Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs eSimi
Where Astound and eSimi differ
| Compare |  Astound | eSimi ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Mvno |
| Price from | $19.95 | $3.69Lower |
| Reference plan prices | 150 Mbps: $19.95/mo, 150 Mbps, no contract; 1 Gig WiFi: $40/mo, 1000 Mbps, no contract; 1.5 Gig WiFi: $60/mo, 1500 Mbps, no contract | Global 1GB - 5 Days: USD 4.69, 1GB, 5-day prepaid cycle; Global 3GB - 5 Days: USD 10.69, 3GB, 5-day prepaid cycle; Global 10GB - 30 Days: USD 35.69, 10GB, 30-day prepaid cycle |
| Markets | US | AL, DZ, AI, AG, AM, AU, AT, AZ, BS, BH, BD, BB, BE, BA, VG, BN, BG, KH, CA, KY, CN, CR, HR, CW, CY, CZ, DK, DM, DO, EG, EE, FO, FI, FR, GE, DE, GI, GR, GD, GT, GG, HN, HK, HU, IS, IN, ID, IE, IL, IT, JM, JP, JO, KW, KG, LV, LI, LT, LU, MK, MY, MT, MA, NL, AN, NZ, NI, NO, OM, PK, PA, PY, PH, PL, PT, PR, QA, RO, RU, KN, LC, VC, MF, SA, RS, SG, SX, SK, SI, KR, ES, LK, SE, CH, TW, TH, TN, TR, TC, VI, UA, AE, GB, US, UZ, VNCovers more |
| SIM-only | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Paid | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Price for Life rate locked while service kept; other promos valid 12 mos then regular rates | Not confirmed |
| Credit check required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: eSIM (Yes).
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Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Price from is lower at eSimi: $3.69 vs $19.95.
- Support channels: only Astound offers Phone.
- Support channels: only eSimi offers Email.
- Billing: only Astound offers Rolling.
- Billing: only eSimi offers Prepaid.
- Markets: only eSimi offers AL, DZ, AI.
Our verdict on each
Astound
Astound suits US households that want matching download and upload speeds, a low entry price and no contract to be tied into, and the same account can carry mobile lines. Entry pricing starts at $19.95 a month, Gig tiers arrive with Whole Home WiFi included, and the setup fee is $0.
eSimi
eSimi is a prepaid travel eSIM provider that suits anyone crossing borders, holding an overall rating of 9 with entry plans starting at $3.69. The pull is flexibility, since eSim is a yes and billing is prepaid, though entry sits above the $0.99 and €0.99 points of cheaper rivals here.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | eSimi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 8.9Entry at $3.69 sits above $0.99 and €0.99, and prepaid rules out a contract discount to chase. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherNo cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 9.1Reference plans run on prepaid billing with an eSim, and the offer part of the rating stands at 9.1. |
Which one suits you
Pick Astound if cost matter most.
Pick eSimi if price from and markets matter most.
If neither fits
ESIMZON has price from at $1, against $19.95 for Astound and $3.69 for eSimi.
ESIMZON reviewSources behind this comparison
Astound
- astound.com: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
eSimi
- esimi.io: 9 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Astound | eSimi |
|---|---|---|
| Phone plans with eSIM | 15 of 389 | 11 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | eSimi |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Rolling | Prepaid |
| Contract length | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Travel Emerging |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | eSimi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.95above the median | $3.69below the median | $5 |
| Unlimited plan price | $30above the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Astound
Pros
- Download of 5,000 Mbps matches upload of 5,000 Mbps, so sending a large file is as quick as downloading one.
- The setup fee is $0, and it ranks 1 of 86 on that measure, ahead of every other brand compared.
- Service runs on cable and fttp, so one provider can cover a cable street or a fibre to the home street.
Cons
- EU roaming is paid, so European travel is billed separately.
- Data rollover is no, so unused mobile allowance does not carry into the next cycle.
- A credit check is required on the mobile side, which adds a step before a line is active.
eSimi
Pros
- Billing is prepaid, so a trip can end without a contract to close and without a term to serve.
- The catalogue reaches AL, DZ and AI markets, which removes the need to buy a plan at each border.
- An eSim is a yes, so a profile can be installed and switched on arrival rather than waiting for a card.
Cons
- Entry at $3.69 sits above co:sim at $0.99, so the lowest entry in this group belongs to another brand.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so a problem that needs a voice call has no listed route.
- Billing is prepaid across the catalogue, so heavier monthly data has to be bought in cycles rather than on a contract term.
Who each suits
Astound
Who it suits
- Households in US whose street already has cable or fibre to the home and who want equal download and upload speeds.
- Families adding mobile lines to the same account, where a multi line discount and rolling billing apply.
- Renters and short-stay households, since No cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a fibre to the home provider and nothing else, because cable and fttp includes cable while Abissnet and Kinetic list fibre to the home alone.
- Homes a wired network does not reach, where EarthLink adds fttp, 5G and satellite options.
- Travellers who expect European roaming to come included, since EU roaming is paid.
eSimi
Who it suits
- Travellers landing in a country with no time to sort out a local plan, since an eSim is a yes and the catalogue spans AL, DZ and AI markets.
- People crossing several borders who want the same supplier across the trip rather than a fresh purchase at each stop.
- Readers who put flexibility first, given prepaid billing and email, chat and help centre support with no store visit involved.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers chasing the lowest entry price, since co:sim at $0.99 sits below $3.69.
- Anyone who needs help by phone, since eSimi runs on email, chat and help centre.
- Buyers who want a contract allowance, because eSimi bills on prepaid only.
Country by country
| Country | Astound | eSimi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Astound
How much does Astound broadband cost a month?+
Plans start at $19.95 a month on the entry tier. The listed lineup then steps up through Gig and multi-Gig WiFi plans, and every plan shown is on no-contract terms, so the monthly figure is the whole commitment. Whole Home WiFi is included with Gig plans rather than sold as an extra.
Is there a setup or installation fee with Astound broadband?+
Setup costs $0 to add, and in this comparison the brand ranks 1 of 86 for setup fee, ahead of every other brand measured on that point. Equipment also counts: Whole Home WiFi is supplied with Gig plans, with the top tier hardware paired to the quickest speeds.
eSimi
What does an eSimi plan cost to start with?+
Entry plans start at $3.69, and the Global reference plans are priced per prepaid data cycle rather than per month. Billing is prepaid, so no fixed term runs underneath. The Global plans listed cover a small allowance, a mid allowance and a larger allowance, each on its own cycle, so spend follows the length of the trip.
Is there a contract or a minimum term on eSimi?+
Billing is prepaid, so nothing binds a reader to a contract period. Data is bought in cycles that start when you want them, and a trip that ends simply ends with the plan. That suits people who cannot predict a month, and suits less well anyone who would rather spread heavy usage across a fixed billing date.
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