After my last post re ‘locked out of my own online accounts’ (during cruise ship travel), I started researching prepaid SIM cards. It’s my own opinions & conclusions that follow so Important: you need to research/think it thru for your own unique smartphone/travel situation. I am a tech. beginner/layperson (& experienced traveler) willing to share info. as I try to find my way.
There are many prepaid physical SIM cards, they might function similarly to pay as you go. I began thinking it’s a partial solution, but then heard of pitfalls. They might not all be the Most secure to use (SIM swap fraud possibilities). I concluded: useful to steer clear of SIM swap fraud problems.
And in many countries when purchasing a physical SIM card you may have to register it, using up your personal time and/or experiencing what some might call privacy erosion (e.g. show passport and/or retinal scan and/or fingerprinting).
New idea: an eSIM instead of a physical card: maybe easier to use & some think it more secure (in other ways) from theft/fraud. (No getting around the need for your own research. One option: ask people who travel as part of their work for ideas. I asked an internet cafe manager on cruise ship).