Is Skyroam Worth It?: Full Skyroam Review (2021)

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Skyroam is a portal wifi hotspot you can take with you anywhere in the world. It is an amazing travel gadget, but it can sometimes be hard to answer the question is Skyroam worth it.

There are number of pros and cons you need to take into consideration when deciding whether or not Skyroam is worth it.

It can be difficult to decide if Skyroam is worth it. It all comes down to what type of traveller you are and how often you travel. I think Skyroam is worth it for people who travel more than twice a year (especially if you travel for two weeks or more at a time). On the hand, if you are a causal traveller, it may be more cost effective to simply rent pocket wifi wherever you go.

Skyroam isn’t an inexpensive travel gadget, so you need to have all the information available before you decide to purchase a Skyroam hotspot device.

I hummed and hawed about whether or not to buy a Skyroam for about six months before I finally pulled the trigger.

I can tell you I love my Skyroam, and it was the right purchase for you.

But the question is is Skyroam worth it for you?

This post will help you figure that out!

I’m not holding anything back in this article! Be ready to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly about Skyroam.

It is the only way you can decide if Skyroam is worth it or not.

Strap in and get ready for an in-depth Skyroam review!

What Exactly is Skyroam?

The first step in deciding if Skyroam is worth it is understanding exactly what Skyroam is.

Skyroam is a company that provides 4G internet hotspots you can use (basically) anywhere in the world. It gives you access to the internet without having to rely on connecting to public wifi.

You can either rent a Skyroam device or purchase one.

I’m going to assume you’re interested in purchasing a Skyroam for most of this article, but we’ll touch on renting at the end of the post!

Essentially, you carry your Skyroam in either your purse or pocket, and you have access to the internet no matter what.

It really increases your freedom and makes you a more confident and adventurous traveller.

At least it did for me! After I got my Skyroam, it become easier to wander around and off the beaten track without worrying out trying to navigate my way back to my hotel without internet.

There are two different types of Skyroam devices you can get: the Solis X or the Solis Lite.

I have the Solis X and think it is worth upgrading and spending a little extra money to get a hotspot with more features.

I mean the intention is to use the device for many years, so a little more upfront cost is worthwhile to get a more premium device.

Solis X Smart Hotspot

This is the more premium Skyroam product and the one I personally own.

It comes with a lot of extra features built into the device, and it is actually pretty cool and versatile.

Here are the top features of the Skyroam Solis X you need to know about:

  • Connect up to 10 devices at once (and get internet on all of them!)
  • Can serve as an external battery and charge your phone and other devices while you’re on the go
  • Has a built in camera that you can control from the app on your phone. This is a great addition for solo travellers or people who are trying to get a group photo
  • It has a smart assistant that helps you with basically anything you need. The smart assistant can send a message to a dedicated contact and share your location, works with the Find My Phone app, and can send an emergency alert.

I don’t personally use the smart assistant feature all that often, but I have used it in the past a few times to share my location with my mom to quickly let her know I’ve landed or arrived somewhere.

I am really impressed with my Skyroam Solis X. It is amazing how much they packed into such a small device.

It is very powerful!

My only minor gripe about the Solis X is the battery life could be a little longer.

The battery lasts the entire day you’re out and about exploring, but you have to charge it every single night.

You cannot forget to charge it overnight, or you’re hooped the next day!

You may run into problems with the Skyroam running out of power if you use it all day and then stay out late into the evening.

I personally am not a night owl so never kept it running more than 12 or so hours.

From my experience, the battery lasts at least 12 hours. I haven’t tested it longer than that, and I wouldn’t push it much longer than 13 or 14 hours because I don’t think the battery would last longer than that.

If you do want to go out on the town, I suggest either taking an external battery to charge your Skyroam on the go or stop at your hotel for an hour or two and charge the device before heading out for the evening.

There are easy ways to make the battery life work for whatever you need, and having to charge it every night is not something that would hold me back from buying a Skyroam.

Skyroam Solis Lite

The Solis Lite is the less expensive hotspot, and it doesn’t have any of the fancy features that the Solis X has.

All it does it provide you access to the internet, and it does that job well!

You can connect up to 10 devices on the Solis Lite, so you don’t have to compromise on how connected you are if you choose to go with the Solis Lite.

One of my favourite parts of the Solis Lite is because it doesn’t have the extra fancy features, the battery lasts longer than the Solis X.

The Skyroam website advertises that the battery on the Solis Lite lasts 18 hours or more!

That is absolutely fantastic, and you should never have to worry about running out of battery and losing your connectivity with the Solis Lite!

I have never personally used the Skyroam Solis Lite, so I cannot confirm if the claim that the battery lasts 18+ hours is accurate. I would be surprised if it didn’t last that long though! That is about how long the average hotspot device lasts.

How to Use Your Skyroam

The Skyroam team did a good job on making their devices super easy to use.

You have to download the Skyroam app on your smartphone or tablet, and you connect your device through the app.

You can also purchase day passes or monthly passes through the app.

Once you have the app and have some day passes, all you have to do is click the big “active day pass” button on your home screen.

You then navigate to the wifi section on your phone and enter the password you Skyroam gave you into the Skyroam wifi tab.

You only have to enter your Skyroam wifi password once. Your phone should remember it after that!

Of course, if you don’t use your Skyroam hotspot for an extended periods of time (say during a multi-year global pandemic), you need to enter the password again when you use your Skyroam for the first time in a long time.

You are 100% in charge of the password. You can share it with whoever you want.

Anyone you share the password with can connect to your Skyroam device as long as they are within range.

It really is that easy!

The longest part of the process is connecting your Skyroam to the app, so it recognizes the device.

It takes about five minutes, and you simply follow the instructions on the app!

Is Skyroam Worth It?

This is the big question you’re here to have answered!

Quit messing around Erica and tell me whether or not Skyroam is worth it is what I imagine you’re saying right about now.

The short answer is yes I personally think Skyroam is worth it.

The long answer is it is complicated, and Skyroam may not be the best choice for everybody.

I don’t want you to spend your hard earned money on a travel gadget that may not be the right fit for you, so we’re going to figure that out right now.

Who Should Get a Skyroam Hotspot Device?

I think anyone who falls into the following categories should seriously consider getting a Skyroam:

  • People who travel from 2+ weeks at a time
  • People who travel multiple times per year
  • Solo travellers
  • Digital nomads
  • Anyone who needs to stay connected for work or for family reasons
  • Internet junkies
  • People (like me) who get annoyed with having to rent pocket wifi or a SIM card every where I go (it is such a time suck!)

I think Skyroam can really elevate your travel gave.

From my experience, it is an amazing feeling knowing I can pop onto the internet no matter where or when.

It has helped me find incredible restaurants wherever I decide I’m hungry and need to eat. Skyroam has helped me find tourists sights in the area that I can pop over to when I have some extra time to kill.

Most importantly though.

It has given me freedom when I travel.

As a solo female traveller, it feels good to know I can access the internet in any scenario and can get in contact with anyone I need to at a moment’s notice.

It is also incredibly helpful as someone who runs a digital business and needs access to the internet to be successful.

It is nice to know I can message my mom whenever I want to tell her about my day or share an amazing experience I just had that I’m excited about.

Oscar Wilde Galway Ireland About Travels with Erica

Who Should Not Get a Skyroam Hotspot Device

I think that most travellers can get a lot of value out of a Skyroam device, but it isn’t for everybody.

If you fall into one of the following categories, you may want to think hard about whether or not a Skyroam is the right fit for you:

  • You don’t travel internationally
  • You only travel once a year or once every couple of years
  • Being connected to the internet isn’t important to you
  • You are on a very tight budget (it may be better to spend your money on actual travel and save up for a Skyroam over time)

The biggest group of people who probably won’t find Skyroam worth it to them are people who don’t travel internationally.

Most phone plans allow you to use your data in your home country even when you’re not in your home city.

This negates the need for a Skyroam and the need to spend the money on a Skyroam.

You can just use your normal phone plan and be on your merry way.

The other group of people who may not get a lot of value from a Skyroam hotspot device are people who only travel once a year or even less than that.

Unfortunately, Skyroam day passes are a bit overpriced.

People who travel infrequently will be forced to pay for day passes rather than more fairly priced monthly passes, and that can add up.

If you only travel once a year, it may be in your best interests to rent pocket wifi wherever you go rather than purchasing your own wifi hot spot.

Skyroam Pros

  • The easiest and most convenient way to stay connected when travelling
  • Easy to setup and use
  • You and all your friends can connect with one Skyroam hotspot
  • Monthly passes are very fairly priced
  • Light and portable

Skyroam Cons

  • Day passes are a bit expensive
  • Battery life could be a little longer
  • Doesn’t work in every single country in the world (works in 135)
  • Has an upfront cost to buy the device and a continuing cost to buy wifi passes

My Honest Opinion on if Skyroam is Worth It

For me and from my experience Skyroam is worth it. 100%!

I adore my Skyoram Solis X and am very happy I splurged and purchased it.

It has elevated my travel experience.

I’ve found new restaurants I would never have otherwise found, been able to share more of my travel journey with friends and family, and always feel secure knowing I can find my way home in the (inevitable) event I get lost.

Seriously. After all my years of travel I’m still horrendous at navigating without my beloved Google Maps.

Knowing what I know now and having used my Skyroam extensively, I would not hesitate to buy one again in the future and have recommended it to a number of my travel friends.

The only two things I think would increase my love for Skyroam is to make the battery last a bit longer in the Solis X and lower the cost of wifi day passes.

Other than those two minor complaints, I think Skyroam is amazing.

I love it and am so, so, so glad I have it with me every time I travel!

Eiffel Tower Paris France

Frequently Asked Questions

This is the section where I’m going to answer all the questions I had before getting my Skyroam and the questions people normally ask me.

Saves you the time scouring the internet trying to find the answers! 😉

Where Does Skyroam Work?

Skyroam works in 135 different countries!

I’m not about to type out 135 countries, so if you want a breakdown of where you can get internet using your Skyroam, check out this page.

You get Skyroam coverage in basically all of Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

For most travellers, you don’t have to worry much about whether or not you can use your Skyroam on your vacation.

The biggest gaps in Skyroam coverage is in Africa and what is commonly referred to as the Middle East.

Google why Middle East is a colonizer term if you’re not familiar. I can’t wait until we stop using that term! I tend to refer to the region as West Asia. Anyways. Back to what you came for!

One of the most glaring omissions is United Arab Emirates.

UAE is a hugely popular tourist destination, but Skyroam doesn’t work there.

Yet.

Skyroam is always expanding their network and gaining coverage in more and more countries.

Hopefully I can soon change this article to say UAE is covered by Skyroam!

But, for now, if you travel to Africa and West Asia frequently, you probably want to hold off on buying a Skyroam until they expand their coverage in those regions.

How Much Does Skyroam Cost?

There are a number of different pricing plans for Skyroam depending on what you want.

The price to purchase the devices is steady, but the price you pay for internet access an vary a fair amount.

Here is a breakdown of the cost of buying and operating a Skyroam:

  • Skyroam Solis X: $179.99
  • Skyroam Solis Lite: $119.99
  • Global unlimited wifi day pass: $9
  • Global monthly unlimited wifi pass: $99
  • Global 1GB data pass: $9
  • USA monthly unlimited wifi pass: $49
  • USA 1GB data pass: $6
  • Per day rental fee: $8.99

All prices are in USD.

Is Skyroam a Good Deal?

This is a little bit more difficult to answer.

What you find to be a good deal may not be what another person finds to be a good deal.

I personally think, as a whole, Skyroam is worth the price and a fair deal.

Again, I think the day wifi passes are expensive, but I think everything else is fairly priced.

Does Skyroam Offer Discounted Prices?

Yes!

Skyroam often runs promotions where you save 30% off on wifi day passes!

This is the best time to purchase wifi, and I always wait until they have a sale to purchase my day passes when I’m using a monthly pass.

Snagging a daily wifi pass at 30% off means you’re paying a little more than $6 per day for wifi.

I think this is a much more reasonable price than $9 a day, and I actually think that is closer to what Skyroam should be charging for a daily wifi pass.

So get those wifi passes while they are on sale!

One important thing to note about the promotions Skyroam runs is the day passes you buy have an expiry date.

Make sure you will use your day passes before they expire.

It would be a shame to buy some day passes on sale and then let them go to waste.

Day passes purchased at full price do not expire.

Can I Lend My Skyroam to Someone Else When I’m Not Travelling?

Okay. I don’t think Skyroam advertises this or would be happy with me saying this, but

In my experience, I have been able to lend my Skyroam Solis X to someone else when they travelled, and I was at home.

It took a bit of wrangling and working the system, but once we got it to work, it worked really well.

There are two important steps you need to do in order for it to work properly:

  • Sync the Skyroam with the Skyroam app on their phone. Log into your account on their phone and sync the device like you did the first time you used it. In my experience, I had to try syncing the device three or four times before it finally worked. Be patient!
  • They need to delete the Skyroam app from their phone before you can properly connect and use your device with your app like you did before you lent it to someone else. I have no explanation as to why it is this way, but from my experience, the second person had to delete the app from their phone for me to use my Skyroam like normal even though they were literally in a different country when I tried to use my Skyroam for the first time since they returned it to me.

I always had the Skyroam app on my phone, so I’m not sure why the second person had to delete the app from their phone for it to work with my app properly again.

Probably has something to do with the fact that you’re probably not supposed to lend out your Skyroam. But if it works, it works!

Again, I just want to reiterate that this is my experience. I can’t guarantee that it will work for you the same was it does for me.

So don’t come at me if it doesn’t work for you!

Seoul, South Korea

Does Unlimited Data Really Mean Unlimited Data?

You can use as much data as you want in a month or day, but it may start to slow down if you use too much of it.

After 20GB, Skyroam stops delivering high-speed internet. You get fed a normal internet speed after that.

I’ve never personally used all 20GB, so I can’t personally say if you can feel the internet slow down after 20GB.

I have gone over my high-speed data allowance on my normal data plan and have never noticed a slow down. I suspect it will be a similar experience with Skyroam.

How Far Does the Skyroam Signal Reach?

Just like any other hotspot, the range for Skyroam isn’t huge.

You can’t have a friend connect to it and then go their separate way.

They will very quickly lose the Skyroam signal.

From my personal experience, Skyroam has a reach of between 100 meters and 200 meters.

You party has to stay pretty close together for everybody to be able to use the Skyroam data.

Can I Rent Skyroam Rather Than Buy It?

Yes!

You can rent a Skyroam for any trip. No matter how long or short.

As long as you’re going somewhere Skyroam provides data in!

The cost of renting a Skyroam is $8.99USD a day.

You can get the hotspot device mailed directly to your house and mail it back to Skyroam when you’re done.

I recommend you look into the cost of renting pocket wifi in the country you’re visiting before committing to renting Skyroam.

In a lot of cases, it is less expensive to rent pocket wifi directly from a local company than rent with Skyroam.

That is certainly the case in South Korea!

What About Skyroam’s VPN?

I’ve never personally used Skyroam’s VPN, so I can’t give you any first-hand information on it.

I do know Skyroam partnered with NordVPN to develop and launch the Skyroam VPN, so I trust that it is good.

NordVPN is my favourite VPN provider, and I don’t trust anyone else with my online safety. The fact that Skyroam partnered with tells me that they are committed to a fast VPN and exceptional online protection.

You can only access the Skyroam VPN through the Skyroam app, and you have to have a Skyroam product to purchase the VPN.

The big problem with the Skyroam VPN is the price.

The monthly cost for the Skyroam VPN is THREE TIMES MORE than a NordVPN monthly subscription.

I think the Skyroam VPN is way overpriced!

If I were you, I would get a normal NordVPN subscription.

Having a VPN on your devices is essential.

There is no excuse for not protecting your online information and data. You do not want to have your banking information stolen while you’re on holiday.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford a VPN.

NordVPN is less than the cost of a single latte every month, so there is no excuse!

Do You Have Coupon Code?

Why yes! Thank you for asking!

Use this code to get 10% off your Skyroam purchase:

TRAVELSWITHERICA

Conclusion

Whew. That was a very long post!

I hope it helped you answer the question: is Skyroam worth it?

I think the better question to ask is: is Skyroam worth it for you.

Everybody has different travel needs, and you need to make the right decision for you.

I can sit here and rave about how much I love Skyroam, but that doesn’t mean you will!

I really hope this post helped you understand the ins and outs of owning and using a Skyroam. This information is vital in helping you make the decision whether or not this is the travel gadget for you.

There are a lot of neat travel gadgets but only so much money in the bank!

If you’re an avid traveller and will either use a monthly pass or strategically buy day passes when they are on sale, I think you can’t go wrong with adding a Skyroam to your travel bag.

I’ve certainly loved my experience using it and can’t see myself travelling without it in the future.

Skyroam is a real gem in the travel space, and I honestly wish I had learnt about it earlier in my travel career!

Is Skyroam Worth It?: Full Skyroam Review (2021)Is Skyroam Worth It?: Full Skyroam Review (2021)Is Skyroam Worth It?: Full Skyroam Review (2021)Is Skyroam Worth It?: Full Skyroam Review (2021)

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