The split setup: one number, one global data eSIM
The split setup separates two things most phone plans sell together. Your number and voice stay on one SIM — a local or international SIM you keep for calls and for SMS two-factor codes. All data runs through a second, global data eSIM that works in every country the provider covers, so changing country does not mean changing plan. Most current phones can hold both at once. This page documents how to set that up and how to choose each half.
Why split voice and data
The two halves have different requirements: a number is worth keeping stable because accounts and 2FA are tied to it, while data is the part that has to follow you across borders.
What you need
An eSIM-capable phone that is not carrier-locked, plus your existing SIM or eSIM for the number. Providers publish their own device compatibility lists; check yours against the provider you pick.
Choosing the data layer
The data half is the part this site verifies: price, plan type, fair-use limits, hotspot rules and country coverage. Compare the live plans on the front page, check the country list in the esimdata Coverage Index, and read the fine print on the provider pages for Maya, Airalo and Holafly.
Voice options
The voice half is context here, not something this site compares: it is whatever SIM keeps your number reachable for calls and SMS codes.
Set-up steps
The step-by-step installation and data-routing settings are documented per provider.