Planning your next trip to South Africa? If so, you are certainly looking for the best eSIM to connect to the internet immediately without paying excessive bills like with roaming, or compromising your data on public wifi networks. Currently there is a great variety of eSIM for South Africa with different features such as speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of the plans, so, in this post we compared the main brands such as Holafly, Airalo or SimOptions, among others, and we will share with you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision.
If you want to know more about eSIM cards and the best option for South Africa read on. Although we can already tell you that the Holafly eSIM cards are a safe bet with unlimited data, no extra charges and you will also have 24/7 support in several languages.
Comparison of eSIM for a trip to South Africa
In this table you can find a summary of the information about the main eSIM brands in South Africa. Here you can compare and get an idea of what each one offers. We will go into more detail about all the important aspects later on, so that you don’t miss anything.
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 days | No | Yes | Yes | Unlimited data on all plans | In English and other languages, direct chat and WhatsApp | 29€ – 79€ | 4,7 | 4,5 |
| Airalo | 7, 15 and 30 days | Yes | No | Yes | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB | In English, via a bot | 4,5$ – 26$ | 2,6 | 3,9 |
| Maya Mobile | 5, 10, 15 and 30 days | Only on some plans | Yes | Yes | 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB and unlimited | In English, via email | 10€ -64€ | 4,7 | 3,6 |
| Ubigi | 30 days | Yes | No | Yes | 1GB | By email in 8 languages | 8€ | 4,1 | 3,9 |
| Simoptions | 14, 15 and 30 days | No | No | No | 3GB, 5GB, 6GB and 10GB | In English via chat | 24,9$ – 39,9$ | 4,4 | 3 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for South Africa with unlimited gigabytes
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continent and for countries. Holafly eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with a QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 160 destinations. 24/7 technical support in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Japanese. Very flexible prices. Offers unlimited data for South Africa. You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. It has an App where you can check consumption and the days remaining on the contract. |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or SMS. Holafly’s South Africa eSIM card does not allow data sharing. The installation cannot be done through its App. |
Holafly is a Spanish company with offices around the world and more than 100 employees. Holafly offers eSIM with unlimited data for South Africa. Also, it is one of the best options to buy eSIM cards and travel with peace of mind as it offers a 24/7 customer support 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 4.6.
On Holafly’s website you can find 6 unlimited data plans between 5 and 30 days. Their eSIM connects to the local network of MTN SA/Vodacom, one of the best mobile operators in the country, so you’ll have excellent coverage.
| Data plan | Price in Euros | Price in Dollars | Price in Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – Unlimited data | 29€ | 29$ | $599 |
| 7 days – Unlimited data | 37€ | 37$ | $699 |
| 10 days – Unlimited data | 44€ | 44$ | $799 |
| 15 days – Unlimited data | 47€ | 47$ | $999 |
| 20 days – Unlimited data | 59€ | 59$ | $1199 |
| 30 days – Unlimited data | 79€ | 79$ | $1599 |
The Holafly eSIM cards can be installed easily by scanning the QR code that you will receive by email once you have completed the purchase. The installation can also be done manually without the need for a computer, simply writing a code in the settings of your mobile that you can consult in the mail or in your App, which is very convenient to control 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 that in the end they are profitable because you can travel without worries thanks to their technical service, which is the most efficient of all the eSIM cards we have tested. Here we leave you this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of the Holafly eSIM cards for South Africa based on our experience.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,5 |
In this post you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some users’ opinions: Our review of Holafly eSIM: is it worth it?
2. Maya Mobile, 30-day data plans
| Advantages | They offer data packages by continents and countries. Maya Mobile eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install with a QR code or manually. They have eSIM cards for 194 destinations. Data plans limited to 3GB, 5GB, 10 GB and 20GB which can run out quickly. Flexible pricing. Rechargeable after 30 days. Data sharing with other devices. Data plans for 5, 10, 15 and 30 days. |
| Inconveniences | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They do not have an App. Technical support only in English via a bot. |
This company only offers eSIM cards for 5, 10, 15 and 30 days in South Africa. The price of the data packages varies depending on the gigabytes. In total they have 4 packages of 3, 5, 10, 20 gigabytes, and another with unlimited data. The Maya Mobile unlimited data is not real since after the first 2 daily gigabytes of the plan, the speed is reduced to 1Mbps. The price of the plans ranges from €10 to €64.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterized by the speed and simplicity of its contracting and installation process, which is also done through 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 common since they have a minimum of two data providers in each country where they offer their services.
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 3 GB | 10 – 13€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 5 GB | 13 – 17€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 10 GB | 21 – 26€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days – 20 GB | 26 – 31€ |
| 5, 10, 15 and 30 days -unlimited data* | 27 – 64€ |
On Trustpilot you can see that the brand has an average score of 4.4, but there are very few reviews. Here you have 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 | 4,5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3,6 |
3. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand for traveling to South Africa
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. It is one of the cheapest brands in the market. They offer 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. They allow you to recharge the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 10GB or less and do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB). 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 an eSIM card company founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir. It 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 South Africa are for 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $4.5 to $26. Airalo is characterized as one of the cheapest brands on the market, however, its customer service leaves much to be desired and takes a long time to respond. In addition, their data plans have very limited gigabytes and you will most likely run out of data in the middle of the trip and have to recharge. This means that in the end the costs will increase and what seemed cheap will be expensive in the end.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 4,5$ |
| 15 days – 2 GB | 8$ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 11$ |
| 30 days – 5GB | 15,5$ |
| 30 days – 10 GB | 26$ |
Although Airalo is cheap and offers a wide variety of eSIM cards that can be controlled through its App, it is not one of the best options because of the technical service and as can be seen on Trustpilot in the user reviews 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 review of Airalo eSIM: 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. Ubigi and their eSIM cards for South Africa in smart cars
| Andvantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Ubigi eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install via the web or App. Ubigi’s eSIM is installed for free from the App. They offer a wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 destinations. 24/7 real time technical support. They offer eSIM cards for smart cars. Their eSIM cards allow data sharing. You can recharge the eSIM card from the App. |
| Inconveniences | The gigabytes are limited to 1GB or less and do not have unlimited data plans. Short-term 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 that is a bit different from the rest of the data plan companies for traveling 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 the gigabytes you are going to use. You can pay in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.
On their website you will find just 1 data plan for South Africa with a duration of 30 days and 1GB for €8. The good thing is that this country is also included in 5 plans for several African countries and 3 global plans with more gigabytes.
These eSIMs are intended for people who travel a lot and for long periods. The downside is that all of their plans have data limits and you can run out of internet in the middle of your trip.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars | Price in Euros | Price in Pounds | Price in Yens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days – 1 GB (South Africa) | 8$ | 8€ | 7£ | 1300¥ |
| 30 days – 1 GB (Africa) | 10$ | 10€ | 9£ | 1500¥ |
| 30 days – 1 GB (Africa) | 26$ | 26€ | 23£ | 3700¥ |
| 30 days – 3 GB (Africa) | 26$ | 26€ | 23£ | 3700¥ |
| 30 days – 10 GB (Africa) | 58$ | 58€ | 52£ | 8200¥ |
| monthly – 2 GB (Africa) | 148$ | 148€ | 128£ | 20800¥ |
Luckily, their App works very welland 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.
A curious thing about Ubigi eSIM cards is that they also work in 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 review of Ubigi eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 | 4,8 | 3,9 |
5. SimOptions y their marketplace
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. SimOptions eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. Some plans include calls and SMS. |
| Inconveniences | Gigabytes are limited to 10GB and 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. No eSIM card for South Africa allows recharging data. Technical support depends on each brand and good customer service cannot be guaranteed. Speed depends on each eSIM card brand. No App to control data consumption. |
Sim Options 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 South Africa you will find on their website 4 data plans of 14, 15 and 30 days with a limit of 3GB, 5GB, 6GB and 10 GB. The price ranges from $24.9 to $39.9.
The main drawback of Simoptions is that their website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, as they are from different brands, are very disparate and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, the possibility of recharging or data sharing. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision.
| Data plan | Price in U.S. Dollars |
|---|---|
| 30 days – 3 GB | 24,9$ |
| 15 days – 6 GB | 39,9$ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 34,9$ |
| 15 days – 10 GB | 39,9$ |
Our personal experience is that with SimOptions cards you waste a lot of time comparing between them. 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 review of Sim Options eSIM: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data Sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3,5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Conclusion: what is the best eSIM for South Africa
Below we compare the pros and cons of each eSIM brand in South Africa to help you choose. We also share our experience which eSIM card is best for South Africa.
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 the case of South Africa only Holafly offers eSIM cards with real unlimited data, as Maya Mobile’s unlimited data plans run out at 2GB daily.
Here’s this table to help you make an estimate of the gigabytes you’ll need based on your usual consumption.
| Plataform | Gigabyte consumption per hour |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,12GB – 0,18 GB | |
| 0,06 GB | |
| Tiktok | 0,18 GB – 0,8 GB |
| Netflix | 0,3GB – 7GB |
| Youtube | 0,14GB – 1,7 GB |
| Amazon Prime | 0,8GB – 6GB |
The installation process of 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 South Africa can be done through the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or SimOptions, or through 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 read a lot.
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 scanning a QR code that you will receive by mail as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, SimOptions or Maya Mobile.
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, Airalo or Ubigi 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 English, German, French, Italian, Spanish 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 Ubigi and some SimOptions brands make it possible. But remember that if you share data it will run out sooner.
But one of the most important aspects is price. The brands with the cheapest plans 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 sometimes it is advisable to pay a little more and get a Holafly eSIM card with unlimited gigabytes and the assurance that everything will be fine.
All in all, Holafly eSIM cards are the best choice for travel to South Africa because of their unlimited data and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will travel with peace of mind.
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Other options for having internet in South Africa
Although eSIM cards are the best option to have internet in South Africa for all the advantages and conveniences they offer, there are also other alternatives as we tell you below. For the moment, here we leave you this table with all the reasons why we prefer to use travel eSIM cards rather than other options.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, there is no need to remove the original card. You’ll be connected as soon as you land, no need to find a store first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No need to rely on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Peace of mind | You will have 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You will not have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your cell phone. |
| Security | You will avoid using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. You will avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your mobile phone like with SIM cards. |
1. SIM cards for South Africa of Vodacom and Telkom
SIM cards are one of the most widespread options today, but that does not imply that they are the best option because they have quite a few drawbacks.
| Advantages | There are a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is fast. They can be purchased online or in physical stores. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Inconveniences | It always replaces your regular SIM, which can be lost or damaged. The cell phone must be opened and handled during the installation process. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to be delivered. When the contract of your travel SIM expires, it must be replaced by another one. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
In South Africa there are several companies that sell eSIM cards both at the airport such as Johannesburg-Johannesburg International, Cape Town Bloemfontein or Durban, as well as in the commercial or tourist areas. The best eSIM cards for tourists are the prepaid cards from Vodacom and Telkom. Both brands offer a wide variety of SIM plans, so prices vary greatly.
2. Rent a Pocket WiFi
Another alternative for connecting to the internet in South Africa is to rent a Pocket WiFi, i.e. a portable router through which you can access the internet wherever you go.
| Advantages | 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 cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is one of the most expensive options. There are few brands to choose from. Contracts are usually of long duration. In addition to the data plan, you have to pay for rental, insurance and shipping costs. The battery lasts 6 hours maximum. 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 South Africa are Wifivox, Mywebspot or TravelersWifi. TravelersWifi is priced at $5.9 per day and can connect to 5 devices. It also offers a global plan that includes many more countries for $7.9. Mywebspot costs about $11 per day and Wifivox $8 per day.
This option is interesting when we only need internet in a very specific space, for long periods of time or when we travel with more people, since everyone can benefit from the connection and share the expenses.
3. Search for free WiFi networks
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 is free of charge. There is nothing to install on our cell phones. |
| Inconveniences | It is difficult to find free access wifi networks. Public wifi networks are often slow or give connection problems. You often have to fill in forms and share your personal data. Some free wifi networks have limited time. You have to be near the router to connect. These networks 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 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 is your trip in South Africa: cafes, restaurants, museums, airports and accommodations.
There are now also APPs that tell you where to find WiFi hotspots, as does Facebook, which also offers this service.
4. Activate roaming for South Africa
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.
There are several companies that offer roaming service in South Africa such as Movistar, Yoigo, Vodafone, Pepephone and Orange among others. The cost of roaming in South Africa may vary according to the operator you use, usually the cost ranges between 7 to 13 euros per MB used. Think that for €29 you will get a Holafly eSIM with unlimited data.
Before embarking on a trip it is recommended to ask your usual carrier about the cost of roaming so that you can compare with other services such as eSIM cards.
If in the end 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 | There is no need to install anything on our cell phone. There is no need to contract any extra service. You can receive calls, send messages and connect to the internet immediately. |
| Inconveniences | This is the most expensive option. Sometimes it is activated without us realizing it. Not all telephone companies offer this service. |
Frequently asked questions about how to have internet in South Africa
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your mobile when you travel abroad without having to remove your regular SIM as with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip incorporated in the latest generation of cell phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the web or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, duration and gigabytes of data plan and pay securely.
The eSIM installation and activation is a really easy procedure that will take you just a few minutes.
Once you have verified that your cell 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”. Then the camera will open so you can scan the QR code that you will have received in the mail after the purchase. Then the installation and activation of your card will begin.
This process must be carried out with internet connection, so it is recommended to do it before embarking on the trip or upon arrival 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 supported. However, it is best to check on the website of each provider, where they will tell you all the compatible models.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical stores or online, whose delivery period ranges from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same-day express shipping.
In order to activate the eSIM card you need to have internet connection, so it is recommended to activate it just before embarking on the trip.
Data packages usually last between 5 and 30 days.
Unlimited data plans usually do not allow data sharing, but those plans with a specific number of GBs included do, as is the case in South Africa.
Data on unlimited plans is really unlimited. Note in any case that local mobile operators may temporarily reduce the speed if you make very intensive use of applications such as Netflix or Youtube. These limits are more intended to avoid network saturation by a few users.
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 markets eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences posted on Trustpilot, with an “Excellent” rating and 4.7 average score.
SIM Options has both positive and negative reviews, and an average rating on Trustpilot lower than Holafly, of 4,4. SIM Options is a Hong Kong-based company.
Maya is owned by a U.S. company, Maya Virtual Inc. Maya’s reviews on Truspilot are good, out of 4.7 average rating.
Airalo’s reviews on Truspilot are good, with 2,6 average rating.
At Passporter our favorite eSIM is from Holafly because of the confidence we get from their efficient 24/7 multilingual technical service and the quality of their products.
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