Planning your trip to Bali and wondering what is the best way to get connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming plans. This is a complete guide for finding the best sim card for your trip to Bali.
Find out everything you need to know about Bali sim cards. Where to buy a sim card for Bali, up to date prices as per February 2024, my recommendation, a vlog about my arrival and experiences at Bali Airport, the best e-sim cards for Bali, the best 4G/5G network coverage, a comparison of the best prepaid sim cards for Bali, info about international sim cards and more.
As a full time world traveler and nomad I am constantly on the road and visiting new countries. In 2022 I visited 62 different countries and in 2023 I traveled to 34 countries so imagine how many prepaid and e-sim cards I used over the last 2 years.
After using almost 400 different sim cards worldwide over the last 10 years I dare to say with a lot of confidence that local prepaid sim cards are in general the cheapest way to stay connected. However, depending on the length of your trip and how much data you use e-sim cards could be even cheaper when traveling to Bali.
Both sim cards save you from excessive high roaming costs and slow overseas data plans. Trust me these data roaming plans reduce your internet speed. If you think you are good with using your sim card from home on your trip to Bali you might end up with 3G data speed when there is already is 5G in Bali. More about that later…
As Traveltomtom is passionated about writing sim card guides for every destination I visit and I am also trying to visit every country in the world you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world on Traveltomtom: Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai, Turkey and many more.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for Indonesia in 2024 as well as an e-sim guide with a comparison of the best e-sim cards for Indonesia.
So when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card and e-sim card advice for your next destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money.
RELATED: 11 Best Bali Bamboo Houses for a Romantic Getaway.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Telkomsel prepaid sim card for Bali. Telkomsel has the most advanced 4G/5G mobile data network in Bali and offers big data plans for tourists so you don’t need to worry using a lot of Gigabytes every day scrolling to Instagram stories or watching TikToks.
However, it leaves no doubt that the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Bali in 2024 is an e-sim card. Great thing is that there are already e-sim cards from just $5.5 USD. You arrange everything online and as soon as you land you are already connected to the internet.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Indonesia via either Nomad, SimOptions or Airalo.
Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know before buying an e-sim card for traveling to Indonesia in 2024, including a comparison of the best e-sim cards and an answer to all FAQ about e-sims.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then you have to look into physical prepaid sim cards, so called international prepaid sim cards for traveling. You also order them online. These sim cards are valid in multiple countries and also works in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Dubai, etc. Have a look at my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling in 2024 if this sounds interesting to you.
Be aware that if you want to use a Bali prepaid sim card your phone needs to be unlocked. This also applies for international sim cards and for using e-sim cards for Bali. If you are unsure if your phone is locked or unlocked contact your mobile internet provider in your home country. In general European phones are unlocked but US phones often tend to be locked!
Best e-sim cards for Bali
The most convenient way to get instantly connected on arrival in Bali is an e-sim card. You arrange everything online within just a couple minutes.
No more visiting a shop, swapping physical sim cards or buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Bali.
You order an e-sim card for Bali on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have an Indonesia e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Bali 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 e-sim card for Indonesia.
Want to know more about using e-sim cards when traveling to Indonesia then click on the link and read my complete guide including all FAQ.
There are a couple trusted and by Traveltomtom reviewed and recommended e-sim providers that Traveltomtom recommends.
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. Here are the Airalo e-sim card plans for Bali for 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $16.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.75 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
Click here to directly order an e-sim card for Bali via Airalo.
The above e-sim cards from Indotel are data-only and operate on the Telkomsel 4G/LTE network, the best mobile data network in Indonesia.
SimOptions
Traveltomtom surely also recommends SimOptions for e-sim cards. However, their Indonesia e-sim cards for Bali are more expensive than other e-sim card providers like Airalo and Nomad.
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.90 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $12.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 15 days = $16.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to directly order an e-sim card for Bali via SimOptions.
Nomad
Then last but not least there is also Nomad, fairly new to Traveltomtom, but I have used their e-sim cards in already more than 10 countries around the world. For Indonesia they actually have the best value e-sim card deal. So when traveling to Bali definitely keep this e-sim card in mind.
Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for Indonesia in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $16 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $23 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
- 20 GB data for 45 days = $39 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Indonesia from Nomad.
As I mentioned, Nomad has the cheapest e-sim cards for Indonesia and they go as low as $1.95 USD per Gigabyte on their 20 GB data plan for $39 USD.
Mind you that not all phones are e-sim card compatible and the online available Bali e-sim cards do not support local calls, they are data-only!
For more detailed info about e-sims see my guide with a comparison of the best e-sim cards for Indonesia in 2024.
Why buying a sim card for Bali
No need to tell you that your phone is pretty useless these days without a working data connection. Imagine looking for direction on Google Maps but you don’t have internet, or finding nearby restaurants, info about traveling or ordering a taxi through an app. Or what about emergencies like opening your banking apps or using WhatsApp to inform your relatives or finding friends or simply keeping up with all social media.
Having data on your phone when traveling to Bali makes life much easier!
Also don’t rely on public WiFi, not everywhere it is available or as fast as you hoped it would be and also another reminder that public WiFi is through an unsecured network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.
Local prepaid sim card, international sim cards and e-sim cards for Bali use a secured network and your data is protected. That said, many travelers still use VPN services for extra data protection.
Where to buy a sim card for Bali
Online
As I have mentioned before you can buy sim cards for Bali on the internet. These international sim cards you order online and they will be shipped to your home address before your Bali trip. E-sim cards are even easier and you arrange everything online within a couple minutes. So these are 2 options…
However, the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to Bali is a local prepaid sim card and these you can only buy in Bali, not online.
Denpasar Bali Airport - DPS
The best place to buy a prepaid sim card for Bali is on arrival at Denpasar International Airport - DPS. Straight after you got your passport stamped you walk through duty free and at the end of the duty free you will already see a couple tables where they sell sim cards for Bali. You can’t miss it!
It is the first thing you see when you walk in to the baggage claim area. Next to luggage belt 4 they sell Telkomsel prepaid sim cards. It is the first place where you can buy a sim card for Bali on arrival.
Buying a sim card for Bali at Denpasar Airport is more expensive than in a phone store around the island. The cheapest sim card at the luggage belt shop cost 400K IDR which is around $26 USD and that is expensive for Bali. But when you keep walking it already gets cheaper after passport control.
After you collect your luggage and you pass the customs baggage check you come out in a huge spacious arrival hall. At first you will see ATM’s and money exchange but if you follow the path you will find an XL and a Telkomsel store on your left hand side.
These are two of the main mobile internet operators in Indonesia and they sell prepaid sim cards for tourists here in Bali.
Opposite the XL store there is also a small kiosk of Smartfren they also sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. Smartfren is the only mobile internet provider that sells e-sim cards for tourists in Bali. More about it later.
Then there is a kiosk from IM3 from Ooredoo/Indosat opposite the Starbucks where you can also buy a sim card for Bali.
All of these sim card shops are open for every incoming flight so from early morning till late at night and they all accept credit card payments as well as Indonesian Rupiahs.
As you can see there are multiple places at Denpasar Airport to buy a sim card for your trip to Bali.
Here is my vlog about my arrival at Denpasar Airport in Bali and my experiences buying a local prepaid sim card for Bali.
Any phone store around Bali
In case you forgot to buy a sim card at Bali Airport or you want the cheapest Bali sim card deals then you can go all around Bali to any random phone store or official retail store and buy a prepaid sim card for Bali in a phone shop.
Buying a Bali sim card in a phone store across Bali is in fact is much cheaper. Prices for Bali tourist sim cards at Denpasar Airport are much higher. However, we are literally talking about just a couple dollars. If you are backpacking to Bali I totally understand, but keep in mind that you will have to find a phone store nearby your hotel, deal with language barriers, and most probably even have to negotiate, etc.
However, fact is that sim cards for Bali at Denpasar Airport are more expensive than shops away from the airport.
But what is the best Bali sim card for tourists? Let’s look at the prices as well as the 4G/5G network coverage.
Registration Process
When buying a new Bali sim card you need to bring your passport. Without a passport foreigners can’t register a sim card in Indonesia! In the store a copy of your passport will be taken and your new Bali sim card will be registered under your name and passport number.
Bali sim cards are free! Which means you do not need to pay for registration or the sim card itself. Some operators advertise with free Bali sim card, but all prepaid sim cards in Bali are free. Some local phone shops do charge a couple dollars for the registration as they are resellers and somehow need to make money.
Be aware that if you are staying in Bali longer than 60 days your phone will automatically be blocked from using any available mobile network until you pay an import tax for bringing your phone to Indonesia. If you are staying shorter than 90 days the registration is for free.
Prices Bali Prepaid Sim Cards in 2024
Local prepaid sim card prices and data packages constantly change. Traveltomtom travels to Bali often himself and tries to keep this article as up to date as possible, but your input is also highly appreciated. So if you have new info please leave me a comment at the end of this article
These are the up to date prices for prepaid sim cards in Bali as of February 2024. $1 USD = 15,700 IDR and 10,000 IDR = $0.64 USD.
Smartfren
- 25 GB data for 30 days = 250K IDR
- 30 GB data for 30 days = 300K IDR
- 45 GB data for 30 days = 350K IDR
- 60 GB data for 30 days = 450K IDR
Credit for calls needs to be added separately.
You can also see in the picture above that Smartfren is the only mobile internet provider in Bali who offers e-sim cards for tourists, all the other mobile internet operators do only sell physical sim cards for tourists. This is still up to date as per February 2024.
Which means when buying a Smartfren prepaid sim card you can choose to get an e-sim card or a physical prepaid sim card. If you opt for an e-sim card Smartfren charges you an extra 75,000 IDR which is around $5 USD.
IM3 - Indosat/Ooredoo
- 18 GB data for 30 days = 250K IDR
- 30 GB data for 30 days = 350K IDR
- 45 GB data for 30 days = 450K IDR
- 70 GB data for 30 days = 550K IDR
These are data-only sim card plans and credit for calls needs to be added separately.
As mentioned before IM3 Indosat/Ooredoo also does NOT offer e-sim cards for Bali, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists are available.
XL Axiata
At the XL store in the arrival hall they sell the following XL Bali tourist sim cards:
- 18 GB data for 30 days = 250K IDR - $16 USD
- 25 GB data for 30 days = 350K IDR
- 44 GB data for 30 days = 450K IDR
- 75 GB data for 30 days = 550K IDR
- 120 GB data for 30 days = 650K IDR
Credit for calls needs to be added separately.
Here is a more specified overview of all the sim cards XL Axiata offers for arriving tourists at Denpasar Airport.
As mentioned before XL Axiata also does NOT offer e-sim cards for Bali, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists are available.
Telkomsel
These are the Telkomsel prepaid sim card deals at Bali International Airport in Denpasar:
- 18 GB data for 30 days = 250K IDR
- 25 GB data for 30 days = 400K IDR - $25.5 USD
- 51 GB data for 30 days = 450K IDR
- 70 GB data for 30 days = 550K IDR
- 100 GB data for 30 days = 850K IDR - $54 USD
- 200 GB data for 30 days = 1,250K IDR
Credit for calls need to be added separately.
As mentioned before Telkomsel also does NOT offer e-sim cards for Bali, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists are available.
Best 4G/5G network in Bali in 2024
As prices for Bali prepaid sim cards are more or less the same lets zoom in on the network coverage maps for Bali and compare the 4G/5G network coverage maps of the mobile internet operators Xl Axiata, IM3, Smartfren and Telkomsel to find the best mobile data network in 2024.
Is there 5G in Bali?
Yes, Telkomsel was the first mobile internet operator to offer 5G in Bali. The other Indonesian mobile internet operators now also started to roll out 5G in Bali but as per January 2024 the 5G network in Bali is still very limited.
In fact 5G is only available around the Denpasar Airport, Kuta and Nusa Dua area and not yet in other popular Bali tourist spots. But I am sure that will improve rapidly! Let me show you the Bali 4G/5G coverage maps.
Telkomsel 4G/5G network coverage map
XL 4G/5G network coverage map
Smartfren 4G/5G network coverage map
IM3 4G/5G network coverage map
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 Bali in 2024.
From the above 4G/5G Bali coverage maps we can clearly see that Telkomsel has the most advanced mobile data network in Bali in 2024. XL Axiata is a very good second best and they are expanding their 5G network rapidly.
The Smartfren 5G network is still very limited as well as the 5G network of IM3 in Bali.
That said, all mobile internet operators cover all Bali tourist attractions and the best places to visit in Bali with at least a 4G/LTE signal. However, it also comes down to the capacity of the network as the more users on the same line the more it slows down your data speed.
Because the data network of Telkomsel is the most advanced and the strongest they can pretty much guarantee the fastest data speed in Bali.
Best Bali sim card in 2024
If you are a heavy data user international sim card or e-sim cards for Bali are more expensive compared to local prepaid sim cards in Bali from for example Telkomsel or XL. When using a lot of data you most probably also want the best and fastest data speed, so heavy data users are recommended to buy a local prepaid sim card in Bali on arrival.
Are you a heavy data user? Just go to the settings on your phone and check how much data you use per application. Is Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat topping the list than most probably you are indeed a heavy data user.
After comparing all the prices for Bali prepaid sim cards and the comparison of the best 4G/5G network in Bali Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that Telkomsel is the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Bali in 2024.
Buying a sim card for Bali on arrival at Denpasar International Airport is the fastest and most convenient place to get connected when arriving in Indonesia. But for that convenience you pay a couple dollar extra.
If you really want the cheapest Bali sim card deals you should not buy a sim card at Denpasar Airport on arrival, but at any random mobile phone shop near your hotel. Go where the local go and save a couple dollars. But trust me you won't be saving much more than $3 - $5 USD.
So what about e-sim cards? Does Traveltomtom recommend e-sim cards for traveling to Bali?
Well, yes surely I do. In fact on my last trip I used a Nomad e-sim card with 20 GB data for $39 USD. Why? Because I want to be online as soon as the plane lands and I am too lazy to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for Indonesia via either Nomad, SimOptions or Airalo.
Because also if you just need a couple Gigabytes to stay connected then e-sim cards are very cheap and a great solution. SimOptions has an e-sim card for Indonesia from just $4.90 USD.
Check out Traveltomtom's guide about the best e-sim cards for traveling to Indonesia in 2024 for more detailed info, answers to FAQ about e-sims and everything else you need to know before ordering an e-sim card for Indonesia.
Order a prepaid sim card for Bali online
If your phone isn’t compatible for e-sim cards and you want to order a physical sim card for Bali then have a look at the following international prepaid sim cards for Bali that you can order directly online via SimOptions.
These physical pre-activated travel sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip and are automatically activated from its first use. It is plug and play.
Check out the following data-only international prepaid sim cards for Bali:
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international sim card for Bali online via SimOptions.
Find more info in the link above. Keep in mind that these international prepaid sim cards are valid in up to 124 countries around the world.
Also a last reminder that if you phone is e-sim compatible you can order an e-sim card for Bali directly online via either SimOptions, Airalo or Nomad and arrange everything within just a couple minutes and you are all set to travel to Bali.
Check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know before buying an e-sim card for traveling to Indonesia in 2024, including a comparison of the best e-sim cards and an answer to all FAQ about e-sims.
Local prepaid sim cards for Bali vs. e-Sim cards and international sim cards
With a local prepaid sim card you get much more data for the same price and the best network connection and data speed possible. With an international sim card or an e-sim card for Bali you are basically a guest on another mobile operators network. Which means your data speed is potentially lower, especially during peak hours when you are being put in the back of the line to use the available bandwidth.
Therefore Traveltomtom prefers local prepaid sim cards over e-sim cards or international sim cards for traveling to Bali.
However, it is a fact that if it comes to convenience e-sim cards are just so easy to buy and install that even I sometimes choose the easy way out and order an e-sim card for my trip to Bali.
If you want to buy a local e-sim card for tourists in Bali then as of February 2024 only Smartfren offers e-sim cards in Bali and only at their kiosk at Denpasar Airport. Telkomsel, XL and Indosat do NOT sell e-sim cards for tourists and only have physical prepaid sim cards for tourists.
My experiences buying a sim card for Bali
Traveltomtom recently (November 2023) visited Bali again for the 9th time and when landed in Jakarta I bought an XL sim card just to see what its performance would be. In Jakarta I had little problems, but in Bali I experienced the weaker 4G/LTE network strength, especially indoors the XL sim card for Indonesia was a little disappointing. I still prefer and recommend a Telkomsel sim card for traveling to Bali.
Because of the weak signal at some places with my XL prepaid sim card I also ordered a Nomad e-sim card with 20 GB data. The Nomad e-sim cards for Bali operate on the Telkomsel network. So whenever I didn't have proper signal I switched from the Nomad e-sim to the XL prepaid sim card.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a prepaid sim card for Bali and my tips about e-sim cards and staying connected when traveling to Bali were helpful.
If you have any more questions then please leave me a comment below and I will do my best to instantly reply. On Traveltomtom you will find uncountable Bali travel tips. One of my favorite Bali blogs is about the best bamboo and treehouses in Bali. So when looking for unique places to stay this is a must-read.
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 February 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still about 40 to go, but no rush.
Enjoy your trip to Bali!