Wise App Now Offers Custom eSIMs and Global QR Payments for Travelers
New York – October 06, 2026 -- Wise has launched a combined eSIM and cross-border QR code payment feature inside its app, aiming to eliminate the mobile data and payment struggles travelers face abroad.
Survey finds travelers hunting for free Wi-Fi in awkward ways
A Wise-commissioned YouGov survey of more than 14,000 travelers across eleven countries found that 62% of international travelers in the past year relied on hotel or accommodation Wi-Fi to stay connected. Away from their hotels, 24% admitted to buying something at a café they did not want just to access free Wi-Fi, 15% have stood outside a museum or attraction to use its Wi-Fi instead of going in, and 7% have asked a stranger to share their phone's personal hotspot.
Cash management was the most commonly reported payment problem abroad, cited by 43% of respondents. Among those who faced payment issues, nearly 40% said they missed out on local experiences such as street food markets.