eSIM Setup and Privacy Questions

ttmp12

I am considering using eSIMs and have three questions about them.

1) Can eSIMs be set up without scanning a QR code on GrapheneOS? I find this cumbersome because I don't have a second device on which to scan the QR code.

2) Do eSIMs provide better network-level tracking protection? I assume they are as bad as physical SIM cards, but please tell me more.

3) Could you recommend an eSIM provider that gives me a phone number that I can use to call people and receive text messages (not just receive text messages, as is the case with Silent.link) that does not require personal information for setup? Essentially, what is the best eSIM alternative to a prepaid physical SIM card?

libertarian

1) Yes, I think so (I set mine up using an app from my network provider, I don't remember if it had me scan some code)
2) Nope.
3) In the US, you could look into Cape. In Europe, you can order a prepaid anonymous SIM on eBay from the Netherlands. Or you go into some shady looking phone repair shops in the sad part of town and ask around.

Fun fact: I recently met a Russian lady on a train that I helped reset her iPhone. She had been involved in.. likely running a cryptocurrency scam and had an anonymous SIM card, she also gave me advice on how to get one. She has since switched careers, hence she wanted to reset her phone.

ed25519

libertarian nice fun fact

ttmp12

Thanks for the reply! I don't want to do anything illegal. I just want to protect myself from data breaches. Has anyone tried Phreeli? It looks like a pretty cool service with decent pricing and a Monero payment option.

https://www.phreeli.com/

vividsquirrel

I would also consider silent.link because it appears to be the same thing but it it super cheap depending on how much data you use. You pay $4 one time to activate the ESIM and the rest of the money you send goes toward your credits and you only pay for the data you use. Right now AT&T is $1.60/GB. This is for the data only plan and I moved my phone number to a VoIP service.

Cape is also a great option for privacy/security, especially if you need a full phone number for legacy SMS/calls, but the obvious downside is it's really expensive at least for now.