Once your plan is used up or has expired, you have two options:
top up your existing eSIM (if the provider allows it) or
buy a new eSIM.
The steps depend on the platform (Airalo, SimOptions, aloSIM) and the type of plan.
Most providers include a “My eSIMs” or “Top-up / Add data” tab directly in their app or customer area.
Open your provider’s app (Airalo, aloSIM, SimOptions…).
Go to My eSIMs or Active plans.
Select the eSIM you want to top up.
Tap Top up / Add data.
Choose your new plan (e.g., 3 GB – 30 days).
Proceed to payment.
Restart your phone if needed to activate the new data.
✅ Pros:
No need to delete or reinstall anything.
Same eSIM number, same APN settings.
Activation is often instant.
⚠️ Good to know:
Some plans extend the validity (the new validity replaces the old one), while others only add data until the original end date.
Some eSIMs cannot be topped up (see below).
Some plans are “one-time plans”:
they expire permanently once the data or validity period is over.
In that case, you simply need to buy a new eSIM.
Open your provider’s app again.
Buy a new plan for the same destination.
Install it:
via QR code
or via automatic installation (Install automatically).
Set it as your default data line.
Delete the old eSIM if you want to free up space.
📌 Tip: you can keep multiple eSIMs at the same time and choose which one to use in Cellular Data / Mobile Data.
✅ Top up before you run out:
some providers let you add data even before you’ve used everything.
✅ Wi-Fi recommended:
top up while connected to Wi-Fi to avoid any interruption during payment or installation.
✅ Same APN settings:
no need to change anything if you’re topping up the same eSIM.
✅ Check data roaming:
after topping up, make sure it’s still enabled if your plan requires it.
✅ Disable data-hungry apps
(cloud, backups) right after topping up so your new allowance doesn’t disappear in a few hours.
1. The eSIM doesn’t show as “active” after topping up
Restart your device.
Turn mobile data off and back on.
Check that the eSIM is selected as your default data line.
2. Still no data after topping up
Enable data roaming.
Check your provider’s APN (it may have changed).
Switch to 4G/5G auto.
Try manual network selection.
Last resort: delete the eSIM and reinstall it from the app.
3. The “Top up” option isn’t available
Some eSIMs are not rechargeable: you’ll need to buy a new one.
Tip for future trips: choose a rechargeable / top-up plan (mentioned on the product page).
Yes, if the seller allows it. Some eSIMs can be topped up indefinitely, others only 1 or 2 times.
It depends on the plan: either the duration resets (e.g., 30 days from the top-up), or you only add data while the end date stays the same. Check the details before paying.
Not necessarily. You can keep multiple eSIMs. For clarity, you can delete the expired ones.
Yes. You can top up from anywhere as long as you’re connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi recommended).
No. A Europe eSIM can’t become a USA eSIM. You need a new eSIM for each zone.
If you travel often, prioritize plans that are:
Rechargeable (top-up available in the app)
Multi-destination (Europe, Asia, the Americas…)
Long-validity (30 or 90 days) with flexible top-ups
→ This helps you avoid reinstalling an eSIM for every trip.
