BNESIM has already won the title of “World’s Best Travel SIM Provider” three times, and its goal to make communication affordable and accessible to everyone is laudable. But does it deliver on its promises? This review aims to find out.
- Multiple networks in over 200 countries
- Unlimited eSIM profiles on a single device
- Multi-operator partnerships
- Award-winning provider of eSIM travel solutions
- Call and messaging features available in-app
- 24/7 customer helpline
- Wide range of flexible plans
- Unlimited data plans
- Affordable plans
- Cluttered and complicated mobile app
- Confusing labeling of plans
- Average to slow speed performance in some tests
Who is BNESim?
BNESIM is a mobile network operator based in Hong Kong, providing data, connectivity, voice, and video calling solutions in over 200 countries. The company was founded in 2017, and its product portfolio includes eSIMs, physical SIM cards, enterprise data packages, international phone numbers, IoT solutions, virtual conference rooms, and VPN services.
With such a diverse range of solutions, BNESIM is well-positioned to be a leading global eSIM provider.
How does an eSim work? An eSIM is simply a piece of programmable circuitry built into the motherboard of your device. Because it’s rewritable, switching data plans with a software download is easy. No more hassle swapping out physical SIM cards or hunting for WiFI hotspots when traveling. Connection with eSIM allows you to download new carrier plans and transition between them wherever you are. With eSIM, you’re online as soon as you land!
BNESim eSIM packages: award winning
- An all-in-one solution for your international travel needs
- Internet access and phone calling services in 200+ countries
- Cellular coverage from leading multiple network providers
- Affordable prices for one-time, daily, or monthly packages
- Instant delivery and easy activation
- Over 160,000 data plans
Purchasing and Activating a BNESim eSIM Plan
To set up your BNESIM plan, follow the steps below:
- Inside the BNESIM mobile app, tap “Add eSIM/SIM.”
- Search for your intended destination and select your plan.
- Pick your payment option and complete your purchase.
- You will now receive an email and notification that your eSIM is active.
- Scan the QR code you received to begin activation or configure the eSIM manually.
- Follow the on-screen prompts and configure your default line and messaging options.
- If you want to use coverage from both your inbuilt SIM and eSIM, turn on “Allow Mobile Data Switching.”
- Rename your eSIM in your mobile settings.
Note: Android phone users will need to set up an APN. Please refer to the device-specific link below for detailed instructions.
Device-specific installation instructions:
To install a BNESIM on an iPhone, visit this link.To install a BNESIM on an Android device, visit this link.
How well does it work?
Purchasing:
Purchasing via the BNESIM app is relatively straightforward, but because
BNESIM offers many subscriptions and recurring purchase options, choosing the right one can be overwhelming.
UI:
BNESIM’s mobile UI is confusing, and much of the information is hidden in sub-menus—as a result, it’s often unclear where you’re meant to click next.
A useful pop-out menu simplifies general navigation, but the entire UI would benefit from redesigning and better separating the company’s various services.
By contrast, the company’s desktop browser UI is much easier to use. The additional screen space allows the information to be displayed more effectively, and it’s far easier to separate the many services offered.
Speed:
BNESIM’s speed performance was quite variable. It produced 5G-like speeds in a major city center, clocking in at 128 Mbps. But suburban locations delivered 8-12 Mbps speeds. We expected speeds to fluctuate, but the connection was stable.
BNESim eSIM Packages: What’s available?
BNESIM offers local (single-country coverage) in over 200 countries, including popular destinations like France, Japan, Italy, and the United States. You can choose from a wide range of data plans, including one-time passes and recurring daily or monthly subscriptions, all without needing identity verification.
Data allowances range from 500 MB to 10 GB for daily plans and from 1 GB to 100 GB for monthly options. Top-up and credit balances are managed through the BNESIM app, and additional services (including international phone numbers) are additional purchases available from within the app.
Below is a breakdown of the single destinations options by continent, currently available on the BNESIM website:
BNESIM Single Country Coverage
Africa (54)
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Asia (48)
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Europe (44)
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.
North America (23)
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.
Oceania (14)
Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
South America (13)
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and French Guiana.
Regional plans:
BNESIM also offers regional data plans for Europe and Asia with various configurations and renewals.
The table below lets you see each tier’s plans, renewal periods, and pricing options.
Regional Europe Plan (30 Countries)
Regional Asia Plan (28 Countries)
Pricing vs. Competitors
Moving on to pricing, BNESIM offers various data plans at competitive prices, including short-term and long-term plans, with data available in increments from 1 GB to 100 GB. The plans come with flexible time limits, from single-purchase plans with no expiry date to daily and monthly recurring options that you can cancel anytime.
Opting for a daily recurring plan allows you to pay solely for the days you spend in a country, saving money and allowing you to cancel it when you no longer require it. This approach saves you money and prevents unnecessary data usage. This approach lets you tailor your data usage while traveling to maximize the benefits and adjust to the days you require more data.
In contrast, some competitors provide fixed validity periods and limited data tiers, which can be more expensive in certain circumstances. However, it’s not a straightforward sum as each provider tends to tailor their offerings slightly differently.
Finding the best deal that suits your needs can be challenging. However, BNESIM has considered its niche market and has provided attractive pricing and clever option bracketing to create offers with broad appeal.
Does BNESIM offer deals or discounts?
At the time of writing, BNESIM was offering discounts on its daily and monthly recurring plans, with 30% off on daily plans and 35% off on monthly plans.
The company also provides a cashback program allowing customers to earn 5% cash back on purchases—this is managed using the BNE wallet, which lets you purchase BNE credits for later use. Additionally, subscribing to the BNESIM newsletter will allow you to receive early notice of their latest updates, offers, and discounts.
Managing your BNESIM data & topping up
The BNESIM options are highly configurable, and switching on the smart top-up feature will automatically warn you when you’re running low on data or reaching an expiry period.
The app also allows you to set your top-ups in increments. The amount of data you add in a top-up can vary from as small as 100 MB to as large as 100 GB.
It’s a highly customizable solution if a little complex to understand initially.
What devices are supported?
BNESIM maintains a list of compatible devices here.
Can I have a mobile or landline number at my destination?
Yes. BNESIM offers a wide range of options for making phone calls. Some of the highlights are:
- Pay-per-minute call rates
- Landline, mobile, and toll-free numbers available from 100+ countries
- Instant activation of multiple international lines on one phone
- Free calls within the BNESIM app
Talk minutes are stored in your BESIM wallet and are purchased separately from the main eSIM plan. Depending on the coverage zone, you can buy these in 25, 50, 160, 20, 200, 300, and 600-minute increments. They can be set to auto-renew on a weekly or monthly basis.
What is BNESIM customer support like?
When it comes to customer support, BNESIM offers a simple chat interface with 24/7 support. The customer service reps are polite and knowledgeable, and questions are generally answered quickly. Since the BNESIM product portfolio is quite complex, having a responsive chat experience available benefits significantly.
The chat remains active if you leave it, so questions can be answered even when you’re not using the app.
💬 Customer Reviews
BNESim only has 7 reviews on Trustpilot, here’s a few examples:
Currently 6 months in a trip around the world and just found out about this app. what a relief. Extremely simple to use and intuitive. Thank you for making our lives a lot easier.
Elif on TrustPilot
It worked really well during a trip to Turkey. The future of international roaming. Some countries have better value packages than others however.
Melda on Trustpilot
Conclusion
With coverage in more than 200+ countries, tiered and unlimited eSIM data plans, and pay-as-you-go options, BNESIM has much to offer to businesses and consumers alike.
The BNESIM app is powerful and flexible and lets you easily mix eSIM data packages with virtual conference rooms, international landlines, or personal mobile numbers.
Frequent travelers and data nomads will also benefit from BNESIM’s one-time payment options and flexible time limits, offering affordable eSIM plans for staying connected wherever you are.
While not a perfect solution, BNESIM is more than worthy of consideration in future travel plans. BNESIM offers affordable eSIM plans with a unique business focus and excellent customer support, which will likely make it a strong player in the global eSIM provider market for many days.