Can I use WhatsApp to call with an eSIM only on iPhone?

I have always used a physical sim that had cellular included while traveling. It gave me a new local phone number and my home number was basically unusable once I removed my home SIM. I could use the local number for phone calls and get data for internet service. This was fine for me. But I have seen eSIMs more and more at better pricing than the physical. These only give you data, not cellular. I'm thinking that if I get one of those, I can use an app like WhatsApp to make phone calls anywhere which would only use the data on the eSIM. First of all, is that a correct assumption? Secondly, what if I want to call a restaurant, for instance, and they only have a regular phone line and no WhatsApp. How would I reach them aside from say sending them an email? I'm not sure how often that would happen in Europe because I think most places use Facebook messages or WhatsApp so maybe I'm just being paranoid for no reason. Anyone with experience in this area I would greatly appreciate your advice and opinions. One last thing. If I install the eSIM I do not want to receive calls on my home phone number, except if someone uses that number to WhatsApp me. Is that the way it would work? I don't want to get my calls from back home. The home phone is dead, as if I put in a new physical sim? Sorry, but I am a little confused with the whole eSIM business Thanks so much for your help.


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Posted on Apr 5, 2025 10:01 AM

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Apr 5, 2025 10:24 AM in response to steveg2700

If you buy a data only eSim then you won't be able to make standard phone calls, so your question about using WhatsApp would work. But not if you need to call a business to make as you suggest, dinner reservations. You can buy an eSim with data and Cellular as you are not limited to a data only eSim. It's really not much different than using a physical SIM, it's just electronic as opposed to physical.

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Can I use WhatsApp to call with an eSIM only on iPhone?

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