When you buy a Bloomy eSIM as a gift, alerts about remaining data and expiry dates now go to the traveler who is actually using the eSIM, not to the person who paid for it. Until now, those alerts went to the buyer, which meant the traveler could be moments away from running out of data without knowing it. At the same time, we've made sure the giver no longer sees how the recipient is using their data.
What changed
We split notifications by what they're about, and sent each type to the person who needs it.
- Usage notifications (low data, data used up, plan expiring) → to the person who received and activated the eSIM
- Purchase notifications (order confirmation, payment receipts) → to the person who bought the gift (unchanged)
Nothing changes before the gift is claimed. The switch happens once the recipient has accepted the eSIM — from that point on, usage notifications go to them.
Why we rethought it
Two reasons.
The first is simple: the person who runs out of data is the one who has a problem. Whoever is out there pulling up a map or messaging a hotel is the person who needs to know the data is running low. If that alert lands in the inbox of someone several time zones away, it has to be relayed — and it arrives too late to help.
The second is privacy. How much data someone uses, and when, says a fair amount about what they're doing and where they are. A gift given in good faith shouldn't come with an ongoing window into the recipient's activity. Billing information is different — the buyer genuinely needs it — so receipts and payment notices still go to them.
It came down to asking, for each kind of notification, who actually needs to see it.
What this looks like in practice
Giving an eSIM to a family member studying abroad
Once they've landed, low-data and expiry alerts go straight to them. They can check their remaining data in My Account and top up on the spot if they need to — no waiting on a reply from someone who's asleep on the other side of the world.
Giving one to a friend
After you hand it over, everything about their connection stays on their end. You won't receive updates about how they're using it, so there's nothing awkward about giving it.
Buying several at once for a group
Receipts go to you; on-the-road alerts go to each traveler. If you're the one organizing the trip, you keep the paperwork and everyone else keeps the information they need.
Three things worth checking before you gift an eSIM
An eSIM makes a good gift: nothing to ship, nothing to pack, and it works from day one. The catch is that a few things are hard to fix after the fact. Here are the three worth confirming first.
1. Does their device support eSIM?
An eSIM simply won't work on a device that doesn't support one, and that isn't something you can change after buying. Check it first. You can look up a model on our eSIM compatible devices page. It's also worth confirming the phone is carrier-unlocked.
2. Setup happens on their phone, not yours
An eSIM is installed on a specific device, so you can't set it up on your own phone first. The steps aren't complicated, though: tap the installation link they receive, follow the on-screen prompts to add the eSIM, and switch the line on after arriving. Passing those three steps along with the gift saves them any guesswork. Full instructions are in our setup guide.
3. Tell them it's data-only
Bloomy eSIMs are data-only, and this is the point people most often misunderstand, so here it is precisely. Calls through apps — WhatsApp, Messenger, FaceTime and the like — work normally, because they run over data. What isn't included is a phone number: no voice calls over the mobile network and no SMS. If the recipient will need a phone number or SMS verification codes while travelling, it's worth planning for that separately — for example by keeping their home-country number active alongside the eSIM.
One more thing: how the validity period is counted can differ between plans. If you want the eSIM timed to a specific departure date, check the plan details before buying.
The thinking behind it
The uneasy part of giving a gift like this is not knowing how it goes once it leaves your hands. So we shaped it around the recipient being self-sufficient: they can add data themselves, and the alerts that matter come to them. A gift that doesn't need the giver to keep checking in is, we think, the kinder version.
And in the other direction, their usage no longer flows back to the giver. Sometimes thoughtfulness means deciding not to share information.
What's next
We're also looking at the gift-claim screen and the wording of the message that goes with a gift, to make both clearer. We'll post updates in development news as they're confirmed.
Related pages
- eSIM compatible devices: the first thing to check before gifting
- Setup guide: the steps the recipient will follow
- My Account: check remaining data and top up
- FAQ: common questions before and after purchase
This page reflects information as of July 2026. Bloomy eSIMs are data-only: they do not include a phone number, SMS or voice calling. All plans are subject to a fair usage policy, and actual speeds and coverage vary with the local network, your device and where you are. Plan details, pricing and terms can change, so please check the current information on the product page before you buy.
