Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
BambooSIM vs co:sim
What sets them apart
| Compare |  BambooSIM |  co:sim |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | Local partner networks, e.g. KDDI (au) and SoftBank in Japan | local carrier networks |
| Price from | $4.95 | $0.99Lower |
| Reference plan prices | 90d plans · eSIM: 30.00 USD for 90 days (0.33 USD/day), 30GB, prepaid, no contract; Unlimited · eSIM (au KDDI, 10 Mbps): 8.95 USD for 3 days (2.98 USD/day), unlimited data, prepaid, no contract; One-time bundle · eSIM: 10.60 USD for 4 days (2.65 USD/day), 12GB, prepaid, no contract | Global (117 areas) unlimited daily data: $13.99, unlimited daily data, no contract, 1-365 days; Global (117 areas) 20GB 30 days: $135.99, 20GB total data, no contract; cheapest plan overall: single-destination Data Only eSIM from $0.99, data varies, no contract (no 12-month or 30GB+ plans listed) |
| Unlimited plan price | $8.95Lower | $13.99 |
| Roaming countries | 200 | 200 to 240Higher |
| Wi-Fi calling | No | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Pricing may be adjusted with 30 days' notice for existing plans or immediately for new purchases | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- co:sim scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Price from is lower at co:sim: $0.99 vs $4.95.
- Unlimited plan price is lower at BambooSIM: $8.95 vs $13.99.
- Roaming countries is higher at co:sim: 200 to 240 vs 200.
- Support channels: only co:sim offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
BambooSIM
BambooSIM suits travellers who want a prepaid eSIM on a local network and no contract. Entry pricing starts at $4.95, the Unlimited eSIM plan is priced at $8.95, and every plan runs on local partner networks, so you pay for the trip and nothing renews.
co:sim
co:sim suits travellers who want a prepaid eSIM with wide reach and a low starting price, and plans open at $0.99. It is a data-only setup, so the eSIM, hotspot sharing and sim only options suit people who manage their own data rather than expect a handset with the plan.
Score breakdown
| Area | BambooSIM | co:sim |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry pricing starts at $4.95, unlimited data sits at $8.95, and every plan is prepaid with no contract. | 9.5HigherEntry pricing leads the set: $0.99 to open a plan and $13.99 for unlimited daily data, with no contract on either. |
| Offer | 9.1Prepaid eSIM plans on Local partner networks, e.g. KDDI (au) and SoftBank in Japan, with 5G, eSIM and hotspot sharing available and no contract term. | 9.2HigherWide reach with everyday extras: 200 to 240 countries covered, eSIM delivery, hotspot sharing and sim only plans, all prepaid. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | BambooSIM | co:sim |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia | United States |
If neither fits
Lonestar Cell MTN has price from at $0.20, against $4.95 for BambooSIM and $0.99 for co:sim.
Lonestar Cell MTN reviewSources behind this comparison
BambooSIM
- bamboosim.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
co:sim
- cosim.io: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | BambooSIM | co:sim |
|---|---|---|
| Phone plans with eSIM | 5 of 389 | 12 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BambooSIM | co:sim |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Prepaid |
| Legal entity | BambooSIM Pty. Ltd. (ABN 29 682 015 489) | Comsand Inc. |
| Headquarters | Australia | United States |
| Support channels | Help centre, Email, Chat | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BambooSIM | co:sim | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.95below the median | $0.99lowest quarter | $5 |
| Unlimited plan price | $8.95lowest quarter | $13.99lowest quarter | $25 |
| Roaming countries | 200highest quarter | 200 to 240highest quarter | 100 |
Median across 176 listed providers.
Pros and cons
BambooSIM
Pros
- Runs on Local partner networks, e.g. KDDI (au) and SoftBank in Japan, so your phone joins a local carrier instead of roaming on a home network
- eSIM is available across the plans, so there is no plastic SIM to collect and no store visit
- 5G is supported and hotspot sharing is available, so a phone can tether a laptop while travelling
Cons
- Data rollover is not available, so unused data is lost when a plan ends
- Wifi calling is not available, which matters where a local partner network has patchy indoor coverage
- Support runs on help centre, email and chat only, with no voice line listed
co:sim
Pros
- Entry at $0.99 puts co:sim at the front of the price ranking: 1 of 15.
- Reach of 200 to 240 countries with hotspot sharing, so one data plan can carry a phone and a laptop across a long route.
- Sim only eSIMs on prepaid billing, so nothing is locked into a contract before the trip: prepaid.
Cons
- Billing is prepaid only, so a long trip has to be bought and paid for up front rather than spread over a contract.
- Unlimited daily data costs $13.99 against an entry price of $0.99, so wide-area cover for a long route sits well above the figure a plan list opens with.
- Of the email, chat and phone on offer, phone is the least common: 18.8% of the listings here include it, against 93.8% for the help centre.
Who each suits
BambooSIM
Who it suits
- Travellers buying data before arrival rather than shoppers for a local contract
- People who want an eSIM on a local network instead of roaming on a home SIM
- Readers who prefer prepaid plans with no contract term
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who would rather buy from a reseller than an MVNO, since ESIMZON and KnowRoaming are both listed as resellers
- Travellers who need wifi calling, since it is not available here and the alternatives on the shortlist carry a different seller type
- Anyone who expects a quoted rate to stay put, since prices can be adjusted on notice for current subscribers
co:sim
Who it suits
- Travellers crossing several countries who want a prepaid eSIM and hotspot sharing.
- People who plan their own data and pay as they go, since billing is prepaid with no contract attached.
- Anyone with an eSIM-ready handset who wants a sim only plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers after a named local partner in a single country, such as a Japan trip, where BambooSIM runs on Local partner networks, e.g. KDDI (au) and SoftBank in Japan.
- Shoppers who prefer a reseller setup, since ESIMZON is reseller and KnowRoaming is reseller.
- Buyers who want a monthly contract to renew: billing is prepaid, and the listed plans carry no contract.
Current offers
BambooSIM
Current offer
Discount code
Student Beans 15% off a new travel eSIM: 15% off a new travel eSIM purchase
Verified students enrolled in Australia or Singapore, code via Student Beans verification; applies to a new eSIM purchase, not top-ups or replacements; cannot be combined with NEW10 or another discount; one discount per order.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
co:sim
Current offer
Bonus
Free 1 GB eSIM for new customers: 1GB free eSIM valid 7 days at $0
New customers only, one per person; applied automatically at checkout, no code; sign-in with email and a valid payment card required for verification, nothing charged; 42 territories (one EU-33 roaming card plus 9 single-destination cards)
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Questions about each
BambooSIM
What does a BambooSIM plan cost at the start?+
Entry pricing starts at $4.95, and the Unlimited eSIM plan is priced at $8.95. Every plan is prepaid with no contract, so there is no introductory rate that quietly renews higher later. What you pay at purchase covers the plan you chose, with the reference plans offered at set data or speed limits.
Is there a contract or an early cancellation fee?+
There is no contract. Billing is prepaid, and the reference plans are all sold as prepaid eSIM plans with no contract term, so there is nothing to cancel and no notice period to serve. You are tied only to the plan you buy, though prices can be adjusted on notice for current subscribers.
co:sim
How much does a co:sim plan start at?+
The entry price is $0.99, and it belongs to a single-destination data-only eSIM rather than a wide-area plan. That makes it the figure that appears first in a plan list, but it is not the cost of staying online across a whole trip. Budget from the unlimited price for multi-country use.
How much is unlimited data on co:sim?+
Unlimited daily data costs $13.99. That plan covers a wide area list and runs without a contract, and it is the line most readers set against other sellers' unlimited plans. The gap between this figure and the entry price is the trade-off: unlimited removes the need to choose a data amount and moves the budget up.