One number for everything
- Hides the trade-offs travellers actually face.
- One number cannot answer five different questions.
Independent · Per-category scoring · Methodology v1
How we score
Simscanner does not publish a single "overall best" score. We publish per-category rankings, each tied to a single sourced measurement. Phase 1 ships with five categories: country coverage, entry price, validity, hotspot policy, and "unlimited" honesty. Every ranked term on Simscanner anchors to a definition here.
The core decision
Why per-category, not "overall best"
A single composite score is easy to read but it hides the trade-offs travellers actually face. One number cannot answer five different questions at once. So Simscanner publishes a separate rank for each thing that matters, and lets you choose which one applies to your trip.
One rank per question
- Each rank answers one question with one sourced measurement.
- Travellers pick the trade-off that matches their trip.
Same brand, different country
Why the best eSIM in Japan is not the best in Brazil
A brand rides on whichever local network it has partnered with in each country, and those partnerships differ. So a brand that tops the table in one country can sit mid-table in another. That is why every ranking on Simscanner is country by country, never one global list.
| Brand | Country coverage in Japan | Position in Japan | Country coverage in Brazil | Position in Brazil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand A | Wider | Top | Narrower | Mid-table |
| Brand B | Narrower | Mid-table | Wider | Top |
This is illustrative only and does not reflect any brand's real position. It shows why the same brand can lead in one country and not in another.
The heart of the page
The five v1 categories
Each category answers one question with one sourced measurement, and each has a published tie rule. The cards below are the definitions every ranked term on Simscanner links back to.
Category 01
#country-coverage
Country coverage
QuestionIn how many countries does this brand sell a plan that actually works?
MeasurementCount of countries with at least one sourced, working plan.
Accepted sourcesThe brand's own country list and plan pages, and MNO network lists.
Tie ruleMatched coverage is broken by the count of countries with two or more plans.
Forbidden moves
Counting countries a brand markets but does not actually sell a working plan in.
Counting a regional bundle as individual countries without a sourced list.
See ranking on /rankings →Shown when verified.
Category 02
#entry-price
Entry price
QuestionHow affordable is the cheapest usable plan, relative to other brands in the same country?
MeasurementThe brand's lowest sourced plan that meets a minimum usable data and validity threshold, compared like-for-like within a single country. Simscanner records the figure from the brand's own page but never displays a price.
Accepted sourcesThe brand's own plan page, read and dated. No third-party price aggregators.
Tie ruleMatched entry positions are broken by who offers more data at that level.
Forbidden moves
Comparing across different countries or currencies.
Ranking on a promotional price that is not the standard plan price.
See ranking on /rankings →Shown when verified.
Category 03
#validity
Validity
QuestionHow long can the plan's data be used before it expires?
MeasurementThe validity window stated on the brand's plan page for the entry plan, in days.
Accepted sourcesThe brand's own plan page.
Tie ruleMatched validity is broken by the longer validity on the next plan tier.
Forbidden moves
Using a marketing "up to" window that the plan terms contradict.
Estimating a validity period that is not stated by the brand.
See ranking on /rankings →Shown when verified.
Category 04
#hotspot-policy
Hotspot policy
QuestionDoes the plan allow hotspot or tethering?
MeasurementAllowed, restricted, or not allowed, taken from the brand's own published wording.
Accepted sourcesThe brand's plan page or terms of service, quoted and dated.
Tie ruleWhere policies match, the brand with clearer published wording ranks higher.
Forbidden moves
Inferring a hotspot policy the brand has not stated.
Treating silence as permission.
See ranking on /rankings →Shown when verified.
Category 05
#unlimited-fup
"Unlimited" honesty
QuestionIf a plan is sold as unlimited, is the fair use policy published?
MeasurementWhether a brand marketing "unlimited" publishes its FUP threshold and throttle behaviour, sourced from its own page.
Accepted sourcesThe brand's own plan or terms-of-service page.
Tie ruleWhere both publish a FUP, the brand with the clearer, fuller disclosure ranks higher.
Forbidden moves
Calling a capped plan "unlimited".
Ranking an unlimited claim with no published FUP.
See ranking on /rankings →Shown when verified.
A quick guide
How to read a Simscanner ranking table
Every ranking table works the same way. Pick the category that matters for your trip, read down the column, and check the status badge before you trust a position.
Pick the category
Choose the question that matters for your trip, such as country coverage or hotspot policy. Each category is ranked on its own.
Read the measurement, not a score
Each cell shows the sourced measurement behind the rank, so you can see why a brand sits where it does.
Check the status badge
Positions appear only at verified confidence. A preview or partial badge means a position is being held back until it is sourced.
| Position | Brand | Country coverage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Brand A | Wider | Verified |
| Next | Brand B | Narrower | Verified |
This is illustrative only and does not reflect any brand's real position.
When a rank appears
Page status and ranking visibility
Every ranking carries a status badge: preview, partial, or verified. Rank positions and named winners appear only at verified confidence; below that they are deliberately withheld. ItemList structured data is suppressed below verified, so an unverified ranking is never presented as a finished list. The full status taxonomy is on the methodology page.
Deliberate scope
What v1 does NOT score
These are real categories travellers ask about, but v1 does not rank them, because each one lacks a measurement Simscanner can source to a primary, dated record. They are listed here so the scope is clear, not hidden.
Speed rankings
Throughput is set by the local network the eSIM rides on at that moment, not by the brand, and brand speed claims are not an accepted source.
Future v? under considerationCustomer support
Support quality is hard to source to a primary, dated record, so it is not ranked in v1.
Future v? under considerationApp quality
App store ratings move quickly and mix many factors, so app quality is not a v1 ranked category.
Future v? under consideration
Change log
Methodology version
A version is bumped only when a category, a measurement, or a tie rule changes. Every change appears here with a date.
| Version | Date | Change summary |
|---|---|---|
| v1 | 28 May 2026 | Initial publication. Five categories. |
Common questions
Scoring FAQs
Why no overall "best travel eSIM" score?
A composite score hides trade-offs travellers actually face. A brand strong on country coverage may be weak on hotspot policy. Simscanner publishes per-category rankings, each tied to a defined sourced measurement, so travellers can decide which trade-off matters for their trip. The category cards above show what each rank measures.
Why isn't speed a Simscanner category?
Throughput on a travel eSIM is dominated by the local network the eSIM rides on at that moment, not by the brand. Simscanner does not control or test that, and brand-published speed claims are not a primary source we accept. Speed may return in a future methodology version if a defensible measurement and source can be specified.
How does Simscanner handle a tie?
Each category has a published tie rule shown in its card above. For example: matched country coverage is broken by count of countries with two-plus plans; matched entry prices are broken by who offers more data at that price. If a tie remains, the ranking shows "tie" and lists both brands at the same rank.
What if a brand publishes contradictory FUP wording?
The "unlimited honesty" category requires the FUP figure to come from the brand's own plan or terms-of-service page. If two sources from the same brand disagree, Simscanner cites both with retrieved dates and flags the page in the missing-data audit. The brand does not receive a rank position until the conflict is resolved.
Can a brand influence the scoring formula?
No. Methodology versions are bumped only when a category changes, a measurement changes, or a tie rule changes, and every change appears in the version log above. Brands cannot privately propose or review changes. The full neutrality enforcement chain is at /policies/zero-paid-placements.