You don't need a travel eSIM app to get online abroad: you can buy on a website and install the eSIM from a QR code in your email. An app is worth downloading if you want to check your data balance, top up in a couple of taps, or pay a lower price on bigger plans.
SIMNOVA sells the same eSIM plans on its website and in the Simnova app for iPhone and Android, so this guide compares our own two channels with real prices. Where the website is the better choice, we say so. Written by the SIMNOVA team in Auckland. Prices checked 6 November 2026.
Key Takeaways
- A travel eSIM works the same whichever way you buy it. The eSIM lives in your phone's settings, not inside an app.
- On 6 November 2026, SIMNOVA's app prices for Japan, Bali and Australia were NZ$1.00 to NZ$1.50, or A$2.00 to A$3.00, lower than web prices on 5GB and 10GB plans. 1GB plans cost the same on both.
- Only the app shows your remaining data, lets you top up and earns Nova credit. A plan bought on the website can't be topped up, so you would buy a second eSIM.
- The website suits a one-off short trip, or buying an eSIM for someone else's phone.
Do you need an app to use a travel eSIM?
No. A travel eSIM is a digital SIM profile that your phone stores in its own settings, as Apple and Google describe for iPhone and Pixel. You can add it in three ways:
- Scan a QR code. After a website purchase, SIMNOVA emails a QR code. You can scan it from a second screen, or open it on the phone itself.
- Enter the codes manually. The same email includes an activation code and an SM-DP+ address for when a QR code won't scan (Android uses one code, iPhone uses two).
- Install from an app. In the Simnova app, you install the eSIM with an install button after you pay, so there's no email to find.
All three end in the same place. The step-by-step settings for iPhone and Android are in our eSIM installation guide.
One caution applies to every method: QR codes and activation codes can only be used a limited number of times. If you delete the eSIM from your phone, you may not be able to reinstall it, so don't remove it until your trip is over.
App vs website: side by side
| Feature | Simnova app | SIMNOVA website |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Lower on 5GB and bigger plans, the same on 1GB | Standard price |
| How you install | Install button in the app | QR code or manual codes from your email |
| Check your phone first | Built-in compatibility check before you buy | Compatibility page to check yourself |
| Remaining data | Shown in the app at any time | Not shown |
| Top-ups | Add data in a couple of taps | Not available: buy a new eSIM |
| Nova credit | Earned on every purchase | Not available |
| Buy on a laptop | No | Yes |
| Space on your phone | Needs the app installed | Nothing to install |
App vs website prices in NZD and AUD
SIMNOVA prices the app separately from the web store. These are our own prices for three popular trips from New Zealand and Australia, read from both channels on 6 November 2026.
Japan, Bali (Indonesia) and Australia plans
| Plan | Website (NZD) | App (NZD) | Website (AUD) | App (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB / 7 days | NZ$2.95 | NZ$2.95 | A$2.95 | A$2.95 |
| 5GB / 30 days | NZ$10.95 | NZ$9.95 | A$10.95 | A$8.95 |
| 10GB / 30 days | NZ$16.95 | NZ$15.45 | A$16.95 | A$13.95 |
The three destinations share one price list. For Australians, the AUD columns apply to Japan and Bali.
New Zealand plans (for Australians visiting NZ)
| Plan | Website (AUD) | App (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1GB / 7 days | A$2.95 | A$2.95 |
| 5GB / 30 days | A$12.45 | A$11.45 |
| 10GB / 30 days | A$22.45 | A$19.95 |
Web prices read from the SIMNOVA store in each currency, and app prices from the current app plan list, on 6 November 2026. Prices change, so check both before you buy.
The gap grows with the plan size. On a 1GB plan the two channels match, while on a 10GB Japan plan an Australian saves A$3.00 and a Kiwi saves NZ$1.50 by buying in the app. The app also adds Nova credit to every purchase, shown in your own currency and redeemable at checkout on your next eSIM.
Not sure which size you need? See how much data different apps use.
When the app is the better choice
Download the app if any of these sound like your trip:
- You're away for more than a week. The price gap is widest on bigger plans.
- You might run out of data. Only the app lets you top up. Without it, running low means buying and installing a second eSIM abroad.
- You want to watch your usage. The app shows your remaining data at any time, so a long day of maps and video calls won't surprise you.
- You travel more than once a year. Each purchase earns Nova credit towards the next one, and your eSIMs stay in one place.
- You're not sure your phone supports eSIM. The app checks your phone before you pay.
When the website is the better choice
The website is simpler in a few situations:
- A short, one-off trip: a 1GB plan costs the same on both, and you won't need a top-up.
- Buying for a parent or partner: forward them the email, and they scan the QR code without installing anything.
- Shopping on a laptop, since the app is phone-only.
- A phone that's short on storage, because an emailed QR code needs no space at all.
How to set up a travel eSIM in the Simnova app
- Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Check your phone. The app confirms your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked before you buy. Many budget Android phones don't support eSIM.
- Pick your destination and plan, then pay in the app.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. It takes about 2 minutes. Your plan doesn't start until your phone connects to a network at your destination, and you have 180 days from purchase to install it.
- Switch it on when you land. Turn on the Simnova eSIM line and set Mobile Data and Data Roaming to it only, so your home carrier can't add a roaming charge. Your usual number stays on for calls and texts, including bank codes, because most recent phones can run two lines at once (Apple explains Dual SIM with eSIM here).
If you'd rather compare an eSIM with your carrier's roaming pack first, read eSIM vs roaming for New Zealand and Australia. New to eSIMs altogether? Start with what a travel eSIM is.
Common questions
Will I lose my eSIM if I delete the app?
No. The eSIM is stored in your phone's settings, so it keeps working if you delete the app. Without the app you can't check your balance or top up. Deleting the eSIM itself, in your phone's settings, is different: you may not be able to reinstall it.
Does the Simnova app work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. It's on the App Store for iPhone (iOS 16 or later) and on Google Play for Android. Your phone still needs to support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked.
Can I get a refund?
A refund may be available within 7 days of purchase if the eSIM hasn't been installed, scanned or activated. See our refund policy for the full terms, or email support@getsimnova.com.
App or website: the short answer
For a stopover or a quick weekend, the website does the job with nothing to install. For a week or longer, the app is cheaper on 5GB and bigger plans and is the only way to top up and check your data. Get the Simnova app on the App Store or Google Play, or browse plans on the website.
About this guide: SIMNOVA is a New Zealand-based travel eSIM store run by Venture Bytes Limited in Auckland. The SIMNOVA team writes and checks these guides against our own store and app. Read about us, see our FAQs, or contact us with a correction.
Last updated: 6 November 2026. Web and app prices were read on this date. Check them again before you travel.
