Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
BambooSIM vs KnowRoaming
Where BambooSIM and KnowRoaming differ
| Compare |  BambooSIM |  KnowRoaming |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Mvno | Reseller |
| Price from | $4.95 | $1.75Lower |
| 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 | USA Unlimited 30 Days: US $68.00, unlimited data, prepaid 30 days (no 12-month 30 GB+ SIM-only plan offered); USA Unlimited 1 Day: US $3.50, unlimited data, prepaid 1 day; USA 1 GB 7 Days: US $3.89, 1 GB, prepaid 7 days |
| Unlimited plan price | $8.95 | $3.50Lower |
| Roaming countries | 200 | from 200 |
| Host network | Local partner networks, e.g. KDDI (au) and SoftBank in Japan | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | No | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | 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: SIM-only (Yes), eSIM (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
- KnowRoaming scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Price from is lower at KnowRoaming: $1.75 vs $4.95.
- Unlimited plan price is lower at KnowRoaming: $3.50 vs $8.95.
- Support channels: only BambooSIM offers Email, Chat.
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.
KnowRoaming
KnowRoaming sells prepaid sim-only eSIM data for travellers who want to buy a plan, use it and walk away, and the USA Unlimited daily plan at $3.50 makes a single heavy-use day cheap. Coverage spans from 200 countries, though the monthly unlimited option is where the range gets expensive.
Score breakdown
| Area | BambooSIM | KnowRoaming |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry pricing starts at $4.95, unlimited data sits at $8.95, and every plan is prepaid with no contract. | 9.5HigherEntry price of $1.75 and unlimited data at $3.50 put KnowRoaming near the front of both price measures. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherPrepaid 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. | 8.7Sim-only eSIM plans across from 200 countries, sold on prepaid billing by the day. |
Pick BambooSIM if, pick KnowRoaming if
Pick BambooSIM if offer matter most.
Pick KnowRoaming if cost, price from, and unlimited plan price matter most.
The numbers side by side
| Fact | BambooSIM | KnowRoaming |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.95 | $1.75 |
| Unlimited plan price | $8.95 | $3.50 |
| Roaming countries | 200 | from 200 |
How they place
| Ranking | BambooSIM | KnowRoaming |
|---|---|---|
| Phone plans with eSIM | 5 of 389 | 8 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BambooSIM | KnowRoaming |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Prepaid |
| Legal entity | BambooSIM Pty. Ltd. (ABN 29 682 015 489) | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Australia | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Email, ChatCovers more | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BambooSIM | KnowRoaming | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.95below the median | $1.75below the median | $5 |
| Unlimited plan price | $8.95lowest quarter | $3.50lowest quarter | $25 |
| Roaming countries | 200highest quarter | from 200highest 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
KnowRoaming
Pros
- Both sim-only and eSIM are offered, so nothing is posted and no store visit is needed, which suits a traveller already carrying a compatible handset.
- Coverage of from 200 countries lets a multi-stop trip stay with a single provider instead of changing SIMs at each border.
- Billing is prepaid, so every purchase is a set figure with no renewal step and no minimum term to serve out.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so a connection that fails overnight leaves a help centre to sort it out.
- KnowRoaming is a reseller rather than a mobile virtual network operator, so a network fault has to be traced through another party; co:sim and BambooSIM answer as their own operators.
- The monthly USA Unlimited option costs many times the entry figure of $1.75, so a full month of heavy use is the expensive end of the range.
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
KnowRoaming
Who it suits
- Travellers already holding a compatible handset who want data only, bought digitally with no delivery wait.
- Anyone covering a multi-country trip from a single provider, given coverage of from 200 countries.
- Readers who plan a trip day by day and want unlimited data for a single heavy-use moment rather than a capped monthly allowance.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who would rather deal with the network's own operation, since co:sim and BambooSIM run as mobile virtual network operators.
- Shoppers who want the lowest starting figure, since ESIMZON starts at $1 against KnowRoaming's $1.75.
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
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.
KnowRoaming
What does a KnowRoaming plan cost to start with?+
KnowRoaming's eSIM data plans start at $1.75, the entry figure for its lightest option. It is a set price rather than an introductory rate that renews higher, and billing is prepaid, so a reader can work out the whole spend for a trip before buying anything.
How much does unlimited data cost?+
The USA Unlimited daily plan is $3.50 for a full day of unlimited data, which is the figure most useful for anyone planning a trip day by day. The monthly unlimited option is priced far above that, so longer stays work out better with a smaller allowance topped up alongside it.