How to check how much data is left on your eSIM, and when to top up
What the data remaining screen looks like, how to open it and read the numbers, what happens when a fixed-GB plan is used up, and how to top up the same eSIM without a new QR code.
Quick answer
- Open the link in your order email, or open the account page in the same browser you bought with. You will see the data left, the data used and the total for each eSIM. Press Refresh for the latest figure.
- A GB plan is a fixed amount of data. When it is used up, data on that eSIM stops; nothing is charged automatically. You can top up the same eSIM from your order page, with no reinstall and no new QR code.
Where do I check how much data is left?
There are two easy ways. The first is to open the order email you received after paying and tap the link to your order page. The second is to open the account page on the site, which lists the orders this browser remembers, with nothing to type. If you changed device or cleared your browser data, go back to the link in the email.
What does the screen look like, and how do I read it?
Example: plenty left
4.1 GB left
Used 5.9 GB
Total 10 GB
41% remaining
Example: running low
0.8 GB left
Used 9.2 GB
Total 10 GB
8% remaining
The biggest number is the data you have left, and the ring shows the share already used. Under it you see the data used, the total and the percentage remaining. At the bottom are the time of the last update and a Refresh button. Below 20% the ring turns coral and a Running low tag appears.
The figures come from the network operator, so they can lag behind your real usage by a few minutes or hours. If you have just used a lot, for example streaming video or uploading files, press Refresh and wait a little before concluding that the data has gone.
What happens when a GB plan is used up?
A GB plan is a fixed amount of data decided in advance, for example 10GB for 30 days. Once all 10GB is used, data on that eSIM stops working even if the 30 days have not passed. The other way round, if the 30 days end first, the data that is left expires with them. In general a plan ends when either the data or the days run out, whichever comes first.
The upside is no bill shock. A travel eSIM is prepaid, so nothing extra is charged automatically when the data runs out. The thing to know is that data once used does not come back by itself; you add more if you want to keep going.
How do I top up the same eSIM?
- 1Open your order pageTap the link in your order email, or open the account page and choose the order that holds that eSIM.
- 2Find the top-up sectionScroll below the data remaining figures to Top up this eSIM, which lists the extra packages that fit that eSIM.
- 3Choose a package and payTap Top up on the package you want and you go straight to checkout. After payment the data lands on the same eSIM, with no new QR code.
If the page shows no top-up packages, that eSIM cannot take a top-up right now. Buy a new plan for the same destination instead; that gives you a new eSIM to install.
When should I top up?
| Data left | What to do |
|---|---|
| More than 50% | Carry on as normal; check again before a heavy-use day. |
| 20% to 50% | Compare it with the days left on your trip; top up early if it will not stretch. |
| Under 20% | Top up before you carry on, especially before a long journey or a day that needs maps and ride-hailing. |
| Used up | Top up on your order page. With no data left, join Wi-Fi to open that page. |
If you want to know before you buy how much data your trip is likely to need, try our data calculator. Choosing a plan with a little room to spare is calmer than topping up mid-trip.
The numbers look wrong. How do I cross-check?
Press Refresh first, then compare with the counter on your phone. On iPhone that is Settings > Cellular; on Android it is the data usage settings. Menu names vary by model and version, and the phone's counter may cover a different period from your plan, so treat it as a rough check only.
If the figure still does not move after a refresh even though you are online, or the data seems to vanish unusually fast, see the guides on data running out fast and on connection problems, or contact us with your order number.
FAQ
Will I be charged extra when the data runs out?+
No. A travel eSIM is prepaid, so when the data runs out, data on that eSIM simply stops and nothing is charged automatically. You only pay if you choose to buy a top-up.
Do I need a new QR code after topping up?+
No. A top-up package lands on the same eSIM, so there is nothing to reinstall. If no top-up is offered, buy a new plan, which gives you a new eSIM to install.
Can leftover data be used on my next trip?+
Leftover data can only be used within the plan's days. When the days end, what is left expires, so pick a number of days that fits the trip. The terms of each plan are on its plan page and in your order email.
The page and my phone show different numbers. Which is right?+
Go by the order page, because it comes straight from the plan's network. The phone's counter follows the phone's own period and can differ. Always press Refresh before comparing.
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