Today, we personally test the Maya eSIM. Forget the old-school SIM cards; an eSIM is all about traveling smarter.
To start, let’s break down how this eSIM can make your travel life easier and your wallet happier.
Why use an eSIM?
Think of an eSIM as your globe-trotting sidekick. Affordable? Check. Reliable? Double-check. An eSIM is perfect for sending beach selfies to friends or giving you reliable data so you don’t get lost in a new city.
Curious? See Maya eSIM plans and prices here.
Say goodbye to crazy roaming fees, the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards, trying to find free public Wi-Fi, or playing the not-so-fun game of ‘Will my SIM card work here?‘ with network compatibility.
And here’s the cool part: Using an eSIM means you can snag sweet data deals and give roaming charges the boot. Travel data? Sorted!
Maya eSIM Review
In this Maya eSIM review, we test the Maya eSIM ourselves and we also look at Maya eSIM data plans so that you can see if it’s a good choice for you.
Let’s get right into it!
What is Maya mobile?
Maya Mobile is a US-based mobile data company, under the umbrella of Maya Virtual, Inc., USA Corporation #5906164 (Delaware), based in Delaware, USA.
Is your phone compatible with a Maya eSIM?
Alright, gadget lovers, listen up! Here’s the scoop on which devices are compatible with an eSIM. Got a device that’s not on our list? Sorry, that means it’s a no-go for Maya Mobile eSIM packages.
Check if your phone is compatible with a Maya eSIM here.
And don’t forget this crucial bit: Your device needs to be totally unlocked and free from those pesky carrier restrictions to use any eSIM and that includes the Maya eSIM.
You can also use a Maya eSIM with compatible smart watches, tablets, and laptops!
Check if your smart watch, tablet, or laptop is compatible with a Maya eSIM.
How to get an Maya eSIM
Getting a Maya eSIM is a simple process that’s done entirely online.
Here’s the deal with eSIM installation: It’s doesn’t kick your current phone plan to the curb. Instead, it’s added as secondary data plan. The best part? You’re the boss – turn it on or off whenever you like. Easy-peasy!
What eSIMs does Maya offer?
You can choose a Maya eSIM plan with either a monthly unlimited or prepaid eSIM plan in the region where you need data.
How much does a Maya eSIM cost?
The cost of your Maya eSIM depends on the specific plan you get. There are 194 destinations to choose from. You can also get regional eSIM plans for the USA, Europe, Asia, South America and the Caribbean.
See Maya eSIM plans and prices here.
Here are a few plans and prices to give you a feel for Maya’s prices:
- USA unlimited 5 day data pass $19 USD
- USA unlimited 30 day data pass $59 USD
- Europe unlimited 10 day pass $34 USD
- Europe unlimited 30 day pass $59 USD
Is the Maya eSIM unlimited internet speed capped?
Yes, the unlimited plans are capped. The most affordable USA 5 day unlimited plan ($19 USD) has the first 2 GB of daily high speed data, and after that data is capped at Unlimited LTE data at 1Mbps.
Maya eSIM Canada prices
Since we’re in Canada right now, we looked at the Canadian eSIM plans. Any Canadian will tell you that Canada’s mobile and data plans are awfully expensive!
The most affordable Canadian plan was the 5 day 1 GB data pass for $7 USD.
The most expensive Canadian plan was the 30 day unlimited Max plan for $219 USD. What’s cool about this plan is that it includes a Wi-Fi hotspot, making it fantastic for a group. The data in the plan is capped – after the first 5 GB of daily high speed data, further use is unlimited LTE data at 1Mbps.
Where does the Maya eSIM have coverage?
Wondering where the Maya eSIM works? You can get a Maya eSIM in 194 destinations around the world.
Here’s a helpful map of Maya eSIM coverage.
How to activate your eSIM
Once you’ve purchased your eSIM, here’s the process:
- a QR code is delivered to your email
- you scan the QR code to your device, and follow the email instructions to install the eSIM to your phone
- connect to your Maya mobile internet automatically
I tried the Maya eSIM, and here’s what I thought
Maya says that it should only take five minutes to set up your travel eSIM, so we put it to the test.
Our policy is that we need to try every product we review, to give a personal, hands-on look at how they work in the real world. No product, no review. Simple.
To trial the Maya eSIM, I got a 10 GB Canada plan.
Their website says that installing the eSIM is as easy as scanning a QR code, and following the prompts to connect your Maya eSIM automatically, but is it really that easy?
Spoiler: Well, it’s not quite that simple, but it is pretty seamless!
As soon I got the email confirming my Maya eSIM email, I opened the email on my laptop, and scanned the QR code with the camera app on my phone. A prompt came up in my camera app, asking me to Add plan to phone. I clicked on that, and the eSIM started installing automatically.
Tip! If you can’t scan a QR code, or want to activate using a manual code, just log in to your Maya Mobile account and click to Install your eSIM plan.
After that, I followed the instructions in the email, and enabled Data Roaming. On my Android Samsung Galaxy phone, I found that in Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks.
After that, I activated the Maya eSIM, and clicked the setting to make it my primary SIM card (for me, on my Android Galaxy phone, that was in Settings > Connections > SIM Manager).
How long does it take to activate your plan?
And boom, my eSIM was installed and ready to use. The whole installation process took less than five minutes.
To be fair, because the eSIM was activated in Canada, and anything related to Canadian mobile carriers is annoying (if you’re Canadian, you know), there was one extra manual step (which you probably won’t need to deal with in other destinations). You’ll likely just skip this step, but I had to go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks and edit the Access Point Names, which only took an extra minute.
After that, I followed the instructions in the email and restarted my phone. It did take about 20 minutes for the data to start working after that, but that’s just something you have to deal with on any SIM activation here in Canada (and maybe in other places).
And I was up and running with lightning fast 5G data!
How fast is internet on the Maya eSIM?
I ran a speed test immediately, and my download data speed with the Maya eSIM was 31.3 Mbps, which is pretty good! I really wasn’t expecting it to be that fast!
Can I add multiple plans on one eSIM?
Yes! Maya Mobile eSIMs let you mix and match data plans across different countries or regions. The plans have an expiry date, but the eSIM it stays on your device.
Want to upgrade or change your plan?
Need a plan switch-up or more data?
No sweat. Hop into your Maya Mobile Account, and tweak your plan or data with a few clicks.
Maya eSIM: My final verdict
So what did I think of the Maya eSIM? I really liked that it was a US-based company to begin with.
In my test, the eSIM installed quickly and with no hassle, and the speed was quick (5G!).
Let’s look a little closer at the Maya eSIM, highlighting the pros and cons to give you a clear picture of what to expect:
Pros:
- Global Connectivity: With Maya Mobile eSIM, you can be connected in 194 countries.
- Flexible Plans: Whether you need a quick data fix or unlimited surfing, Maya offers a variety of plans.
- Compatibility with New Devices: If you have a newer phone model, chances are it’s compatible with Maya eSIM, making it a convenient choice.
- Easy Setup: Getting started with Maya eSIM is a breeze. In our test, it took about five minutes to install the eSIM to our device.
- No SIM Needed: No physical SIM card to hassle with so less chance of losing my main SIM card or even needing to ever remove my original SIM card or go looking for a paperclip to open my SIM tray. Quick to enable or disable.
Cons:
- Limited Device Compatibility: Older phones might not play well with eSIM technology. So, if you’re not sporting a newer model, you might need to check compatibility first, but that’s going to be true of any eSIM.
- Variable Coverage and Speed: Since Maya depends on local carriers, your internet experience might vary. In some places, it’ll be smooth; in others, not so much, but again, that’s going to be true of any company and speeds are carrier dependent, not due to a eSIM.
- Customer Support Channels: Need help? You’ll rely on emails and app messages, as Maya doesn’t have direct phone support or live chat options.
Do I recommend a Maya eSIM?
Overall, I’m quite happy with my Maya eSIM. Installation and activation was quick and easy, and I have fast, realizable data. To me, that’s what matters.
See Maya eSIM plans and prices here.
In a nutshell, Maya eSIM offers good variety of data plans in 194 destinations, and user-friendly features, making it a strong contender for travelers.