Running low: top up the same plan or buy a new one?
Topping up is simpler because nothing is reinstalled, but simpler is not always cheaper.
한눈에 보기
- With few days left and the original plan still valid, a top-up is usually quicker and good value.
- If you need a lot more time, a fresh plan with a better price per GB usually wins overall.
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| What to work out | How to do it quickly |
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Pros
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자주 묻는 질문
Does topping up extend the validity?+
Not always. Some plans extend the period, others add only data. Check the top-up page before confirming.
Can leftover data move to the new plan?+
No, data belongs to its own plan. If a lot remains, use it before starting the new one.
Does a top-up require scanning a new QR?+
No, and that is the main advantage of topping up: the data goes into the profile already on the phone, with no new setup and no second installation. Buying a new plan means installing from scratch, which needs a connection at that moment. It is why deciding before you hit zero matters more than the price difference.
What if the data is gone and there is no Wi-Fi?+
Three routes: find public Wi-Fi in a restaurant, hotel or airport; borrow a hotspot from a travel companion long enough to complete the transaction; or, if your home number still has roaming enabled and you accept the charge, use it briefly to get the purchase done. The better answer is not to arrive here at all, by installing a spare plan in advance while you were still on home Wi-Fi.
The top-up went through but the data has not appeared. What first?+
Toggle airplane mode on for about ten seconds and off again to force a fresh network registration; that clears most cases. If it still does not show, check that mobile data is pointed at the correct profile and that data roaming is enabled for that profile, which travel eSIMs need. If all of that is done, contact us with the order number and a screenshot of the network status.
If I buy a new plan while the old one is still valid, is the old one wasted?+
Leftover data cannot transfer, but it does not have to be thrown away either. Keep the old profile on the phone and switch back to finish it, as long as you are still in a covered country and it has not expired. The least wasteful order is to exhaust the old plan first and only then move across, rather than activating the new one the moment you buy it.
Several small top-ups or one larger plan?+
As a rule, a run of small top-ups costs more per gigabyte and eats time on every stop. It wins only when you genuinely have a few days left and no idea what you will use, because you avoid paying up front for data you may never reach. A workable rule: more than a week left, buy a properly sized plan; a few days left, top up just enough.
If I am crossing into another country, top up or buy?+
Coverage comes before price. A top-up adds volume, not countries; if the next country is not on the current plan, more data will not make it work there. You need a plan that covers that country, and if several countries remain on the route, a regional plan is usually less to manage than buying one at a time.
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