There are international SIM cards together with so-called mobile hotspots (also called MiFis) on the market offering "worldwide" data roaming or at least in major regions. Their offers are collected here in this separate "all countries" section. Their data rates are often more expensive than on the national level. So always compare with local SIM cards and roaming offers in your country. Although you won't save much using these cards, they may be a good option for frequent travelers and people travelling through multiple countries.
For stand-alone international SIM cards for data without any WiFi hotspot included check this article here.
PART 2: Worldwide data SIM cards with Wi-Fi hotspots
The combo approach of a mobile hotspot together with a data SIM has the main advantage, that it offers a coherent solution. You don't need to care about frequencies, compartibility, and how to connect your device. You simply link all your devices by Wi-Fi to your hotspot. This is much easier if you travel in a group, stay together and want to have a common solution. There are hardware offers for purchase as well as rental. If you decide to buy or rent your Mifi, you will certainly have higher start-up costs for the device, but maximum compartibility and service and mostly lower data prices. But you must be aware that there is no voice calling (except of VoIP) and SMS service possible through these data-only plans.
GlocalMe
GlocalMe is a Chinese enterprise based in Hong Kong by Shenzhen uCloudlink Network Limited, a fully owned subordinate of Hong Kong uCloudlink Technology Network Ltd. It has been around from 2014 and is the first to offer a 4G/LTE roaming solution with a Wi-Fi hotspot for purchase only.
Coverage is in around 108 countries so far and some of them already in 4G/LTE. It comprises North America, Latin America, Europe, major parts of Asia and Oceania and some African countries (see this map).
WiFi Hotspot
In 2017 they introduced their new WiFi hotspot called U2. It uses a "cloud SIM" for their own service and you can add two micro SIMs additionally. The battery has 3200 mAH and works for around 12 hours. It's now smaller and lighter as the previous one as it measures 157 x 109 x 28 mm and weights 150 g. You can add up to 5 devices at the same time and it has a 5 GB hard disk. It works on 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE up to 150 Mbps. Supported bands include LTE-FDD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, LTE-TDD 39, 40, 41, 3G/WCDMA 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, CDMA/EVDO BC0, BC1 and GSM.
In 2018 the G3 hotspot device was added and sold along with the previous U2. It supports LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 17, 19, 20, 38, 39, 40, 41; as well 3G and 2G, weights 240 gr. and measures 126.5 x 65 x 19 mm in size. WiFi is on IEEE802.11b/g/n up to 150 Mbit/s. Here too, two nano SIM cards can be added and up to 5 devices can be connected. The G3 is heavier with g and has a bigger battery as the U2.
Supported phones
Also GlocalMe offers their World Phone S1 with its cloud SIM included produced by Elitek and support full range frequency band management. GlocalMe S1 World Phone can be found at Amazon.com for US$ 339.99 with 20 GB global data package included (data valid for 365 days), but may not be available in all markets.
Availability
The U2 and G3 can be found at major dealers, but is mostly marketed through Amazon.com for around US$ 150, Amazon.de for € 160 or Amazon.co.jp for ￥18,990. Both models generally get pretty good reviews on Amazon and other high tech feedback sites.
After purchase you need to connect to GlocalMe Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Hotspot:GlocalMe_XXXXX, Password:XXXXX. Then create your GlocalMe Account through their app available for iOS and Android, then login to your account on the G2 device and top-up online your account by PayPal, VISA, MasterCard, Alipay and others.
Data rates
They offer country-specific packages for 100+ countries and some regions too:
| Country (each country of its own) | 300 MB
1 day |
1 GB
7 days |
3 GB
30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| China, S. Korea, Indonesia,
Hong Kong, Japan |
$ 1.50 | $ 4 | $ 10 |
| Thailand | $ 2 | $ 5 | $ 12.50 |
| EU/EEA countries, Russia, Canada
Ukraine, Australia, USA, Mexico |
$ 3.50 | $ 9 | $ 22.50 |
| Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, India | $ 4 | $ 10.50 | $ 26.50 |
| UAE, Algeria | $ 4.50 | $ 11 | $ 27.50 |
| Region (all countries combined) | 1 GB
30 days |
3 GB
30 days |
12 GB
1 year |
| Global | $ 29 | $ 72.50 | $ 217.50 |
| Europe | $ 12 | $ 30 | $ 90 |
| North America | $ 11 | $ 27.50 | $ 69 |
| Oceania | $ 11 | $ 27.50 | $ 82.50 |
And many other countries are offered , see here. Furthermore they offer a year pack with 1 GB valid in 58 countries for one year at $ 36.
More info
- Website: http://www.glocalme.com
We.stream
We.Stream is the brand of a Dutch-based company called Mondicon offering a mobile 4G/WiFi hotspot that can be used in 100 countries for data. The new offer was launched at the Passenger Experience Week in Hamburg in 2018.
They use Glocal Me's G3 mobile hotspot for data. For specifications cheak GlocalMe above.
Data offer
Data roaming is in 100 countries (list) so far with all usual countries covered. They offer yearly, monthly, weekly and daily plans for all countries:
- "Unlimited" for a year (in high speed, beyond throttled to 52 kbps):
- 2 GB per month for € 20.75 per month
- 5 GB per month for € 41.50 per month
- 20 GB per month for € 149 per month
- for 30 days: 5 GB at € 99 or 10 GB at € 149
- for 7 days: 500 MB per day at € 49 per week
- for a day: 500 MB at € 8
When high-speed allowances is reached, speed will be throttled to 128 kbit/s. All plans auto-renew, if not discontinued. Top-ups are through their website. To all prices the local VAT (sales tax) must be added.
More information
- Website: https://www.we.stream
skyroam
Skyroam is a San Francisco based company founded in 2008. In 2015 it received funding from Lenovo and many other sources for their new vSIM (virtual SIM) technology. You need to purchase or rent their WiFi hotspot together with data passes.
Skyroam roams in about 130 countries. This includes all of Europe, North America, major countries in South America, few countries in Africa and major countries in Asia and the Middle East plus Australia (see list).
Skyroam Solis (4G/LTE)
In 2017 they introduced their new WiFi hotspot called Solis that seems to have become their standard now. For the first time 4G/LTE has been offered in about 100 countries. This orange-coloured hardware doubles as powerbank, has 6000 mAh capacity for 16 hours of operation or up to 123 hours on standby. Charging is by USB-C cable and the hotspot can connect up to 5 devices. There's no SIM card here: Using an embedded SIM with a global roaming partner, the hotspot checks its GPS, phones home for a few bytes, and then gets assigned a virtual SIM card with a real account linked to it.
Coverage is on 2G 850, 900.1800, 1900 MHz; 3G/WCDMA 850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz and 4G/LTE 700, 800, 850, 900, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2300, 2500, 2600 MHz that translates into bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 38, 40, 41 making as more compatible as the GlocalMe device. You can now also add an own physical SIM card. It's heavier at 190 g (6.6 oz.), but smaller with 93 mm x 93 mm x 26 mm (3.6 in x 3.6 in x 1.0 in).
Purchase is by e.g. Amazon or in their stores for US$ 149 or € 155. The price for rentals is US$ 9.95 per day with a data pass included, but you need to take these days consecutively and have to add extra cost for delivery and return.
Alternatively at many airports, you can instead choose to pick up your order at kiosks in in certain key locations like London Heathrow Airport (all terminals except T1) or railway stations.
Skyroam Solis X (4G/LTE)
In summer 2019 the new Solis X was introduced and started on pre-sales. It has the same good compatibility of its predecessor and goes at the same price. It's biggest novelty is a camera which can't compete with other digital cameras, but can make simple pics. On the back side, the capacity of the battery has been shrunk form 6000 to 4700 mAh. Skyroam claims a 15 hours lifespan which turned out in first tests as much shorter instead.
Data options
In 2018 Skyroam offers three different price models, that can't be combined at the same time:
- Skyroam used to sell only day passes valid for 24 hours valid in all of the mentioned countries. When you have purchased their device, you only need to register once, get a 24-hour day pass, connect, and start using data. More day passes can be bought through your account using international credit cards or PayPal:
- 24-hrs day pass with 4G/LTE in all countries: € 8, US$ 9 or £ 7. A rather unspecified FUP applies (see below).
- In 2018 they introduced new Go Data passes for all destinations valid on a per GB basis:
- 1 GB for 30 days: € 8, US$ 9 or £ 7. More data can be added for the same price. Note that bundles auto-renew and need to be stopped at least 2 days prior to renewal.
- There are still "unlimited" subscriptions valid for a month at € 80 or US$ 90. Here again their FUP applies (see below) and passes auto-renew.
Fair Use Policy
Data on the day passes and "unlimited" month passes are unlimited, but governed by a rather vague and unspecified FUP called "industry standard Fair Use Policy, consistent with most mobile carrier and broadband company policies for mobile data usage. Customers who take a disproportionately high amount of data may experience reduced network speeds, based on location and service. To ensure you have uninterrupted high speed data, we strongly recommend disabling apps and features that consume data in the background, including cloud syncing, large system updates, auto-backups, auto-app updates, and avoid extended use of video streaming, gaming and other online activities that consume large amounts of data." Skyroam wont say what exact limits not to exceed.
Skyroam 3GMate+
The predecessor to the Solis hotspot was the 3GMate+ without 4G/LTE. It's has been slowly phased out now. It's smaller and lighter at 4.2 by 2.3 by 0.8 inches (10.7 x 5.8 x 2 cm) and 4.9 ounces (68 g) and made of plastic, with a black front and bright orange back. Pop-off the back and you'll find a 2,900 mAh battery. It supports 2G/GSM and 3G/HSPA on the 850, 900, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100 MHz bands. Skyroam says it's HSPA+ with max. 42 Mbps, but has no 4G/LTE. It can be used for 8 hours of continuously and 20 hours on standby and can link up to 8 devices. The same embedded SIM technology is employed and you can connect up to 5 devices at the same time to the device and it works for 8 hours or 123 hours on standby.
Skyroam has discontinued distribution now, but you can still find it through other dealers on Amazon, eBay and other platforms. It used to be sold for US$ 79.99 with 3 x 24-hrs day passes (= $30) included, but 3rd party prices vary.
More information
FLINK
FLINK based in Vienna, Austria rents mobile WiFi hotspots of Skyroam. They use the same 3G MATE+ device from Skyroam shown above.
You can book a hotspot online and have it delivered to your hotel or any private address at home or in your destination country. The hotspot even works when your travel across multiple countries during one day. At the end of your rental period, you need to return the device in the prepaid envelope included in your order. The hotspot can be rented from 1 to 31 days.
Rental price per day (excl. delivery costs) is € 9.90. Delivery by FedEx or postal service is from € 5.70 to € 35.70 depending on country, return is € 6.50 to € 32 or you can choose to mail it by yourself. In case of loss or damage € 130 will be charged to your payment system.
They enforce the same "high use" policy like Skyroam of throttling to 2G speed if you use more than 500 MB per day. However speed will be reset to normal at the beginning of the next day.
- Website can be set to English: www.getflink.com
Pokefi
Pokefi made from pocket and WiFi is a new contender on the scene starting in 2018 in Hong Kong. This device and its data passes are distributed worldwide through their website and at some places in Asia on location.
It offers 4G/LTE roaming in 70 countries: all EU/EEA countries, Turkey, Russia, all of North America, China, India, major SE Asian countries and Israel. This is much less than its competitors GLocalMe and Skyroam.
WiFi Hotspot
The device measures 110 x 68 x 10 mm in size and weights 144 g. Its battery has 3850 mAh and can last up to 12 hours. It has 3G and 4G bands that are not specified in up to 150 Mbit/s. It sells for HK$ 1318 or US$ 169 and includes a 5 GB data pass valid for up to 10 years. Delivery takes about 1 to 2 weeks and the hotspot is managed through the browser of your connected device. All prices will be debited in HK$ from a credit card or PayPal.
Data packages
These packages are offered on their website for sale and are valid in all roaming countries:
- 500 MB for 1 year: US$ 2
- 1 GB for 10 years: US$ 6
- daypass with 750 MB, beyond throttled to 128 kbit/s: US$ 6
- pass for 5 days (don't need to be consecutive, but within 3 months): US$ 15
- 5 GB for 2 years: US$ 15
- 5 GB for 10 years: US$ 30
These passes are valid in all 70 covered countries. They also offer a 5 GB package for mainland China only together with a VPN for US$ 30.
More information
- Website: https://www.mypokefi.com
XOXO WiFi
XOXO WiFi is a international company based in Lodz, Poland offering WiFi mobile hotspots rentals working in over 130 countries (the list of countries is here)
Rental prices range between € 7.90 and € 12 per day depending on period and country plus delivery fees. XOXO WiFi worldwide is delivered worldwide via FedEx and DHL. The customer gets delivery information after making an order.
Orders can be made from company's website where customers can select rental length, daily data bundle and additional accessories. XOXO WiFi is based on own 4G/LTE devices. XOXO WiFi also offers Skyroam's 3G mobile WiFi devices for destinations not reachable by 4G routers.
After exceeding the daily limit of 500 MB, speed is reduced to max. 512 kbps for downloads and uploads until the end of the day. Packages of 1 GB, 5 GB or unlimited (only for Europe) are also available for a surcharge. Limit is renewing in midnight based on GMT+0. When you keep or break the device or it gets lost in the mail, you are required to pay € 115. You can also rent a powerbank and car charger for a surcharge.
More info
- Website: https://xoxowifi.com/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/xoxowifi/
Goodspeed
Goodspeed is a brand created by the Finnish Uros Ltd. They follow a different approach in selling WiFi routers for roaming data. They teamed up with Chinese manufacturer ZTE to develop the MF900.
WiFi hotspot
Their WiFi hotspot is called MF900 and has been released in 2015. It can take up to 10 SIM cards and gives up to 14 WiFi or USB connections simultaneously. It covers all 2G, 3G and most 4G/LTE frequencies of B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 41 and battery lasts for 12 hours. It's sold exclusively through Goodspeed online and its sales channels for 139 €, US$ 149, £ 119.
Data rates
About 77 countries around the world are supported. On the device, you can use your own SIM card(s) too. They currently sell one pass only for all countries:
- 250 MB for a day: 7.90 €, US$ 8.50, £ 6.90
Special business rates are available too.
More info
Cellhire
Cellhire was formed in 1987 and has become a specialist global service provider. It claims to be the world market leader in short term communications rental, with a fleet of up to 55,000 handsets and connections on hire worldwide at any one time. Their headquarters are in York, UK, with additional offices in London, France, Germany, Japan, China and throughout the US. They have service agreements with more than 100 network partners in over 40 countries. This makes their offer quite hard to display as it changes from country to country, though all regional sites offer worldwide shipping for a surcharge. That's why you should check their different sites for their offer:
- Cellhire US: data SIM card in 3 categories (EU, international, international plus) with fixed MB allocations for purchase. Optional 3G MiFi router for purchase. Also sold through Amazon.com and other dealers.
- Cellhire UK: international 3G data SIM and some regional SIM cards for rental, optional 3G Mifi for rental, hidden FUP and deposit applies.
- Cellhire DE: international 4G data SIM and some regional SIM cards for rental, optional 4G Mifi for rental, hidden FUP and deposit applies.
- Cellhire FR: monthly international 3G data SIM for rental with 5 GB, optional 3G Mifi for rental, deposit applies.
Vision Global WiFi
Offers international internet solutions for more than 130 countries which is currently based in Los Angeles, California that started in 2016. Vision Incorporation, the main company has been in the telecommunication business for over 20 years. Vision Global WiFi is one of the top WiFi rental companies in Asia.
Why choose Vision Global WiFi?
- Pick-up and return methods: LAX airport, major Japanese airports and US domestic delivery.
- Rental can be done on a daily basis.
- Flat-rate system: No worries about high charges like overseas roaming.
- Use local line: Unlike roaming, high quality and high-speed communication is possible.
- Reliable domestic support: There is an office in Los Angeles, both Japanese and English are available for telephone and e-mail.
- Easy application: Easy steps on the web for only 3 minutes.
Other reasons:
- Easy to rent.
- WiFi is better compared to SIM. It is hard to put a SIM card.
- Easy to use, turn on the power and search for SSID and put in the password.
- You can utilize WiFi Calling with our current number to call.
- Multiple units can be connected to WiFi hotspot.
Comparison
Other roaming service:
- It is not a flat rate
- Cannot use local line
- Settings may be required.
Vision Global WiFi offers a WiFi hotspot rental service so you don't have to pay for the expensive roaming charges or rely on the hotel WiFi. Easy to carry around that allows you to connect your electronic devices to the WiFi signal to stay connected.
The Vision Global WiFi lets the users stay connected to family and friends, post to social media sites, use navigational tools such as Google Maps, as well as gather information all over the world!
For travelers, Vision Global WiFi strive to supply with a substantial service that allows them to access the internet whenever and wherever they go. Vision Global WiFi wants every travelers and nomads who travels internationally to stay connected conveniently.
Vision Global WiFi offers a WiFi hotspot rental service so you don't have to pay for the expensive roaming charges or rely on the hotel WiFi. Easy to carry around that allows you to connect your electronic devices to the WiFi signal to stay connected.
The Vision Global WiFi lets the users stay connected to family and friends, post to social media sites, use navigational tools such as Google Maps, as well as gather information all over the world!
For travelers, Vision Global WiFi strive to supply with a substantial service that allows them to access the internet whenever and wherever they go. Vision Global WiFi wants every travelers and nomads who travels internationally to stay connected conveniently.
For more information
- Website: https://visionglobalwifi.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisionGlobalWiFi/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visionglobalwifi/