Partnership guidance

eSIM reseller programs compared: wholesale, API, white-label, or affiliate?

Compare five eSIM partnership models before you apply. See which fits your channel, volume, support capacity, and customer journey, then let VAYO recommend the right onboarding path after review.

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What are the eSIM reseller models?

VAYO offers five partnership tracks: wholesale (inventory-based resale), API (direct integration), white-label (partner-branded experience), affiliate (traffic referral), and business (team purchasing for employees). Each model has distinct customer ownership, technical requirements, support responsibilities, and commercial terms. Use this comparison when you want to understand which model matches your channel before applying.

Reviewed 5 September 2026 by VAYO Partnerships · Ask a partnership question

Reseller comparison at a glance

Models covered: Wholesale, API, white-label, affiliate, and business eSIM partnership tracks.
Who this helps: Travel agencies, platforms, brands, creators, and teams deciding which model suits their channel.
Differences shown: Customer ownership, inventory, commercial terms, checkout, support, and technical integration.
Next step: Read the table, use the decision checklist, then apply with your preferred model so VAYO can confirm fit.

Model-by-model comparison

Compare wholesale, API, white-label, affiliate, and business tracks on customer ownership, inventory, technical scope, support, and proposed commercial terms.

Comparison of five eSIM reseller models
Model	Who owns the customer	Inventory required	Funding model	Technical integration	Customer support
Wholesale	Partner	Yes — partner orders eSIMs	Proposed after review	Proposed after qualification	Partner handles L1; VAYO handles L2 technical escalation
API	Partner	No — provisioned via API	Proposed after review	Proposed after technical review	Partner handles L1; VAYO handles agreed technical escalation
White-label	Partner (visible as partner brand)	No — provisioned per agreement	Proposed after review	Proposed after scope review	Scoped during review — partner brand, VAYO network
Affiliate	VAYO	None — partner refers traffic	No	Low — tracking link or code	VAYO handles all customer support
Business / teams	Company (for internal use)	Depends — confirmed after application review	Proposed after review	Proposed after requirements review	VAYO supports technical activation; company HR handles employee admin

Not sure which model is right? Apply with your channel and preferred track. VAYO will recommend the best fit after reviewing your volume, destinations, and operating model.

Which model fits your business?

Use these questions to narrow down the right partnership track before you apply.

Want to hold inventory and set your own retail price?

Choose wholesale. You order plans, handle inventory, and distribute eSIMs to your customers. Commercial terms and ordering workflow are proposed after application review.

Want to integrate eSIM provisioning into your own app or checkout?

Choose API. You handle customer checkout and integrate catalog, ordering, QR delivery, and usage into your platform.

Want customers to see only your brand on checkout, email, and QR delivery?

Choose white-label. Brand, checkout, fulfilment, usage, and support surfaces are defined during scope review.

Want to refer traffic without holding inventory or handling support?

Choose affiliate. You send travellers to VAYO; VAYO handles payment, delivery, and support. Earn on validated eligible sales.

Need eSIM data for employees on work trips?

Choose business. This is not resale — it is internal purchasing for team travel with agreed fulfilment and support.

Still not sure?

Apply with the model you think fits. VAYO will recommend the right track after reviewing your channel, volume, destinations, and operating model.

What to ask any eSIM provider

Use this checklist when comparing eSIM reseller programs. Ask every prospective provider these questions before committing.

Are wholesale terms public or confidential per partner?
What are the funding requirements and payment terms?
Do they offer testing environments before production launch?
Who handles customer support — you, them, or split L1/L2?
Can you return unused inventory or is every order final?
Is there a public status page and incident history?
Do they publish refund, return, failed-order, and chargeback policies?
Are you the merchant of record or do they handle card acquiring?
What setup, platform, monthly, or per-transaction fees exist?
Do they guarantee an SLA or response time for technical escalations?

VAYO's answers: terms are confidential per partner; funding requirements and ordering workflow are proposed after application review; testing arrangements are confirmed after qualification; support is L1/L2 split or VAYO-direct depending on the track; inventory return rules mirror upstream provider; SLA terms are confirmed in the written proposal after review; setup/monthly charges are disclosed in the written proposal before onboarding.

How VAYO partnership review works

Applications are reviewed individually. We recommend the right model based on your channel, volume, and requirements.

Step 1

Apply with your preferred model

Complete the application at usevayo.com/resellers with your company, channel, destinations, volume, and which track you think fits.
Step 2

We review fit and recommend a path

VAYO assesses your operating model, technical needs, support capacity, and expected volume, then confirms whether the requested track is the best starting point.
Step 3

Receive written scope and terms

Approved partners receive a written onboarding plan: scope, commercials, responsibilities, technical steps, and next actions.

Reseller model comparison FAQ

What is the difference between wholesale and API?

Wholesale is inventory-based resale: the partner orders eSIMs, handles distribution, and owns the customer relationship. The ordering workflow and funding model are proposed after application review. API partners integrate provisioning directly into their own platform after technical qualification and typically own first-line customer support.

Who should choose white-label over wholesale?

White-label is for brands that want to present checkout, email, QR delivery, usage, and support under their own identity. Wholesale is quicker to start and runs through VAYO-hosted guest pages with partner branding.

Is affiliate the same as wholesale?

No. Affiliates refer traffic to VAYO; VAYO is the merchant of record, takes payment, delivers the eSIM, and supports the customer. Wholesale resellers order inventory after approval and distribute eSIMs to their own customers.

Can I start with one model and switch later?

Yes. Many partners begin with wholesale or affiliate, then discuss API or white-label once volume, technical resources, and customer-journey clarity are proven. Tell us which you prefer in the application; we will recommend the right starting path.

Do all models require the same deposit or setup fee?

No. Funding and setup requirements differ by track. Wholesale, API, and white-label commercial terms — including any funding requirements — are proposed after application review. Affiliate and business models do not require upfront funding.

Which model is fastest to launch?

Affiliate is fastest for traffic referral. Wholesale is fastest for resale. API and white-label take longer because technical, privacy, support, brand, and payment responsibilities must be scoped and agreed before launch.

Explore partnership options

Ready to apply?

Use the comparison above to decide which model suits your channel. Apply at the reseller hub and VAYO will confirm the right path after review.

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