eSIMs and physical SIM cards do the same job — they connect your phone to a mobile network. But the experience couldn't be more different. Here's a head-to-head comparison.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Physical SIM | eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Plastic chip you insert | Digital, built into phone |
| Delivery | Mail, store, airport kiosk | Instant via email/QR |
| Activation | Insert + register | Scan QR code |
| Setup time | 15 minutes – several hours | Under 2 minutes |
| Switch carriers | Swap cards manually | Switch digitally |
| Multiple plans | One at a time | Store many profiles |
| Risk of loss |
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