eSIM guides
Data-only eSIM vs voice-and-data plans: what's the difference?
BrisqNet eSIMs provide travel data. Here's how that works alongside your regular number for calls and texts.
BrisqNet Team · Published 2026-08-30 · 4 min read
Not every eSIM plan works the same way. Some travel eSIMs are data-only, providing mobile data but not a phone number for calls or texts. Others are full voice-and-data plans with their own number. BrisqNet's plans are data-only, and understanding what that means in practice helps you plan your trip correctly.
What a data-only eSIM gives you
A BrisqNet eSIM provides mobile data for your destination — enough for maps, messaging apps, browsing, and internet-based calling. It doesn't come with its own phone number for traditional cellular calls or SMS.
How calls and texts still work
- Keep your regular SIM active in the second slot (on a dual SIM device) for calls and texts on your usual number
- Use internet-based calling and messaging apps — WhatsApp, FaceTime, and similar — over your BrisqNet data connection
- Text messages sent as SMS still go through your regular SIM, not your data-only eSIM
Why this suits most travellers
Most people already rely on WhatsApp, iMessage, or similar apps for messaging friends and family, and increasingly for calls too. A data-only eSIM covers that need directly, while your existing number keeps working for anyone who calls or texts you the traditional way.
Can I make phone calls with a BrisqNet eSIM?
Not as a traditional cellular call. You can make internet-based calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime, and similar) over the data connection, or keep your regular SIM active for traditional calls.
Will BrisqNet add voice and SMS plans in future?
BrisqNet currently focuses on data-only travel plans. Any future changes to what's offered will be reflected on the live product pages — this article describes what's available today.