Is GigSky eSIM worth it? Hong Kong iPhones, Japan and Taiwan prices, Visa card or JIMB150: 10 things to know before you buy

Fail this one and you can stop reading here. GigSky needs a phone that supports eSIM and isn't carrier-locked. Quickest check: dial *#06#, and if an EID shows up, you've got eSIM. On an iPhone, look under Settings > General > About to see whether a carrier has locked it; if it's locked, ask your carrier how to unlock it first.

Apple's support article from 17 September 2026 splits iPhones bought in Hong Kong or Macau into two groups. Two physical nano-SIMs and no eSIM: the XR, XS Max, the whole 11 series, the 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max, the 13, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, the whole 14 and 15 series, plus the 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. With eSIM: the XS, SE (2nd and 3rd generation), 12 mini, 13 mini, 16e, Air, 17e, 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. On Android, just see whether *#06# shows an EID.

GigSky also points out that most iPhones sold on the Mainland don't have eSIM, and it won't vouch for adapters like 5ber, 9eSIM or eSIM.me. Sign up through the link on this page and new users can grab a free 100MB, seven-day trial (no card needed), so you can check your phone installs it before you pay; the terms do say GigSky can change or end the trial at any time, though.

GigSky is a travel eSIM run by the US company GigSky, Inc. The contract follows Californian law, disputes go to the Californian courts, and GigSky can also choose to send them to three arbitrators in Palo Alto, California; it only sells to people aged 18 or over. It calls itself a "true network operator" that manages its own US-based eSIMs rather than just reselling. We couldn't find whether it holds a licence from Hong Kong's Office of the Communications Authority; GigSky says it covers 190-plus countries and regions, but the practical move is to check your destination has a plan before you buy.

It's data only: the terms say the SIM is for "data use" only, so no calls, no SMS, no MMS, and no phone number. If you want your Hong Kong number for calls and bank OTPs, keep your Hong Kong SIM in as well, and ask your own carrier what incoming calls and SMS cost while roaming; for calls, use WhatsApp or FaceTime over data.

Each phone installs one GigSky eSIM, and any plans you buy later go on that same one. The eSIM can't move to another phone; if you get a new phone and stop using the old one, ask customer service to issue a fresh eSIM for the new one. The help centre comes in Traditional Chinese too.

GigSky has no Hong Kong dollar prices, so we looked at the US dollar list prices in GigSky's plan catalogue on 13 October (at roughly US$1 to HK$7.8). Japan is just US$2.99 for 1GB over seven days, US$10.29 for 5GB over 30 days and US$16.79 (about HK$131) for 10GB over 30 days. For the same 10GB over 30 days: Thailand US$9.79, Singapore US$14.99, South Korea US$17.79, Macau US$32.99, and Taiwan and the Mainland a hefty US$36.49 (about HK$285). Going long-haul, the UK is US$9.79 for 10GB over 30 days, the US US$21.49 and 42 European countries US$22.99.

Here's a trick worth knowing: the Asia Pacific plan is US$22.99 (about HK$179) for 10GB over 30 days, covers Taiwan, the Mainland and Macau all in one, and still costs less than each of those three on its own. Only going for a few days? Check out seven-day unlimited: South Korea is only US$16.49, even less than its own 10GB plan; Japan US$24.49, Taiwan US$25.49, the Mainland US$27.99. But the Asia Pacific plan includes Hong Kong, so watch when it starts once you install it (see thing 5).

All of the above are list prices before any discount. On 13 October, GigSky had an automatic 15% promotion on most plans, and 25% on the Cruise Day Pass. Promotions can change any time, and only one discount ever applies at once.

A standard plan is "this many GB for this many days", and it ends when the data runs out or the days are up, whichever comes first. A country plan works in one place only; the Asia Pacific plan covers 19 places, including the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand, but not Singapore. The World Plan covers 165 destinations and World Plan Lite 119, though going by the plan catalogue, neither includes Hong Kong. There are also unlimited, cruise, European ferry, inflight, offshore and GigSky One monthly plans.

"Unlimited" runs from 1 to 30 days and won't cut you off, but once you've used 3.5GB of high-speed data in a day, it may slow down, to 500kbps according to the catalogue; the allowance counts from the time your plan started and resets every 24 hours, not at midnight. While slowed, light stuff like email and internet calls still works. GigSky One gives you 25GB, 50GB or 75GB of high-speed data a month, slowing down after that, in 120-plus countries (not on cruises, offshore or in the air); it renews automatically and you can cancel under "My Plans" in the app. No refunds once bought, unused data doesn't roll over to the next month, and the referral code doesn't apply.

On networks, the catalogue lists NTT Docomo and SoftBank in Japan, KT and SK Telecom in South Korea, Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile in Taiwan, AIS and dtac in Thailand, China Unicom on the Mainland, and 3 and CTM in Macau; speeds depend on signal, how busy the network is and where you are. Heading north to the Mainland? GigSky doesn't say whether its Mainland plan gets you Google and WhatsApp without a VPN, and we couldn't verify it, so ask before you go. Hotspot works, but every connected device eats into the same plan's data.

GigSky suggests installing the eSIM the day before you leave or on the day, on a stable connection, and installing needs Wi-Fi. Most plans only start when you first connect to a network at your destination; but regional, global and cruise plans may start as soon as you install them if you're already inside their coverage. The Asia Pacific and Cruise + Asia Pacific plans both include Hong Kong, so right after installing, switch the GigSky line off in your phone settings and only turn it on after you land or board. Single-country plans like Japan are fine to install ahead of time.

Started it too early by accident? GigSky's purchase FAQs say you can email [email protected] with your transaction details, and customer service can extend the expiry date for you. Once a plan starts, it can't be paused: leaving the coverage area or switching off the eSIM doesn't stop the clock; most plans can't be extended either, and customer service only looks at requests case by case. A standard plan ends when the data runs out or the days are up, whichever comes first.

Running low? Top up through "Top Up" under "My Plans" in the app; free Visa plans can't be topped up. If you have two plans for the same place (say a Japan plan plus an Asia Pacific plan), only one can be "In Use" at a time, and you switch between them yourself in "My Plans". Can't get online? Check that the GigSky line is on, set as your mobile data line, and has data roaming switched on.

Sign up through the link on this page, or enter JIMB150 in the referral code box when you open your GigSky account, and your first data plan is 25% off. The key bit: the referral code has to go in when you open the account, and you can't add it afterwards; if the referral code box on the sign-up page the link opens is empty, type in JIMB150 yourself before you hit "Sign up".

After signing up you need to verify your email, and only then does the 25% apply to your first data plan; the terms also say accounts with unconfirmed emails get deleted within 30 days. You need to be 18 or over to buy. The referral code doesn't work on the GigSky One monthly plan; GigSky doesn't say whether there's a cap, a minimum spend or an end date. Check the order summary shows 25% off before you pay.

Let's do the maths: Japan 10GB for 30 days lists at US$16.79, and with the referral code it's about US$12.59, saving about US$4.20 (about HK$33); the Asia Pacific 10GB drops from US$22.99 to about US$17.24. Because it's a percentage, the US$2.99 1GB plan only saves about US$0.75, so buy what you need and don't get carried away buying a bigger plan for the discount. Full disclosure: JIMB150 is our own referral code, and if you sign up with it and buy a data plan, we get a 25% discount voucher.

GigSky applies only one discount or promo code per purchase, automatically picking the biggest one, and you can't add a promo code after buying. So the 25% referral code plus the 15% automatic promotion on 13 October still comes out at 25%, not 40%.

Visa cards issued in Hong Kong or Macau that Visa lists as eligible come in three tiers: Visa Infinite personal cards, plus Visa business, corporate and purchasing cards, get 3GB for 15 days free and 30% off every plan; Visa Platinum and Signature personal cards get 1GB for 15 days free and 20% off; and Visa Classic, Gold, debit and prepaid cards get 10% off. For comparison, the same 3GB 15-day Japan plan lists at US$7.49.

So with an eligible Infinite or business card, the 30% beats the 25%, and GigSky doesn't say whether the referral discount gets saved for next time; with a Platinum or Signature, or any other Visa card, the referral code's 25% is higher. To get the Visa offer, enter your card number under "Visa Benefits" in the app to verify it; GigSky says verifying doesn't charge anything, and the discount then comes off at checkout automatically, no code needed. The free plan starts on your first connection at your destination, doesn't cover Hong Kong itself, cruises, flights or offshore, can't be topped up and can't be moved to another phone once redeemed; the Visa discount does work on cruise plans, though. The Hong Kong and Macau terms don't say when the offer ends.

You can pay by credit card, debit card, PayPal or Apple Pay (the last two depend on your device), crypto (USDC or USDP, processed in US dollars) and GigSky Credit. Billing currencies are only US dollars, Canadian dollars, euros, pounds, yen and Brazilian reais, with no Hong Kong dollars; you can switch under "Profile Details" in the app or on the website. Hong Kong folks usually pick US dollars, and your card may charge a foreign currency fee, depending on your bank.

GigSky says every purchase gets 5% back as GigSky Credit. The credit never expires and comes off automatically at checkout, but you can't pass it to anyone else or cash it out. It doesn't say whether the 5% is worked out on the price before or after discount; on a US$12.59 plan, it's about US$0.63.

On refunds, two official documents don't agree: the Terms of Service updated on 21 April 2026 say unused data isn't refundable, whether or not the plan has started; the help centre, though, has self-service refunds: pick the order under "Transaction History" and hit "Request Refund". It isn't automatic, they look at things like whether the plan has started or been used, and if approved you get GigSky Credit or your money back to the original payment method. Bought for the wrong phone? The help centre says you can request a refund and buy again. Bottom line: treat it as case by case, not a sure thing. Done with it? Go to "Account Details" in the app and hit "Delete Account"; there's no undo, so use up any credit first.

Cruise plans only work on ships on GigSky's list, so always check before you buy. Data at sea only kicks in once the ship is about 12 nautical miles offshore (usually about an hour after sailing), and while you're on the ship's Wi-Fi the plan isn't used. The catalogue has two "sea-only" plans, at US$19.99 and US$31.99 for 1GB over seven days; the Cruise Day Pass lists at US$17.99 a day, with 500MB of high-speed data every 24 hours, after which it switches to GigSky Essentials, which only runs basic apps like text messaging, email, maps and ride-hailing. The Cruise + Asia Pacific plan includes Hong Kong, so if you board in Hong Kong, only turn the line on once you've boarded and set sail.

Inflight data works on selected airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Asiana, switched on once you're above 20,000 feet, and also depends on the aircraft and route; the catalogue's inflight plan is 100MB for one day at US$13.99. Free Visa plans don't work on cruises or flights.

On 13 October, the GigSky app scored 4.7 on the Hong Kong App Store, but from just 18 ratings; 4.5 on the US App Store from 5,864 ratings; and 4.5 on the US Google Play (about 5,300 reviews, over 500,000 downloads). Trustpilot has it at 4.3 (7,677 reviews), with 67% five stars and 8% one star, and GigSky replied to 99% of negative reviews.

The most common gripes: signal but no internet; slower speeds than expected, or no 5G; patchy cruise data, or none for the whole trip, with some refunds turned down because "data was used"; unlimited plans slowing down; costing more than a local SIM; an app that's not easy to use, with setup steps that differ between iPhone models; and no heads-up when data is about to run out or the plan is about to expire.

Some also say customer service is slow to reply. The support email is [email protected]. Safest bet: install it in Hong Kong while you're on Wi-Fi, and check how much data and time you have left yourself under "My Plans" instead of waiting for a notification.

Go for it: Hong Kong folks whose phone definitely has eSIM (*#06# shows an EID) and isn't locked, on short trips to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand or the Mainland and needing only data; anyone hopping between Taiwan, the Mainland and Macau on one trip who can save with the Asia Pacific plan; anyone with an eligible Hong Kong Visa card who gets an extra discount or free data; and anyone on a cruise GigSky supports who's OK paying more at sea.

Skip it: if you've got a Hong Kong-sold iPhone with physical SIM slots only; you need a local phone number; your monthly plan already includes roaming data for your destination; you're staying a long time and a local SIM may be cheaper; you want to pay in Hong Kong dollars or need to be sure of a refund; or you'd want any problems handled in Hong Kong.