Kolet eSIM Review: Hong Kong Phones, Prices across Asia, Leftover Data, Refund Limits and US$3 off a First Purchase

Kolet is operated by Kolet SAS, a French company registered in Paris (Paris Trade and Companies Register number 981 094 261), and sells travel eSIM data plans through its app. Kolet is not a mobile network operator but resells data from local carriers; clause 11 of its terms states that, because it relies on local carriers, Kolet cannot ensure the quality of the connection. The terms are governed by French law, disputes are heard by the French courts, and the English terms are a translation, with the French version prevailing. We have not verified Kolet's registration with any telecommunications regulator.

Travel eSIMs often issue a separate eSIM for each destination. Kolet instead uses a "universal eSIM": it is installed on the phone once, after which each trip requires only the purchase of that destination's plan in the app, with no further QR code to scan and nothing to reinstall. An account can be used on only one phone at a time; generating the eSIM on a new phone permanently deactivates the eSIM on the old one. Family members travelling together must each open an account, or share one phone's personal hotspot.

Kolet routes users' network traffic through servers in Poland and France, so websites may appear in Polish or French or show prices in Polish złoty or euros, and services that determine the region by IP address may assume that you are located there; Kolet says that map and ride-hailing apps relying on GPS are unaffected. Kolet suggests changing website settings manually or using a VPN. When the Australian technology blogger Gough Lui tested the service, he found that traffic exited in London. Wherever the exit point lies, your IP location will not match the country you are in.

The phone must support eSIM and must not be locked to a carrier; iPads must be Wi-Fi + Cellular models. Kolet's terms require customers to confirm device compatibility themselves before ordering, and state that Kolet accepts no responsibility if the device is incompatible.

For Hong Kong readers, the most important factor is where the phone was bought. Apple's support article published on 17 September 2026 lists the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17e, iPhone Air, 16e, 13 mini, 12 mini, SE (2nd and 3rd generation) and XS bought in Hong Kong or Macao as having eSIM, whereas the iPhone 16 series, 15 series, 14 series, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 11 series, XS Max and XR bought in Hong Kong, Macao or mainland China have only two physical nano-SIMs and cannot install any eSIM. For iPhones bought on the mainland, Apple lists the 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17e and Air as able to activate with eSIM, while the mainland 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and 16e have only two physical SIMs; Kolet's list, by contrast, shows only the mainland iPhone Air as having eSIM.

Kolet's own compatibility list is older: it names only the iPhone 13 mini, 12 mini, SE (2020) and XS as Hong Kong and Macao iPhones with eSIM, and another help page states more broadly that devices from Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland cannot use eSIM. We rely on Apple's latest information, but the phone's own settings are decisive: on an iPhone, open Settings > Mobile Service; an "Add eSIM" option generally indicates support. On Android, Kolet says that some Hong Kong Galaxy S20, S21, S22 and Note20 models lack eSIM, that the Galaxy S20 FE and S21 FE are not compatible at all, and that most Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco, Oppo and Huawei phones bought on the mainland also lack eSIM. If you discover after paying that the eSIM cannot be installed, you may apply for a full refund within 30 days of the order under the refund terms described below.

Kolet's price list (updated 12 October 2026) covers 187 countries and territories, plus 12 regional plans including Asia, Europe, the EU and Global. Most plans come in five sizes, 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB (a few destinations go up to 5GB only), are priced in euros and US dollars, and, for most country and territory plans, last 30 days from first use. The US dollar prices below are converted into Hong Kong dollars at the Bank of England reference rate of 12 October 2026 (US$1 is about HK$7.85), for reference only.

Japan (NTT Docomo, SoftBank): 5GB is US$14.49 (about HK$114) and 10GB is US$21.99 (about HK$173). South Korea (KT, SK Telecom) and Taiwan: 5GB is US$12.99 (about HK$102) in each. Thailand (DTAC, AIS): 5GB is US$8.49 (about HK$67) and 20GB is US$16.49 (about HK$129), roughly US$0.82 per GB. Singapore (Singtel, StarHub): 5GB is US$10.99 (about HK$86). United Kingdom (O2, EE, Three, Vodafone): 10GB is US$18.99 (about HK$149).

The mainland China plan uses the China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom networks; 5GB costs US$16.49 (about HK$129), the same as the Asia regional plan. The Asia regional plan covers 20 countries and territories, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam, but not Macao. Macao requires a separate local plan on the CTM network, at US$6.49 (about HK$51) for 1GB and US$14.49 (about HK$114) for 3GB, or the more expensive Global plan. Kolet's help page states that apps such as WhatsApp, Gmail and Instagram can be used on the mainland with its eSIM without a VPN; we have not tested this.

Regional plans pay off only for trips across borders: for Japan and South Korea together, Asia 10GB costs US$25.49 (about HK$200), against a combined US$27.48 (about HK$216) for separate 5GB plans for Japan and South Korea; for Japan alone, the local 5GB plan (US$14.49) is cheaper than Asia 5GB (US$16.49). Leftover data cannot be moved between plans for different destinations.

Nor is Kolet necessarily cheaper than Hong Kong carriers' roaming packs. Taking csl as an example, its website on 13 October 2026 listed a data roaming pass for its main Asia-Pacific destinations, available to csl customers, at HK$168 for 10GB over 30 days, covering 17 destinations including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand; Kolet's Japan 10GB is US$21.99 (about HK$173). Roaming charges vary by carrier and monthly plan, so it is advisable to compare prices for the same destination in your own carrier's app before departure.

Kolet charges in US dollars, euros, pounds sterling, Canadian dollars or Philippine pesos, not in Hong Kong dollars; the billing currency can be chosen in the app under "Profile > App settings > Currency". When you pay with a Hong Kong dollar credit or debit card, the card issuer converts the foreign currency amount into Hong Kong dollars; Kolet says it charges no currency conversion fee itself, but the issuer may charge a foreign transaction fee. Assuming a fee of 1.95%, Japan 5GB (about HK$114) would cost about HK$2.2 more; the actual amount depends on the terms of your card. The minimum payment is US$0.50.

Payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut Pay and Amazon Pay; Klarna, iDEAL and others are available only in certain regions. Airline miles may also be used: the list comprises Flying Blue, KrisFlyer, Etihad Guest, Lotus Miles and Club Miles, and does not include Asia Miles. Some payment methods depend on where you are when you pay, so Kolet recommends buying before departure. Koins can be combined with one payment method.

Kolet explains that a plan starts only when you use your first MB of data at the destination, so it can be bought and installed in Hong Kong in advance. Most country and territory plans are valid for 30 days; Global plans are valid for 30 days at 1GB and 3GB, 60 days at 5GB, 180 days at 10GB and 365 days at 20GB. The order itself has a one-year limit: the terms state that a plan not used within one year of purchase may lapse without refund.

Hong Kong readers should note that the Asia regional plan covers Hong Kong. If mobile data has already been switched to the Kolet line while in Hong Kong, an Asia plan may start before departure, so it is advisable to switch only after arriving at the destination.

If you buy another plan for the same destination before the current one expires, the remaining data carries over to the new plan's expiry date; validity periods do not stack, however. In Kolet's example, two plans bought together on 15 June both expire on 15 July. Leftover data cannot be moved to another destination, not even from a Thailand plan to the Asia regional plan. If you hold plans for several destinations, the plan matching your location activates automatically once the previous one is used up.

Data remaining when a plan expires is not refunded, as the terms state; however, leftover data on paid plans can be converted into Kolet Koins in the app, whether the plan is still active or has expired. The number of Koins available is shown before conversion, and converting an active plan ends it immediately. 100 Koins equal €1 and are valid for three years; they can be used only to buy plans or pay for calls in the app and cannot be exchanged for cash. Gifted plans and the free 1GB trial cannot be converted; the trial lasts only two days from first use.

Unlimited data is a daily pass, available only in the app: each 24 hours includes 5GB at full speed, after which the speed drops to 1 Mbps until the next reset. Kolet says this speed is sufficient for maps, messaging apps and web browsing, but not for video streaming. Unlimited plans are offered in places including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, but not in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan or Macao. Kolet's price list does not show prices for unlimited plans, which must be checked in the app; data on unlimited plans can be neither transferred nor converted into Koins.

Kolet permits personal hotspot sharing and sets no separate hotspot limit on unlimited plans, although hotspot use consumes data more quickly. An active paid plan with at least 1GB remaining can transfer data in whole gigabytes to other Kolet users; transfers take effect immediately and cannot be reversed. Free or gifted data cannot be transferred.

No plan includes a phone number or SMS; calls must be made through internet calling apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. The app's "International Calls" feature can call ordinary phone numbers, charged per minute in Koins; the other party sees only a temporary number and cannot call back. Your Hong Kong SIM can remain on to receive calls and SMS (with its data roaming turned off), with charges according to your carrier's rates.

In his test, Gough Lui found that the usage shown in the app lagged actual usage by several minutes, and considered the connection unsuitable for real-time apps. Kolet also says that usage takes some time to appear in the app, and that the phone's own data count is only an estimate.

New customers receive US$3 off their first purchase with the referral code GETQUIDS. Kolet's terms provide that promo codes can be used only on orders placed in the app, so you need to download the Kolet app, choose the destination and the amount of data, tap "+ Add a promo code" on the checkout page, enter GETQUIDS, and confirm that US$3 has been deducted before paying. The discount is taken directly off the price; it is not cashback.

Conditions (according to the referral programme article and the terms): you must never have bought a Kolet plan or claimed the free 1GB gift; the welcome offer is limited to one per person, and claiming it repeatedly with multiple or temporary email addresses is prohibited; only one promo code may be used per order, although Koins may be used at the same time. The terms also provide that promotional offers are for people travelling abroad and may not be used in their home market, which means that Hong Kong residents cannot use the referral code on a Hong Kong plan.

Two points remain unconfirmed. First, the terms state that Kolet may decline to provide the related service if a promotional offer is not activated within 90 days of the order, but it is unclear whether this covers paid plans bought at a discount, so it is advisable to buy closer to the trip. Second, Kolet states the discount in US dollars, and we have not been able to verify whether it is worth €3 or £3 when paying in euros or pounds; please check the order summary.

The discount is proportionally larger on small plans: 1GB drops from US$3.99 to US$0.99, Japan 5GB is about 21% cheaper, and Asia 10GB only about 12% cheaper. Later purchases are charged at list price, although Koins may be applied to reduce them.

Disclosure: GETQUIDS is our referral code. When you use it, we may receive US$3 in Kolet Koins, which can be used only with Kolet and are not cash. Kolet's referral programme article says the Koins are credited at the time of purchase; the terms, however, state that the referrer receives the reward only after your first paid plan has expired without your having requested a full or partial refund.

Kolet's homepage carries refund wording such as "Love it or your money back", but the terms of sale are much narrower. A full refund is available only if the eSIM has not been installed, or has been installed but the plan has not been activated, and you email [email protected] within 30 days of the order; Kolet takes five working days to review the request and refunds the original payment method within 30 days. If the plan has been activated but less than 1% of the data has been used, a partial refund is merely something that "may be considered".

Once use begins, the terms treat mobile data as a service supplied immediately, so the 14-day right of withdrawal under French consumer law no longer applies. There is no refund if the phone is lost, stolen or replaced; the eSIM must be generated again on the new phone. Data remaining when a plan expires is not refunded either and can only be converted into Koins; once an account is deleted, any remaining data is forfeited.

Recent low-rated reviews mention full refunds being refused despite the refund wording on the homepage. If the eSIM fails to connect, contact customer support at once rather than retrying for hours, because partial refunds are calculated on data usage.

As of 13 October 2026, the Kolet app is rated 5.0 in the Hong Kong App Store, but from only 20 ratings; it is rated 4.9 in the UK store (941 ratings), 4.9 in the US store (1,335) and 4.9 in the French store (3,136). On Google Play it is rated 4.9 (5.0 shown in Hong Kong, about 7,020 reviews), with more than 100,000 downloads. On Trustpilot it is rated 4.7 (about 2,330 reviews), with 85% five-star and 3% one-star reviews; Kolet claimed its Trustpilot page in January 2026 and actively invites customers to leave reviews, so the score may not reflect every user's experience. Kolet also replies to all negative reviews.

Of the 20 most recent one- and two-star Trustpilot reviews, from June to September 2026, about half said the eSIM would not connect or stopped working while data remained, in places including the United States, Dublin and Thailand. Other common complaints include data being used up too quickly or disappearing without explanation; data obtained through airline partner promotions, such as KLM's, not working; slow or hard-to-reach customer support; full refunds refused despite the refund wording; suspected effects on the existing SIM card or its roaming; and login verification code emails not arriving.

Customer support is available 24 hours a day through the in-app chat, which is first answered by the digital assistant Koko, with a human agent available on request; you may also email [email protected]. As login verification codes are sent by email, it is advisable to confirm before departure that you can log in to the app.

It is advisable to install the eSIM in the app at home over Wi-Fi before departure, as installation requires a stable connection. On arrival, as Kolet recommends, set the Kolet eSIM as the mobile data line, turn off "Allow Mobile Data Switching" and turn off data roaming on your Hong Kong SIM; otherwise your Hong Kong carrier may charge roaming fees, and the terms state that Kolet is not responsible for roaming fees resulting from incorrect phone settings.

The Kolet app is available in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Arabic, Turkish, Vietnamese, German, Italian and Portuguese, but not in Chinese.

After returning to Hong Kong, turn the Kolet line off rather than deleting it, and turn mobile data back on for your Hong Kong SIM; the same eSIM can be kept for the next trip, and plans do not renew automatically. To stop using the service, choose "Delete Account" at the bottom of the "Profile" page in the app; a deleted account cannot be restored, and remaining data is forfeited without refund.

Suitable for: people whose phone has eSIM and is unlocked, who travel several times a year and mainly need data; those who would like to keep one eSIM and buy a plan in the app for each trip; those who would rather convert leftover data into Koins for later use than let it go to waste; and travellers holding usable miles such as KrisFlyer.

Not suitable for: people using an iPhone 11 to 16 series model bought in Hong Kong (except the 12 mini, 13 mini and 16e), an XS Max or an XR; those who need a local phone number or SMS; those who travel often to Macao or need unlimited data on the mainland or in Taiwan; those who rely on websites or services that determine the region by IP address; those who would rather not pay in a foreign currency; and those who expect to be able to obtain a refund after a plan has been activated.