PikaSim vs Silent.Link: Same Privacy, Much Lower Prices
PikaSim and Silent.Link are the two leading privacy-focused eSIM providers. Both accept cryptocurrency, require no KYC, and don't need accounts or apps. The key difference? PikaSim costs 50-80% less for the same amount of data. Here's an honest comparison.
Quick Summary
PikaSim
Best for: Privacy users who want anonymous eSIMs at affordable prices
- ✓ No account or app required
- ✓ No KYC - no ID upload ever
- ✓ Bitcoin, Lightning & Monero accepted
- ✓ Credit/debit cards also accepted
- ✓ 50-80% cheaper than Silent.Link
- ✓ Fixed package pricing (no surprises)
Silent.Link
Best for: Users who prefer pay-as-you-go pricing
- ✓ No account or app required
- ✓ No KYC - anonymous purchases
- ✓ Bitcoin & crypto accepted
- ✗ Crypto-only (no card payments)
- ✗ Pay-per-GB (prices vary by network)
- ✗ $9 SIM card fee + usage costs
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | PikaSim | Silent.Link |
|---|---|---|
| Account Required |
✓ No
No signup, no login
|
✓ No
No signup, no login
|
| KYC / ID Required |
✓ Never
No ID upload, no verification
|
✓ Never
No ID upload, no verification
|
| Crypto Payments |
✓ Bitcoin, Lightning, Monero
Self-hosted BTCPay Server
|
✓ Bitcoin & crypto
Blockchain payments
|
| Card Payments |
✓ Yes
Credit/debit cards accepted
|
✗ No
Crypto only
|
| Pricing Model |
✓ Fixed packages
Pay once, use your data
|
Pay-per-GB
Rates vary by network connected
|
| Price (50GB Example) |
$34 flat
Same price everywhere
|
$55 - $270+
Depends on network + $9 SIM fee
|
| App Download |
✓ Not required
Fully web-based
|
✓ Not required
Web-based
|
| Global Coverage |
190+ countries
Wide global coverage
|
190+ countries
Similar coverage
|
| Email Required |
Optional
Not needed for crypto payments
|
✓ Not required
Fully anonymous
|
| Customer Support |
Email & live chat
Responsive support team
|
Email
Community support
|
Privacy Features: Both Providers Excel
PikaSim Privacy Model
- No KYC ever: No ID upload, no verification
- No account system: Nothing to hack or leak
- Crypto payments: Bitcoin, Lightning, Monero
- Email optional: Not required for crypto orders
- No tracking: Plausible Analytics (anonymous)
- Self-hosted BTCPay: Your payment data stays private
- Web-based: No app permissions or device access
"Full privacy features at a fraction of the cost."
Silent.Link Privacy Model
- No KYC ever: No ID upload, no verification
- No account system: Nothing to hack or leak
- Crypto payments: Bitcoin & other crypto
- No email required: Fully anonymous
- Blockchain-native: Crypto-first design
- Zero data collection: Maximum anonymity
- Web-based: No app required
"Maximum anonymity with premium pricing."
Privacy Verdict: Both Are Excellent
Both PikaSim and Silent.Link offer top-tier privacy. Neither requires KYC, accounts, or apps. Both accept cryptocurrency for anonymous payments.
The real difference is price. For the same level of privacy and the same amount of data, PikaSim costs 50-80% less. Silent.Link's pay-per-GB model with variable network rates means you could pay 3-8x more for identical usage.
Verdict: Both offer excellent privacy. PikaSim offers the same privacy at much lower prices.
The Key Difference: Pricing Models
PikaSim: Fixed Package Pricing
- ✓ One price - no surprises
- ✓ Use your data on any network
- ✓ No SIM card fee
- ✓ Know exactly what you'll pay
Silent.Link: Pay-Per-GB Pricing
- $9 SIM card purchase required
- Rates vary by which network you connect to
- You don't control which network
- Final cost unpredictable
Why does this matter? With Silent.Link, you pay different rates depending on which cellular network your phone connects to - and you can't control that. Your phone could connect to a cheaper or more expensive network automatically. With PikaSim, you pay $34 for 50GB - period. No surprises.
When to Choose Each Provider
Choose PikaSim if you:
- ✓ Want the same privacy at lower cost
- ✓ Prefer predictable, fixed pricing
- ✓ Want flexibility (crypto OR card payments)
- ✓ Use moderate to heavy data
- ✓ Are new to privacy-focused services
- ✓ Want accessible customer support
- ✓ Need instant, reliable delivery
- ✓ Don't want to manage crypto wallets
Choose Silent.Link if you:
- ✓ Prefer crypto-only services
- ✓ Use very little data (pay-per-GB works out)
- ✓ Don't mind variable pricing by network
- ✓ Price isn't a primary concern
Note: For the same privacy features, Silent.Link costs 2-8x more than PikaSim for typical data usage.
Real Monthly Cost Comparison
Based on actual rates. Silent.link prices include $9 SIM card fee + pay-per-use data rates.
Monthly Data Cost: PikaSim vs Silent.link
Same data amount, dramatically different prices
Detailed Monthly Cost Breakdown
| Country | Data | PikaSim | Silent.link (Cheapest) | Silent.link (Expensive) | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 20GB | $16.40 | $38.49 (DTAC) | $151.54 (True) | $22 - $135 |
| Japan | 50GB | $34.00 | $182.06 (Docomo) | $269.61 (SoftBank) | $148 - $236 |
| Australia | 50GB | $34.00 | $97.58 (Optus) | $151.34 (Vodafone) | $64 - $117 |
| France | 50GB | $34.00 | $55.08 (Orange) | $165.67 (SFR) | $21 - $132 |
| Germany | 50GB | $34.00 | $55.59 (O2) | $103.21 (T-Mobile) | $22 - $69 |
| United Kingdom | 50GB | $34.00 | $55.59 (O2) | $781.10 (Airtel Jersey) | $22 - $747 |
| United States | 50GB | $56.00 | $88.87 (AT&T) | $2,741 (Alaska) | $33 - $2,685 |
| South Korea | 50GB | $34.00 | $156.46 (SK Telecom) | $240.42 (KT) | $122 - $206 |
| Singapore | 50GB | $34.00 | $132.39 (Singtel) | $208.68 (Starhub) | $98 - $175 |
| Italy | 50GB | $34.00 | $55.59 (ILIAD) | $152.87 (Telecom Italia) | $22 - $119 |
| Spain | 50GB | $34.00 | $56.10 (Movistar) | $79.14 (Vodafone) | $22 - $45 |
Price Per GB: The Real Story
PikaSim
Fixed package pricing
No surprises
Silent.link
Varies by network
+ $9 SIM card fee
Key difference: With Silent.link, you don't control which network you connect to. You could pay $0.92/GB on one tower or $54.64/GB on another - in the same city!
Bottom line: Silent.link uses pay-per-use pricing that varies wildly by network. Even at the cheapest network rates, PikaSim is 40-80% cheaper. At typical network rates, you'll pay 3-5x more with Silent.link for the same data.
Common Questions
Which is more private?
Both offer excellent privacy. Neither requires KYC, accounts, or apps. Both accept crypto. The main difference is that PikaSim also accepts cards, while Silent.Link is crypto-only.
Does PikaSim accept Bitcoin?
Yes! PikaSim accepts Bitcoin (on-chain), Lightning Network, and Monero via self-hosted BTCPay Server. We also accept credit/debit cards for those who prefer them.
Why is PikaSim so much cheaper?
PikaSim uses fixed package pricing. Silent.Link charges per-GB with rates that vary by network. For typical usage (10-50GB), this means PikaSim costs 50-80% less.
What's the $9 SIM card fee for Silent.Link?
Silent.Link charges $9 upfront for a data-only SIM, then you pay per-GB for data. PikaSim has no SIM fee - just pay for your data package.
Which has better customer support?
PikaSim offers email and live chat support. Both providers are small, privacy-focused teams, but PikaSim tends to be more responsive.
Do I need an email for PikaSim?
Email is optional for crypto payments. For card payments, email is needed for delivery. You can use any privacy email (ProtonMail, Tutanota, etc.).
When would Silent.Link be cheaper?
Only if you use very little data (under ~2GB) and happen to connect to the cheapest networks. For normal usage, PikaSim is significantly cheaper.
Can I use both?
Yes! eSIMs are independent. Many privacy-conscious travelers use PikaSim for value and keep a Silent.Link SIM as backup. They don't interfere.
The Verdict
PikaSim and Silent.Link are the two best privacy-focused eSIM providers. Both offer no-KYC, no-account, crypto-accepting service. The question is: why pay more?
PikaSim: Same Privacy, Lower Prices
PikaSim offers the same privacy features as Silent.Link - no KYC, no account, Bitcoin/Lightning/Monero payments - at 50-80% lower prices. Fixed package pricing means you know exactly what you'll pay. Plus, card payments are available if you need them.
Silent.Link: Premium Privacy Pricing
Silent.Link is a respected privacy provider, but their pay-per-GB model with variable network rates means you'll pay 2-8x more for the same data. Great if price isn't a concern, but most users find better value with PikaSim.
Our recommendation: If you value privacy, get PikaSim. You get the same privacy features at a fraction of the cost. Save your money for your trip, not your eSIM.
Ready for Private eSIMs at Fair Prices?
Same privacy as Silent.Link. 50-80% lower prices. Bitcoin, Lightning & Monero accepted.