Compare the Best Travel eSIMs for Portugal
Prepaid data eSIMs for visitors to Portugal, every plan ranked by real price per GB. This is not a Portugal contract or a local SIM. Updated daily.
Reviewed by Lee DobsonLast updated Ranked independently by real price per GBUpdated dailyFree to use, no account
The 3 best Portugal eSIMs right now
Hand-checked · ranked by price per GB
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What Portugal data actually costs
Portugal travel eSIM prices look random until you convert every plan to one number: the real cost per gigabyte. Here is what that reveals right now.
The cheapest plan at each size, 30 days
| Data | Cheapest provider | Total | Price per GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 GB | Airalo | $35 | $0.70/GB | Get plan ↗ |
| 25 GB | Ubigi | $28 | $1.12/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code TRAVELCITY10 |
| 20 GB | Sim Local | $14.75 | $0.74/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code ATESIM |
| 10 GB | Sim Local | $9.75 | $0.97/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code ATESIM |
| 5 GB | Sim Local | $7.75 | $1.55/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code ATESIM |
| 1 GB | Yesim | $3.44 | $3.44/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code TRAVELCITY |
Cost per GB rises from $0.70/GB at 50 GB to $3.44/GB at 1 GB. Buying a little more data than you expect to use is almost always cheaper per gigabyte than buying exactly what you need.
The "unlimited" trap
The same words, unlimited for 30 days, cover a wide price range, and most plans slow down after a daily threshold that the label hides.
| Provider | Unlimited, 30 days | Fair-use cap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubigi | $48 | Not published | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code TRAVELCITY10 |
| Maya | $49.99 | 3 GB/day, then 10 Mbps source | Get plan ↗🏷 10% off with code ATESIM |
| GigSky | $65.49 | 2.5 GB/day, then reduced, but not below 100 kbps source | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code ATESIM |
| Yesim | $65.81 | Not published | Get plan ↗🏷 15% off with code TRAVELCITY |
| Airalo | $69 | 3 GB/day, then 1 Mbps source | Get plan ↗ |
| Saily | $71.99 | 5 GB/day, then 1 Mbps source | Get plan ↗ |
Unlimited 30 day plans run from $48 to $71.99, a spread of about 50 percent, for a label that means the same thing on paper. Check the daily cap before you buy, especially if you plan to tether a laptop.
Do not overpay for coverage you will not use
If your whole trip is in Portugal, a Portugal only plan is far cheaper per gigabyte than a Europe or global plan carrying the same data. Same provider (Nomad), same 50 GB, 30 days:
| Nomad plan | Price | Price per GB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal only | $45 | $0.90/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 20% off with code ATESIM |
| Europe | $35 | $0.70/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 20% off with code ATESIM |
| Global | $129 | $2.58/GB | Get plan ↗🏷 20% off with code ATESIM |
A Portugal only plan costs much less per gigabyte than a regional or global plan with the same data. Only pay for the wider plan if you are actually crossing borders on this trip.
Which network does your Portugal eSIM use?
This is the question that decides your real signal, and almost no comparison site answers it. Your travel eSIM connects to one or more local networks as a visitor, and that choice matters the moment you leave the big cities, because rural coverage varies a lot between them.
| Provider | Host network | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo | Not publicly disclosed | Confirming |
| GigSky | Not publicly disclosed | Confirming |
| Ubigi | MEO (TMN) | Confirmed |
| Nomad | MEO / NOS / Vodafone | Confirmed |
| Saily | Not publicly disclosed | Confirming |
| Yesim | Not publicly disclosed | Confirming |
Only Ubigi and Nomad publish their Portuguese host networks; Ubigi uses MEO and Nomad lists MEO, NOS and Vodafone. Airalo, GigSky, Saily and Yesim do not name a local carrier, so those rows stay unconfirmed rather than guessed.
Coverage by where you are going
- Portugal has four mobile networks that carry eSIM traffic: MEO (Altice), NOS, Vodafone Portugal and the newer Digi. NOS and Vodafone run 5G in all 308 councils, while MEO covers 307, missing only Mesao Frio.
- ANACOM counted 14,890 5G base stations by Q3 2025, up 41% year on year, with 5G reaching all 308 municipalities and about 75% of parishes.
- Lisbon, Porto, Faro and the Algarve coast get steady 4G and 5G. Speeds drop in the interior Alentejo and on smaller rural roads.
- Madeira and the Azores run on the same operators and count as EU regions. Funchal and Ponta Delgada have solid coverage, though remote islands and levada trails can lose signal.
- By early 2026 Vodafone had the most 5G sites at 5,536, followed by NOS at 4,898, Digi at 2,695 and MEO at 2,565.
Travel eSIM vs a local Portugal SIM
The six travel eSIMs here sell prepaid data-only plans that run on Portuguese networks. They are quick to install, priced in US dollars, and suited to trips of a few days to a few weeks. None includes a Portuguese phone number, so calls and texts go over apps such as WhatsApp or iMessage.
A local prepaid SIM or eSIM from MEO, NOS, Vodafone or Digi gives you a Portuguese number and full EU roaming. Budget and MVNO options include Moche (MEO's youth brand), NOS WTF, Lycamobile and Digi Portugal. These usually need passport ID at purchase and are sold in phone shops and at the airport.
Quick rule: For a trip of two weeks or less, a travel eSIM is simpler. For a longer stay or if you need a Portuguese number, buy a local SIM.
A prepaid SIM bought in Portugal works across the EU and EEA at domestic rates under Roam Like At Home, so the same plan covers neighboring Spain at no extra charge, and budget brand Moche runs on the MEO network.
How a Portugal travel eSIM works
A travel eSIM replaces expensive roaming with a cheap local data plan you activate in seconds. There is no plastic SIM and no airport queue. Roaming with your home carrier can run 6 to 12 dollars a day, so a week easily tops 50 to 80 dollars for service you already pay for at home.
Three things to get right:
- Check your phone supports eSIM before you buy.
- Install the eSIM at home over WiFi, but wait to activate it until you land, because the validity period usually starts on activation.
- Keep your physical SIM in the phone for calls and texts on your normal number.
How we rank Portugal eSIMs
Every plan on this page is sorted by real price per GB (total price divided by included data, normalised to USD), so a cheap-looking 1 GB plan cannot outrank a better-value 10 GB one. We refresh prices daily and only list providers with a track record of activating on arrival. We earn a small affiliate commission when you buy through our links. It funds the price tracking and never changes the order you see.
Portugal travel eSIM FAQ
Which network does each eSIM use in Portugal?
Ubigi uses MEO, confirmed by its published partner list. Nomad lists MEO, NOS and Vodafone on its Portugal page. Airalo, GigSky, Saily and Yesim do not disclose their local carrier, so their host network is not confirmed.
Do any of these plans give truly unlimited high-speed data?
No. The plans labeled unlimited apply a daily high-speed cap and then slow the connection. Saily allows 5 GB per day, Airalo 3 GB, and Nomad 2 GB, after which speeds drop to around 0.5 to 1 Mbps until the next day.
Will these eSIMs work in Madeira and the Azores?
Yes, both regions use the same MEO, NOS and Vodafone networks and count as EU territory. Funchal and Ponta Delgada have reliable coverage. Check that the specific plan lists Madeira or the Azores before buying, since a few plans exclude them.
Can I use a Portugal eSIM elsewhere in the EU?
A single-country Portugal plan is meant for Portugal only. If you plan to visit Spain or other EU countries on the same trip, a Europe regional plan from the same provider is the better choice.
Do I get a Portuguese phone number with these eSIMs?
No. All six providers sell data-only eSIMs for Portugal with no local number or SMS. Use internet-based apps for calls and messages. If you need a Portuguese number, buy a local prepaid SIM instead.
Is 5G available on these plans?
Yes. All the Portugal plans from these providers are sold as 5G where the network supports it, and 5G now reaches every Portuguese municipality. Actual speed depends on your device, location and network load.
