How Many eSIMs Can You Have on Your Phone?

Key takeaways

• Most recent phones can store several eSIMs but use only one or two at a time. An iPhone can store eight or more.
• A phone with two active lines has two phone numbers, whether that's two eSIMs or one eSIM and one physical SIM. Usually only one line uses mobile data at a time
• An eSIM that comes with a mobile plan has its own phone number, but a data-only travel eSIM usually doesn’t.

 

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A work number, a personal number and a holiday data plan. Can one phone really handle them all? Usually, yes, with a few rules to know.

If you're new to eSIMs, our guide to how eSIMs work is a good place to start. If you're not sure your phone supports eSIM, our list of eSIM capable devices will tell you. If you're ready for the numbers, read on.

How many eSIMs can you have on one phone?

An iPhone can store eight or more eSIMs, and a Samsung Galaxy phone can store up to 20. Few people will ever need that many plans, so storage is rarely the problem. The number that matters is how many can be switched on at once:

Phone	eSIMs active at the same time
iPhone 13 and newer, plus iPhone SE (3rd generation)	Two eSIMs, or one eSIM and one physical SIM
iPhone XS and XR, iPhone 11 and 12 series, plus iPhone SE (2nd generation)	One eSIM and one physical SIM
Google Pixel 7 and newer	Two eSIMs
Samsung Galaxy and other Android phones	Varies by model, so check the phone's settings or the manufacturer's support page

Can you use an eSIM and a physical SIM together?

Yes, on most dual-SIM phones. A phone with a SIM tray and eSIM support can usually run one of each, giving it two lines. People tend to use this setup for:

• Keeping a personal number and a work number on one phone.
• Using one line for calls and texts and the other for mobile data.
• Adding a second line for a trip or a short-term plan.

Both lines can usually receive calls and texts, but only one line normally uses mobile data at a time. You choose which one in your phone's settings.

Does each eSIM get its own phone number?

An eSIM that comes with a mobile plan has its own phone number. That's because the number belongs to the plan, not to the chip in your phone. What you get depends on the type of eSIM:

Type of eSIM	Does it have its own number?
An eSIM from a mobile plan with calls and texts	Yes. It comes with a new number, or can use your existing number if you move it across.
A physical SIM swapped to an eSIM on the same network	The number stays the same, because the plan hasn't changed.
A data-only travel eSIM	Usually not. Calls and texts carry on using your main SIM.

So if you have two active lines on one phone, you have two numbers, and you can choose which to use for calls, texts and data.

What if you reach your phone's limit?

If your phone won't let you add another eSIM, remove one you no longer need. Open your SIM or mobile settings, select the eSIM, then choose the option to remove it.

Check before you tap, though. You usually can't restore a removed eSIM with the same QR code, so you'll need a replacement from the network that issued it. Travel eSIMs often can't be reinstalled, so if there's any chance you'll need one again, switch it off instead of deleting it.

Using more than one eSIM with SMARTY

With SMARTY, you can use an eSIM on a dual-SIM phone alongside another SIM, keeping your personal SMARTY number while adding a second line for work or travel.

Want to know more? Our eSIM page has the details. Ready to go? Browse all our plans.

FAQs

1. How many eSIMs can an iPhone have?

An iPhone can store eight or more eSIMs. iPhone 13 and newer, plus iPhone SE (3rd generation), can use two eSIMs at the same time, while older eSIM-capable iPhones can use one eSIM and one physical SIM.

2. Can you have two eSIMs active at the same time?

Yes, on phones that support dual eSIMs, such as iPhone 13 and newer, and Google Pixel 7 and newer. Some other Android phones can use only one eSIM alongside a physical SIM, so check your phone's settings first.

3. Can you use one eSIM on two phones?

No. An eSIM is tied to the phone it's installed on, so to use the same plan on a different phone, you’ll need to ask the network for a new eSIM.