Traveling abroad without an Internet connection is impossible in 2024. Tourists, business travelers, and digital nomads need chats, maps, phone calls, and other features of stable connections. To use the Internet without overspending, tourists commonly recommend eSIM options by Spark. In this Sparks eSIM review, you will find answers to the most popular questions about its pricing, functionality, coverage, and Internet quality. At the end, you’ll see the comparison of Spark eSIM to other eSIM providers, and the main pros and cons of this company.
How eSIM Solutions Make International Trips Easier?
Several years ago, you had only two options while traveling abroad:
- use your own SIM card and pay huge roaming charges;
- buy a local SIM card, turn your card off, and pay for the whole month to access the Internet.
In both cases, you spend more than needed. To solve the issues, most smartphone manufacturers equip the new phones with eSIM or “embedded SIM” cards. This chip can connect to the Internet instead of a plastic SIM card. This is much more convenient since you don’t buy a new plastic card and can activate the Internet long before your arrival.
Sparks eSIM, for instance, offers Internet plans for 200+ countries all over the world. Select one, buy the data, and start using it when you arrive in a foreign country. The advantages don’t stop here, so keep reading.
Select from 200+ Destinations
Sparks covers 6 world regions: Europe, Asia, Oceania, Latin America, South America, and Africa. You can choose any country from the list and the available data tariffs.
Enjoy Competitive Price
Sparks says that its prices are lower compared to alternative providers. Indeed, data plans are reasonable, and sometimes you pay less than a dollar for a gigabyte. For example, a single GB plan in France costs you only $3.30.
Buy more and pay less for each gigabyte. Within the largest plan (50 GB for 120 days), each GB costs $0.8. When buying a plan, you receive mobile data in a chosen country and connection by several cell data providers. Sparks grants a 5G connection in most places.
Make Sure Your Smartphone is Compatible
If Sparks eSIM not working, an incompatible device is the most common issue. Before buying the tariff, make sure your smartphone has an embedded SIM, so you can activate the plan. See the list of compatible phones and find your model. Sparks created a convenient list, separated by brands.
Activate Using a QR Code
Sparks offers detailed instructions on installation. Choose your OS (iOS or Android) and the method – manual or QR code. Commonly, users prefer to scan the QR code, sent by Sparks via email. Afterward, follow the guide to add the new data plan and switch to it once you’re in the destination. The guide varies depending on your phone.
Enjoy More Features and Beware of Disadvantages
Apart from standard plans, Sparks has a unique feature. Fill in the contact form and describe what you need from a data plan. Afterward, the manager will offer you the best possible plan depending on your needs. If you’re a business traveler, ask for additional data volumes. Tourists commonly need a 1-day tariff or extended regional options. Luckily, the provider helps you to pick up the best option.
Additionally, the company has a list of the most popular choices for all destinations. Commonly, these are tariffs with the best price and data ratio, chosen by other tourists.
What’s really complicated is finding all the regional plans in one place. You need to type the plan’s name in a search bar or look for it in the list of popular destinations.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Sparks Travel eSIM
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The wide choice of destinations and regional offers;Competitive price;Easy activation via the QR code;Clear instructions for activations;5G speed in most locations. | Finding regional plans is complicated;The plans start to expire after the purchase, not activation. |
Real Customer Reviews About Sparks
Unfortunately, Sparks doesn’t have an official Trustpilot page – on this platform, you can find the most reviews about companies and services. As key reviews resources, let’s use Reddit and App Store reviews. Both platforms track their reviews and delete fake accounts/bots. Thus, you can see the real opinion about Sparks.
While feedback about activation and use is positive, beware of unstable connections. The provider uses 5G most of the time, but sometimes you’re randomly disconnected. Also, the company starts the plan once you activate it – no matter if you come into the country and turn the plan on. As a result, most users pend more data than they expected.
Alternative eSIM Providers
If you lack some features of plans, consider the alternative options. Luckily, there are dozens of eSIM providers in 2024. See the most popular ones and decide which suits your priorities.
| eSIM carrier | Yesim | Breeze | Saily | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $0.7 per 1 GB | $0.9-$3 per 1 GB | $1-$2 per 1 GB | $5.90 per day with unlimited data (no prepaid plans) |
| Destinations | 190+ countries and 8 regional options | 200+ countries and 6 regions. | 190+ countries and around 5 regions. | 200+ countries and 5 regional offers. |
| Phone calls availability | Available | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Advantages over Sparks | More customizable offers;Clear pricing;An unlimited connection is available. | Easier interface and search;Better connection according to reviews. | More countries and regional destinations. | Plans with unlimited Internet;Multi-device activation. |
Should You Give a Chance to Sparks eSIM?
According to tourists and clients, you definitely should. Spark travel eSIM is not as popular as alternatives but offers decent connections and great prices. The connection issues are possible, but each eSIM provider has weak areas and roads without coverage. If you’re interested in cost-effective data plans, try Sparks and share your opinion with the readers.
Yes, Sparks has over 6 regional tariffs to visit Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and other world regions. These offers cover several countries at once, so you pay less and switch between tariffs automatically.
After buying the tariff, you should install it on your smartphone. For this, use the QR code sent by the company, or enter plan details manually. Sparks has detailed instructions for both cases. Once you come to the country, switch to the new data plan using your smartphone settings.
Each plan supports only one device at a time. Delete the tariff from your old smartphone, and install on the new one. If your data is not expired, the plan will work with no issues.
