How To Call And Text using A Travel eSIM
Cole McNamaraWhen you travel internationally, your phone can become surprisingly complicated. Your regular mobile plan may charge expensive roaming fees, your home carrier may not work properly overseas, and swapping physical SIM cards can mean losing access to your usual phone number.
But there is another option: combine a Totally Untethered travel eSIM for mobile data with a VoIP app for calls and texts.
This setup lets you use your phone much like you normally would — making calls, receiving calls and sending messages — while your Totally Untethered eSIM provides the internet connection underneath it all.
What Is VoIP?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Instead of sending your phone call through a traditional cellular voice network, a VoIP service sends the call over the internet.
That means you don't necessarily need a traditional voice plan to make and receive calls.
As long as your phone has an internet connection, a VoIP app can handle your calls and messages.
And this is where a travel eSIM becomes useful.
A Totally Untethered eSIM gives you mobile data while you're travelling, so your VoIP app can stay connected even when you aren't connected to Wi-Fi.
How the eSIM + VoIP Setup Works
Think of the setup as separating your phone's data connection from your phone number.
Your Totally Untethered eSIM provides the mobile data:
Totally Untethered eSIM → Mobile data → VoIP app → Calls & texts
Instead of paying your home carrier for international voice and data roaming, you can use your travel eSIM for data and a separate VoIP provider for your calls and messages.
For example, you could:
- Install a Totally Untethered Europe eSIM before travelling through Europe
- Keep your regular SIM installed for access to your existing number if needed
- Set your Totally Untethered eSIM as your mobile data line
- Use a VoIP app such as Fongo or VoIP.ms for calls and texting
- Connect to Wi-Fi whenever it's available, while using your eSIM's data when you're away from Wi-Fi
The result is a flexible travel phone setup without relying entirely on your home carrier's roaming plan.
Fongo: An Easy Option for Travellers
Fongo is one of the easiest VoIP options to consider, and is based in Canada.
Fongo Mobile provides a VOIP phone number and supports calling and messaging through an internet connection. Fongo says its app can use Wi-Fi or your existing mobile data connection, which makes it particularly useful for travelling.
What can you do with Fongo?
Depending on the plan and features you use, Fongo can provide:
- A Canadian phone number
- Calling to Canadian numbers
- Text messaging
- Voicemail
- Caller ID
- Call waiting
- Call forwarding
- International calling through paid credits
Fongo's free Canadian calling is particularly useful if you're travelling overseas but still need to stay in touch with people back home. Additional texting and international calling options are available as paid add-ons.
One important consideration is that Fongo is not a replacement for every type of SMS verification code. Some services, including certain banks and websites, may restrict verification messages to traditional mobile numbers or supported short codes.
VoIP.ms: A More Flexible VoIP Option
Another option worth looking at is VoIP.ms.
VoIP.ms is a Canadian VoIP provider that lets you purchase a phone number and use it with compatible VoIP software. The service supports calling and SMS, and it now offers an official Softphone app for iOS and Android.
The VoIP.ms Softphone can be used to make and receive calls, send and receive SMS messages, manage voicemail and use features such as caller ID and call forwarding.
VoIP.ms can be especially interesting if you want more control over your phone setup or you're comfortable configuring a VoIP service yourself.
Its SMS functionality supports Canadian and US numbers that are enabled for SMS/MMS, although there are some service limitations to be aware of.
Fongo vs. VoIP.ms
Both services can work alongside a Totally Untethered eSIM, but they're aimed at slightly different users.
| Fongo | VoIP.ms | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy setup | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Canadian number | Yes | Yes |
| Calling | Yes | Yes |
| SMS | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| International use | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced VoIP flexibility | Limited | Strong |
| Best for | Simple travel calling | More advanced users |
If you want something simple: Fongo is a great place to start.
If you want more control: VoIP.ms gives you a more traditional VoIP setup with additional configuration options.
How to Set Up Your Travel Phone
Getting everything working is relatively straightforward.
1. Install your Totally Untethered eSIM
Purchase the eSIM for your destination and install it on your compatible phone.
You can do this before leaving home so you're ready to connect as soon as you land.
2. Turn Off Your Home Carrier SIM Card/eSIM
Turn off your home SIM Card/eSIM to avoid roaming charges. Be sure to enable call forwarding first if you want to receive calls to your VOIP number you're going to setup in step 4 below.
3. Set the Totally Untethered eSIM as your data line
Your travel eSIM becomes your primary source of mobile internet.
Now your phone can access the internet using local networks supported by the Totally Untethered plan.
4. Install your VoIP app
Download Fongo, VoIP.ms Softphone, or another compatible VoIP application.
Create your account and set up your phone number.
5. Connect the VoIP app to your eSIM data
Once your Totally Untethered eSIM has a mobile data connection, your VoIP application can use that connection to make and receive calls and messages.
6. Test everything before you travel
This is an important step.
Before getting on your flight, test:
- Incoming calls
- Outgoing calls
- Incoming texts
- Outgoing texts
- Voicemail
- Your VoIP number
It's much easier to troubleshoot everything at home than at the airport after landing.
How Much Data Do VoIP Calls Use?
One of the advantages of combining VoIP with a travel eSIM is that voice calls generally use relatively little data compared with activities such as streaming video.
For example, Fongo states that its calling uses approximately 0.5 MB of data per minute.
That means even a modest amount of travel data can support a substantial amount of internet calling.
Of course, your actual usage will vary depending on the application and whether you're also using your eSIM for maps, social media, video, cloud backups and other activities.
What About WhatsApp?
You can also use apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime, Messenger and other internet-based communication services over your Totally Untethered eSIM. Full WhatsApp Guide
The advantage of a dedicated VoIP service like Fongo or VoIP.ms is that you can have a dedicated phone number for traditional-style calling and SMS rather than relying entirely on app-to-app communication.
That can be useful when you need to call a hotel, restaurant, airline, rental company or someone who doesn't use the same messaging app as you.
Can You Still Receive Calls From Home?
Yes — that's one of the biggest benefits of this setup.
Instead of your friends and family having to call an unfamiliar international number, you can give them your VoIP number, or enable call forwarding from your home number.
Your Totally Untethered eSIM provides the mobile data connection, while the VoIP service handles the call.
Important: VoIP Isn't the Same as Cellular Service
There are a few limitations to understand.
A VoIP app requires an internet connection. If you have no Wi-Fi and no mobile data, you won't be able to make or receive internet-based calls.
That's why the eSIM is so important.
With a Totally Untethered eSIM, you don't have to hunt for Wi-Fi every time you want to make a call.
There can also be limitations with SMS verification codes. Banks, airlines, social networks and other services may have restrictions around VoIP numbers, short codes or automated verification messages.
For anything critical, it's worth checking the specific service's requirements before relying on a VoIP number while travelling.
The Best Travel Phone Setup?
📱 Totally Untethered eSIM
Mobile data wherever you travel
☎️ Fongo or VoIP.ms
Calls, texts and a dedicated phone number
📶 WhatsApp
Text, voice, and video calling between different phone models
Stay Connected Without the Roaming Bill
International travel doesn't mean you need to give up the convenience of having a phone number.
By combining a Totally Untethered travel eSIM with a VoIP service, you can continue making calls and sending messages while using mobile data from your travel eSIM.
For Canadians, Fongo is an especially straightforward option, while VoIP.ms is worth considering if you want more flexibility and control over your VoIP setup.
And because your Totally Untethered eSIM provides the mobile data connection, you can make calls and send messages even when you're nowhere near a Wi-Fi network.
Travel with data. Keep your calls. Keep texting. Stay Totally Untethered.
Ready to stay connected?
Explore Totally Untethered's travel eSIMs and get connected before your next adventure.
