GigSky Review (October 2026) – Pros, Cons, Features, & Pricing

GigSky is an eSIM provider that was established in 2010 and offers data services in more than 190 countries. This eSIM provider works in numerous locations on land, at select airlines, cruises, and some offshore locations.

The GigSky eSIM is easy to set up and comes with flexible data plans; its only disadvantage is its cost, which deters some users.

This GigSky review will open your eyes to all the services provided by this eSIM provider and show you how to get started. If you’re still exploring your options, you’ll also find other GigSky alternatives that might meet your needs.

What makes GigSky a good option?

There are many eSIMs that Canadians can choose from when they want to travel abroad. However, the GigSky eSIM embodies many features that make it a better option than many other eSIM brands, and these features include:

GigSky is a network operator

Unlike other eSIM providers, who simply resell network services for their users, GigSky is a network provider itself. This gives it an edge in providing a better user experience, as it can easily resolve network issues. This eSIM provider is also partnered with more than 400 network providers worldwide, making it easier to avoid network issues abroad.

Cruise and inflight data access

GigSky offers data services on over 20 airlines, 190 cruise ships, and offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. So, you can enjoy data access when you fly in the air and go out to sea.

Flexible data plans

GigSky can provide any size of data you need, whether it’s unlimited data or a specific amount of data. As long as it’s a country where GigSky offers its service, users will find data plans of different amounts and unlimited data.

Hotspot support

Only a few eSIMs allow users to share their data through hotspots, to laptops, computers, or other mobile devices. GigSky, on the other hand, offers this feature, and it’s not restricted to any data plan.

Monitor data usage easily

The GigSky mobile app allows users to easily monitor their data usage. The app will show how much data the customer has used, the amount remaining, and the active days remaining.

Dual redundancy

GigSky is always prepared for the possibility that its network in a country could fail. As such, there is always a backup network that users can fall back on when this happens.

High upload and download speeds

Many users enjoy consistent download speeds of 20MB or more and upload speeds of 12MB or more with the GigSky eSIM. This upload and download speed is consistent in both rural and urban areas of the countries where GigSky offers its service.

Reusable eSIM

The norm for most eSIM sellers is one data plan per eSIM. However, GigSky Canada offers a reusable option where Canadians don’t need to purchase a new SIM for each country they visit. Users only need to purchase a new data plan from the GigSky app, and everything is set.

Easy set up

The GigSky eSIM doesn’t have a complex installation process. Users only need to sign up, choose their eSIM plan, pay for it, and they can start enjoying their data.

You aren’t limited to scanning QR codes with eSIM GigSky, as its mobile app makes activations easy. Users only need to log into their accounts on their mobile apps, and they can activate their eSIM from there.

Vast device compatibility

GigSky supports a wide variety of Android smartphones, iPhones, iPads, and other smart devices like the Rakuten Mini and the Planet Cosmo Communicator. All iPhones, from the iPhone XR to the iPhone 15, are supported, while all Android devices with eSIM functionality are supported.

Pros and cons of GigSky

There are many advantages and disadvantages to using the services of GigSky, and they’re listed below:

The pros of GigSky

Active data monitoring

GigSky is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), which means that they’re actively monitoring their network all day. So, if you experience a connection issue in any of the GigSky countries, this eSIM provider can quickly reroute the data connection.

Numerous data plans

GigSky offers internet connectivity in more than 190 countries, with each country having weekly, monthly, and even unlimited data plans.

There are also regional data plans that cover many countries on a continent, and each regional plan comes with different sizes of data. So, users have many options to choose from when they want to purchase data from this eSIM provider.

Available in over 190 countries

The GigSky coverage map spreads over 190 countries; hence, there is only a small chance of visiting a country without their service. With this, you won’t need to buy more than one eSIM when visiting various countries, as one GigSky eSIM is enough.

Offers in-flight data plans

GigSky is one of the few eSIMs that keeps users connected to the internet even while flying. This eSIM provider offers this in-flight data service on many popular airlines, like Egypt Air, Virgin Atlantic, and Turkish Airlines.

Flexible activation

With GigSky, Canadians can purchase their data plans before they leave the country. This way, they only need to manually activate the eSIM when they get to their destination to enjoy seamless connectivity.

Free data on sign-up

GigSky offers a try-before-you-buy service with their eSIM, where new users get 100MB for free. The users don’t have to provide any credit card information to access the data; they only need to create an account. The 100MB of data can also be used anywhere where the GigSky coverage map extends.

5G data service

GigSky offers 5G data service in any region where there is a 5G data network. If 5G data is not available, the eSIM will switch to the next best alternative, which could be 4G or 3G data speeds.

Easy top up

GigSky allows users to purchase more data when their current data plan is about to be exhausted. This is easy with their mobile app, which makes it easy for a user to manage all aspects of their account.

Unlimited data

The GigSky data service includes some regional and country-specific plans where users enjoy unlimited data access. Unlimited data offers a GigSky Avis experience, where instead of renting cars for travel, users rent internet connectivity.

The cons of GigSky

No local number

GigSky doesn’t offer a local number like a typical SIM card, so you cannot use it to make traditional phone calls. The only way to make phone calls with this eSIM is through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications like WhatsApp, Skype, and Dialpad.

High data prices

Compared to the price of a local SIM card and other eSIMs, the price of GigSky’s data is on the high side. This makes it difficult for most travellers to afford eSIM GigSky.

No live chat

There is no live chat support channel on the GigSky website. GigSky offers customer support through their emails (help@gigsky.com or security@gigsky.com) or through a ticket system on their website. If you’re in the United Kingdom or the United States, you can contact their support line at +442036080394 and +16509249022, respectively.

While the telephone support lines offer an option for real-time customer support, they’re not a global option like live chat would have been.

No SMS

As there’s no telephone number attached to any user account, users cannot send or receive SMS from anyone. While SMS is not allowed on GigSky, users can still use texting apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook to communicate with others.

No refunds

GigSky doesn’t have a flexible return policy for now, so you cannot refund any data plan after purchasing it. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve used the data or not, as all sales are final.

GigSky products and services

The services that GigSky offers are based on the nature of the journey, which could be through land, sea, or air. Below are the services that you can expect when you open an account with this eSIM provider.

Data in-flight

GigSky partnered with Panasonic Avionics Corporation in 2021, allowing it to offer in-flight data to passengers. With this service, passengers on select airlines and flights can enjoy mobile data regardless of their network operator.

Unlike other data plans, the in-flight data plan only allows users to subscribe for a daily pass, which costs $13.99 for 100MB. Some of the airlines where you can enjoy GigSky’s in-flight data service include:

• Egypt Air
• Etihad Airways
• Kuwait Airways
• Virgin Atlantic
• Turkish Airlines
• Swiss International Airlines

Cruise + land data

If you’re going on a cruise, eSIM GigSky offers data services while you’re out in the ocean. The Cruise + Land data plan doesn’t only work while you’re at sea; it also works at the port. So, you can leave your ship for a little tour at any port and still stay connected online.

Some of the cruise ships on the GigSky coverage map include:

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Cordelia Cruises
• Disney Cruise Line
• Oceania Cruises
• Virgin Voyages
• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The data prices when you’re on a cruise ship depend on the location of the cruise. There are three main Cruise + Land data plans:

• Cruise + Europe: More than 200 ships and 44 countries.
• Cruise + Asia Pacific: More than 200 ships and 25 countries.
• Cruise + Americas/Caribbean: More than 200 ships and 48 countries.

The cost for the Cruise + Land data plan is the same for all three packages.

• $17.99 for 512MB, valid for one day.
• $38.99 for 1GB, valid for seven days.
• $73.99 for 3GB, valid for 15 days.

Data on land

This is a GigSky data service for users who’ll be journeying on land. For data on land, GigSky eSIM users can access data according to region and country, or simply opt for global data coverage.

Regional data services are based on various continents, like Africa, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

Country-specific data services cover all popular countries like the United States, India, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Uruguay, Greece, Japan, Spain, and Canada. The global data plan, or world plan, covers all GigSky countries—nations where GigSky’s services are available.

The cost of these data plans depends on the location the users are travelling to. Some of the data costs for popular countries include:

United States

• $4.49 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $10.99 for 3GB, valid for 15 days.
• $15.99 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $25.99 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.
• $28.99 for 7-day unlimited data.
• $50.99 for unlimited data, valid for 15 days.

Germany

• $4.99 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $9.99 for 3GB, valid for 15 days.
• $14.99 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $22.49 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.
• $27.99 for 7-day unlimited data.
• $44.99 for unlimited data, valid for 15 days.

Japan

• $4.49 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $8.49 for 3GB, valid for 15 days.
• $11.49 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $17.99 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.
• $28.99 for 7-day unlimited data.
• $50.99 for unlimited data, valid for 15 days.

North America

• $6.49 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $16.99 for 3GB, valid for 15 days.
• $25.49 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $45.99 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.
• $39.99 for 7-day unlimited data.
• $61.99 for unlimited data, valid for 15 days.

Europe

• $5.99 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $12.99 for 3GB, valid for 15 days.
• $19.99 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $36.99 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.
• $99.99 for 50GB, valid for 90 days.
• $184.99 for 100GB, valid for 180 days.
• $28.99 for 7-day unlimited data.
• $50.99 for unlimited data, valid for 15 days.

Asia Pacific

• $4.99 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $12.99 for 3GB, valid for 15 days.
• $19.99 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $37.99 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.
• $99.99 for 50GB, valid for 90 days.
• $184.99 for 100GB, valid for 180 days.

World Plan

• $69.99 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.

North Sea/offshore

To provide offshore internet service to people who work in the oil and gas, shipping, and other related sectors, GigSky partnered with Tampnet. This allows GigSky to provide low-latency and reliable data services to people working in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea.

The costs of GigSky’s offshore data services are:

North Sea

• $9.99 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $34.99 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $59.99 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.
• $74.99 for 15GB, valid for 30 days.
• $174.99 for 35GB, valid for 90 days.

Gulf of Mexico

• $29.99 for 1GB, valid for 7 days.
• $74.99 for 5GB, valid for 30 days.
• $99.99 for 8GB, valid for 30 days.
• $119.99 for 10GB, valid for 30 days.

GigSky product and service quality

GigSky offers 24/7 customer support, which ensures that all issues are treated as soon as they arise. The customer support channels on this platform include telephone, email, and the ticket system on the GigSky website.

The variety of support channels on this platform also shows its dedication to helping users, as it offers customers numerous ways to contact support.

GigSky also offers a separate support email (security@gigsky.com) for any security issues that users may encounter on their accounts. Sending an email through this support channel ensures that security issues get the priority they deserve.

As outlined in the GigSky privacy policy statement, this eSIM provider only stores user information as required by the law. GigSky doesn’t sell or rent this information to any third parties, nor does it disclose it on any platform, unless required by law.

GigSky doesn’t respond to Do Not Track signals from web browsers, as it doesn’t keep track of user activities. This is part of its commitment as an eSIM provider to protect the privacy of its customers. The fact that GigSky was Apple’s first eSIM partner shows how committed the brand is to professionalism.

How to get started with GigSky

In this section, you’ll see how to open an account on the GigSky platform and get started with this eSIM provider.

1. Click here to create an account on the GigSKy website by providing your name, password, email, and country of residence. You can also choose to download the GigSky mobile app and register from there.
2. The next step is to choose your type of eSIM. You can choose based on the location you want to travel to or by your means of transportation (in-flight or cruise). If you’re going offshore to work, you can also select that option.
3. Next, choose a data plan for your chosen eSIM and pay for it. GigSky supports many popular payment methods, including credit cards and Apple Pay.
4. After successfully purchasing a data plan, the next step is to activate your eSIM. You can do this by logging into the GigSky mobile app and activating the eSIM from there. You can also scan the QR code sent to your email after purchasing the data plan.

Although most Android phones and iPhones set their APNs automatically when an eSIM is downloaded, this doesn’t happen all the time. In some cases, you might need to manually set up the GigSky APN, and you’ll see how to do this below.

For iPhone users

• Open ‘Settings’ on your iPhone.
• Click on cellular and select the eSIM shown there.
• Click on ‘Cellular Data Network.’
• Check the value shown in the APN field to verify if it’s ‘gigsky.’ If it’s not, enter ‘gigsky’ in the APN field.

For Android users

• Open ‘Settings’ on your Android device.
• Samsung users should click on ‘Connections’ and then ‘Mobile Networks’ to find the APN section. Google users should click on ‘Network and Internet,’ tap on ‘SIMs,’ then select ‘Access Point Names.’ Most Android phones should follow a similar pattern, but if yours doesn’t, search for ‘APN’ in the settings app.
• If there is no ‘GigSky’ APN in the APN section, click on ‘Add’ or ‘New APN.’
• Type ‘GigSky’ in the field for the APN name and ‘gigsky’ in the APN field. That means ‘Name’ is ‘GigSky’ and APN is ‘gigsky’.

Before you decide to purchase the GigSky eSIM, it’s important to verify if your device is supported by this eSIM provider. You can confirm this through the eSIM compatibility checker on the GigSky website.

Alternatives to GigSky

Despite the numerous positives in its favour, GigSky also has a few negative aspects that’ll turn some Canadians away from this eSIM provider. Hence, this section will offer a few GigSky alternatives that people can consider when they travel abroad.

Airalo

Airalo is an eSIM provider that supports international travel, with a presence in more than 200 countries, which is more than GigSky. Similar to GigSky, this eSIM provider also offers local, regional, and global (or world) data plans for its services.

So, Canadians can purchase data plans for popular countries, for entire regions (continents), or for the whole world.

When comparing Airalo vs GigSky with regard to price, Airalo seems to be a more budget-friendly option. The cost of the US data plan for Airalo is cheaper than that of GigSky, and this is the same for other Airalo data plans.

Unlike GigSky, Airalo offers local numbers for numerous countries, allowing users to make calls and send SMS messages.

Customer support is also a strong point for this GigSky alternative, as its support team works 24/7. Compared to GigSky, however, Airalo only seems to offer a ticket system for contacting support.

Pros of Airalo

• Covers more than 200 countries
• Local, regional, and global data plans are also available
• Easy eSIM activation
• Offers local numbers for calls and SMS messages
• Flexible data top-up

Cons of Airalo

• Not all supported countries offer local numbers for calls and SMS

Nomad

If cost is your priority as an avid traveller, then Nomad can keep you connected at a cheap price. This GigSky alternative offers data plans that start at $1.20, making it much cheaper than GigSky.

Nomad is available in more than 170 countries worldwide, which is less than what GigSky offers. Customer support on this platform is available through the website ticketing system or through the in-app chat on the Nomad app.

Nomad users can also hotspot their data; however, this is only available on certain data plans, unlike GigSky, where it’s available on all plans.

While Nomad doesn’t support calls like GigSky, it does provide support for SMS text messages. However, this support is only available in two countries: Canada and the United States. There are numerous SMS plans to choose from based on the number of text messages the user wants to send.

Pros of Nomad

• Supports 5G data service
• Supports SMS messages
• Cheap data plans
• Available in more than 170 countries
• Live chat is available on the Nomad app

Cons of Nomad

• SMS support is only available in two countries
• No call support

Holafly

Holafly is another international eSIM data provider that will keep users connected to the internet in more than 190 countries.

Unlike GigSky, Holafly is more about keeping users connected without any downtime, so all its data plans are unlimited. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly data plans for any supported country, they are all unlimited.

Due to the unlimited data that Holafly offers, its data plans are more costly than those of GigSky. Of course, you can also see this as a small price to pay for the unlimited data it provides.

Holafly also offers a unique service for WhatsApp users, allowing them to connect with their contacts like they’re still in their original country. Customer support on this GigSky alternative is also 24/7, with live chat, email, WhatsApp support, and the usual ticketing system.

Similar to GigSky, Holafly doesn’t offer local numbers for SMS or calls, as it’s a data-only service. So, users are only left with VOIP services when they want to call people.

Pros of Holafly

• Live chat support is available
• Unlimited data for supported countries
• Covers more than 190 countries
• Easy-to-use mobile app

Cons of Holafly

• No local numbers for SMS and calls
• Costly data plans
• Requires scanning a QR code to activate the eSIM

GigSky review conclusion

GigSky allows Canadians to avoid the hassle of keeping track of numerous SIM cards when they travel abroad. It’s an eSIM provider that offers a data-only service for locations on land, airlines, cruises, and some off-shore locations.

GigSky offers its services to more than 190 countries, with flexible data plans that can fit the needs of any customer.

The GigSky eSIM data service might seem too costly at first glance. However, this is a price many travellers are willing to pay to avoid the inconvenience and paperwork that come with paying for local SIMs.

You can also reduce the cost of your data when you buy it in bulk. You’ll notice this when you look at the data prices of countries on the GigSky coverage map.

Besides a few disadvantages, GigSky is a reliable data provider for any Canadian who wants to travel abroad. The GigSky coverage map covers all popular countries, and as a network provider, it can offer data even in rural areas.