GigSky review: Is it legit, and should you use it?

GigSky is one of the pioneers in the eSIM industry, offering eSIM cards since 2018. While the service has never grown to be one of the most popular eSIM providers, it has always kept up with the times by adding more locations and updating its infrastructure. 

If you’re thinking about using GigSky as your next eSIM provider, take some time to read our GigSky review. This post will cover the GigSky eSIM service in depth, including its plans, pricing, customer reviews, and key features.

What is GigSky?

GigSky is a telecommunications company that has been operating since 2010. Initially dealing with physical SIM cards, GigSky has since moved on to only sell eSIM mobile data plans. 

It offers local, regional, and global eSIM plans. GigSky is also known for offering plans for cruises that offer coverage at sea as well as free plans with 100 MB of data.

GigSky eSIM features

Now that you have a general idea of what GigSky is, let’s take a deeper look into everything the company has to offer.

Data plans

GigSky’s data plans are available in 200 different countries. There are also regional plans that cover multiple countries in a specific region, a world plan that covers 163 countries, and cruise plans that are paired with coverage in either Europe, the Caribbean, or Asia. 

The regional plans don’t necessarily cover every country in the region, so when visiting multiple countries, make sure to double-check that it covers every country on the list. GigSky is also a data-only service, which means that a local phone number, phone calls, and SMS messages are not included in the plans.

We won’t be listing out the prices for every plan, as you’d probably get a cramp in your thumb trying to scroll past them. However, we should take a look at the pricing and durations for some of the most popular plans.

USA

Europe

Cruise + Asia Pacific

As you can see, there’s a steep rise in pricing when it comes to cruise plans. The prices for most single-country plans are quite similar to those of regional plans. Plans in a few countries don’t include unlimited data options, though, and there’s only one option for the World plan with 5 GB of data for 30 days priced at $69.99.

It’s also worth mentioning that the unlimited data plans are subject to a connection speed cap after you use 2.5 GB of data daily. This will limit your high-data activities, such as streaming or gaming, but shouldn’t impact data for essential travel activities. You don’t lose connection, but it slows down noticeably before refreshing for another 2.5 GB of limited high-speed data.

How to install and activate a GigSky eSIM

The setup process for your GigSky eSIM depends on whether you’re using the GigSky app on your phone or looking to set it up manually. That said, both are pretty easy to do and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

Setting up a GigSky eSIM on the app

If you’re using the GigSky app, the setup process only takes a couple of taps of a button:

• Choose and purchase your eSIM plan.
• Install the eSIM on the app.
• Tap Enable on your eSIM and follow the prompts to activate it.

Setting up a GigSky eSIM manually

For a manual setup, you can complete your purchase on the GigSky website. You should receive an activation QR code as soon as the payment goes through. Keep in mind that this process can be slightly different depending on your device, but in general, it should look something like this:

• Go to your Settings.
• Open the Mobile Service settings.
• Locate the Add eSIM button.
• Scan your QR code and follow the prompts to complete the setup. 

Once done, you should be able to access mobile internet abroad near-instantly.

Coverage

Since GigSky offers plans in 200 countries, it’s no surprise that the quality of the service may differ depending on the place you’re in. That said, 5G coverage is included in a majority of plans, so the connection speeds are solid overall.

It’s worth mentioning that 5G capability doesn’t mean you’ll get 5G coverage everywhere you go. Typically, 5G is only available in more populated areas, with coverage depending on the network operator you’re connected to. You’ll probably have to do with 4G or 3G speeds if you decide to venture further away from the cities.

Mobile app

GigSky offers dedicated mobile apps for both iOS and Android, making it easy for you to use the service. You can use the app to purchase eSIM plans, check how much data you’ve used, and browse the plans that GigSky has available. You can also get cashback in GigSky credits for purchases made on the app.

The interface does look and feel a touch outdated, and some settings and information aren’t always easy to find. However, the app works fine if you want to get a data connection quickly without fiddling around with settings and options. 

You can browse the plans on the app without creating an account. However, you’ll have to log in if you want to make a purchase. You can either create a GigSky account or log in using your Google account or Apple ID.

Refund policy

A solid refund policy is an important feature for any service provider. Issues can happen to anyone, but you want to be sure that you’ll get your money back in case things go wrong.

Unfortunately, GigSky’s refund policy does leave a lot to be desired. First of all, it seems like it hasn’t been updated in quite a while. There are plenty of references to physical travel SIM cards there – something that GigSky doesn’t even sell anymore. 

Second, there is no dedicated page for the refund policy, and the information in Terms of Service isn’t very clear.

It does say that any SIM or top-up can’t be returned once purchased, with no exceptions mentioned. This means that the refund policy isn’t flexible, and you’ll likely lose the money you’ve spent if the eSIM fails to work or works poorly.

Customer support

GigSky’s customer support infrastructure is much better than the refund policy. You get 24/7 customer support via live chat, email support, and a lengthy Help Center section with answers to all of the most common questions.

The live chat is hidden away slightly, as you can only access live chat from the Help Center page on the website or app. You’ll also have to fill out a short ticket before being forwarded to the live chat. 

A bit annoyingly, the question that we entered into the ticket wasn’t automatically sent to the agent and needed to be repeated. We asked a question about their refund policy. However, the answer wasn’t very helpful, as the agent stated, “I can’t confirm whether the refunds are provided or not.”

What do customers say about GigSky?

Before you choose GigSky as the primary data source for your next trip, you might want to hear what the customers have to say about it. GigSky only has 29 reviews on Trustpilot, with a rating of 2.7/5, as of the time of this article. Compared to Holafly’s ~50,000 reviews and a rating of 4.6/5, it’s clear that the experience is lacking.

Quite a few reviews come from users who purchased the cruise plans, as it seems the connection doesn’t work very well at sea. Let’s take a look at what the people who tested GigSky’s service had to say:

As you can see, users face the same issues with refunds that can be expected by reading the Terms of Service. And the customer support may not always be very helpful, as proven by the test that we ran as well. 

GigSky overview

Still not sure whether or not you should choose GigSky as your next eSIM provider? Let’s quickly run down some of its main features to help you make the choice.

If it’s just the data you need, GigSky might work for you. However, if you’re looking for the best overall experience while maintaining an internet connection worldwide, better options are available.

Holafly: The best unlimited data eSIM

Want to enjoy peace of mind the next time you’re abroad? Holafly offers the complete eSIM package, from flexible data plans to a solid user experience. 

All Holafly plans include unlimited data, so you’ll simply have to choose the duration of your plan to match your needs. If you encounter a problem, you’re always backed by a knowledgeable customer support team working 24/7 and a flexible refund policy.

Using Holafly is the best way to avoid outrageous data roaming charges. It’s easy to use, only takes minutes to set up, and will keep you connected no matter what. Being one of the best-rated eSIM providers on Trustpilot, it’s simply a service you can trust.

An eSIM you can rely on

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Plans that may interest you

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Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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