HOLIDAYMAKERS have discovered a little-known app that provides them with free data for their trips away.
Roaming fees to stay connected abroad can be costly.
Currently only a handful of networks allow limited roaming as part of their existing plan.
The further you go can cost even more.
But an eSIM service called Firsty is a free alternative that some have turned to.
And it’s currently available in more than 70 countries.
This includes the USA, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe.
There is a huge catch to get it free, of course.
Users have to watch an advert every hour to stay connected.
So, after 60 minutes you have to watch a 30 second advert to reconnect with unlimited data for the next period.
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It’s also a basic connection, so don’t expect to start streaming Netflix.
According to Firsty, this allows you to go online with less data-hungry apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Uber, as well as being able to check emails.
As it’s an eSIM service you don’t need to worry about taking your existing SIM card out either.
This can be virtually loaded on most modern smartphones as a secondary SIM that requires no physical installation.
There is a paid upgrade – Firsty Fast – for faster data available too which might work out cheaper than your current provider.
You get 100MB of Firsty Fast free when you first set up the service.
“Quite surprised with the free version. I was even able to watch YouTube at lowered image quality in the U.S,” one user wrote on YouTube.
Another wrote: “Just tried it out. Amazing concept! I will be recommending to friends and family!“
But not everyone is impressed: “Slow as f… It’s like what T-Mobile used to offer like 11 years ago. I like the Freemium model though.”
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While it’s not super fast it may be an option to try on your next trip to save money.
The Sun has not had the chance to test it out first hand.
How to save money on roaming
There are some ways to avoid nasty bill shocks if you do a little bit of prep work.
Firstly, download any movies and Spotify music at home before you leave, that way you’re good to go and don’t need to worry about a connection at all for your entertainment speeds.
While you’re away, make use of free Wi-Fi where possible.
Many places like hotels and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi, so use these as opportunities to catch up on WhatsApp messages – then you can focus on being in the moment on your holiday when you’re without data.
And don’t forget to switch roaming off on your smartphone so your network doesn’t charge you wild fees for continuing to use data while abroad.