Eskimo eSIM Review: What "No Expiry" Really Requires, Whether Hong Kong iPhones Can Use It, Prices by Destination and 500MB of Free Data

Eskimo is operated by DATAPRO TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD., a Singapore company. Its Terms of Service (updated 1 June 2026) are governed by Singapore law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Singapore courts; users must be at least 15 years old or have the consent of a parent or guardian. Clause 9.1 also states that Eskimo is not a network owner and provides internet access through local carriers. Hong Kong users with a dispute would have to follow Singapore legal procedures, which is not convenient; the English version of the terms prevails.

Eskimo provides data only, with no phone number: the Eskimo line cannot make or receive conventional calls or SMS messages, and the website recommends apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat and LINE for calls and messaging. The phone can keep its existing Hong Kong SIM card at the same time and continue to receive SMS messages such as bank one-time passwords, while mobile data is switched to the Eskimo line; whether the Hong Kong SIM card is charged for receiving SMS messages or calls abroad depends on the roaming arrangements of your Hong Kong carrier.

An eSIM is a prepaid data service, and no arrangement comparable to deposit protection applies. Clause 7.1 of the terms reserves Eskimo's right to suspend or terminate the service at any time; clause 7.3 provides that remaining data is retained during a suspension, subject to the inactivity rule described below.

This is the point Hong Kong readers most need to note. Clause 8.2 of Eskimo's Terms of Service requires the phone to support eSIM and to be network-unlocked, and its FAQs also warn that iPhones bought in mainland China, Macao or Hong Kong may not support eSIM, depending on the model. According to an Apple support article published on 17 September 2026, the iPhone 11 to 16 series (except the mini models and the 16e), XR and XS Max bought in Hong Kong or Macao have two physical nano-SIM slots and no eSIM, so no eSIM service can be installed on them.

The same article lists the following Hong Kong or Macao models as having eSIM: iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17e, Air, 16e, 13 mini, 12 mini, SE (2nd and 3rd generation) and XS. Android phones, or phones bought outside Hong Kong, can be checked under "Check Device Compatibility" on the "Data" or "Account" page of the Eskimo app, or by searching for the model on the compatible devices page of the website; the terms also state that the list is not exhaustive.

A phone without eSIM support can still be used to register and claim the free data, which is kept in the account until it is installed on an eSIM-capable phone later. However, the website states that the QR code for installation is shown only after logging in to the app on a device that supports eSIM. Some users on the Hong Kong App Store report that they could not obtain the QR code because their phone was incompatible, and so could not use it with a physical eSIM adapter card; others found only after paying that their Hong Kong iPhone could not use the service, and had to request a refund separately.

Eskimo's plans fall into two types. Fixed-data plans are sold by volume: single-country plans come in 1GB, 3GB, 5GB and 10GB, while regional plans such as Asia-Pacific and Europe, and the Global plan, offer larger volumes, with Global 200GB priced at US$489.90. Under clause 4.3 of the terms, a plan starts when it first connects to a supported network, and it has no expiry date.

Unlimited plans are sold by number of days, for example Japan at US$16 for 5 days or US$22 for 7 days, and the United Kingdom at US$24 for 7 days. "Unlimited" means 3GB of high-speed data per day, after which use continues at a maximum of 1Mbps, resetting every 24 hours. The number of days is counted from the eSIM's first connection to a supported network, and an unlimited plan that has not been activated does not expire either. For those who often watch video or share a hotspot with several devices, 3GB a day may not be sufficient.

For itineraries covering several places, the regional plans are worth considering: the plan pages for Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and mainland China all list the Asia-Pacific plan (for example US$32.90 for 10GB), while the pages for the United Kingdom and Spain list the Europe plan (also US$32.90 for 10GB). A single-country plan applies only to that country, so it is advisable to choose according to the itinerary before buying.

Clause 4.4 of the terms states that no data plan has an expiry date, and the Eskimo blog, updated in July 2026, likewise states that no fixed-data plan expires. Some information online still refers to "two years' validity" or "730 days", which no longer reflects the current terms.

"No expiry date", however, is not unconditional. Clause 7.4 provides that an account which still holds a data balance and remains inactive for more than two consecutive years will be cancelled; inactive means that throughout those two years there has been no connection to the Eskimo network, no data use, no new purchase and no data transfer. Eskimo will endeavour to notify the user at least 30 days before taking action, through the registered email address, mobile number or an app notification. Once the account is cancelled, the remaining data is forfeited permanently and no refund is given.

For example: buy Asia-Pacific 10GB (US$32.90, about HK$258) and use 6GB in Japan, and the remaining 4GB can be kept for the next trip to South Korea, Taiwan or Thailand; on a pro rata basis, those 4GB are worth about US$13.16 (about HK$103). As long as there is a single connection, use, purchase or transfer within two years, the data continues to be retained. With plans valid for a set number of days, any remaining data lapses when the period ends; this is precisely where Eskimo's main value for frequent travellers lies.

Eskimo prices its plans in US dollars. The following are the prices shown on the official plan pages on 13 October 2026, converted into Hong Kong dollars at the Bank of England reference rate for 12 October 2026 (US$1 is about HK$7.85): Japan and Thailand 3GB US$7.90 (about HK$62) and 5GB US$10.90 (about HK$86); South Korea and Taiwan 5GB US$12.90 (about HK$101); mainland China 5GB US$14.90 (about HK$117); Japan 5-day unlimited US$16 (about HK$126), and South Korea and Taiwan 5-day unlimited US$18 (about HK$141); United Kingdom 7-day unlimited US$24 (about HK$188); Asia-Pacific or Europe 10GB US$32.90 (about HK$258).

A first purchase receives a 35% discount, capped at US$12; the referral page explains that the discount is applied automatically to the first purchase and is a limited-time offer. Taking Japan 5-day unlimited as an example, a first purchase costs US$10.40 (about HK$82). The cap affects only plans priced above about US$34: Global 10GB, for instance, falls from US$38.90 to US$26.90 rather than by the full 35%.

As for payment, the terms list credit and debit cards and exclude cash; web checkout also offers Alipay and WeChat Pay, but this site has not been able to verify whether the Hong Kong versions of these e-wallets can be used. The website has a currency selector, and whether payment can be settled in Hong Kong dollars has not been verified either. If settled in US dollars, the card issuer may charge a foreign currency transaction fee; assuming a fee of 1.95%, a HK$126 plan would cost about HK$2.5 more, subject to the terms of the individual card.

Eskimo's coverage figures are not consistent across its own materials: the App Store description says 175 countries and regions, while some pages of the website say more than 160. Most relevant to this review is the Global plan: the official blog states that Global data covers 111 of the 175 countries in its network, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, mainland China, Macao, the United Kingdom and the United States, whereas the plan pages currently state that the Global plan covers 126 countries. The free 500MB is Global data, which Eskimo states can be used in more than 111 countries.

Networks used in each place (according to the plan pages): Japan, SoftBank and KDDI; South Korea, SK Telecom and KT; Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom; Thailand, AWN; mainland China, China Telecom and China Unicom; United Kingdom, Vodafone and EE; United States, Verizon.

For travel to the mainland, Eskimo has not stated officially whether services such as Google and WhatsApp can be used there without additional tools, and this site has not been able to verify it; a user testimonial published on the website mentions using WhatsApp in mainland China without restriction, but that is one user's account. As the free 500MB can be used on the mainland, it is advisable to test with it first before deciding whether to buy a mainland China plan. Note also that Hong Kong is within the Global coverage: on returning to Hong Kong, mobile data should be switched back to the local SIM card to avoid continuing to consume Eskimo data.

There are three ways to install: directly in the app (which Eskimo says takes about one to two minutes), by scanning a QR code, or by entering the details manually. The eSIM needs to be installed only once; later plans do not require reinstallation, and when the current plan is used up the eSIM connects to the new plan automatically. Each eSIM can be used on only one device at a time, but can be shared with other devices through a personal hotspot.

Paid data can be transferred to anyone with a mobile number, in amounts of at least 500MB each time, with immediate effect; free data cannot be transferred. This feature suits families travelling together who wish to divide data between them, or passing unused data on to relatives and friends.

On refunds, the refund commitment in clause 5.1 of the terms covers only cases where the eSIM cannot be installed or a connection cannot be established, subject to verification by the 24-hour live online support team. The checkout page is broader, stating that a refund is available if the eSIM cannot be installed or the data plan has not been used; the plan pages offer a full refund to dissatisfied customers with no questions asked, and the App Store description also mentions that unused plans, incompatible devices and changes of mind can be handled (subject to eligibility). This site treats the Terms of Service as authoritative: if a connection works but the speed is unsatisfactory, the terms do not promise a refund, so it is advisable to check with customer support before using a plan.

Download the Eskimo app through the link on this page and register, entering the referral code CWJK257 in the "Referral/gift code" field (if the link has not filled it in automatically), and 500MB of Global data is credited immediately, with no purchase and no credit card details required. If the code is not entered during registration, Eskimo's referral page explains that it can be added within 24 hours of registering.

This 500MB is Global data, which Eskimo states can be used in more than 111 countries. It has no expiry date but is likewise subject to the two-year inactivity rule; once it is used up the connection stops automatically, and Eskimo does not charge automatically. Free data cannot be transferred. The offer is limited to new users, and Eskimo states that the free data is a limited-time promotion that may be changed or ended at any time without separate notice.

Note also the device restriction: after an account is deleted, the same device can never again be used to register a new account with a referral or gift code. On a pro rata basis, 500MB is about half of Global 1GB (US$6.90), or about US$3.45 (about HK$27); if used in a single country only, at US$3.90 per 1GB it is worth about US$1.95 (about HK$15). Eskimo states that this amount suits maps, messaging apps, ride-hailing and light browsing; in practice it is most useful for the first few hours after arrival or for testing the network.

Disclosure: CWJK257 is this site's referral code. Once you register and download the Eskimo app on an eSIM-capable device, this site may receive 500MB of data; if your phone does not yet support eSIM, you still receive 500MB immediately, while this site receives its share only after you later switch to an eSIM-capable device. Referral rewards are capped at 30 friends, a maximum of 15GB.

As of 13 October 2026, the Eskimo app is rated 4.21 on the Hong Kong App Store (57 ratings), 4.60 in the United States (601), 4.51 in Singapore (603) and 4.56 in the United Kingdom (90). Google Play shows 3.5 when viewed from Hong Kong and 4.3 when viewed from the United Kingdom, with about 4,240 reviews and more than 1 million downloads. Trustpilot has only 6 reviews, with a rating of 2.9, and recent reviews are mostly negative.

The more common complaints include: failure to scan the QR code or to install (including after changing phones); iPhones bought in Hong Kong that turned out not to support eSIM, requiring a refund request; suddenly losing internet access despite a remaining data balance; no connection or slow speeds in some places (for example the United States and Japan), with some users saying they often connect only to the EDGE network; slow, formulaic replies from online support, with requests for screenshots leaving some users concerned about privacy; an account blocked after the user contacted support; and the view that the "free" data can be obtained only through referrals.

Positive reviews concentrate on the absence of an expiry date, the ability to transfer data, simple installation, convenience on multi-country trips, and payment by Alipay.

Accurate details must be provided when registering. Once the eSIM is installed, mobile data can be switched to the Eskimo line before departure or after arrival, while the Hong Kong SIM card is kept to receive SMS messages. If the phone does not yet support eSIM, data that has been claimed or purchased is kept in the account until it is installed after a change of phone.

If the service is no longer needed, account deletion can be requested on the account page. Deletion takes effect 24 hours after the request, and logging in again during that period cancels the request; once complete it cannot be reversed, the eSIM and any data remaining in the account are deactivated, and personal data is deleted except where the privacy policy requires it to be retained. The same device can never again be used to register with a referral or gift code. Those who still hold paid data may wish to transfer it to relatives or friends before requesting deletion.

Suitable for: people whose phones have eSIM and are unlocked, who make several short trips a year and wish to keep unused data for later use; travellers on multi-country trips who can make good use of the Asia-Pacific or Europe regional plans; and those who wish to test the network with the free 500MB first.

Not suitable for: users of a Hong Kong iPhone 11 to 16 series model (except the mini models and the 16e), XR or XS Max; people who need a local phone number; those who do not wish to pay in US dollars or bear foreign currency fees; those who expect not to travel for more than two years and do not want their data forfeited; and those who need large amounts of high-speed data each day, for whom 3GB is insufficient.