My experience with Virgin Connect Roam
I bought my plan while visiting family in Germany and went with the 5GB / 30-day option for USD7. Checkout on the website was straightforward with credit card payment available. Right after purchase, I received the QR code by email.
Normally, I take screenshots of the setup flow for reviews, but this time, installation was honestly too quick. Scanning the QR code jumped straight into iPhone settings, and the eSIM was added and ready to go within seconds. It’s one of the fastest eSIM installs I’ve had so far.
💡 A quick tip from experience: even when setup is fast, take one minute before to remove old/inactive eSIMs and rename the new one during or after you’ve installed it. If you travel a lot and stack multiple eSIM profiles, this saves you from unwanted bugs and confusion later.
I installed the eSIM while already in Germany, but you can also install it before you arrive and activate it once you’re in your destination (helpful if you want data the moment you land).
Support-wise, I didn’t need help during the time I used the plan as there were no connection issues or random dropouts. I still tested the chat, and the site offered multiple languages (I saw English, Spanish, and also an Arabic option). The AI chatbot handled basic questions fine. When I asked for a human, it took a few minutes to connect, but once connected the replies were quick and genuinely helpful.
One thing I really liked: Virgin Connect offers an app to track usage and top up, but you don’t have to use it. I like to keep my phone pretty minimal, so being able to check usage and expiry through the website was a big plus.
Virgin Connect Roam internet speed (test)
I used the eSIM mostly in the German countryside and got surprisingly strong performance. I used my iPhone 15 Pro and as always on Nomadwise, the speed was tested using the website speedtest.net.
I tested it on multiple days with slightly different locations in northern Germany and always got around 100-110 Mbps with a 4G or even 5G network. This was definitely stable enough for everyday travel needs, browsing, Google Maps navigation, messaging, and hotspotting a Zoom call on my laptop.
Virgin Connect says they typically use 2–4 network providers per destination, which matches the “stable in different areas” goal. In my test, it felt consistent and I didn’t notice the usual rural slowdown you sometimes get with travel eSIMs.
This being said, I am aware that Germany is a country with a relatively good infrastructure when it comes to mobile data. I did read reviews from other travel bloggers stating much lower speeds in regions like South America. Since Virgin Connect Roam is relatively new on the market, reviews about speeds are limited yet.
Virgin Connect Roam set up process
As already mentioned, the setup process was one of the easiest and fastest I’ve experienced with an eSIM so far. There’s multiple ways to purchase and install your eSIM: either through their website or directly on your phone through the app.
Setup via website (QR code install):
- Buy your plan on the Virgin Connect Roam website.
- Receive the QR code by email.
- Scan the QR code with your phone and it opens your cellular/eSIM settings.
- Confirm adding the eSIM, then set it as your mobile data line.
- Turn Data Roaming ON for the eSIM line.
- (Optional but smart) Rename the eSIM to something like “Virgin Connect Germany”.
Setup via app:
- Download the Virgin Connect Roam app and buy your plan directly in the app.
- Go to “My eSIMs”, choose your plan and tap “Install now”
- Your phone opens your cellular/eSIM settings and walks you through the process.
- Confirm adding the eSIM, then set it as your mobile data line.
- Turn Data Roaming ON for the eSIM line.
- (Optional but smart) Rename the eSIM to something like “Virgin Connect Germany”.
You can go through these steps before your take-off and your data plan will start automatically once you land at your destination.
If it doesn’t connect right away, here are some general quick fixes you can try before getting in touch with customer service:
- Toggle airplane mode on/off
- Restart your phone
- Make sure the eSIM is selected for mobile data
- Check that Data Roaming is enabled
- If your phone is set to “5G only”, switch to automatic / LTE+5G
Is Virgin Connect Roam a good eSIM?
Based on my test in Germany, I’d rate Virgin Connect Roam as a strong, reliable travel eSIM, especially if you want something that installs fast, works consistently, and gives you flexible plan options (including regional plans) without much effort.
What I really like about Virgin Connect Roam
- Very quick setup: Scanning the QR code took me straight into my iPhone settings and the eSIM was ready within seconds.
- Stable data performance (in my test): I consistently saw around 100–110 Mbps in northern Germany, mostly in countryside areas, and I didn’t run into any dropouts over two weeks of use.
- Regional plans are a big plus: If you’re moving between multiple countries, regional eSIMs can be simpler than buying separate country plans.
- App is optional: You can manage things through the app, but you don’t have to. I liked being able to check usage and expiry on the website without installing anything.
- For Germany, I’d recommend it: For a destination with strong infrastructure, it did exactly what I needed: navigation, messaging, browsing, and hotspotting when Wi-Fi failed.
What could be better
- Data-only: No calls or SMS included, so you’ll rely on WhatsApp/FaceTime/Signal/etc. for calling.
- Pricing climbs with bigger data packs: For smaller plans, pricing feels competitive. But the higher you go in data, other unlimited plans might be a better value for money fit.
- Website language + currency: Prices are displayed in USD, and the website language options I saw were English, Spanish, and Arabic. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.
- Newer provider = fewer long-term reports: My Germany results were great, but I can’t confidently predict speeds in more developing destinations yet (and there aren’t tons of detailed third-party speed reviews so far).
Pricing snapshot (January 2026)
- Germany: $10.50 (10GB)
- Indonesia: $18 (10GB)
- Mexico: $31 (10GB)
- US: $15 (10GB)
- UK: $9.50 (10GB)
- UAE: $19 (10GB)
Save 10% with our Virgin Connect Roam discount code: NW10 at checkout
Overall summary
Virgin Connect Roam is a data-only eSIM provider with country, regional, and global plans across 190+ countries, and it stood out in my test for how quickly it installed and how stable the connection felt in rural Germany. I used the Germany 5GB / 30-day plan on an iPhone 15 Pro and consistently got around 100-110 Mbps, which was easily enough for navigation, messaging, and hotspotting when needed. I also like that you can manage your plan through the website without having to install the app, even though the app is available for usage tracking and top-ups.
Pricing feels competitive for smaller data packs, but costs rise as you move into bigger plans, so it’s worth comparing based on your data needs. The main limitation is that it’s data-only (no calls/SMS), and since it’s a newer provider, there’s still limited real-world speed reporting for more developing regions.
