Firsty

Free data by watching ads, then pay as you grow

Firsty operates three parallel tracks: a free tier funded by advertisements, a pay-per-gigabyte classic plan where you buy exactly the data you need, and unlimited daily or monthly packages. All three plans work across the same 176 countries using a single eSIM that you install once and carry everywhere. The service is distinctive in offering a genuinely free option for travellers on tight budgets or those testing eSIM technology before committing to a paid plan. The service appeals to budget travellers who might otherwise go offline, occasional travellers who need data only occasionally, and those who prefer paying only for what they actually use rather than committing to a fixed allowance upfront. Firsty is also designed for travellers with flexible trip duration: the unlimited plan has no expiration and can be paused at will, so you do not risk wasting money if your plans change mid-trip.

Three pricing tiers across 176 countries

The free tier requires watching a short advertisement to unlock mobile data. Each ad unlocks 20 MB of data at 1 Mbps speed, which the site says is enough for maps, messaging, social media and browsing. The earned data accumulates in a balance that holds up to 240 MB at any time, and the balance refills as you use it up to a maximum of 360 MB per day. Earned data lasts for 7 days from when you unlock it. This tier requires no credit card and no subscription.

The classic plan is priced per gigabyte. The site shows 1 GB at €4.50 for 176 countries, activate whenever you want and pause anytime. There is no minimum purchase, so you can buy 1 GB or multiple gigabytes as needed. The site mentions "From €0.98" for the Classic tier, suggesting that smaller purchases (such as 100 or 200 MB) are also available at a cheaper-per-gigabyte rate than the full 1 GB price.

The unlimited plan, marked as "Most popular" on the site, starts from €2 per day or per month. You can toggle between daily and monthly billing and pause the plan whenever you like. Importantly, the site states there is "no expiration" on the unlimited plan, meaning once you purchase it, it does not automatically end on a set date. You control when the service stops by pausing it. This offers flexibility for trips of uncertain length.

Firsty bases all pricing in euros (€), though the site supports currency conversion for visitor reference. The service is available through the Firsty app on iOS and Android, and also via the website.

Coverage: 176 countries, international calling included

Firsty's coverage spans 176 countries, and every plan (free, classic, unlimited) works in all 176 destinations without switching SIMs or re-purchasing. The site emphasizes that "one eSIM, one installation and you're set for every country. Free, Classic or Unlimited. Every plan works in 176 countries."

International calling is available on top of data plans, covering 200+ countries. The site describes the calling feature as "Seamless Global Calling" with "crystal clear quality" and "simple rates and no surprises," though it does not publish a specific rate per minute or a rate card on the captured pages.

The site does not name any underlying mobile networks or carriers that provide this coverage, nor does it publish a country list that you can browse before purchasing. The marketing materials make no reference to which local operators carry Firsty traffic, how it negotiates roaming, or whether coverage is consistent within each country.

How to install and use the service

Firsty is app-first but offers both app and web access. Setup takes minutes according to the site. Installation requires downloading the app (available on iOS and Android) or visiting the website, though the app appears to be the default and optimized path. The site describes a setup process where "you build your plan" by selecting a quantity of gigabytes and confirming your purchase. No payment method details, validation steps, or approval delays are mentioned, suggesting that purchases are processed instantly and the data becomes available immediately upon transaction completion.

For the free tier, users watch a short ad within the app to unlock 20 MB of data. The site states that ads are "30 seconds or less," making the friction quite low for small amounts of data. Your earned data balance refills automatically as you use it, up to 360 MB per day, so the free tier provides a constant supply of small amounts if you are willing to watch ads regularly. The balance does not expire until 7 days have passed since you earned it, and it accumulates toward a ceiling of 240 MB, so a traveller with steady daily routines can stack up several days of moderate usage.

For classic and unlimited plans, activation is immediate: you complete your purchase and the data becomes available right away. The site emphasizes that "you can add GBs in a tap" to the classic plan if you run out and need more mid-trip. The unlimited plan can be paused "whenever you want," allowing you to freeze billing if your itinerary changes or if you find a WiFi-only stretch. Pausing and resuming the unlimited plan does not appear to involve penalties or delays, making it safe to pause in cities where you expect to rely on WiFi.

The site mentions "international calling" as a feature and shows that it works across 200+ countries, but does not explain whether calls are made through a dialler app, a traditional phone number assigned to your eSIM, or voice-over-data. The specifics of how calling works in Firsty's architecture, whether you receive an inbound phone number, or how to initiate outbound calls are not detailed on the captured pages. Call rates and any caps on calling minutes are also absent from the site.

What Firsty does not clarify, and who it suits

Firsty leaves several practical questions unanswered. It does not publish data throttling speeds after a high-speed cap (if one exists), any daily or monthly fair-use limits on the unlimited plan, roaming agreements or carrier partnerships, or whether you can share the eSIM with a second device or family member. The international calling rates and whether there are any countries where calling is unavailable are also not specified. The 240 MB daily cap on the free tier balance is a ceiling that may matter for heavier users stacking earned data. Refund policy, data expiration after the 7-day earned-data window, and what happens to your unlimited plan balance if you pause it for weeks are also unspecified. Device compatibility and whether you can install Firsty on both a phone and a laptop (if you own multiple eSIM-capable devices) are not mentioned.

Firsty suits casual travellers, those taking frequent short trips where they need data only occasionally, and price-conscious users willing to watch ads for small data amounts. It is particularly appealing if you do not mind carrying your phone between data-acquiring moments (offline maps, browser caches) because the free tier is structured as a slow drip rather than an upfront allocation. It is also well-suited to travellers who prefer try-before-you-buy and want to test the service at no cost before committing to the paid plans. Firsty does not suit those who need uninterrupted data from the moment they land (ads and the 20 MB unlock-per-ad model are too slow for this), those who dislike advertising or those who want a pure pay-for-data experience without watching content, or those travelling to remote areas where the 176-country count might mask spotty coverage in their specific destination. The free tier is clever for staying in touch, but it is not a substitute for a paid plan if you plan to rely on real-time navigation, streaming, or video calls.