Are you planning your trip to South Africa and thinking about staying connected with an eSIM? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an eSIM when traveling to South Africa including a comparison of the best South Africa eSIMs for 2025.
Don't waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendations below and order an eSIM for South Africa on the internet. Below you will find up to date prices as per January 2025, including all specifications per tourist eSIM.
Find out how eSIMs work, where and when to order an eSIM for South Africa, FAQ about eSIMs and more about the network coverage and 4G/5G data speed.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Comparison of the best eSIMs for South Africa
- What is the cheapest eSIM for South Africa?
- Why ordering an eSIM for traveling in South Africa
- Where to buy an eSIM for South Africa?
- When to order/activate an eSIM for South Africa?
- How to activate an eSIM
- Things to know before ordering an eSIM for South Africa
- Make sure your phone is unlocked
- Which smartphones support eSIM?
- Can I trust these eSIM providers?
- Can I keep my phone number from home with a South Africa eSIM?
- Can I make phone calls with a South Africa eSIM?
- Does a South Africa eSIM come with a phone number?
- Can I use 5G on a South Africa eSIM?
- Are there eSIMs for South Africa with unlimited data?
- Are eSIMs the best way to stay connected when traveling to South Africa?
- eSIMs vs. local prepaid sim cards
- Best 4G/5G mobile data network in South Africa
Since 2012 I am already traveling the world full time and throughout the years I 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 the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in South Africa in 2025 as well as a guide for buying a tourist sim card at Johannesburg Airport and Cape Town Airport.
Some links in this article about the best eSIMs for South Africa 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
If you are traveling around South Africa it is very important on which mobile network your eSIM operates. There are 4 different mobile internet providers in South Africa: Cell C, Telkom, MTN and Vodacom. The big difference between these providers is the mobile network coverage.
In my guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in South Africa in 2025 I compared the mobile data network coverage maps and a simple conclusion is that Cell C and Telkom are not recommended. Vodacom and MTN has by far the best coverage around South Africa.
Before showing you the two best eSIMs for South Africa read the following carefully:
Make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible. If not, an eSIM won't work on your phone!
1. Ubigi eSIM for South Africa - 25 GB for $39 USD
- 10 GB data-only eSIM
- Valid in South Africa only
- Valid for 30 days
- Operates on the MTN network
- 5G ready
- Only $1.56 USD per Gigabyte
Click here to order an eSIM for South Africa from Ubigi.
Ubigi has the best-value eSIM for South Africa with a rate of only $1.56 USD per Gigabyte. Ubigi also has a 10 GB eSIM plan for $22 USD which is also the cheapest eSIM compared to other eSIM providers and these eSIMs support 5G.
2. Airalo eSIM for South Africa - 10 GB for $26 USD
- 10 GB data-only eSIM
- Valid in South Africa only
- Valid for 30 days
- Operates on the Vodacom network
- 4G/LTE
- Only $2.6 USD per Gigabyte
Click here to order an Airalo eSIM for South Africa.
Airalo is a very reputed and reliable eSIM provider. The Airalo eSIMs operate on the Vodacom network in South Africa the strongest mobile data network.
Both eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls or sms are not supported.
Is South Africa one of your stops on a trip around the world then you can also look into getting an eSIM for world travelers. There are a bunch of eSIMs that cover multiple countries, some up to 141 countries around the world.
Comparison of the best eSIMs for South Africa
As per 2025 you can now also get eSIMs in phone stores of Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom. But wouldn't it be easy to be online as soon as the plane lands and not having to deal with buying a prepaid sim card in South Africa?
Luckily there are multiple eSIM providers on the internet that sell South Africa eSIMs for tourists, so you don't have to wait until you reach South Africa.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for traveling in South Africa from one of the well-known eSIM providers that have proven to be reliable operators: Jetpac, Holafly, SimOptions, Nomad, Airalo, GigSky, Airhub, aloSIM, Saily, Roamless, Firsty, Yesim, Sim Local, Ubigi, etc.
The competition is fierce... so before you buy an eSIM first read my tips below!
Ubigi
On Ubigi you always find lots of different eSIMs and sometimes it is hard to figure out the best ones. Read the Traveltomtom's full review of Ubigi with all pros and cons.
For South Africa I spotted some amazing eSIMs deals and that is why Ubigi is ranked high in this South Africa eSIM comparison.
Here are the Ubigi eSIMs for South Africa in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 30 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $9 USD
- 10 GB data for 7 days = $19 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22 USD
- 25 GB data for 30 days = $39 USD
- 50 GB data for 30 days = $59 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for South Africa from Ubigi.
The Ubigi eSIMs for South Africa operate on the MTN 4G/5G network and are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. But 5G is supported.
The Ubigi 25 GB data plan for just $39 USD is actually the best value eSIM for South Africa in 2025 and therefore also Traveltomtom's first pick.
Airalo
Airalo is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using Airalo for ordering an eSIM.
Airalo is one of the eSIM market leaders, but has not innovated much over the last years and prices have not changed either. But Airalo is rock solid and Traveltomtom has never faced an issue using Airalo eSIMs.
Here are the Airalo data-only eSIM plans for South Africa for 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here to order an Airalo eSIM for South Africa.
The Airalo eSIMs for South Africa are from CellSA and they operate on the 4G/LTE network of Vodacom. 5G is not supported.
All the Airalo eSIMs are data-only sim cards without a phone number. Any call/sms service is not supported.
An Airalo eSIM 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.
Sim Local
The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested Sim Local eSIMs. Find al the pros and cons of Sim Local in our extensive review.
If you are traveling around the South Africa then trust me you want an eSIM that uses either the MTN or Vodacom network. Good thing about the Smartroam eSIMs for South Africa from Sim Local is that they use the Vodacom network.
Here are all the Sim Local eSIM plans for South Africa:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10.75 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $14.50 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.50 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $45.25 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for South Africa via Sim Local.
Sim Local also has unlimited data plans.
- unlimited data for 7 days = $44 USD
- unlimited data for 15 days = $82 USD
On the unlimited data eSIMs there is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy) in place and Sim Local does not exactly define what the FUP is, so you might end up with reduced data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom is not a big fan of eSIMs with unlimited data and an undefined FUP.
All the Sim Local eSIMs for South Africa are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.
aloSIM
Not a new kid on the block, aloSIM has earned its stripes already in the eSIM world, but Traveltomtom didn't use aloSIM much until lately. The Traveltomtom Team tested and reviewed aloSIM and came with positive notes.
Read all about it in our extensive and honest aloSIM review.
Here are the aloSIM plans for South Africa in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $48 USD
- Unlimited data* for 10 days = $35 USD
* Unlimited data is in reality only 1.5 GB data per day on max speed. Don't be fooled!
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for South Africa via aloSIM.
The aloSIM plans for South Africa are a copy of Airalo and prices are the exact same! aloSIM also operates on the Vodacom network and are 5G ready.
What differentiates aloSIM from Airalo and other eSIM providers is that they offer an eSIM for South Africa including an international phone number. This phone number that comes with the eSIM is via a separate application called Hushed.
Saily
Saily is an eSIM provider part of NordVPN family. The Traveltomtom Team tested and reviewed Saily eSIMs and was pleased with the reliability and its performance.
A downside of Saily is that they don't specify which mobile network they use in South Africa and therefore it is hard to put them in favor of other eSIM providers. That said, Saily eSIMs for South Africa are definitely good value for money.
Here are the Saily South Africa eSIM plans for 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $3.99 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $8.99 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $12.99 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22.99 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $35.99 USD
Click here for more info or to order a Saily eSIM for South Africa.
Unfortunately Saily does not specify which network operator they use in South Africa and it is neither really clear if their South Africa plans are 5G ready. They just mention on their website: depending on local network provider. Although prices are good, this is essential info that is missing, which is definitely a disadvantage of Saily.
Saily eSIMs are data-only and calling and texting is not supported.
GigSky
GigSky has been around for a long time and is also recommended in my list of the best international eSIMs for traveling the world in 2025.
The Traveltomtom Team tested GigSky and was positively surprised. Check out our complete GigSky review with all pros and cons.
Here are the GigSky eSIM plans for South Africa in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.49 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15.49 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $25.99 USD
- Unlimited data* for 7 days = $34.99 USD
- Unlimited data* for 15 days = $44.99 USD
*FUP is 2.5 GB high speed data per day, then reduced data speed at ??? Mbps.
Click here to order a GigSky eSIM for South Africa.
Downside of GigSky is that they do not provide much info about their eSIM plans. So it is unclear on which network they operate in South Africa, neither if these eSIMs support 5G.
There is also no info about the of the reduced data speed after you reached the FUP of 2.5 GB data.
Unfortunately some essential info is missing and therefore is GigSky not my top pick for South Africa eSIMs.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another very reputable eSIM provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your tourist eSIM for South Africa through SimOptions is done fast and easy.
Why using SimOptions? When it comes to South Africa eSIMs SimOptions has a lot of different plans available. Prices are very competitive and they have some of the best-value eSIMs for South Africa.
Check out our full SimOptions review for more detailed info.
Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM deals.
Here are the South Africa eSIMs deals from SimOptions:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $17.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $63.90 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $91.90 USD
The AIS and Orange eSIMs are international eSIMs:
AIS eSIM with 6 GB data valid in 141 countries for 15 days = $39.90 USD
Orange eSIM with 10 GB data valid in 122 countries for 14 days = $39.90 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for South Africa via SimOptions.
The SimOptions South Africa eSIMs are 5G ready but unfortunately SimOptions does not specify on which network their eSIMs operate in South Africa.
Therefore I would be a bit hesitant as I explained you that Vodacom and MTN are by far the best 4G/5G network and Cell C and Telkom sim cards are not recommended for traveling in South Africa.
These SimOptions eSIMs are data-only and do not come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported.
The validity of these eSIMs is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the eSIM, even if you are not in South Africa. For more info check the SimOptions website.
Nomad
Nomad is another trusted eSIM provider that offers eSIM plans for South Africa. Nomad is in general not Traveltomtom's first pick, but sometimes they have decent eSIM plans.
However, their South Africa eSIM plans are more expensive than Airalo, Ubigi, Saily, etc.
Here are the Nomad eSIM plans for South Africa:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $31 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for South Africa from Nomad.
All the Nomad eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls and sms are NOT supported.
The Nomad South Africa eSIMs operate on the Vodacom 4G/LTE network and are not 5G ready.
The Nomad South Africa eSIMs have to be installed on your phone within 60 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in South Africa. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website.
Holafly
Holafly is another well-known eSIM provider but unlike other eSIM 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 the data speed restores.
Here are the Holafly unlimited data eSIM plans for South Africa:
- 1 day 'unlimited' data = $9.90 USD
- 2 days 'unlimited' data = $15.90 USD
- 3 days 'unlimited' data = $20.90 USD
- 4 days 'unlimited' data = $25.90 USD
- 5 days 'unlimited' data = $31.90 USD
- 6 days 'unlimited' data = $36.90 USD
- 7 days 'unlimited' data = $39.90 USD
- 10 days 'unlimited' data = $47.90 USD
- 14 days 'unlimited' data = $61.90 USD
- 30 days 'unlimited' data = $112.90 USD
As you can see the Holafly eSIMs are significantly more expensive than Airalo, Nomad and SimOptions. The Holafly eSIMs for South Africa are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number.
According to the Holafly website these Holafly South Africa eSIMs are 5G ready. Big plus about Holafly eSIMs for South Africa is that they use the network of MTN, Vodacom and Cell C.
You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIMs, 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.
Imagine being on a 10 hour bus or train ride and after 2 hours you will get a message that you used too much data for the day. Then you have to wait 24 hours for the data speed to be reset to normal.
If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIMs with 'unlimited' data with an FUP and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for South Africa.
Vodacom
Besides all the above eSIMs that you can order on the internet you can also buy an eSIM in a phone store in South Africa. As mentioned before Cell C and Telkom sim cards are not recommended due to their small network coverage.
Here are the Vodacom eSIMs for tourists:
- 3 GB data + 30 minutes + 50 ZAR credit + 30 SMS - valid for 30 days = 299 ZAR - $16 USD
- 5 GB data + 50 minutes + 100 ZAR credit + 50 SMS - valid for 50 days = 449 ZAR - $24 USD
- 10 GB data + 100 minutes + 150 ZAR credit + 100 SMS - valid 100 days = 699 ZAR - $38 USD
MTN
In MTN stores in South Africa tourists can also get the following eSIM plans:
- 2 GB data + 60 minutes for 1 month = 99 ZAR - $5 USD
- 4.5 GB data + 100 minutes for 1 month = 169 ZAR - $9 USD
- 7.5 GB data + 200 minutes for 1 month = 299 ZAR - $16 USD
- 15 GB data + 400 minutes for 1 month = 399 ZAR - $22 USD
In Traveltomtom's guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in South Africa you can find a full comparison of all the mobile internet providers.
What is the cheapest eSIM for South Africa?
The cheapest eSIM for South Africa is from Saily. They only charge $3.99 USD for 1 GB data.
Other cheap South Africa eSIM plans are from SimOptions, aloSIM, GigSky, Airalo and Sim Local. They all charge $4.5 USD for 1 GB data.
Why ordering an eSIM for traveling in South Africa
eSIMs are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to South Africa in 2025 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 is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to South Africa 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 South Africa with an activated eSIM is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your eSIM later.
There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to South Africa, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to South Africa 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 2025.
eSIMs are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!
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: Namibia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Dubai, Asia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Europe, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, international eSIMs and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your holiday destination.
Overseas data 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 South Africa there is 4G/LTE available.
And price-wise it should be a no brainer since you have seen how cheap the eSIMs for South Africa are.
Uncountable times travel friends have asked me: "Tom, can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!". Trust me, get yourself an eSIM or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to South Africa. 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 for South Africa?
Online
You can buy an eSIM for South Africa on the internet through an eSIM provider. There are multiple eSIM providers for South Africa. Traveltomtom compared multiple providers and concluded that the above mentioned ones are the best eSIM providers in 2025.
When buying an eSIM for South Africa through one of the above recommended eSIM providers you only need your email address and the eSIM is instantly ready to use after installation. There is no ID registration needed.
On arrival in South Africa
There are 4 main mobile internet provider in South Africa: Telkom, Cell C, MTN and Vodacom. You can get an eSIM for tourists in their phone stores around South Africa.
For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in South Africa in 2025 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in South Africa, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.
Flying into South Africa and landing in Johannesburg or Cape Town then you can buy a tourist sim card for South Africa on arrival at the airport.
When to order/activate an eSIM for South Africa?
You can order an eSIM for South Africa pretty much any time you want. Most eSIMs 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. The validity of some eSIMs start straight after the installation, other eSIMs only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.
Traveltomtom advices to instal your eSIM on the day of departure to South Africa or before. When in South Africa you will need an internet connection to instal your eSIM. Pretty much every international airport in South Africa has free WiFi so you could use that to install your eSIM. Just make sure it is a stable internet connection and therefore Traveltomtom advices you to install/activate your eSIM in your home country.
My personal advice is to instal your tourist eSIM for South Africa before you get into the plane and as soon as the plane lands you will be connected without any problems.
How do I know all this? Traveltomtom has visited South Africa 4 times in the last couple years and traveled all around the country.
Check out my arrival guide for Johannesburg Airport and Cape Town Airport including vlogs.
How to activate an eSIM
Installing and activating an eSIM is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an eSIM 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 plan for South Africa 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 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 South Africa eSIM.
But installing an activating an eSIM is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the eSIM on. The QR contains all the information about your South Africa eSIM.
Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your eSIM is successfully installed.
Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your eSIM otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.
Tip: if you order an eSIM with the same phone where you want to instal the eSIM 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 for South Africa
Here are some general tips for using eSIMs when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply to South Africa eSIMs, but are general things you have to know before buying an eSIM.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
To make sure you didn't miss this, let me say this again: eSIMs only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any eSIM 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 South Africa. 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 South Africa or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to South Africa and use it as a portable WiFi device.
Which smartphones support eSIM?
Another very important thing you have to check before buying an eSIM is if your smartphone supports eSIMs. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support eSIMs.
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!
If your phone is NOT eSIM compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an eSIM for traveling to South Africa.
However, you can still order a physical sim card for South Africa on the internet before your trip. Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card in South Africa or find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2025.
Can I trust these eSIM providers?
All the eSIM providers for South Africa recommended in this guide are reputable eSIM 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 South Africa.
Traveltomtom has used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards for more than 5 years and never really faced a major issue.
Check out the pros and cons of SimOptions in our review.
Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider, but Traveltomtom has tested and reviewed Jetpac now in more than 15 countries and is very happy with the performance and the extra perks like airport lounge access, etc.
Sim Local has more than 100 sim card shops and kiosks in international airports around the world and has been selling sim cards for tourists for more than 5 years. Read Traveltomtom's honest review about Sim Local eSIM provider.
The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested and reviewed Nomad and they have proven to be a reliable eSIM provider. However, some mixed reviews have come back from the Traveltomtom Team about connectivity and activation.
Since Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIMs 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.
But there are many more eSIM providers. Traveltomtom has tested and wrote dedicated reviews for the following eSIM providers: GigSky, aloSIM, Ubigi, Airhub, Saily, Yesim, etc.
On top of that there is also Roamless, an eSIM provider with no data expiration. And Firsty, which offers free data in exchange for watching ads. Truly two game changers!
Traveltomtom does NOT sell South Africa eSIMs, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIMs for traveling to South Africa.
All eSIM 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 a South Africa eSIM?
Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM to stay connected when traveling to South Africa. An eSIM can be used next to your physical or eSIM from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an eSIM.
So you can have multiple eSIMs 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 South Africa eSIM 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 eSIMs 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 a South Africa eSIM?
No, unfortunately all the tourist eSIMs for South Africa available on the internet do NOT include calling and texting.
All eSIMs from Saily, GigSky, Nomad, Airalo, Holafly, aloSIM, Sim Local and SimOptions are all data-only eSIMs and outgoing calls/sms are not supported.
If you buy a prepaid eSIM in South Africa you get calling and texting included.
Does a South Africa eSIM come with a phone number?
No, none of the data-only eSIMs come with a phone number which means these eSIMs can not receive any phone calls or sms.
aloSIM has a calling service including in their eSIM, but it is via an app called Hushed, not directly on the eSIM. This calling service is complimentary when buying an aloSIM eSIM.
Can I use 5G on a South Africa eSIM?
Yes, as per 2025 most of the South Africa eSIMs support 5G.
Are there eSIMs for South Africa with unlimited data?
If a sim card with unlimited data is truly unlimited, no throttling, no data speed cap, but unlimited high speed data then YES AMAZING!
Holafly and Nomad eSIMs for South Africa include unlimited data but they also have an FUP. Traveltomtom does NOT recommend these kind of eSIMs.
Always ask yourself is unlimited truly unlimited? Is there a catch? If the unlimited data is not on max data speed, then there is a so called Fair Use Policy (FUP). Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes.
A great example are the Nomad eSIMs with a daily plan. These plans give you 1, 2 or 3 GB high speed data per day and then after you can use unlimited data up to a speed of 512 Kbps. That data speed is useless, only good for WhatsApp or email. At least Nomad tells you exactly what is their FUP.
Holafly is another eSIM provider that sells eSIMs with unlimited data for South Africa and uses a this so-called Fair Use Policy. However, Holafly does NOT specify what the FUP is. Which is very concerning!
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend South Africa eSIMs 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!
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.
If you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then these Holafly or Nomad eSIMs might be your favorite eSIM.
However, if you don't use so much data per day then what's the point of an eSIM with unlimited data!?
Are eSIMs the best way to stay connected when traveling to South Africa?
eSIMs are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to South Africa, but what is the best way?
There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to South Africa:
- Local prepaid sim cards
- International prepaid sim cards
- eSIMs
Let's compare eSIMs, 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
If you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards for South Africa are a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip. South Africa prepaid sim cards offer bigger data plans than tourist eSIMs you order online and on top of that local prepaid sim cards come with unlimited local calls and sms.
The big difference is that a local South Africa prepaid sim card can only be purchased on arrival in South Africa in a phone store and NOT on the internet.
More info about the best South Africa sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card in South Africa in 2025.
International prepaid sim cards
If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to South Africa. Some of them are great for South Africa as well as in all other countries in for example Europe, Americas and Asia and you can easily order them online.
If after visiting South Africa you are traveling onwards in Asia then check Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for traveling internationally in 2025.
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 South Africa directly online.
eSIMs
As explained throughout the article there are two different eSIMs:
- eSIMs that you buy on the internet through a third party
- eSIMs that you buy in South Africa in a mobile internet provider store
As shown in the comparison of the best eSIMs for South Africa, all of the mobile internet providers in South Africa offer eSIMs. A prepaid sim card plan can be bought as an eSIM or as a physical prepaid sim card.
On arrival at the international airports in South Africa they also sell eSIMs as well as physical prepaid sim cards.
Read all about it in my detailed guide about buying a sim card at Johannesburg Airport or Cape Town Airport.
eSIMs vs. local prepaid sim cards
Getting an eSIM on the internet is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to South Africa, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to South Africa. You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in South Africa.
As soon as the plane lands, you are online!
Price difference
But what is cheaper? An eSIM or a local prepaid sim card for tourists?
When we compare South Africa eSIM prices with local prepaid sim cards for South Africa, it is an easy conclusion that local prepaid sim cards are much more affordable as you get many more Gigabytes for the same price.
But local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in South Africa in a sim card shop and a tourist eSIM can be bought in 2 minutes on the internet.
That said, eSIMs that you buy on the internet are in fact cheaper as they already start from just $1 USD and local prepaid South Africa tourists sim cards start from around $8 USD.
South Africa has cheap prepaid sim card plans, especially since South Africa is an expensive country to travel. But 40 GB data for just $19 USD is pretty cheap compared to other countries in the world.
For more info check out my article about the best prepaid sim cards for South Africa in 2025.
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 eSIMs 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 eSIMs for South Africa in the comparison above.
Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM for South Africa. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper depending on how much data you need.
Data speed
Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an eSIM is that eSIMs 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 eSIMs through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an eSIMs is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.
Bottomline: the data speed of eSIMs can be less compared to a local prepaid South Africa sim card.
Best 4G/5G mobile data network in South Africa
Last but not least I will show you why it is important to choose the right eSIM for South Africa and why Traveltomtom has consistently been telling you to get an eSIM that operates on the Vodacom or MTN network.
Traveltomtom researched the 4G/5G network of all the mobile internet providers in South Africa and compared the mobile internet coverage maps of Cell C, Telkom, Vodacom and MTN.
Here is the 4G/5G network coverage map of Vodacom.
Here is the 4G/5G network coverage map of Telkom.
You can clearly see the poor network coverage of Telkom and the big difference. Cell C has a similar network coverage map as Telkom.
For more information check out Traveltomtom's guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in South Africa in 2025.
- Sim Local SIMs for South Africa operate on the network of Vodacom
- Nomad eSIMs for South Africa operate on the network of Vodacom
- Airalo eSIMs for South Africa operate on the network of Vodacom
- Ubigi eSIMs for South Africa operate on the network of MTN
- Holafly eSIMs for South Africa operate on the network of Vodacom, MTN and Cell C
- aloSIM eSIMs for South Africa operate on the network of Vodacom
Unfortunately SimOptions, Saily and GigSky do not specify on which network their eSIMs operate in South Africa.
I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM for your trip to South Africa were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your eSIM for South Africa right away.
If you still have any questions about eSIMs then please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media and I am more than happy to help you out.
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 January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to South Africa!