying to install any eSIM, whether it's from WOM or a travel provider.
| What to check | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Hardware compatibility | Settings → Cellular/Mobile Data: if the "Add eSIM" option exists, your model supports it |
| That the device is unlocked | Ask your original carrier if the phone is still "locked" to their network; if it is, no external eSIM will install, regardless of who issues it |
| Available Wi-Fi connection | The profile downloads better via Wi-Fi; with mobile data, the process can sometimes be interrupted |
| eSIM line capacity | Some models limit how many eSIM profiles you can save or have active at the same time |
| Device date and time | An incorrectly configured clock can cause activation to fail even if everything else is fine |
If an eSIM does not appear as an option when you arrive in another country, before assuming it's a signal or provider problem, it's worth checking if your phone is still locked to your original carrier: this is the most common reason why an external eSIM simply won't install, and it has nothing to do with where you are.
For a more detailed list by brand and model, check our guide on eSIM compatible phones.
Real example: a trip through Chile, Colombia and Peru
Imagine you leave Mexico with a twelve-day itinerary: four in Santiago, four in Bogotá, and four in Lima. If you wanted to arrange connectivity with local operators, you would have to open an account with one in Chile, a different one in Colombia, and a third in Peru, each with its own registration, its own app, and—as we've already seen—verification procedures designed for someone who is staying, not for someone passing through.
With an international eSIM, the order changes: you buy it before leaving Mexico, connected to your home Wi-Fi, with no rush because you have up to 180 days from the purchase to activate it. You calmly install the profile a few days before your flight. Upon landing in Santiago, you activate the line, which is ready in approximately one minute, and that same eSIM continues to work when you cross into Bogotá and then Lima, without reinstalling anything or searching for an operator store in each city. If something doesn't work as expected at any point in the trip, support is available 24/7 via email and WhatsApp, in your language, without relying on finding a local helpline in each country.
That is the exact point where a travel eSIM solves something that a local prepaid operator—no matter how good it is within its country, like WOM within Chile or Colombia—is not designed to solve: moving across borders without repeating the process each time.
Common errors when activating an eSIM (and how to avoid them)
Most problems when activating an eSIM are recurring, and almost none of them have to do with the provider:
- Phone locked to another operator: as mentioned before, this is the most frequent reason why an external eSIM won't install. It is solved by requesting an unlock from your original operator, not by reinstalling the profile repeatedly.
- Installing without Wi-Fi: attempting to download the profile only with mobile data often cuts the process short. Find a stable Wi-Fi network before scanning the QR code.
- Confusing install with activate: the profile can be installed but remain inactive until you manually turn on that data line; if you don't see a connection, check that the line is activated, not just installed.
- Incorrectly configured device clock: an incorrect date or time can cause activation to fail without giving a clear reason on screen.
- Scanning an already used QR code: each eSIM code is usually designed for a single installation; if you change phones, you need a new profile, not to reuse the old one.
If the problem persists after checking these points, we review less frequent cases in more detail in common eSIM problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a physical SIM if I already have an eSIM?
No. The eSIM completely replaces the physical SIM for that line: the digital profile serves the same function, stored inside the phone instead of on a card.
Can I use my WhatsApp number with a data eSIM?
Yes. WhatsApp works over any active data connection, regardless of whether that connection comes from a physical SIM or an eSIM, or which operator it belongs to.
Can I have a local eSIM (like WOM) and a travel eSIM active at the same time?
It depends on the phone: many modern devices allow you to save multiple eSIM profiles and use two active data lines at once (one physical and one eSIM, or two eSIMs). Check your model's capacity before assuming it will work.
What happens if I change phones after installing an eSIM?
The profile is tied to the device where you installed it, so if you change phones, you need to request a new profile from the corresponding provider; it cannot simply be copied from one phone to another.
How long does it take to activate an international eSIM?
The activation process takes approximately one minute once you confirm the line, provided the profile is already installed and the phone is compatible.
Can I buy an international eSIM even if I don't have an exact travel date yet?
Yes. You have up to 180 days from purchase to activate it, so you can get it in advance and decide the exact moment to turn it on later.
What do I do if I have a problem with the eSIM during the trip?
You can write by email or WhatsApp: support is available 24/7 in several languages, without the need to call by phone or look for a local office.
Does an eSIM from a local operator like WOM work for several countries?
No, by design: a local operator's network covers the country or countries where it is licensed to operate, and outside of that, the line enters roaming according to that operator's own conditions.
Conclusion
If you're looking to settle in a country where WOM operates and need a local line for daily use, a prepaid eSIM from such an operator makes sense: request it directly through their app or official website, checking the current price and requirements there. But if you have a trip ahead—to one or several countries—and want to sort out connectivity before leaving home, without local registration procedures or a different app for each border, an international eSIM is designed exactly for that: you buy it up to 180 days in advance, activate it in about a minute upon arrival, and have 24/7 email and WhatsApp support throughout your journey.
To take the first step, check our installation guide in the previous section, and then look at the available coverage by destination in the international eSIM collection.
