Are you planning your trip to Brazil and looking for the best way to stay connected with an e-sim card? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an e-sim card when traveling to Brazil including a comparison of the best Brazil e-sim cards in 2024.
Don’t waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendations below and order an e-sim card for Brazil on the internet and get connected in just a couple minutes. Below you will find up to date prices as per March 2024, including all specifications per tourist e-sim card.
This guide will show you where and when to order an e-sim card for Brazil, answer all your FAQ’s about e-sim cards, a comparison with local prepaid sim cards for Brazil and of course links to directly order your e-sim card for traveling to Brazil online.
HEADS UP! Buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Brazil is a nightmare. If you are still in doubt about buying an e-sim card on the internet or waiting till you get to Brazil and buying a local prepaid sim card then let me tell you: get an e-sim card!
You can read all about my experiences trying to get connected in Brazil in my blog about buying a prepaid sim card for tourist in Brazil. In short: with a CPF (Brazilian tax number) it is nearly impossible!
Since 2012 I am already traveling the world full time and throughout the years I turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger. That is why I constantly get to a different country and pretty much every week I need to look for a new sim card to stay connected.
In 2023 I visited for example 34 different countries in 1 year so imagine how many different prepaid and e-sim cards I used throughout the year.
In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use e-sim cards to stay connected when traveling abroad. On my latest trip to Brazil I tested the below recommended Brazil e-sim cards for tourists.
Helping other travelers to save money while traveling the world is one of the reasons I started this travel blog. Providing essential travel tips is what made me start writing sim card guides from every country I visited and now on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world.
You can also find a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Brazil in 2024 for those who don't have an e-sim compatible phone. However, as mentioned before it is a mess in Brazil. If your phone is not e-sim compatible you are better off buying an international prepaid sim card.
Traveltomtom also wrote specific and in-depth guides for buying e-sim cards in: Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Asia, Turkey, Egypt, Dubai, Europe, United Kingdom, Italy, USA, international e-sim cards and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice for your holiday destination.
First I will make a Brazil e-sim card comparison then I will explain how e-sim cards work, more about the network coverage and 4G/5G, data speed, answer some FAQ about e-sim cards, show you the difference between e-sim cards for tourists and local prepaid sim cards in Brazil and tell everything else you need to know about using e-sim cards when traveling to Brazil.
Let me start with giving you my e-sim card recommendation for Brazil in 2024. These are my favorite e-sim cards for traveling to Brazil in 2024.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends the following two e-sim cards for traveling to Brazil and also came to the conclusion that an Airalo e-sim card is the best e-sim for traveling to Brazil.
1. Airalo e-sim card for $26 USD
- 10 GB data-only e-sim
- 4G/LTE
- Operates on the Vivo network
- Valid in Brazil only
- Valid for 30 days
- $2.6 USD per Gigabyte
2. Orange Holiday World eSIM
- 10 GB data-only e-sim
- 4G/LTE
- Valid in 124 countries
- Valid for 14 days
- $3.99 USD per Gigabyte
The simple reason why Traveltomtom recommends an Airalo e-sim card for traveling in Brazil is that they have the best value e-sim card deal. Their 10 GB data e-sim cost $26 USD which comes down to $2.6 USD per Gigabyte. That is the cheapest rate available.
The other recommends e-sim card for Brazil is the Orange Holiday World eSIM which is an international e-sim card valid in 124 countries around the world.
Both e-sim cards are not 5G ready, so only 4G/LTE and both e-sim cards are data-only and do not come with a phone number. Which means incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported.
For my research about the best Brazil prepaid sim cards for tourists I also compared all the 4G/5G data networks of the mobile internet operators in Brazil and I found out that Vivo has the best 4G/5G mobile data network coverage in Brazil.
Is Brazil one of your stops on a trip around the world then you can also look into getting an e-sim card for world travelers. There are a bunch of e-sim cards that cover multiple countries and some are great for traveling to South America.
There are 2 very important things to check before ordering an e-sim card for Brazil or in general before using an e-sim card.
Unlocked phones only
Make sure your phone is unlocked. E-sim cards for tourists only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.
In general phones from Europe, Asia and the Middle East tend to be unlocked. Phones from North America are often locked.
If your smartphone is locked that means it does not allow another prepaid sim card or e-sim card to operate in the device. You can easily unlock your phone, but depending on your mobile internet provider you will be charged a fee for unlocking your phone.
E-sim compatible phones only
Second, and equally important: e-sim cards only work if your smartphone supports e-sim cards, also called e-sim compatible. All newer smartphones support e-sim cards. If you are not sure if your phone is e-sim compatible then simply go to Google and type in your mobile phone model in the search bar and ask if it is e-sim compatible. You will get the answer instantly.
If your phone is NOT e-sim compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an e-sim card for traveling to Brazil.
However, you can still order a sim card for Brazil on the internet before your trip. Find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024.
Comparison of the best e-sim cards for Brazil
Buying an e-sim card or a physical prepaid sim card on arrival in Brazil at any of the international airports is unfortunately still not possible. At for example Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Sao Paulo (GRU) there are no phone stores or convenient stores that sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
It is already pretty impossible to buy a tourist sim card without a CPF (tax number) and even if you somehow manage to do so you will can only get a physical prepaid sim card, not an e-sim.
Luckily there are multiple e-sim providers on the internet that sell Brazil e-sim cards for tourists. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling in Brazil from one of the well-known e-sim card providers that have proven to be reliable operators.
Here are 3 trusted e-sim card providers and they sell great e-sim card plans for Brazil. They are tested and reviewed multiple times by Traveltomtom:
Nowadays, you can buy an e-sim card for pretty much every country around the world. Order directly from one of the above e-sim card providers and instantly receive your e-sim card in your email. But before you buy an e-sim card first read all my tips below.
SimOptions is the only e-sim provider that also offers international prepaid sim cards for Brazil. These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards that will be delivered to your door step before your trip and it is plug and play when you arrive in Brazil.
Airalo and Nomad only sell e-sim cards for Brazil.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a reputable e-sim card provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your tourist e-sim card for Brazil through SimOptions is done fast and easy.
Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest e-sim card deals.
SimOptions has their own e-sim card plans as well as international e-sim card plans. For Brazil they only sell international e-sim cards. These e-sim cards are valid in multiple countries and not only in Brazil.
The Three HK (Hong Kong) international e-sim cards are valid in 93 countries around the world:
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
Unfortunately SimOptions does not specify on which network in Brazil the Three HK e-sim cards use operate in Brazil. On top of that users have reported that with these HK e-sim cards they had problems using TikTok, as per Hong Kong regulations TikTok is banned and blocked.
The good thing about the Three HK international e-sim cards is that they come with a Hong Kong phone number starting with +852. This means incoming phone calls and sms are supported. These e-sim cards do not come with calling credit, so outgoing calls/sms are not supported.
Click here to order a Three HK international e-sim card via SimOptions.
SimOptions has more international e-sim cards for Brazil.
Check out the following 2 international e-sim cards from AIS and Orange.
- 6 GB data for 10 days = $39.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $39.90 USD
All the SimOptions e-sim plans for Brazil are pretty expensive compared to Nomad and Airalo and therefore it is not Traveltomtom's first pick. The best value Brazil e-sim card deal from SimOptions is the Orange Holiday World eSIM with 10 GB data for $39.90 USD which comes down to $3.99 USD per Gigabyte.
Click here to order any of the above SimOptions e-sim cards for Brazil.
Unfortunately SimOptions doesn’t specify exactly which mobile network operator in Brazil they use and the international e-sim cards from SimOptions are not 5G ready, so the max data speed on these Brazil e-sim cards is 4G/LTE.
The validity of these e-sim cards is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the e-sim card, even if you are not in Brazil. For more info check the SimOptions website.
Airalo
Airalo is a very reliable e-sim card provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using Airalo for ordering an e-sim card.
Why using Airalo? When it comes to Brazil e-sim cards Airalo has the best e-sim card deals. As there is little differences other than the price between Airalo, Nomad and SimOptions Traveltomtom recommends Airalo as the best e-sim cards for Brazil.
Here are the Airalo data-only e-sim card plans for Brazil for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Brazil from Airalo.
The Airalo e-sim cards for Brazil are from Maneiro and they operate on the 4G/LTE network of Vivo. Unfortunately the Airalo Maneiro e-sim cards for Brazil are not 5G ready yet.
The best value e-sim card from Airalo gives you 10 GB data for $26 USD, which comes down to $2.6 USD per Gigabyte. Which is right now the best value e-sim card for Brazil as well.
In the most popular places to visit in Brazil you will find a 4G/LTE signal and the data speed is pretty good these days. There is in fact still very little 5G in Brazil.
For more info about the best 4G/5G mobile data network in Brazil check my complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for Brazil in 2024, including network coverage maps of all the mobile internet providers.
All the Airalo e-sim cards are data-only sim cards without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo e-sim card has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network. For more info check out the Airalo website.
Nomad
Lately I have been recommending Nomad e-sim cards a lot as they have really great tourist e-sims for a lot of countries. The Nomad e-sim card plans for Brazil are not bad either compared to other e-sim card providers, but fact is that Nomad e-sims are a little more expensive than Airalo.
Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for Brazil:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $9 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $32 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Brazil from Nomad.
The Nomad website is a little less user friendly for finding the best e-sim cards for traveling to Brazil. You can't see all e-sim card deals in one overview, you have to click a little here and there.
On top of that Traveltomtom has ran into some issues and errors with Nomad e-sim cards lately and therefore it is not Traveltomtom's first recommendation for Brazil e-sim cards.
The best value e-sim card for Brazil from Nomad is the one with 10 GB data for $32 USD, which comes down to $3.2 USD per Gigabyte.
The Nomad e-sim cards are from eSIM Go and they are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls and sms are NOT supported. They operate on the LTE/4G network of Vivo and TIM.
The Nomad Brazil e-sim cards have to be installed on your phone within 30 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in Brazil. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website.
What is the cheapest e-sim card for Brazil?
The cheapest e-sim card for Brazil is an Airalo e-sim card for $4.5 USD and it will give you 1 GB data for 7 days. This e-sim is only valid in Brazil and does not support calling and texting.
Why ordering an e-sim card for traveling in Brazil
E-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Brazil in 2024 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.
The most important reason to get an e-sim card is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to Brazil without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, finding nearby friends, restaurants and bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with family back home, check your social media apps on long bus rides or your banking apps when paying contactless.
One of the best things about arriving in Brazil with an activated e-sim card is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your e-sim card later.
There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Brazil, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to Brazil so much more convenient and fun!
At the same time we don’t want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $3 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 20 MB * $3 USD = $60 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2024.
E-sim cards are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!
Overseas data roaming plans
So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed. Do you have the patience to handle 3G? It is frustrating when all around you in pretty much every amazing tourist destinations in Brazil there is 4G/LTE available.
And price-wise it should be a no brainer since you have seen how affordable the e-sim cards for Brazil are.
Uncountable times travel friends have asked me: “Tom, can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!” Trust me, get yourself an e-sim card or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Brazil.
Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from friends.
Where to buy an e-sim card for Brazil?
Online
You can buy an e-sim card for Brazil on the internet through an e-sim card provider. There are multiple e-sim card providers for Brazil. Traveltomtom compared 6 e-sim card providers and concluded that the above mentioned ones (SimOptions, Airalo and Nomad) are the best e-sim card providers in 2024.
When buying an e-sim card for Brazil through one of the above recommended e-sim providers you only need your email address and the e-sim card is instantly ready to use after installation. There is no ID registration needed.
On arrival in Brazil
There are 3 main mobile internet providers in Brazil: Vivo, Claro and TIM. Unfortunately as per March 2024 none of the mobile internet operators in Brazil offer e-sim cards for tourists. They only offer physical prepaid sim cards for tourists, but only if you have a CPF, a Brazilian tax number.
That sounds complicated! Well, let me tell you: IT IS COMPLICATED!
For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Brazil in 2024 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in Brazil, how to get around the CPF registration thing and all my experiences trying to buy a local prepaid sim card in Brazil.
Flying into Brazil and landing at one of the international airports in Brazil of Sao Paulo (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro (GIG) then good luck if you thought you would buy a tourist sim card on arrival. In Brazil there are no sim card shops at any of the main international airports, believe it or not!
I experienced this first hand in Rio de Janeiro and in Sao Paulo. At both airports I wanted to record a YouTube video and gather all the information for writing a blog, but there are simply no possibilities for tourists to buy a sim card.
When to order/activate an e-sim card for Brazil?
You can order an e-sim card for Brazil pretty much any time you want. Most e-sim cards have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.
More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the e-sim card. The validity of some e-sims start straight after the installation, other e-sim cards only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.
Traveltomtom advices to instal your e-sim card on the day of departure to Brazil or before. You will need a stable internet connection to instal your e-sim card. Pretty much all the international airports in Brazil have free public WiFi which works ok most of the time, so you could use that to install your e-sim card.
Just make sure it is a stable internet connection. Therefore just to make sure Traveltomtom advices you to install/activate your e-sim card in your home country.
My personal advice is to instal your tourist e-sim card for Brazil before you get into the plane, because then as soon as the plane lands you will be connected to the internet without any problems.
How do I know all this? Traveltomtom has visited Brazil 5 times and traveled all around the country.
How to activate an e-sim card
Installing and activating an e-sim card is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an e-sim card and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email. But wait, it gets even easier. Just scan the QR code.
When you order an e-sim card plan for Brazil you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.
You will see a summary of your e-sim card order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your Brazil e-sim card.
But installing an activating an e-sim card is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the e-sim card on. The QR contains all the information about your Brazil e-sim card.
Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your e-sim card is successfully installed.
Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your e-sim card otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.
Tip: if you order an e-sim card with the same phone where you want to instal the e-sim card on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.
Things to know before ordering an e-sim card for Brazil
Here are some general tips and FAQ’s for using e-sim cards when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for Brazil e-sim cards, but are things you have to know before buying an e-sim card in general.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
To make sure you didn’t miss this, let me say this again: e-sim cards only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any e-sim card without any problems.
If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to Brazil. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.
If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi for staying connected when traveling to Brazil or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to Brazil and use it as a portable WiFi device.
Which smartphones support e-sim cards?
Another very important thing you have to check before buying an e-sim card is if your smartphone supports e-sim cards. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support e-sim cards.
The fastest way to find out if your phone is e-sim compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) e-sim compatible? Simple as that!
Can I trust these e-sim card providers?
All the e-sim card providers for Brazil recommended above (SimOptions, Airalo and Nomad) are reputable e-sim card providers reviewed and tested by Traveltomtom. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in Brazil.
Traveltomtom has successfully partnered for several consecutive years with SimOptions and Airalo. Nomad is a fairly new partner of Traveltomtom, but has so far proven to be a reliable e-sim card provider as well. All e-sim card providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.
Traveltomtom does NOT sell Brazil e-sim cards, only RECOMMENDS you to use e-sim cards for your next trip to Brazil.
Can I keep my phone number from home with a Brazil e-sim card?
Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an e-sim card to stay connected when traveling to Brazil. An e-sim card can be used next to your physical or e-sim card from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an e-sim card.
So you can have multiple e-sim cards installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!
For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. Your new Brazil e-sim card you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.
This is also the trick to keep receiving sms for example for OTP (one time password) sms to login to applications.
Switching between physical and e-sim cards is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings. Just always make sure your sim card from home is switched off for data roaming.
Can I make phone calls with a Brazil e-sim card?
No, unfortunately all the tourist e-sim cards for Brazil available on the internet do NOT include calling and texting. The e-sim cards from SimOptions, Airalo and Nomad are data-only e-sim cards and any outgoing calls/sms are not supported.
If you (somehow manage to) buy a prepaid sim card for tourists on arrival in Brazil then you get (unlimited) calling and texting included.
Most hotels, restaurants and tour companies in Brazil have WhatsApp services, so you can easily give them a call through WhatsApp. There is no direct need for local calling minutes.
Does a Brazil e-sim card come with a phone number?
No, most of the Brazil e-sim cards that you can buy on the internet do not come with a phone number, which also means you can not receive any phone calls or sms.
There is one exception and that is the Three HK international e-sim card that you can order via SimOptions. This e-sim comes with a Hong Kong phone number starting with +852.
Local prepaid sim cards that you can buy once you arrive in Brazil offer incoming and outgoing calling and texting.
In the above Brazil e-sim card comparison you can find all the specifications per e-sim card.
Can I use 5G on an Brazil e-sim card?
No, unfortunately none of the by Traveltomtom recommended e-sim cards for Brazil are 5G ready. Which means the max data speed on all e-sims is 4G/LTE. That said, the 5G network coverage of TIM, Claro and Vivo is not yet widespread. There is pretty much only a 5G signal in the famous cities.
Are there e-sim cards for Brazil with unlimited data?
None of the by Traveltomtom recommended Brazil e-sim cards for tourists include unlimited data.
Even if you would come across e-sim card providers that offer e-sim cards for Brazil with unlimited data then make sure the unlimited data is on max data speed. Mostly the data speed is capped after you used X amount of Gigabytes.
Holafly is an e-sim card provider that sells e-sim cards with unlimited data, but does NOT specify what is the exact so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP).
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend Brazil e-sim cards with unlimited data plans. There are always restrictions. And on Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. When I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.
Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media apps were not even loading!
Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend e-sim cards for Brazil with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then this might be your favorite e-sim card. However, what is then the point of an e-sim with unlimited data is what you have to ask yourself.
An Airalo e-sim card for $26 USD gives you 10 GB data which for most travelers is more than enough for their trip to Brazil. If this is not enough you can also order 2 e-sim cards and after one is done, you instal the second one.
There are a lot of different specifications per e-sim card. Another reason why I advice you to take a close look at my comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Brazil in 2024 before choosing your favorite.
Are e-sim cards the best way to stay connected when traveling to Brazil?
E-sim cards are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Brazil, but what is the best way?
There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to Brazil:
- Local prepaid sim cards
- International prepaid sim cards
- E-sim cards
Let’s compare e-sim cards, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards, for you to find out what is your preferred way of staying connected.
Local prepaid sim cards
In general if you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards are a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip.
However, throughout the article I am sure you already read how painfully difficult it is to buy a prepaid sim card in Brazil. It is only possible to buy one if you have a Brazilian tex number (CPF), which tourists obviously don't have. IF you have a Brazlian friend you can ask them or you go from phone store to phone store and see who is willing to make an exception.
That is what I did, no joke. I went though all that hassle for you to show you what it is like... see my Brazilian sim card vlog below.
If you manage to get one then local prepaid sim cards in Brazil offer pretty small data plans however, they are fairly cheap. For around $6 USD you get a physical sim card plan with 5 GB data.
That said, a local prepaid sim card can only be purchased on arrival in Brazil in a phone store but NOT on the internet.
Another big difference is that local prepaid sim cards have the advantage that they come with a local phone number and mostly with calling minutes and sms bundles. That means incoming and outgoing calls are supported.
More info about the best Brazil sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for Brazil in 2024.
International prepaid sim cards
If your smartphone is not e-sim compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Brazil. Some of them are great for Brazil as well as in all other countries in for example Europe, Americas and Asia and you can easily order them online.
If after visiting Brazil you are traveling onwards in Asia then check Traveltomtom’s list of the best sim cards for traveling internationally in 2024.
As I mentioned before SimOptions also sells physical prepaid sim cards for traveling internationally.
A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your door step before your trip to Brazil. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground in Brazil and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play!
If you look at the international prepaid sim cards above you see that the Three sim card is actually a really good option and even cheaper than an e-sim card. A physical prepaid sim card with 10 GB data only costs $24.90 USD. That is only $2.49 USD per Gigabyte.
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Brazil directly online via SimOptions.
E-sim cards
As explained throughout the article there are two different e-sim cards:
- E-sim cards that you buy on the internet through a third party
- E-sim cards that you buy in Brazil in a mobile internet provider store
However, as of March 2024 the mobile internet providers in Brazil do not offer e-sim cards for tourists. They only offer physical prepaid sim cards for tourists in Brazil.
E-sim cards vs. local prepaid sim cards
Getting an e-sim card on the internet is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Brazil, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to Brazil.
You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop on arrival in Brazil. As soon as the plane lands, you are online!
But what is cheaper? An e-sim card or a local prepaid sim card for tourists?
When we compare the prices for Brazil e-sim cards with the prices for local prepaid sim cards in Brazil, it is an easy conclusion that local prepaid sim cards are much more affordable as you get many more Gigabytes for the same price.
For around $10 USD you get a prepaid sim card with 5 GB data for 1 month. For more info check out my article about the best prepaid sim cards for Brazil in 2024.
But local prepaid sim cards can only be bought in Brazil on arrival (if you have a CPF) in a sim card shop and a tourist e-sim card for Brazil can be bought in 2 minutes on the internet before your trip to Brazil without any form of identification.
Remember that some of the e-sim cards for Brazil also go down to only $2.6 USD per Gigabyte.
After a long flight you just want to get to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. With e-sim cards you buy on the internet you are connected as soon as the plane lands.
For this convenience Traveltomtom definitely recommends to order one of the listed best e-sim cards for Brazil in the comparison above.
Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an e-sim card for Brazil. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper depending on how much data you need.
Data speed
Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an e-sim card is that e-sim cards are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO’s operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.
This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that e-sim cards through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an e-sim cards is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.
Bottomline: the data speed of e-sim cards can be less compared to a local prepaid Brazil sim card.
I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best e-sim card for your trip to Brazil were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your e-sim card for Brazil right away.
If you still have any questions about e-sim cards then please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out.
Curious what the life of a full time nomadic traveler looks like? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along with daily updates from around the world about the good, the bad and the ugly about traveling.
Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world. As of March 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to Brazil!
Some links in this article about the best e-sim cards for Brazil are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!