Looking for a cheap way to stay in touch while travelling? ChatSim offers unlimited messaging for an entire year.
How ChatSim works
A basic ChatSim plan costs €10 per year (plus delivery fees for the SIM). This lets you send and receive unlimited text messages and emoji in over 150 countries around the world. As well as SMS, you can also use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WeChat, LINE and QQ.
If you want to send photos or videos or make calls, you can purchase ChatSim Credits. These are priced at €10 for 2000 credits, €25 for 5000 credits or €50 for 10000 credits. Sending a photo costs 10 credits; sending a video costs 50 credits; making a call costs 25 credits per minute. Data usage is charged based on six geographic zones. We've listed the zone and amount charged in the table below.
If you want a more extensive data and calling service, you can purchase a ChatSim Plus bundle, which includes either 125MB or 250MB of data (depending on country; there are 71 which offer the service, listed below). This costs €25 and lasts for 30 days.
ChatSim Unlimited from ChatSim
ChatSim Unlimited offers unlimited text that lasts up to a year and multimedia add-ons to use when travelling aborad. Click here to find out more.
View detailsWhere does ChatSim operate?
ChatSim
Here's the full list of countries that offer the basic ChatSim service, including how many "credits" you'll need if you want to access data services other than messaging. (In a handful of countries, you'll need to use credits for messaging too):
| Country | Zone/Charges |
|---|---|
| Anguilla | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Argentine | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Armenia | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| Australia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Austria | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Azerbaijan | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Bahrain | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Barbados | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Belgium | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Brazil | Zone 5 (300 credits/MB) |
| British Virgin Islands | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Bulgaria | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Cambodia | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Canada | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Cape Verde Island | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Cayman Islands | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Chad | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Chile | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| China | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Colombia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Costa Rica | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Croatia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Cyprus | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Czech Republic | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Denmark | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Dominica | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Ecuador | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| El Salvador | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Equatorial Guinea | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Estonia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Faeroe Islands | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Finland | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| France | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Georgia | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| Germany | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Gibraltar | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Greece | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Greenland | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Grenada | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Guadeloupe | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Guatemala | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Honduras | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Hong Kong | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Hungary | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Iceland | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| India | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Indonesia | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| Ireland | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Israel | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Italy | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Jamaica | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Japan | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Jordan | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Kazakhstan | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| Korea (South) | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Kosovo | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| Kyrgyzstan | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Latvia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Liechtenstein | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Lithuania | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Luxembourg | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Macedonia | Zone 5 (300 credits/MB) |
| Malaysia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Malta | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Mauritius | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Mexico | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Moldova | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| Monaco | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Montserrat | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Morocco | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Nepal | Zone 3 (150 credits/MB) |
| Netherlands | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Netherlands Antilles | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Nicaragua | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Norway | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Pakistan | Zone 5 (300 credits/MB) |
| Panama | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Paraguay | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Peru | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Philippines | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Poland | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Portugal | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Puerto Rico | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Qatar | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Romania | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Russia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| San Marino | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Saudi Arabia | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Serbia | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Seychelles | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
| Singapore | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Slovakia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Slovenia | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Spain | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Sri Lanka | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| St. Kitts | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| St. Lucia | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| St. Vincent/Grenada | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Sweden | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Switzerland | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Taiwan | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Tajikistan | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Thailand | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Turk & Caicos Islands | Zone 6 (750 credits/MB) |
| Turkey | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| United Arab Emirates | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| United Kingdom | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Uruguay | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| USA | Zone 2 (100 credits/MB) |
| Vatican City | Zone 1 (50 credits/MB) |
| Vietnam | 3000 credits/MB, credits needed for messaging |
ChatSim Plus
Here's the full list of countries that offer ChatSim Plus and the amount of data that's included for that country on a ChatSim Plus €25 recharge:
| Country | Plus Data Inclusion |
|---|---|
| Albania | 125MB |
| Armenia | 250MB |
| Australia | 125MB |
| Austria | 250MB |
| Azerbaijan | 125MB |
| Belarus | 125MB |
| Belgium | 250MB |
| Bulgaria | 250MB |
| Canada | 250MB |
| Chile | 125MB |
| China | 125MB |
| Croatia | 250MB |
| Cyprus | 250MB |
| Czech Republic | 250MB |
| Denmark | 250MB |
| Egypt | 125MB |
| Estonia | 250MB |
| Finland | 250MB |
| France | 250MB |
| Georgia | 250MB |
| Germany | 250MB |
| Ghana | 125MB |
| Gibraltar | 250MB |
| Greece | 250MB |
| Hong Kong | 250MB |
| Hungary | 250MB |
| Iceland | 250MB |
| India | 125MB |
| Indonesia | 125MB |
| Ireland | 250MB |
| Israel | 125MB |
| Italy | 250MB |
| Kazakhstan | 250MB |
| Latvia | 250MB |
| Liechtenstein | 250MB |
| Lithuania | 250MB |
| Luxembourg | 250MB |
| Malta | 250MB |
| Mexico | 125MB |
| Montenegro | 125MB |
| Netherlands | 250MB |
| New Zealand | 125MB |
| Norway | 250MB |
| Philippines | 125MB |
| Poland | 250MB |
| Portugal | 250MB |
| Romania | 250MB |
| Russia | 250MB |
| San Marino | 250MB |
| Saudi Arabia | 125MB |
| Serbia | 125MB |
| Singapore | 125MB |
| Slovakia | 250MB |
| Slovenia | 250MB |
| South Africa | 125MB |
| South Korea | 125MB |
| Spain | 250MB |
| Sri Lanka | 125MB |
| Sweden | 250MB |
| Switzerland | 125MB |
| Taiwan | 125MB |
| Tajikistan | 250MB |
| Thailand | 125MB |
| Turkey | 250MB |
| Ukraine | 125MB |
| United Arab Emirates | 250MB |
| United Kingdom | 250MB |
| United Kingdom Jersey | 250MB |
| USA | 125MB |
| Uzbekistan | 250MB |
| Vatican City | 250MB |
Pros and cons of ChatSim Global Roaming
Pros
- Long expiry period.ChatSim lasts for an entire year.
- No limits on messaging. The messaging option is unlimited, and will work in across most popular messaging apps.
- Multi-country support. The SIM works in multiple countries, so you don't need to keep changing SIM as you move through different places.
Cons
- No calling or data options in the basic package Chatsim's focus is on text messages, so it doesn't offer any calling or data in its basic packages -- you'll pay extra for those.
- Data is charged in 100Kb increments Even with a data package, you'll chew through data relatively quickly.
- Network performance varies You won't be able to choose which network you use when travelling, and you'll often be on slower 3G networks.
Who would this suit?
If your main use for your phone while travelling is for messaging, and you're happy to rely on hotel or other Wi-Fi for apps when you need them, then ChatSim is a very affordable alternative that works in multiple countries and with most popular messaging apps.
