Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Astound vs Simsima
Astound vs Simsima: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Reseller | Mvno |
| Price from | $19.95 | $1.50Lower |
| 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 | Europe 20 GB: $23.98 per 30 days, 20 GB, 30-day prepaid | Europe Unlimited: $22.12 per 7 days, unlimited, 7-day prepaid | Europe 1 GB: $4.01 per 7 days, 1 GB, 7-day prepaid |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | $22.12Lower |
| EU roaming | Paid | Included |
| Credit check required | YesHas it | No |
| Host network | Not confirmed | Multiple local operators (Free Mobile, Orange France, Bouygues Telecom and others) |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 190 |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Price for Life rate locked while service kept; other promos valid 12 mos then regular rates | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Markets | US | Not confirmed |
Same on both: SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes).
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Key differences
- Astound scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Simsima: $1.50 vs $19.95.
- Unlimited plan price is lower at Simsima: $22.12 vs $30.
- Credit check required: only Astound.
- Support channels: only Astound offers Phone, Chat.
- Support channels: only Simsima offers Email.
- Billing: only Astound offers Rolling.
- Billing: only Simsima offers Prepaid.
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.
Simsima
Simsima suits travellers who want a prepaid eSIM covering Europe and a long list of other destinations, with entry prices from $1.50 and unlimited data sold as a weekly plan.
Score breakdown
| Area | Astound | Simsima |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherEntry price of $19.95 a month and a setup fee of $0 put cost near the top of the range. | 8.8Entry at $1.50 and the unlimited plan at $22.12 sit in the middle of the site's price field rather than at either extreme. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherNo cancellation penalty; change or cancel anytime, and Whole Home WiFi arrives included with Gig plans. | 8.9Roaming reaches 190 countries destinations, Europe roaming is included, and eSIM plus hotspot sharing come as standard. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Astound | Simsima |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.95 | $1.50 |
| Unlimited plan price | $30 | $22.12 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Astound | Simsima |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Spain |
A third option
ESIMZON has price from at $1, against $19.95 for Astound and $1.50 for Simsima.
ESIMZON reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Astound | Simsima |
|---|---|---|
| Phone plans with eSIM | 15 of 389 | 13 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Astound | Simsima |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Rolling | Prepaid |
| Contract length | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Radiate HoldCo, LLC d/b/a Astound Broadband | Dimitri MORVAN BRAHIM |
| Headquarters | United States | Spain |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Astound | Simsima | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $19.95above the median | $1.50below the median | $5 |
| Unlimited plan price | $30above the median | $22.12below the median | $25 |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 190highest quarter | 100 |
Median across 176 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.
Simsima
Pros
- A credit check is not required, so an eSIM profile can be set up without one.
- Simsima sells as an MVNO, so it sits with the network-side sellers in this group while ESIMZON and KnowRoaming are both resellers.
- Billing is prepaid, so a trip-only top-up is possible and nothing has to run to a contract end.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so a problem that needs a voice on the line waits on an email reply.
- On unlimited price it ranks 7 of 7 brands, which is the measure where it has least to show against its rivals.
- The terms name an individual, Dimitri MORVAN BRAHIM, as the legal entity, so the counterparty is a person rather than a corporate provider.
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.
Simsima
Who it suits
- Travellers crossing several European borders who want a prepaid eSIM they set up themselves.
- People who want European roaming included and a top-up rather than a contract.
- 5G users who also want hotspot sharing on the same profile.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to phone for help: support runs on email and help centre only, and KnowRoaming, a reseller, is the alternative to weigh.
- Buyers hoping for a discounted annual rate: billing is prepaid, so ESIMZON, a reseller, is the other name here.
- Anyone who needs a single named host network: co:sim describes its network as local carrier networks, the simpler proposition to weigh.
Current offers
Simsima
Current offer
Discount code
5% off first eSIM order with code WELCOME5: 5% off the first eSIM
Code WELCOME5 applied at checkout on the first eSIM order; does not combine with SimCoins cashback when a partner promo code is used
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Astound | Simsima |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Simsima
What does a Simsima plan cost to start?+
Entry pricing begins at $1.50, and every plan is bought as a prepaid top-up rather than a contract. That means the starting figure is the figure you pay, and the same amount applies when you refill, so there is no introductory rate that later renews higher. The unlimited plan is priced separately at $22.12.
Does signing up need a credit check?+
A credit check is not required, and the plans are sim only, so nothing is financed and no handset sits on the plan. The eSIM profile is created without a credit file being consulted, which keeps the route in short. It does not change the shape of the service, since billing stays prepaid and support stays on email and help centre.
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