PRE-PURCHASE CHECK

Is my phone eSIM-compatible and unlocked?

Verify the exact model, market variant, EID or Add eSIM setting and carrier-unlocked status before paying, then compare the seven providers’ published refund paths for an incompatible or locked phone.

1. Identify the exact model and market variant

Model family alone is not enough. Apple says iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later generally support eSIM, but its current guidance lists country and region exceptions. Google says Pixel 4 and later support eSIM, while Pixel 3a, Pixel 3 and Pixel 2 support depends on where or from whom the phone was bought.

2. Confirm eSIM is exposed on this phone

Look for an EID by dialing *#06# or in About, and look for Add eSIM in cellular or SIM settings. These are stronger checks than a model list because carrier firmware and market variants can differ. An EID or Add eSIM does not by itself prove that the phone is unlocked.

3. Verify the carrier lock separately

On iPhone, open Settings → General → About. Apple says “No SIM restrictions” next to Carrier Lock means the phone is unlocked. Android labels vary: Google says a carrier-bought Pixel can be SIM-locked and the seller or carrier must remove that lock, so ask the original carrier or seller when the status is not explicit.

4. Cross-check the provider and stop on unknowns

Provider requirements and supported-device lists change. Use the provider-specific links below for the service you intend to buy. If the exact variant, lock status, work or school management policy, or recent unlock state remains unknown, confirm it before purchase rather than treating compatibility as proven.

Key points✓ Check the exact model and country of purchase, not only the marketing name✓ Confirm the phone itself shows an EID or Add eSIM option✓ Confirm “No SIM restrictions” on iPhone or ask the Android carrier or seller✓ Cross-check the selected travel eSIM provider before purchase✓ Do not assume a mistaken device purchase is refundable: provider rules differ

CHECK THE SERVICE YOU WILL BUY

Provider-specific compatibility checks

These links verify each provider’s current public requirements. A model name or EID alone does not override carrier, market-variant or device-management restrictions.

Provider	Device check	Carrier-lock rule
AiraloOfficial compatibility rule ↗	Use the device compatibility guidance and confirm eSIM support on the exact phone.	Airalo requires an eSIM-capable, unlocked device that is not jailbroken or rooted.
HolaflyOfficial compatibility rule ↗	Confirm both the exact model and the live Add eSIM or EID setting.	Holafly separates eSIM compatibility from carrier-unlocked status and recommends carrier confirmation by IMEI when needed.
SailyOfficial compatibility rule ↗	Use Saily’s current iOS or Android settings check; availability can depend on country.	Saily requires a carrier-unlocked device and provides separate iPhone and Android checks.
UbigiOfficial compatibility rule ↗	Ubigi’s current check uses an EID for phones and tablets, then separates that result from lock status.	Ubigi directs users to Carrier Lock on iPhone or the carrier on Android when lock status is unclear.
NomadOfficial compatibility rule ↗	Confirm Add eSIM on the phone and check Nomad’s current compatible-device guidance.	Nomad requires the device to be unlocked; on iPhone it points to the Carrier Lock status.
GigSkyOfficial compatibility rule ↗	GigSky’s current check requires Add eSIM or an EID on the device and notes market-specific exceptions.	GigSky also requires carrier-unlocked status and directs Android users to the carrier when uncertain.
aloSIMOfficial compatibility rule ↗	Confirm the exact model supports eSIM before installation.	aloSIM says its eSIM can only be installed on a phone that is not locked to a network.

AFTER A DEVICE-COMPATIBILITY MISTAKE

Refund paths are not the same

This is a comparison of public provider rules, not a guarantee or legal advice. Eligibility can depend on where you bought, whether the profile was installed or activated, data use, timing and the evidence supplied.

Provider	Unused purchase	Incompatible or locked phone	Deadline and evidence
AiraloOfficial refund rule ↗	For a direct consumer purchase, the published withdrawal window is 14 days and ends earlier if the eSIM activates. An eSIM already used is outside that withdrawal right.	No blanket refund promise for a customer’s incompatible or locked device is stated in the reviewed terms. Refund or replacement after activation is limited to an Airalo error or retired service, subject to its conditions.	Use the in-account refund route when shown. Service-failure claims must be submitted within 30 days of the issue and require cooperation with troubleshooting.
HolaflyOfficial refund rule ↗	A service-withdrawal refund is published for an eSIM bought within the last 6 months when it has not been activated or used.	Full refund is published when the device is incompatible or locked, provided the QR code was not scanned and no plan data was used.	Request within 6 months of purchase and provide a screenshot plus the information needed to verify incompatibility or the lock.
SailyOfficial refund rule ↗	A full refund may be requested within 30 days when the eSIM has not been installed or the data plan has not been activated.	The reviewed policy does not publish a separate guarantee for an incompatible or locked device. Eligibility follows the installation, activation and use status.	Submit the refund request within 30 days. Activated plans are assessed separately; a full refund is not guaranteed.
UbigiOfficial refund rule ↗	A preloaded plan may be refundable only before any purchased data is used. A recharge is not refundable after service use starts.	Ubigi says a refund may be possible when a preloaded plan cannot be used because the phone is incompatible or carrier-locked; this is not an automatic guarantee.	Contact support promptly. The page says within 15 days after payment and also asks for the receipt or payment confirmation within 14 business days.
NomadOfficial refund rule ↗	An eSIM that has not been installed or activated may be fully refundable, subject to support eligibility and plan-specific exceptions.	Nomad says an eSIM that cannot be activated because of device incompatibility or carrier locking may be eligible for a refund after verification.	Request within 30 days of purchase. Keep the order details and be ready to provide device, installation and ICCID evidence requested by support.
GigSkyOfficial refund rule ↗	The reviewed consumer terms say the SIM or top-up cannot be returned and unused usage is not refunded, whether or not it was activated.	No public incompatible-or-locked-device refund exception was confirmed in the reviewed consumer terms.	Verify compatibility and unlocked status before paying. Contact support for a case-specific issue, but do not treat that contact as a refund promise.
aloSIMOfficial refund rule ↗	The reviewed policy is a 30-day money-back guarantee for inability to install or connectivity problems, not a general change-of-mind promise.	aloSIM explicitly includes discovering that the device is not eSIM-compatible and says its team will work with the customer on a full refund.	Contact support within 30 days with the original receipt and details explaining why aloSIM could not be used.

EVIDENCE · CHECKED 2026-09-04

Official sources

LAST UPDATED · 2026-09-04

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