Overview

Yesim is a Swiss-based eSIM provider that punches above its weight in features while charging slightly above its weight in price. The product is packed with capabilities that most competitors lack -- a built-in VPN for iOS users, virtual phone numbers for dual-line use, city-specific plans for granular destination coverage, and a pay-as-you-go credit system where your balance never expires. For feature-seeking travelers who want more than just data, Yesim offers a surprisingly complete package.

The Swiss heritage shows in the app design, which is polished and intuitive with thoughtful touches like destination guides and localized content. Yesim also accepts cryptocurrency payments, a niche perk that appeals to a specific subset of privacy-minded travelers. But the premium pricing -- ranked 26th out of 38 providers -- means you are paying a meaningful surcharge compared to Airalo and Saily for basic connectivity. Customer support response times lag behind the industry's best, and the VPN feature being iOS-exclusive limits its appeal for Android users. Yesim is a strong product with a genuine feature advantage, but the value equation requires you to actually use those extra features to justify the cost.

Features Deep-Dive

Built-In VPN and Virtual Phone Numbers

Yesim includes a free VPN for iOS users that encrypts your traffic and masks your IP address while browsing on foreign networks. This is a meaningful security feature for travelers connecting through hotel Wi-Fi, airport networks, and cafe hotspots -- environments where data interception is a real risk. Unlike Saily's lighter security suite, Yesim's VPN provides full traffic encryption, offering stronger protection at the cost of slightly more latency.

Virtual phone numbers allow you to maintain a second phone line through the Yesim app, which is useful for separating personal and travel communications or for receiving SMS verification codes without exposing your primary number. The virtual number supports both calls and texts and works across most covered destinations. This feature positions Yesim as an alternative to aloSIM's Hushed-powered phone numbers, though the implementation and pricing differ.

The catch is platform exclusivity: the VPN is only available on iOS. Android users get the data service and virtual numbers but miss out on the security feature that represents a significant portion of Yesim's value proposition. This limitation makes Yesim a harder sell for Android users, who get fewer features at the same premium price.

City-Specific Plans

Yesim offers plans targeted at specific cities -- a granularity that no other eSIM provider matches. Instead of buying a general Thailand plan that covers the entire country, you can purchase a Bangkok-specific plan optimized for the carriers and coverage patterns in that city. Tokyo, London, Paris, New York, and dozens of other popular destinations have dedicated city plans.

The practical benefit is pricing and performance optimization. City plans can be cheaper than country-wide equivalents because they are tailored to urban carrier networks rather than covering rural areas you might not visit. For travelers spending their entire trip in a single city, this granularity means you are not paying for coverage you do not need. The downside is obvious: if your itinerary extends beyond the city limits, you may lose coverage or performance. Travelers planning day trips outside the city are better served by standard country plans.

Pay & Fly Credit System

Yesim's Pay & Fly system lets you load credits into your account that never expire, using them to purchase plans on demand as you travel. This is fundamentally different from the plan-by-plan purchasing model of Airalo or Saily, and it suits irregular travelers particularly well. Load $50 in credits before a trip, use what you need, and the remaining balance sits in your account until your next trip -- even if that is six months later.

The YCoins loyalty program layers additional value on top, rewarding purchases and engagement with bonus credits. Regular users accumulate meaningful rewards over time. The system also supports cryptocurrency payments, which is unique among eSIM providers and appeals to travelers who prefer privacy-preserving payment methods. The main gotcha is the auto-refill default on YCoin top-ups -- make sure to disable it if you do not want automatic charges when your balance drops below a threshold.

Pricing Analysis

Yesim's pricing sits in the upper-middle tier, noticeably above budget providers but below true premium options like GigSky. A 1GB plan for popular destinations costs $6-10, 3GB runs $14-20, and 5GB plans fall in the $22-30 range. These prices are 30-50% above Saily's and 15-30% above Airalo's, which is a material premium for basic data service.

The value calculation changes when you factor in the included features. A VPN subscription costs $3-12 per month from standalone providers, and virtual phone numbers run $2-5 per month. If you would purchase these separately anyway, Yesim's bundled pricing becomes competitive or even cheaper than buying data plus add-on services. The city-specific plans can also save money for urban travelers compared to full-country plans elsewhere.

For travelers who just want cheap data, Yesim does not compete on price with Airalo or Saily. The premium only makes sense if you actively use the VPN, virtual numbers, or credit system. If those features are irrelevant to your needs, you are paying more for capabilities you will not use.

Who Is This For?

Yesim works best for:

• iOS users who want integrated VPN protection without managing a separate app or subscription. The built-in VPN provides real security value for travelers who frequently connect through untrusted networks and want encryption without extra configuration.
• Irregular travelers with unpredictable schedules who benefit from the non-expiring credit system. If you travel sporadically rather than on a regular schedule, the Pay & Fly system means your money never goes to waste on unused plans that expire.
• Urban travelers visiting specific cities who can take advantage of city-specific plans for optimized pricing and carrier performance. A week in Tokyo or a long weekend in London can be covered more efficiently with targeted city plans than broad country-wide options.

Who Should NOT Use This

Yesim might not be the right choice if:

• You use Android: The VPN -- one of Yesim's most valuable features -- is iOS-only. Android users pay the same premium pricing but receive fewer features, making the value proposition significantly weaker. Saily offers security features that work across both platforms.
• You prioritize responsive customer support: Yesim's support response times are slower than industry leaders like Maya Mobile and Holafly. If you are likely to need help with activation or troubleshooting, providers with faster support infrastructure are a safer bet.
• You just want the cheapest data available: Yesim's pricing premium only makes sense if you use its extra features. For basic connectivity needs, Airalo and Saily deliver comparable or better coverage at meaningfully lower prices.

Bottom Line

Yesim is the feature-richest eSIM provider in the market, combining VPN protection, virtual phone numbers, city-specific plans, and a flexible credit system that no single competitor matches. Swiss quality shows in the app design and attention to detail. But the premium pricing means these features need to actually be relevant to your travel style -- otherwise, you are paying for capabilities that cheaper providers do not burden you with. Feature-seekers will love it. Minimalists should look elsewhere.

FAQ

Does Yesim's VPN work on Android?

No. The built-in VPN is currently available only on iOS devices. Android users have access to all other Yesim features including data plans, virtual phone numbers, city-specific plans, and the Pay & Fly credit system, but the VPN protection is not available. If VPN access is important on Android, consider Saily, which offers cross-platform security features, or use a standalone VPN service like NordVPN alongside a standard eSIM.

What happens to my Pay & Fly credits if I do not travel for months?

Your credits remain in your account indefinitely -- there is no expiration date. This is one of Yesim's most practical features for irregular travelers. Whether you use your credits next week or next year, the balance will be waiting for you. Just be aware that YCoin top-ups have auto-refill enabled by default, which will automatically charge your payment method when your balance drops below a set threshold. Disable this in your account settings if you prefer manual control.

Are city-specific plans worth it compared to country plans?

City plans can be 10-20% cheaper than equivalent country plans and are optimized for urban carrier networks, potentially offering better performance in densely populated areas. They make sense if your entire trip is confined to one city. If you plan any excursions outside the city -- a day trip from Tokyo to Hakone, or London to the Cotswolds -- a country plan provides more reliable coverage across the broader region. When in doubt, the country plan is the safer choice.