Best eSIM for Bali in 2025 | Complete Guide

Are you planning to travel to the magical island of Bali and wondering what is the best tourist eSIM? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an eSIM when traveling to Bali including a comparison of the best Bali eSIMs in 2025.

Don't waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendations below before ordering an eSIM for Bali. Find up to date prices and info as per January 2025, including all eSIM specifications.

Find out when and where to order an eSIM for Bali, FAQ about using eSIMs and of course links to directly order your eSIM.

Table of Contents

Since 2012 I am traveling the world full time and turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger.

In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.

Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Indonesia as well as a specific guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Bali.

Some links in this article about the best eSIMs for Bali 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

Before giving you my Bali eSIM recommendation read the following carefully:

Make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible. If not, an eSIM won't work on your phone!

These are the two best eSIMs for traveling to Bali in 2025.

1. Jetpac eSIM for Bali - 20 GB for $21 USD

• 20 GB data-only eSIM
• Valid in Indonesia only
• Operates on the Telkomsel network
• 5G ready
• Valid for 30 days
• Only $1 USD per Gigabyte

Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for Bali.

Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% discount when using the code TOMTOM10 at check out.

Jetpac has the best value eSIMs for Indonesia and very important is that they operate on the Telkomsel network, by far the best 4G/5G network in Bali.

Jetpac has 8 different eSIM plans for Indonesia.

2. Airhub eSIM for Bali - 30 GB for $35 USD

• 30 GB data-only eSIM
• Valid in Indonesia only
• 4G/LTE ready
• Valid for 30 days
• $1.64 USD per Gigabyte

Click here to order an eSIM for Bali via Airhub.

A good second best are Airhub eSIMs for Indonesia as they also operate on the Telkomsel network.

Both eSIMs are data-only eSIMs and incoming and outgoing calls or sms are not supported. Data is only valid in Indonesia.

Is Bali one of your stops on a trip to Asia then you can also look into getting an eSIM for traveling in Asia. There are eSIMs that cover all countries in South East Asia and some even pretty much all of of Asia and Middle East.

you may also like...

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Saily eSIM Review | Honest Opinion About This NordVPN Product

Comparison of the best eSIMs for Bali

Buying an eSIM on arrival in Bali is now also possible at Denpasar Airport. As per 2025 all the mobile internet providers in Indonesia: Telkomsel, Three, IM3, Smartfren and XL provide eSIMs for tourists as well as physical prepaid sim cards in their phone stores.

But wouldn't it be easy to be online as soon as the plane lands?

Luckily there are multiple eSIM providers on the internet that sell eSIMs for Bali. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for traveling in Bali from one of the well-known eSIM providers that have proven to be reliable operators: Jetpac, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, SimOptions, Sim Local, GigSky, Airhub, Ubigi, Roamless, Firsty, aloSIM, Saily, etc.

The competition is fierce... so before you buy an eSIM first read my tips below!

Jetpac

Jetpac is a Singapore based eSIM provider so they know the market of eSIMs in Indonesia very well. Perhaps that is why they are able to offer the best value eSIMs for Bali in 2025.

For more detailed info check out our extensive review about Jetpac with all pros and cons.

Here are the Jetpac Indonesia eSIM plans:

• 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
• 3 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
• 40 GB data for 30 days = $50 USD
• 50 GB data for 10 days = $25 USD

Click here for more info or to order the Jetpac Indonesia eSIM.

Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% discount when using the code TOMTOM10 at check out.

Jetpac has now a crazy eSIM deal for Indonesia with 50 GB data for only $25 USD! That is only $0.5 USD per Gigabyte.

One of the reason why Traveltomtom recommends a Jetpac eSIM for Bali is because they operate on the Telkomsel network, which has by far the best mobile data network coverage in Bali. Much better than Smartfren, XL Axiata and IM3, Three/Tri the other Indonesia mobile internet operators.

The Jetpac Indonesia eSIM plan with 20 GB data for just $21 USD makes it also the best value eSIM for Indonesia as well as for Southeast Asia with a rate of only $1 USD per Gigabyte.

The Jetpac Indonesia eSIMs are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported. These eSIMs do not come with a phone number. The Jetpac Indonesia eSIMs are now 5G ready.

You can instal your Jetpac eSIM before your trip to Bali, but it only activates from the moment it connects to a supported network in Indonesia or one of the other supported countries. That moment your days also start counting. The Jetpac eSIMs have to be installed within 1 year.

An extra advantage of Jetpac eSIMs 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 provider offers.

Airhub

Airhub is a marketplace for eSIMs and they have a wide range of sim cards available. Read here the full and independent Airhub review of the Traveltomtom Team.

Here are the Airhub eSIMs for Indonesia in 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $0.95 USD
• 4 GB data for 30 days = $4.5 USD
• 7 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
• 12 GB data for 30 days = $11.8 USD
• 22 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
• 35 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD

Click here for more info or to order an Airhub eSIM for Indonesia.

All the Airhub eSIMs for Indonesia are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls or sms are not supported. The Airhub eSIMs are not 5G ready, max data speed is 4G/LTE.

SimOptions

SimOptions is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering an eSIM.

Why using SimOptions?

SimOptions has proven over the years to be very reliable. Excellent costumer service, great eSIM deals, eSIMs for pretty much every country in the world and innovative product. Traveltomtom never faced an issue with SimOptions eSIMs.

Here is our full review about SimOptions.

Here are the SimOptions data-only eSIM plans for Indonesia for 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.50 USD
• 3 GB data for 15 days = $7.90 USD
• 5 GB data for 15 days = $11.90 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $19.90 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = $49.90 USD
• 50 GB data for 60 days = $74.90 USD

Click here to order a SimOptions eSIM for Bali.

These data-only eSIMs are provided by SimOptions and are only valid in Indonesia. Unfortunately SimOptions doesn't specify which mobile network operator in Indonesia they use. However, all SimOptions eSIMs are 5G ready.

The SimOptions eSIMs for Indonesia do NOT come with a phone number and they do not offer incoming/outgoing calls or sms services. The validity of these eSIMs is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the eSIM, even if you are not in Indonesia.

Airalo

Airalo is another very reputable eSIM provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your eSIM for Indonesia through Airalo is done fast and easy

Why using Airalo?

Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM deals.

Airalo is the market leader in eSIMs but is not much innovative in the last years. Where other eSIM operators constantly enhance their product and prices, Airalo stays a bit behind.

Here are Indonesia eSIM plans from Airalo for 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5.5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $16.5 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.75 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
• Unlimited data* for 10 days = $35 USD

*3 GB high speed data per day, then reduced data speed at 1 Mbps.

Click here to order an eSIM for Bali from Airalo.

The Airalo eSIMs for Indonesia are from Indotel and operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Indosat and Three. The Airalo Indotel eSIMs for Indonesia are now 5G ready. Side note, there isn't much 5G yet in Indonesia as of 2025.

In pretty much all the amazing places to visit in Bali you will find a good 4G/LTE signal and the data speed is pretty ok these days.

Unfortunately the Airalo eSIMs do not operate on the Telkomsel network, the best mobile data network in Indonesia. A reason for me not to recommend Airalo as the best eSIM for Bali.

For more info about the best 4G/5G network in Indonesia check my complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Indonesia, including network coverage maps of all the mobile internet providers.

All the Airalo eSIMs are data-only sim cards without a phone number, so any phone/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

Sim Local is another trusted eSIM provider. Traveltomtom has been recommending Sim Local for several different countries, but their Indonesia eSIM plans are not so revolutionary.

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $21.5 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $34 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Sim Local eSIM for Bali.

The data-only eSIMs are from Smartroam and operate on the Indosat/Ooredoo 4G/5G mobile network. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported and the eSIM does not come with a phone number.

Sim Local is no-nonsense, straight forward and easy to use. For more details check out Traveltomtom's extensive review of Sim Local.

Nomad

Nomad has eSIMs for Indonesia that operate on the Telkomsel network, the provider with the best mobile data network coverage in Bali, but Nomad eSIMs are much more expensive than Jetpac.

The Traveltomtom Team has reported some issues with Nomad eSIMs lately and therefore Nomad is not Traveltomtom's first recommendation when looking for eSIMs for Bali.

Here are the Nomad eSIM plans for Indonesia:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
• 15 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
• 20 GB data for 45 days = $39 USD

Click here to order an eSIM for Bali from Nomad.

The Nomad Indonesia 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 Indonesia. 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 work with 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 eSIM plans for Indonesia with unlimited data per day:

• 1 day 'unlimited' data = $6 USD
• 2 days 'unlimited' data = $10 USD
• 3 days 'unlimited' data = $13 USD
• 4 days 'unlimited' data = $16 USD
• 5 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
• 6 days 'unlimited' data = $25 USD
• 7 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
• 8 days 'unlimited' data = $31 USD
• 9 days 'unlimited' data = $35 USD
• 10 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
• 11 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
• 14 days 'unlimited' data = $48 USD
• 20 days 'unlimited' data = $64 USD
• 30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD

As you can see the Holafly eSIMs for traveling to Indonesia are much more expensive than other eSIMs.

The Holafly eSIMs for Indonesia are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number. The Holafly eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of XL Axiata, Indosat and Telkomsel.

You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIMs for Indonesia, but it is capped at 500 MB per day.

Why not truly unlimited, but '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 in my section about: 'eSIMs with unlimited data'.

Imagine being on a 10 hour bus ride and after 2 hour you get a message from your eSIM provider telling you that your data speed is slowed down for the next 24 hours.

If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIMs with 'unlimited' data and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for Bali.

Also, Traveltomtom tested Holafly in another country and was very disappointed with the overall performance. Holafly was using the weakest mobile data network in that country and people all around me constantly had connection but I was pretty much offline for a whole week. Even though 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.

Telkomsel

As of 2025 most of the mobile internet providers in Indonesia now also offer eSIMs for tourists.

You will see that these local prepaid sim card in the form of an eSIM are a little cheaper than the eSIMs for Indonesia that you buy on the internet. But keep in mind that these local eSIMs can only be bought on arrival in Bali in an official phone store or at Denpasar Airport.

For more detailed info check out my guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Bali.

These eSIMs come with a phone number from Indonesia that starts with +62. Incoming calls are supported and outgoing calls can be made after adding extra calling credit to your local eSIM.

Here are the Telkomsel prepaid eSIM plans:

• 25 GB data for 30 days = 400K IDR - $26 USD
• 35 GB data for 30 days = 500K IDR - $32.5 USD
• 60 GB data for 30 days = 600K IDR - $39 USD
• 100 GB data for 30 days = 850K IDR - $55 USD
• 200 GB data for 30 days = 1,250K IDR - $81 USD

IM3 - Indosat/Ooredoo

IM3 is a prepaid sim card brand from the merger of Indosat/Ooredoo and Three/Tri Indonesia.

Here are the eSIM plans from IM3:

• 18 GB data for 30 days = 250K IDR - $16 USD
• 42 GB data for 30 days = 400K IDR - $26 USD
• 64 GB data for 30 days = 450K IDR - $29 USD
• 80 GB data for 30 days = 550K IDR - $36 USD
• 170 GB data for 30 days = 750K IDR - $49 USD

Three/Tri

On top of IM3, Three also has its own prepaid sim cards:

• 29 GB data for 30 days = 250K IDR - $16 USD
• 45 GB data for 30 days = 350K IDR - $23 USD
• 65 GB data for 30 days = 450K IDR - $29 USD

Smartfren

After Telkomsel, Indosat/Ooredoo and XL Axiata, Smartfren is the smallest mobile internet provider in Indonesia.

Smartfren offers the following eSIM plans:

• 25 GB data for 30 days = 200K IDR - $13 USD
• 30 GB data for 30 days = 230K IDR - $15 USD
• 45 GB data for 30 days = 275K IDR - $18 USD
• 60 GB data for 30 days = 500K IDR - $32.5 USD

XL Axiata

• 30 GB data = 62,000 IDR - $4 USD
• 65 GB data = 125,000 IDR - $8 USD
• 147 GB data = 205,000 IDR - $13.2 USD
• 260 GB data = 320,000 IDR - $20.7 USD

Smartfren is the smallest and Telkomsel the biggest mobile internet provider in Indonesia. For more info check out my guide about the best Indonesia prepaid sim cards for tourists in 2025.

What is the cheapest eSIM for Bali?

It is hard to beat the Jetpac eSIM deals for just $1 USD. But Airhub has an eSIM for $0.95 USD.

The cheapest SimOptions eSIM is $4.5 and Airalo charges $5.5 USD for the cheapest eSIM.

All these eSIMs give you 1 GB data valid for 7 days. These eSIMs are only valid in Indonesia and do not support calling and texting.

Why ordering an eSIM for traveling to Bali

eSIMs are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Bali 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 Bali 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 Bali 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 Bali, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to Bali 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!

Find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all around the world: Europe, Asia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, 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. Bookmark me and let me help you save money while traveling!

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 Bali there is 4G/LTE available.

Uncountable times 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 or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Bali. Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from a friend.

Where to buy an eSIM for Bali?

Online

There are lots of eSIM providers for Bali. Traveltomtom compared multiple eSIM providers and concluded that the ones mentioned in this guide are the most reliable eSIM providers in 2025.

When buying an eSIM for Bali 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 Bali

There are 5 main mobile internet provider in Indonesia: Telkomsel, XL Axiata, Indosat/Ooredoo (IM3), Three/Tri Indonesia and Smartfren. As 2025 all the mobile internet providers in Indonesia sell eSIMs for tourists.

When you arrive in Bali and you want to buy a local sim card for tourists you can choose to get an eSIM installed on your phone or get a physical prepaid sim card.

For more info about how to buy a prepaid sim card in Bali click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in Bali, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.

Expect to pay tourist prices when buying a sim card at Denpasar Airport in Bali. Check out my guide for buying a tourist sim card in Bali.

Lately I also posted a TikTok video about what it looks like arriving at Denpasar Airport as well as an updated version of where to buy a tourist sim card at Denpasar Airport in Bali.

When to order/activate an eSIM for Bali?

You can order an eSIM for Bali 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 Bali or before. You will need an internet connection to instal your eSIM. Denpasar Airport has free WiFi but I would not rely on it. Therefore Traveltomtom advices you to install/activate your eSIM in your home country.

So my personal advice is to instal your eSIM for Bali 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 Bali more than 10 times and traveled to Jakarta, Bali, Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Lombok, West-Papua and many more islands in Indonesia before.

For more info about my experiences buying a tourist sim card at Jakarta Airport check out my blog about it or check out my vlog on YouTube from Jakarta Airport.

On Traveltomtom there is also a blog about buying a prepaid sim card in Bali and there is also a vlog on my YouTube channel about my arrival at Bali Airport and buying a prepaid sim card.

How to activate your Bali 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 Bali 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 Bali 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 Bali 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 Bali

Here are some general tips for using eSIMs when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for Bali eSIMs, but are things to know before buying an eSIM in general.

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 Bali. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.

you may also like...

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If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi for staying connected when traveling to Bali or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to Bali and use it as a portable WiFi device.

Which smartphones support eSIMs?

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 to dial *#06# on your phone. A screen will pop up and will show you a bunch of barcodes. If you see a barcode with 'EID', then you know your device is eSIM compatible.

If you are not sure then simply ask 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 Bali.

However, you can still order a sim card for Bali on the internet before your trip. Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide for buying a sim card for Indonesia in 2025 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 Bali recommended in this guide are reputable eSIM providers reviewed and tested by the Traveltomtom Team. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in Indonesia.

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 Bali eSIMs, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIMs for traveling to Bali.

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 an eSIM?

Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM to stay connected when traveling to Bali. An eSIM can be used at the same time as your physical or eSIM from your home country at the same time.

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 Bali 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 Bali eSIM?

No, unfortunately none of the eSIMs for Bali support calling and texting. All eSIMs are data-only.

If you buy a local eSIM in a phone store in Bali or at the airport in Denpasar these eSIMs support incoming and outgoing calls. You can add extra credit to make local phone calls.

Does a Bali eSIM come with a phone number?

No, none of the Bali eSIMs 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 a Bali eSIM?

First of all don't get too excited about having 5G when traveling to Bali. There is still not much 5G around, the 5G network in Bali is still very limited as of January 2025.

But yes, most of the Bali eSIMs are 5G ready as of 2025.

Are there eSIMs for Bali with unlimited data?

Yes, the Holafly eSIMs for Bali include unlimited data. However, Traveltomtom is not a big fan of unlimited data sim cards.

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 FUP. Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes.

Holafly is an eSIM provider that sells eSIMs with unlimited data for Bali 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 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 are 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 eSIMs for Bali with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then Holafly 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!?

The Jetpac eSIM for $21 USD gives you 20 GB data. There is no real need for an eSIM with unlimited data unless you want to upload your whole camera roll to a Google Drive or iCloud via 4G instead of WiFi.

Are eSIMs the best way to stay connected when traveling to Bali?

eSIMs are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Bali, but what is the best way?

There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to Bali:

• 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 Bali are a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip. Prepaid sim cards you buy in Bali offer bigger data plans than eSIMs and on top of that these local prepaid sim cards come with the option of calling and texting.

The big difference is that a local prepaid sim card can only be purchased on arrival in Bali in a phone store or at Denpasar airport and NOT on the internet.

Find more info about how to buy a prepaid sim card for tourists in Bali in my complete guide.

International prepaid sim cards

If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Bali.

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 Bali directly online.

If after visiting Bali you are traveling onwards to other continents or countries in the Pacific then check Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for traveling internationally.

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 Bali in a mobile internet provider store

As of 2025 eSIMs are now also available in phone stores in Bali. Telkomsel, IM3, XL Axiata, Three/Tri and Smartfren offer eSIMs for tourists.

On arrival at Denpasar airport in Bali you can now get an eSIM as well as a physical prepaid sim card for tourists. Read all about it in my detailed guide for buying a sim card at Bali Airport.

eSIMs vs. local prepaid sim cards

Getting an eSIM on the internet is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Bali, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to Bali. You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in Bali. As soon as the plane lands, you are online.

But what is cheaper? An eSIM or a local prepaid sim card for tourists?

When we compare Bali eSIM prices with local prepaid sim cards for Bali, our conclusion is that local prepaid sim cards are more affordable and you get more Gigabytes for the same price. But local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in Bali in a sim card shop.

That said, eSIMs that you buy on the internet already start from just $1 USD and local prepaid Bali tourists sim cards start from 250,000 IDR which is around $16 USD.

Indonesia has so called tourist sim cards specially designed for non-resident foreigners. And prices to register a new prepaid sim card start from $16 USD. After that the top-ups are really cheap and for $6 USD you can get 50 GB data.

For more info check out my articles about the best prepaid sim cards in Bali or the best prepaid sim cards in Indonesia.

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 Bali in the comparison above.

Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM for Bali on the internet. 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 sim card you buy in Bali on arrival.

I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM for your trip to Bali 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 Bali right away.

If you still have any questions about eSIMs then please leave me a comment below 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 Bali!