250 MB
Ireland multi-network
€1.29a month per active SIM, ex VAT
Order 250 MBIoT eSIM or physical SIM for a device?
When an IoT eSIM delivered as a QR code is the quicker choice for a device, when a physical SIM is still the right one, and how to tell what yours supports.
ThingSIM sells both at the same price, €2.49 per SIM, once. The choice comes down to what your device supports and how quickly you need it working.
What each one is
A physical SIM arrives as a trio card, so you can pop out the mini, micro or nano size your device takes. It is posted to addresses in Ireland and the rest of the EU.
An eSIM is a profile downloaded onto a chip already built into the device. ThingSIM delivers it as a QR code once your order is confirmed, so there is nothing to post and nothing to insert. It is billed the same way as a physical SIM: nothing until you switch it on, or until 30 days after it is issued, with at least 5 days' email notice.
Does your device support eSIM?
This is the deciding question, and the device decides it, not the SIM. Look for:
- “eSIM” or “eUICC” in the specification sheet
- An option in the device's settings or app to add a mobile plan by scanning a QR code or entering an activation code
- No SIM tray at all, which usually means eSIM only
Many routers, trackers and industrial devices still take only a physical SIM. Many newer devices take either. If the specification does not mention eSIM, assume physical.
When each one is the better choice
| Situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Device has no SIM tray | eSIM |
| You need it working today | eSIM, delivered in minutes |
| Device is sealed or hard to open on site | eSIM, if supported |
| Device only takes a physical SIM | Physical |
| You are preparing many devices on a bench | Either; eSIM avoids handling cards |
| You want to swap the SIM to another device by hand | Physical |
Which eSIM standard does the device use?
IoT devices follow one of three GSMA eSIM specifications, SGP.02, SGP.22 or SGP.32, and which one decides how a profile is installed. ThingSIM eSIMs are installed from a QR code or activation code. See IoT eSIM standards explained.
Moving a SIM between devices
A physical SIM moves with the card: take it out, put it in the new device. An eSIM profile lives on the device's chip, so moving service to a new device means installing a profile on that device. Plan for that if devices are swapped often in the field. The guide to activating, pausing and moving SIMs covers both.
Developers
eSIM activation codes are available through the API as well as the portal (GET /v1/iot/sims/{iccid}/esim), so a production line or provisioning script can fetch a code and load it without anyone scanning a QR code. See activating SIMs with the API.
Common questions
Does an eSIM cost more than a physical SIM?
No. Both are €2.49 per SIM, once, and both bill the same way: from activation, or 30 days after despatch (or issue, for an eSIM), with at least 5 days' email notice.
How quickly does an eSIM arrive?
As a QR code in the portal once your order is confirmed, so a device can be connected without waiting for the post.
Can I get a physical SIM in the size my device needs?
Yes. Physical SIMs come as a trio card, so you pop out mini, micro or nano to suit the device.
Recommended plan
Ireland multi-network, 250 MB a month
Roams across Vodafone, Three and eir and uses whichever is strongest where the device is.
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