EPIC Firsty eSIM Review (HONEST Opinion)

Who is Firsty?

One of the newest players in the eSIM game, Firsty is an Amsterdam-based startup that launched their beta app in January 2024. Their goal was to bring some new innovation to the industry, and I definitely think they’ve already crushed it. They provide a freemium eSIM data service with options to upgrade for as little as €1/day.

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With over 400,000 customers around the world and more downloading the app every single day, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon! Uber is even partnering with the company so that travelers can easily access the ride share app anywhere in the world. That sure would have been hella’ useful when I was bamboozled in New Delhi!

How Firsty eSIM Works

Alright y’all, let me tell you how much I LOVED the ease of using Firsty compared with all other eSIMs I’ve tried. Instead of having to constantly switch between packages and price points when traveling to multiple countries, this country has got you covered: all plans are global!

Firsty is simple: you download the app, choose between a basic plan of FREE mobile data or a cheap paid plan, and then select the country you’re going to. All offers work in the vast majority of countries through partnerships with local telecom companies.

The founders have brought a sense of autonomy and democracy to mobile data that you won’t see from any competitors. As a fully app-based eSIM, you can manage everything right on your phone, something I personally loved as opposed to buying on my laptop.

What Packages Does Firsty Offer?

This might just be the simplest eSIM package selection ever – unlike all Firsty’s competitors, they only offer three plans, Firsty Free and Firsty Fast (which has two options).

Let me break them both down a bit more for ya’:

Firsty Free

Firsty Free is the most iconic pieces of mobile data tech we’ve seen in a minute – for €0 a day, you get unlimited access to Whatsapp, Email, iMessage, Mesenger and Uber for absolutely free. Not only is this the first offering of its kind, but it’s a true broke backpacker hack as it works in almost every country on the planet.

Firsty Fast

While the Comfort Plus options of Firsty Fast are €1/day, there’s also a slightly more expensive plan called First Class that’s priced at €2.5/day. This gives you access to absolutely everything – something I found ideal as a digital nomad using multiple apps and taking video calls.

Both paid versions are available in 160 different countries and also allow hotspotting which is truly a life saver whenever I encountered less-than ideal wifi.

Does Firsty Give Out Local Phone Numbers?

While Firsty does many things, they do not provide a local number. I didn’t really find this to be much of an issue though – you’ll have all the apps you need to communicate with family, friends and accommodations.

How to Use Firsty eSIMs

First up, you need to download the Firsty App, which is available in both the Google Play and Apple Stores. I found the interface modern, user-friendly and overall easy to work with. Once you’ve got Firsty on your phone, it’s pretty easy to get your eSIM ready to go in just a few steps.

Deciding which plan is best for you really depends on what you’re seeking from your eSIM. As a digital nomad who NEEDS daily internet connection for all kinds of things, I loved the speed and freedom of First Class, especially when I’m bouncing between continents. But if you’re just looking for immediate connection upon arrival at the airport and a bit beyond, Firsty Free’s got your back.

Getting Started With Firsty Free

I know you might be a bit skeptical about this whole free data thing, but trust and believe, it’s legit! You’ll be able to get into your data right after watching a short advertisement, which is a component of the app. Hey it has to be free somehow, right?

Tbh, I’ve used VPN apps like this in the past and it’s totally worth it as the ads are short. I then had all my messaging apps right at my fingertips. While the speed is not quite as fast as the paid versions, it’s still good enough for basic communications, Uber, and even maps. If you’re cool with what you get, you can even get rid of the ads for 30 days for just €4.50.

Getting Started With Comfort Plus

This is Firsty’s most inexpensive paid data plan which is still pretty dang cheap at just €1/day. The internet is faster, there’s no ads, and it works with all social media apps and the web. While the data was definitely faster than Firsty Free, it would be nice to know what exactly to expect as far as upload and download speeds go.

For most travelers, this is the best and cheapest choice that just about beats out many local SIM providers even in some favorite backpacking destinations. You can even buy your data in advance and activate it whenever you need it – flexibility is clearly worked into everything with this company!

Getting Started With First Class

The ultimate Firsty experience can be had with their most expensive package – First Class, which gives much of the same benefits as Comfort Plus just with faster internet, is priced at €2.5/day which is still pretty cheap compared to many other eSIM options.

This is definitely the plan to go with if you need to be doing a lot of video calls or other work that requires a speedy connection. Digital nomads – I’d recommend trying both to see which one works for you!

Topping Up and Cancelling

Another fantastic thing about Firsty is they make it super easy to cancel and restart your plan whenever you’d like. You remaining data NEVER expires, so you can save it for your next trip!

Comparing Firsty to Other eSIMS

eSIMs have just about never been more popular – and Firsty has really managed to make it’s way through the crowd in just a short amount of time. Here’s how it compares to two super popular options you may have heard of:

Airalo

While they do technically operate in more countries than FIrsty, Airalo’s pricing for global packages is notably higher. They charge $69 USD for just 20 GB worldwide, and that’s limited to only 146 compared to Firsty’s 160. The data included is also significantly less and there’s no unlimited option.

HolaFly

Holafly is another poppin’ eSIM that I’m sure you’ve seen promoted on Instagram before – with a nice interface and 24/7 WhatsApp assistance, they too are gaining more and more users on the daily. Unfortunately though, they don’t have a global package, and aren’t offering any freebies. Even in Asia, their 30-day plans tend to offer only around 15 GB of data for as much as $85 USD! Not even remotely as good if you ask me.

Final Thoughts

Firsty is really out here changing the eSIM landscape – they may be the first provider to really give local SIMs a run for their money with unmatched pricing and convenience.

I was fully impressed with how easy it was to use, and how well it worked! The global option is unmatched for long term travelers, and Firsty Free is literally first in its class.

Add in fab, helpful customer service reps, and data that actually delivers and you’ve got yourself an amazing, groundbreaking eSIM that I feel you’re going to see more and more of.

Now all you’ve got to do is add Firsty to your travel packing list and get it set up before your trip!

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