What is the best eSIM for internet in Kenya?

When you’re all set for your trip to Kenya, the last thing you’ll need to figure out is how to enjoy an internet connection during your holiday. Nowadays there are many options for getting internet abroad thanks to eSIM cards, without having to deal with the high cost of roaming charges. You will have the opportunity to choose an option that completely suits your interests. Read on to find out about the different options available on the market and the best eSIM card for travelling in Kenya.

There is a wide variety of brands with different features such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of plans. To find out which is the perfect option for you, we at Passporter have compared the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or Simoptions, where we tell you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision. eSIM cards with no data limit like the ones from Holafly are a safe bet with no extra charges and 24h support

Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to Kenya

When making a comparison between different eSIM brands, we need to consider all the features that will help us determine if the card fits our travel needs. We present this summary table with all the essential information about Holafly, Airalo, Maya Mobile, Simoptions and Nomad to help you choose. 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, 10, 15, 20, 30 days	No	Yes	+	Unlimited data on all plans	English, direct chat and WhatsApp	27€ -79€	4,7	4,4
Airalo	7, 15 and 30 days	Yes	No	+	1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB,	In English, via bot	9$ – 36,5€	2,6	3,8
Simoptions	14 and 15 days	No	No	–	6GB, 10GB	In English by chat	39,9$	4,4	3,3
Maya Mobile	5, 10, 15 and 30 days	Yes	No	+	1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB	In English by email	39€ – 331€	4,7	3,5

1. Holafly, eSIM for Kenya with unlimited data and customer support in English

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, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30 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. You cannot do the installation through their App.

Holafly is the leading eSIM card company, offering unlimited data plans. In addition, the brand offers a 24-hour customer support service in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese that responds in less than a minute via chat or WhatsApp, and is currently the best rated company on Trustpilot with a score of 4.7.

On the website of Holafly you can find 6 data unlimited data plans for Kenya with the price starting at 27€.

Data plan	Euro	Dollars	Mexican Pesos
5 days – Unlimited data	27€	27$	$599
7 days – Unlimited data	34€	34$	$699
10 days – Unlimited data	37€	37$	$799
15 days – Unlimited data	47€	47$	$999
20 days – Unlimited data	57€	57$	$1199
30 days – Unlimited data	79€	79$	$1599

There are two options for installing the Holafly eSIM. The first 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; you only have to type 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 for controlling the duration of the data plan.

After testing Holafly’s eSIM cards we can say that they are one of the most expensive options on the market, but in the end they are cost-effective as all their plans have unlimited data and you won’t need to top up at any time during your trip. Here we leave you with this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of the Holafly eSIM cards for Kenya based on our experience.

In this post you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some user reviews: Our thoughts on Holafly eSIM.

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Sharing data	Currencies	Total
5	5	4,8	3,5	3,5	4,8	0	4,5	4,4

2. SimOptions, an eSIM marketplace

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 10GB 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 15 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 company that compares different data plans offered by different local mobile phone companies. The brand, with offices in Paris, Thailand and Kenya, offers data plans for eSIM cards in more than 160 countries and they also have regional and global plans.

For Kenya you’ll find 2 data plans of 14 and 15 days with data limits of 6GB or 10GB with the price of $39,9.

Data plan	Price in Dollars
14 days – 6 GB	39,9$
15 days – 10 GB	39,9$

The main drawback of SimOptions is that it offers a website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, being from different brands, propose features that vary a lot; not only the price, speed or duration, but also the technical support, the possibility to recharge or share data. This will make you have to pay a lot of attention to look at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.

Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards you can waste a lot of time comparing options. 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 SimOptions: is it worth it?

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data sharing	Currencies	Total
3	3	3	3,5	0	4	4	3	3,3

3. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand for travel to Kenya

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 2GB. 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.

Airalo is along with Holafly one of the world’s best-known brands for buying an international travel eSIM. This company was founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir. It was also one of the first to offer such services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.

Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for Kenya have a duration of 7, 15 and 30 days, with prices ranging from $9 to $36,5. Airalo is considered one of the cheapest brands on the market, however, its technical service leaves much to be desired and takes a long time to respond. Their data plans have very limited gigabytes and you are likely to run out of data in the middle of your journey and have to top up, which means that in the end the costs will increase and the cheap will be expensive.

Data plan	Price in Dollars
7 days – 1 GB	9$
30 days – 2 GB	16,5$
30 days – 3 GB	23,5$
30 days – 5 GB	36,5$

Although Airalo is cheap and offers a wide range of eSIM cards, its technical service leaves a lot to be desired. On Trustpilot you can see user reviews and ratings. Airalo has one of the lowest ratings with 2.6. Here you have the ranking of each 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. Maya Mobile, data packages for up to one month

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. You can set up auto-recharge after 30 days. They allow data sharing with other devices. The duration of your plans is 5, 10, 15 and 30 days.

Disadvantages

Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. No App. They do not have unlimited data plans. Technical support only in English via a bot.

For Kenya, Maya Mobile offers four eSIM offers for 5, 10, 15 and 30 days in Kenya. The price of the data packages varies according to the gigabytes. You can choose between 4 packages of 1GB, 3GB, 5GB and 10GB, with prices ranging from 39€ to 331€.

Just like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterised by the speed and simplicity of the sign-up process and installation. It will also be done through 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 at least two data providers in each country where they offer their services.

Data plan	Price in Euros
5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 1GB	39 – 48€
5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 3GB	97 – 119€
5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 5GB	151 – 183€
5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 10GB	267 – 331€

As you can see, the price is quite high compared to the other maras. On Trustpilot you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.7, but there are hardly any reviews. Here we leave you this table with the score for each of the features of their eSIM cards.

Data	Duration	Support	Price	App	Speed	Data sharing	Currencies	Total
4	4	3	4	0	4,5	3	3	3,5

Conclusion on which is the best eSIM for Kenya

When planning a trip to Kenya, it is important to know what type of eSIM and data plan you will need for the amount of days and usage you will need. Below you can find a detailed comparison of our experience and which eSIM card is best for a trip to Kenya.

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. In this case, the only brand that offers unlimited eSIM data is Holafly.

To get a better idea of how much each application consumes and to be able to make a more realistic estimate of how much internet you will need, below is a table with the consumption of each application.

Platform	Gigabyte consumption per hour
Instagram	0,12 GB – 0,18 GB
Facebook	0,12 GB – 0,18 GB
Twitter	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, although it is true that some companies make it easier than others. The first thing you will have to do is check if your mobile is compatible with the brand’s eSIM. Generally, this information can be checked on each provider’s website.

You can also install the eSIM by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly o Maya Mobile.

On the other hand, it is very important to take into account the technical service, which will help you in the installation process and solve any doubt or problem. Most brands such as Maya Mobile or Airalo have a chat bot 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 regard Holafly’s technical support is the best as they respond in less than 1 minute in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp, where a conversation is automatically opened after purchase.

One of the most important aspects is price. The cheapest brands are Sim Options and Airalo; however, their data plans are very limited and you’re likely to run out and have to pay for the top-up again. That is why it is sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get an eSIM card with unlimited data like Holafly’s for peace of mind and no need to worry about running out of data.

All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best option for traveling to Kenya because of their affordable plan and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. Their plans are also really flexible and suit all types of travel. With Holafly you’ll never run out of data on your trip.

Other options for internet in Kenya

Besides eSIM cards, which tend to be the best option for internet in Kenya, there are other options for enjoying the internet in your destination country. For the time being, here is a table of all the reasons why we prefer to use eSIM cards when travelling rather than other options.

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.

1. SIM cards

SIM cards are one of the most widespread options today, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best option, as shown below they have a number of drawbacks.

In Kenya there are many brands offering SIM cards, such as ThingsMobile Or Kes.

SIM cards can be purchased online before you start your trip, at the airport or in official shops in the shopping areas of your destination country.

The advantage of SIM cards is that they also include calls and SMS, but as you may know, the installation process requires removing your regular SIM, so you may risk losing it. Also, SIM cards have limited data, and can run out before their time is up.

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. Rent a Pocket WiFi

Another alternative for connecting to the internet in Kenya is to rent a Pocket WiFi, i.e. a portable router with which you can access the internet wherever you go.

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 more 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 brands that rent these routers in Kenya are AirTel Kenya or Juamia Kenya, although the prices they offer are quite high.

This option is interesting when we only need internet in a very specific space, for long periods of time or when we are travelling with more people, as everyone can benefit from the connection and share the costs.

3. Search for free WiFi networks in Kenya

As you can imagine, this is the cheapest option. However, as you may already know, it is also the most frustrating option in most cases. Slow connection, time limit or endless forms that promise WIFI after giving all your details.

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.

This is an option that should be used with caution for security reasons. Public WiFi hotspots are very vulnerable to hacking or cyber-attacks, so your private data could be affected. See recommends that you spend as little time as possible connected, use it for one-off consultations and do not expose personal data.

Here are some places where you can find WiFi on your trip in Kenya if you need it: airports, museums, the metro, parks, cafes, restaurants and hotels. There are also APPs that tell you where to find WiFi hotspots, as well as Facebook, which also offers this service.

4. Activate roaming for Kenya

One of the options that is increasingly losing popularity due to its high costs is roaming, also known as data roaming. It is the simplest option as you can receive calls and connect to the internet without having to install anything or change your phone number. However, it is not the most widely used option because of the high bills. A gigabyte can cost up to 25€.

Before embarking on a trip, it is advisable to ask your carrier about the cost of roaming so that you can compare with other services such as eSIM cards. In Spain some of the companies that offer roaming in Kenya are Orange, Yoigo, Jazztel, Movistar or Vodafone.

If you decide to use another option, remember to turn off data roaming on your mobile phones or change the main line if you use an eSIM.

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.

Frequently asked questions about having internet in Kenya