The moment I land in a new country, I know what’s coming. Either I stand in line for a local SIM, ...
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I tested another eSIM this weekend, this time in Koprivnica, Croatia. I wanted to see how it performs in real-world use, from setup to everyday tasks like navigation, messaging, and hotspot sharing.
I used it as my main data connection the entire time for getting around the city, staying in touch, browsing, and sharing internet with a friend.
Since I was mostly exploring the city by bike, I depended on it quite a bit for navigation and along the way.
Here is how it performed, from setup to everyday use.
The verdict: Sparks delivered smooth and consistent performance with a very simple setup process and affordable pricing, making it a great option for light, short-term usage.
⭐ Rating: 4.7/5
Sparks offers country-specific prepaid data plans with fixed data limits and longer validity compared to many competitors.
I chose the 1 GB plan for Croatia for $3.40. It felt very affordable for short-term use and light data needs.
Sparks is a data-only eSIM, meaning it does not include a phone number or traditional calling. For communication, I relied on apps like WhatsApp, which worked perfectly for messages and media sharing.
Even though I only needed a small plan, Sparks offers a full range of options depending on how much data you need and how long you’re staying.
Smaller plans like 1 GB or 2 GB are enough for short trips or light usage, while higher tiers make more sense if you plan to stream more or use hotspot frequently.
The longer validity is also useful if your trip spans multiple weeks.
Here are all available Sparks eSIM plans for Croatia at the time of testing:
| Data option | Validity | Price |
| 1 GB | 60 days | $3.40 |
| 2 GB | 60 days | $4.10 |
| 3 GB | 60 days | $4.80 |
| 5 GB | 60 days | $6.00 |
| 10 GB | 60 days | $9.10 |
| 15 GB | 60 days | $13.50 |
| 30 GB | 90 days | $26.50 |
| 50 GB | 120 days | $43.70 |
One thing worth noting is that there are no unlimited plans available, which is a bit unfortunate, especially since many other eSIM providers offer unlimited options for Europe.
Plans and pricing verdict: Sparks stands out for its low entry price and longer validity periods, making it a strong option for both short trips and extended stays, despite the lack of unlimited plans.
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
Getting started with Sparks on my iPhone 15 was straightforward, and the entire process moved along quickly. Each step, from purchase to activation, was easy to follow and clearly explained.
There were no friction points or unnecessary complications during setup. Compared to some other eSIMs I’ve tested, this was one of the smoother setup experiences overall.
Before purchasing, I signed up for a Sparks account on their website. The process was simple and only took a moment.
I selected the Croatia plan and completed the payment through PayPal without any complications.
After checkout, I scanned the provided QR code to install the eSIM on my device. The process was quick and intuitive.
See also: Which iPhones and iOS devices support eSIM in 2026?
Activation took less than a minute. After that, I just needed to:
After everything was up and running, I also downloaded the Sparks app. The app is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it simple to top up data, contact support, or track usage.
⭐ Rating: 5/5
During my time in Koprivnica, the connection remained stable and responsive. Most of the time, my phone was connected to 5G, which helped keep speeds consistent.
Koprivnica is a city known for its cycling culture, and I spent most of my time there riding a bike around town.
With Easter celebrations underway, the streets were decorated with large Easter eggs, which made exploring even more enjoyable.
I ran a Speedtest by Ookla later in the evening while my friends and I were having drinks at ORRO Bar to see how Sparks performs in a real-world setting.
The test showed a download speed of 46.32 Mbps and an upload speed of 19.48 Mbps.
Download speeds were more than fast enough for everyday tasks like navigation, browsing, and streaming.
The upload speed was also solid, especially compared to many travel eSIMs, and handled sending photos, videos, and messages without any delays.
I relied on Google Maps while cycling through the city.
Routes loaded quickly, directions updated in real time, and there were no delays or freezes while moving.
Navigation felt smooth and accurate the entire time. This made it easy to move around without having to stop and wait for maps to load.
See also: How much data does Google Maps use in 2026?
WhatsApp worked exactly as expected.
Messages were delivered instantly, and I shared several photos and short videos without any delays. Everything uploaded quickly and reliably.
I watched a few short videos on TikTok here and there during the day.
Videos loaded immediately and played smoothly without buffering or drops in quality.
Overall, Sparks handled everyday tasks without any issues:
For the type of usage I had during the trip, the connection never felt limiting. It handled everything I needed without any noticeable compromises.
Performance verdict: Sparks provided a stable and dependable connection for typical travel use, especially for lighter data needs.
⭐ Rating: 5/5
I also tested hotspot sharing by connecting a friend to my phone.
The connection remained stable, and basic usage like browsing worked without problems.
For casual sharing and light tasks, hotspot performance was solid.
Hotspot verdict: Reliable for sharing data with others during everyday use.
⭐ Rating: 5/5
I didn’t need to contact customer support at any point.
Everything worked as expected from the start, so there was no reason to reach out.
That said, you can reach out to customer support for Sparks eSIM directly on their website:
Customer support verdict: The smooth experience made support unnecessary.
No. Sparks is a data-only eSIM, so calls and SMS are handled through apps like WhatsApp.
Yes. I shared my connection with a friend, and it worked without any issues.
Pricing depends on the country and plan. In Croatia, I paid $3.40 for a 1 GB package.
No. You can keep your primary SIM active and use Sparks just for mobile data.
In my testing, speeds were more than enough for everyday use, including navigation, messaging, and light streaming. Performance felt stable throughout.
Activation took less than a minute after installation. Once I enabled data roaming and selected it as the primary data line, it connected almost instantly.
Sparks offers fixed data plans with different allowances and validity periods. At the time of testing, there was no unlimited plan for Croatia, but larger data packages are available.
Yes. The setup process is simple and clearly guided, from purchase to activation. Even if you haven’t used an eSIM before, it’s easy to follow and get connected quickly.
Yes. During my testing, I was connected to 5G most of the time, which helped keep speeds fast and consistent throughout the trip.
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