The pay as you go eSIM, done properly.
One balance, billed per MB at published rates. No bundles to size, no daily fees, and nothing that expires - the meter only runs when your data does.
Three ways the industry bills - and why PAYG wins
Every mobile-data product for travelers is one of three billing models. Day passes (carrier roaming) charge $10–16 for each day you touch data, whatever you use. Bundles (most travel eSIMs) sell fixed GB with a 7–45 day fuse - and quietly rely on you not finishing them. Pay as you go meters what you actually consume. The first two are priced against your uncertainty; PAYG removes the uncertainty entirely.
Anon eSIM's version is deliberately simple: a prepaid USD balance, billed per MB at each country's published rate - retail is wholesale × 2, listed for every destination on the rates page. Thailand is $0.70/GB, most of Western Europe $0.80–0.90, the US $1.40. There are no speed tiers, no fair-use fine print, and full-speed hotspot is included on every plan.
The same trip, three bills
| Two weeks in Europe, 10 GB | Cost | Unused data |
|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go (Anon eSIM) | ≈ $8–9 | Stays on the balance forever |
| Bundle eSIM | ≈ $20–35 | Expires with the bundle |
| Carrier day passes | ≈ $140–200 | Allowance resets nightly |
Numbers assume typical usage of 300 MB–1 GB/day - per-activity field numbers here. The full model-vs-model argument is on eSIM vs roaming.
PAYG mechanics in practice
Start with any amount from $5 (a one-time $5 setup fee covers a brand-new eSIM; top-ups are fee-free). The balance is USD, so there's no zone chart or bundle-size decision - and because nothing expires, an irregular traveler's leftover credit is simply still there for the next trip. No account or registration is involved anywhere in the flow (here's how that works), and you can watch the balance move in real time from the account page. If you prefer the prepaid framing, the same product through that lens is on the prepaid international eSIM page.
Pay as you go eSIM FAQ
How does a pay as you go eSIM actually bill?+
Per megabyte, against a prepaid USD balance, at each country's published per-GB rate (wholesale × 2). A 40 MB maps-and-messages day in France costs about 3 cents. There are no daily fees, no bundles to size, and no minimum daily charge - light days cost cents, heavy days just draw the balance down faster.
Is pay as you go cheaper than a data bundle?+
Usually, because bundles monetize breakage - the data you paid for but didn't use before it expired. PAYG has no expiry, so nothing is ever donated back to the provider. A one-trip heavy user fully consuming a promo bundle can occasionally beat PAYG per-GB; everyone else comes out ahead.
What happens when the balance runs out?+
Data stops cleanly - no overdraft, no surprise bill. Top up from $5 (card, Apple Pay / Google Pay, or crypto) and you're back online within a minute. The eSIM itself never deactivates.
Does the pay as you go balance expire?+
Never. The USD balance sits on your eSIM until you use it - next month, next country, next year. That's the structural difference from every 7–30-day bundle product.
Does one PAYG balance work in every country?+
Yes - one eSIM, one balance, 200+ countries. Cross a border and billing simply switches to the destination's per-GB rate; the full table is on the rates page.