Are you planning your trip to Egypt? The land of the mysterious Pharaohs, the Sahara Desert, the Red Sea and the majestic Nile River will amaze you, but don't get stuck with high roaming charges. Looking for the best way to stay connected when traveling to Egypt? This is the ultimate guide to find the best sim card for your trip to Egypt.
Find out everything about buying a prepaid sim card in Egypt, where to buy a sim card, the best eSIMs for Egypt, up to date prices as per September 2024, the best 4G/5G network in Egypt, my recommendation, a vlog about my experiences and even information about international sim cards for Egypt.
Traveling the world is my biggest passion and inspiring and helping other travelers doing the same is what keeps me going. On my journey to visit every country in the world I made it to a long list of countries.
The first thing I do when I get to a new countries is looking for the best way to stay connected and therefore on Traveltomtom you can find already more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: USA, Canada, Dubai, Turkey, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Dominican Republic and also a guide for buying a tourist sim card at Cairo Airport as well as Hurghada Airport.
Are you just looking for eSIMs then check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Egypt in 2024.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!
Some links in this article about the best ways to stay connected when traveling to Egypt are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link in this article I earn a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you of course!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends using a Vodafone sim card for Egypt. They have the best mobile internet network coverage in Egypt. They are slightly more expensive than other providers but it is worth the extra buck.
That said at Cairo Airport you can find a great Egypt prepaid sim card plan for tourists offered by Orange. Check the link for my complete guide for buying a tourist sim card at Cairo International Airport.
So what about eSIMs for traveling to Egypt I hear you say. Well, of course Traveltomtom recommends using eSIMs when traveling to Egypt. But it is also no secret that eSIMs are more expensive than local prepaid sim cards.
eSIMs are just so convenient and you arrange everything online in just a couple minutes. Traveltomtom's favorite e-sim providers are SimOptions and Airalo, but there is also Jetpac, Nomad, Holafly, etc.
For those who do not have an e-sim compatible phone Traveltomtom recommends international physical prepaid sim cards for traveling the world.
These prepaid sim cards with global coverage are more expensive than local prepaid sim cards, but the convenience is that you can order them online before your trip and arrive prepared in Egypt. Check out my comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024 and find the one that suits your trip.
Best eSIMs for Egypt
By far the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Egypt in 2024 is an eSIM. You arrange everything online within just a couple minutes. No more swapping physical sim cards and visiting a sim card shop.
You order an eSIM for Egypt on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an Egypt eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Egypt 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 eSIM for Egypt.
On arrival in Egypt you can not get an eSIM via one of the mobile internet operators. They only provide physical prepaid sim cards for tourists in phone stores in Egypt.
Fact is that eSIMs for Egypt are more expensive than local prepaid sim cards. Check out all my FAQ's about using eSIMs for traveling to Bali in my complete guide about the best eSIMs for Egypt in 2024.
There are several eSIM providers that offer Egypt eSIMs: Jetpac, Nomad, Holafly, SimOptions, Airalo, Sim Local, etc. Here is a selection.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world and never faced an issue.
Have a look at the Airalo eSIM plans for Egypt for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $12.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $17.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $26.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $44 USD
Click here to directly order an Egypt eSIM via Airalo.
The above Giza Mobile eSIMs for Egypt are data-only and only valid in Egypt. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. The Giza Mobile eSIMs from Airalo operate on the Orange 4G/LTE network, 5G is not supported.
SimOptions
SimOptions is another very trusted eSIM provider. They offer several different e-sims for Egypt plus one international e-sim valid in 123 countries including Egypt.
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.90 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $12.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 15 days = $19.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $37.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $59.90 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $85.90 USD
On top of that SimOptions offers the Orange Holiday World eSIM for traveling to Egypt with 10 GB data valid in 123 countries for 14 days for $39.90 USD.
Click here to order an international eSIM for Egypt via SimOptions.
Can you trust SimOptions eSIMs? Yes, check out our honest SimOptions review with all pros and cons.
Before ordering an eSIM for Egypt make sure your phone is e-sim compatible and unlocked. Otherwise an eSIM will not work on your phone.
There are many more Egypt eSIm providers like: Sim Local, Roamless, Jetpac, Nomad, Holafly, etc.
For a more detailed guide about using eSIMs for Egypt check out my article with a comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Egypt, including all FAQ about eSIMs.
Why buying a sim card in Egypt
First of all a local prepaid sim card is in 9/10 times the cheapest way to get a lot of data on your phone. Getting an eSIM for Egypt is the easiest way to stay connected when visting Egypt. There are many other options, like overseas data plans, portable WiFi devices and international sim cards, I will compare them all.
Personally I prefer buying a local prepaid sim card in Egypt because I am a heavy data user and these physical prepaid sim cards guarantee me the most affordable rates and the best mobile data speed and network connection. By the way a reminder that overseas data plans limit your internet speed.
Buying a sim card in Egypt is pretty easy, done fast and cheap! However, buying an eSIM for Egypt takes just 2 minutes and you arrange everything online.
Having a working data connection makes traveling to Egypt so much easier. Think about ordering an Uber or finding a nearby restaurant with good ratings, killing time on long bus and train rides or getting directions from Google Maps and figuring out your travel plans while on the go.
Don't rely on public WiFi, first off WiFi in Egypt is not reliable. Mostly it is either super slow or not working at all. Second I would like to remind you that public WiFi is though an UNSECURED network connection. The use of a VPN is recommended.
RELATED: 8 Best Hotels with Views of the Pyramids!
Mobile internet operators Egypt
There are 4 main mobile internet providers in Egypt:
- Vodafone
- Etisalat
- Orange
- WE
All the mobile operators sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. But not all operators are recommended, therefore keep reading and explain you the difference and why you should not buy a sim card of some operators.
Where to buy a prepaid sim card
International Airport on arrival
The best and easiest way to get a prepaid sim card in Egypt is on arrival at the airport. All the international airports in Egypt have kiosks that sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. You can't miss them. In Cairo Airport the sim card shops are already located next to the luggage belts.
Flying to Cairo? Check out my complete guide for buying a sim card at Cairo International Airport.
Flying to Hurghada? Check out my complete guide for buying a sim card for Hurghada International Airport.
Mobile phone stores in Egypt
If for some reason you couldn't buy a sim card at the airport on arrival there are mobile phone shops in every tourist destination in Egypt. Sometimes you can even find a mobile shop on the side of the road, like the one above on the main square in Alexandria.
Traveltomtom advices you to buy an Egypt sim card from an official retail store from one of the mobile internet operators rather than any random mobile phone shop. They have the best deals, best advice and in case something goes wrong the problem can be fixed instantly.
At random phone stores in Egypt they also sell prepaid sim cards for tourists, but they have of course their own price. You can even negotiate, but so much hassle. Therefore not directly recommended.
Online
The easiest way and to avoid all hassle of buying a prepaid sim card for tourists on arrival in Egypt is to order a sim card for traveling to Egypt on the internet. If your phone is not e-sim compatible you can order a physical prepaid sim card for Egypt online via SimOptions.
But no doubt the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Egypt is ordering an eSIM on the internet. Check out my complete guide for buying an eSIM for traveling to Egypt in 2024 and find your e-sim for your trip to Egypt.
Registration Egypt prepaid sim cards
Like almost every other country around the world you need your passport when buying a prepaid sim card in Egypt. In the store they will take a copy of your passport and register the sim card on your passport number and your name.
That is also another reason why Traveltomtom recommends buying a sim card in Egypt from an official retail store and not any random mobile phone shop. The whole registration process should not take more than 5 minutes.
You will receive the sim card with your new Egypt phone number. Always put the sim card in your phone immediately and make sure the purchased data plan and voice packages are working before you leave the store and ask them how you can check your balance and remaining data.
If you rather not get your sim card registered then look into ordering a physical prepaid sim card for Egypt or an eSIM for Egypt. When buying a sim card for Egypt on the internet there is no ID verification required, just an email address.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Egypt via either SimOptions or Airalo, but there is also Nomad, Holafly, Jetpac and many other e-sim providers.
Prices prepaid sim cards in Egypt in 2024
Across Egypt in phone stores you can still find data plans and prepaid packages with so-called units and super apps. Basically 1 unit is like 1 MB. However, when using the super apps you only use 0.5 unit per 1 MB, so your MB allowance pretty much doubles if you use the super apps. COMPLICATED!
Forget about all this, the prepaid sim card plans I compared below are all standard prepaid sim card deals for tourists. Much easier to understand!
The inflation has led to a significant devaluation of the Egyptian Pound in the last years. As of September 2024 $1 USD = 49 EGP and 100 EGP = $2.05 USD.
WE Egypt
WE is by far the smallest mobile internet provider in Egypt. A WE sim card costs 77 EGP ($1.5 USD) and comes with 0 credit. They offer a wide range of mobile data packages and are called Nitro Prime which are valid for 28 days.
- 1.7 GB data = 20 EGP
- 4 GB data = 40 EGP
- 7.8 GB data = 70 EGP
- 12.5 GB data = 100 EGP
- 29 GB data = 200 EGP
- 62.5 GB data = 450 EGP
Remember that 450 EGP is only like $9.15 USD as of September 2024.
WE Egypt has very competitive data package prices compared to other mobile internet operators in Egypt, but are they the best sim card for traveling in Egypt? Wait till you see their network coverage across the country! For more info check out the WE Egypt website. There are NO E-SIMS for tourists available in WE stores across Egypt, only physical prepaid sim cards.
Etisalat Egypt
An Etisalat prepaid sim card costs 30 EGP ($0.6 USD) for the registration and activation and then you will have to add one of the following data packages:
- 11.5 GB data + 60 minutes = 140 EGP
- 15 GB data + 60 minutes = 180 EGP
- 20 GB data + 60 minutes = 230 EGP
- 25 GB data + 60 minutes = 275 EGP
As per September 2024 the equivalent of 275 EGP = $5.6 USD!
Unfortunately there are no e-sims available in Etisalat stores across Egypt, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists. Check the Etisalat Egypt website for more info.
Orange Egypt
An Orange Egypt prepaid sim card costs 84 EGP for the registration, a little more than a dollar. Orange offers the following prepaid sim card plans for tourists that are valid for 28 days:
- 3.2 GB data = 40 EGP
- 5.5 GB data = 60 EGP
- 7.2 GB data = 80 EGP
- 11.5 GB data = 120 EGP
- 20 GB data = 200 EGP
- 49 GB data = 400 EGP
As of September 2024 you get 49 GB data for just $8.1 USD.
Orange Egypt data plans are cheap and you get a lot of data for just a couple dollar. Check the Orange Egypt website for more info. Unfortunately also no eSIMs from Egypt Orange for tourists, only physical prepaid sim cards are avialable in stores across Egypt.
Note: Orange Egypt also offers packages for tourists at international airports in Egypt, but they are priced differently. At the airports you pay the tourist price for prepaid sim cards, check out Traveltomtom's guide for buying a sim card at Cairo Airport as well as Hurghada Airport.
Vodafone Egypt
Vodafone Egypt offers 2 different types of prepaid sim cards: the so-called sim cards with super units and tourist sim cards with simply just big data plans and voice bundles.
Let's forget about the Vodafone sim cards with Super Units as it is simply too complicated for tourists!
Vodafone Egypt tourist sim card bundles:
- 10 GB data + 200 local minutes + 20 international minutes = 255 EGP
- 30 GB data + 200 local minutes + 30 international minutes = 505 EGP
Remember that 505 EGP is only like $10 USD as of September 2024.
Vodafone Egypt data-only plans, also see the above picture:
- 4,000 MB = 60 EGP
- 8,000 MB = 100 EGP
- 12,000 MB = 150 EGP
- 20,000 MB = 2500 EGP
- 40,000 MB = 400 EGP
As you can see even Vodafone Egypt, rated as the best mobile internet provider in Egypt still has very competitive prices and data plans are simply really cheap for tourists.
Vodafone has same sim card prices and plans everywhere in Egypt: phones stores, Cairo Airport, Hurghada Airport. All same same.
. For more info check the Vodafone Egypt website. Unfortunately only physical prepaid sim cards are available in Vodafone stores across Egypt, no e-sims!
Best 4G/5G mobile data network in Egypt in 2024
We Egypt has by far the smallest network, you will see in the below comparison. Based on the network coverage only I would already NOT recommend a WE prepaid sim card for Egypt.
All the other providers offer a 4G/LTE signal in most Egypt tourist destinations, but based on my own experiences in reality there is still a big difference. More about that later when I talk about my experiences using a prepaid sim card in Egypt.
Is there 5G in Egypt?
No, there is still no 5G network available for prepaid costumers in Egypt as of 2024. It has been tested by Vodafone and it has been said to be rolled out soon, but so far when buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Egypt you can not use the 5G network yet. Max data speed on prepaid sim cards in Egypt is still 4G+.
Etisalat Egypt 4G/5G network coverage
Orange Egypt 4G/5G network coverage
Vodafone Egypt 4G/5G network coverage
WE Egypt 4G/5G network coverage
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 Egypt in 2024.
From the updated mobile internet coverage maps for Egypt Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Vodafone has the strongest 4G/LTE network in Egypt in 2024.
Based on the network strength I would recommend you to get a Vodafone sim card for traveling in Egypt.
Also this Egypt 4G/LTE mobile data network comparison is another reminder that a WE Egypt sim card is not recommended for tourist traveling to Egypt.
Best prepaid sim card for Egypt in 2024
As mentioned before Traveltomtom does not recommend a WE Egypt prepaid sim card as their mobile data network coverage is very weak compared to the other mobile internet providers in Egypt. Based on my own experiences (see below) I would not recommend an Etisalat sim card either. I was disappointed with its performance.
Buying a sim card for Egypt online is very convenient and definitely those travelers that want to arrive prepared I recommend looking into buying an international sim card for Egypt or an eSIM for Egypt directly online. It saves you the hassle of getting connected when arriving in Egypt.
However, the sim cards for Egypt you buy on the internet are more expensive than local prepaid sim cards.
More about using an eSIM for traveling to Egypt in my complete guide, including all FAQ about e-sims, prices and a comparison of the Egypt e-sims from Airalo, SimOptions, Jetpac, Nomad, Holafly, etc. with local prepaid sim cards for Egypt.
Those travelers that like to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival in Egypt, Traveltomtom recommends an Orange or Vodafone sim card.
Orange Egypt has a great prepaid sim card deals for tourists, but Vodafone has a much better network coverage across Egypt and therefore it is an easy conclusion that Vodafone is the best prepaid sim card for Egypt in 2024 according to Traveltomtom.
Vodafone Egypt keeps it simple and offers big data plans for just a couple dollars on top of that Vodafone has the strongest 4G/LTE mobile data network in Egypt. For around 500 EGP ($10 USD) you get 30 GB data and calling minutes for 28 days.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Egypt online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Egypt online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Egypt 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 Egypt, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
Via SimOptions you are able to order a pre-activated international physical sim card for Egypt:
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Egypt via SimOptions.
Also a last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can easily stay connected with an Egypt eSIM. You order them directly online.
With an eSIM you keep your own phone number from home, but not every phone is eSIM compatible. Check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Egypt in 2024 with an answer to all your FAQ and all Egypt e-sim deals from Airalo, SimOptions, Nomad, Jetpac and Holafly.
My experiences buying a prepaid sim card in Egypt for tourists
When I arrived in Egypt at Cairo Airport the WiFi wasn't working and I had not done my research yet. Based on the prices and my feeling I got myself an Etisalat prepaid sim card with 20 GB data. The first week I spent just in Cairo and I was surprised how many times the Etisalat 4G/LTE signal was pretty weak. Especially going into buildings, I could often not connect to 4G.
Pretty damn annoying as I rather work on 4G/LTE than rely on WiFi. Unfortunately I couldn't tether my Macbook to my phone as I did not have a signal in my room in the heart of Cairo and neither in some coffee shops. On the streets it was mostly fine, but even in rush hour, being stuck in a taxi in the middle of Cairo, my 4G/LTE Etisalat sim card wasn't working properly.
After about 10 days my 20 GB data ran out and I wanted to top up. After I downloaded the Etisalat Egypt app, I tried to find the right internet bundle, but honestly couldn’t find it. It was very complicated with multiple types of bundles, but couldn't just find one with a lot of GB's. I found Etisalat very difficult to use and pretty frustrating. Also their sms service is in Arabic only and you will need to copy paste everything to Google Translate.
Therefore I switched to Vodafone and had a much smoother experience. Yes, Vodafone is more expensive but at least I didn't have the connection issues and my data went a long way. I use mostly social media apps and Vodafone even had an ongoing offer with double data.
Unfortunately the Vodafone sms service is completely in Arabic as well even though in the Vodafone store they tried changing it to English. Pretty damn annoying. They will tell you to download the Vodafone App, but that is NOT possible for most iPhone users as Vodafone Egypt wouldn't pop up as my iStore is not located in Egypt. Vodafone Egypt also still has a lot of work to do when it comes to costumer service.
However, my overall experience using a Vodafone Egypt prepaid sim card was great and based on that I would recommend a Vodafone sim card for traveling in Egypt in 2024.
Here is my vlog about all my experiences getting connected traveling in Egypt and buying a local prepaid sim card.
I hope all the above tips and recommendations about buying a sim card in Egypt were helpful. If you still have any questions please leave me a comment and I will try to help you out.
Let me inspire you with some cool places to visit in Egypt! Go check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom and get fuelled with wanderlust to explore the world. As of September 2024 I traveled to more than 155 countries around the world.
Enjoy your trip to Egypt!