Planning your next trip to the Dominican Republic? Then you’re probably looking for the best travel eSIM 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 which is the best eSIM for travelling to the Dominican Republic based on our experience, and we analyse in detail the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or Ubigi to help you make a decision. When choosing an eSIM card it is important to consider the speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of the plans that best suit your trip. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each brand, although we’ve already told you that the Holafly eSIM cards are a safe bet with no extra charges and 24h support in Spanish.
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Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to the Dominican Republic
When comparing different brands of eSIM we must take into account all the features that will determine if the card fits the needs of our trip. That is why we have prepared this table with all the essential information about each brand to help you choose. We’ll go into more detail on all the important points 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 | 30 days | Yes | – | + | 2.5GB, 3.5GB 5GB, and 7.5GB | In English, direct chat and WhatsApp | €29 -47 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Airalo | 7 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB | English, via bot | $9.5 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Simoptions | 15 days | No | – | + | 6GB | In English by mail and App | €39.9 | 3.5 | 3.2 |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB | In English by email | €11-31 | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| Ubigi | 30 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB | English by chat | £19-39 | 4.2 | 4 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for the Dominican Republic with the best customer service in Spanish
| 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. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. 24/7 technical support in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese. Very flexible pricing. You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. They have an App where you can check your usage and the number of days left on your contract. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. One of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because they offer more gigabytes than the rest. The Holafly eSIM card for Australia does not allow data sharing. You can’t do the installation through their App. The eSIM for Australia does not have unlimited data. |
On the website of Holafly you can find 4 data plans with durations of 5, 7, 10 and 15 days, and a gigabyte limit between 2.5 GB and 7.5 GB. Prices range from €29 to €47.
Holafly is our favourite eSIM brand on Passporter because it offers a 24-hour customer service in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese that responds in less than a minute by chat or WhatsApp, and is currently the best customer rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.6.
| Data plan | Euro | Dollars | Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – 2.5 GB | €29 | $29 | $599 |
| 7 days – 3.5 GB | €34 | $34 | $699 |
| 15 days – 5 GB | €39 | $39 | $799 |
| 30 days – 7.5 GB | €47 | $47 | $899 |
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 the Dominican Republic based on our experience.
In this post, you can read about our experience with Holafly’s eSIM cards and the opinions of some users: Our opinion of Holafly’s eSIM.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
2. Maya Mobile, data bundles for long journeys
| 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. To recharge 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. |
This company makes eSIM cards available for 30 days in the Dominican Republic. In this case, the price of data packages varies according to gigabytes. In total, they have 3 packages of 1 GB, 3 GB and 5 GB. The price ranges from €11 to €31.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized 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 |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 30 days | 11€ |
| 3 GB – 30 days | 23€ |
| 5 GB – 30 days | 31€ |
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 rating 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 | 4 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3 | 3.2 |
3. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They are 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. Their eSIM card allows you to share data with other devices. Top up the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Disadvantages | The gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. ESIM cards do not include calls and sms. The duration of data plans is limited to 7, 15 and 30 days. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
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. On their website you can see that for the Dominican Republic they only have a 1 GB eSIM for 7 days for $9.5.
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, the truth is that it can be expensive in the long run as its data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and its technical service takes a long time to respond.
The gigabytes on this plan are really limited and you’re likely to run out and have to recharge your eSIM. You’ll end up paying the same as you would for an eSIM with more data.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 9.5$ |
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 for 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 |
4. SimOptions and its market-place
| Advantages | They offer 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. |
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 the Dominican Republic, you will find only a 15-day data plan with data limits of 6 GB and a price of $39.9.
The main drawback of SimOptions is that its website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, as they are from different brands, are very disparate, and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, the possibility of recharging or sharing data. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 15 days – 6 GB | 39.9$ |
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 |
5. Ubigi and its eSIM cards for smart cars
| 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. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 destinations. 24h real time technical support. ESIM cards for smart cars. Their eSIM cards allow data sharing. The eSIM can be recharged from the App. |
| Disadvantages | The 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. |
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 won’t find any plans for the Dominican Republic as such, but you will find a regional plan for the Caribbean and another for the Americas that include the country. These plans offer 1 GB for 30 days and cost €19 and €39.
| Data plan | Dollars | Euros | Pounds | Yen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days – 1 GB (Caribbean) | $19 | €19 | £17 | ¥2700 |
| 30 days – 1GB (Americas) | $39 | €39 | £35 | ¥5500 |
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.
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 Ubigi opinion: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4 |
Conclusion of the best eSIM for Dominican Republic
In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to take into account when comparing eSIM cards as, for each type of trip, 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 the Dominican Republic.
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 worries. In this case, there is no brand that offers unlimited data plans. That’s why you should look for the one that offers the most gigabytes in relation to days, which in this case is Holafly with 7.5 GB 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 the website of each provider, and in the case of Ubigi, when you download the App it informs you if your mobile is compatible.
The purchase of the eSIM for Dominican Republic can be done through the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or Simoptions, or through the app such as Airalo, Truphone or Ubigi. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while Simoptions’ website 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, Truphone 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 Nomad.
On the other hand, it is very important to consider the technical service to help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chatbot that takes a long time to respond and only does so in English. 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 the web chat or WhatsApp.
Many times when we travel, we want toshare data with other devices. In the case of the Dominican Republic, only Holafly, Airalo, Ubigi and Maya Mobile
But one of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Airalo and Maya Mobile, however, their data plans are very limited and are likely to run out, and you’ll have to pay again with the top-up. That is why it is sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get a eSIM card with a higher data limit like Holafly’s to give you peace of mind and avoid having to recharge again.
All in all, Holafly’s eSIM cards are the best choice for travel to the Dominican Republic because they offer more gigabytes than the rest and because of their multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will never run out of data on your trip.
Other options to have internet in Dominican Republic?
There are several 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. Connected 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 mobile as with eSIM cards. |
There are other alternatives for connecting to the Internet in the Dominican Republic that may also be of interest to you. That’s why we have prepared this list with other options, their prices, advantages and disadvantages for you to compare and choose the one that best suits your trip.
1. Buy SIM cards
This was the most common option until eSIM cards came along. When you arrive at your destination, you can get yourSIM card at the airport or in the shopping areas of the cities. There you will find shops of the main telephone companies such as Claro or Altice.
The price of SIM cards varies depending on contract length and gigabytes, but expect a 30-day SIM card to cost almost €50.
Although this is one of the most widespread methods of getting internet, it does have several disadvantages as detailed in this table.
| Advantages | There are a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. |
| 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 will not be able to keep your regular phone number. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. |
2. Renting a Pocket WiFi for the Dominican Republic
A Pocket WiFi is a wireless router that allows you to connect to the internet from anywhere in the world. These are the advantages and disadvantages of this system, which is considered to be one of the most expensive.
| Advantages | It can be used by several devices at the same time. You can choose the gigabyte package that suits you best. No need to install anything on our mobiles. |
| Disadvantages | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Long-term contracts are the norm. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay rent, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts at most 6 hours. If you use it with other people you have to be in the same room. You have to carry it with you wherever you go and you run the risk of losing it. |
Some of the best brands for renting Pockets Wifi in the Dominican Republic are Travel Wifi and Wifivox. Plans are contracted by the day or by the month, depending on the company. With Travel Wifi, for example, a day costs almost €4. To these costs, however, must be added shipping costs, insurance, extra batteries or car chargers.
This system may not be cost-effective for a short trip. It is therefore recommended for longer stays or business trips where the device will always be kept in one place and can be shared between several people.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a very touristy destination where you’ll have no trouble finding free wifi hotspots in places like department stores, cafés, 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 Dominican Republic
Data roaming is a service offered by phone companies to continue using your local data plan when you travel to the Dominican Republic.The cost of this service is usually high, so it is advisable to check with your usual company before setting off on your trip, to avoid surprises at the end of the month.
From 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 €25 per gigabyte spent, which is really expensive compared to other options such as eSIMs.
| 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 telephone companies offer this service. |
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Frequently asked questions about having internet in the Dominican Republic 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.
The installation and activation of the eSIM is a really easy procedure that will only take a few minutes.
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 popular 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 indicate all the compatible models.
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.
It is best to activate it just before your trip as you will need an internet connection.
There are no brands with unlimited data for the Dominican Republic, but Holafly offers the highest gigabyte limit
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included 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 published on Trustpilot, with a rating of “Excellent” and an average score of 4.6.
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.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Maya’s reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 4.5.
You can buy your eSIM at any time before or during your trip to the Dominican Republic in the online shop of the specialized brands.
Airalo reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average score of 3.9.
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