Little-known app gives iPhone and Android users FREE data to use on vacation

HOLIDAYMAKERS have discovered a little-known app that provides free data for your trips.

Roaming fees to stay connected abroad can be expensive.

Currently, only a few networks allow limited roaming as part of the existing plan.

The further you go, it could cost even more.

But an eSIM service called Firsty is a free alternative that some have turned to.

And it is currently available in more than 70 countries.

This includes the US, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe.

There’s a big catch to getting it for free, of course.

Users need to watch an ad every hour to stay connected.

So after 60 minutes you will have to watch a 30 second ad to reconnect with unlimited data for the next period.

It’s also a basic connection, so don’t expect to start streaming Netflix.

According to Firsty, this allows you to go online with less data-intensive apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Uber, as well as being able to check emails.

Since it’s an eSIM service, you also don’t have to worry about removing your existing SIM card.

This can be virtually loaded into most modern smartphones as a secondary SIM that does not require physical installation.

There’s also a paid upgrade – Firsty Fast – for faster data, which may be cheaper than your current provider.

You get 100MB of Firsty Fast for free when you first set up the service.

“Very surprised by the free version. I was even able to watch YouTube with lower image quality in the US,” wrote one user on YouTube.

Another wrote: “Just tried it. Amazing concept! I will recommend it to friends and family!“

But not everyone is impressed: “Slow as fuck… It’s like what T-Mobile used to offer 11 years ago. But I like the Freemium model.”

While it’s not super fast, it might be an option to try on your next trip to save money.

The Sun did not have the opportunity to test it first hand.

How to save money on roaming

There are a few ways to avoid nasty bill shocks if you do a little prep work.

Firstly, download all the movies and music from Spotify at home before you leave, so you’re ready and don’t have to worry about a connection for entertainment speeds.

While you’re out and about, use the free Wi-Fi whenever possible.

Many places like hotels and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi, so use these as opportunities to catch up on WhatsApp messages – so you can focus on being in the moment on your holiday when you’re out of data.

And don’t forget to turn off roaming on your smartphone so that your network doesn’t charge you ridiculous fees for continuing to use data abroad.