Are you traveling to Georgia and looking for the best sim card to stay connected? Don't let high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans ruin your trip. This is the ultimate guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Georgia.
Let me help you find the best sim card for your trip to Georgia in 2024.
Find out where to buy a prepaid sim card, up to date prices as per November 2024, the best 4G/5G network in Georgia, my recommendation and experiences and info about the best eSIMs for Georgia,
In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival in my destination, nowadays I mostly order an eSIM online to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Georgia
- Where to buy a sim card for Georgia
- Mobile internet operators in Georgia
- Best 4G/5G mobile network in Georgia in 2024
- Prices Georgia prepaid sim cards in 2024
- Best sim card for Georgia in 2024
- Best eSIMs for Georgia
- Order a prepaid sim card for Georgia online
- My experience buying a sim card in Georgia
- Best way to get around Georgia
My travels around the world took me to Georgia a couple times, a lovely country to visit with amazing hikes, cool cities, lovely people and above all still very cheap.
Arriving in Georgia by plane and looking to buy a sim card at the airport? Check out my guide on how to buy a sim card at Tbilisi Airport.
Some links in this article about the best Georgia prepaid sim cards are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Magti sim card for Georgia. They offer very affordable prepaid sim cards for tourists with lots of data for little money and they have the best 4G/5G network in Georgia.
When comparing eSIMs for Georgia with buying a prepaid sim card in Georgia we conclude that eSIMs are slightly more expensive. But personally I happily pay a couple dollar extra to be online as soon as the plane lands.
Jetpac has the best-buy eSIMs for Georgia with 10 GB data for $28 USD or 25 GB data for $38 USD.
Other recommended eSIM providers are: Airalo, GigSky, Firsty and SimOptions.
Another great alternative is buying an international sim card for Georgia. Check out my comparison of the best international sim cards for travelers in 2024 and pick the one that suits your trip the best.
Why buying a sim card for Georgia
First and foremost we want to avoid high roaming charges. Don't use data roaming or get charged crazy amounts on your phone bill. Also don't fall for the trap of overseas data roaming plans. They reduce the data speed on these plans.
Although many people in Georgia consider themselves part of Europe, the reality is that Georgia is NOT part of the EU and that also means there is no free EU data roaming available. Sim cards from Europe don't work in Georgia unless paying extra for data roaming.
Most hotels, bars, malls and restaurants offer free pubic WiFi in Georgia, yet I still recommend you to buy a sim card for Georgia.
Having a working data connection can save you a lot of hassle and traveling gets simply more convenient. Georgia is a beautiful country and staying connected while on road trips keeps you entertained, but what about getting directions from Google Maps, finding a nearby restaurant or ordering an Uber to get back to your hotel.
There are many reasons I can come up with to buy a sim card for your trip to Georgia.
What about your safety? What you gonna do in emergency situations when you need internet on your phone or think about checking your banking apps.
Keep in mind that surfing the web on free public WiFi is through an unsecured network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.
Everywhere I go I get myself an eSIM or I buy a prepaid sim card to stay connected and as I am also aiming to visit every country in the world I have been to quite some places.
Therefore on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Dubai, Istanbul, Turkey, Egypt, Europe, London, Frankfurt, Paris, New York, USA, UK, Malaysia, Asia, Bangkok, China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and many more.
So when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and eSIM advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Where to buy a sim card for Georgia
Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi international airport
Buying a sim card for Georgia straight on arrival is the most convenient place to get a tourist sim card in Georgia. All international airports have multiple sim card shops and it is very easy to buy a prepaid sim card at the airport.
In Batumi you will find a kiosk of Magti, Cellfie and Geocell/Silknet in the arrival hall and the same counts for Tbilisi Airport.
For more info about buying a sim card at Tbilisi Airport check out my detailed guide.
Prepaid sim cards at Tbilisi Airport are more expensive, so if you want the best Georgia sim card deal you have to wait until you reach Tbilisi city center.
Phone store internet providers
If you missed the opportunity to buy a sim card for Georgia on arrival at Tbilisi airport then the best place to get your sim card for Georgia is in the city center of Tbilisi or Kutasi or Batumi if you land there.
In every tourist destination in Georgia the mobile internet operators have multiple phone stores and are happy to sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. English is spoken very well in the big cities.
In Tbilisi city center your best bid is on Rustaveli Avenue where all three mobile internet operators have their big flagship stores. In Batumi you can find them a little more spread out but also around the city center.
Also some bigger convenience stores as well as gas stations sell prepaid sim cards for tourists, but here it is getting a little more complicated to get connected. You will have to activated these Georgia prepaid sim cards yourself and English is not spoken very well in the countryside.
Online
You can also get a sim card for Georgia on the internet. Arrive prepared for your trip to Georgia and be online as soon as the plane lands.
There are plenty of eSIM providers that sell eSIMs for Georgia. eSIMs are my first recommendation as it is the easiest way to get connected and you don't need to go to a phone store in Georgia to buy a prepaid sim card.
Traveltomtom recommends buying an eSIM for Georgia via: Jetpac, Airalo or SimOptions.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible then look into ordering an international physical sim card. SimOptions sells these international prepaid sim cards for traveling to Georgia on their website.
Mobile internet operators in Georgia
There are 3 main mobile internet providers in Georgia: Geocell/Silknet, Magti and Cellfie. All 3 mobile internet provider offer prepaid sim cards for tourists. Cellfie is the former Beeline. Beeline announced in April 2023 to continue to operate under the name of Cellfie.
Best 4G/5G mobile network in Georgia in 2024
Let's compare the mobile data network coverage maps of the mobile internet providers and see how good the 4G/LTE/5G coverage is around the country. From my own experience I know that the below Georgia mobile internet coverage maps are not 100% correct.
The mobile data network is much more advanced than the pictures below will make you believe, but it is a great reference to compare the sim cards of Georgia.
Is there 5G in Georgia?
Yes, there is 5G in Georgia, but 5G is limited to Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. When traveling in Georgia don't expect to find a phone signal everywhere. There are many places to go completely off the grid and you will not find a phone signal for days. When connected do not expect the fastest data speed either.
That said, the mobile data speed in cities in Georgia is pretty fast.
Geocell/Silknet 4G/5G network coverage map
Cellfie 4G/5G network coverage map
Magti 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are definitely not 100% accurate but it is a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Georgia.
From my own experiences I know for a fact that in the train from Batumi to Tbilisi there is constantly a 4G/LTE signal. Also when traveling from Tbilisi on the train to Azerbaijan or in the bus towards Yerevan, Armenia or when traveling North from Tbilisi to Kazbegi.
Yes I have traveled a lot in Georgia and with a Magti sim card I was connected in the most off the beaten path places.
From my own experiences, from advices from locals and the above mobile data network coverage maps Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Magti has the best 4G/5G network in Georgia in 2024.
A great second best is Geocell. In fact, in some places Geocell seems to have slightly better network coverage and in other places Magti has better network coverage.
It is also easy to conclude that because Cellfie (former Beeline) has the weakest 4G/LTE network in Georgia and is therefore not a recommended sim card for tourists.
Looking for places to visit in Georgia? What about a trip to Kazbegi. Click here to see how utterly stunning my trip into the mountains was or check out my complete travel travel guide for Tbilisi with tips about the best restaurants, cosy bars, wine tours and phone numbers of great tour guides and private drivers.
Prices Georgia prepaid sim cards in 2024
Prices and info in this sim card guide are updated as per November 2024. Prices are in Georgian Lari: $1 USD = 2.7 GEL and 1 GEL = $0.36 USD.
Geocell/Silknet
Geocell is the main telecom brand and their prepaid sim cards are called Silknet.
There are no extra activation costs if you buy a Geocell/Silknet sim card for Georgia. They offer a Tourist Pack prepaid sim card.
- 4 GB data + 30 minutes + unlimited sms + 15 minutes international for 15 days = 15 GEL - $5.5 USD
- Unlimited data + 30 minutes + unlimited sms for 7 days = 15 GEL - $5.5 USD
- Unlimited data + unlimited calls/sms + 30 minutes international for 15 days = 30 GEL - $11 USD
For more info check the Geocell/Silknet website. In Geocell stores in Georgia you can only get a physical prepaid sim card for tourists, there are no eSIMs for tourists available.
Cellfie Georgia
As said before I would not recommend a Cellfie sim card for tourists in Georgia. They have the smallest 4G/LTE network and therefore are not the best sim card in Georgia. But if you are just going to travel to Batumi or travel to Tbilisi on a city trip then a Cellfie will work fine.
Cellfie Georgia charges around $1 USD for the activation of the prepaid sim card and they have 4 prepaid sim card plans:
- 500 MB data + 50 minutes + unlimited sms for 30 days = 3 GEL - $1 USD
- 3 GB data + 300 minutes + unlimited sms for 30 days = 8 GEL - $3 USD
- 10 GB data + unlimited minutes + sms for 30 days = 12 GEL - $4 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited minutes + sms for 30 days = 25 GEL - $9 USD
All in all Cellfie seems like a good prepaid sim card for Georgia. For more info check the Cellfie website. In Cellfie stores in Georgia you can only get a physical prepaid sim card for tourists, there are no eSIMs for tourists available.
Magti
Magti has a special tourist sim card and you can choose from 2 different plans:
- 3 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 30 minutes international calls for 15 days = 30 GEL - $11 USD
- 5 GB data + free texting for 15 days = 15 GEL - $5.5 USD
For more information check the Magti website. In Magti stores in Georgia you can only get a physical prepaid sim card for tourists, there are no eSIMs for tourists available.
Best sim card for Georgia in 2024
Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Magti is the best sim card for traveling in Georgia in 2024. They have the most reliable and strongest 4G/5G network in Georgia, fastest data speed and on top of that great prepaid sim card deals for tourists.
For around $5 USD you can get a Magti sim card with 5 GB data. Fairly cheap.
Best eSIMs for Georgia
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Georgia in 2024 is an eSIM. Keep your own phone number from home and use an eSIM for Georgia at the same time. Within a couple minutes you can arrange everything online and there is no need to swap a physical sim card or visit a sim card store.
You order an eSIM for Georgia on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Georgia eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Georgia it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Jetpac
Jetpac comes out as the best-buy eSIM for Georgia in 2024.
Here are the available Jetpac eSIMs for Georgia:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $16 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $28 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 25 GB data for 30 days = $38 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $65 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $140 USD
Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for Georgia.
The Jetpac eSIMs for Georgia operate on the Beeline/Cellfie 4G/LTE/5G network and on top of that are valid in 99 other countries around the world.
Airalo
Airalo is a trusted eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world. Check out the Airalo eSIM plans for Georgia for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $10 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $13.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $49 USD
Click here for more info or to order an Airalo eSIM for Georgia.
All the above data-only eSIMs are only valid in Georgia. These Kargi Mobile eSIMs operate on the Cellfie (former Beeline) 4G/LTE mobile network in Georgia.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another trusted eSIM provider. They offer the following eSIMs for traveling to Georgia in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5.50 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $13.50 USD
- 5 GB data for 15 days = $19.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $44.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order a SimOptions eSIM for Georgia.
Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Georgia.
Order a prepaid sim card for Georgia online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Georgia online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Georgia with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Georgia, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Georgia:
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international prepaid sim card for traveling in Georgia via SimOptions.
Also a last reminder that you can arrange everything online within just a couple minutes by ordering an eSIM for Georgia. You order on the internet, get a QR code and set it all up within just a couple clicks.
My experience buying a sim card in Georgia
I traveled to Georgia several times and tried Magti, Geocell as well as Cellfie prepaid sim cards.
One time when I arrived at Tbilisi Airport I bought a Cellfie sim card and I was very satisfied with the network coverage as well as the data speed. That time I only stayed in Tbilisi.
Exactly a year later I was recommended a Magti sim card by my friends from Georgia. Magti has a more extensive 4G/5G network off the beaten path and since we were going to travel around Georgia by car it was the best choice. I was happy with the performance of my Magti prepaid sim card.
On my recent trip to Georgia I used a Jetpac eSIM for Georgia with 25 GB data and it worked perfectly fine.
I have traveled in Georgia at different times of the year, but traveling in Georgia around October was great fun. It was not that touristy as it is off season and the weather was still very good.
I traveled from Tbilisi to Armenia for a couple days and also went into the mountains and took a trip to Kazbegi. The last time I visited Batumi was in 2017.
I sincerely like traveling to Georgia!
Thanks for reading my blog and I hope I was able to help you out with buying a Georgia sim card for your trip. Don't forget to have a look at my Kazbegi travel tips. I am sure that after reading about my trip up North and seeing the pictures you are willing to go there.
Best way to get around Georgia
Looking for ways to get around Georgia? There are great long distance busses, but also amazing trains. Check out 12Go Asia's transportation search engine and they give you all options in one overview: busses, trains and even domestic flights.
Powered by 12Go system
Try it above yourself and find out the exact travel duration, up to date travel schedules, available seats, company reviews and of course you can book your ticket directly online.
I am sure some of the tips for buying a prepaid Georgia sim card were helpful for your upcoming holiday. In case you have any questions please don't hesitate to leave me a comment. I am happy to help you out, also with Georgia travel tips.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of November 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Georgia!