vodafone europe travel sim card

Affordable mobile data across Europe and beyond

Stay connected in 45+ countries in Europe with a single eSIM from Vodafone Travel.

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What is eSIM?

eSIM is a digital SIM that you can download. No plastic, no shop visits.It’s easier and greener. Install and get online in a matter of minutes!

Stay connected

Use the same eSIM across 45+ European countries and stay connected

Fast and easy

Get your Europe eSIM immediately via email, and connect within seconds

Wi-Fi Hotspot

Share your internet connection with friends, family, and any other devices

Keep your original SIM

Your existing SIM card will continue to operate, while the eSIM provides you data connectivity.

How it works

No more swapping SIM cards when you travel! Buy your eSIM before you go for faster, easier connectivity - wherever you roam.

Before purchasing, make sure that your device is eSIM compatible using our device compatibility tool.

Install your eSIM as soon as possible. You’ll need a stable internet connection. You can use another device to scan your QR code or install your eSIM manually.

Activate when you are ready to use the eSIM. You can do it in flight or upon arrival at your destination (you don’t need an internet connection to activate).

Join 300M+ global customers who choose Vodafone

A reliable, award-winning network. Choose eSIM from Europe’s most trusted Network provider and we’ll keep you connected to the things and people that matter.

Included Locations

Enjoy 4G/LTE and 5G coverage (where available) in the following countries and regions with our Europe eSIM Plan

United Kingdom

Frequently Asked Questions

Get in touch.

Can’t find the answers you’re looking for in our FAQs? Drop us an email and we’ll get back to you promptly.

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Charges Guide
• Acceptable Usage Policy
• eSIM Installation Guide

Vodafone Roaming Services S.à r.l. is registered in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. R.C.S Luxembourg No. B125883. Registered Office: 15 rue Edward Steichen, L-2540 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. VAT LU22869756

Roam at no extra cost in 83 worldwide destinations on Vodafone Xtra Global Roaming plans.

How does roaming with Vodafone work?

If you're on Pay monthly, we've split the world into Zones A, B, C, D and 'Rest of the World'.

If you're on Pay as you go, we've split the world into Zones A, B, 'Around the World' and 'Rest of the World'.

Roaming in Zone A is included in all plans. Roaming outside of Zone A will depend on where you're travelling to and what plan you're on.

Roaming in Rest of the World destinations

If you purchased your plan on or after 21 February 2024, you'll need to buy a Rest of the World Data Roaming pass.

If you bought your plan before 21 February 2024, you can either purchase a Rest of the World Data Roaming pass or pay for each megabyte of data.

To find out how much it'll cost to roam in a specific destination, use our Charge Checker

Roaming on Pay monthly plans

You can use your UK allowance of data, minutes and texts when you roam with our Pay monthly plans.

Roaming in Zone A is included in all our Pay monthly plans at no extra cost

With selected Xtra Plans, you can roam in our other zones as well

Roaming charges depend on what plan you have with us. Log in or register for My Vodafone to check your plan charges  

If your Xtra Plan has the benefit of inclusive roaming in 51 European destinations, you can use your UK allowance at no extra cost in Zone A and B . If your plan doesn't include this, it will cost you £2.25 a day or you can roam for cheaper with one of our European Roaming Passes

If your Xtra Plan has the benefit of inclusive roaming in 83 worldwide destinations, you can use your UK allowance at no extra cost in Zone A, B and C. If your plan doesn't include this, it'll cost you £6.85 a day to roam

Roaming in Zone D will cost you £6.85 a day.

If your plan started before 11 August 2021, this information doesn't apply. If you want to find out where you can roam, or you're not sure what plan you're on, log in or register for My Vodafone

Vodafone customers who purchased a Vodafone Basics plan before 22 July 2022 do not have roaming services included. These plans are for UK use only .

You can also chat to TOBi to find out about your plan's charges.

What are European Roaming passes?

If your plan doesn't have inclusive roaming in our Europe Zone (Zone B), then it will cost you £2.25 a day to roam in our  European destinations . You can reduce this cost with one of our European Roaming passes, available as £10 for 8 days or £15 for 15 days.

To add one of these Extras to your plan, just text 8DAYEUROPE or 15DAYEUROPE to 40506 free from your Vodafone mobile. This does not include picture messages, premium calls or texts.

Roaming on Pay as you go plans

With all our Pay as you go plans, you can use your data, minutes and texts in the UK and while roaming in Zone A (Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Iceland and Norway).

If you're roaming in Zone B (our Europe Zone) and want to make calls, send texts or use data, you'll need to purchase one of our 8-day Europe Extras. Pay as you go Plus customers will also need to purchase an Extra in order to receive calls.

If you're going further afield, your options depend on what Pay as you go plan you have:

Pay as you go Plus plans: You will need to add our Around the World Extra or Rest of the World Extra, depending on your destination. To check which Extra you'll need, visit our Charge checker page

You won't be able to make/receive calls, send texts or use data until you've bought your Extra - this is to help avoid any unexpected roaming charges.

Big Value Bundle or Pay as you go 1 plans: Our Around the World Roaming Extras give you an allowance of texts, minutes and data to use in 73 additional destinations , making it far more affordable to roam.

If you choose to roam without an Extra, standard roaming charges will apply - you'll be charged per call, text or MB of data, and it will be taken from your account credit.

Roaming destinations

Zone a (republic of ireland, isle of man, iceland and norway).

Republic of Ireland

Isle of Man

Zone B (47 European destinations)

Aland Islands

Balearic Islands

Canary Islands

Cyprus except Northern Cyprus

Czech Republic

Faroe Islands

France (including Corsica)

French Guiana

Liechtenstein

Netherlands

St. Barthelemy

Switzerland

Vatican City

Zone C (32 worldwide destinations)

Antigua and Barbuda

Bosnia and Herzegovina

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

New Zealand

Sint Eustatius

Sint Maarten

South Africa

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Vincent

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkey and North Cyprus

Turks and Caicos

United States of America

Zone D (73 worldwide destinations)

Afghanistan

Congo, Democratic Republic of

Dominican Republic

El Salvador

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Puerto Rico

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

South Sudan

United Arab Emirates

US Virgin Islands

Pay as you go - Around the World Extra (73 additional destinations)

Rest of the world destinations, 5g roaming at no extra cost.

We offer 5G coverage at no extra cost in more locations across Europe than any other UK network. Join us on 5G in 318 places across the UK, and 344 across Europe.

Want to know more about 5G? Visit our  5G hub

Frequently asked questions

How much will it cost to use my device abroad.

Roaming charges will depend on what plan you're on.

If you're not sure, please chat to TOBi about your roaming charges.

How does Spend Manager work?

Vodafone Spend Manager helps you keep in control of any out-of-plan charges, such as roaming charges and international calls, by setting a limit on how much extra you can spend each month. That means no nasty bill shocks. This will help you manage your roaming, or you can even disable it altogether.

Any spending limits you set will work when you're roaming, however, if you've set your out-of-plan charges spend limit to £0, this means you won't be able to roam. We recommend reviewing your limit before you travel to make sure you get the most out of your phone when travelling abroad by setting your out-of-plan charges limit to £0.

You can add, change or remove your spending limit at any time for free in the My Vodafone app , in My Vodafone account or by calling us on 41156 , free from your Vodafone mobile.  Find out more on our dedicated  Spend manager page

How do I get inclusive roaming in 83 destinations included in my plan?

Move to any of our Unlimited Xtra plans , plus an additional fee, to get the full 83 worldwide inclusive destinations.

How do Pay monthly European Roaming Extras work?

European Roaming Passes allow you to use your monthly UK allowance of calls, texts and data in a Zone B destination.

A pass can be purchased at any time. It will remain on your account and will become active when you start roaming.

Your pass will last for either 8 or 15 days, depending on what pass you purchased.

You cannot purchase two passes at once so if your first pass runs out, you will have to purchase an additional pass.

You cannot roll over the Pass if you are roaming for less than 8 days.

Is there a limit on how long I can roam for?

Use of our services while in Zone A, Zone B (excluding the UK) and Zone C (for customers using their inclusive roaming that is included in their monthly charge) is intended for temporary, periodic travel such as holidays and short breaks.

We will monitor and check your roaming use. If, during any 4 month period, you roam in Zone A, B or C for 62 days or more AND your corresponding roaming usage exceeds your usage within the UK, you may incur additional roaming charges. We will send you notification two weeks prior to charging you any additional roaming charges, to allow you time to adjust your usage accordingly.

These additional roaming charges will be: £0.033 a minute for calls £0.01p a SMS £3.13 a 1GB of data

You will still be able to receive calls and texts from friends and relatives at no extra cost

Read more about our acceptable use policy

How much will I be charged if I go over my UK data allowance when roaming?

If you exceed your UK data allowance when you're abroad, you will be charged as you would be in the UK. The charges will last until your next billing date or until you return to the UK, whichever comes first.

If your UK allowance is greater than 25GB, then a fair usage policy of 25GB applies i.e. once you have exceeded 25GB data use, then you will be charged £3.13 a GB used. The charges will last until your next billing date or until you return to the UK, whichever comes first.

What's a roaming fair usage policy?

All our pay monthly plans are subject to a 25GB roaming fair use policy. This means that if your UK allowance is greater than 25GB, you can use up to 25GB data a month while roaming.

If your UK data allowance is less than 25GB, you can use your UK data allowance when abroad, but if you exceed it you'll be charged as you would be in the UK.

Where can I get 5G abroad?

From 26 July 2019, if you're on a 5G-ready plan and have a 5G device, you can also use 5G in Germany, Italy, Spain and Republic of Ireland where it's available. In addition, you can also benefit from Vodafone Unlimited on 4G in 83 destinations worldwide - the largest roaming footprint of any UK provider.

Germany (177 towns and cities)

Bad Hersfeld

Bad Münder am Deister

Bad Oeynhausen

Bad Wünnenberg

Bergisch Gladbach

Bernau bei Berlin

Birkenwerder

Bitterfeld-Wolfen

Boizenburg/ Elbe

Braunschweig

Bremerhaven

Frankfurt am Main

Freiburg im Breisgau

Gdefr. Geb. (Lkr Roth)

Gelsenkirchen

Gronau (Westf.)

Groß Godems

Grünheide (Mark)

Halle (Saale)

Haren (Ems)

Heroldstatt

Hohenstein-Ernstthal

Hoppegarten

Hoyerswerda

Königs Wusterhausen

Langenhagen

Ludwigsfelde

Ludwigshafen am Rhein

Neukirchen/Erzgeb.

Nienburg (Weser)

Offenbach am Main

Oldenburg (Oldenburg)

Petershagen/Eggersdorf

Recklinghausen

Rielasingen-Worblingen

Rothenstein

Saarbrücken

Sandersdorf-Brehna

Schmallenberg

Schwentinental

Seehausen a.Staffelsee

Simmern/Hunsrück

Stollberg/Erzgeb.

Trierweiler

Wanzleben-Börde

Italy (33 towns and cities)

Cassina de' Pecchi

Cinisello Balsamo

Cologno Monzese

Cusano Milanino

Garbagnate Milanese

Novate Milanese

Pessano con Bornago

San Donato Milanese

San Giorgio su Legnano

San Giuliano Milanese

Sesto San Giovanni

Trezzano sul Naviglio

Spain (21 towns and cities)

Palma de Mallorca

San Sebastián

Republic of Ireland (8 towns and cities)

Why do I need a Roaming Extra for my Pay as you go Plus plan?

We have 8-day Roaming Extras available for our Europe destinations and Rest of the World destinations, and either 8-day or 15-day Roaming Extras available for our Around the World destinations.

See a full list of our roaming destinations

Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi before purchasing, and note that any Extras will begin from the moment of purchase. If you run out of data, minutes or texts, you can always purchase another Extra.

If you have bought a SIM in the UK with the intention of travelling abroad and roaming, you must first activate the SIM in the UK for you to be allowed to add the roaming Extra on which you intend to apply. Your SIM cannot be activated abroad.

See roaming Extras and charges

Legal terms

Legal small print.

Saving claims verification:  see details on the relevant product page.

VAT:  All pricing inclusive unless stated otherwise. For prices stated exclusive of VAT, the VAT rate payable is 20%.

Gift with Purchase:  See details on product page including any additional terms.

*Annual Price Rise

Pay Monthly Plans (excluding Home Broadband):  From 2025, the monthly price and all out of bundle charges will increase each April by the Consumer Price Index rate published in January of that year + plus an additional 3.9%. If you have a Device Plan, this will not affect your monthly Device Plan payments:  vodafone.co.uk/pricechanges

Home Broadband:  From 2025, the monthly price will increase each April by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation published in January that year, plus an additional 3.9%. See vodafone.co.uk/pricechanges for details.

Pay Monthly

Minimum term agreement, eligibility, credit check and terms apply.

• Vodafone EVO

Representative example for Device Plans:

Figures used in the above (other than the representative APR) are for illustrative purposes only.

Device Plan:  means devices purchased from Vodafone under a Consumer Credit Agreement such as phones (Phone Plan), smartwatches (Watch Plan), tablets (Tablet Plan) and laptops (Laptop Plan).

Vodafone EVO:

For Mobile: lets you select a monthly Device Plan Credit Agreement (3-36 months) with a monthly Airtime Plan. Phone Plans over 12 months require a 24-month Monthly Airtime Plan. You can pay off your Device Plan early, and if you do, you can then keep your Airtime Plan on a 30-day contract or leave. If your Airtime Plan ends for any reason, you will need to keep on paying your monthly Device Plan (either in full or monthly)

For Smartwatches: lets you select a monthly Device Plan Credit Agreement (over 3-36 months) with a monthly Connectivity Plan. Watch Plans over 12 months require a 24 month Connectivity Plan. You can pay off your Device Plan early, and if you do, you can keep your Connectivity Plan on a 30-day contract or leave. If your Connectivity Plan ends, the Device Plan is still payable (either in full or monthly). Watch Plans require a Vodafone pay monthly airtime plan and a Connectivity Plan (via Vodafone OneNumber)

For Laptops / Tablets: lets you select a monthly Device Plan Credit Agreement (3-48 months) with a 24 month Data Plan. You can pay off your Device Plan early, and if you do, you can then keep your Data Plan on a 30-day contract or leave. If your Data Plan ends for any reason, you will need to keep on paying your monthly Device Plan (either in full or monthly)

Upgrade from month 3:  means a) buying a new Device Plan (which is a credit agreement) and an Airtime/Data/Connectivity Plan (as applicable) and b) either (i) paying off the remaining amount on your current Device Plan prior to upgrading, or (ii) paying for your current Device Plan along with your new Device Plan. Subject to credit check, eligibility and terms.

Trade-in Guarantee:  Available when you trade-in an eligible device using our Trade-in Tool, and purchase a new Vodafone Pay Monthly Airtime Plan. Your Trade-in value is guaranteed for 7 days from the date of your Trade-in Quote. Device must be returned within 14 days of the start of your new Airtime Plan and meet our requirements. You can select to receive your Trade-in value via a monthly airtime saving, a credit to your Vodafone account, or a bank transfer. Please see our  Trade-in Guarantee terms and conditions , which also details the eligibility criteria.

Trade-in Bonus:  Available when we're running a Trade-in Bonus promotion, where you could get an additional bonus on top of the trade-in value for the phone you're trading in, when you buy a new phone. Eligibility for the bonus and the bonus value may vary depending on which phone you're trading in and which new phone you're buying. Please see our  Trade-in Bonus terms and conditions , for more information.

Unlimited data:  available on Unlimited Lite Plan (max download and upload speed of 2Mbps), Unlimited Plan (max download and upload speeds of 10Mbps) and Unlimited Max Plan. Speed may vary by a number of factors.

5G:  You must have a 5G enabled device on the Vodafone 5G network, a Vodafone 5G plan and 5G coverage in the area that you are in. Coverage may be affected by a number of factors. Find out more about our  5G network

5G Ultra: You must have a 5G Ultra enabled device on a Vodafone Pay Monthly plan purchased after 24 February 2023, and be in an area covered by our 5G Ultra network. Coverage may be affected by a number of factors. Find out more about our 5G Ultra network

Buy-Back Price Guarantee: Customers who bought an eligible phone from Vodafone and trade that phone in via our Trade-in Tool (in a good working condition), whilst upgrading to a new phone and Airtime Plan within the required timeframe, will be entitled to receive a guaranteed buy-back price. Buy-back price varies depending on model variant. Terms apply

iPhone 14 - trade in between 1 September 2023 and 31 October 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23 - trade in between 10 January 2024 and 1 April 2024

iPhone 15 - trade in between 1 September 2024 and 31 October 2024

The UK's Best Phone Buy-Back Price Guarantee: 'UK's Best' because we:

i) guarantee future buy-back price

ii) offer flexible payment options

iii) don't charge extra

iv) offer flexibility to trade in and upgrade from month 3; and

v) boost the trade-in value by £50 vs major competitors.

Details and verification: vodafone.co.uk/buy-back

Roaming:  using your home data plan to roam in Zone A is included in all of our Pay Monthly plans. For roaming in other destinations, charges will apply depending on which plan you are on.

Roaming Passes:  For Pay Monthly customers without European roaming included in their plan, you can purchase an 8 or 15 day European roaming pass to use your monthly UK allowance of calls, texts and data in our Zone B destinations. The 8 day pass is £12 and the 15 day pass is £17. Out of bundle charges such as picture messages, premium calls or premium texts are not covered by this charge. These passes are subject to a 25GB roam fair use policy. Passes become active when you start roaming and only one pass can be used at a time. For more information and terms, visit our  roaming page

Information on roaming with Vodafone

List of our inclusive roaming destinations

Mobile Specific Small Print

Lifetime Service Promise:  means a) Lifetime warranty covering manufacturer's defects, provided you have an active pay monthly Airtime plan + b) Battery refresh replacing your phone's battery (for 2-3 years) if it fails one of the Battery refresh tool tests. On phones purchased directly from Vodafone.

Lifetime Warranty:  is an extended warranty covering manufacturer's defects (on phones purchased via Vodafone directly), provided you have an active pay monthly Airtime plan. Excludes damaged and tampered phones. Terms apply

Battery Refresh:  replaces your phone's battery if it fails one of the Battery Refresh Tool tests. Available for up to three years depending on your plan. On phones purchased via Vodafone directly. Excludes damaged and tampered phones. Terms apply

UK's Only Lifetime Service Promise:  Vodafone is the only network that offers both i) Lifetime Warranty which covers your phone for manufacturer defects provided you have an active pay monthly Airtime plan, and ii) Battery Refresh which offers phone battery health checks and required replacements for up to 3 years. Terms apply

Smartwatch Specific Small Print

Smartwatch:  requires a) Vodafone pay monthly Airtime plan, and b) 12 or 24 month Connectivity Plan (via Vodafone OneNumber). Watch Plans over 12 months require a 24 month Connectivity Plan. Terms apply

Vodafone OneNumber Connectivity Plan ('Connectivity Plan'): uses your minutes, texts and data allowance from your Airtime Plan using Vodafone OneNumber. You must have an Airtime Plan with us in order to purchase a Connectivity Plan. Smartwatch Connectivity plans can be bought for a smartwatch you already own, or for a new smartwatch you purchase through us. Tablet Connectivity plans can only be bought for a tablet you already own.

Two-Year Warranty  (formerly called Total Care Warranty) is a 24-month warranty that starts from the date your device (purchased from Vodafone), is dispatched. This covers manufacturer's defects in the materials and workmanship of the device through normal use. Excludes damaged and tampered devices. Not applicable with Laptops. Terms apply

Tablet Specific Small Print

Pay as you go.

Unlimited Bundle:  An Unlimited Pay as you go Bundle lasts for 30 days. Your bundle will automatically renew every 30 days if you have enough credit. To opt out call  2345 . Includes unlimited data and unlimited minutes and texts: minutes to standard mobiles and landlines (UK: 01, 02, 03) and standard texts (excluding MMS) to use in the UK and Zone A.  Unlimited Bundle terms, exclusions and destinations

Pay as you go Bundles (Big Value Bundle) excluding Unlimited Bundle:  Unlimited minutes to standard mobiles and landlines (UK: 01, 02, 03), standard texts and a set allowance of data (excluding Extras) to use in the UK and Zone A. Last 30 days. Automatically renews every 30 days if you have enough credit. Opt out by calling  2345 . Pay as you go Bundles are also known as Big Value Bundles. For more information, please visit our  Pay as you go Bundles terms and conditions page

Total Rollover:  Any unused allowance from your current Pay as you go Bundle will only rollover from one bundle to the next, for use in the next 30-day period, if your Pay as you go Bundle renews automatically.

Pay as you go 1:  You'll pay just £1 each day you use your phone, which gives you: Unlimited minutes, Unlimited texts, 50MB of data to use until midnight. For more information, please visit our  Pay as you go 1 terms and conditions page

Roaming:  Your data usage is for use in the UK and Zone A destinations only, unless you purchase one of our roaming extras. For more info and destinations beyond Zone A, visit our  extras page . For terms visit our  terms and conditions pages

Pay As You Go Plus

Pay as you go Plus plan: My Vodafone app required. UK and Zone A use only unless Roaming Extra purchased. Minutes to standard mobiles and landlines (UK: 01, 02, 03), standard texts and plan data allowance (excluding Extras). Auto-Renews every 30 days if opted in via My Vodafone app and payment card added. Purchase Extras and manage payments through My Vodafone app. Plan stops after 30 days if paused or cancelled (by opting out of Auto-Renew). If opted out and you do not choose another plan, you can only receive inbound calls and texts once your 30-day plan ends. You must opt back in and re-purchase a new plan to use data, minutes, send texts or buy Extras. For terms and more information see the Pay as you go Plus terms and conditions

Roaming: Your data usage is for the UK and Zone A destinations only, unless you purchase one of our roaming extras in the My Vodafone app . Your extra will run until the day it expires (at 11:59pm UK time) or when it is used up, whichever is sooner. For more information on roaming destinations, see our roaming page or the My Vodafone app. For Extras terms, see the terms and conditions page

• Home Broadband

Home Broadband:  For details and terms see our  Home Broadband page

These terms are available in our  terms and conditions pages

If you're a consumer go to Consumer then Insurance then Insurance terms and conditions

If you're a sole trader go to Business then Insurance then Insurance - Current

VeryMe Rewards:  See My Vodafone app for end dates and full terms and conditions. Pay as you go customers must have topped up at least £10 credit on their account in the last 6 weeks to participate. Pay as you go Plus customers must have Auto-Renew switched on to participate in certain prizes and competitions.

VeryMe won A Silver in the Brand Partnership Activation of the Year category and a Gold in the Loyalty Activation of the Year category at the 2020 IPM Awards. See verification on the IPM website

VeryMe helped Vodafone win Best Network for Loyalty and Retention at the Mobile Industry Awards 2020. See verification on the Techrader website

Vodafone VeryMe, TMW Unlimited and Mando-Connect won Best Use of CRM at the Loyalty Magazine Awards 2020. See verification on the IPM website

Reliable, award-winning network:  The UK relies on Vodafone as a network provider as it:

i) powers critical national infrastructure and 82% of Emergency Services (see our Public Sector Portal for further information),

ii) has coverage in 99% of UK homes,

iii) covers 96% of the UK's landmass; and

iv) has won numerous awards

See full details and awards on our Network page

For full terms and conditions, visit our  terms and conditions page

Finance subject to status and credit checks. 18 +. Direct debit required. Credit provided by Vodafone Limited, FCA reference Number: 712210, Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN

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Registered in England and Wales. Company No 01471587. Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) changes : *Monthly price will increase by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation published in January of that year+3.9%. The rate we will use to increase prices from April 2024 is 7.9%. Device Plan payments will not be affected: vodafone.co.uk/pricechanges

© 2024 Vodafone Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit lending and insurance distribution activity (Financial Services Register No. 712210)

Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

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How to buy a sim card in europe | the best prepaid high-speed data plans in europe.

Everything you need to know about finding the best and cheapest SIM cards and mobile data plans in Europe.

phones and technology

Can you travel through Europe without high-speed mobile data on your smartphone? Probably. But would you want to? Probably not. But mobile data can be very expensive if you use your home country’s international data plan. Luckily, even visitors have easy access to Europe’s cheap data plans so you can stay connected very affordably. In this guide, I’ll teach you how to buy a SIM card in Europe so you can get cheap high-speed mobile data while traveling.

UPDATE:  This article is about physical SIM Cards but most new phones are eSIM compatible. eSIMs are more convenient than physical SIM cards because you simply purchase the prepaid data plan online, scan a QR code that’s sent to your email to install the digital “card”, and you’re ready to go (there are many other benefits as well). Learn more about eSIMs at The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To The  Best eSIM Data Plans for Europe .

European SIM Card and Prepaid Data Plan Basics

Before diving into how and where to buy SIM cards, I wanted to give some helpful background info on mobile data plans SIM card so you have a better idea of how things work in Europe.

European Union-Wide Coverage

A law was recently passed in the EU which banned mobile carriers from charging roaming fees within the EU — which means you can use a SIM card you bought in France and use it in Italy without paying any extra fees. This is great for travelers because you can use one plan everywhere.

• For reference, here are the countries/areas where there is no data roaming: Andorra, Azores, Aland islands, Austria, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Corfu, Crete, the Cyclades, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France mainland, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg. Madeira, Malta. Isle of Man, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rhodes, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Vatican

Your Phone Needs To Be Unlocked

Some mobile carriers (mainly in the US, Australia, and New Zealand) “lock” their phones so they’ll only work on that carrier’s network — this typically applies if you have a plan that includes a free phone with a multi-year contract. You’ll need to contact your carrier and have them “unlock” your phone so it will accept a third-party SIM card.

In the US, carriers are required to unlock phones if the customer requests it but it’s rarely unlocked by default. That said, a few carriers still make customers jump through hoops to unlock their phones so don’t put this off until the last minute or you could be out of luck.

A New SIM Card Gives You A New Phone Number

Installing a new SIM card gives you a new phone number so your old number won’t work until you reinstall your original SIM card. So, if people need to reach you, you’ll need to tell people your new European number.

Furthermore, lots of websites and apps use two-factor authentication that’s connected to your phone number so that will no longer be an option with the new SIM installed. And if you use Uber/Lyft, you’ll need to update your new phone number in the app when you install your new SIM.

Why Is Mobile Data Cheap In Europe?

Europe’s consumer protection laws mean companies have to fight for customers and this keeps prices low. Many visitors are surprised that they can get 20GB of prepaid high-speed data for €20/month.

Avoid “Global” SIM Cards

There are a few companies that sell “global” SIM cards that claim to work in most countries in the world. Avoid these as the service is generally terrible and some simply don’t work. So stick to SIM cards that are specifically for Europe.

How Much Mobile Data Do You Need?

As long as you’re not streaming music/videos or uploading a ton of photos, you probably won’t use more than 4-6GB of mobile data a week. If you’re spending a lot of time on social media (notably Instagram and TikTok) then you might use a bit more but if you’re just doing normal web browsing and using Google Maps then you might only use 1-2GB a week.

How To Buy A European SIM Card With A High-Speed Data Plan

Ok, let’s dive into the different options you have for buying a European SIM card. You essentially have two options:

• Buying A SIM Card Before Your Travel: This is a little more expensive but it’s much more convenient because you can get everything ready before arriving.
• Buying A SIM Card Once You Arrive In Europe: This can be cheaper but you’ll need to find where to buy the SIM and there could be issues getting the service activated.

How To Buy A Prepaid SIM Card Before You Travel

Most major European mobile carriers have SIM cards with mobile plans that are geared towards tourists. These plans are sold through third-party resellers that will ship them to your home address. The most well-known authorized SIM card reseller is SimOptions.com .

These SIM cards are slightly more expensive than buying them in Europe but you get the convenience of not having to track down a SIM once you get to Europe.

For reference, you’ll probably spend an extra $15-$25 over the course of a two-week trip if you buy ahead vs waiting to buy in Europe—so in the grand scheme, it’s not a huge difference. However, if you’re traveling for multiple weeks then I suggest buying a SIM once you get to Europe as the saving become more substantial.

The Best Prepaid European SIM Cards

Here’s a list of the best prepaid SIM cards that you can buy before arriving in Europe.

Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card

The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card is probably the best all-around option for SIM cards that can be purchased abroad because it offers a lot of data for a good price — and it includes a lot of worldwide calls and text.

Additionally, Orange is one of the largest mobile companies in Europe and they have great coverage throughout most of Europe (which isn’t always the case with smaller European carriers).

Plan Specs:

• CALLS: Unlimted in Europe and 1200 minutes worldwide
• TEXT: Unlimted in Europe and 1000 worldwide
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: Yes
• CREDIT VALID FOR: 14 Days

The Orange Holiday Europe plan is good because it gives you a lot of mobile data for a decent price but the only possible drawback is the 14-day validity period — which doesn’t matter if your trip is less than two weeks. That said, you can buy an extra 10GB of credit after the two weeks are up for around $25.

If you’re a light data user and want to save a little money, check out the $30 Orange Holiday data plan that gives you 15GB of data for 14 days.

Update: The Orange Holiday plans are also available as an eSIM—which means you don’t have to wait for delivery or pay for shipping (assuming your phone is eSIM compatible). Check out the eSIM data plans at SimOptions to get the details on both the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM and the Orange Holiday Zen eSIM plans. Learn more about eSIM data plans and see if your phone accepts eSIM cards in my Guide to Prepaid eSIM Data Plans in Europe .

Three UK PAYG AIO15

Three UK is another large European mobile carrier and their PAYG AIO15 plan is a good value for people who don’t need the 20GB offered by the Orange Holiday Europe plan. I like how the plan has a validity period of 30 days so it’s good for longer trips.

• CALLS: Unlimted in Europe
• TEXT: Unlimted in Europe
• USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: No
• CREDIT VALID FOR: 30 Days

Bouygues Telecom Vacation Prepaid Plan

The Bouygues Telecom Vacation Prepaid Plan is very similar to the Orange Holiday Zen but the Bouygues plan must be activated in France — so that’s a huge drawback.

• USED AS MOBILE HOTSPOT?: NO
• Must be activated in France but can be used anywhere in the EU.

Bouygues recently released their  Bouygues My European eSIM  prepaid data plan to compete with the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM. It comes with 30GB of data and it is valid for 30 days so it’s worth checking out. Visit  SimOptions.com  to get all the details.

Note: SimOptions.com has other cards for sale but these are the best options/deals.

How To Buy SIM Card With High-Speed Data in Europe

Purchasing a SIM card in Europe is a fairly easy and straightforward process since they’re sold virtually everywhere — including newsstands, airports, vending machines, grocery stores, mobile phone shops, and more.

Here are a few of the most popular places you’ll find SIM cards:

• Carrier-Specific Storefronts: The major mobile carriers will have their own shops in most major cities that sell their SIM cards. Most employees should speak some English but they install SIM cards all day so they’ll be able to set you up without much communication needed.
• Third-Party Phone Shops: There are many mobile phone shops that sell a range of phone plans from multiple companies. Employees might be able to offer some help getting set up but service probably won’t be as good as carrier-specific shops.
• Newsstands, Tobacco Shops, Vending Machines, etc: You can find SIM cards in multiple smaller shops at airports, train stations, and randomly throughout most cities but don’t expect any customer service.

How Much Does It Cost To Buy A SIM Card with a Data Plan in Europe?

Mobile data plan prices in Europe vary widely based on the country, plan options, and various deals going on at the time—so it’s hard to accurately predict how much you’ll pay. However, here are some example prices to give you a better idea of how much you’ll potentially pay:

• SFR (French) offers a €20($25) plan with 25 GB of mobile data that’s good for 30 days or a €10 plan with 10 GB good for 8 days.
• TIM (Italian) has a tourist-specific plan called  Tim Tourist  for €20 (+ €10 for the SIM) that included 15 GB of data in Italy and up to 6 GB in the EU for 30 days.
• Vodafone (Italian) has its  Dolce Vita  tourists plan for €25($30)/month which includes 30 GB in Italy (15 GB in the EU).
• Orange Holidays Spain (Spain) Orange’s Holidays Spain is their tourist plan that’s €20($25)/month for 30 GB of data in Spain/EU.

Note : Some, but not all, mobile plans charge an activation fee of €5-€10 — which is kind of expensive if you’re only traveling for a week or two.

How To Install A SIM Card

Installing a SIM card is simple and only takes a minute — all you need to do is take the old SIM out and put the new one in. Most SIM Cards will come with a little tool that will help you pop out the SIM card holder but you can use a paper clip or thumbtack.

• Installing SIM Card In An iPhone: On an iPhone, the SIM card is located in a little slot on the side of the phone. You pop it out with a SIM card tool or a paper clip. Simply take the old SIM out and put the new one in (put your old SIM card in a safe place).
• Installing SIM Card In An Android Phone: Android phones typically have the SIM card located where the battery is located or in a slot like the iPhone. Simply take the old SIM card out and put the new one in (put your old SIM card in a safe place).

How To Activate Your European SIM Card

Activating your European SIM Card should be relatively straightforward and simple but there can be a few quirks here and there. In this section, I’ll cover the general activation process and try to address common issues people have.

First, install the new SIM card into your phone. In many cases, your phone will automatically recognize the new SIM card and the service will simply start working (it might take a few minutes for the service to connect).

For prepaid plans, your service will start as soon as you install the card. If you bought a SIM with no plan, then you’ll need to follow the instructions on how to add credit to your plan.

In some cases, you may be asked to register your SIM — each country has its own laws. For example, some might ask for a local European address (just use a valid local address like your hotel or rental apartment). Other countries might ask for a copy of your passport when you buy it in person or you might need to send in a scan of your passport (it’s always a good idea to email yourself a scan/photo of your passport whenever you travel abroad).

If you’re still running into trouble, you might need to tweak some settings on your phone to get the service working correctly. The most common technical issue is needing to turn on Mobile Data or Mobile Data Roaming in your phone settings.

Another possible issue is needing to configure your Access Point Name (APN) — this is usually automatic but sometimes you need to configure it manually. Each carrier will have its own login info (check their website or do a Google search) but here is an example for Orange:

• Open your iPhone and click on Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data Network (or Edge in early versions).
• Access Point Name (or APN): orange
• User name: orange
• Password: orange

Most companies follow a similar username/password format.

How To Top Up Your SIM Card

Once you run out of credit you’ll need to “top up” your SIM card to add more credit to your account. Most companies let you top up via their website or you can buy credit at newsstands, grocery stores, etc. Typically you’re given a code that you enter into your phone and that is how the credit is added.

More Tips On Using Your Mobile Phone In Europe

Get A Portable Battery Charger

Traveling with your phone will quickly drain your batteries so I highly recommend a portable battery. I use  Anker PowerCore 10000  because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

How To Lower Your Mobile Data Usage

Data can be expensive and it’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data because many apps use data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat… those all constantly use data throughout the day without you knowing it. That’s it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.

Use Airplane Mode And Block Data to Specific Apps

I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app. I’ll go in and turn every off except for things like Google Maps or others that I’ll use more frequently — this way when I turn off Airplane Mode only those apps that will use data. Then I’ll turn Airplane Mode back on when I’m done.

Download Offline Maps

Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good YouTube video that explains everything.

Make Calls Over WiFi

WhatsApp is an excellent app for free calling and text messages — I’ve found that many Europeans exclusively use WhatsApp to communicate (including many Airbnb hosts).

More Europe Travel Advice From The Savvy Backpacker

• How Much to Budget For Backpacking Through Europe
• How Much It Costs To Travel Europe  (For Multiple Travel Styles)
• Backpacking Europe Packing List
• Travel Europe Packing List for Women
• Guide To Prepaid eSIM Data Plans For Europe
• Recent Posts

• Backpacking Europe Packing List — My Europe Travel Packing Guide - April 6, 2024
• Best eSIM For Europe Travel | Everything You Need To Know About European Prepaid eSIM Data Plans - March 24, 2024
• Holafly eSIM Review | Testing The New eSIM Data Plan from Holafly - March 3, 2024

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Best SIM Card For Europe: Everything You Need To Know

by Melissa Giroux | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 | Europe , SIM Cards , Travel Tips

Visiting Europe soon? Make sure to know what to expect when it comes to purchasing a Europe SIM card .

In this guide, we’ll explain where to buy a SIM card in Europe in person and online.

We’ll also discuss prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs if your mobile supports them.

Before you read this guide, you may wonder if you actually need a SIM card for Europe.

If you don’t mind not having Internet, you’ll likely find free Wifi in restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels.

That said, if you need data to get around, call a cab, or translate into a foreign language – you may want to get a SIM card for your travels in Europe .

Note that if you’re European, your mobile phone provider may already offer European coverage.

If that’s the case, you won’t need a European SIM card for your adventures.

📱 Best SIM Card For Europe

Europe is enormous, and you’ll find various mobile providers depending on the countries you’re visiting.

Most providers have partnerships and offer coverage in multiple countries in Europe.

We recommend using a European SIM card from Orange, Vodafone, or Airalo .

I’ll get back to Airalo later on, so keep reading to learn more!

That said, depending on your first destination, you might find other providers.

For example, in Bulgaria, many small providers offer coverage in other European countries too. You might not find big brands like Orange or Vodafone, but you’ll find others like A1, Vivacom, or Yettel.

So, you don’t have to use a big provider – any provider that offers coverage in Europe should do.

❓ How To Buy A Travel SIM Card For Europe

You can either buy a Europe prepaid SIM card in person in some international airports, in mobile provider stores, in a convenience store, or online.

Usually, you can expect higher costs and low data offers at the airport, so we don’t recommend buying a SIM card at the airport.

That said, you won’t necessarily find SIM card shops in every airport, so it’s essential to keep this in mind.

For this reason, I’d recommend buying a SIM card directly from the mobile provider store.

Note that you may need your passport to buy one. Each country has its own rules; you might even need to provide an address.

Although, this means you won’t get data right upon your arrival.

So, if you’d rather be connected at all times, you could use an eSIM or purchase a European prepaid SIM card online.

❓ How To Buy A Europe Prepaid SIM Card Online

If you wish to have your SIM card ready for your arrival, you could purchase it online or on websites like Amazon.

You’ll find different Europe SIM card plans on Amazon. For example, the Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card works in over 30 countries and gives you 20GB of data for 14 days.

But there are many other options worth considering, so have a look and make sure the countries you’re planning on visiting are listed.

Browse your options on Amazon

Another option is to purchase a prepaid EU SIM card on SimOptions .

They offer a wide range of options in Europe, so look to find something that suits your needs.

Browse your options on SimOptions

Finally, the last option is to buy an eSIM plan for Europe.

❓ How To Buy A European eSIM Plan

eSIM is a new concept that allows you to have a virtual SIM card inside your phone.

If your mobile phone supports eSIM cards – it’s one of the best options to get data in Europe.

Curious? Learn more about the best eSIM providers .

Airalo Eurolink

Airalo offers many eSIM cards worldwide, and they have regional plans for Europe. I’ve been using Airalo in Europe for several months and love its convenience.

Read our complete Airalo eSIM review to learn more.

Here’s an overview of the options available in Europe :

• 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $5
• 3 GB, valid for 30 days for $13
• 5 GB, valid for 30 days for $20
• 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $37
• 50 GB, valid for 90 days for $100
• 100 GB, valid for 180 days for $185

The options mentioned above are part of Eurolink and include 39 countries.

Alternatively, if you’re traveling in other countries that are not mentioned on the list, you can try Discover Global, which offers coverage in 85 countries.

Here’s an overview of the options available on Discover Global :

• 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $9
• 3 GB, valid for 15 days for $24
• 5 GB, valid for 30 days for $35
• 10 GB, valid for 60 days for $59
• 20 GB, valid for 180 days for $89

Now, one important thing to note about Airalo is that you’ll need to keep an eye out for the provider in each country.

Suppose you ever have trouble connecting to the Internet during your trip.

In that case, it might be because you’re connecting automatically to networks, and you need to select a network manually instead.

When you purchase the eSIM, you’ll get access to the list of networks supported in each country.

Browse your options on Airalo

Holafly Europe

Alternatively, you could look at your options on Holafly . You can read our Holafly review to learn more about this eSIM store.

I’ve also tried Holafly during my travels in Europe, and it worked fine.

Overall, it’s important to note that Holafly is more expensive, but they offer unlimited plans in more than 50 countries and regions.

Holafly offers 24/7 support in multiple languages, which can be helpful if you need help setting up your eSIM plan.

The Holafly Europe eSIM works in 32 countries, and they offer the following plans:

• Unlimited data for 5 days for $19
• Unlimited data for 7 days for $27
• Unlimited data for 10 days for $34
• Unlimited data for 15 days for $47
• Unlimited data for 20 days for $54
• Unlimited data for 30 days for $64

Finally, Holafly allows you to make calls for up to 60 minutes and receive calls for up to 60 minutes.

Browse your options on Holafly

Nomad Europe

Another option worth considering is Nomad . They have a regional eSIM plan for Europe that includes coverage in 30 and 35 countries. 

Make sure the plan chosen covers the countries you plan to visit in Europe.

Here’s an overview of the plans offered by Nomad:

• 3 GB, valid for 30 days for $17
• 5 GB, valid for 30 days for $18
• 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $26

Browse your options on Nomad

BNESIM Europe

Finally, you could sign up for BNESIM Europe. They have a regional eSIM plan for Europe that includes coverage in 30 countries. 

BNESIM offers monthly plan subscriptions and one-time plans:

• 1 GB, no expiration for $3.77
• 3 GB, no expiration for $10.98
• 5 GB, no expiration for $17.73
• 10 GB, no expiration for $33.95

Browse your options on BNESIM

You can also get €4 off with my promo code: MELISSA4OFF.

Yoho Mobile Europe

Yoho Mobile is a newer eSIM provider that offers a European plan that works in 29 countries.

Yoho Mobile offers the following plans:

• 1GB, valid for 7 days for $4.50
• 3 GB, valid for 10 days for $10.99
• 5 GB, valid for 15 days for $17.50
• 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $33

Get a 5% discount on your first purchase with my Yoho Mobile promo code: abrokenbackpack5.

To add a coupon code, click on View Cart and paste the coupon code there.

To learn more, you can read our complete Yoho Mobile review .

Go to Yoho Mobile

💭 Final Thoughts On Europe SIM Card

As you can see, getting a prepaid SIM card in Europe or even an eSIM for Europe is pretty easy.

You can stay connected anywhere in Europe without changing your SIM card.

The eSIM card is the most convenient way to get data in Europe if you wish to have data on your arrival. This way, you won’t need to go to a store to buy a European SIM card.

You need to make sure your mobile phone supports eSIM first.

Traveling to Europe soon? Read one of the following blog posts:

• Cheapest European country to live in
• Best places to live in Europe
• Best beach towns in Spain

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Home » Mobile

The best SIM cards for travelling across Europe

Travelling across Europe and don’t want to have to stay out of touch or keep swapping SIMS? We’ve got you covered with our guide to the best international SIM cards and options for travelling in Europe.

We may earn money when you click our links.

Roaming in Europe

Best europe travel sim.

• Best Europe Travel eSIM
• Best Europe Roaming SIM

Europe is a super popular destination for Australian travellers, whether it’s for business purposes or simply to take in the hundreds of years of culture across the continent – not to mention all the very fine regional food options open to you. Which is great, right up until you want to call back to the office, check your messages or simply send a photo of that amazing meal you just had to social media.

That’s where having a smart approach to your travel SIM can save you serious money. While the really bad old days where watching one YouTube video could send you into bankruptcy on your return to Australian shores are (mostly) behind us, it’s still worth weighing up your options to get the best deal, whether you plan to use a full “Travel” SIM, a local SIM option or roaming from your existing telco.

It is worth noting that if your European travel is purely within the European Union (as distinct from the wider European continent) then the EU’s roaming rules around calls, texts and data apply – but it’s worth checking if a given provider has fair use provisions for roaming use in play for data, as those can sometimes obscure hidden fees.

• Bali Travel SIMs
• New Zealand Travel SIMs
• Japan Travel SIMs

Australia Post International Roaming

There’s a number of choices in the Japan Travel SIM market that you can order before you leave Australia from brands such as Sakura Mobile and B-Mobile, but if you are going the Travel SIM route it’s hard to overlook Mobal’s short-term tourist SIMs. Starting at ¥4,730 (~$50 AUD, depending on exchange rates) for an unlimited data-only 8 day SIM up to ¥7,920 (~$83) for a full 30 days with unlimited data.

It's worth noting that Japan allows a, shall we say, more “loose” definition of “ unlimited ” than you might think would apply, before you plan to start downloading the entire Netflix back catalogue to your tablet. Most plans are limited to 3GB of data per day, after which data speeds “may” be reduced. For most tourists being prudent 3GB a day is plenty enough, even if you are uploading most of your food and location snaps to Instagram at a frenzied pace.

Mobal’s SIMs work on the Softbank and Docomo networks in Japan with a claimed 99% population coverage, which should cover most places you’re likely to go on business or holiday within Japan.

Best eSIM for Europe

Airalo eurolink.

Airalo’s business model is entirely eSIM focused based around its own app. For European travellers across a number of countries your best best is one of its Eurolink packages, covering 39 countries with coverage periods ranging from 7 days to 180 days and data inclusions from 1GB up to 100GB. If your travel needs are more constrained, Airalo also offers single country packages that may offer you more data for less money, so it’s smart to check beforehand.

The big advantage here is that you can set up the Airalo app and an account all before you ever step foot on a plane, giving you peace of mind that when you land you’ll be able to message home with confidence. The downside, however, is that you must have an eSIM-enabled handset to use Airalo’s services, which cuts out many budget phones and some older premium models entirely.

Best Australian deal for Europe roaming

Vodafone $5 roaming.

Vodafone was the first Australian telco to really get on board with roaming charges that didn’t make you feel like you’d just been run over by a 747 when you returned home. Its $5/day surcharge to access your plan’s existing inclusions remains the gold standard for ease of use and ease of understanding, though it’s worth noting that its data capped speed plans do not include the endless speed capped data once you’ve gone through your primary provision. In those cases, you’ll get hit for $5 for each additional 1GB of data you need.

Here's a selection of Vodafone plans that support $5/day international roaming

The big catch with Vodafone $5 a day roaming is that it adds up over a lengthy European sojourn, so it’s best matched for when you might be quickly travelling through Europe for just a couple of days. Anything longer than that, and travel SIMs, local SIMs and travel eSIMs quickly become a more financially prudent option.

Vodafone aren’t your only option for roaming-friendly telcos within Australia, however. Here’s a range of alternative telco options that support roaming within Europe:

It can be highly beneficial to grab a local SIM in Europe for your travels, because typically local rates are cheaper and offer larger data inclusions than just about any travel SIM or roaming deal. There’s the added benefit for the EU specifically here too that member states (plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) all support cross-border roaming at no additional cost. Look for deals from some of the bigger cross-European Telcos such as Orange or Vodafone to get the best deal for the right price.

You’ll find no shortage of local SIM providers in every single major European airport if you favour convenience, though often they sell “tourist” specific SIMs with a slight surcharge in return for that easy pickup.

If you’re staying longer in a specific country, it’s worth researching local options and storefronts to see if you can get a prepaid SIM through them. Be careful, however, as you don’t want to get stung by a monthly plan that’s no use to you once you’ve left Europe, and some providers in some countries won’t accept credit card payments for some mobile services if the credit card itself isn’t local.

If your current handset doesn’t support eSIM, then sadly, the answer is no. You absolutely need the internal circuitry for eSIM support to be present on your phone in the first place.

If your phone does support eSIMs, then it’s quite easy to set up your eSIM before you travel. We’ve got a handy guide to setting up eSIMs for Apple iPhone and Android here .

The absolute cheapest way to “roam” when overseas is to throw your phone into a canal the moment you land. But that’s environmentally unsound, so don’t do it.

The second cheapest way is to use public Wi-Fi where available. In Europe, that’s a lot of places, including most accommodation venues. Instead of throwing your phone into a canal, switch off its roaming data (or data altogether) and switch to using Wi-Fi plus services such as Facetime, FaceBook Messenger and WhatsApp as your temporary “phone” number while you’re travelling. Use the offline maps capability of services such as Google Maps for navigation, load up on offline streaming services and music, and you can survive without having to pay anything extra at all for data.

Bear in mind, however, that public networks sit outside your control, and you never know who might be doing a little not-so-idle-not-so-friendly packet sniffing to get hold of your data. If you’re planning on relying on public Wi-Fi while travelling, investing in proper secure VPN access is a must.

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13 Best International (E)-Sim Cards for Traveling in 2024

Traveling overseas soon? Avoid high roaming costs and get yourself a travel sim card, an international sim card with data that works all over the world! Does that exist? Yes! And good news, I updated this international sim card comparison for all your trips abroad in 2024 and included the best international e-sim cards as well.

First I will explain the differences between a local prepaid sim card and a global travel sim card. Then I give you a comparison of the best international prepaid and e-sim cards available for traveling abroad in 2024, including all the pros and cons.

At the end you can decide for yourself if you think it is worth buying an international (e)-sim card for your next trip or buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in your holiday destination.

For your convenience I ranked the best international sim cards from best to worst. Number 1 is my top recommendation, then number 2 and so on… However, it also depends on the places and countries that you will be traveling to, so choose your sim card wisely.

Slowly physical sim cards are being replaced by e-sim cards. Physical sim cards are not needed anymore, no more swapping sim cards in your phone if your phone is e-sim compatible.

Actually, e-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling abroad in 2024. Unfortunately in most countries you can not buy a local prepaid sim card as an e-sim card, you will have to buy an international e-sim card on the internet. But it is very easy.

Here are some of the latest Traveltomtom e-sim card guides with everything you need to know about using an e-sim card in: USA , Canada , Mexico ,  Thailand , Hong Kong , Singapore ,  Malaysia , China , Australia ,  Europe ,  France , Italy , Spain , Portugal , United Kingdom ,  Turkey ,  Egypt , Dubai , Philippines , Vietnam  and many more.

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Local prepaid sim cards that you buy in a store on arrival on your holiday destination are in general only valid in the country you buy it. But so called international sim cards and e-sim cards you buy on the internet can be used in multiple countries.

It would be annoying to travel the world and not being able to connect to the internet or make phone calls. Having the newest smartphone but not being able to use it and keep in touch with your friends and family is frustrating. But most important is that staying connected makes life so much easier and traveling more fun.

International data roaming plans limit the internet speed and are too expensive. There is public WiFi in many places, but it is unreliable and public WiFi is an UNSECURED connection. We want to be online in a secure and reliable way when traveling.

But before buying an international prepaid or e-sim card for your trip abroad I want to make you aware of the existence of local prepaid sim cards as well. Because the main reason I am writing this blog post is for you to save money on high roaming costs when traveling. In most cases local prepaid sim cards are the cheapest way to get data on your phone.

Prepaid tourist sim cards vs. international sim cards

There is a big difference between local prepaid sim cards for tourists and international travel sim cards. While the former is great for traveling in 1 country, an international sim card is a great option for travelers who don’t intend to stay in a country for very long and visit multiple countries on one trip.

An exception is a European sim card. There are international sim cards created just for Europe, but also a lot of local prepaid sim cards in Europe allow FREE roaming within the EU. But it is a bit more complicated with a lot of small letters full of restrictions.

Click here for more information about buying a local prepaid sim card in Europe in 2024  or check my list of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for Europe travel in 2024 .

For example all the below listed international sim cards claim to cover Africa. Yes, they are not lying, but the rates per MB are averaging around $0.10, that means 100 MB will cost you $10. That can be as little as using Instagram for about 10 minutes.

Comparing this to a local prepaid sim card for tourists in Uganda  where the same $10 gives you more than 15 GB data for 1 month, you can understand why Traveltomtom recommends a local prepaid sim card over a global sim card in some countries.

What is cheaper?

A local prepaid sim card for tourists gives you often more value for money than an international sim card. Therefore in the beginning of this article I told you that you will have to decide whether you want to buy an international sim card for traveling abroad or buying a local prepaid sim card for tourists on arrival.

Because I am aiming to travel to every country in the world  and I buy a sim card in every country I visit I also already wrote already more than 200 guides for buying sim cards:  London , Paris , Tanzania , Lebanon ,  Rome , USA , Canada , Mexico , South Africa ,  Guatemala , Honduras ,  Turkey , Israel , Dubai , Thailand , Kenya ,  Indonesia , Sydney , Singapore ,  Vietnam , UK , Spain , Italy , France , Norway , Georgia , Colombia , Dominican Republic  and many more.

Local prepaid sim cards are often pretty cheap and come with big value data bundles. Most countries and operators have special tourist sim cards. Downside is that you can only buy them on arrival, so you have to visit a phone store during your holiday or get one from the airport.

In most countries they only provide physical prepaid sim cards for tourists and e-sim cards are not available.

But where local prepaid sim cards stop working, international sim cards continue to roam. With a sim card designed with overseas travel in mind, you will be online as soon as the plane touches the ground.

With international sim cards, you can cross borders and continue to enjoy data on your phone browsing the internet, make/receive calls, and send texts as if you are still at home all with the same sim card.

Crossing many borders in a short period of time? International travel sim cards are the best solution! Which one? Personally I recommend e-sim cards for traveling in 2024, but check my list below.

Where can you buy an international sim card?

Buying an international sim card can only be done on the internet often through a third party. In this article I will show you the best websites where to buy a global sim card for world travelers and I will link directly to the operators so in case you are interested you can have a look on their websites for more details.

International sim cards for traveling the world are available as physical prepaid sim cards as well as e-sim cards. Physical prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address and e-sim cards will be send to you as a QR code in your email.

Where can you buy local prepaid sim cards for tourists

Local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in a store or kiosk in the destination itself. In almost every country you will find local prepaid sim card shops on arrival at the international airport. On Traveltomtom you can find sim card guides for more than 100 airports around the world: Bangkok , Jakarta , Manila ,  Bali , Hong Kong , Singapore , Shanghai ,  Sydney , Istanbul , Cairo , Dubai , New York , Miami , London , Rome , Paris , Madrid , Barcelona ,  Amsterdam and many more.

Keep in mind that buying a local prepaid sim card on an international airport is mostly more expensive. You can get better prepaid sim card deals from official retail stores in city centers, shopping malls or from random mobile phone shops.

In some countries you can also buy local prepaid sim cards in convenience stores, gas stations or supermarkets. Keep in mind when buying a local prepaid sim card in any of these shops that you will mostly have to activate the sim card yourself. That means it is not plug and play.

Two things that both local and international sim cards have in common is that they avoid high roaming costs!

My recommendation

Depending on your destination local prepaid sim cards will give you more value for money. But you can only buy a sim card on arrival. If you are looking for the most convenient way to stay connected and want to arrive prepared at your holiday destination then order an international prepaid sim card or an e-sim card.

Overseas data plans and data roaming packages from the mobile operator from your home country mostly don't allow you to use the max data speed.

Traveltomtom recommends an Orange Holiday World sim card , a Three UK sim card or a Discover Global e-sim card for traveling the world in 2024.

Personally I have a Discover Global e-sim card from Airalo with 20 GB data valid for 365 days installed on my phone. This e-sim card is valid in 130 countries and I use it every time the plane lands in a new country.

Depending on where and how long I travel I compare the local prepaid sim cards with the available e-sim cards 

Keep in mind that I am an exception and I literally travel 365 days a year. For example in 2022  I visited a total of 62 countries!

Traveltomtom recommends getting an international prepaid or e-sim card from a reliable third party sim card provider.

Great resources for buying international sim cards and e-sim cards are:

• SimOptions for physical sim cards as well as e-sim cards
• Airalo  for e-sim cards
• Nomad for e-sim cards
• Jetpac for e-sim cards

Personally Traveltomtom has used SimOptions and Airalo the most and for many consecutive years. Nomad and Jetpac are fairly new on the e-sim market, but since I figured out that both of them have some amazing e-sim card plans cheaper than Airalo and SimOptions I started using them too. It depends on where I am traveling.

International sim card comparison

As expected, there’s a wide range of international sim cards available on the internet. The challenge that most travelers are faced with is choosing the best one for their trip. The pricing and capabilities vary widely and some cater best for one trip, but suck for another trip.

In the following section, I will review and compare the top international sim cards. Read through the list carefully and pick the travel sim that works for you. As promised I listed the best travel sim cards on top!

 In short:

• Best sim card for Europe: Orange Holiday Europe  & Bouygues Telecom (e-sim)
• Best sim card for Caribbean: Knowroaming or KeepGo
• Best sim card for North America: Orange Holiday World & Three UK or a  Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Central America:  Three UK
• Best sim card for South America: Three UK or Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Africa: Orange Holiday World &  Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Asia: Discover Global E-sim card & Jetpac Global
• Best sim card for Southeast Asia: Jetpac Global
• Best sim card for the Middle East:  Discover Global E-sim card
• Best sim card for Oceania: Smart Traveller eSim, Nomad Global

Traveling to the Middle East? I visited all countries in the Middle East myself and wrote detailed sim card guides for them: Qatar ,  Dubai , Bahrain , Oman , Saudi Arabia , Jordan , Lebanon , Israel , etc.

13 Best International Sim Cards with Data

All the international sim cards below can be ordered directly online and will either be shipped to your home address or send directly to your e-mail in case of an e-sim card. In case of a physical prepaid sim card they will come in a 3-in-1 sizes which makes them fit into any smart(phone), tablet or portable WiFi device.

In case of e-sim cards always make sure your smartphone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card.

1. Orange Holiday World  - not available as e-sim card

The international sim card with data that covers EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Yes, with this prepaid travel sim you have data roaming included in 197 countries and that is the reason why I listed it as number 1.

The price? It is good compared to other similar sim cards.

Down sides of this Orange international sim card is that you can NOT make or receive phone calls, it is a pure data-only sim card only and this sim card does not come with a phone number. The Orange Holiday World sim card is only valid for 14 days. After these 14 days you can top up online, but it is complicated.

This international prepaid sim card is only offed by SimOptions, one of the most trusted sim card providers on the internet.

Click here to directly order an Orange Holiday World as a prepaid sim card via SimOptions .

Orange was initially referred to as France Telecom. As of today, the network has more than 250 million customers worldwide thanks to its big value data plans and free roaming in EVERY country in the world.

Unfortunately the Orange Holiday World sim card is NOT available as an e-sim card, only as physical prepaid sim card.

Orange does offer amazing e-sim cards for traveling to multiple countries, but only for Europe.

As you can see above these are amazing sim card deals and valid in 39 countries, but limited to Europe only. This makes these one of the best e-sim cards for traveling in Europe .

Click here to order this Orange e-sim cards for traveling in Europe via SimOptions .

Prices and rates Orange Holiday World

The Orange Holiday World international sim card costs $49.90 USD and comes with max 10 GB data included. The volume of the package depends on your destination(s).

You get 10 GB data if you travel to any EU country and/or any of the other countries in Zone 1: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Benin, Botswana, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Macao, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Switzerland, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam

The Orange Holiday World sim card allows you to use 5 GB data in Zone 2: Argentina, Bahrain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Dominican Republic, Uruguay.

You get 1 GB data in: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Togo, Venezuela

In any other country you get 50 MB. That is obvious not a lot and actually pretty useless.

If at any point, you run out of data, calls, or texts, you can top up your sim card online from the Orange website. The same package then costs you only €29 EUR ($31 USD) and you get again up to 10 GB data.

Review Orange Holiday World

If you are traveling to any of the countries listed in Zone 1 or Zone 2 then the Orange Holiday World is an excellent prepaid global sim card that I would recommend to buy.

Personally I wish the package would be valid for a little more than 14 days and I am missing some countries in the Caribbean that could be useful to add as these are popular tourist destinations for people traveling from the USA.

There is NO activation needed as the sim card automatically activates upon insertion in your phone, tablet or WiFi device. It is like plug and play. The credit validity starts when the sim card connects the first time to a supported network. Basically when the plane lands.

Lots of travelers from different parts of the world opt for Orange Holiday World because they are generous with data and cheap compared to other international sim cards. Therefore I call Orange Holiday World one of the best prepaid data sim card for traveling the world.

However, if you are traveling to countries listed in Zone 3 or 4 the Orange Holiday World sim card is NOT the best buy. Orange is also not a great sim card for traveling in the Caribbean.

The Orange Holiday World sim card also a great prepaid sim card for Africa as it covers a wide range of countries with 10 GB data roaming, especially in Central and West Africa. For East Africa check my prepaid sim card guides per country: Egypt , Kenya , Tanzania , South Africa , Uganda , Ethiopia  or the e-sim card below which is ranked as the best international sim card for traveling in Africa.

Click here for more info about the Orange Holiday World sim card .

2. Discover Global E-Sim Card from Airalo

The easiest and most convenient way to get internet on your phone when traveling abroad in 2024 is an e-sim card. The way e-sim cards work is that through software on your phone (just settings, nothing fancy) you are able to switch to another network. On this network you are able to use the data allowance according to which package you bought and activated.

Mind you this is an e-sim card and NOT a physical sim card. So no need to swap a physical sim card. Just scan the received QR code, follow the steps, instal the e-sim card and activate it. Trust me it is really simple.

With an e-sim card you keep your own phone number and whenever you want to use your own phone number you simply switch networks again in the settings.

Airalo is one of the leading e-sim card providers and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times all over the world. Airalo offers sim cards for pretty much every country in the world and they also sell 2 international e-sim cards:

• International data-only e-sim card.
• International e-sim card including calling and texting.

Both Discover Global e-sim cards from Airalo are valid in 130 countries, depending on the plan you buy the sim card is valid for 365 days. Traveltomtom has this e-sim card installed on his phone. It is a life saver many times and only costs $69 USD.

Prices Discover Global data-only E-Sim Card

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $9 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $17 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $24 USD
• 5 GB data for 60 days = $35 USD
• 10 GB data for 180 days = $59 USD
• 20 GB data for 365 days = $69 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Discover Global data-only E-Sim Card via Airalo .

Prices Discover Global E-Sim Card including calling/texting

• 1 GB data + 10 minutes + 10 sms for 7 days = $9 USD
• 2 GB data + 20 minutes + 20 sms for 15 days = $17 USD
• 3 GB data + 30 minutes + 30 sms for 30 days = $24 USD
• 5 GB data + 50 minutes + 50 sms for 60 days = $35 USD
• 10 GB data + 100 minutes + 100 sms for 180 days = $59 USD
• 20 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms for 365 days = $69 USD

The above data packages are valid in 130 countries:

• Europe: every European country is covered, including: UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Greenland.
• North America: USA, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador
• Asia: China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Macau, Philippines, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan.
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay.
• Middle East: Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen.
• Africa: Sudan, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Gabon, Eswatini, Central African Republic, Chad, Tunisia, Tanzania, Seychelles, Senegal, Reunion, Kenya, Congo DRC, Republic of Congo, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Mali, Madagascar.

Big plus is that the Airalo Global Discover+ e-sim card is 5G ready in many countries.

Click here for more info or to order a Discover Global E-Sim Card including calls/sms directly online via Airalo .

Review Discover Global E-Sim Card

I am very overwhelmed with the amount of countries and especially the exact countries. Almost all the countries above are well known tourist destinations around the world. Fact is that the Discover Global E-sim card is one of the best sim cards for traveling in Africa. It also is by far the best for traveling in South America and Asia. It literally covers almost all countries in these continents.

Personally I have a Discover Global e-sim card activated on my phone as well. I bought the 20 GB valid for 1 year and using it a lot when I go to countries for just a couple days like when I was in Qatar, visiting family in Netherlands for 3 days, a couple days in Turkey, etc. To me this international e-sim card is a game changer! Traveltomtom loves the Discover Global E-sim card.

The downside of the Airalo Discover Global eSim card is that in some lesser known countries like Greenland, Belarus, Gibraltar, Eswatini, Central African Republic, etc. the max data speed is 3G. The performance in these countries is pretty disappointing.

But that said, I mostly only use my Global eSim card from Airalo only for the first hours/day when I am in a new country. Then I mostly opt for a local prepaid sim card, especially in the lesser known countries off the beaten path.

Click here for more info about the Discover Global E-Sim Card from Airalo .

3. Jetpac Global

Jetpac is a fairly new e-sim provider and is trying to conquer the market with some incredible e-sim card plans for traveling the world.

At the moment their Jetpac Global e-sim card is valid in 50+ countries. Pretty much all of Europe and East Asia plus Australia, New Zealand and USA

Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City.

Asia: Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazachstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.

Pacific: Australia, New Zealand.

Americas: USA.

This list of countries where the Jetpac Global e-sim card is valid makes it a perfect e-sim card for traveling to East and Southeast Asia. The only countries missing in South East Asia would be: Singapore, Timor Leste, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos. All other countries in South East Asia are covered.

For traveling to Europe it is also a great e-sim card, but some countries like Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine and several Balkan countries are missing.

Prices and rates Jetpac Global

Jetpac Global is at the moment the cheapest international e-sim card as they have an offer for just $1 USD.

• 1 GB data for 30 days = $1 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD

Click here to  order a Jetpac Global e-sim card .

The Jetpac Global e-sim card plans are valid for 30 days and the validity starts automatically when it connects for the first time to a network in a country where you can use Jetpac.

Review Jetpac

The Jetpac Global 1 GB data package is obviously a winner at the moment with only $1 USD for 1 GB data in 50+ countries. I am sure this is a promo deal, but as long as it stands Jetpac is the cheapest international e-sim card.

Their 15 GB data pack for $25 USD is not bad and a great e-sim card for traveling in Asia. However, for Europe there are cheaper e-sim cards available for that same price. Check out my list of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling to Europe in 2024 .

Jetpac Global is only available as an e-sim card and not as a physical prepaid sim card. The Jetpac Global e-sim cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.

An extra advantage of Jetpac Global e-sim cards is that they provide free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you will have to register your flight before you travel and in case of a delayed or canceled flight a LoungeKey voucher will automatically be provided. This is a complimentary service that no other e-sim cards offer.

For more info check out the Jetpack website .

4. Three UK prepaid sim card  - not available as e-sim cards

The sim cards from Three UK allow users to browse in up to 56 countries around the world at no extra costs and therefore is one of the international sim card for traveling abroad. Unfortunately the Three UK international sim cards are not available as e-sim cards, but only as physical sim cards.

These Three UK physical prepaid sim cards are available via SimOptions.

There are 6 data plans available but the PAYG AIO15 and the PAYG AIO20 are only valid in 3 countries and therefore not recommend as a sim card for traveling internationally.

• 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
• 12 GB data for 30 days = $29.90 USD
• 12 GB data valid for 1 year = $59.90 USD
• 24 GB data valid for 1 year = $79.90 USD

Click here to order a Three UK international prepaid sim card via SimOptions .

Prices and rates 3 UK

A Three UK international sim card for travelers start from $24.90 USD which is a great price compared to other international sim cards and it also is valid for 30 days. That is $2.49 USD per Gigabyte.

Data roaming is free in all European countries + the following countries:

Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Macao, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, United States Virgin Islands, USA, Vietnam.

The Three UK prepaid international sim cards do NOT come with a phone number and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported.

There is no registration needed as this international sim card gets automatically activated from its first use.

Review 3 UK PAYG AIO20

As a lot of Latin America countries are included, this travel sim card is one of the best sim cards for South America as well as Central America. On the contrary the 3 UK sim card is NOT good for traveling in Africa and or Asia.

Little downside is that you can only top up this Three sim card with a UK registered credit card. Therefore after 30 days you can only use this sim card to receive calls and text.

Click here for  more info about a Three UK international sim card .

5. Nomad - Data eSIM for Global

Nomad is a fairly new player on the e-sim card market, but Traveltomtom has used and tested many Nomad e-sim cards in the last months. They sometimes have exceptional good deals for some destinations. Traveltomtom discovered that Nomad has amazing e-sim card deals for Dubai for example.

However, the international e-sim cards from Nomad are rather expensive. They are valid in more than 100 countries though.

Nomad offers data-only eSim cards from eSIM Go and Thruphone. The eSIM Go plans are valid in 139 countries and the Truphone plans are valid in 109 countries.

eSIM Go plans

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $19 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $57 USD

The eSIM Go plans are valid in 139 countries.

Truphone plans

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $25 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD

The Truphone e-sim cards are valid in 109 countries.

Click here to order a Truphone or eSIM Go e-sim card via Nomad .

Nomad e-sim card specifications

From the moment you buy a Nomad e-sim card you have 30 days to activate the e-sim card. Top-ups are available. 5G is NOT supported. Max data speed is 4G/LTE. The e-sim cards you buy via Nomad are all data-only and do not come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported.

Here are the 109 countries where the Truphone e-sim card is valid.

• Europe: every European country is covered, including: UK, Switzerland, Norway, Turkey, Russia
• North America: USA, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Bermuda, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala, Grenada, Jamaica, Honduras, Turks & Caicos
• Asia: China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Armenia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Macau, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Kazachstan
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Fiji
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana
• Middle East: UAE, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
• Africa: Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Mayotte, Reunion, Tanzania

The eSIM Go e-sim cards are valid in the above countries plus: Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Morocco, Tajikistan, Yemen and a bunch more off the beaten path countries.

The Nomad Global e-sim cards are great for traveling in North America, South America and even Pacific as it covers a lot of countries in these continents.

For traveling in Europe it is way too expensive. Check out my list of the best prepaid and e-sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024  for much cheaper deals.

Click here for  more info about the Nomad Global esim cards .

6. eSim2FLY Global

AIS is a mobile internet provider from Thailand. This e-sim card for international travel to more than 140 countries is a data-only sim card and incoming and outgoing calls and texts are not possible.

• 6 GB data valid for 15 days = $39.90 USD

Click here to  order the eSIM2FLY AIS international e-sim card via SimOptions .

eSIM2FLY AIS international e-sim card specifications

This e-sim card is valid in 141 countries around the world:

Afghanistan, Aland Islands, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia (5G), Austria (5G), Azerbaijan, Bahrain (5G), Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium (5G), Bhutan (5G), Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil (5G), Brunei (5G), Bulgaria (5G), Cambodia, Canada (5G), Chad, Chile, China + Tibet (5G), Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia (5G), Cyprus, Czech Republic (5G), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark (5G), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England (5G), Estonia (5G), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland (5G), France (5G), Gabon, Georgia, Germany (5G), Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece (5G), Greenland, Guam (5G), Guatemala (5G), Guernsey,

Honduras, Hong Kong (5G), Hungary (5G), Iceland (5G), India, Indonesia (5G), Iran (5G), Ireland (5G), Isle of Man, Israel (5G), Italy (5G), Japan (5G), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait (5G), Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia (5G), Liechtenstein, Lithuania (5G), Luxembourg (5G), Macau (5G), Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia (5G), Maldives (5G), Malta (5G), Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco.

Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands (5G), New Zealand (5G), Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Ireland, Northern Cyprus, Norway (5G), Oman (5G), Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines (5G), Poland (5G), Portugal (5G), Puerto Rico (5G), Qatar (5G), Reunion, Romania (5G), Russia (5G), San Marino (5G), Saudi Arabia (5G), Scotland (5G), Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore (5G), Slovakia (5G), Slovenia (5G), Solomon Islands, South Africa (5G), South korea (5G), Spain (5G), Sri Lanka, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Swaziland, Sweden (5G), Switzerland (5G), Taiwan (5G), Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey (5G), Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (5G), Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, USA (5G), Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City (5G), Vietnam (5G), Wales (5G), Western Samoa.

Big plus about eSIM2FLY from AIS is that it is one of the only international sim card that is 5G ready. However, it is also much more expensive and only valid for 15 days.

Click here for  more info about the eSIM2FLY AIS international e-sim card .

7. Surfroam

A Surfroam international sim card is a data only global sim card. With mobile coverage in 200+ countries and territories as they state on the Surfroam website.

You can not receive and make phone calls however you can receive sms. Also Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Viber are unlimited and always accessible when buying a Surfroam prepaid travel sim card.

Prices and rates Surfroam

At Surfroam they offer 2 products: a normal sim card for €15 EUR ($16.4 USD) and an e-sim card for €20 EUR ($22 USD). Basically Surfroam is a free international prepaid sim card as you get either €15 EUR ($16.4 USD) or €20 EUR ($22 USD) credit INCLUDED.

The common rate for most Western countries is €0.01 per MB, which means €10 EUR ($11 USD) per 1 GB data. They charge you per MB. See here a quick overview of the costs per MB per continent.

Review Surfroam

As opposed to other world sim cards, with Surfroam you don’t need to buy data bundles in advance. This flexibility appeals to long-term travelers or those hopping between different countries of the world constantly.

Also a big plus of Surfroam is that they are providing a ‘free’ international sim card, what you pay, you get back in credit.

Overall, the Surfroam data roaming rates and its pricing model is flexible and easy to understand. Compared to other international sim cards this is very clear, transparent AND MUCH CHEAPER!

There is data roaming coverage in over 200 countries and territories and per country is stated how much they charge per MB.

One of the negative sides of Surfroam are the steep shipping costs. For most Western countries you already pay more than $20 USD, for the USA Surfroam adds even $25 USD shipping fee. Therefore I would recommend you buying the Surfroam e-sim travel sim card instead to save on shipping costs.

Also when looking at the rates per MB of the countries in Africa, it is an easy conclusion that Surfroam is a good sim cards for traveling in Africa, but not so much for South America.

For more info check out the  Surfroam  website.

Traveltomtom traveled to more than 70% of the countries in Africa and wrote detailed sim card guides for the following countries in Africa: Kenya , Nairobi ,  Tanzania , Ethiopia , Djibouti , South Africa , Uganda , Gabon , Cameroon , Congo Brazzaville ,  Rwanda , Burundi ,  Namibia , Lesotho , Zambia ,  Egypt , Ghana , Sao Tome & Principe , Ivory Coast and many more. If you travel to any of these countries I would recommend you to check the link.

KeepGo is an official partner of Vodafone, Telefonica, and AT&T with offices in Israel, the USA, and the Netherlands and operates on 500 connected networks in more than 100 countries. The Keepgo international sim card is a data only sim card and does NOT support any incoming or outgoing calls & text.

Prices and rates KeepGo

Gofi prepaid data sim card - $39 usd.

This is a sim card just for Europe and the USA. With this pay as you go sim card you pay $8 / GB data, regardless where in Europe or the USA you are.

Not great for world travelers, but may be if you travel between the USA and Europe a lot.

Lifetime Prepaid Data Sim Card - $49 USD

This international sim card works in more than 100 countries and comes with 1 GB data included.

If you want more data you will have to add one of the data packages below:

• $14 USD= 500 MB
• $26 USD = 1 GB
• $61 USD = 3 GB
• $88 USD = 5 GB
• $165 USD = 10 GB

Click here to order a KeepGo international sim card .

The data packages are valid for 1 year! If you top up once per year, all data is valid for lifetime.

The Keepgo Lifetime Prepaid Data Sim Card is valid in all of Europe and the following countries & territories:

Algeria, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Georgia, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Montserrat, Myanmar, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Russia, Saoudi Arbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunesia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam.

Review Keepgo

Buying a Keepgo global sim card it self is rather expensive as you pay $49 and only get 1 GB included. Good thing is that Traveltomtom readers can get a 10% discount by applying the KeepGo Coupon Code: TRAVELTOMTOM. They also sell WiFi hotspots for international travel.

The Keepgo data package prices are rather expensive, but compared to other international sim cards they have better prices than for example OneSimCard, Travsim and Gosim and therefore they deserve spot number 6 in this list of the cheapest international travel sim cards in the world.

Coverage wise the Keepgo sim card has some specific advantages. Looking at the list of countries where Keepgo offers free data roaming I come to the conclusion that Keepgo is also one of the best international sim cards for the Caribbean. They cover almost every island, territory and country in this pristine part of the world.

Keepgo offers free shipping worldwide which is another great plus. For more info check the KeepGo website .

If traveling to the Caribbean it is definitely recommended to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival. Prepaid sim cards with data are cheap. Check out Traveltomtom's sim card guides for: Aruba , Curacao , Jamaica , Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic , Antigua & Barbuda .

9. Know Roaming

They call themselves the ultimate travel sim card you will only ever need to stay connected in 200+ countries & territories.

Prices and rates Know Roaming

The price for a Know Roaming Travel SIM card is $9,99 and does NOT come with any credit. Know Roaming international sim cards do NOT support incoming and outgoing phone calls. You can opt for a Know Roaming e-sim which is for free.

You will have to buy any of the below data packages to use your sim card abroad:

• Global: 5 GB data for 30 days in 79 countries = $99.99 USD
• Europe: 5 GB data for 30 days = $39.99 USD
• Asia: 5 GB data for 30 days = $39.99* USD

* valid in: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

Know Roaming also offers an international e-sim card service with data plans for Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, Middle East & Global.

• Asia: 5 GB data for 30 days = $39.99 USD
• Caribbean: 1 GB data for 30 days = $39.99* USD
• Latin America: 5 GB data for 30 days = $117.99** USD
• Middle East: 5 GB data for 30 days = $40.99*** USD
• Global: 5 GB data for 30 days = $110.99**** USD

* valid in: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guyana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands.

** valid in: Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Mexico, Uruguay.

*** valid in: Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Saoudi Arabia, Qatar.

**** valid in Europe & some popular tourist destinations around the world + some off the beaten path countries.

Review Know Roaming

Compared to other international sim card services the Know Roaming sim card is cheap: just $10. Their global data packages are average priced compared to other services and you can choose per continent.

For the Know Roaming e-sim you only pay for the data package which is a great service and therefore prices are cheaper than other services.

Know Roaming is one of the best prepaid international sim cards for the Caribbean as they cover almost every island, however data roaming is expensive. The Know Roaming Latin America sim card is way overpriced and not recommended at all. Instead Know Roaming is one of the best sim cards for Asia.

For more info about the Know Roaming travel sim card check their website .

10. Travelsim

A Travelsim international sim card works in 135+ countries, covers 170+ countries and states to work in 200 countries. All information found on their homepage! Just like free incoming calls and text. Well, I bet some of this is true at least.

Prices and rates Travelsim

Travelsim offers a world sim card for $10 USD and an e-sim card for $6. When buying a Travelsim sim card it also suddenly states free incoming calls in 70+ countries and coverage in 135+ countries. :)

Their pricing and rates are clear and straight forward though.

Review Travelsim

When ordering a Travelsim international sim card prices are easy to understand, however more expensive than other global sim cards and therefore not my prefered sim card for travelers. They offer free shipping worldwide on orders over $50 USD and their calling credit is valid for 18 months. For more info check the Travelsim website .

11. GigSky E-sim Card

GigSky does NOT sell physical sim cards anymore and only offers an international e-sim card. There are multiple data packages available some with pretty good deals. Gigsky is a data only service, you can NOT make or receive phone calls/sms.

Gigsky has coverage in 116 countries. Their coverage in Africa is very limited.

Prices and rates Gigsky

Great thing is that the Gigsky e-sim cards are free, but you will need to download their app to use their service. Through the app you can buy your desired data bundles. They offer regional data packages as well as a World Plan.

There are multiple Regional Plans, a great one is the Latin America sim card, and there is 1 world sim card with fixed data bundle prices.

Review Gigsky

Some of the offered international data roaming plans are pretty decent. Overall Gigsky is one of the best sim cards for traveling in South America with 5GB in almost every country in Latin America for just $40 USD.

Compared to other international travel sim cards the Gigsky worldwide sim card is expensive with 5GB data for $60 USD and therefore I would NOT recommend using the Gigsky e-sim card for traveling the world. The international sim card deals above are much better value for money!

Or check out the following sim card guides:

• Traveling to Europe? Check out my article about the best sim cards for Europe .
• Traveling to Asia? Check out my article about the best sim cards for Asia .
• Traveling to the USA? Check out my article about the best sim cards for USA .

For example buying a sim card in Vietnam will cost you $9 USD and gets you 2 GB data PER DAY + 60 minutes calling time valid for 30 days. Just saying, that local prepaid sim cards are amazing alternatives to international prepaid sim cards.

However, nowadays the easiest way to stay connected are e-sim cards and you can buy an e-sim card on the internet for pretty much every country. Here are some of the latest Traveltomtom e-sim card guides: Italy , France , USA , Thailand .

12. OneSimCard

According to many websites OneSimCard takes the cup when it comes to the cheapest international sim card. But is this true? Let's see...

This prepaid mobile service provider is a product of US telecommunication carrier Belmont Telecom. At OneSimCard they say they operate in 200+ countries, but there are only 197 countries in the world!? Bit of a weird start…

The international sim cards offered by OneSimCard come with two numbers, an Estonian one (Europe) and one of your choice: USA, Canada, Australia.

Prices and rates OneSimCard

Anyway at OneSimCard they offer 4 different international sim cards:

Universal SIM - $29.95 USD

• Calling & texting in more than 160 countries*
• Free incoming calls in more than 120 countries
• Free incoming sms in more than 160 countries
• Data roaming in more than 160 countries*
• Free $10 credit

*For using data and make calls/sms you will have to buy additional data or voice packages.

Expedition SIM - $34.95 USD

• Calling & texting in more than 200 countries*
• Free incoming calls in more than 110 countries
• Free incoming sms in more than 200 countries
• Data roaming in more than 170 countries*

Europe & More SIM - $19.95 USD

• Calling & texting in more than 100 countries*
• Free incoming calls in more than 70 countries
• Free incoming sms in more than 100 countries
• Data roaming in more than 90 countries*

This is no physical sim card, but a digital SIM. It allows you to have a data/call package activated through a provider without using a physical sim card. It mostly works by installing an app.

At OneSimCard they offer an international eSIM for $9,95. It does NOT come with any credit, you will have to buy data and calling bundles at extra charge through the OneSIMVoIP app.

The OneSimCard eSIM comes with a European number and has coverage in over 160 countries. There is no shipping needed as you can download it on your phone instantly.

Additional data roaming packages

OneSimCard makes use of two different zones. In Zone A you will find mostly all western countries as well as the standard tourist destinations in the world. In Zone B will find more off the beaten path countries.

The OneSimCard data plan prices are pretty expensive. Here are some examples:

• Universal SIM - Zone A - 5 GB data - 30 days = $90 USD
• Universal SIM - Zone B - 5 GB data - 30 days = $199 USD
• Expedition SIM - Zone A - 2 GB data - 30 days = $20 USD
• Expedition SIM - Zone B - 2 GB data - 30 days = $99 USD
• Europe & More SIM - Zone A - 3 GB data - 30 days = $50 USD
• Europe & More SIM - Zone B - 3 GB data - 30 days = $99 USD

These are examples of kind of standard tourist data packages. Well if you ask me… EXPENSIVE!

Review OneSimCard

Personally I think OneSimCard is very expensive. First off they basically make you pay for an international sim card that has no packages included. When you take away the $10 USD free credit you are still paying $10 USD just for an international sim card only. When buying the Expedition SIM even $24.95 USD

It also states everywhere data roaming from $0.01 cent per MB. Well, I have tried to look for that country, but I can’t find it! Instead, I found out that basically all Western countries you pay $0.25 cent per MB. That is 25x more!

That also means $10 credit is just 40 MB, that is basically opening Instagram 1x and your credit is gone! Oh for example roaming in Algeria cost $1.75 per MB with a Universal SIM and $25 USD per MB with an Expedition SIM. That is $1,000 USDjust for opening Instagram! I am dying… :)

So other international sim card comparisons that recommend OneSimCard... I think are a joke!

All that glitters is not gold in the global sim card world and as you can predict I do not recommend buying a OneSimCard for using data abroad, but just for receiving calls they are ok. For more info check the OneSimCard website .

To put this all in perspective:  buying a prepaid sim card in Switzerland , one of worlds most expensive countries, will cost you $20 USD and but it comes with $20 USD credit. Then you activate 24 hours unlimited high speed internet for $3 USD in Switzerland. That means for $21 USD you have 1 week UNLIMITED high speed internet when buying a local sim card in Swiss.

Conclusion of OneSimCard: really expensive data roaming plans and therefore is OneSimCard not directly recommended for using as an international sim card for traveling the world.

13. WorldSIM

Another global sim card that claims to be a free international sim card, well… A WorldSIM International travel sim card is only ‘free’ if you add €120 EUR ($131 USD) credit to it! Not a great start when Traveltomtom is reviewing your service.

WorldSIM offers a data roaming only sim card as well as an international sim card for calling/texting. They are priced equally, however data roaming with the calling/texting sim card is much more expensive. The data sim card offers data roaming in 188 countries.

Prices and rates WorldSIM

The cheapest deal you can find on WorldSIM is €42 EUR ($46 USD). You will get a global sim card with €24 EUR ($26 USD) credit.

Just like for example OneSimCard they claim data roaming rates from 0,01 cents but I can’t find that country. In most Western countries and popular tourist destinations data roaming starts from 0,02 cents.

Review WorldSIM

For a reason it is only listed at spot X in my comparison of the best international sim cards. WorldSIM is pretty expensive and the cheapest data roaming is €20 EUR ($22 USD) per 1 GB data.

Most countries off the beaten path are VERY expensive. Don’t go to Cuba, that costs you more than $3 USD per MB, that is $3,000 USD per 1 GB or what about the Caribbean countries? About $0.30 per MB, that is $300 USD per 1 GB.

When looking for an international sim card for traveling the world then Traveltomtom does NOT recommend WorldSIM, simply because there are much cheaper options available. For more info check the Worldsim website .

International sim cards with unlimited data

Traveltomtom does NOT recommend e-sim cards with unlimited data. In most cases 'unlimited' does NOT mean 'unlimited' and there is always a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). Holafly is one of those e-sim card providers that sell international e-sim cards with unlimited data, but they have a strict FUP. Always read the small letters to not get surprised!

In the past I often had negative experiences with sim cards with unlimited data. If one day you use more than the FUP limit you have to wait 24 hours for your data speed to get restored. Those 24 hours your international sim card with unlimited data is pretty much useless. It is simply really inconvenient.

If you buy an international sim card with for example 30 GB data and you are going on a holiday for 10 days then you should have more than enough data. Those 30 GB data sim cards are pretty much the same as a sim card with unlimited data in these cases. But you will not need to be worried about the Fair Use Policy and data speed reduction.

Can international sim cards connect from everywhere?

Technically speaking – yes. International sim cards are designed to work in multiple countries, but as you have read above there are a ton of restrictions. An international sim card isn’t programmed to one specific network. Instead, it operates on several networks in different geographical locations and can therefore be used in multiple countries.

International sim cards usually operate on networks that use the GSM framework. GSM stands for Global Systems Management Communications. Once the sim card is inserted, it connects to one of the local networks automatically if the plan you chose works in the country you are traveling to.

If you intend to use your phone with an international sim card, you have to make sure your phone is unlocked as well as e-sim compatible in case you are choosing to use an e-sim card over a physical prepaid sim card.

International sim cards only work in unlocked phones

As previously mentioned, you need an unlocked phone for the international sim card to work. A cell that comes with a sim lock can only be used within a defined cellular network and is blocked for any other networks.

This mostly applies to phones bought in the USA, Canada. Phones bought in Europe, Australia, Middle East are mostly unlocked.

There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a new phone if you can get your current one unlocked by your carrier. Once your phone has been unlocked, you can easily switch to any local or international sim card whenever you need to.

If you have a sim lock, I recommend you to unlock your phone before your trip. Contact your local mobile service provider to ask them to unlock the phone and find out if you’re required to pay any unlocking charge.

Do you really need an international sim card?

International sim cards are also referred to as travel sim cards and that is simply because of how convenient they can be for travelers visiting multiple countries. If you don’t want to worry about roaming charges while you are traveling abroad and crossing broders, you can purchase an international sim card.

But if you are visiting just one country on your trip abroad you can easily opt for a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card for that specific country and there is no direct need to buy an international sim card that is valid in multiple countries.

If you use a lot of data then in general local prepaid sim cards are cheaper than e-sim cards, but e-sim cards are much more convenient as you can order them already online before your trip and as soon as the plane lands you are online.

On Traveltomtom you will find more than 200 sim card guides from all around the world: Tajikistan , Papua New Guinea , Uzbekistan , Izmir , Marseille , Tashkent , Algeria , Curacao , Zurich , Bangkok , Bali , Micronesia , Miami , Manila , Shanghai , Philippines , Brazil , Mexico , Zambia , Ghana  and many more.

With a prepaid sim card you are always in control of your bills!

I cannot stress enough about the importance of staying connected while you travel. International sim cards avoid being charged exorbitant data roaming charges. Enjoy low and affordable rates with no hidden fees by getting an international sim card.

Which international sim card is the best? Did you already pick from all the great options that I recommended you? Of course Traveltomtom recommends the ones on top of the list more than the options on the bottom. The last ones are the least recommended but I just wanted to give you all the options, so you could make up your own mind about which international sim card you are going to use for your trip abroad.

I am sure that at least some of the the above tips for buying an international sim card were helpful.

Summerizing:

Remember that there are several factors that you need to put into consideration such as country coverage, prices for data plans, data speed 4G/LTE/5G, calling options, data-only, SMS packages, credit validity and duration/validity.

At the end of the day, the best international sim card is the one that suits your needs and your trip.

If you have any more questions please feel free to leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.

Since Traveltomtom is on a journey to travel to every country in the world I get to a new country regularly. Everywhere I go I buy a new local prepaid sim card or I order an e-sim card on the internet. In my bag I have a collection of about 200 little prepaid sim cards from all over the world, but nowadays I use e-sim cards pretty much all the time because they are so convenient.

Is this article was helpful please consider helping me in return by sharing this article in the internet. Every tweet on X, post to Reddit, share in a Facebook Group or pin on Pinterest is worth a lot to me. Thanks in advance!

Looking for some extra travel inspiration? Check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom and get fuelled by my journey to visit every country in the world . As of March 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.

      View this post on Instagram       A post shared by Adventure Travel & Blogger (@traveltomtom)

Some links in this article about the best international travel sim cards are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SIM CARD FOR EUROPE

If you have an u pcoming trip and are trying to figure out what’s best SIM card for Europe, read this guide!  And if you’re not sure what a SIM card even is, click here to learn more.  UPDATED WITH NEW EU ROAMING RULES IMPLEMENTED JUNE 2017.  

There are two types of SIM cards.  Each country has its own “local” SIM cards that is offered by a local provider. Up until June 2017, you would usually be charged roaming fees if you used the SIM card in another country.  There is also a “global” (sometimes called “international” or “travel”) SIM card that can be bought online ahead of time and can be used in multiple countries (such as all of Europe), and you usually buy these ahead of time online.

Is a Global or Local SIM Card the Best SIM Card for Europe?

In June 2017, the EU implemented the “roam like at home” rule, which prohibits providers from charging roaming fees.  If you buy a SIM card in one EU country and travel to another EU country, you cannot be charged a roaming fee.  This has made global SIM cards less appealing, but there may still be reasons to get a global SIM card.  For example, some local SIM card providers have asked for exceptions or stopped offering international roaming all together.  And providers in non-EU countries, like Iceland and Switzerland, are not required to comply.

We’ve set out the pros and cons of local SIM cards and global SIM cards. Our ultimate advice is that a  local SIM card is the best SIM card for Europe . But if you can afford it, just use the international plan from your U.S. provider –it’s more convenient and may be cheaper than a global SIM card.  See here for a comparison of the international plans of the big U.S. cell phone carriers.  If you can’t afford to keep your U.S. provider,  generally you should get a local SIM card. Many European countries have a special “tourist” SIM card, which often include a limited number of minutes and texts to the U.S..  This option has become increasingly popular with the new EU “roam like at home rule”, which often allows you to travel to other European countries with the same local SIM card.

Is a Global SIM Card the Best SIM Card for Europe?

You can order most global SIM cards online before leaving for your trip; many are available on Amazon.com .

Below are examples of some of the popular European SIM cards and how much it would cost if you use 30 minutes of voice network calls, send and receive 15 texts each and use 500MB of data. For many, these options don’t make economic sense unless you’re using very little amounts of data.

Is a Local SIM Cards the Best SIM Card for Europe?

You can either buy a local SIM card at the SIM card provider store (e.g., a Vodafone store to buy a Vodafone SIM card) or in convenience, grocery and tobacco type stores. If you’re new to buying a SIM card, we strongly suggest going to a store of the actual SIM card provider, because they will replace the SIM card for you and answer any questions.

Tips for Buying Local European SIM Cards 

Here are some other helpful tips for buying local SIM cards in Europe when you’re a tourist.

• If you’re not traveling alone, you could buy one SIM card with more data (data only cards are usually cheaper), and use the phone as a mobile hotspot for the other travelers.  A hotspot is a wireless access point, so your phone becomes the wifi provider to whoever you give access to (some global and local SIM cards do not allow this, so ask before you buy). We suggest that each person at least get some type of data so that they can call each other in an emergency if they are away from the hot spot. We also suggest that at least one person in the party gets a package that includes minutes on a voice network. Although you can use Skype credits to call a local number to call a cab or make a dinner reservation, service may be different for cellular data and network voice calls/texts, so having both ensures that you’ll have access to the best service and that someone from home can always reach you in an emergency.
• If you’re planning to buy a European SIM card, you should know the difference between mobile network operators (MNOs, e.g. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint) and resellers called mobile virtual network operators (MNVOs, e.g. MetroPCS) that pay fees to MNOs to use their networks. You’ll typically find both network operators and resellers selling SIM cards in Europe. The operators usually provide better coverage and faster download/upload speeds (especially in less populated areas), but the resellers are cheaper.
• If you plan to leave the big cities in any of these European countries, check cell phone coverage here where you’re specifically going.
• Decide ahead of time whether you’re going to buy the SIM card in the airport when you arrive to Europe. In making that decision, think about what’s offered at the airport (and whether the store will be open when you go) and the price difference between buying at the airport and at your ultimate destination in Europe. A quick Google search should provide those answers. Also know whether there’s wifi at the airport and whether you’ll need to get in touch with anyone between the time you land and when you arrive at your destination.
• If you plan to travel to more than one country in the EU, double check that the new EU “rome like at home” rule applies.

Local Europe SIM Cards Offerings in Specific European Countries

Below are details about Europe SIM cards available in European countries covered by Travel Honey itineraries .  As noted above, if you buy a SIM card in an EU country, you can use the same SIM card in another EU country at no extra charge.  Some carriers have been granted exceptions or have stopped providing any international roaming, so confirm at the time of purchase.

SIM card providers are constantly changing their offerings, so these prices are meant to give you a general sense of the prices and who has the best coverage. The price estimates are converted from the local currency, so the exchange rate may change. Scroll down or click directly on your country of choice:

• Switzerland

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Croatia

The three big network operators in Croatia are T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-Com), VIPnet, and Tele2. T-Com has the most users and the largest network, VIPnet is a close second, and Tele2 has fewer users and less coverage but is growing quickly.

Your Options for SIM Cards in Croatia

ll three providers offer “tourist” plans. T-Com and VIP plans are about $13 with unlimited data and limited calls/texts. Tele2 offers a 30-day/10GB plan with limited local calls/texts for a little over $7.  There are a number of resellers (BonBon, Tomato, etc.) with cheaper options, but they may have slower upload and download rates. The network operators have pretty good deals, so we recommend sticking with one of the top three providers.

Other Tips for SIM Cards in Croatia

Coverage will vary the most in less populated areas, so if you’re heading out of the cities, research who has the best coverage (T-Com generally has the best rates in the countryside). SIM cards are available at most post offices, supermarkets, gas stations, etc.  There’s 10% tax on all SIM cards. See here for more information about SIM cards in Croatia.

SIM Cards in France

The big four network operators in France are Orange, Bouygues Telecom, SFR, and Free Mobile. France’s SIM card options are generally pricier than a lot of other European countries, and many cafes do not have wifi. Also, you’ll find 4G in the bigger cities, but you’ll be limited to 3G in the countryside.

As of January 2017, Orange has the best 4G coverage in 17 cities and 88% of the population, but the others are not far behind: Bouygues has 85%, SFR has 81%, and Free has 80%. All of the network operators allow tethering on their SIM cards.

Your Options for SIM Cards in France

Each of the providers except Bouygues Telecom offers a tourist option that allows you to use the SIM card throughout Europe. The Orange Holiday is the most expensive at 40 EUR, and Free Mobile has the cheapest option at 20 EUR (but you can only buy Free Mobile SIM cards in machines, which can be confusing if you don’t speak French or know how to switch out a SIM card from your phone). There are many Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom shops in Paris. They may try to sell you the more expensive package, so make sure you ask for all your options. You can also get a better deal through one of the MVNOs (Lebara is a popular option), but your coverage and speed may be less – and you’ll only be able to buy the SIM card in a supermarkets, tobacco shops, etc. where you may not find help if there’s an issue.

Other Tips for SIM Cards in France

You’re required to bring your passport to buy a SIM card. And because it needs to process, it takes about an hour to get service as long as you’re buying directly from a provider’s store (e.g, an Orange or SFR store). If you buy the SIM card elsewhere, you may have to wait more than a day to activate your card, so double-check before buying.   See here for more information on SIM cards in France, so you can find out everything you need to know about finding the best SIM card for Europe!

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Germany

Germany has three big network operators: Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and O2. Deutsche Telekom is generally known to have the best 4G and the most wifi hot spots. Vodafone is a close second, and O2 has the smallest network, but it’s the only network that covers the entire U-Bahn system in Berlin with 3G and 4G speeds.

Your Options for SIM Cards in Germany

Resellers in Germany, unlike in many other European countries, have a large share of the market and offer a ton of options (grocery stores even offer their own branded SIM cards). The resellers offer cheaper SIM cards, but neither Telekom nor Vodafone resellers offer 4G. O2 resellers offer 4G, but as noted above, it has the smallest network. Prices will vary, but a good rule of thumb is about 10 EUR for 1GB of data. Be careful for getting charged a lot more, especially at airports. Some of the SIM card providers also have restrictions on VoIP calls (WhatsApp, Skype, Hangouts, etc), so if that’s important, make sure you ask when you’re purchasing your SIM card.

Other Tips for SIM Cards in Germany

Germany requires you to register your SIM card – if you go to an actual SIM card provider’s store, they will usually register you at the store with your passport and the address where you’re staying. If you buy the SIM card elsewhere, like a grocery store, you’ll usually need to register the SIM card yourself online. The registration is often in German, so unless you speak German or there’s an English registration option, we recommend purchasing SIM card where they can register you in the store (just have your passport and address handy!).  See here for more information on SIM Cards in Germany. See here  for more information on SIM Cards in Germany.

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Hungary

Hungary has three big network operators: Telekom Magyar, Telenor, and Vodafone and they all offer similar 4G coverage (between 98-92% of the population).  Especially in Budapest, they’ll all have great coverage. Most cafes, restaurants, etc. offer free wifi, so if you’re careful, you won’t need that much data.

Your Options for SIM Cards in Hungary

Telenor offers a starter pack for about with a small call credit and 150 MB of data. You can then add data to that package. The download/upload speed is limited on some options, so ask if that’s a concern for you. Vodaphone MAX L pay as you go SIM gives you 100min local calls and 1GB of data for about $13.50. They will try to sell you additional data at the store – you can get 3GB for about $31. Vodafone is also the only option at the Budapest airport. Telekom offers a number of options and combinations of minutes and data, which can be cheaper than Vodafone depending on which option you get.

Other Tips for SIM Cards in Hungary

There are also resellers, but they usually require online registration in Hungarian, so it’s best to buy your SIM card from one of the three Network operators.  You’ll also need  a photo ID.  See here for more information on SIM Cards and Hungary. See here  for more information on SIM Cards and Hungary.

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Iceland

Iceland has 3 major network providers, Siminn, Vodafone and Nova and all three have good service if you’re staying in populated areas like around Reykjavik. If you’re going to remote areas, Siminn is best but Vodafone is a close second.

Your Options for SIM Cards in Iceland

Iceland’s SIM cards are pricy compared to other countries in Europe. Siminn offers 1GB of data and 100 local calls/texts for a little less than $30. Vodafone and Nova offers about the same for $15 – $20 depending on the offer at the time.  Remember that Iceland is not an EU country, so the new EU “roam like at home” rule doesn’t apply.

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Italy

There are 4 network operators in Italy, Vodafone, TIM, Wind, and Tre. Vodafone recently surpassed TIM in 4G coverage, but many still claim TIM’s coverage is best. Wind and Tre recently merged, but they still only cover 64% of the population. Resellers have recently emerged, and like in other countries, the coverage isn’t as good, but the plans are cheaper. If you’re only going to be in a bigger city like Rome or Florence, you’re coverage is going to be relatively good with whatever SIM card you choose.

But as you move outside the major cities, coverage varies (even between TIM and Vodafone, where each performs better in certain areas). Do research on the coverage in the specific areas you’re visiting. Many hotels offer wifi, but it’s usually slow. You can find free wifi inside many cafes and museums, but it’s less frequent outside bigger cities.

Your Options for SIM Cards in Italy

You’ll have to pay an upfront fee for a SIM card, usually 10 EUR with a 5 EUR credit. TIM, Vodafone and Wind offer a tourist package for 30 EUR (19 – 20 EUR if you already have a SIM card), which gets you 4GB of data with TIM and Wind and 2GB with Vodafone. Each offering also includes 300+ of international and domestic minutes and texts. You can also get smaller plans, but you’ll still have to pay the 10 EUR for the SIM card, and stores will usually make you buy a bundle on top of that. Stores may also charge a small activation fee.

Other Tips for SIM Cards in Italy

You must bring your passport, and you may also be asked for a tax code. A “codice fiscale” is just an algorithmically created sequence based on birth date, name, etc. It doesn’t register you with the Italian government, but it gives the SIM card providers a valid number to use. They may offer to create on for you, or you can create a codice fiscale online . See here for more details on SIM cards in Italy.

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Portugal

Portugal’s major operators are MEO and Vodafone. Vodafone have the best 4G coverage, but 4G coverage is good in Portugal except for unpopulated areas. There’s public wifi, but it’s not super widespread.

Your Options for SIM Cards in Portugal

Vodafone has a 30-day holiday SIM with 5GB of data, 500 min. local calls/texts and 30 min. calls/texts to the U.S., Canada, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand. You can also use the holiday SIM card in other EU countries with no roaming charges.  There’s also a 1GB option for 10 euros that only includes local calls/texts. An MEO Portugal SIM card is 10 Euros then you have to add data and minutes.  You can buy a week-long combo voice and data package called TOP.  The options are 200MB (2.80 Euros), 1GB (3.30 Euros) or 3GB (4 Euros), which includes 500 min calling or texts.  There’s no option to top-off after the week. MEO also offers a 15-day holiday plan for 15 Euros, which includes 60 minutes and 500 SMS national and international calls to the EU, USA, Canada, Angola, Brazil and Israel and 2 GB of data.  You can top-off, but you have you have to pay another 15 Euros. See here for more details on SIM cards in Portugal, so you can find out everything you need to know about finding the best SIM card for Europe!

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Spain

Spain has four network operators, Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Yoigo. As of 2016, Vodafone had 95% 4G coverage, followed by Orange with 89%, and Movistar and Yoigo each cover 86% of the population. Movistar is known to have better coverage overall, but check the areas you specifically plan to visit. Spain has a healthy resellers market, but most don’t offer 4G on prepaid SIM cards.

Your Options for SIM Cards in Spain

Both Vodafone and Orange offer a tourist SIM card. With Vodafone, you can get 2GB of 4G data and 50 minutes of international calls for about $16, and Orange offers 3GB of 4G data and 30 minutes of international calls for about $37. Movistar charges you about $11 for a SIM card, and you can get another 1gb of 4G data for about $10. Yoigo charges you about $21 for SIM card but you get that amount in credit.

Other Tips for SIM Cards in Spain

Spain requires you to register your SIM card, so you must bring a photo ID. There are no branded SIM card provider stores in the major airports in Spain and the available SIM card stands are overpriced, so wait to buy a SIM card if possible (there’s free wifi at the Madrid airport). See here for more details on SIM cards in Spain, so you can find out everything you need to know about finding the best SIM card for Europe!

Best SIM Card for Europe –  Switzerland

Switzerland has three network operators, Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt Mobile and they all generally have good coverage (Salt has slightly less 4G coverage).

Your Options for SIM Cards in Switzerland

Both Swisscom and Sunrise sell SIM cards for an upfront fee of about $20, which come with about that same amout in credit. Salt only charges about $10 for a SIM card wit the same amount of credit.

Other Tips for SIM Cards in Switzerland

Remember that Switzerland is not part of the EU, so you’ll likely be charged roaming fees if going to Switzerland with a SIM card from another country. Switzerland requires a photo ID to purchase a SIM card.  See here for more details on SIM cards in Switzerland. See here for more details on SIM cards in Switzerland. Remember that Switzerland is not an EU country, so the new EU “roam like at home” rule doesn’t apply.

Which is the Best European SIM Card for YOU?

A global SIM card may make sense if you’re visiting multiple countries (especially if the first country you visit doesn’t offer SIM cards with free EU roaming) and you value the convenience of being to install your SIM card before you arrive over saving money. Local SIM cards are the better choice if you’re going to one country or if you’re going to multiple countries and you value cost savings over convenience (especially if you use large amounts of data).

Must Have Checklist For Buying A Local Europe SIM Card

If you’ve decided that a local Europe SIM card is the way to go, we’ve put together a must have checklist for making sure you purchase the best SIM card for Europe!

We hope you this guide has made you better prepared to choose the best SIM card for your European vacation and give you the information you need for a successful SIM card experience.  Do you want to learn more about using your cell phone in Europe, including whether to get a SIM card, 14 tips for saving data when traveling, what’s the best calling app and how to use offline maps? Then click here  for links to all these articles.

Or get the guide in one easy to read PDF.  We just need your email below. You may also like one of our awesome itineraries for Europe, including  France ,  Germany , Budapest ,  Iceland , Italy , Portugal ,  Spain  or the United Kingdom .

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Home » Budget Travel » best international sim cards

9 BEST International SIM Cards for Travel (Buyer’s Guide • 2024)

SIM cards are a royal pain in the butt when travelling. Every time you land somewhere new, you have to perform the same song and dance of going out of your way to get a new sim pretty much as soon as possible.

Usually what happens is that you land in the airport and then you either get ripped off buying a SIM card there or navigate to town without any connectivity. Once you’re in town, you have to navigate a foreign city sifting through local SIM providers, various plans, and also probably getting lost along the way. It’s not the ideal way to start a vacation and I cannot even count the hours I’ve lost shopping for sims in new countries.

That’s why buying one of the best international SIM cards is THE way to go.

An International SIM card is one which will work all over the world meaning that you never have to change it again – no more messing around at the O2 Kiosk in strange airports!

Now, to set the record straight, while there are cheaper travel SIM cards in existence, they still aren’t exactly cheap. Nine times out of ten, a local SIM card is always going to be the cheaper option for budget backpackers.

Maybe you’re a digital nomad who always needs to be connected, maybe you’re a high-flying businessperson with fancy business attire who makes busy business calls while on holiday or maybe (like me) you are just sick of having to change sims.

Either way, this is the list of the best international SIM cards on the market! I’ve done all the leg-work and the research to deliver an international SIM cards review in full. So let’s get ourselves connected.

Compare The Best International SIM Cards

What is an international sim card, the best sim cards for international travellers, international data sim cards for digital nomads, social media addicts, and tinder aficionados, a quick review of each sim card, frequently asked questions about travel sim cards, should you buy an international sim card.

This isn’t the whole roundup but it is my personal pick of the best international SIM cards worth looking into, each one serving a different niche.

• > e-Sim and Traditional Sims available
• > Wide and reliable coverage
• > Low SIM-purchasing fees

• > Virtual sim – no plastic needed!
• > Excellent range of packages
• > Download before you leave home

TravelSim Worldwide Card

• > Cheaper initial cost
• > Some cheaper rates for off-beat countries
• > No long-standing reputation

KeepGo Lifetime World SIM Card

• > Reliable connection
• > Prone to cutting rates
• > Coverage could be better

Surfroam SIM Card

• > Simple rates – no bundle packs
• > Huge coverage
• > Requires a PRO account for maximum coverage

Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card

• > Extremely reliable in Europe
• > Easily sufficient for a two-week holiday
• > Excludes a number of countries in Europe

International SIMs, roaming SIMs, travel SIM Cards whatever: a rose by any name can still order you a pizza when you don’t want to leave the guesthouse after all right? That’s what an international SIM card is, a SIM card that will have you hooked up from “anywhere” .

Why did you put ‘anywhere’ in quotes?

Because it’s a highly variable anywhere. “Anywhere” really means from the countries that the international SIM covers. That said, some of these travel SIM providers cover over 200 countries.

That also said, there are only 195 countries in the world so I’m not sure how they mathed those numbers out. Still unsure, have a look at our guide to local vs international SIM cards .

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So, how does an international SIM card work?

Without getting too technical, an international SIM card isn’t programmed to one specific network. It’s programmed to operate on a number of networks in a number of different geographical locations – specifically, networks using the GSM (Global Systems of Management Communications) framework.

That’s why to use your cell phone internationally with a travel SIM card it needs to be:

• GSM-compatible (many phones are).
• Unlocked, i.e. not tied to a provider.

Do be sure about that unlocked phone bit before you go ahead and buy a new one.

Basically, global SIM cards will plug into a local network from the country you’re travelling to… Consensually, of course.

That’s why coverage so strongly varies among the many international SIMs. Some SIM cards are for worldwide use and programmed accordingly. Some SIM cards are for international roaming in certain regions like Asia, the USA, or Europe (usually, omitting a third of Europe in their coverage).

For example, you’ll need a different sim card for the USA and Canada in most cases, but in Europe you’ll more than likely be able to use the same one.

Who benefits from buying an international SIM card?

Well, like I said, not so much the longterm backpacker types . A local SIM card is pretty much always cheaper and much more practical (and reliable) for long stays in any country. Unfortunately, actual cheap international sim cards don’t exist yet.

Country-hoppers , on the other hand, may want to consider buying some sort of prepaid international SIM card. Buying local SIM cards for only 1-2 weeks of use eight times in a trip is nobody’s idea of fun, especially if you care about data usage and double especially if you care about plastic ending up in the ocean.

People living the digital nomad lifestyle may also benefit from a travel SIM. Though a local SIM is much more equipped for longterm stays in a country, sometimes the options or service is crap and sometimes you’ll spend long stretches in transit which is a perfect time to crunch out a few hours. Besides, there is no rule that says you can’t have two SIMs. A prepaid international sim card might be the best option here (more about that later).

Lastly, business people or people that take frequent short trips will benefit from a SIM card for international travel. I might be stereotyping here but I kinda feel that these folk are less concerned with the costs associated. Plus, most SIM cards for overseas use tend to have 1-year validity for purchased credit, so it’s totally viable to park your SIM after a trip and then pop it back in for the next one.

Beginning the list are the top international SIM cards for traveling that do everything a SIM card should do: call, texts, and mobile data . These SIMs have some pretty major coverage globally and for most travellers in the world, are more than sufficient.

Of course, there has to be a best-of-the-best in this international sim card comparison. So first up–the best travel SIM card!

#1 The Overall Best International SIM Card – OneSim

Ok, so what makes OneSim the best travel SIM card? It’s a fine difference between the first few candidates but OneSim edges out on top for a combination of versatility, pricing, and reliability.

First up, they offer multiple different SIM cards each catering to different travelling needs INCLUDING (but not limited to) 2 awesome e-Sim options :

• OneSimCard e-Sim World (From $9.95) – Coverage of 150 countries with free incoming calls on EU numbers.
• OneSimCard e-Sim Asiana (From $9.95) – Specially designed for Asia and Oceania. Data packages available.

If your phone is not yet e-Sim ready, then worry not because OneSim also offer some excellent deals on plastic sims:

• OneSimCard Universal ($29.95) – Coverage of over 200 countries but with a more limited data service (50+) countries.
• OneSimCard Expedition ($34.95) – Offers much the same coverage as the OneSim Universal travel SIM but with way more data coverage. It’s the choice for the explorers.

How OneSim Works

You’ll get a $10 bonus credit with any OneSIM roaming SIM card purchase, but once that’s gone, you’ll have to continue buying data plans. Rates vary wildly by both the choice of travel SIM card you are using and the country you’re in so you’ll need to check these rates to see if they suit you.

You’ll receive two numbers: a European (Estonian) number and a choice of one from the USA, UK, Australia, or Canada. Incoming calls on the primary European number is free in a large coverage of countries or starting from $0.25/min otherwise. Outgoing calls also start from $0.25/min (dependent on locations) and receiving texts are free.

Casual data rates start at rather hefty $0.20/MB . However, what makes this such a good prepaid international SIM card is that there is a lot of choices to lower your costs. You can buy data bundles ranging from one/two weeks to a month divided by zone or region. There are also discount plans and bundles available for call rates. This makes the OneSIM one of the best international SIM cards for data as well.

So, is it worth it?

Although not strictly the cheapest international SIM card on the market, the wealth of choices means that you can tailor your SIM card to your world travel needs and minimize costs. The added bonus is that OneSim has been kicking around for a while so they know the market well.

They provide a reliable service, as well as a bunch of neat extras, to keep their clients happy chappies. If you’re looking for the best sim card for international travel, OneSIM is definitely one you should consider getting.

#2 Best Global eSim Provider – GigSky

If you have a modern phone (iPhone 11 , Samsung Galaxy S21, etc or above) it will probably be eSim compatible. This means that you don’t actually need a plastic SIM card but can simply download an eSim via GigSky the same way you would download an app.

When I first heard of eSim about one year ago, it was something of a niche product simply because most travellers were using phones and devices that were not eSim compatible. However that is changing fast and by 2024, an estimated 80% of travlers will use eSim. The eSim marketplace is a very exciting one and the providers are contently innovating to come up with some new, better, cheaper packages – according to our research, GigSk are currently leading the pack.

How GigSky Works

It’s really very simple. You either download the GigSky App (which we do recommend) or else go to their website and check out their “Global Plans”. You buy the package you want (in the 5GB World Plan) and download it not your phone BEFORE you fly, using either a link or a QR code.

The joy of eSim is that you can install it before you leave and then activate as soon as the plane touches down meaning you are rocking and rolling all over the world before you even get your luggage.

GigSky offer 1 Global Package only – 5GB over 30 days for $69.99. I can be topped up (if you somehow burn through all 5GB) but it cannot be extended past the 30 days.

So, Is It Worth It?

Well, $69.99 is a lot for a 30 day package but International Sim Packages do not come cheap. GigSky also have a wide range of global carrier partners meaning their offer better connectively than most platers in this space.

Overall though, in terms of sheer convenience yes GigSky is worth it – you you can browse for and install an eSim from the comfort your device and get it ready to use before you even leave home which saves a whole lotta hassle. However the package does NOT include an actual phone number which is a bit of a bummer.

#3 Great Global eSim Package – Sim Local

Sim Local is recognized as a global leader in the travel SIM card and eSIM retail market. The company specializes in serving global travelers, enabling them to stay connected while avoiding expensive roaming charges. Sim Local provides local SIM cards and eSIM profiles directly to customers through a variety of channels, including retail stores, kiosks, vending machines, a mobile app, and an eShop.

Their services are aimed at offering significant savings on data, calls, and texts compared to traditional roaming options, and they also offer a range of mobile handsets and accessories tailored to the needs of travelers .

How Sim Local Works

First up, note that Sim Local are an eSim only provider so if you’re phone is not eSim ready…go elsewhere. Providing it is, you simply hop over to their site or get the app and check out their global packages. At the time of writing the site offers their own brand one for just $10 for 3 days, or an Orange one that costs $28.00 for 14 days.

I’ll be frank, eSims are still often more expensive than buying physical sims but they are a lot easier to install and to operate and best of all, you can install them before you even leave home. In my view, $28.00 for 10GB of data over 14 days is good value for an international sim but bear in mind it don’t come with a local numero.

#4 Best SIM Card for Travelling Specific Regions – HolaFly

GoSim, much like Holafly, provides a selection of different international SIM and eSim cards for travel to allow you to be a bit more selective with your rates. They offer excellent packages on various ‘zones’

HolaFly travel SIM cards include:

• International SIM Card
• Europe SIM Card
• USA SIM Card
• Asia SIM Card
• North America

You can expect some added bonuses and cheaper rates on their region-specific SIMs, but let’s break down their international SIM card… because this is a ‘best international SIM cards’ guide.

How HolaFly Works

With the GoSim International SIM card, you get coverage in over 210 countries (again, there are only 195 in the world, but maybe they know more than us…). The casual rates, again, don’t differ much from OneSim. The coverage for data services is comparable to OneSim’s Expedition card.

So how do the data bundles stack up? Well, they’re more expensive across the board… damn.

HolaFly offers good albeit pricey data packages but they DON’T offer local phone numbers. If you’re looking for the best international SIM card for data, this might not be the one.

However, while their international card doesn’t really stand out as the best travel SIM card on the market, it is worth taking a look at their region-specific roaming SIMs. If you’re traveling to a specific country or area, these SIMs come with some nice extra perks.

I mean, hell, the Asia Travel SIM Card even advertises being able to bypass the Great Firewall of China. If that’s true, then this it’s definitely the best SIM card for travelling to China . Probably for citizens of China too…

#5 A Worldwide SIM Card – WorldSIM

WorldSIM gets a mention on this list because it’s another puller in the market with some comparatively awesome rates. It’s also got some really weirdly expensive outlying rates. As such, we certainly don’t feel like it’s a fit for the best SIM card for international roaming.

How WorldSim Works

The WorldSIM international SIM card has no purchasing fee- woo! Now, before you get too excited, it does require a top-up of credit at purchase.

That means that you’re paying a minimum of $33.75 plus shipping . For $67.50 of credit, shipping is free.

The casual rates for outgoing calls, texts, and data usage are the cheapest I’ve found so far with data coverage extending to countries missed out on by OneSim. Except, a lot of the rates in various countries for incoming calls are shockingly high.

As for the data bundles? No idea. Their website isn’t working for that page and is just stuck in an infinitely loading loop.

Our gut says no. But, you do you. You shouldn’t base your decisions on buying an international SIM card on the gut instincts of a stranger online. All the same though, our gut says no.

Between the mildly bait-and-switch-y “$0” SIM purchasing fee, the janky and unwieldy website, and the weird incoming call rates that could potentially trap an unwitting consumer, WorldSIM in review doesn’t feel like an international SIM card worth purchasing, especially in comparison to other choices on the market.

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These are the best international  data SIM cards for those of us that scoot by without the extras.

#1 Best Data SIM Card for International Travel – KeepGo

KeepGo offers a prepaid international data SIM card that, while not the cheapest, comes out on top in terms of reliability. To reiterate, this is a data-only travel SIM card but in the world of WhatsApp, Messenger, and a million-billion other services, an international data plan is more than sufficient to keep you covered in your travels.

Coverage is decent for the KeepGo World SIM. More than a hundred countries ( here’s the list of coverage ) with locations throughout Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, Europe, and others. However, coverage for less-frequented locations (Africa is largely absent) is weak so this may not be the best SIM for international travel for those who prefer their destinations rugged and untamed.

KeepGo advertises unthrottled 4G connections but this is only applicable in countries where 4G is available.

How it Works

The KeepGo worldwide SIM card costs $49 to purchase and comes with 2 GB of data loaded . The data has a “lifetime validity” provided that you top up at least once a year. That’s still pretty good all things considered.

Data can be topped up with a number of plans ranging from 100 MB up to a slammin’ 25 GB ! The prices of data top-ups are:

• 100 MB – $3
• 1 GB – $24
• 3 GB – $58
• 5 GB – $79
• 10 GB – $155
• 25 GB – $250

While this isn’t the cheapest international data SIM card, it is the best for the purpose of getting connected on the road. Reliability and speed is strong in a large array of destinations and, depending on your usage, that 10 GB data pack could keep you set for awhile if you have access to wifi. We’d consider this one of the best pre paid international sim cards on the market.

#2 A Simple Data SIM Card for Worldwide Travel – Surfroam

Yay! No prepaid data packages, no contractual mumbo-jumbo, no running out of data right when you settle in for a long Netflix and poop session: Surfroam keeps it Pura Vida!

It’s data-only with coverage of 200+ countries – even Afghanistan and Yemen are covered! So, what’s the go?

Essentially, you pay €45 for the physical SIM card (which includes €25 credit) and then top-up as you go with pack options starting at €25 . You’re charged a pay-as-you-go rate per megabyte starting as low as €0.01/MB . So that’s way cheaper than the KeepGo data roaming sim card, right? Not quite…

Rates vary substantially by country so while this going to be a cheaper option across, say, Europe, it may not necessarily pan out that way in other places. That said, prices are still pretty cheap for most places and tend to beat out KeepGo.

As a final note, there is an eSIM (€30) available with the same data rates.

Ok, so ‘simple’ might be stretching it upon reflection, however, once you’re away, its streams ablaze! If you’re jet-setting and changing countries a lot, you will need to stay keyed in as to the rates .

Otherwise, the coverage significantly beats out KeepGo, and in many cases, Surfroam will end up being the cheapest international data SIM card you can purchase. It’s the simplest choice for staying connected pretty much anywhere in the world.

#3 The Best International SIM Card for Europe – Orange Holiday Europe

Are you just doing a little banger holiday in Europe and need a physical SIM card for your travels? Orange has got you covered. Specifically:

• Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card
• Orange Holiday Zen SIM Card

The Orange Holiday Zen is for light usage or a short trip. It’s a straight prepaid SIM card for travellers in Europe and it couldn’t be simpler.

For $27.29 , you get 8 GB of data, 30 minutes of calls worldwide, 200 texts, all lasting for 14 days before it expires. The Holiday Zen covers 30 countries in Europe including all the heavy-hitters, but it certainly doesn’t cover all of Europe (my boy Serbia – forever underrepresented). Still, this makes it one of the best European SIM Cards for travellers.

The Orange Holiday Europe takes all of that and just upgrades it: 20 GB in data, 120 minutes, and 1000 texts for $44 . The same coverage of countries applies and it’s a 14-day expiry again.

Orange also partners with a bunch of networks around the world- even offering an Israeli sim card called partner. If you take a look around their website, you can find more far-flung networks than you expected!

Both cards are able to be topped up online for more credit.

Yeah, so I wouldn’t call ‘30 countries in Europe’ an internationally roaming SIM card, but it is a super simple choice for anyone just travelling to Europe for a holiday. It’ll keep you safe in an emergency thanks to that fact that it’s not a data only service. PLus: you’ll have a SIM ready from the moment you land!

Orange is a pretty major provider in France so you’ll have a consistent connection. There’s no constant checking of rates calculators either. It’s just a perfectly simple prepaid SIM card for any travellers heading to Europe.

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Some commonly asked questions about the world’s best travel SIM cards…

How do I activate my international SIM card?

Each international SIM comes with detailed instructions on how to set up and load your SIM. It’s always a good idea to get things set up before you leave home to avoid any mishaps.

What does international SIM mean?

An international SIM is a type of SIM card that will allow you to use your phone internationally by connecting to global carriers. Some of these SIMs will allow you to make calls as you normally would, while others only offer data plans.

What is the best SIM card for international travel?

Some of the best SIMs for international travel include OneSim , Nomad , KeepGo , and TravelSim .

Do international SIM cards expire?

Most of the SIMs on this list require you to recharge at least once a year, but in doing so all your data will remain usable.

That depends on how you travel. If you’re adept at buying prepaid SIM cards locally when you hit the ground, then I wouldn’t worry.

However, for the people that an international SIM card suits the travelling style and needs of, then yes, definitely. I think if you’re that person, then you probably already know that you’re that person.

People looking for the all-round ol’ reliable, OneSim is the go-to choice of travel SIM cards. For those who want the best data SIM card they can use overseas, that choice is KeepGo .

Skip the lines and skip the painful errand days in a foreign city. Buy one of the best international SIM cards you can and have yourself connected before you even touchdown on the landing.

Want another kind of sim card? Check out the revolutionary new Nomad e-sim , an app-based sim card covering over 100 countries that can be organised before you leave home! If that’s not enough, there’s another new service from HolaFly which offers similar coverage and deals so check them both out and see which fits your needs best.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Ziggy Samuels

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I think eSIMS are the future gamechanger here. You can download a digital SIM to your phone which has eSIM support.

I use a second phone to provide data to my main phone via bluetooth internet sharing. Wifi sharing can be used as well but bluetooth uses less power. On my main phone I leave the mobile data turned off and use the paired second phone for data. This allows me to use my main phone for Whatsapp, iMessage, email, etc.

10/10 review – exactly the type of info I was after. Plus, I liked your no BS style of writing. Thanks.

Thanks! Very useful! My main concern is regarding how long do the sim cards remain active if you are not buying credit regularly. I usually travel at least once or twice to congresses per year, but I wonder if some of these cards would stop working after a long time inactive. Is that information available for the cards discussed here? Cheers!

Heya, absolutely you can find that info! It’ll be in the terms and conditions/fine print for individual cards/plans. I’d like to say most last at least a year (which always seemed standard for SIM cards in general), but defs check that before you go buying any SIMs. Good question though!

You guys should definitely include DENT, a block chain based international E-Sim card, that offers flexibel data exchange. You can sell your unused data and always find the cheapest offer worldwide and cross boarder operational. Can’t be missed from this list!

Dude – hectic! I’m defs not about to go and update this article, but I looked and DENT seems pretty legit and totally worth the investigation. Anyone reading these comments, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not scoping them out at least! 😀

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When travelling abroad we want you to savour, capture and share every fantastic experience without worrying about hidden costs or searching for WiFi. Say goodbye to telcos that overcharge you to travel, and hello to Vodafone – the first telco in Australia to offer $5 Roaming. With $5 Roaming, you can use your eligible phone, tablet or mobile broadband plan for $5 extra per day in over 100 countries. These countries may vary, so check our international roaming list below before you travel. T&C apply.

How $5 Roaming works

$5 extra a day

You’ll only be charged $5 extra a day in addition to your plan fees when you use your included data, make or receive a call or send an SMS.

Use your plan overseas

Use your plan’s included data, calls and texts in over 100 countries. Excludes data capped at speeds of up to 1.5Mbps, 2Mbps, 10Mbps and 25Mbps. If you go over your included data limit, we’ll automatically add 1GB for $5.

Easy activation

$5 Roaming should be activated already for you. Just switch on your phone in an eligible country. You can check and manage roaming through My Vodafone .

Plans with $5 Roaming

Sign up to an eligible plan with a phone, tablet or modem, or an eligible SIM Only plan and you can roam for only $5 extra per day in over 100 countries.

If you're on a Vodafone Infinite, Plus Plan or Vodafone Infinite Data Plan, you can use your included data with $5 Roaming, along with your call and text inclusions. Excludes data capped at speeds of up to 1.5Mbps, 2Mbps, 10Mbps and 25Mbps. Once you’ve used your included data, you’ll be charged $5/GB.

If you're on an Ultra+ Plan, you can use unlimited mobile data on your phone. If you use more than 30GB Hotspot data, you'll be charged $5 for each extra 1GB of Hotspot data. 

You can access $5 Roaming for a maximum of 90 days per calendar year. T&C apply.

Travelling with a prepaid plan? Check out our Prepaid Roaming Add-ons .

Frequently asked questions

International roaming is the ability to connect your device to a network outside of Australia. Whether you use $5 Roaming, Roaming Add-ons, or Pay-As-You-Go rates, you'll typically be able to use data, send/receive calls and texts, or access other mobile services while overseas.

With Vodafone’s $5 Roaming, you can use included data, calls and text in over 100 countries for $5 extra a day. Excludes data capped at speeds up to 1.5, 2, 10 or 25 Mbps. Countries may vary. T&C apply. If you’re heading to a country where $5 Roaming is unavailable, you can access our Pay As You Go roaming rates.

$5 Roaming should be activated already for you. You can check by logging into My Vodafone under account settings.

$5 Roaming is available on our Vodafone Infinite Data Plans.

If you signed up to a Red or SIM Only Modem plan after 2 July 2020, you won’t be able to access $5 Roaming.

If you signed up to a Mobile Broadband plan after 12 April 2017, $5 Roaming will be available and already switched on for you.

If you signed up to an eligible Mobile Broadband plan between 31 August 2016 and 12 April 2017, you’ll need to activate $5 Roaming through My Vodafone .

If you signed up to a Tablet or Data Plan, $5 Roaming is available and already switched on for you.

Yes. If you’re on an eligible phone, tablet or mobile broadband plan, you can use your included data, calls and texts on selected flights with participating international airlines for $5 extra a day – similar to how you can access $5 Roaming in over 100 countries. For more information, check out In-Flight Roaming support page .

Here are the participating airlines.

You can contact our team while you’re away by calling +61 426 320 000 .

If you’re having trouble using your service while you’re overseas, try our international roaming troubleshooting guide .

With $5 Roaming, you’ll be charged the $5 fee only on days you make or receive a call, send a text or use your included data overseas. The $5 fee will appear on your bill to be paid at the end of the billing period. If you go over data allowance, Additional Data will be charged at $5/GB ($0.005/MB).

With Pay As You Go roaming, you’ll be charged when you make or receive calls, send an SMS or use data overseas. There’s no charge to receive an SMS. For more information, check out our rates support page .

You can deactivate international roaming through My Vodafone .

If you visit a country where $5 Roaming isn’t available or if your plan isn’t eligible for $5 Roaming, you can still use your service overseas on our Pay As You Go roaming rates.

You can use $5 Roaming for up to 90 days per calendar year.

Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is a feature that allows you to make calls within Australia using our 4G network. If you're on international roaming in the USA, you may be able to use VoLTE through some of their networks.

Using VoLTE when you're on international roaming may give you a better call quality with a faster call connection. You can also browse the internet or use apps at the same time.

You’ll need a compatible device with VoLTE enabled and be on an eligible plan. Find out more on our VoLTE support page .

Support for roaming

$5 Roaming Countries and eligible partner airlines are subject to change, see current list and full details here . Available to eligible customers, see terms for details specific to your plan. $5 Daily Charge is in addition to minimum monthly spend and allows use of your plan inclusions in Eligible Countries for $5 per day. $5 Roaming is also available in-flight on eligible partner airlines. Only your included data allowance can be accessed while $5 Roaming. Data capped at speeds up to 1.5, 2, 10 or 25Mbps is not accessible while $5 Roaming. Once your included data is exhausted, additional data will be automatically added at a charge of $5/GB ($0.005/MB) (“Additional Roaming Data”). Additional Roaming Data expires at the end of your next billing period, is shareable (excludes plans with unlimited data which do not share data) and can only be used while in $5 Roaming countries. Max 90 days of use in any calendar year. Opt-out at any time, visit My Vodafone or call 1555. All roaming services are subject to network availability.

Pay As You Go roaming rates for Postpaid All International Roaming rates are subject to change – check the rates for the countries you are visiting above before leaving for most current pricing. You will be charged for making or receiving calls; calls are charged per 30 seconds with a $1 minimum charge. For full International Roaming rates, go to our  Roaming rates page .  To c heck that you are opted-in to roaming visit  My Vodafone  or contact Customer Care (by calling 1555 from your Vodafone mobile) before leaving Australia. On most of our plans roaming will already be active. Except for customers using Vodafone $5 Roaming, Pay As You Go Roaming charges are not part of your included value in any Postpaid mobile plan and will be charged on top of your minimum monthly spend. All Vodafone services are subject to network availability, individual device capabilities and limitations of overseas networks. Some Vodafone services such as video calling and PXT may not be available whilst roaming in some countries.

International roaming rates for Prepaid All International Roaming rates are subject to change – check our  Roaming page  before leaving for most current pricing. International Roaming charges are deducted from your My Credit balance if you have not purchased a Prepaid Roaming Add-on. Check your plan on our  Roaming Rates page  for all rates and charges. All Vodafone services are subject to network availability, individual device capabilities and limitations  of  overseas networks. Some Vodafone services may not be available whilst roaming in some countries.

Prepaid Roaming add-ons Not for commercial or resale purposes. 1-day ($5 Roaming Add-on), 3-day ($15 Roaming Add-on) or 7-day ($35 Roaming Add-on) expiry after purchase. SIM activation must be completed in Australia. Max 90 days total use per  calendar year. Data is deducted in per KB increments. Included data is for use on handsets only. Calls charged in 1 minute increments. All offer end dates, and recharge times are in Australian Eastern Standard or Daylight time (AEST/AEDT). Excludes premium, video, special and overseas free phone numbers. All Vodafone services, including the Vodafone data roaming service is subject to overseas network limitations and availability and individual device capabilities. Some Vodafone services may not be available whilst roaming in some countries. Any unused Data from your Prepaid Roaming Add-on will not contribute to your Data Bank.

Best Prepaid SIM Card for Portugal in 2024

So you’re heading to Portugal? Nice! You’re in for a real treat. Portugal is easily one of my favorite countries in Europe. The food, the wine, the beaches…what’s not to love?

Now, one thing you’ll want to sort out before your trip is a Portugal SIM card. That way, you’ll have mobile data wherever you roam in the country.

In this mammoth guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about getting a prepaid Portugal SIM card, including:

• The best places to buy a Portuguese SIM card
• How to register your new SIM card
• Detail pricing and data packages for all major Portugal carriers
• Tips for saving money on your Portugal SIM card
• Answers to common questions tourists have about SIM cards in Portugal

So whether you just landed in Lisbon or you’re still planning your trip, this guide has you covered. Let’s dive in!

Why You Need a Portugal SIM Card

Here are the biggest reasons to get a local prepaid SIM card in Portugal:

Use Maps and Transportation Apps

The winding, narrow streets of Lisbon or Porto are no joke to navigate. With mobile data and Google Maps, you can easily find your destination.

Public transportation like trains, trams, and buses also have helpful apps to find schedules and buy tickets.

Book Restaurants, Tours, and More On the Fly

Instead of everything pre-planned, a data plan allows you to book amazing travel experiences anytime. If the weather’s nice during your trip, search for nearby beaches and available tours on the fly.

Or if it’s unexpectedly raining out, easily make indoor dinner reservations while you take cover.

Stay Connected with Friends and Family via Text/Calls

A local Portugal SIM means you can easily meet up with any friends also traveling Europe. No need to rely solely on hotel WiFi.

Plus you can share photos from your trip or call your family back home with apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or FaceTime Audio.

Access Portugal SIM Card Deals Not Available to Tourists

Sometimes local prepaid SIM card providers have deals just for Portuguese residents that aren’t publicly advertised to tourists.

With the help of this Portugal SIM card guide, you’ll discover how to access exclusive discounts and the best data packages available.

Where to Buy Your Portugal SIM Card

Unlike buying a SIM card in the USA, it’s super quick and easy to get a pay-as-you-go SIM in Portugal.

Here are the best places to purchase your prepaid Portuguese SIM card:

Portugal SIM Card at the Airport

After you land at airports like Lisbon Portela Airport, there are typically SIM card vending machines and shops right as you exit customs.

For example, PortugalTelecom has booths set up at arrivals where they sell SIM cards. Prices are fair and the convenience factor is nice after a long flight.

Keep in mind that smaller regional airports may not have SIM card kiosks though. So best practice is to compare airport options as you research places to get a Portuguese SIM card.

Vodafone, MEO, and NOS Retail Stores

The three major carriers in Portugal are Vodafone, MEO, and NOS. Each has retail shops located in most cities.

I recommend you locate their stores via Google Maps ahead of arriving at your destination. Then you simply walk to the nearest one based on where you are.

Retail stores are reliable, have English-speaking staff, and you can see all available SIM card promotions. The biggest downside, compared to the airport, is that it takes more time and effort on your end to get to a store.

Local Convenience Shops and Newsstands

If you’re unable to get to a main mobile carrier’s official store, another good option is smaller phone shops and newsstands.

These types of convenience stores sell prepaid SIM cards from the major Portugal providers already activated and ready to use.

They’re located everywhere in cities like Lisbon or Porto, usually recognizable thanks to cell company branding outside. Prices might have a small markup compared to the airport or official retailer, but convenience is king.

Order Online and Get Delivery to Your Hotel

If convenience and saving time is your priority, consider ordering a prepaid SIM card for Portugal online ahead of your trip.

Companies will deliver to your hotel, Airbnb or wherever you’re staying. Usually costs a bit more and takes a business day or two. But can be worth it after a long flight or road trip across Europe.

Make sure to verify delivery/arrival date so your SIM card is ready to use ASAP.

How to Register Your Portugal SIM Card

While getting your initial Portuguese SIM is fast and simple, you will need to take a couple quick steps to register it in your name:

Bring Your Passport!

The most important thing is to have your passport ready when purchasing a pay-as-you-go SIM in Portugal or signing up for a data plan.

Your passport is required by law for properly registering and activating SIM cards bought as a tourist. Thankfully the process only takes a few minutes.

Submit Your Personal Information

After selecting your SIM card, the shop staff will collect necessary info like your full name, passport number and nationality.

This verified data gets submitted along with your new cell phone number to satisfy Prepaid SIM card registration laws.

Provide a Local Address (Your Hotel)

Part of the mandatory registration includes submitting a Portugal address.

Don’t worry if you don’t have an official address being a tourist. Just share wherever you’re staying at, whether it’s a hotel or short-term rental property.

Activation is Complete!

That’s it! With passport verification, name, number and local address you’re all set. Now you can insert your fresh new nano or micro SIM card into your unlocked phone and connect to a mobile network.

Portugal SIM Card Pricing, Data & Minutes

Now let’s explore everything you need to know regarding available data bundles, talk/text bundles, SIM pricing, and hidden extras to watch out for:

Vodafone Portugal SIM Card Deals

Data Packages

• 2 GB data + 100 minutes: €5
• 5 GB data + 500 minutes: €10
• 10 GB data + 500 minutes: €15
• Unlimited data (throttled after 25 GB): €20

SIM Card Cost:  €5 one-time fee

• Large data allotments and minutes bundles
• Unlimited data option available
• Wide coverage around Portugal
• Speed capped at 225 Mbps (no 5G access)
• Must use data allotment within 30 days

MEO Portugal SIM Card Plans

• 500 MB data: €5
• 2 GB data: €10
• 5 GB data: €15
• 10 GB data: €20

SIM Card Cost:  Free

• Free SIM card
• Packages include some minutes
• 5G access available
• No unlimited data option
• Smaller data packages overall

NOS Portugal Prepaid SIM Details

• 1.5 GB data: €8
• 5 GB data: €12
• 15 GB data: €20

SIM Card Cost:  €10 one-time fee

• Low cost SIM card fee
• Unlimited calls to NOS numbers
• 5G connectivity
• 15 GB is max data amount

As you can see, Portugal prepaid SIM pricing is very affordable with most tourist plans costing €10-20 per month. Data allotments are generous too for the low costs.

Now let’s recap the key details to remember:

• Prices listed are for 30 days of service
• Multi-month long term SIM deals can save you money
• Calling bundled only valid within Portugal
• Receiving calls/texts while traveling in Portugal is free
• Be sure to compare 5G access if that’s important

I’ll cover tips to save money with a Portugal SIM card in a moment. But those are the basics you need to know regarding prepaid SIM pricing.

Portugal SIM Card Savings Tips

If you want to maximize value from your Portuguese SIM card, here are my top 5 money-saving hacks:

1. Buy a SIM Card at the Airport to Save Time

I know I said convenience stores are everywhere. However, nothing beats the airport for combining savings with efficiency.

You’ll likely need data immediately upon landing to help navigate to your hotel. Rather than spending time researching the best value SIM, just grab one at the airport kiosk and save yourself the hassle.

2. Choose Prepaid Over Postpaid Contract Plans

Prepaid SIM cards are almost always cheaper than monthly billed contract plans. Plus they’re made for people visiting Portugal short term.

With prepaid SIMs you’re in total control. Once your allotted data or minutes runs out, you can reload yourself instead of getting slammed by overage fees.

3. Take Advantage of Retailer Sales

It never hurts to ask shops if there are any current sales or special promotions going on for SIM card rates.

Sometimes carrier stores run secret flash sales that aren’t advertised to typical tourists. See what kind of discounted Portugal SIM card deals might be available during your travel dates.

4. Buy Longer Term SIM Card Plans

If you’ll be vacationing or road tripping through Portugal for multiple weeks, consider longer duration SIM plans.

For example, a 30 day SIM card could cost €15. But a 90 day SIM might only be €20 total. Triple the length at only 25% higher cost equals serious savings.

5. Use Mobile Data Selectively

To conserve your data allowance, only use bandwidth heavy apps like YouTube, Netflix, or Spotify when connected via free public WiFi.

Also turn off background auto-updates for apps and switch your camera roll to sync only when on WiFi. Simple tricks like this stretch data limits much further.

And if you plan day trips outside Portugal, make sure to turn off roaming in your phone’s cellular settings. Otherwise accidental app usage in other countries can rapidly drain through data.

Follow those 5 tips for getting the most bang for your buck with a Portuguese prepaid SIM card while visiting.

Common Portugal SIM Card Questions

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions I get about SIM cards to use during travel in Portugal:

Can I Get a SIM Card Without Showing Passport in Portugal?

Technically yes there are shops that don’t require ID to buy a SIM. However, keep in mind that NOT properly registering your SIM card is illegal.

Fines in Portugal for non-compliance are up to €2500! Definitely not worth trying to dodge showing your passport when purchasing your Portuguese SIM.

How Long Does a Portugal SIM Card Last?

Standard validity for most pay-as-you-go SIM cards from major carriers like Vodafone and NOS is 30 days. Of course data and minutes expire quicker depending usage.

However, you can also find longer durations like 60-day and even unlimited validity SIM (must top up every 6 months to keep it active). Ask the shop what validity timeframes are available.

Can I Use a SIM Card in Portugal and Spain?

If your travel itinerary includes visiting Spain after Portugal, search for SIM card packages that have both Spain and Portugal roaming bundled. Especially helpful for long road trips.

Otherwise basic roaming outside your registered country typically incurs expensive international data fees. Manage this by manually disabling cellular data roaming under phone settings while traveling internationally.

Are Portugal eSIM Cards Available for Tourists?

E-SIM technology allows your phone number and plan to be remotely downloaded using a QR code – no physical card required. Availability is currently limited but expanding quickly.

Vodafone Portugal was first provider with tourist eSIM in summer 2022. But don’t be surprised if MEO and NOS also offer eSIM options very soon for prepaid cellular plans.

Can I Use a SIM Card from Another European Country?

Yes that’s definitely possible. However coverage and speeds tend to be better with local SIM providers. If visiting multiple areas in Europe for longer periods, then makes sense.

Many find the simplicity of swapping SIM cards fun during extended Europe adventures. But relying on a Portugal SIM is advised for shorter trips focused in Portugal.

Wrap Up on Finding the Best Portugal SIM Card

And there you have it…everything you could possibly need to know about getting connected with a prepaid Portugal SIM card!

To recap, start your search at the Lisbon, Porto or Faro airport SIM shop. Prices are fair, data bundles are generous across carriers, and the convenience factor is clutch right after landing.

If you have extra time, scout discounts and promotions available only at official Portugal telecom retail stores. Some special deals might be unadvertised to average tourists.

And no matter what, DON’T forget your passport! While showing ID for SIM registration takes only a few minutes, getting fined up to €2,500 for non-compliance definitely dampens the vacation vibe.

With your shiny new Portuguese SIM card ready to rock, you’re all set to explore vibrant cities like Porto, relax on picturesque Algarve beaches, and feast on the amazing food. Have an incredible trip in Portugal!

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