Curaçao is a destination located in the south of the Caribbean Sea, ideal for a holiday because of its paradisiacal beaches, rich biodiversity and dreamlike landscapes. But in this case we’re not here to talk about the country, but about the benefits of eSIM cards on a trip to Curaçao, the best way to connect to the internet immediately without paying huge bills like roaming, or putting your data at risk on public wifi networks.
In this article we tell you how to find the best eSIM for Curaçao, and we do so by comparing the main brands on the market such as Holafly, Airalo or Maya Mobile. When choosing the eSIM that best suits your trip you should take into account criteria such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of the plans. We’ve already told you that the Holafly eSIM cards are a safe bet with no extra charges and 24h support.
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Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to Curaçao
When comparing different brands of eSIM we must take into account all the features that will determine whether the card will suit your travel needs. That’s why we have prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you make your choice. We’ll go into more detail on each eSIM brand below, so you won’t miss any of the information.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited Data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 7 and 15 days | No | No | + | 2GB, 3GB and 6GB | English, direct chat and WhatsApp | 34-64€ | 4,6 | 4,1 |
| Airalo | 7 days | Yes | No | + | 1GB | In English, via bot | 9,5$ | 3,9 | 3,8 |
| Simoptions | 30 days | No | No | – | 1GB | In English, by email or the App | 24,9$ | 3,5 | 3,2 |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | Yes | Yes | + | 500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 3GB | In English, via bot | 35-154£ | 4,5 | 3,5 |
| Ubigi | 30 days | Yes | No | + | 500MB, 1GB and 5GB | By email in 8 languages | 17-68€ | 4,2 | 4,1 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for Curaçao with the best customer service in English
Holafly is our favourite eSIM brand at Passporter because it offers a 24-hour customer service in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and French that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp, and is currently the best customer rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6.
On the website of Holafly you can find 3 data plans with a duration of 5, 7 and 15 days, and gigabyte limits of 2GB, 3GB and 10GB. The price is €34 and €64.
| Data plan | Euros | Dollars | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – 2GB | 34€ | 19$ | 29£ |
| 7 days – 3GB | 49€ | 34$ | 44£ |
| 15 days – 6GB | 64€ | 64$ | 54£ |
There are two options for installing the Holafly eSIM. One is scanning the QR code that you will receive by email once you have completed the purchase. And the other is the manual installation that you can do without a computer, simply by writing a code in the settings of your mobile. This code will be sent to your email and you can also consult it in the Holafly App, which is very convenient to control the duration of the data plan.
Here we leave you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of Holafly’s eSIM cards for Curaçao based on our experience.
In this post, you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some users’ opinions: Our opinion of Holafly eSIM.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing data | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,1 |
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Holafly’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different prices and contract durations. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. Most of their eSIM plans have unlimited data. Technical support 24/7 in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese. Very flexible prices. Payable in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. Flexible duration of data plans: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It has an App where you can check consumption and the days remaining on the contract. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because you don’t run out of data and you don’t have to recharge. Holafly’s Kenyan eSIM card does not allow data sharing. They do not allow data sharing with other devices. You cannot do the installation through their App. |
2. Airalo and its cheap data plans
The company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, it can be expensive in the long run, as its data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and its technical support takes a long time to respond.
For Curaçao, you’ll only find a data plan with a 7-day duration with 1GB and a price of €9.5. The brand has an App through which you can buy and install the eSIM, and later top it up when you run out of data.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 9, 5$ |
We have compared customer reviews and feedback on Trustpilot and found that Airalo has one of the lowest scores at 3.7. Here is the ranking of every aspect of Airalo and in this post you can also read about our opinion of the brand: Our opinion of Airalo: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,8 |
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. The cheapest brand on the market. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. You can share data with other devices. They allow you to top up the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Disadvantages | The gigabytes are limited to 100GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes at 1GB and 5GB. The duration of most plans is more than a month. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
3. Maya Mobile, one month data packages
This company makes eSIM cards available for 30 days in Curaçao. In this case, the price of the data packages varies according to gigabytes. In total, they have 4 packages of 500MB, 1GB, 2GB and 3GB. The price ranges from €35 to €154.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterised by the speed and simplicity of its sign-up process and installation, which is also done via a QR code that arrives in the mail. In addition, they have a 100% refund policy of the purchase in the event that the data does not work, which is not usually the case as they have a minimum of two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 500 MB – 30 days | 35€ |
| 1 GB – 30 days | 63€ |
| 2 GB – 30 days | 117€ |
| 3 GB – 30 days | 154€ |
The drawback with Maya Mobile is that their plans are very inflexible and only last for 30 days. On Trustpilot, you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.4, but there are hardly any reviews. Here’s a table showing how they rate each of their eSIM card features.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,5 | 3 | 3,5 |
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Maya Mobile’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB that can run out quickly Flexible pricing. They have plans with unlimited data. You can set up auto-recharge after 30 days. They allow data sharing with other devices. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. No App. The unlimited data plan is limited to 5Mbps. Technical support only in English via a bot. Only 30-day data plans |
4. SimOptions and its market-place
SimOptions is an eSIM card marketplace where local mobile phone companies in each country sell their eSIM cards. The brand, with offices in Paris, Thailand and Hong Kong, offers data plans for eSIM cards in more than 160 countries and they also have regional and global plans.
For Curaçao you will find only 1 30-day data plan with a 1GB limit and a price of $29.9.
The main drawback of SimOptions is that its website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, being from different brands, are very disparate, and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, rechargeability or data sharing. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 30 days – 1 GB | 29,9$ |
Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards, you waste a lot of time comparing cards. In addition, the price is high, you can only pay in dollars, and they don’t give you the guarantee of good technical support. Here we leave you this ranking where we rate SimOptions eSIM cards from 1 to 5 and in this post you can read about our opinion and that of other customers about the brand: Our opinion about Sim Options: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3,2 |
| Advantages | Offering regional, country or global data packages. Sim Options eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. Some plans include calls and SMS. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. The features of eSIMs for the same country vary according to the brand contracted. The duration of data plans is limited to 14 and 30 days. Not all eSIM cards allow data top-up. Technical support depends on each brand and good customer service cannot be guaranteed. Speed depends on each brand of eSIM card. There is no App to monitor data consumption. |
5. Ubigi and its eSIM cards for Curaçao in smart cars
Ubigi is a provider of eSIM cards a little different than the rest of the data plan companies for travelling abroad. While with other brands you have to choose and buy the plan and then proceed to install the eSIM, with Ubigi it’s the other way around. First you can install the eSIM for free and then add credit depending on how many gigabytes you are going to use. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
On their website and App, you’ll find only a 30-day Curaçao plan with 1GB for $17. The good thing is that Curaçao is also included in the global plan of 500MB for 1 day and 30 days or 5GB for 30 days.
These eSIMs are designed for people who travel a lot and for long periods of time. The downside is that all of their plans have data caps and you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip.
| Data plan | Dollars | Euro | Pounds | Yen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days – 1 GB | 17$ | 17€ | 16£ | 2400¥ |
| 30 days – 500 MB (global) | 25$ | 25€ | 22£ | 3600¥ |
| 1 day – 500 MB (global) | 9$ | 9€ | 8£ | 1300¥ |
| 30 days – 5GB (global) | 68$ | 68€ | 59£ | 9600¥ |
Luckily, their App works very well and as well as buying the eSIM from there, you can install it and top it up if necessary. Also, Ubigi’s eSIMs allow data sharing with other devices
A curious thing about Ubigi’s eSIM cards is that they also work in cars with internet. Some models from Jaguar, Fiat, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo or Jeep already feature this technology. These plans are different from those for mobile phones.
In this table, you can see how we rate each feature of Ubigi’s eSIM cards. And if you want to know our opinion on Ubigi eSIMs, check out this post: Our opinion Ubigi: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 | 4,8 | 4,1 |
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. The Ubigi eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install via the web or app. The Ubigi eSIM is free to install from the App. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 destinations. 24h real time technical support. They offer eSIM cards for smart cars. Data sharing. The eSIM can be recharged from the App. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 1GB or less and they do not have unlimited data plans. Short duration plans have very limited gigabytes. Their eSIMs do not include calls or SMS. The duration of the plans is limited to 30 days. Their support service is exclusively in English. |
Conclusion on which is the best eSIM for Curaçao
In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to consider when comparing eSIM cards as, for each type of travel, you will have different connection needs. That is why we have prepared this section where we tell you based on our experience which eSIM card is best for Curaçao.
When we travel, we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our holiday, so eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option if we want to travel without worry. In this case, there is no brand that offers unlimited data plans, so look for the one that offers the most gigabytes in relation to the number of days, which in this case is Holafly with 6GB for 15 days.
All other brands offer so few gigabytes that you’re likely to run out mid-trip and have to pay again to top up. In this table, you can estimate how much data you will need on your trip based on your usual consumption.
| Platform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0,12 GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,12 GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0,18 GB – 0,8 GB |
| Netflix | 0,3 GB – 7 GB |
| YouTube | 0,14 GB – 1,7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0,8 GB – 6 GB |
The installation process for eSIM cards is always simple and quick, but it is true that there are some companies that make it even easier. The first thing to do is to check if your mobile is compatible with the brand’s eSIM. You can check this information on each provider’s website. In the case of Ubigi, when you download the App, the App itself will tell you if your mobile is compatible with the eSIM.
The purchase of the eSIM for Curaçao can be done via the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or Simoptions, or via the app such as Airalo or Ubigi. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while SimOptions’ is quite complicated to understand and you will have to do a lot of reading.
The only brands that allow installation through the App are Airalo and Ubigi, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you can get the code to install the eSIM manually without using a computer. You can also do the installation by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, Airalo, Simoptions or Ubigi.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and to solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chat bot that takes a long time to respond. In the case of Simoptions, technical support will depend on the brand of eSIM card you have chosen. In this aspect Holafly’s technical support is the best as it responds in less than 1 minute in Spanish, English, German, French and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp.
Many times when we travel we want toshare data with other devices. In the case of Curaçao only Airalo and Maya Mobile
But one of the most important aspects is price. The brands with the cheapest plans are Airalo and Ubigi, however, their technical service is slow and inefficient. So sometimes it’s better to pay a little more for a Holafly eSIM and make sure you won’t run out of data.
All in all, Holafly’s eSIM cards are the best option for travelling to Curaçao because of the quality of their eSIM cards with more data than the rest and the multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will travel with peace of mind.
Other options for getting internet on Curaçao?
There are a number of ways to get internet when travelling abroad, however, eSIM cards are our favourite option due to the number of advantages they offer, which we are about to detail.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Pre-purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, you don’t have to remove the original card. Connection as soon as you land, no need to find a shop first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No dependency on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Tranquility | 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You won’t have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your mobile. |
| Security | Without using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. Avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your phone as with eSIM cards. |
There are other alternatives for connecting to the internet in Curaçao that may also be of interest to you. That’s why we’ve put together this list of other options, their prices, advantages and disadvantages for you to compare and choose the one that best suits your trip.
1. Buy SIM cards for Curaçao from Digicel and Flow
This was the most common option until eSIM cards came along. When you arrive at your destination, you can get your SIM card at the airport or in the shopping areas of the cities. There you’ll find shops of the main phone company, Digicel, which offers the best coverage in the country. Another local brand offering SIM cards is Flow.
Although this is one of the most widespread methods of getting internet, it does have several disadvantages, as detailed in this table.
| Advantages | There is a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Disadvantages | You have to exchange it for your regular SIM card, which can be lost or damaged. You have to open and handle the mobile phone during the installation process. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
2. Renting a Pocket WiFi for Curaçao
A Pocket WiFi is a wireless router that allows you to connect to the internet from anywhere. These are the advantages and disadvantages of this system, which is considered to be one of the most expensive.
| Advantages | There is a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Disadvantages | You have to exchange it for your regular SIM card, which can be lost or damaged. You have to open and handle the mobile phone during the installation process. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
Some of the best brands for renting Pockets Wifi in Curaçao are TravelersWifi and Travel Wifi. Plans are contracted by the day or by the month, depending on the company. With TravelersWifi for example, a day costs almost €6, and TravelWifi from €4 per day.
To these costs, however, must be added shipping costs, insurance, extra batteries or car chargers.
These devices usually have about 12 hours of autonomy, after that time you will need to recharge it. It’s a good alternative if you use it for work in a fixed location, for example.
This system can be uneconomical for a short trip. It is therefore recommended for longer stays or business trips where the device is always kept in one place and can be shared between several people.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in Curaçao
Curaçao is a very touristy destination where you’ll have no trouble finding free wifi hotspots in places like department stores, cafes, museums and hotels. However, the big disadvantage of public networks is their vulnerability to hacking. It is therefore recommended that you limit their use to a minimum and avoid at all costs making transactions that put your personal data at risk.
| Advantages | It’s free. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is difficult to find free wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or have connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and give your personal details. Some free wifi networks are time-limited. You should always connect close to the router. They are vulnerable to hacking. |
4. Activate roaming for Curaçao
Data roaming is a service offered by phone companies to continue using your local data plan when you travel to Curaçao.The cost of this service is usually high, so it is advisable to check with your usual carrier before embarking on your trip, to avoid surprises at the end of the month.
In Spain there are several telephone companies that offer this service to their customers, such as Vodafone, Movistar, Orange, Jazztel or Yoigo. The price varies depending on the brand, but can be as high as €12 per megabyte spent, which is really expensive compared to other options such as eSIMs. Think that Holafly’s 2GB eSIM for Curaçao costs €34.
| Advantages | No installation on our mobile. No extra services to sign up for. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Disadvantages | It is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without realising it. Not all phone companies offer this service. |
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Frequently asked questions about having internet in Curaçao with an eSIM
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your mobile phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your usual SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is built into the latest generation of mobile phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the website or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
Once you have verified that your mobile phone is compatible with the product and chosen the data plan that best suits your needs, go to the mobile data settings on your smartphone and select “add data plan”. The camera will then open, so you can scan the QR code that you will have received in the mail after the purchase. The installation and activation of your card will then begin.
This process must be carried out with an internet connection, which is why it is recommended that you do it before setting off on your trip or as soon as you arrive at the hotel.
Most models of common brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will tell you which models are compatible.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same-day express delivery.
There is no brand with real unlimited data for Curaçao. Only Maya Mobile offers unlimited data, but it is not real as it runs out after 30GB.
Data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included, such as Curaçao, do.
Holafly is a Spanish company launched in 2018 that you can trust, it has been tested by more than 400,000 customers, travel blogs and Youtubers. Holafly has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences posted on Trustpilot, with an “Excellent” rating and 4.6 average score.
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included do.
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and a lower average Trustpilot rating than Holafly at 3.8. SIM Options is a Hong Kong based company.
Data cards are activated as soon as they are installed in the country of origin, i.e. when the SIM card is inserted or the QR code is scanned.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Reviews of Maya on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 4.5.
Airalo reviews on Truspilot are good, with an average score of 3.9.
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