Firsty eSIM review 2026: Is the free plan actually worth it?
Most travel eSIMs ask you to pay before you even know if they work in your destination. Firsty flips that. You get a real, working data connection for free, supported by short ads, before spending a single euro. For a product category that's been moving toward higher prices and longer commitments, that's a genuinely different pitch.
Firsty is a Dutch eSIM startup founded in September 2023, built around one idea: give travelers free connectivity first and let the product sell itself. With a 4.1/5 on Trustpilot and over a million users, it's working. But the free tier has limits, the paid speeds are modest, and the company is still young.
Want more options? Take a look at our best eSims for international travel.
Firsty: Pricing and plans
Plan | Price | Speed | Data | Ads | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Firsty Free | €0 | 256 Kbps - 1 Mbps | Unlimited (ad-gated) | Yes | No |
Comfort+ | From €1/day | Up to 5 Mbps (tiered) | Unlimited (tiered speed) | No | Yes |
First Class | From €2/day | Extra high (up to 5G) | 5GB full speed, then lower | No | Yes |
Firsty Free
Free is exactly what it says. You pay nothing, watch a short ad every 59 minutes, and get data in return. The speed sits between 256 Kbps and 1 Mbps, enough for WhatsApp, Google Maps, email, and Uber. Not enough for Instagram Reels or a Zoom call, and Firsty isn't pretending otherwise.
On the downside, the free plan isn't available globally. It's currently limited to users in North America, Europe, and APAC. If you're traveling to regions outside those three, you'll need a paid plan from day one.
The free plan also has a referral perk. Invite a friend and you get 7 days of ad-free browsing added to your account. It's a small touch, but it shows Firsty is thinking about retention, not just acquisition.
- We've rounded up the best eSIMs for Europe.
Comfort+ (Daily plan, starts at €1/day)
Comfort+ is the entry-level paid option, and for most travelers it's probably the right call. At €1 per day, you get ad-free browsing, faster speeds, and access to social media and navigation without throttling out of the gate.
The speed structure is tiered:
- First 500 MB: up to 5 Mbps
- 500 MB to 1.5 GB: 1 Mbps
- Beyond 1.5 GB: 512 Kbps
You stay connected throughout. The speed just steps down as you use more data. For a travel day of maps, messaging, and light browsing, 500 MB at 5 Mbps is more than comfortable. Video calls are pushing it. Streaming is not what this plan is for.
You only pay for the days you actually use it. Pause it when you're back home, reactivate when you land somewhere new. Your unused days don't expire.
First Class (Daily plan, starts at €2/day)
First Class is for people who need their phone to work like it does at home. At €2 per day, you get 5GB of high-speed data, connecting to the fastest available local network, up to 5G where available. Streaming works, hotspot works, and if you need to get your laptop online through your phone, this is the plan for it.
After 5GB, speed steps down rather than cutting you off completely, which is the right call compared to providers who just shut you down.
Firsty: Features
Firsty keeps the experience deliberately simple. You are not choosing between regional bundles, juggling add-ons, or shuffling through settings to find hidden upgrades. The core product is straightforward, and a few features stand out more than the rest.
- Freemium model: Most "free" tiers in tech are either so restricted they're useless or so good they're unsustainable. Firsty's free tier threads the needle. You get enough connectivity for the moments that matter most after landing: booking a ride, pulling up directions, checking your hotel reservation, or messaging the person you're meeting. It is a simple idea, but a useful one, and the ad-supported model is what makes it possible.
- Single global eSIM: You install Firsty once and keep using the same eSIM wherever you go. There is no buying a new plan for every country, switching profiles, or sorting through a marketplace of regional options. The app handles the network side automatically, connecting to a local provider in the background. On the Daily plan, that coverage extends to more than 180 countries.
- Flexible daily billing: You pay only for the days you use a paid plan. If you're on Comfort+ and you spend a day on a beach with no need for more than basic speed, you drop back to Free and don't get charged. That flexibility is genuinely useful and separates Firsty from subscription-first competitors.
- Pause and save: Unused paid days do not disappear when your plans change. You can pause your plan and pick it back up later, with the remaining credit still intact. There is no pressure to burn through data just because you paid for it, which is especially useful if your travel schedule changes unexpectedly or you end up needing less connectivity than planned.
Firsty: Installation and activation
Getting Firsty running takes about five minutes, and most of that time is waiting for the eSIM profile to download.
Download the app from the App Store or Google Play, create an account using your phone number or email, answer a few quick questions about which apps you use most, and pick your plan. The app then walks you through the eSIM activation steps: labeling the new line, setting it as your data line, and toggling the right settings on your device.
Two things to get right before you start. First, do the setup on Wi-Fi. Installing an eSIM profile over mobile data is asking for trouble, and Firsty's own instructions flag this clearly. Second, once the eSIM is active, turn off automatic data switching. If your phone defaults back to your home carrier for data, you'll get hit with roaming charges and wonder why Firsty isn't doing anything.
After that, it's set and forget. You don't re-install for each trip or each country. The app handles network selection automatically wherever you land.
Firsty: Compatible devices
Firsty covers a solid range of devices across Apple, Samsung, Google, and a handful of other Android brands, which means most travelers won't have a compatibility issue before they even check.
That said, the official supported devices list hasn't been updated since December 2024, so newer releases like the iPhone 16 series, iPhone 17, Pixel 9, and Galaxy S25 are missing from it entirely. If you're on a recent flagship, chances are it works fine, but it's worth checking with Firsty's support team to confirm before you travel.
Brand | Compatible Models | Notes |
Apple iPhone | iPhone XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, SE 2 (2020), 12 / Mini / Pro / Pro Max, 13 / Mini / Pro / Pro Max, SE 3 (2022), 14 / Plus / Pro / Pro Max, 15 / Plus / Pro / Pro Max | iPhones purchased in China and Hong Kong are not eSIM compatible |
Apple iPad | iPad Pro 11" (A2068, 2020+), iPad Pro 12.9" (A2069, 2020+), iPad Air (A2123, 2019+), iPad (A2198, 2019+), iPad Mini (A2124, 2019+), iPad 10th gen (2022) | LTE-capable iPads only |
Samsung Galaxy S | S20 / S20+ / S20+ 5G / S20 Ultra, S21 / S21+ 5G / S21 Ultra 5G, S22 / S22+ / S22 Ultra, S23 / S23+ / S23 Ultra / S23 FE, S24 / S24+ / S24 Ultra | Some US, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong models are not compatible |
Samsung Galaxy Note | Note 20, Note 20 Ultra 5G | Some US, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong models are not compatible |
Samsung Galaxy Z | Z Fold, Z Fold2 5G, Fold3 5G, Fold4, Fold5 5G, Z Flip, Flip3 5G, Flip4, Flip5 5G | Some US, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong models are not compatible |
Samsung Galaxy A | A54 (select model numbers only) | Some US, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong models are not compatible |
Google Pixel | Pixel 2 XL, 3 / 3 XL / 3a / 3a XL, 4 / 4a / 4 XL, 5 / 5a, 6 / 6a / 6 Pro, 7 / 7a / 7 Pro, 8 / 8 Pro | Some Pixel 3 and 3a models from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and those on US or Canadian carriers are not compatible |
Huawei | P40, P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro, P50, P50 Pro | |
Oppo | Find X3 Pro, Find N2 Flip, Reno 5A, Reno 6 Pro 5G, Reno 9A, Find X5, Find X5 Pro, A55s 5G | |
Sony Xperia | 10 III Lite, 10 IV, 10V, 1 IV, 1 V, 5 IV, 5 V, Ace III | |
Xiaomi | 12T Pro, 13, 13 Lite, 13 Pro, 13T Pro | |
Motorola | Razr 2019, Razr 5G, Razr 40, Razr 40 Ultra, Razr+, Edge+, Edge 40, Edge 40 Pro, Edge 40 Neo, G52J 5G, G52J 5G II, G53J 5G, G54 5G, G55 5G, G84 |
Firsty also lists compatible models from Sharp AQUOS, Rakuten, Honor, Vivo, and Nokia. These cover a smaller share of travelers but the full model breakdown is available on Firsty's supported devices page.
Firsty: Support
Firsty's support options are straightforward. You can reach the team via email at support@firsty.app, through the in-app help section, or through the online help center which covers the most common setup and troubleshooting scenarios.
The response quality holds up. App Store reviewers consistently describe the support team as responsive and easy to reach. On Trustpilot, where Firsty currently holds a 4.1/5 score with 283 reviews, customer support gets regular mentions as a positive.
Reddit tells a more mixed story. Most complaints are about device compatibility on unsupported Android models and connection issues during setup, nearly always caused by not installing on Wi-Fi.
For straightforward travelers, iPhone users and anyone on a mainstream Samsung, the setup is clean and support rarely needs to get involved after the first install.
Firsty: International calling
Most eSIM providers stop at data. Firsty added calling in 2025, and it is one of the more practical additions to the service. If you need to ring a hotel, contact a host, or make a quick local call, you can do it without relying on a separate app. The feature is currently available in the US, Canada, Singapore, Japan, and Europe, with additional regions expected over time.
The calling works through a credit top-up system that's separate from your data plan. You buy credits in flexible amounts from €1 to €50, they don't expire, and you pay per minute based on the destination. Calls go to 200+ countries, and you keep your own caller ID throughout, so whoever you're calling sees your regular number, not some unknown international line.
Rates are transparent and published openly on the website. Europe and North America average around €0.03 per minute. South America runs higher at around €0.07. Asia averages €0.12 per minute. Africa and Oceania are the most expensive at €0.56 and €1.08 per minute respectively. The app shows you the real-time rate before every call, so there's no bill shock at the end of a trip.
Firsty: Final verdict
For budget travellers, Firsty’s free plan alone is worth installing before any international trip. You land, you have Maps and Uber working, and you haven't spent anything. For people who need more, Comfort+ at €1/day covers a normal travel day without breaking the bank. First Class at €2/day handles everything, including streaming and hotspot.
The limitations are real but narrow. The free plan only works in North America, Europe, and APAC. Comfort+ isn't built for heavy data use. Plus, Firsty is still a relatively young company, founded in September 2023, which means its network depth in some regions won't match providers who've been at it for a decade.
But for what most travellers actually need, it delivers. And no other eSIM provider at this price point is offering a permanent free tier with this kind of coverage.
Firsty: FAQs
What is Firsty?
Firsty is a Dutch eSIM provider founded in September 2023. It offers a permanent free data tier supported by short ads, alongside paid Daily plans for travelers who need faster speeds. One eSIM covers 180+ countries with no SIM swaps or regional plan purchases required.
How does the free plan work?
You watch a short ad every 59 minutes in exchange for data at speeds between 256 Kbps and 1 Mbps. That's enough for WhatsApp, Google Maps, email, and Uber. The free plan is available to users in North America, Europe, and APAC only.
What is the difference between Comfort+ and First Class?
Both are Daily paid plans. Comfort+ costs €1/day and gives you tiered speeds starting at 5 Mbps for the first 500 MB, stepping down to 1 Mbps and then 512 Kbps as you use more data. First Class costs €2/day and gives you 5GB of high-speed data up to 5G, plus video streaming and hotspot. After 5GB, you stay connected at a lower speed rather than being cut off.
Does Firsty work on my phone?
Firsty works on most modern eSIM-capable smartphones including iPhone XR and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 series and later, Google Pixel 2 XL and later, and select models from Huawei, Oppo, Sony, Xiaomi, Motorola, and others. iPhones purchased in China and Hong Kong and some Samsung models bought in the US, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong are not compatible. Check Firsty's supported devices page for the full list.
Can I make calls with Firsty?
Yes. Firsty supports international calling to 200+ countries through a pay-as-you-go credit system. Credits range from €1 to €50 and never expire. The feature works on all plans including Free, and your own caller ID shows on every call. It's currently available in the US, Canada, Singapore, Japan, and Europe.
Do I need to buy a new plan for each country I visit?
No. You install the eSIM once and it works across all supported countries automatically. The app connects you to the best available local network without any manual switching.
How do I install Firsty?
Download the app, create an account, pick a plan, and follow the in-app steps to activate the eSIM. Do the setup on Wi-Fi, not mobile data, and turn off automatic data switching on your device after activation to avoid accidentally falling back to your home carrier's roaming rates.
Comments
Post a Comment