Are you planning a trip to Egypt and looking for the best tourist eSIM card for Egypt to stay connected? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an eSIM card for traveling to Egypt including a comparison of the best Egypt eSIM cards for 2024.
Don't waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendations below and order an eSIM card for Egypt on the internet and get connected in just a couple minutes. Below you will find up to date prices as per August 2024 and all specifications per eSIM card.
This guide will show you where and when to order an eSIM card for Egypt, answer the most common FAQ about eSIM cards, the difference and a comparison with local prepaid sim cards for Egypt and of course links to directly order your eSIM card for traveling to Egypt online.
Already since 2012 I am traveling the world full time and eventually turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger. That is why I constantly get to a different country and pretty much every week I need to look for a new sim card to stay connected.
In 2022 I visited for example 62 different countries and in 2023 I traveled to 34 countries so imagine how many different prepaid and eSIM cards I used in the last 2 years.
In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use eSIM cards to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Helping other travelers to save money while traveling the world is one of the reasons I started this travel blog. Providing essential travel tips is what made me start writing sim card guides from every country I visited and now on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world.
Of course Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for Egypt as well as a guide for buying a sim card at Cairo Airport and also a sim card guide for Hurghada Airport.
Recently Traveltomtom also started writing specific and in-depth guides for buying eSIM cards: USA, Canada, Dubai, Asia, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Europe, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Morocco, international eSIM cards and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money while traveling.
Some links in this article about the best eSIM cards for Egypt are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Let me start with giving you my eSIM card recommendation for Egypt. These are my favorite eSIM cards for traveling to Egypt in 2024.
1. Jetpac eSIM for Egypt - $35 USD (NOW 10% discount)
- 10 GB data-only eSIM
- Valid in Egypt only
- Valid for 30 days
- 4G/LTE
- $3.5 USD per Gigabyte
Traveltomtom readers get an extra 10% discount on all Jetpac eSIMs when they use the code TOMTOM10 at check out.
2. Orange Holiday World eSIM - $35.50 (NOW 15% discount)
- 10 GB data-only eSIM
- Valid in up to 149 countries
- Valid for 14 days
- 4G/LTE
- $3.55 USD per Gigabyte
Via Sim Local you can now order the Orange Holiday World eSIM with 15% discount if you use the coupon code: TRAVELTOMTOM. That way you only pay $30.2 USD.
Click here to order an eSIM for Egypt via Sim Local.
Both eSIM cards are data-only eSIM cards and incoming and outgoing calls or sms are not supported.
Is Egypt one of your stops on a trip around the world then you can also look into getting an eSIM card for traveling internationally.
There are 2 very important things to check before ordering an eSIM card for Egypt or in general before using an eSIM card.
Unlocked phones only
Make sure your phone is unlocked. eSIM cards only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.
In general phones from Europe, Asia and the Middle East tend to be unlocked. Phones from North America are often locked.
If your smartphone is locked that means it does not allow another prepaid sim card or eSIM card to operate in the device. You can easily unlock your phone, but depending on your mobile internet provider you will be charged a fee for unlocking your phone.
eSIM compatible phones only
Second, and equally important: eSIM cards only work if your smartphone supports eSIM cards, also called eSIM compatible. All newer smartphones support eSIM cards. If you are not sure if your phone is eSIM compatible then simply go to Google and type in your mobile phone model in the search bar and ask if it is eSIM compatible. You will get the answer instantly.
If your phone is NOT eSIM compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an eSIM card for traveling to Egypt.
However, in this case you can still order a sim card for traveling to Egypt on the internet before your trip. But it will be a physical prepaid sim card instead of an eSIM card.
Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for Egypt in 2024 or find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024.
Comparison of the best eSIM cards for Egypt
Buying an eSIM card on arrival in Egypt is still not possible for tourists. As per August 2024 Vodafone, Etisalat, Orange and WE only provide physical prepaid sim cards for tourists. In stores, as well as on airports in Egypt there are NO eSIM cards available for tourists.
But luckily there are multiple eSIM providers on the internet that sell eSIM cards for Egypt. They are however more expensive compared to local prepaid sim cards.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM card for traveling in Egypt from one of the well-known eSIM card providers that have proven to be reliable operators. Traveltomtom tested and reviewed a whole long list of eSIM operators: Holafly, Jetpac, SimOptions, Airalo, Nomad, Sim local, etc.
Traveltomtom's favorites for many consecutive years are SimOptions and Airalo, but are they also the cheapest?
Nowadays, you can buy an eSIM card for pretty much every country in the world. Order directly from one of the approved eSIM card providers and instantly receive your eSIM card in your email. But before you buy an eSIM card first read all my tips below.
SimOptions is the only eSIM provider that also offers international prepaid sim cards for Egypt. These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards and will be delivered to your home address before your trip to Egypt and it is plug and play when you arrive in Egypt.
Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, Sim Local and Jetpac only sell eSIMs for Egypt.
Jetpac
Jetpac is a new eSIM provider that offers eSIMs valid in multiple countries, not just Egypt. The Jetpac eSIMs for Egypt are valid in 8 different countries: Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE.
Therefore the Jetpac eSIMs are great for traveling to the Middle East.
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $12 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $55 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $70 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $79 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $116 USD
Click here for more info or to order the Jetpac Egypt eSIM card.
Traveltomtom readers get an extra 10% discount on all Jetpac eSIMs when they use the code TOMTOM10 at check out.
The Jetpac plan with 10 GB data for $35 USD makes it the best Egypt eSIM plan with a rate of just $3.5 USD per Gigabyte.
You can instal your Jetpac eSIM card before your trip to Egypt, but it only activates from the moment it connects to a supported network in Egypt. That moment your days also start counting. The Jetpac eSIMs have to be installed within 1 year.
The Jetpac Egypt eSIM cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported. These eSIMs do not come with a phone number and unfortunately the Jetpac Egypt eSIMs are not yet 5G ready, but in all listed countries 4G/LTE is supported. They operate on the Orange network in Egypt.
An extra advantage of Jetpac eSIM cards is that they provide a free VPN subscription as well as free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you will have to register your flight before you travel and in case of a delayed or canceled flight a LoungeKey voucher will automatically be provided.
This is a complimentary service that no other eSIM cards offer. For more info check the Jetpac website.
Airalo
Airalo is a very reputable eSIM card provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your eSIM card for Egypt through Airalo is done fast and easy. Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM card deals.
Airalo is normally one of my top recommendations but the Airalo eSIM card plans for Egypt are simply much more expensive compared to SimOptions and Nomad.
Here are Egypt eSIM card plans from Airalo for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $12.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $17.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $26.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $44 USD
Click here to order an eSIM card for Egypt from Airalo.
The Airalo eSIM cards for Egypt are from Giza Mobile and operate on the 4G/LTE network of Orange. Unfortunately the Airalo Giza Mobile eSIM cards for Egypt are not 5G ready. That said there is not much 5G in Egypt yet.
In pretty much all the amazing places to visit in Egypt you will find a 4G/LTE signal tho and the data speed is pretty ok.
For more info about the best 4G/5G network in Egypt check my complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Egypt in 2024, including network coverage maps of all the mobile internet providers.
All the Airalo eSIM cards are data-only sim cards without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo eSIM card has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network. For more info check out the Airalo website.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a very reliable eSIM card provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering an eSIM card.
Why using SimOptions? On top of being very reliable, SimOptions also has international eSIMs for Egypt.
Here are all the SimOptions data-only eSIM card plans for Egypt for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.90 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $12.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 15 days = $19.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $37.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $39.90 USD*
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $59.90 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $85.90 USD
* The Orange Holiday World eSIM is valid in 123 countries
Click here to order an international eSIM card for Egypt via SimOptions.
Unfortunately SimOptions doesn't specify which mobile network operator in Egypt they use but none of these international eSIM cards are 5G ready, so the max data speed on these Egypt eSIM cards from SimOptions is 4G/LTE.
None of the SimOptions eSIMs for Egypt come with a phone number and incoming/outgoing calls or sms services are not supported.
SimOptions has some great Egypt eSIM deals. Its lowest rate is for the 30 GB data eSIM for $85.90, which is a rate of $2.86 USD per Gigabyte.
The validity of these eSIM cards is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the eSIM card, even if you are not in Egypt. For more info check the SimOptions website.
Sim Local
For many years Sim Local was a familiar face on multiple airports around the world selling sim cards for tourists. You will still find loads of Sim Local shops all around Europe and the USA, but Sim Local now also stepped into selling eSIMs online.
Sim Local is a trusted eSIM provider, but their eSIM plans for Egypt are not spectacular to say.
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $41.50 USD
As we can see these plans are not competitive enough to recommend.
However, Sim Local also sells the Orange Holiday World eSIM valid in up to 149 countries around the world according to the Sim Local website.
This eSIM comes with 10 GB data in Egypt valid for 14 days for $35.50 USD.
Right now Traveltomtom readers get an extra 15% discount on all Sim Local eSIMs when they use the coupon code: TRAVELTOMTOM at check out.
Therefore the Orange Holiday World eSIM is now only $35.50 * 0.85 = $30.2 USD.
Click here to order an eSIM for Egypt via Sim Local.
Nomad
Nomad has often amazing eSIM card deals. When comparing all the best Egypt eSIM cards I was hoping the Nomad eSIM deals for Egypt would be better than Airalo, SimOptions, Jetpac, etc. and yes Nomad has indeed the best value eSIM for Egypt at the moment with 20 GB data for $46 USD. That is $2.3 USD per Gigabyte.
Traveltomtom has used Nomad in more than 10 different countries around the world and had mostly good experiences, but also received some mixed reviews from the Traveltomtom Team about connecting issues. It was solved instantly after contacting the Nomad support.
Here are the Nomad eSIM card plans for Egypt:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $46 USD
Click here to order an eSIM card for Egypt from Nomad.
As you can see the prices for Nomad Egypt eSIMs turn out to be very competitive compared to Airalo, SimOptions and Sim Local.
The Nomad eSIM cards for Egypt are from eSIM Go and they use the 4G/LTE mobile data network of Orange in Egypt, they are not 5G ready. Incoming and outgoing calls and sms are NOT supported.
The Nomad Egypt eSIM cards have to be installed on your phone within 30 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in Egypt. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website.
Holafly
Holafly is another well-known eSIM provider but unlike other providers they only offer eSIMs with unlimited data. However, there is a catch and that is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). More about it later, but it could mean that you suddenly have a very slow data connection for a whole day until it resets.
Here are the Holafly unlimited data eSIM plans for Egypt:
- 1 day 'unlimited' data = $8 USD
- 2 days 'unlimited' data = $15 USD
- 3 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
- 4 days 'unlimited' data = $26 USD
- 5 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
- 6 days 'unlimited' data = $33 USD
- 7 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
- 8 days 'unlimited' data = $38 USD
- 9 days 'unlimited' data = $39 USD
- 10 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
- 14 days 'unlimited' data = $49 USD
- 30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD
The Holafly eSIM cards for Egypt are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs also do not come with a phone number. The Holafly eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE network of Etisalat.
The Holafly website is claiming that their eSIM cards support 5G in Egypt, but funny fact... there is not even 5G in Egypt. Nice try Holafly!
You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIM cards, but it is capped at 500 MB per day.
Why 'unlimited'? Because there is a Fair Use Policy and Traveltomtom has had bad experiences with this in the past. Suddenly your data speed is slowed down for 24 hours because you apparently used too much data. More info later.
If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIM cards with 'unlimited' data with an FUP and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for Egypt.
Also, Traveltomtom tested Holafly in another country and was very disappointed with the overall performance. Holafly was using the weakest mobile data network operator in that country and while people all around me constantly had a data connection I was pretty much offline for a whole week. Even when we were in big cities I constantly had to ask for the public WiFi of my hotels, restaurants and bars because my Holafly eSIM was super slow.
I am sure it could be a different story in Egypt, but I was put off a bit by Holafly eSIMs.
Why did Traveltomtom already used more than 100s of eSIM cards? I told you before that I travel full time and I am on the road constantly. Pretty much every week I need another sim card to stay connected. On average I use about 40 to 50 prepaid and eSIM cards per year, which makes Traveltomtom the no. 1 expert in tourist sim cards on the world.
What is the cheapest eSIM card for Egypt?
No eSIM provider can beat the $1 USD eSIM plan from Jetpac which gives you 1 GB data for 4 days.
Another cheap eSIM card for Egypt is the SimOptions eSIM plan with 1 GB data for just $4.90 USD. Airalo has the same plan but charges $7 USD. These eSIMs are only valid in Egypt and do not support calling and texting.
Why ordering an eSIM card for traveling in Egypt
eSIM cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Egypt in 2024 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.
The most important reason to get an eSIM card is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to Egypt without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, finding nearby friends, restaurants and bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with family back home, check your social media apps on long bus rides or your banking apps when paying contactless.
One of the best things about arriving in Egypt with an activated eSIM card is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your eSIM card later.
There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Egypt, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to Egypt so much more convenient and fun!
At the same time we don’t want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $3 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 20 MB * $3 USD = $60 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2024.
eSIM cards are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!
Overseas dat roaming plans
So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed. Do you have the patience to handle 3G? It is frustrating when all around you at pretty much every amazing tourist destinations in Egypt there is at least a 4G/LTE signal if not even already 5G available.
Uncountable times (mostly American) travel friends have asked me: "can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!".
Trust me, get yourself an eSIM card or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Egypt. Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from friends.
Where to buy an eSIM card for Egypt?
Online
You can only buy an eSIM card for Egypt on the internet through an eSIM provider. There are loads of eSIM providers for Egypt. Traveltomtom compared multiple providers and concluded that the ones mentioned in this guide: SimOptions, Jetpac, Holafly, Airalo and Nomad, Sim Local are the best eSIM providers for traveling to Egypt in 2024.
When buying an eSIM card for Egypt through one of the above recommended eSIM providers you only need your email address and the eSIM card is instantly ready to use after installation.
On arrival in Egypt
There are 4 main mobile internet provider in Egypt: Orange, Vodafone, Etisalat and WE. As per August 2024 none of these operators offer eSIM cards for tourists, only physical prepaid sim cards.
For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Egypt in 2024 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in Egypt, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.
Flying into Egypt and landing in either Cairo, Hurghada or Sharm El-Sheikh international airport then you can buy a tourist sim card for Egypt on arrival at the airport, but only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists are provided, there are no eSIM cards for tourists available.
When to order/activate an eSIM card for Egypt?
You can order an eSIM card for Egypt pretty much any time you want. Most eSIM cards have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.
More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the eSIM card. The validity of some eSIMs start straight after the installation, other eSIM cards only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.
Traveltomtom advices to instal your eSIM card on the day of departure to Egypt or before. When in Egypt you will need an internet connection to instal your eSIM card. Pretty much every international airport in Egypt has free WiFi so you could use that to install your eSIM card. Just make sure it is a stable internet connection and therefore Traveltomtom advices you to install/activate your eSIM card in your home country.
So my personal advice is to instal your eSIM card for Egypt before you get into the plane and as soon as the plane lands you will already be connected without any problems.
How do I know all this? Traveltomtom has traveled to Egypt multiple times.
As mentioned before at Hurghada, Sharm al Sheik and Cairo Airport you can only buy physical prepaid sim cards, no eSIMs. Click on the link to read more about my experiences buying a prepaid sim card at Cairo International Airport or check out my vlog on YouTube.
Or for more detailed info about the best prepaid sim cards for Egypt, check out my complete guide in the link or click here for my YouTube video.
How to activate an eSIM card
Installing and activating an eSIM card is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an eSIM card and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email. But wait, it gets even easier. Just scan the QR code.
When you order an eSIM card plan for Egypt you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.
You will see a summary of your eSIM card order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your Egypt eSIM card.
But installing an activating an eSIM card is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the eSIM card on. The QR contains all the information about your Egypt eSIM card.
Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your eSIM card is successfully installed.
Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your eSIM card otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.
Tip: if you order an eSIM card with the same phone where you want to instal the eSIM card on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.
Things to know before ordering an eSIM card for Egypt
Here are some general tips for using eSIM cards when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for Egypt eSIM cards, but are things you have to know before buying an eSIM card in general.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
To make sure you didn’t miss this, let me say this again: eSIM cards only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any eSIM card without any problems.
If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to Egypt. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.
If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi for staying connected when traveling to Egypt or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to Egypt and use it as a portable WiFi device.
Which smartphones support eSIM cards?
Another very important thing you have to check before buying an eSIM card is if your smartphone supports eSIM cards. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support eSIM cards.
The fastest way to find out if your phone is eSIM compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) eSIM compatible? Simple as that!
Can I trust these eSIM card providers?
All the eSIM card providers for Egypt recommended mentioned in this guide are reputable eSIM card providers reviewed and tested by Traveltomtom. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in Egypt.
Traveltomtom has used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards now for more than 5 years and never really faced a major issue.
Check out the pros and cons of SimOptions in our article: Honest Review of SimOptions including pro and cons.
The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested and reviewed Nomad and they have proven to be a reliable eSIM card provider. However, some mixed reviews have come back from the Traveltomtom Team about connectivity and activation.
Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider, but Traveltomtom only received positive feedback and excellent reviews about the eSIMs and services of Jetpac.
Traveltomtom has started using Sim Local sometimes now as well after the Traveltomtom Team extensively tested their service and products. Also check out our complete and honest review of Sim Local eSIMs.
Since Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIM cards with unlimited data and an FUP I hardly use Holafly, but when I did I was not happy. So now I let the Traveltomtom Team randomly test Holafly and just like myself, mixed reviews have come back. Some positive, some negative.
On top of that there is now also Roamless, an eSIM provider with no data expiration. Truly a game changer and they also operate in Egypt.
Traveltomtom does NOT sell Egypt eSIMs, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIM cards for traveling to Egypt.
All eSIM card providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.
Can I keep my phone number from home with an Egypt eSIM card?
Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM card to stay connected when traveling to Egypt. An eSIM card can be used next to your physical or eSIM card from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an eSIM card.
So you can have multiple eSIM cards installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!
For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. Your new Egypt eSIM card you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.
This is also the trick to keep receiving sms for example for OTP (one time password) sms to login to applications.
Switching between physical and eSIM cards is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings. Just always make sure your sim card from home is switched off for data roaming.
Can I make phone calls with an Egypt tourist eSIM card?
No, unfortunately there are no Egypt eSIM cards for tourists available on the internet that include calling and texting. All the eSIM cards from Nomad, Airalo, Jetpac, Holafly, Sim Local and SimOptions are data-only eSIM cards and any incoming/outgoing calls/sms are not supported.
Does an Egypt eSIM card come with a phone number?
No, none of the Egypt eSIM cards that you can buy on the internet come with a phone number which also means you can not receive any phone calls or sms.
Can I use 5G on an Egypt eSIM card?
No, none of the Egypt tourist eSIM cards are 5G ready. Which means 4G/LTE is the max data speed. That will also have to do with the fact that as of August 2024 there is still no proper 5G network in Egypt.
Are there eSIM cards for Egypt with unlimited data?
Holafly is the only eSIM provider that offers Egypt eSIMs with unlimited data.
However, always ask yourself is unlimited truly unlimited. Is there a catch? If the unlimited data is not on max speed, then there is a so called FUP. Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes.
Holafly is an eSIM card provider that sells eSIM cards with unlimited data for Egypt and uses a so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP). Holafly does NOT specify what the FUP is. Which is very concerning!
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend Egypt eSIM cards with unlimited data plans with an FUP. On Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. After I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.
Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media was not even loading! And especially on days that you have a long bus ride, you don't want any data speed restrictions.
Especially on days that you have a long bus or train ride and you need a lot of data, you definitely don't want any data speed restrictions that day.
Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend eSIM cards for Egypt with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then Holafly might be your favorite eSIM card.
However, if you don't use so much data per day then what's the point of an eSIM with unlimited data!?
There is a SimOptions as well as a Nomad eSIM plan for Egypt that gives you 20 GB data. With 20 GB data there is no real need for an eSIM card with unlimited data unless you want to upload your whole camera roll to Google Drive or iCloud via 4G instead of WiFi.
There are a lot of different specifications per eSIM card. Another reason why I advice you to take a close at my comparison of the best eSIM cards for traveling to Egypt in 2024 before choosing your favorite.
Are eSIM cards the best way to stay connected when traveling to Egypt?
eSIM cards are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Egypt, but what is the best way? This of course depends on your own needs.
There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to Egypt:
- Local prepaid sim cards
- International prepaid sim cards
- eSIM cards
Let's compare eSIM cards, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards, for you to find out what is your preferred way of staying connected.
Local prepaid sim cards
In general if you use a lot of data local prepaid sim cards are a cheaper way to stay connected and this is also the case in Egypt. Local prepaid sim cards with data are much cheaper than Egypt eSIM cards that you order on the internet.
Local prepaid sim cards for tourists can only be purchased on arrival in Egypt in a phone store or at the airport and NOT on the internet.
More info about the best Egypt sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a tourist sim card in Egypt in 2024.
International prepaid sim cards
If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Egypt. Some of them are great for Egypt as well as in all other countries in for example Europe, Americas and Asia and you can easily order them online.
A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play!
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Egypt directly online.
eSIM cards
As explained throughout the article there are two different eSIM cards:
- eSIM cards that you buy on the internet through a third party
- eSIM cards that you buy in Egypt in a mobile internet provider store
However, as of August 2024 eSIM cards are still not available for prepaid tourist sim cards in Egypt.
Traveltomtom personally shopped around in Egypt to find out if eSIM cards were available for tourists and the answer is: NO!
On arrival at the international airports in Egypt they only sell physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Read all about it in my detailed guide about buying a sim card at Cairo Airport or my Hurghada Airport sim card guide.
If you are interested in watching a vlog about my arrival and buying a sim card at Cairo Airport then check out my YouTube video.
There is also a video about buying a prepaid sim card in Egypt on my YouTube Channel.
eSIM cards vs. local prepaid sim cards
Getting an eSIM card is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Egypt, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to Egypt. You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in Egypt. As soon as the plane lands, you are online.
But what is cheaper? An eSIM card or a local prepaid sim card for tourists?
Well, for Egypt it is a pretty easy conclusion. When we compare the best Egypt eSIM card for tourists with local prepaid sim cards for Egypt, it is an easy conclusion that local prepaid sim cards are much cheaper than the eSIM cards.
In fact, based on my knowledge of the eSIM card market worldwide and after writing more than 200 articles about prepaid and eSIM cards I dare to say that the market for eSIM cards in Egypt is somehow protected by rules and regulations of the Egypt government.
It does not make any sense that eSIM cards for Egypt are even more expensive than Dubai or the USA. Traveltomtom comes to the simple conclusion that eSIM cards for Egypt are among the most expensive in the world.
When buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Egypt you can expect to find sim card deals for less than $10 USD that give you 15 GB data for 30 days. On international airports prices are a bit higher, but also very reasonable and cheaper than eSIM cards.
For more detailed info check out my article about the best prepaid sim cards for tourists in Egypt in 2024.
After a long flight you just want to go to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. With eSIM cards you buy on the internet you are connected as soon as the plane lands. For this convenience Traveltomtom definitely recommends to order one of the listed best eSIM cards for Egypt in the comparison above.
Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM card for Egypt. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper depending on how much data you need. Because there is also a SimOptions eSIM card for Egypt for just $4.90 USD.
Data speed
Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an eSIM card is that eSIM cards are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO's operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.
This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that eSIM cards through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an eSIM cards is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.
Bottomline: the data speed of eSIM cards can be less compared to a local prepaid Egypt sim card.
I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM card for your trip to Egypt were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your eSIM card for Egypt right away.
If you still have any questions about eSIM cards then please leave me a comment below. I promise I will try to reply instantly and I am more than happy to help you out finding the best way for you to stay connected.
Curious what the life of a full time nomadic traveler looks like? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along with daily updates from around the world about the good, the bad and the ugly about traveling.
Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of August 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to Egypt!