![[iOS, Android] Free Low Speed eSIM for USA and Europe @ Firsty via App](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/41/831641.jpg?h=49d3adcf)
Another esim freebie for your collection. At the moment available in Europe and the USA. They offer a low speed (supposedly 300Kb) free data package for messaging, e-mail and the likes. I haven't been able to try out the service because installation requires an esim capable phone which is not compatible with the esim.me card functionality that I use.
For now this freebie is probably only interesting for folks travelling to Europe or the USA. However they do foresee service to 'every provider in the world'. Quote from their website: "Firsty's connectivity services are currently available in Europe and the USA. We are actively working to expand our coverage and aim to offer global connectivity by early 2024. Stay tuned for updates on our expanding network!"
They have a paid subscription model for higher speed data.
I've just tried it for fun from a European country.
You have to signup using Apple signin, Google (I think it was? I might misremember), or a mobile number. I used Apple signin with a hide-my-email-address. Esim install is straightforward.
The app won't let you proceed unless you give it notification and location permissions. It was OK with me turning off the precision location setting on iOS and using the "allow once" option. Although if you use "allow once", you'll have to allow it every time you open the app — which could be often if you're using this thing much (see below).
They give you an initial 100MB of "fast" data when you signup which seemed ok on speed tests.
After you go through that, you get a notification that you've run out of "fast" data. You then have a 60 minute countdown for using reduced speed data. You can reset the countdown to 59 at any time by choosing "watch ad". Currently the "ad" is a still-image advertisement for their own fast data product. You have to "watch" it for 10 seconds.
Fast.com speed test whilst on reduced speed is 280 Kbps download, 2.2 Mbps upload. Connecting to a VPN (IKEv2) works fine over it.
The "Fast" plan for Europe includes 2GB/day "fast" speed then "lowered speed". The price varies based on how many days you buy upfront. e.g. 1 days is €3.50, 14 days is €39.20 (€2.80/day), up to 30 days for €59.40 (€1.98/day). For any long stay you're probably better off not using this and going with a local (e)sim.
I'm able to successfully manually choose a couple of different network providers. I'm impressed it's not restricted to just the local "cheap" provider.
When the timer runs out, you get a push notification: "Don't lose connectivity! Watch an ad in the Firsty app now to continue using Firsty Free. You have 15MB left to watch the ad so that you don't get cut off from the internet.". I don't know how long the 15MB lasts for and if it means you could leave it for a while and still receive message notifications.
I don't think I'd use this a lot because pressing a button/watching an ad every hour will be annoying, but as a backup or if you're really too much of a tightarse to pay for some other roaming, it seems like a good deal so far.
Update: I left it overnight to see what happens if I don't "renew" it. In the morning it wouldn't let me use data at all — my iPhone would show it connect to data then immediately disconnect.
You have to use wifi/another way of accessing the internet to watch another ad in the app, then it near-immediately worked again.
What would you recommend for 6 months in Europe? Need solution that keeps Aus numbers alive for 2FA but allows local calls/texts etc.
Hopefully you have a phone that supports dual (e)sim.
Buy a local prepaid sim card when you arrive in Europe. I won't suggest any particular one because it'll depend on what country you arrive in and deals available at the time. You could go esim but, kind of like in Australia, you might be limiting your carrier options.
For your Australian number, change it to a cheap prepaid plan that allows roaming. Receiving SMS is free as long as the provider supports roaming (you don't need to pay for a roaming pack unless you want that functionality). Amaysim PAYG is a good option here. Or if you go with Telstra, although pricier, you'll be able to use calling/sms over wifi back to Australia (IF your phone supports it).