Since the introduction of EU roaming, people no longer want to give up surfing the internet with their smartphones, even outside of Europe. All iPhones from 11 onwards and many Android smartphones support an additional eSIM that can be used alongside the regular SIM card. This gives you the option of purchasing affordable eSIM plans. Pay once for 7, 14, or 30… days, and consume a pre-selected data volume. Even in South Africa!
What is an eSIM, and is my smartphone compatible?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card that can be loaded directly onto a compatible device without the need for a physical SIM card. This type of SIM card is particularly convenient for travellers because it is easy and quick to buy and activate online without having to worry about a physical SIM card.
You will find numerous providers of eSIM plans on the Internet. With most of them, you buy a one-off prepaid plan for a certain number of days and data volume. After expiry, there are no further costs and you do not need a subscription.
Unfortunately, not all smartphones support an eSIM. You have good odds with an iPhone 11 / 12 / 13, but also with an Android smartphone, e.g. Google Pixel 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 or Samsung Galaxy S20, S21, or Note 20. You can find a list of smartphones that support eSIM here: Which devices support an eSIM?
If your Android smartphone does not support eSIM profiles, eSIM.me is a physical SIM card that you can use with eSIM profiles.
Most eSIM providers only offer data volume and no free minutes. Since these are also prepaid plans, outgoing calls are generally not supported. With some smartphones, e.g. iPhones, you can still be reached via your normal SIM card and make calls.
Plans for South Africa Compared
We have compiled the best eSIM plans for South Africa, and you can filter them according to your individual requirements. Simply set your travel duration and the required data volume, and the cheapest plans will be displayed. All prepaid, no subscriptions.
Cheapest Providers
A look at our provider comparison shows that Airalo offers the cheapest plan for all the packages we have defined. The prices are truly affordable.
Slightly more expensive, but with a nice advantage, are the plans from BNESIM: The purchased data never expires! If you visit South Africa regularly, it’s worth buying a large package and using it for multiple trips.
The best network in South Africa
In South Africa, there are three major mobile network operators: Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom. MTN and Vodacom offer the best network coverage, even outside the major cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, etc. With Telkom, you may experience reception limitations outside the cities. Most of these eSIM providers use the Vodacom network, where you don’t have to worry much.