Using the app
When do I activate my eSIM plan?
You will need an internet connection to set up your eSIM, so we recommend installing and activating your eSIM just before your departure.
You can wait until you arrive in the country to activate your eSIM, but please remember that you will need a Wi-Fi connection to perform the installation process. Please note that refunds cannot be processed for plans purchased over 90 days prior.
Transferring my eSIM from one phone to another
You can transfer eSIM plans from your old phone to your new phone. With both phones present. Follow these steps.
- Connect your old phone to WIFI or data from your physical SIM
- Delete your eSIM plan on your old phone (follow the steps provided in "How do I delete my eSIM?) and wait about five minutes
- On your new phone, install the Zim app from the backup.
- Open the app
- You won't need to log in because you installed the app from the backup.
- You can now re-install your eSIM (follow the steps provided in "How do I re-install my eSIM)
- Any existing data plans that were on your old phone will be transferred over (because it is the same eSIM)
What if I’ve bought multiple plans?
If you've bought multiple plans for one location, the functioning plan will be your last. The data used will be in the order you purchased each data package.
How many data plans can I have?
It all depends on your phone. On iPhones, you can store eight or more eSIMs; on supported models, you can have two active simultaneously. The number of eSIMs you can install on Android varies depending on the device, with one active at a time.
How do I buy more data?
You can buy more data by topping up your existing plan. Simply go to the wallet section of ZIM the app and click on top-up.
What happens when I run out of data?
ZIM will inform you when you've used 80% of your data top-up before you run out. If you run out, you'll need to switch to your physical SIM or WIFI to get online and buy another data plan online.
How do I check how much data I have left?
You can check your data in your Wallet inside the ZIM App.
How do I use my data plan?
Make sure you have a stable internet connection before you download your eSIM. After installing your eSIM, you can activate your plan immediately or later. To use your new data plan, turn on your eSIM’s Data Roaming and disable it for your primary line. Then, in Settings, select ZIM as your default data line. Your new plan will start automatically as it connects to the local network.
Activate later
At checkout, just before buying your new eSIM plan, you will see an option to “Activate Later.” Our delayed activation feature lets you purchase an eSIM plan 30 days before you want it started. Click the “Activate Later” toggle and select the day you arrive at your destination. It will automatically activate on that day.
ZIM offers mobile plans in the following countries
Africa
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Congo-the Democratic Republic of the
- Coted' Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania-United Republic of
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Asia
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- China
- Georgia
- Hong Kong
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Korea-Republic of
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Lebanon
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine, State of
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Taiwan-Province of China
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Europe
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Holy See (Vatican City State)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova- Republic of
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia)
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
North America
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States of America
Oceania
- Australia
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela