Sri Lanka is one of the most visited Asian paradises today, and we’re not at all surprised by its stunning beaches, animal experiences, hospitality and natural parks. You’ll have so much to see that you’re probably wondering if you’ll have the internet there to get to all the places on your list. Fortunately, in this post we’ll tell you how to find the best eSIM card for Sri Lanka, so you can enjoy unlimited internet connection without having to deal with sky-high roaming charges
Today there are a variety of brands offering data plans that vary in speed, data limit, technical support, price or duration of the plans; that’s why we’ve compared the main brands like Holafly, Airalo or Simoptions, among others, and we’ll tell you their advantages and disadvantages to help you make a decision. We already tell you that the Holafly eSIM cards are a safe bet with no extra charges and 24h support
Comparison of eSIMs for a trip to Sri Lanka
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’s 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 out on 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 | Yes | + | Unlimited | English, direct chat and WhatsApp | 19-99€ | 4,6 | 4,3 |
| Airalo | 7 and 30 days | Yes | No | + | 1GB, 3GB | In English, via bot | 5 – 49$ | 3,9 | 3,8 |
| Ubigi | 1 and 30 days | Sometimes | No | + | 500MB, 1GB, 5GB | English by mail and App | 3-29$ | 1,9 | 3,8 |
| Simoptions | 14 and 30 days | No | No | – | 4GB, 6GB, 8GB | In English by chat | 17,9-39,9$ | 3,5 | 3 |
| Maya Mobile | 30 days | Yes | Yes | + | 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, unlimited | In English by email | 8-100€ | 4,4 | 4,1 |
1. Holafly, eSIM for Sri Lanka 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, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It has an App where you can check consumption and the days remaining on the contract. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it’s worth it because you don’t run out of data and you don’t have to recharge. Holafly’s Kenyan eSIM card does not allow data sharing. They do not allow data sharing with other devices. You cannot do the installation through their App. |
Holafly is one of the best options for buying eSIM cards as all its plans have unlimited data for those who want to travel without worrying about running out of internet. In addition, the brand offers a 24-hour customer service in Spanish, English, German, French, 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 4.6.
On the website of Holafly you can find 8 unlimited data plans ranging from 19€ to 99€ depending on the duration of the contract, which can be 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. It is perfect for long stays, as well as for digital nomads or express trips to Sri Lanka.
| Data plan | Euro | Dollars | Mexican Pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days – unlimited data | 19€ | $19 | $339 |
| 7 days – unlimited data | 27€ | $27 | $517 |
| 10 days – unlimited data | 34€ | $34 | $699 |
| 15 days – unlimited data | 47€ | $47 | $899 |
| 20 days – unlimited data | 57€ | $57 | $1199 |
| 30 days – unlimited data | 69€ | $69 | $1399 |
| 60 days – unlimited data | 87€ | $87 | $1699 |
| 90 days – unlimited data | 99€ | $99 | $1999 |
Holafly eSIM cards can be easily installed by scanning the QR code that will be sent to your email once you have completed the purchase. The installation can also be done manually without the need for a computer, simply by 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 in the end they are very 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 this ranking where we evaluate from 1 to 5 all the features of the cards Holafly’s eSIM for Sri Lanka based on our experience.
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Sharing data | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4,8 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 4,8 | 0 | 4,5 | 4,3 |
In this post, you can read about our experience with Holafly eSIM cards and some users’ opinions: Our opinion of Holafly eSIM.
2. Airalo, the cheapest eSIM brand
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Airalo’s eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. The cheapest brand on the market. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. You can share data with other devices. They allow you to top up the eSIM. They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. |
| Disadvantages | The gigabytes are limited to 100GB or less and they do not have cards with unlimited data. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes at 1GB and 5GB. The duration of most plans is more than a month. Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. Their services and technical support is exclusively in English and takes a long time to respond. |
Airalo is along with Holafly one of the world’s best-known brands for buying an international travel eSIM. The company, founded in Singapore in 2019 by Turkish entrepreneurs Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadir Özdemir, was one of the first to offer these services, and has a wide coverage of countries where they offer eSIM cards.
Although Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, it can be expensive in the long run, as its data plans have very limited gigabytes that can run out at any time, and its technical support takes a long time to respond.
Airalo’s eSIM card data plans for Sri Lanka have durations of 7, 15 and 30 days, and prices range from $5 to $49. They also offer an eSIM card for Europe that includes 39 countries. The brand has an App through which you can buy and install the eSIM, and later top it up when you run out of data.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 7 days – 1 GB | 7$ |
| 30 days – 3 GB | 15$ |
The Airalo eSIM for Sri Lanka only offers 2 data plans, so not much flexibility, but not bad value for money. We 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 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. Ubigi
| Advantages | They offer regional, country or global data packages. Truphone eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install in your App. They have eSIM cards for 188 countries. Support both in the app and on the web 24/7. Very affordable prices. You can top up data from the App. Only some devices can share data. No need to scan QR code. Offer data plans for Apple Watch. Offer 100 MB free 1 day trial. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB, no unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes (1GB) You cannot make purchases on the web, only from the App. The duration of data plans is limited to 1 or 30 days. Services and technical support are exclusively in English. |
Ubigi is a pioneer company offering internet connectivity with eSIM services in more than 190 destinations. The main factor that sets it apart from its competitors is that it not only offers prepaid cards for mobile phones, but also for tablets, laptops and connected cars.
Ubigi does not offer Sri Lanka-specific plans, but you can choose from different internet packages valid throughout Asia, with plans ranging from 1 to 30 days’ duration and internet between 500MB, 1GB and 5GB. Prices range from €3 to €29. We consider their prices to be somewhat high for the internet they offer.
| Data plan | Euros | Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day – 500 MB | 3€ | 3$ |
| 30 days – 1GB | 12€ | 12$ |
| 30 days – 5 GB | 29€ | 29$ |
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 eSIM cards, check out this post: Our Ubigi opinion: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Support | Price | App | Speed | Data sharing | Currencies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,5 | 3,5 | 4 | 3,5 | 4,5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3,8 |
4. Maya Mobile, data packages for 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. They have plans with unlimited data. You can set up auto-recharge after 30 days. They allow data sharing with other devices. |
| Disadvantages | Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. No App. The unlimited data plan is limited to 5Mbps. Technical support only in English via a bot. Only 30-day data plans |
This company offers various eSIM card plans for 30 days in Sri Lanka. In this case, the price of data packages varies according to gigabytes. In total, you can choose from five packages of 1, 3, 5, 5, 10GB, and another with unlimited gigabytes. The unlimited data plan is relative as the maximum browsing speed is 5Mbps, and after you have used 30GB of the plan, it drops to 1Mbps. Their prices range from €8 to €100, in our opinion quite high for the duration and quality of the internet.
Like Holafly, Maya Mobile is characterised by the speed and simplicity of its contracting 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.
Maya Mobile also offers a Europe-wide plan that includes 30 countries and has unlimited data (with maximum speed of 5Mbps dropping to 1Mbps).
| Data plan | Price in Euros |
|---|---|
| 1 GB – 30 days | 8€ |
| 3 GB – 30 days | 21€ |
| 5 GB – 30 days | 33€ |
| 10 GB – 30 days | 62€ |
| unlimited – 30 days | 100€ |
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 |
5. SimOptions, a marketplace for eSIM cards
| Advantages | Offering regional, country or global data packages. Sim Options eSIM cards are easy to purchase and install. A wide variety of eSIM cards with different duration, price and gigabytes. They have eSIM cards for 160 countries. Some plans include calls and SMS. |
| Disadvantages | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less and they do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. The features of eSIMs for the same country vary according to the brand contracted. The duration of data plans is limited to 14 and 30 days. Not all eSIM cards allow data top-up. Technical support depends on each brand and good customer service cannot be guaranteed. Speed depends on each brand of eSIM card. There is no App to monitor data consumption. |
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 Sri Lanka, you’ll find six data plans of 8, 10, 12 and 30 days with data limits of 4GB, 6GB and 8GB. Prices are a little higher than average, ranging from $17.9 to $39.9. Also, some plans offering less data are more expensive than others with less, so it’s quite confusing and unreliable.
The main drawback of Sim Options is that its website is a bit chaotic and the data plans, being from different brands, are very disparate, and their features vary a lot, not only price, speed or duration, but also technical support, rechargeability or data sharing. This will force you to look in detail at each brand and will make it harder for you to make a decision. On most plans you cannot top up the installed eSIM if you run out of data and there are only two eSIMs that include calls and SMS.
| Data plan | Price in Dollars |
|---|---|
| 8 days – 6GB | 19,9$ |
| 10 days – 6GB | 17,9$ |
| 12 days – 6GB | 19,9$ |
| 30 days – 4GB | 24,9$ |
| 30 days – 8GB | 34,9$ |
| 15 days – 6GB | 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 SimOptions: is it worth it?
| Data | Duration | Attendance | Price | App | Speed | Speed | Data sharing | Coins | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 3, 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Conclusion on which is the best eSIM for Sri Lanka
In this post we have seen that there are many important factors to consider when comparing eSIM cards as, for each type of travel, you will have different connection needs. That is why we have prepared this section where we tell you based on our experience which eSIM card is best for Sri Lanka.
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 brands that offer unlimited eSIM data are Holafly and Maya Mobile, but remember that Maya Mobile’s unlimited data plans are not real, as after using 30GB the browsing speed will drop by half. With some companies such as Airalo you can top up 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.
We know it can be tricky to calculate the gigabytes you’ll need during your trip, so we’ve put together this table to help you estimate the gigabytes you’ll need if you end up choosing an eSIM card with a data cap, which we don’t recommend.
| 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.
The purchase of the eSIM for Sri Lanka can be done via the web in the case of some brands such as Holafly or SimOptions, or via the app such as Truphone. 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 and Truphone, 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 install the eSIM by scanning a QR code that you will receive by email as soon as you have completed the purchase with Holafly, Airalo, 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 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 regard Holafly’s technical support is the best as they respond in less than 1 minute in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Japanese via web chat or WhatsApp, where a conversation is automatically opened after the purchase.
Many times when we travel we want toshare data with other devices and only some providers like Airalo and some SimOptions brands make this possible.
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 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 an eSIM card with unlimited data like Holafly’s for peace of mind and no need to recharge again.
All in all, Holafly’s eSIM cards are the best choice for travel to Sri Lanka because of their unlimited data and multilingual technical support that responds in less than a minute. With Holafly you will never run out of data on your trip.
Other options for getting internet in Sri Lanka?
There are a number of ways to get internet when travelling abroad, however, eSIM cards are our favourite option due to the number of advantages they offer, which we are about to detail.
| Convenience | Immediate delivery and activation upon purchase. Pre-purchase prior to travel. Easy installation; unlike SIM cards, you don’t have to remove the original card. Connection as soon as you land, no need to find a shop first. You’ll find tailor-made plans to suit the duration and needs of your trip. No dependency on batteries, as with Pocket wifi. You won’t have to carry an extra device during your trip, like the Pocket Wifi. |
| Tranquility | 24h technical support in English, unlike with a SIM or Pocket Wifi. You won’t have to worry about forgetting or losing any device other than your mobile. |
| Security | Without using public wifi networks vulnerable to hacking. Avoid entering personal data in endless forms to get Wifi. No need to open or manipulate your phone as with eSIM cards. |
There are other alternatives for connecting to the internet in Sri Lanka that may also be of interest to you. That’s why we’ve put together this list of other options, their prices, advantages and disadvantages for you to compare and choose the one that best suits your trip.
1. Buy SIM cards from Cosmote, Vodafone Greece and Nova
This was the most common option until eSIM cards came along. When you arrive in Sri Lanka, you can get your SIM card at the airport or in the shopping areas of the cities. There you’ll find shops of major phone companies such as Cosmote, Vodafone Greece and Nova. Although this is one of the most widespread methods of getting internet, it has several disadvantages, as detailed in this table.
| Advantages | There is a variety of brands and data plans to choose from. Installation is quick. They can be purchased online or in physical shops. You can make calls and send messages with a local number. |
| Disadvantages | You have to exchange it for your regular SIM card, which can be lost or damaged. You have to open and handle the mobile phone during the installation process. When your travel SIM contract runs out, you have to replace it with another one. You have to travel to buy it or wait for the card to arrive at home. You will not be able to keep your regular phone number. |
The price of SIM cards varies greatly depending on the length of contract and gigabytes. A two-week SIM card costs between €35.
2. Renting a Pocket WiFi for Sri Lanka
A Pocket WiFi is a wireless router that allows you to connect to the internet from anywhere. These are the advantages and disadvantages of this system, which is considered to be one of the most expensive.
| Advantages | 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 of the best brands for renting Pockets Wifi in Sri Lanka 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 between €8 and €12, depending on the gigabyte limit. To these costs must be added shipping costs, insurance, extra batteries or car chargers.
With Travel Wifi you can choose where to receive and deliver the router at approved points or at the post office.
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 the same place and can be shared between several people.
3. Search for free WiFi networks in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka 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. Enable roaming for Sri Lanka
Data roaming is a service offered by phone companies to continue using your local data plan when you travel to Sri Lanka.The cost of this service is usually high, so it is advisable to check with your usual carrier before embarking on your trip, to avoid surprises at the end of the month.
However, residents of countries within the European Union can continue to use the data contracted in their home country at no additional cost.
| 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. |
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This will cost you nothing but helps us offset the costs of paying our writing team. All opinions are our own. Thank you for your support 🙂 .
Frequently asked questions about having internet in Sri Lanka
eSIM cards allow you to have internet on your mobile phone when you travel abroad without having to remove your usual SIM card, as is the case with SIM cards. This is possible thanks to a chip that is built into the latest generation of mobile phones.
The purchase of the eSIM data plan can be done through the website or the App of some brands. Choose your destination, the duration and the gigabytes of the data plan and pay securely.
Once you have verified that your mobile phone is compatible with the product and chosen the data plan that best suits your needs, go to the mobile data settings on your smartphone and select “add data plan”. The camera will then open, so you can scan the QR code that you will have received in the mail after the purchase. The installation and activation of your card will then begin.
This process must be carried out with an internet connection, which is why it is recommended that you do it before setting off on your trip or as soon as you arrive at the hotel.
Most models of common brands such as Apple, Samsung, Motorola, Huawei or Google are compatible as long as they are recent models. Several iPads are also compatible. However, it is best to consult the website of each provider, where they will tell you which models are compatible.
SIM cards can be purchased in physical shops or online, with delivery times ranging from 48 to 72 hours. There are also companies that offer same-day express delivery.
Most carriers offer packages with data caps. Holafly, unlike the others, offers a wide variety of unlimited data packages.
Data cards are activated as soon as they are installed in the country of origin, i.e. when the SIM card is inserted or the QR code is scanned.
Data packages typically last between 7 and 30 days, however, there are providers such as Holafly that offer more flexible packages between 5 days and 3 months.
To activate the eSIM card you need to have an internet connection, so it is recommended that you activate it just before your trip.
Unlimited data plans do not normally allow data sharing, but plans with a specific number of GBs included do.
The data on unlimited plans is really unlimited. Please note, however, that local mobile operators may temporarily reduce the speed if you use applications such as Netflix or YouTube very intensively. 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 has been marketing eSIMs since 2019.
Holafly has over 10,000 positive experiences posted on Trustpilot, with an “Excellent” rating and 4.6 average score.
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. Reviews of Maya on Truspilot are good, with an average rating of 4.5.
Airalo reviews on Truspilot are good, with an average score of 3.9.
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