“No good not recommending to other people using esim..4g sometimes 5g but i cant browse even Messenger Facebook and other can't use i follow all how to install my iPhone 14 can't use data my experience this link is not good i will go back mobimatter apps to buy esim expensive but its working here is scamers”

Gb

Mar 2, 2026

LinkeSIM South Africa

“Worst!!! Esim not working, I bought a 20GB Plan for South Africa and is it not Working”

Justin

Mar 2, 2026

Roamify South Africa

“I bought the South Africa 10GB for 15days plan. Website is a little slow in order to buy the plan but once gone through, the esim setup was straightforward, able to share via a hotspot and worked fine.”

M1016245

Nov 20, 2025

Airalo South Africa

“Nice”

Brofessional

Nov 6, 2025

Airhub South Africa

“Service blocked and no refund
Bought a 30gb 30 day Esim for South Africa.
One week and 8 GB later, I go to bed. Wake up and there's no connection.
Complained to costumer service and they said my account has been blocked for misuse by the carrier. Overnight. While I slept.
They said they got in touch with them and would let me know the outcome.
I said I don't care about the outcome. I need my phone to work. So I buy an Esim from another company and asked for a refund. It's been 4 days.
I complained on Trustpilot, they answered asking for my details and never heard back.

Now this is my assumption of what's happening:

1. Airhub resells Vodafone UK eSIMs, but possibly without Vodafone’s full awareness of their intended use (i.e. roaming-only, global travel).
• Airhub is likely operating as a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) or reseller — meaning they bulk-buy access from Vodafone or a Vodafone-affiliated wholesaler.
• Vodafone UK may see your connection from abroad (e.g. South Africa) as suspicious or misuse, especially if it looks like permanent roaming or violates their “fair use” or “roaming abuse” policies.

2. Vodafone might have automatically blocked your line due to what it considers “abuse” (long-term roaming with no UK usage).
• Many carriers — especially in the EU and UK — have policies against continuous roaming without using the SIM domestically.
• If the system flags your usage as “not compliant” (i.e. you’re using a UK SIM exclusively outside the UK), it can trigger an automatic suspension.

3. Airhub is likely stalling because they don’t have control over Vodafone’s systems and may be worried about chargebacks, contract violations, or getting dropped as a reseller.

⸻

This theory supports my case because:
• I did nothing wrong — used a product sold as a “travel eSIM.”
• If Airhub is selling Vodafone eSIMs for global use without Vodafone’s systems recognizing it as such, that’s a reseller-side misconfiguration, not my fault.
• I am entitled to a refund regardless of their internal arrangement — they sold you something they couldn’t properly support.”

Alt

May 5, 2025

Airhub South Africa

“I definitely do not recommend it. They block you for no reason.”

Cape town

Oct 29, 2024

Airhub South Africa

“I bought an eSim for my 21 day vacation, it was a 30gb data plan. 4 days in my vacation and after using only 3.5gb the eSim stopped working out of nowhere. I sent an email to customer service, a message on their app and I tried to contact them any way possible. They take more than 24h hours sometimes 48 hours to answer back to their email. I even answered back to one of their emails 2 mins after they sent one to me and they took 24+ hours to answer back. After 5 days of waiting for them to fix the issue I had to buy another eSim from another company because I needed data to travel. They never figured out the issue and they never want to give me a refund. This was the worst customer service I ever experience! The eSim from AirHub didn't worked for the rest of the trip. NEVER BUY A eSIM FROM AIRHUB!! This is a scam!”

Jake19

Jun 11, 2024

South Africa Travel eSIM FAQ

Everything you need to know about using eSIMs in South Africa

How many travel eSIM brands (providers) are available for use in South Africa, and how many prepaid data plans are there?

There are more than 140 eSIM brands available for use in South Africa, and the marketplace offers more than 4, 300 prepaid data plans. This wide range of options makes it easy for travelers to find an eSIM that suits their needs.

Are there any unlimited data eSIM plans available for South Africa?

Several eSIM providers offer unlimited data plans that can be used in South Africa. For instance, Firsty offers a one‑day unlimited plan that includes ads and limits the speed to 256 kbps; its price is $0.00 USD. Roamify provides unlimited plans ranging from 1 to 30 days with prices from $5.00 to $120.00 USD, noting that speed may be throttled and tethering is allowed. MicroEsim sells unlimited 5G plans valid for 1 to 30 days, priced between $5.26 and $165.77 USD, with the same throttling caveat and optional tethering. Yoho Mobile also offers unlimited 5G plans for 1 to 30 days, priced $6.44–$166.81 USD, with a speed cap of 5 Mbps. Truely offers unlimited 5G plans for 1 to 30 days, costing $7.92–$151.07 USD. Yesim provides a 1‑to‑80‑day unlimited 5G plan ranging from $8.21 to $233.53 USD, again indicating potential speed throttling and allowing tethering. FairPlay’s unlimited 5G plans last 3 to 30 days, priced between $29.34 and $88.01 USD, with tethering permitted and speed potentially throttled. In summary, unlimited data eSIM options are available for South Africa with prices that start as low as $0.00 USD for a one‑day plan and go up to about $234.00 USD for longer‑term plans, and most plans include some form of speed throttling or limitation.

What are the major mobile networks available for a travel eSIM in South Africa?

In South Africa, the primary Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) providing infrastructure for mobile services are:

Vodacom: A subsidiary of Vodafone Group, offering extensive coverage and a wide range of mobile services.
MTN South Africa: Part of the MTN Group, providing comprehensive mobile services with a significant market presence.
Cell C: A local operator offering various mobile services, including prepaid and postpaid plans.
Telkom Mobile: A division of Telkom SA, providing mobile services alongside its fixed-line offerings.
Rain: A data-focused operator specializing in high-speed 4G and 5G services.

Additionally, South Africa hosts several Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), such as FNB Connect and Capitec Connect, which lease access from major carriers to offer mobile services. However, most travel eSIMs rely on the infrastructure of the primary MNOs rather than MVNOs.

Can I get a travel eSIM with a phone number and SMS for South Africa?

Travel eSIM plans that include a phone number and SMS service for South Africa are available from several providers. The cheapest options start at about $4.00 with GlobaleSIM and $4.50 with Airalo, both of which offer short‑term plans. Other suppliers such as Roamify, Esimtofly, LinkeSIM and Orange Travel also supply eSIMs that include a number and messaging for periods ranging from a few days to a month.

The dialing codes differ by provider. Airalo delivers a local South‑African number (dial‑code +27) with inbound and outbound voice and SMS. GlobaleSIM supplies a US/Canada number (dial‑code +1) that supports inbound calls and inbound SMS only. Roamify and Esimtofly issue numbers with codes +1 or +33, and provide full inbound and outbound voice and SMS. LinkeSIM and Orange Travel use codes +33 and 48 respectively, also supporting inbound and outbound voice and SMS. Travelers who require a genuine South‑African local number can use Airalo, while those comfortable with a foreign number may choose any of the other providers.

Summarized by AI, Last updated: May 14, 2026