Frequently asked questions
How the Balkan eSIM plan works before, during and after a drive through the region — including the borders it does not cross.
What is an eSIM, and why does it suit a border-crossing trip?
A digital SIM built into the phone. Instead of pushing a plastic chip into a tray at every border, you install the plan by scanning a QR code, and your usual SIM stays exactly where it is.
Will my phone take a Balkan eSIM?
Most phones from 2018 on can install one — iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, plus most recent Android models — as long as the phone is carrier-unlocked. Our setup guides show where to confirm both in a couple of taps, best done before the trip rather than at a border.
Should I install it at home or at the first border?
Over Wi-Fi at home, a day or two before you leave. Nothing starts counting at that point: the plan begins when the eSIM first connects to a network in one of the covered countries, so an early install costs you nothing and saves you doing it on a hotel connection.
Do I keep my own number across all seven countries?
You do. The plan carries data only, so your physical SIM stays in and your number, SMS bank codes and messaging apps work exactly as before, on both sides of every border. The one setting to change: mobile data goes to the eSIM.
What speeds should I expect on the road?
It runs on local partner networks: 4G/LTE along the main roads and 5G where a network offers it. Enough for maps, video calls, and a laptop on the hotspot at a stop. In the mountains the signal thins out the same way it would on a local SIM.
Does my physical SIM have to come out?
No — leave it exactly where it is for the whole route. The eSIM installs alongside it, and the only setting that matters is pointing mobile data at the eSIM, so your home SIM sits there without roaming while the eSIM does the work.
What if the data runs out halfway along the route?
Top up in the app. The data lands on the eSIM you already installed, so there is no second QR code, no reinstall, and nothing to do at the roadside.
Can one plan feed the whole car over a hotspot?
Yes, tethering is included. One plan can cover the phones in the back seat, a tablet and a laptop at a stop.
Do I need a connection to install it?
For the install itself, yes — the eSIM profile has to download, which is exactly why the right moment is home Wi-Fi before departure. From then on it needs nothing: it registers on a local network by itself when you arrive, or in the queue at the first crossing.
Can I make ordinary calls and send SMS on it?
Plans are data-only: they carry internet, not a phone line, so ordinary calls and SMS stay on your home SIM and your number goes on working across every border. Calling apps run over the data like anything else.
When does a plan's validity clock start?
Every plan shows its own validity before you buy. The clock starts when the eSIM first connects in one of the covered countries, not on the day you pay.
Which countries does it cover?
Seven countries in Southeast Europe, named in full on the home page, on the pricing page and in the app before you pay. Four near neighbours that a plan called Balkan might be assumed to include are not in it, and neither is Türkiye. The app sells separate plans for all of them.
How is payment handled, and what if it will not install?
Through the App Store or Google Play, on the store account you already trust — your card details never reach us. And if a plan cannot be installed or activated on a compatible, unlocked phone, write to support inside the app; we will put it right, refunding you where that is the fair outcome.
Is this better than buying a SIM in each country?
On a route that crosses two or three borders, usually. A local SIM means an open shop, a passport, a form and a new number in every country — and the last one goes quiet the moment you drive out. This is one purchase made before you leave, and it does not care where the border is. If you are staying in one country for months, a local contract will beat it.