Latin America has so much to offer that we understand that it’s hard to choose just one country when organizing your trip, and even more so when you have to cross the pond. That’s why many travelers take the opportunity to visit several countries of the continent in the same trip. By now, you may already know that eSIM cards are the best option to have internet on your travels, but what you may not know is that eSIM cards are also sold for several countries in Latin America, so you can cross borders without having to make a new purchase or reinstall the eSIM. In this post, we tell you which is the best eSIM for Latin America.
There are currently a wide variety of brands with different features such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of plans, so we have compared the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or SimOptions, among others, and we tell you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision. We’ve already told you that one of our favorite brands for its ease of use, unlimited data and efficient customer service are Holafly’s eSIM cards, a safe bet with no extra charges, and you will also have 24h support.
Comparison of eSIM for a trip to Latin America
When comparing different eSIM brands, we must take into account all the features that will determine if the card fits the needs of our trip. That’s why we have prepared this summary table with all the essential information about Holafly, Airalo, Maya Movile, Simoptions and Ubigi to help you choose. We’ll delve deeper into each eSIM brand later on, 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, 60 and 90 days | No | + | + | Unlimited Data on all plans | In English, direct chat and WhatsApp | 29€ – 217€ | 4,7 | 4.4 |
| Airalo | 7, 15 y 30 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB | English, via bot | 15€ – 60€ | 2,6 | 3.8 |
| Ubigi | 30 days | Yes | – | + | 1GB and 3GB | In English by mail and App | 14€ – 38€ | 4,4 | 4,1 |
| Simoptions | 15 days | No | – | – | 6GB | In English by chat | €39.9 | 4,4, | 3,5 |
| Maya Mobile | 5, 10, 15 and 30 days | Only in some plans | + | – | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10 GB, unlimited | In English via bot | 8€ – 121€ | 4,7 | 3,7 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for Latin America with unlimited data and the best 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. 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. All plans have unlimited data. 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. Holafly’s eSIM card for Latin America does not allow data sharing. You can’t do the installation through their App. |
With Holafly there is no need to buy a different eSIM for each country if you are on the road in Latin America as they offer a Regional eSIM covering 14 countries on the continent including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Uruguay.
With Holafly you will travel with peace of mind as it offers 8 unlimited data plans and a 24h 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 company with the best customer rating on Trustpilot with a score of 4.7.
| Data plan | Price in Euros | Price in Dollars | Price in Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – unlimited data | 29€ | 27$ | $599 |
| 7 days – unlimited data | 37€ | 34$ | $699 |
| 10 days – unlimited data | 47€ | 44$ | $899 |
| 15 days – unlimited data | 57€ | 54$ | $1199 |
| 20 days – unlimited data | 69€ | 64$ | $1399 |
| 30 days – unlimited data | 87€ | 87$ | $1699 |
| 60 days – unlimited data | 147€ | 144$ | $2899 |
| 90 days – unlimited data | 217€ | 214$ | $4299 |
There are two options for installing the Holafly eSIM. One is scanning the QR code that will arrive to your email once you have completed the purchase. And the other is the manual installation that you can do without a computer, simply typing 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 the Holafly eSIM cards for Latin America based on our experience.
In this post, you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and the opinions of some users: Our opinion of Holafly’s eSIM.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
2. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand for travel to Latin America
| 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 5GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes of 1 GB. 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, 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.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for Latin America include 19 countries and have a duration of 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $15 to $60. Airalo is characterized as one of the cheapest brands on the market, however, its technical service leaves much to be desired and takes a long time to respond. In addition, their data plans have very limited gigabytes, and you will most likely run out of data in the middle of the trip and have to recharge. This means that in the end the costs will increase, and the cheap will be expensive.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 7 days | $15 |
| 2 GB – 15 days | $28 |
| 3 GB – 30 days | $39 |
| 5 GB – 30 days | $60 |
Although Airalo is cheap and offers a wide variety of eSIM cards whose spending can be controlled through its App, the truth is that it is not one of the best options because of what we told you earlier about its technical service, as you can see on Trustpilot in user comments and ratings. Airalo has one of the lowest scores 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 |
3. Maya Mobile, data packs with as many GB as you need
| 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. Their unlimited data plans have a speed of 1Mbps after the first 2GB per day. Technical support only in English via a bot. |
This company makes eSIM cards available for 5, 10, 15 and 30 days in Latin America including 16 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama, Chile and Uruguay.
The price of the data packages varies depending on the gigabytes. In total, they have 5 packages of 1, 3, 5, and 10 gigabytes, and another with unlimited data. Maya Mobile’s unlimited data is relative since after having used the first 2GB daily the browsing speed will drop from 5Mbps to 1Mbps. The price ranges from €8 to €118.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of its contracting and installation process, 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 case the data does not work, which is not usual since they have at least two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
| Data plan | Price in dollars |
|---|---|
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 1 GB | 8 – 11$ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 3 GB | 16 – 22$ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 5 GB | 22 – 32$ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 10 GB | 39 – 53$ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – unlimited | 27 – 118$ |
Here we leave you this table with the score of each of the features of their eSIM cards.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4,5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4.5 | 3 | 3 | 3.7 |
4. Ubigi and its eSIM cards for smart cars
| Advantages | Offer regional, country or global data packages. Ubigi eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install via the web or app. The Ubigi eSIM is installed for free 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. Their eSIM cards allow data sharing. You can recharge the eSIM from the App. |
| Disadvantages | Gigs are limited to 3GB or less and they do not have unlimited data plans. Short duration plans have very limited gigas. 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 slightly different eSIM card provider 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 is, on the contrary. First you can install the eSIM for free and then add credit depending on the gigabytes you are going to use. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
On their website and App, you can see 3 data plans with 1 GB and 5 GB with a duration of 30 days for €14, €29 and €38. These eSIMs are intended for people who travel a lot and for long periods. The disadvantage is that all their plans have a data limit, and you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars | Price in Euros | Price in Pounds | Price in Yens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days – 1 GB | $14 | €14 | £11 | ¥2000 |
| 30 days – 3 GB | $38 | €38 | £33 | ¥5400 |
| 30 days – 1 GB | 29$ | 29€ | 25£ | 4100¥ |
Luckily, their App works very well and in addition to buying the eSIM from there, you can install and recharge it if necessary. Also, Ubigi’s eSIMs allow for data sharing with other devices
Something curious about Ubigi’s eSIM cards is that they are also suitable for cars with internet. Some models of Jaguar, Fiat, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo or Jeep already incorporate this technology.
In this table, you can see how we evaluate each feature of Ubigi’s eSIM cards. And if you want to know our opinion about 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 | 4.1 |
5. SimOptions, an eSIM marketplace
| 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 6GB 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 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 marketplace where local mobile carriers 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 also have regional and global plans.
For Latin America you won’t find any plans, but there is a global one that includes the vast majority of South American countries. This data plan has a duration of 15 days with data limits of 6GB and is priced at €39.9. This option does not include calls or SMS. Nor do they give the option to top up.
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 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 |
|---|---|
| 15 days – 6 GB | 39.9$ |
Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards, you lose a lot of time comparing between one and the other. In addition, the price is high, you can only pay in dollars, and they don’t give you the guarantee of a 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 | 4 | 3 | 3.5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 |
Conclusion of which is the best eSIM for Latin America
In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to take into account when comparing eSIM cards since, 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 each type of travel in Latin America.
When we travel we don’t want to run out of data in the middle of our vacation, that’s why eSIM cards with unlimited data are the best option if we want to travel without worries. In Latin America only Holafly offers real unlimited data. On Maya Mobile’s website there is an unlimited data plan, but remember that it is capped at 2GB daily and has a browsing speed limited to 5Mbps. With some companies such as Ubigi or Airalo you can recharge the eSIM already installed through their website or App, but the best thing is not having to pay again if you run out of data.
If in the end you opt for an eSIM with limited data, we leave you this table that will help you to make the estimate of the gigabytes you will need 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 fast, but it is true that there are some companies that make it even easier. The first thing is to check if your mobile is compatible with the eSIM of the brand. This information you can check on the website of each provider, and in the case of Ubigi, downloading the App tells you if your phone is compatible.
The purchase of the eSIM for Latin America can be done through the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or Sim Options, or through the app as with Ubigi. Holafly’s website is very intuitive and easy to use, while Sim Options’ is quite complicated to understand and you will have to read a lot.
The only brands that allow you to do the installation through the App are Airalo and Ubigi, and in the case of Holafly, from the App you will be able to 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 in the mail as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, Airalo or Sim Option.
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 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 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 to share data with other devices and only some providers like Airalo, Ubigi and some Sim Options brands make it possible. However, you have to keep in mind that if you share data it will be used up sooner.
But one of the most important aspects is the price. The cheapest brands are Airalo and Maya Mobile, however, their data plans are very limited, and you’re likely to run out and have to pay again with the top-up. That’s why it’s sometimes advisable to pay a little more and get a the eSIM card with unlimited data like Holafly‘s for peace of mind and no need to reload again.
All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best option for traveling to Latin America for their efficient technical support in several languages that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you can travel with peace of mind with the certainty that everything will go smoothly.
Other options to have internet in Latin America
eSIM cards are undoubtedly the best option to have internet in Latin America and in any other destination for all the advantages and conveniences they offer, as we summarize in this table. We also tell you what other options you have available to have internet during your trips.
| 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. You’ll be 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. |
1. SIM cards
SIM cards are one of the most widespread options today, but that does not imply that they are the best option, since as we show below they have quite a few drawbacks.
| Advantages | 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 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. |
The two largest telecommunications companies in Latin America are Telcel and Claro, in whose stores, found both in commercial areas and at airports, you can buy your travel SIM.
The price of SIM cards varies greatly depending on the brand, the gigabytes available and the duration of the contract. Prices range from 30€ to 80€.
2. Rent a Pocket WiFi
Another alternative for connecting to the Internet in Latin America is to rent a Pocket WiFi, that is, a portable router with which you can have access to 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 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. |
The pocket wifi can be rented both in the country of destination and in the country of origin. Some companies will ship it to your home and with others you will have to pick it up at approved points. It is usually recommended to rent these routers on long trips or business trips, as it is not worth it for short trips.
At Travelers Wifi you can purchase your Pocket Wifi for all of Latin America for €5.9 per day, which is more expensive than alternatives such as eSIM cards. The device’s battery lasts 13h and the data plan includes 10 South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in Latin America
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 eternal forms that promise WIFI after giving all your data.
| 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 hacks or cyber-attacks, through which they access your private data. It is therefore recommended to spend as little time as possible connected, to use it for specific queries and not to expose personal data.
These are some places where you can find WiFi on your trip in Latin America in case you need it: airports, museums, subways, parks, cafés, restaurants and hotels. There are also APPs that tell you where to find WiFi spots, as well as Facebook, which also offers this service.
4. Activate roaming for Latin America
One of the options that is losing more and more 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, the bills are very high.
In Spain there are several companies that offer roaming service abroad. Some examples are Movistar, Vodafone and Orange. Before embarking on a trip, it is recommended to ask your usual company about the cost of roaming in order to compare with other services such as eSIM cards. Keep in mind that if you are going to travel through several countries, the price of GB will change every time you cross a border. The price per MB is around €15 or even more.
If you decide to use another option, remember to turn off data roaming on your cell phones or change the main line in the case of using 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 telephone companies offer this service. |
Frequently asked questions about having internet in Latin America
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.
In South America only Holafly offers eSIM cards with real unlimited data.
It is best to activate it just before your trip as you will need an internet connection.
Most plans have a duration of 7, 15 or 30 days.
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 4.7.
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and a lower average Trustpilot rating than Holafly at 4.4. SIM Options is a Hong Kong based company.
No, Maya actually limits the speed on its unlimited plans to only 5mbps. Once you consume 2GB per day, Maya further limits the speed to 1mbps.
Maya is owned by a US company, Maya Virtual Inc. Maya’s reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average rating of 4.7.
The price varies depending on the provider, the gigabytes and the duration of the contract. The price range is between €8 and €217.
Airalo reviews on Trustpilot are good, with an average score of 2.6.
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