Research methodology
How plans become eligible for recommendation
A large catalog is not useful when its prices and features cannot be trusted. eSIMNavigator separates source collection, verification, ranking, and commercial attribution.
1. Confirm the source
A plan needs a provider or approved partner source URL. Screenshots or notes may support a review, but the current provider page remains the final checkout reference.
2. Normalize the plan
Data, validity, price, destination coverage, local networks, hotspot, 5G, phone number, voice, SMS, activation, fair use, and refund terms are stored as separate fields.
3. Mark confidence
Pending means the data cannot be used in rankings. Verified means the required fields and date are present. Stale means the plan needs another review before it can be recommended.
4. Match the trip
Only eligible verified plans are compared against destination, trip length, data need, device compatibility, hotspot, calls or SMS, and traveler priorities.
5. Explain the result
A recommendation should state why the plan fits and what the traveler must still confirm. Affiliate priority is not part of the user-facing ranking score.
What we never assume
Coverage guarantees, truly unlimited high-speed data, hotspot access, 5G, a local phone number, voice, SMS, or OTP delivery are never treated as included unless the exact plan source supports the claim.