GigSky eSIM Review 2025: Complete Test of Travel Data Plans & Coverage

Introduction

GigSky eSIM is an interesting provider of data eSIMs for travel with coverage in more than 200 countries worldwide. If you're planning a trip abroad and looking for a way to stay online without high roaming charges, a virtual SIM card from GigSky could be a good choice.

GigSky stands out from the competition primarily by functioning as a full-fledged virtual mobile operator (MVNO) with its own network. This brings several advantages, including unique connectivity on cruise ships and airplanes, which is a feature that most competing providers don't offer.

In this review, we'll look at practical experiences with GigSky - from purchase through installation to actual usage. For a quick comparison of all available eSIMs for your destination, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool, where you can filter by required data size, validity, and country - even multiple countries at once.

eSIM Offering at a Glance

Purchase Process

The process of purchasing a GigSky eSIM begins somewhat unconventionally. After clicking on the GigSky link in our eSIM comparison tool, you're immediately redirected to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It's not possible to purchase an eSIM without installing the app, which would normally be a negative.

However, GigSky promises that their app will remain partially functional even after data depletion, which would allow you to purchase another package directly from the app. If this promise holds true in practice, it's a good reason for the necessary app installation.

The purchase process itself in the app has several shortcomings:

• Requires more personal information than competing providers
• Lacks Google Pay payment option, you must manually enter all card details
• User interface isn't completely intuitive

A positive is the ability to sign in using a Google account, which at least partially simplifies the registration process. Overall, the purchase process is functional, but not as smooth as some competing providers.

If you're looking for a simpler purchase process, we recommend comparing different providers using our eSIM comparison tool, which allows you to find the most suitable solution for your destination.

App

The GigSky app is an essential part of using their eSIM services. After installation, we found that the app isn't the best designed and contains several peculiarities:

• The navigation menu contains an item "Visa Benefits," whose purpose isn't clear
• Some functions aren't intuitively placed
• The overall impression is that the app functions more like a wrapped website than a native mobile app

On the other hand, the app offers several useful features:

• Clear display of the current data plan
• Ability to track data usage
• Option to purchase additional data

An interesting finding is that GigSky truly functions as a virtual operator - in the phone's status bar, "GigSky" is displayed as the network name, which is unusual for eSIM providers. This feature allows the app to remain partially online even after data depletion, which is a significant advantage over the competition.

For comparison with other eSIM providers and their apps, check out our reviews of Airalo or Holafly.

eSIM Installation

Installing the GigSky eSIM takes place directly from the app and offers several options. When clicking on eSIM installation, we appreciate the various installation methods for different devices, which simplifies the process for users with different types of phones.

An interesting, but not entirely understandable requirement is the need to name your device during installation. It's not clear why this step is necessary, but it's not a significant obstacle.

After installation, we encountered a minor problem - data didn't start working immediately. Some troubleshooting was needed, including turning the physical SIM card off and on, as we recommend in our article on troubleshooting eSIM issues. After these steps, the data started working properly.

Overall, the installation process is relatively straightforward but may require certain technical knowledge in case of problems. GigSky could improve the user experience by providing clearer instructions for solving common connection problems.

If you have a specific type of phone and need more detailed instructions on installing an eSIM, check out our guides on how to add an eSIM to iPhone or how to add an eSIM to Samsung. To check your phone's compatibility with eSIM technology, visit our list of phones with eSIM support.

Customer Support

Customer support is a key aspect of any service, especially when traveling abroad. GigSky offers support through chat in the app, and our experiences were mostly positive.

Before starting a chat, you need to fill out a form with your name, email, and description of the problem. The app displays a notification about a high number of contacts and the need to be patient, but surprisingly, we received a response from an actual operator almost immediately. It seems this notification is displayed preventively regardless of actual support workload.

A minor disadvantage is that the operator requests information that was already entered in the form before starting the chat (name, email, purchase details). Since we're contacting support directly from the app, this information should already be available.

The chat itself has several technical shortcomings:

• The interface isn't completely intuitive, and it's easy to press something unintended
• The chat is somewhat slow, probably because it runs as a web application
• The function for sending screenshots doesn't work properly

Despite these shortcomings, the operator on the other side is very accommodating and responds quickly. However, troubleshooting instructions are sometimes too technical and require searching for information like ICCID, which isn't easily accessible in the GigSky app (unlike competitors like Airalo or Global YO).

For comparison with other eSIM providers and their customer support, we recommend exploring additional options using our eSIM comparison tool.

Speed Tests

After successfully installing the GigSky eSIM, we conducted several connection speed tests. The first finding was interesting - in the phone's status bar, "GigSky" is displayed as the network name, confirming that GigSky truly functions as a virtual operator with its own network.

The results of the first speed measurements were surprisingly low. After initial problems, we measured:

• Download speed: approximately 40 Mbps
• Upload speed: approximately 40 Mbps

To ensure an objective evaluation, we restarted the phone and performed a new measurement. After the restart, the speeds improved significantly:

• Download speed: approximately 114 Mbps
• Upload speed: approximately 16 Mbps

These values are comparable to other eSIM providers but still significantly lower than the theoretical maximum of a 5G network. An interesting finding is that although we were connected to a 5G network with full visibility of the transmitter and 5 bars of signal, the speeds were similar to a 4G connection. For comparison, our Swiss 5G plan from Sunrise under the same conditions achieved nearly gigabit download speeds.

The data limit turned off after using 537 MB, which is slightly more than the ordered 500 MB. Although the connection occasionally seemed unstable, it works reliably. The most interesting finding is that the GigSky mobile app remains partially functional even after data depletion, which allows purchasing a new plan directly from the app. This feature is unique, and competing providers don't offer it.

For a better understanding of differences in mobile technologies, check out our articles on 4G vs. LTE or 4G vs. 5G.

Prices

GigSky offers competitive prices for its data packages, especially for specific destinations and short-term travel. GigSky's pricing policy is transparent and offers several types of plans:

• Local plans for individual countries
• Regional plans (e.g., for Europe)
• Global plans for traveling across multiple countries

An interesting offer is the free 100 MB eSIM plan for new customers, which allows trying the service without the need for payment or entering payment card details. This option is excellent for those who want to test the service first.

GigSky also offers special plans for:

• Cruise ships on more than 190 routes
• Connectivity at sea in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea
• Data services onboard more than 20 airlines

These specialized services are unique and often have no competition in the area of travel eSIMs. Especially for cruise ships in the Caribbean, Cuba, and other locations, GigSky is often the only available option.

GigSky also offers special benefits for holders of selected Visa cards. For example, holders of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® card can get a free 5GB, 15-day data plan when traveling to more than 125 countries.

For regular users, GigSky's prices are reasonable, but for demanding users who need a large amount of data, other providers may be more cost-effective. To find the best price for your destination, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool.

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback is an important indicator of service quality. GigSky has mixed ratings in app stores:

• Apple App Store: 4.6/5 stars from 1,321 reviews
• Google Play: 3.2/5 stars from 555 reviews

Positive feedback often mentions:

• "Excellent customer service that deserves major kudos 👍"
• "The app gives me the key information I need, like whether data is available and how much data I've used."
• "Worked great on our Royal Caribbean cruise from Florida to Aruba and Curaçao. LTE speeds excellent."
• "I'm impressed. I had very helpful customer support, even though I was only using their free 100MB plan!"

Negative feedback often mentions:

• "Data coverage on Crown Princess was very unreliable."
• "Never worked. Couldn't catch a data signal even in the city."
• "In Malaysia, data didn't work well, and when it did, it wasn't even 3G."

This feedback suggests that the quality of GigSky's service can vary significantly by location. While some users have excellent experiences, especially with customer support, others struggle with connection issues in certain areas.

Our own experiences with GigSky correspond to this mix of reviews - the service works well but with occasional issues with speed and connection stability. The customer support is truly excellent and responds quickly.

For more information on alternative providers, check out our reviews of Airalo, Holafly, or Global YO.

Result (Summary)

GigSky eSIM is an interesting provider of data plans for travel that distinguishes itself from the competition with several unique features. Its main advantages include:

• Functions as a virtual operator with its own network, allowing partial functionality of the app even after data depletion
• Unique coverage on cruise ships, airplanes, and in some exotic destinations
• Excellent customer support with quick response
• Free 100 MB plan for new customers
• Partnerships with more than 400 operators worldwide ensuring broad coverage

On the other hand, GigSky has several significant drawbacks:

• Requires app installation for eSIM purchase and management
• Less intuitive app user interface
• Slower connection speeds in some locations
• Higher prices for demanding data users
• More difficult to find technical information like ICCID

We would recommend GigSky primarily to travelers who need coverage in exotic destinations or on cruise ships, where the offer of competing providers is limited. It's also a good choice for those who appreciate quality customer support and the ability to partially use the app even after data depletion.

For regular travel to popular destinations, other providers may be more cost-effective or offer a better user experience. To find the best eSIM for your specific needs, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, which allows you to filter offers by required data size, validity, and destination.

If you're planning a trip and want to learn more about connectivity options abroad, read our comprehensive guide to eSIM for travel or check out frequently asked questions and answers about eSIM.

Overview of GigSky Data Plans by Country