Part of our full 2026 round-up: Simbye vs Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad & Yesim.
Simbye vs Yesim at a glance
The fundamental difference: Simbye's US, UK and Europe plans include a real mobile number; every Yesim eSIM is data-only.
| Simbye | Yesim | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | $2.99 — 1 GB / 7 days | ~$2.31 — Turkey 1 GB / 30 days (Aug 2026) |
| Real phone number | Yes — +1 US, +44 UK, +33 Europe | No — all plans data-only |
| Unlimited data | 2 GB/day full speed, then 1 Mbps (disclosed); USA unlimited; Thailand unlimited on 15- and 30-day plans | Broad choice, but no published fair-use cap |
| Pay-as-you-go | No — Build Your Own eSIM instead (app, up to 10 countries) | Yes — Pay & Fly, from ~€0.92/GB, never expires |
| Hotspot | Yes — allowed, no separate cap on data eSIMs | Yes (most plans) |
| Cashback | 5% wallet credit, never expires | Ycoins 5%, 10% after €200 spent |
| Refund | 30-day money-back | 30 days, unused plans only |
| Coverage | 190+ destinations | 200+ destinations |
| Ratings | 4.8 App Store, on a smaller review base | 4.6 App Store, 4.7 Google Play (~21,300); Trustpilot ~4.3–4.4 (~2,900) |
Where Yesim is strong
Yesim's standout feature is Pay & Fly: true pay-as-you-go data billed per MB in 170+ countries, from ~€0.92/GB, with credit that never expires. For a one-day layover where you only need maps and messages, no fixed plan matches that.
The rest is competitive: free hotspot on nearly all plans, loyalty cashback of 5–10%, one-day unlimited options and a 30-day refund on unused plans. Ratings run deeper than ours: 4.6 App Store, 4.7 Google Play, ~4.3–4.4 Trustpilot (~2,900 reviews) — Simbye's 4.8 sits on a far smaller base. Founded in Geneva in 2019, Yesim announced one million users in May 2025.
Where Simbye wins
Simbye gives you a working phone number: a real, native mobile number on the eSIM itself, not a cloud inbox. Yesim's virtual numbers (~€6/month) are a separate app product that only receives SMS — no calls, no sending.
| Simbye real number | Yesim virtual number | |
|---|---|---|
| Calls | Yes — in and out; unlimited US calls on the USA plan | No |
| SMS | Send & receive | Receive only (OTP/verification) |
| Price | Included — USA Unlimited from $24.99 / 10 days | ~€6/month add-on |
For pure verification codes, Yesim's inbox works and is cheap. But banks, hotels and couriers expect a number that can take a call — and Simbye bundles unlimited US calls and texts into the plan price, plus UK and Europe numbers.
Fixed plans mostly favor Simbye: Japan 10 GB 11,95€ vs ~$18.52, Turkey 20 GB 17,95€ vs ~$24.31, and the USA Unlimited 30 days costs 41,95€ with the number vs ~$52.08 data-only (August 2026). Add 5% cashback and the Europe eSIM — 7 days unlimited across 39 countries at $24.99 with a +33 number — and the gap widens.
Price check: real plans compared
Simbye prices are live; Yesim prices as listed on esimdb.com and yesim.app, August 2026.
| Destination | Simbye | Yesim (Aug 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 20 GB / 30 days — $19.99; Unlimited 7 days — $19.99 | 20 GB / 30 days — ~$24.31; Unlimited 30 days — ~$65.97 |
| Europe | Unlimited 7 days — $24.99 (39 countries, +33 number) | Unlimited 7 days — ~$24.31 (33 countries, data-only) |
| USA | Unlimited 30 days — $44.99 (+1 number, unlimited calls & texts) | Unlimited 30 days — ~$52.08 (data-only) |
| Japan | 10 GB / 30 days — $14.99; Unlimited 7 days — $19.99 | 10 GB / 30 days — ~$18.52; Unlimited 7 days — ~$28.36 |
| Thailand | Unlimited 7 days — $19.99 (with Thai number) | Unlimited 7 days — ~$25.93 |
| UK | 10 GB / 30 days — $14.99; 40 GB with +44 number — $21.99 | 10 GB / 30 days — ~€16.00 |
Where Simbye falls short
Four points where Yesim is the better buy:
- No pay-as-you-go. Simbye sells fixed bundles; Build Your Own eSIM is prepaid too. For a half-day layover, Pay & Fly at ~€0.92/GB undercuts every Simbye plan.
- No 1-day option. Simbye unlimited starts at 7 days / $19.99; Yesim lists Europe unlimited for one day at ~$3.47 (August 2026).
- Unlimited country plans throttle. After 2 GB/day Simbye drops to 1 Mbps; Yesim publishes no daily cap, so a heavy day can stay faster there.
- A much smaller review base. Simbye's 4.8 App Store rating rests on far fewer ratings than Yesim's ~21,300 Google Play reviews, and has no Trustpilot volume against Yesim's ~2,900. Simbye also lists 190+ destinations to Yesim's 200+, with no bundled VPN.
Simbye still fits better if you need a callable number, predictable bundle pricing, or an eSIM you can buy inside Türkiye.
Which one should you pick?
- Choose Yesim if you hop between many countries and want pay-as-you-go data by the MB.
- Choose Simbye if you need a real phone number for calls, banking or deliveries, want cheaper fixed plans, or you're visiting Turkey and want to buy on the spot.
- On a budget: Pay & Fly wins for light, occasional use; comparing fixed plans, Simbye is usually cheaper, and heavy users do better on Simbye unlimited from $19.99 / 7 days.
See all destinations from $2.99
FAQ: Simbye vs Yesim
Can I make phone calls with a Yesim eSIM?
No. Yesim eSIMs are data-only; the ~€6/month virtual number only receives SMS. Simbye's USA plan includes a +1 number with unlimited US calls and texts; UK and Europe plans add +44 and +33 numbers.
Is Yesim cheaper than Simbye?
Comparing fixed plans, Simbye is usually cheaper — Japan 10 GB $14.99 vs ~$18.52 (August 2026). Pay & Fly (from ~€0.92/GB) can win for small, occasional top-ups.
Does Yesim work in Turkey?
An installed eSIM keeps working. But Yesim's own Türkiye page says access may be restricted locally and advises installing before travel; esimprime.com lists Yesim in the extended BTK round. Simbye works in Turkey without a VPN.
Do both offer unlimited data?
Simbye discloses its rule: 2 GB/day full speed, then 1 Mbps at no extra cost — the USA number plan is truly unlimited, and Thailand is unlimited on the 15- and 30-day plans. Yesim publishes no cap; Trustpilot reviews quoted by Cybernews describe throttling after ~70 GB.
Which cashback program is better?
Yesim's Ycoins reach 10% only after €200 of spend. Simbye pays a flat 5% wallet credit from the first app order, and it never expires.
Where is Yesim better than Simbye?
Three cases: pay-as-you-go (Pay & Fly bills per MB from ~€0.92/GB, credit never expires), short trips (1-day unlimited ~$3.47 vs 7 days / $19.99), and review volume (~2,900 Trustpilot ratings vs Simbye's much smaller base).
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