Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
BambooSIM vs USIMS
What sets them apart
| Compare |  BambooSIM |  USIMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.95 | $2Lower |
| 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 | No 12-month, unlimited or monthly plans; cheapest 10-day packages listed: France 10 GB: 9 USD, 10 GB, 10-day validity; United Kingdom 10 GB: 9 USD, 10 GB, 10-day validity; United States 10 GB: 15 USD, 10 GB, 10-day validity |
| Roaming countries | 200Higher | 120 |
| Mid-contract price rises | Pricing may be adjusted with 30 days' notice for existing plans or immediately for new purchases | Charges may be changed at any time without notice, with changes posted on the mobile app and website |
| Host network | Local partner networks, e.g. KDDI (au) and SoftBank in Japan | Not confirmed |
| Unlimited plan price | $8.95 | Not confirmed |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | No | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | No | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), 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
- Price from is lower at USIMS: $2 vs $4.95.
- Roaming countries is higher at BambooSIM: 200 vs 120.
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.
USIMS
USIMS suits travellers who want prepaid data while away, with entry at $2 and roaming across 120 countries. The catch is what that entry buys: the published list holds no monthly, contract or unlimited tier, so a trip means buying a fresh package rather than renewing a set plan.
Score breakdown
| Area | BambooSIM | USIMS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry pricing starts at $4.95, unlimited data sits at $8.95, and every plan is prepaid with no contract. | 9.3HigherEntry is $2 with prepaid billing, and the plan list is built from short validity data packages. |
| 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. | 8.8Sim only and eSIM are both offered, and support runs on email, chat and help centre for setup and help. |
How the counts compare
| Fact | BambooSIM | USIMS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.95 | $2 |
| Roaming countries | 200 | 120 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | BambooSIM | USIMS |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
How they place
| Ranking | BambooSIM | USIMS |
|---|---|---|
| Phone plans with eSIM | 5 of 389 | 9 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BambooSIM | USIMS |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Prepaid |
| Legal entity | BambooSIM Pty. Ltd. (ABN 29 682 015 489) | WONE SAGL |
| Headquarters | Australia | Switzerland |
| Support channels | Help centre, Email, Chat | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BambooSIM | USIMS | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.95below the median | $2below the median | $5 |
| Unlimited plan price | $8.95lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Roaming countries | 200highest quarter | 120above the median | 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
USIMS
Pros
- Roaming covers 120 countries, so a package list can carry a trip across several borders without swapping providers.
- Sim only is available and eSIM is supported, so a new phone can be online without waiting for a card in the post.
- Billing is prepaid, so there is no contract term to serve and nothing to close when a trip ends.
Cons
- A monthly or unlimited plan is not among its reference plan prices, which are prepaid data packages by country, and prepaid billing means each top-up is a fresh purchase rather than a renewal.
- USIMS can revise charges and publish them in its app and on its site, so the entry price of $2 is not a figure you can plan a later top-up around.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed for problems that cannot wait.
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
USIMS
Who it suits
- People crossing several borders and paying for data a package at a time rather than through a monthly bill.
- Owners of a new phone who want data running straight away through an eSIM.
- Buyers who treat the number as a travel tool and top up again when a package runs out instead of tracking a renewal date.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shop-first buyers: ESIMZON and KnowRoaming are resellers, where USIMS is an mvno.
- Anyone after unlimited data: the site median of €12.27 for unlimited plans comes from sellers that list them, and USIMS does not.
- Travellers who need a rate held for the whole stay, since USIMS can revise charges and puts the new figures in its app and on its site.
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
USIMS
Current offer
Free trial
Free 1 GB trial data for USA and Europe: 1 GB free
Included with USIMS eSIM plans for the USA and Europe
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Bonus
Free eSIM for first-time users: Free eSIM, $1 to replace a deleted eSIM
Free for first time users and buyers of any data plan; a new eSIM costs $1 if the previous one was deleted
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.
USIMS
How much does USIMS cost to start?+
Entry is $2 and billing is prepaid, so you pay for a package rather than a monthly bill. The published data plans are short validity bundles bought per country, and there is no monthly, contract or unlimited tier on the list, which makes the top-up the whole commitment.
Is there a contract or a renewal price to check?+
There is no contract term, and the plan list has no monthly, contract or unlimited tier, so nothing renews on a schedule. Billing is prepaid: when a package runs out you buy another one at the current charge, and the terms let USIMS revise charges and publish them in its app and on its site.