Textr eSIM Review 2026: I Tested Their Italy Data eSIM on a Solo Trip

Why I tried Textr eSIM for my Italy trip

I travel for work a few times a year, and I am tired of either paying my carrier roaming fees or wasting the first hour in a new city hunting down a phone shop for a local SIM. For a recent solo trip to Italy, I decided to try Textr eSIM, which advertises data-only eSIM plans for over 130 destinations, activated entirely by QR code before you even leave home.

Buying and installing the Italy plan

On the Textr eSIM site, the Italy plan page lists a few data and duration tiers, each tagged with a DISCOUNT badge. I picked the 20GB / 30-Day tier, which was priced at $11.15 instead of the regular $13.94 - right around 20% off. The plan covers Italy through the TIM, Vodafone, and WindTre networks, and it is data-only, so it does not come with a phone number for calls or SMS.

Right after checkout I got a QR code by email. Textr eSIM own instructions walk you through scanning that code in your phone eSIM settings before you travel - I installed mine the night before while still on home Wi-Fi, exactly as the guide recommends.

How it performed in Italy

Once I landed in Rome, activating the plan was just a matter of turning on the eSIM line in my phone settings. Data connected quickly on the local network without needing to hunt for a physical SIM store, which was the whole point of trying this out.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• No physical SIM swap - everything is set up before you even leave home
• 20% off the Italy 20GB/30-Day plan made it cheaper than my carrier daily roaming pass
• Clear step-by-step QR activation guide

Cons:

• Data-only - no calling or SMS, so you will need an internet calling app for that
• You do need an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone for this to work at all

Conclusion

For a short solo trip where I just needed reliable data without the hassle of a local SIM, Textr eSIM Italy plan did the job at a discounted price. If you have an upcoming trip, it is worth checking their current destination pricing before you go.

Get the Textr eSIM discount for your next trip here.