Are you traveling to Georgia and looking for the best way to stay connected? Don't let high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans ruin your trip. This is the ultimate guide for finding the best sim card for traveling to Georgia in 2024.
Find out everything about buying a prepaid sim card in Georgia, the best e-sim cards for Georgia, up to date prices as per January 2024, the best 4G/5G network in Georgia, where to buy a sim card, my recommendation and experiences, information about international sim cards and everything else you need to know.
My travels around the world took me to Georgia a couple times already, a lovely country to visit. Everywhere I go I get myself an e-sim card or a local prepaid sim card to stay connected.
As I am also aiming to visit every country in the world some day I have been to quite some places and 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 e-sim card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Arriving in Georgia by plane and looking to buy a sim card at the airport in Tbilisi? Check out my guide for buying a sim card at Tbilisi Airport.
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.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Magti sim card for Georgia. They offer very affordable sim card deals with lots of data for little money and they have the best 4G/5G network in Georgia.
Of course Traveltomtom also recommends using e-sim cards for traveling to Georgia. It is so easy to order an e-sim online and they already start from just $5.5 USD. Traveltomtom recommends ordering e-sim cards for Georgia via SimOptions or Airalo.
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.
Best e-sim cards for Georgia
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Georgia in 2024 is an e-sim card. Keep your own phone number from home and use an e-sim card 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 e-sim card 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 e-sim card 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.
Airalo
Airalo is a trusted e-sim provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world. Check out the Airalo e-sim card 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
Click here for more info or to directly order an Airalo e-sim card for Georgia.
All the above data-only e-sim cards are only valid in Georgia. Both the SimOptions and the Kargi Mobile e-sim cards operate on the Cellfie (former Beeline) 4G/LTE mobile network in Georgia.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another trusted e-sim provider. They offer the following e-sim cards for traveling to Georgia in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7.90 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $14.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 15 days = $19.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $39.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $69.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order a SimOptions e-sim card for Georgia directly online.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Georgia.
You can also still order a physical prepaid sim card for Georgia that will be delivered to your home address before your trip. For example an international sim card from Orange with 10 GB data for $49.90 USD valid in 124 countries. Click here to order this Georgia prepaid sim card deal via SimOptions.
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.
Where to buy a sim card for Georgia
Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi international airport
Buying a sim card for Georgia straight on arrival would be the most convenient place to get connected and luckily both international airports have multiple sim card shops. It is very easy to buy a sim card at the airport on arrival in Georgia. 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 complete guide.
Official retail 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 traveling in Georgia. 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 pretty much 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
As mentioned before you can also arrive prepared for your trip to Georgia by ordering a sim card for Georgia on the internet. There are plenty of e-sim card plans for Georgia and that in fact is my number one recommendation. E-sim cards are just so convenient and there is no need to find a sim card store on arrival in Georgia.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Georgia via: Airalo or SimOptions.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then look into ordering a physical sim card. There are some international prepaid sim cards for traveling to Georgia but there is not much choice online.
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 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 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 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 below are updated as per January 2024. Prices are in Georgian Lari: $1 USD = 2.68 GEL and 1 GEL = $0.37 USD.
Let's compare all the prepaid sim cards for tourists of the Georgia mobile internet operators.
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 e-sim cards 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 e-sim cards 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 e-sim cards for tourists available.
Best sim card for Georgia in 2024
Based on the above comparison of the prepaid sim cards in Georgia 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.
However, e-sim cards for Georgia are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Georgia and Airalo e-sim card plans for Georgia already start from $5.5 USD. Since they are so easy to arrange online, many travelers opt for e-sim cards. If you need a lot of data there is also an e-sim card plan with 20 GB data that you can order via SimOptions.
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.
Order a prepaid sim card for Georgia online
If your phone is not e-sim 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 e-sim card for Georgia. You order on the internet, get a QR code and set it all up within just a couple clicks.
Recommended e-sim cards for Georgia are Airalo and SimOptions.
My experience buying a sim card in Georgia
I traveled to Georgia several times and tried Magti as well as Cellfie. On 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. Exactly a year later I was recommended a Magti sim card by my friends from Georgia because of its more extensive 4G/5G network since we were going to travel around Georgia by car a lot on our trip. I was happy with the performance of my Magti prepaid sim card.
On my recent trip traveling in Georgia I used more than 20 GB data. Great thing is that data plans in Georgia are pretty cheap and you can easily buy large data bundles.
I have been 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, but the weather was still very good. Not only did I take a trip to Armenia from Tbilisi, I also went into the mountains and took a trip to Kazbegi. As I visited Batumi in 2017 I can now say I saw both ends of the country.
I sincerely like traveling to Georgia!
Thanks for reading my blog and I hope I was bale to help you 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.
I hope the above 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 January 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Georgia!
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