Are you planning your trip to Jordan and looking for the best way to stay connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans. This is the ultimate guide for finding the best sim card for your trip to Jordan.
Find out everything about buying a tourist sim card in Jordan, a comparison of the Jordan prepaid sim cards, the best 4G/5G network in Jordan, the best e-sim cards for Jordan, up to date prices as per January 2024, my recommendation, a vlog about my experiences and even info about international sim cards for Jordan.
If you are flying into Queen Alia International Airport in Amman then check out my specific guide for buying a Jordan sim card at Amman Airport in 2024. Buying a sim card at the airport on arrival is easy, but ordering an e-sim card on the internet is even easier.
Getting connected to the internet is my first priority when planning a trip to a new country. In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival but nowadays I mostly order an e-sim card on the internet.
As I like to document all my travel tips and I also like to travel to every country in the world you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: USA, Europe, Asia, Egypt, Cairo, Israel, Tel Aviv Airport, Lebanon, Turkey, Istanbul Airport, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Riyadh, Muscat, Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Rome and many more.
So when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the best prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next destination. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends an Orange prepaid sim card for traveling in Jordan. Orange has the best mobile internet network coverage in Jordan and affordable prices. If possible buy your Orange sim card at Amman Airport on arrival, because in the city it gets a little more complicated.
However, there is no easier way to get data on your phone when visiting Jordan then ordering an e-sim card on the internet. You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks and you are online as soon as the plane lands.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Jordan via either Nomad, Airalo or SimOptions.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then you can look into physical prepaid sim cards for traveling to Jordan. Check out my comparison of the best international sim cards with data in 2024 and get the one that suits your trip.
Before buying an international prepaid sim card, a local prepaid sim card or an e-sim card for Jordan make sure your phone is unlocked. All these sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure about this then ask your mobile internet provider in your home country before your trip.
Related: 16 Best Things To Do in Amman in 2024.
Best e-sim cards for Jordan
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Jordan in 2024 is an e-sim card. No more visiting a sim card store and swapping physical sim card. You can arrange everything online within a couple clicks.
You order an e-sim card for Jordan on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Jordan e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Jordan it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Jordan.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards from pretty much every country in the world. Check out the Airalo e-sim card plans for traveling to Jordan in 2024:
- 1 GB for 7 days = $6.5 USD
- 3 GB for 30 days = $18 USD
Click here for more info or to directly order your e-sim card for Jordan via Airalo.
The above data-only e-sim cards from Jornet are for use in Jordan only and operate on the 4G/LTE network of Umniah. These Airalo e-sim cards do not support incoming and outgoing calls/sms.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a reliable e-sim provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue.
SimOptions sells international e-sim cards for Jordan that are valid in up to 141 countries around the world.
- 6 GB data for 8 days = $19.90 USD
- 6 GB data for 15 days = $39.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $39.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for Jordan via SimOptions.
Nomad
Another trusted and reviewed e-sim provider is Nomad and Traveltomtom has used Nomad now in more than 10 countries. Nomad sometimes has amazing competitive e-sim card plans with cheap prices.
Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for Jordan in 2024:
- 1 GB for 7 days = $9 USD
- 3 GB for 30 days = $14 USD
- 5 GB for 30 days = $20 USD
- 10 GB for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for Jordan via Nomad.
Please make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Jordan.
Why buying a sim card for Jordan
Having a working data connection on your phone makes makes traveling in Jordan so much easier. Think about getting an Uber or finding directions on Google Maps. There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Most hotels in Jordan have WiFi, but not all restaurants and bars in Jordan provide that service. Basically, I would not recommend you to be dependent on public WiFi. What if the signal is too weak in your hotel room or the internet is so slow that it is creeping you out? Also keep in mind that public WiFi is an UNSECURED connection, so the use of a VPN is recommended.
Although I experienced Jordan as a fairly expensive country to travel, for example a day ticket for Petra is a lousy $75 USD, a sim card for Jordan with data is pretty affordable! Buying a sim card in Jordan is worth it.
When swapping sim cards does not have your preference then have a look into a portable WiFi device. Personally, I am not a big fan of these pocket WiFi's, but I must admit they work pretty well for short trips. Read my HONEST review in my article about how to get WiFi when traveling.
Where to buy a sim card for Jordan
Phone stores in Amman or Aqaba
When arriving in Amman or Aqaba use Google Maps to locate the nearest Orange, Zain or Umniah store. There are also multiple mobile phone shops that sell sim cards for Jordan. These sim cards are often slightly more expensive because these phone shops also need to make some money.
The advantage of these mobile phone stores over the official mobile internet stores is that they are open until late and the official retails stores of the mobile internet providers mostly close around 6.00 pm.
Mobile phone shops can be found everywhere, the official retail stores of Orange, Zain and Umniah are a little more scarce, but clustered in the city center of Amman and Aqaba.
When buying a prepaid sim card for Jordan you will need to bring your passport and also make sure your phone is unlocked! Foreign sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If you are unsure about this please contact your mobile operator in your home country.
While checking out prices for a Jordan sim card in the Orange, Zain and Umniah stores in Amman city I experienced long waiting lines. To be honest Im pretty sure you don’t want to waste your precious holiday time in Jordan waiting in line to buy a local prepaid sim card. Trust me there are better places to buy a sim card for Jordan.
Buying a sim card at Amman Airport
The best places for buying a prepaid sim card in Jordan is at Amman Airport on arrival. All the mobile internet operators have a store in the arrival hall and it is impossible to miss them when walking into the arrival hall after the last custom check.
The mobile phone stores at Amman Airport are open 24 hours and you can pay by credit card. Read my complete guide for buying a sim card at Amman Airport or watch my vlog about arriving at Amman Airport and buying a sim card for Jordan.
It is very easy to buy a Jordan sim card on arrival at Amman Airport and as of January 2024 all the mobile internet operators also offer e-sim cards for tourists as well as physical prepaid sim cards at the sim card shops at Amman Airport.
Online
Traveltomtom definitely is an advocate for buying a sim card for Jordan on the internet. There are international prepaid sim cards for Jordan for those who don't have an e-sim compatible phone.
But the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Jordan is an e-sim card. There are already Jordan e-sims for just $6 USD and as soon as you arrive you are connected to the internet an can enjoy data on your phone.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Jordan via either Nomad, Airalo or SimOptions.
Mobile internet providers Jordan
There are 3 mobile internet operators in Jordan: Umniah, Zain and Orange. All three mobile internet operators offer prepaid sim cards for tourists and have pretty good coverage all over the country. In most of the popular tourists destination in Jordan you can expect a 4G/LTE signal.
Umniah claims to be the largest mobile operator in Jordan, let's see if they are also the best sim card for traveling to Jordan after Traveltomtom's comparison of all the mobile internet operators.
Best 4G/5G mobile data network in Jordan in 2024
After comparing the 4G/5G network coverage maps for Jordan I came to the conclusion that there is a big difference in mobile internet network strength between the providers. Let's have a look at the 4G/5G coverage maps for Jordan and you see what I mean.
Is there 5G in Jordan?
Yes, there is finally 5G in Jordan but they only starte rolling it out in the summer of 2023. Don't get too excited about 5G in Jordan as it is very much limited to central areas in the capital city Amman.
In fact the 5G network coverage is pretty disappointing when comparing Jordan with other Middle Eastern countries where 5G is very advanced. As of January 2024 Orange has the best 5G network coverage in Jordan.
Umniah Jordan 4G/5G network coverage map
Zain Jordan 4G/5G network coverage map
Orange Jordan 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Jordan in 2024.
Based on the 3G/4G coverage maps for Jordan I would always recommend tourists to buy either an Orange or a Zain prepaid sim card for Jordan. If you are on a road trip the best sim card for Jordan is probably Orange, but Zain is not far behind.
Prices prepaid Jordan sim cards in 2024
The prices and info below are updated with the latest info as per January 2024 and $1 USD = 0.71 JOD and 1 JOD = $1.41 USD. Be aware that the Jordanian Dinar is stronger than the USD.
Orange Jordan prepaid sim card
These are the prepaid sim cards for tourists offered by Orange Jordan:
- 15 GB data + 60 minutes/text in Jordan + 10 minutes international calls/text for 10 days = 10 JOD - $14.1 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited minutes/text in Jordan + 20 minutes international calls for 30 days = 15 JOD - $21.1 USD
Here are some important short codes for Orange Jordan prepaid:
- *155# to check your balance and remaining bundles
- *152# to renew your subscription at any time
- *165# to check additional internet bundles
- *156# to know your offer
For more info check the Orange Jordan website.
Orange offers e-sim cards for tourists, as well as at Amman Airport as in official Orange shops in Jordan. You can also still opt for a physical prepaid sim card.
Zain Jordan prepaid sim card
All the Zain Jordan prepaid sim cards are valid for 30 days:
- Weekly Visitors Line: 12 GB data + 20 local minutes + 15 international minutes - valid for 1 week = 10.88 JOD - $15.3 USD
- New Visitor Line: 75 GB data + 1,000 local minutes + 50 international minutes - valid for 3 months = 29.23 JOD - $41.2 USD
- Zain International Line: 37.5 GB data + 3,000 local minutes + 3,000 sms - valid for 3 months = 16.12 JOD - $22.7 USD
Check the Zain website for the most up to date prices for prepaid sim cards for visitors.
Zain offers e-sim cards for tourists, as well as at Amman Airport as in official Zain shops in Jordan. You can also still opt for a physical prepaid sim card.
Umniah Jordan prepaid sim card
Umniah offers several Jordan prepaid sim card plans for tourists, all valid for 1 month. The Umniah sim cards for Jordan come with a lot of data for very competitive prices.
- 5 GB data + unlimited calling in Jordan + 3,000 sms = 6 JOD - $8.5 USD
- 40 GB data + unlimited calling in Jordan + 3,000 sms = 8 JOD - $11.3 USD
For more info check the Umniah website. Umniah offers e-sim cards for tourists, as well as at Amman Airport as in official Umniah shops in Jordan. You can also still opt for a physical prepaid sim card.
Best sim card for Jordan for tourists in 2024
First of all let me advice you that if you would like to buy a local prepaid sim card in Jordan then buy your Jordan sim card at Amman International Airport on arrival. At Queen Alia International Airport you can find great Jordan sim card deals and the shops are open 24 hours. For more info check out Traveltomtom's complete guide for buying a sim card at Amman Airport in 2024.
Traveltomtom is an advocate for using e-sim cards when traveling abroad. They are very convenient and simple to use. However, fact is that e-sim cards for Jordan are more expensive than local prepaid sim cards.
That said, e-sim cards are so easy to get that I often happily pay the higher price. Plus you are online as soon as the plane touches the ground and you don't need to buy a sim card on arrival in Jordan.
If you do not have the opportunity to buy a sim card on arrival at Amman Airport then it is recommended to just get a 1 GB data-only e-sim card for Jordan to get through the first day.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Jordan via either Nomad, Airalo or SimOptions.
When comparing the mobile internet operators in Jordan and the prices for Jordan prepaid sim cards it shows that Umniah is by far the cheapest and Zain the most expensive Jordan sim card.
Umniah however, has a much weaker 4G/5G network than Zain and Orange. Therefore for traveling around the country Traveltomtom does not recommend an Umniah sim card
Based on the prepaid sim card prices and comparison of the 4G/5G mobile data network Traveltomtom come to the conclusion that Orange is the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Jordan in 2024.
As of 2024 it is also possible for tourists to opt for an e-sim cards when buying a sim card in Jordan. However, you can only buy an e-sim card in an official phone stores from Umniah, Zain and Orange. It can be challenging to find a nearby store and waiting lines can be long in store. Therefore Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Jordan on the internet.
Buy a prepaid sim card for Jordan online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Jordan online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Jordan 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 Jordan, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Jordan:
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international prepaid sim card for Jordan via SimOptions.
This Orange Holiday World physical prepaid sim card is valid in 124 countries around the world including Jordan.
I am sure some of my tips for buying a sim card for Jordan in 2024 were helpful for your upcoming trip to Jordan. If you have any questions about traveling in Jordan I am more than happy to help you out.
Last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can order an e-sim card for Jordan online via Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad and be online as soon as the plane touches the ground.
If you are interested what it looks like traveling to every country in the world then check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom for some serious wanderlust. As of January 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Jordan!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling in Jordan are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you.