Preparing your trip to El Salvador and looking for the best tourist sim card to stay connected? Don't let high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans ruin your trip to El Salvador.
This is the ultimate guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card in El Salvador in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per February 2025, info about eSIMs for El Salvador, the best 4G/5G network coverage, international sim cards, my recommendation and my experiences and more.
I have been a big fan of traveling in Central America and the last years I have been around all the countries multiple times. Without a doubt Central America is an amazing place to visit if you are an adventure traveler.
In the past I used to buy a prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected.
Traveltomtom also wrote a guide for the best eSIMs for El Salvador in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for El Salvador
- Where to buy a sim card for El Salvador
- Mobile internet operators in El Salvador
- Registration process
- Prices prepaid sim cards in El Salvador
- Best 4G/5G network in El Salvador
- Best prepaid sim card in El Salvador in 2025
- Best eSIMs for El Salvador
- Order a prepaid sim card for El Salvador online
- My experience buying a sim card in El Salvador
Some links in this article about the best prepaid sim cards for tourists in El Salvador 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.
RELATED: 19 Best Places to Visit in El Salvador in 2025.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Tigo prepaid sim card for El Salvador. Tigo has the best 4G/5G network in El Salvador and a great sim card for tourists. For $10 USD you get 5 GB data and unlimited social media for 30 days.
eSIMs for El Salvador are a little more expensive, but eSIMs are a very convenient as you are online as soon as the plane lands. eSIMs already start from just $1 USD. There is an Orange Global eSIM for El Salvador that you can order via Sim Local for $32 USD and you get 10 GB data.
For more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to El Salvador in 2025.
Are you on a big trip to Central America and visiting multiple countries? Then you want to check out Traveltomtom's article about the best international sim cards in 2025 and find some amazing sim card plans for Central America.
Why buying a sim card for El Salvador
There are many reasons to stay connected when traveling to El Salvador, but the main reason is that we want to avoid high roaming charges and don't end up with a shocking phone bill.
Having a data connection on our phone makes life so much more convenient. Think about ordering an Uber, getting directions from Google Maps or looking for a cool nearby rooftop bar, finding your friends. All not possible without a data connection on your phone.
Also think about emergencies, checking your banking apps, etc. Don't depend on public WiFi. There is no guarantee, it can be slow and keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.
Having internet on your phone while traveling makes life so much easier and
Traveltomtom chooses eSIMs for their convenience and I happily pay a couple dollar extra to be online as soon as the plane lands and have internet on my phone like at home without paying high roaming charges.
As Traveltomtom is on a mission to travel to every country in the world I get to about 30 - 40 different countries every year and therefore I use about 30 different sim cards per year. As I am already traveling full time since 2012 buying prepaid and eSIMs became part of life and that is how Traveltomtom became the ultimate specialist in providing info about sim cards for tourists.
Therefore on Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, Spain, Madrid, Barcelona, Germany, France, United Kingdom, USA, New York, Bogota, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Mexico City, Malaysia, Egypt 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.
Where to buy a sim card for El Salvador
San Salvador City Center
In San Salvador there are multiple mobile phone shops and official Claro, Tigo, Digicel and Movistar stores. Your best options is to go to any of the big shopping malls like Centro Comercial Galerias.
In the Historic Center in San Salvador you will also find prepaid sim card vendors on the streets. I saw people selling Tigo and Claro sim cards randomly on the streets. These are prepaid tourist sim cards and are activated right on the spot!
San Salvador Airport
There is a Digicel kiosk at San Salvador Airport that sells sim cards. But is Digicel a good choice for traveling in El Salvador? Keep reading... Unfortunately as of February 2025 there is no other phone shop at San Salvador Airport.
Convenience stores
Just like in Guatemala, Honduras and other Central American countries you can buy prepaid sim cards for El Salvador in convenience stores all around the country. Even at gas stations and road side shops.
Don't worry, buying a sim card for El Salvador at a convenience store on the side of the road is normal. But very important is to first ask if they can activate the sim card for you on the spot. Don't walk away or pay before the sim card are activated! Speaking Spanish will help a lot so may be not the best place for tourists to buy a sim card for El Salvador! If you only speak English it will be a bit harder, or ask a local to help you.
Online
Especially if you want to arrive prepared for your trip to El Salvador then buy your sim card for El Salvador on the internet.
There are physical prepaid sim cards available via SimOptions. These sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip. On arrival in El Salvador it is plug and play.
But as mentioned before the most convenient way to stay connected when traveling to El Salvador is an eSIM. If your phone is eSIM compatible then an Orange Global eSIM with 10 GB data for $32 USD is the best-buy. You can order it via Sim Local.
For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for El Salvador.
Mobile internet operators in El Salvador
For a country this small there are surprisingly many mobile internet operators. El Salvador has 4 providers:
- Tigo
- Claro
- Movistar
- Digicel
All providers offer prepaid sim cards for tourists and as per 2025 there are also eSIMs available for tourists.
Registration process
Unlike most other countries in the world you can buy a sim card in El Salvador without having to register your passport or ID. There is no fingerprint or any other form of identification needed. When you buy a prepaid sim card in El Salvador it will not be registered on your name, it will just be activated for you and that is it.
The sim cards for tourists are plug and play, meaning you put it in your phone and it instantly works.
That is why it still it is normal practice to buy a sim card for El Salvador on the side of the road or from a street vendor in the middle of a square in San Salvador.
However, very important is that your phone is unlocked! Foreign sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If you are unsure about this then contact your provider in your home country before your trip to El Salvador.
Prices prepaid sim cards in El Salvador
Good news for you: prepaid sim cards in El Salvador are cheap and for a couple dollars you can get a lot of data on your phone. In El Salvador they use the USD as their official currency as well as Bitcoin. No joke, you can buy a sim card in El Salvador with Bitcoins.
Movistar
For a new Movistar sim card you pay $2 USD for registration and activation of your phone number.
Movistar has prepaid sim card plans with unlimited data for just a couple dollar as well as a normal prepaid sim card plan.
- Unlimited data + calls for 1 day = $1.25 USD
- Unlimited data + calls for 2 days = $2 USD
- Unlimited data + calls for 4 days = $3 USD
- Unlimited data + calls for 7 days = $5 USD
- 15 GB data + unlimited social media apps + 100 minutes for 45 days = $15 USD
For more info check the Movistar El Salvador website.
Tigo El Salvador
A Tigo prepaid sim card is free when you top up with one of the available packages.
All Tigo packages have unlimited calling to Tigo in El Salvador and they also come with FREE social media apps, see the above plans for 2025. They also include minutes to USA, Canada included as well.
- 1 GB for 2 days + 10 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada = $1 USD
- 2 GB for 4 days + 20 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada = $2 USD
- 4 GB for 8 days + 40 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada = $4 USD
- 4 GB for 16 days + 50 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada = $7 USD
For more info check the Tigo El Salvador website.
Claro El Salvador
A Claro sim card is also free and come with free calls to Claro in El Salvador and unlimited social media. These are the prepaid sim card packages for tourists:
- 1 GB data for 2 days = $1 USD
- 2 GB data for 4 days + 500 MB YouTube + 20 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada = $2 USD
- 4 GB data for 8 days + 2 GB YouTube & TikTok + 40 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada = $4 USD
- 5 GB data + 2 GB YouTube & TikTok for 30 days = $10 USD
Big plus about Claro prepaid sim cards you buy in El Salvador is that they are valid in all of Central America. I have not tried it myself, so I can not give you my personal review about it. But apparently it works.
The bigger data packages come with extra GB's for YouTube and TikTok. For more info check the Claro El Salvador website.
Digicel El Salvador
All over the Americas and the Caribbean you will find Digicel, also in El Salvador, however it is fairly small and Digicel stores are limited. Their sim cards are free and come with free calling to other Digicel numbers.
The 3 most popular Digicel data packages are:
- 6 GB data for 8 days + 50 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada + free WhatsApp, FB, Instagram & Twitter = $3.5 USD
- 6 GB data for 16 days + 70 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada + free WhatsApp, FB, Instagram & Twitter = $6 USD
- 8 GB data for 30 days + 90 minutes to other networks and USA/Canada + free WhatsApp, FB, Instagram & Twitter = $9 USD
You can easily top up online and use Digicel in many other country as well according to their website but never tried myself. Digicel is not my preferred sim card for El Salvador, see below. Check for more info the Digicel website.
Best 4G/5G network in El Salvador
As of 2025 there is still pretty much no 5G network in El Salvador yet. In central areas in San Salvador you can now find the first 5G signals, but outside the capital city the 5G network is very limited. But there is a 4G/LTE signal in pretty much all tourist destinations in El Salvador.
But before you buy a prepaid sim card in El Salvador have a look at the El Salvador 4G/5G coverage maps below and pick your provider wisely.
Digicel 4G/5G network coverage map
Movistar 4G/5G network coverage map
Tigo 4G/5G network coverage map
Claro 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2025 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in El Salvador in 2025.
Digicel prepaid sim cards are based on my comparison of the mobile network not a good choice for tourists. The Digicel network is much weaker than Claro and Tigo. Digicel does not even offer 4G+ what is also often talked about as the 4.5G network.
It is pretty clear that Tigo has the best 4G/LTE mobile network in El Salvador in 2025.
Best prepaid sim card in El Salvador in 2025
Looking at the El Salvador prepaid sim cards for tourists and the 4G/5G network coverage Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that because of its excellent network coverage Tigo is the best prepaid sim card in El Salvador in 2025.
For just $7 USD you get 4 GB data for 16 days. That does not sound like a lot but there is unlimited TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc. included.
Traveltomtom is an advocate for using eSIMs when traveling abroad and eSIMs for El Salvador already start from just $1 USD. However, if you use a lot of data then eSIMs are more expensive than prepaid sim cards.
That said, eSIMs are so easy to get that I often happily pay the higher price. There is an Orange Global eSIM for El Salvador that you can order via Sim Local for $32 USD and you get 10 GB data.
For more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to El Salvador in 2025.
Best eSIMs for El Salvador
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to El Salvador in 2025 is an eSIM. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a phone store and swapping physical prepaid sim cards.
You order an eSIM for El Salvador on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in El Salvador it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for El Salvador.
Here are some recommendations.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue.
Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for El Salvador for 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $8 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $15 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $21 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $32.5 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for El Salvador via Airalo.
The above Cerrocom eSIMs from Airalo are only valid in El Salvador and are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported. The Cerrocom eSIMs operate on the Movistar 4G/LTE network in El Salvador.
Sim Local
Sim Local has several eSIMs for El Salvador, it is like a sim card marketplace. Read here our honest review about Sim Local.
Here are all the Sim Local eSIM plans for El Salvador:
- 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
But the most interesting eSIM from Sim Local is the Orange Global eSIM:
- 10 GB data valid in 156 countries for 14 days = $32 USD
Click here to order an eSIM for El Salvador via Sim Local.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 15% off on all Sim Local eSIMs when using the promo code: TRAVELTOMTOM at check out!
All the Sim Local eSIMs for El Salvador are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported.
Before buying an eSIM make sure your phone is eSIM compatible and unlocked. With an eSIM you keep your own phone number from your home country.
For many more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to El Salvador in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for El Salvador online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to El Salvador online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in El Salvador 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 El Salvador, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for El Salvador:
- 10 GB data valid in 56 countries for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data valid in 124 countries for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international sim card for El Salvador via SimOptions.
Traveltomtom has used both the Three as well as the Orange physical prepaid sim cards in the past and was always satisfied. However, nowadays it is no secret that I rather use eSIMs for traveling abroad instead of physical prepaid sim cards.
If your phone is eSIM compatible then simply arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. Order an eSIM for El Salvador on the internet and arrive prepared. More expensive, but very convenient!
Check out Traveltomtom's list of the best eSIMs for El Salvador in 2025.
My experience buying a sim card in El Salvador
After 3 weeks in Honduras I took a bus from Tegucigalpa to San Salvador. As soon as we crossed the border by bus I expected to lose signal, but to my surprise my Tigo sim card from Honduras kept on working. Some prepaid sim cards you buy around Central America they claim to work in all neighboring countries.
Well it did, but the data speed was very slow, like 3G basically and it drove me nuts. The next day I bought a Claro sim card for El Salvador at a convenience store in the surf town of Tunco.
It worked perfectly fine and I had good coverage along the coast, on the Ruta de las Flores (Flower Route), around Santa Ana and in San Salvador.
The last two days of my El Salvador trip my Claro package ran out and coincidentally the first phone store I ran into was Digicel. I had only 1 more day in San Salvador, and decided to buy a Digicel sim card for 2 days with 2 GB for just $1 USD. Just couldn't resist! :)
Digicel worked perfectly fine in the city center of San Salvador, but once I was on a bus from San Salvador to Guatemala City it basically stopped working pretty much as soon as we left the city. Obviously I would not recommend a Digicel prepaid sim card for tourists traveling in El Salvador.
If you have any more questions about traveling or using prepaid or eSIMs in El Salvador please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out!
If you like to get fuelled by wanderlust then go check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom where you can find all my adventures on my journey to visit every country in the world. As of February 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to El Salvador!