Exploring the top eSIM choices with discounts in Sénégal 2023

While Senegal may not be the first name that comes to mind for a West African travel destination, it still has plenty to offer. Whether you're a local or a traveler, you might be wondering about the eSIM options available in Senegal. Fortunately, there are some cost-effective choices for you.

eSIMs for Senegal are accessible from Airalo's Ratba Mobile, with prices ranging from as low as 9.50 USD to 27 USD. Additionally, I'll introduce you to some global eSIMs that are compatible in Senegal and over 80 other countries, including Senegal's neighboring nations, all at competitive rates.

In a Rush? Quick Overview

In this guide, I'll delve into three eSIM options for Senegal and explain why they made the list. However, if you prefer a quick overview of the best eSIMs for Senegal without the detailed analysis, here are the eSIM options featured:

1. Airalo Senegal Ratba Mobile eSIM with two data plans (1 GB and 3 GB) – Our top pick.
2. Airalo Hello Africa eSIM with two data plans (1 GB and 3 GB).

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global) offering 12 data plans ranging from 1 GB to 20 GB, boasting extensive global coverage (over 130 countries) at attractive prices, and it now supports voice calls and text messages (new feature) – Check out my ongoing review of the Airalo Discover(+) (Global) eSIM as well!

Discovering Airalo's Senegal Ratba Mobile eSIM

Airalo stands out as one of the most prominent eSIM platforms, covering approximately 190 countries, surpassing any other eSIM platform globally. This prominence is due to its status as the largest and oldest eSIM platform in existence.

Airalo provides an eSIM suitable for use in Senegal, known as Ratba Mobile. Travel eSIM providers like Airalo establish roaming agreements with local mobile operators. However, there's no need to fret about the term "roaming" leading to exorbitant bills. What Airalo, like most mobile operators, does is partner with a local mobile operator in Senegal, allowing their customers to stay connected while traveling.

In Senegal, the Airalo Ratba Mobile eSIM operates on the Orange Senegal network, supporting up to 4G/LTE (though 5G NR is not yet available). It's important to note that most travel eSIMs, including Airalo's Senegal Ratba Mobile eSIM, are exclusively for data usage and do not support voice calls or text messaging.

Here are the available data plans for the Senegal/Ratba Mobile eSIM:

1. Senegal/Ratba Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, priced at 9.50 USD.
2. Senegal/Ratba Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, priced at 27 USD.

What adds to the convenience is the ability to top up your eSIM when it's about to expire or when you run out of data, eliminating the need to purchase a new eSIM.

However, you might be pondering whether a local SIM card or eSIM would still be more budget-friendly than Airalo or other travel eSIMs. In most cases, you'd be correct. Local options are often cheaper, but there's a catch – Senegal has strict SIM card registration laws. Many mobile operators in Africa tend to offer only expensive tourist SIM cards (if available) or premium plans due to supposed "mandatory new plan requirements," which can often be a tactic to extract more from your wallet.

It's important to bear in mind that while the Airalo Senegal Ratba Mobile eSIM can provide up to 4G/LTE connections, your data speeds are unlikely to match those of someone using a local SIM card. This discrepancy arises because you're roaming on the Orange Senegal network rather than being a native customer. However, this doesn't imply painfully slow speeds; it's just slightly slower than native users.

In conclusion, the Airalo Senegal Ratba Mobile eSIM is an excellent choice and highly recommended by me and many readers of Phone Travel Wiz. The eSIMs are budget-friendly, data allowances can be customized to your requirements (ranging from 1 GB to 3 GB with top-ups available), and you can expect a generally smooth network experience in most situations.

Local Senegalese eSIMs for Prepaid Users

For those seeking the ultimate and comprehensive network experience, allowing both calls and texts, opting for a local eSIM is the way to go. Senegal boasts three major mobile operators: Orange, Free, and Expresso. Presently, only Orange Senegal provides eSIMs, but regrettably, none are extended to prepaid customers.

International eSIM Options for Senegal and Beyond

Having covered the Senegal travel eSIM choices from Airalo, it's evident that these eSIMs are exclusive to Senegal and cannot be utilized in neighboring countries like Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, or Mauritania. So, what alternatives are available for those planning to visit these nations or embarking on a global tour? Fortunately, there are options.

Airalo offers regional, global, and international eSIMs, encompassing at least 80 countries, some of which include Senegal. Let's delve into the multi-country eSIMs that can be used not only in Senegal but also in its neighboring countries.

Airalo Hello Africa eSIM

The Hello Africa eSIM from Airalo covers 26 countries and comes in two variants: 1 GB/30 days and 3 GB/30 days. It caters to readers who often explore multiple African countries, providing a convenient travel eSIM that spans various nations.

This eSIM can be utilized in 27 African countries, including Senegal. The countries covered are Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Kinshasa), Congo (Brazzaville), Eswatini (Swaziland), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and South Africa.

Cost-wise, the Hello Africa eSIM offers two plans:

1. Africa/Hello Africa 1 GB eSIM for 30 days, priced at 27 USD.
2. Africa/Hello Africa 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, priced at 59 USD.

This eSIM is particularly advantageous for saving on initial SIM card costs in each visited country.

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global)

Airalo, as a pioneer in global eSIMs, introduced the Discover Global eSIM, which, despite its initial success, underwent significant improvements. The revamped version, known as Discover(+), now provides calling and texting functionalities, differentiating it from its predecessor.

Powered by eSIM Go (essentially Drei Austria), the Discover(+) eSIM spans 130+ countries, offering users the flexibility to choose from 12 different plans. The plans vary in data allowances, duration, and additional calling and texting features.

Here's a glimpse of the available Airalo Discover(+) eSIM plans:

1. Discover 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, priced at 9 USD.
2. Discover+ 1 GB (with 10 minutes and 10 SMS) eSIM for 7 days, priced at 15 USD.
3. Discover 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, priced at 17 USD.
4. Discover+ 2 GB (with 20 minutes and 20 SMS) eSIM for 15 days, priced at 27 USD.
5. Discover 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, priced at 24 USD.
6. Discover+ 3 GB (with 30 minutes and 30 SMS) eSIM for 30 days, priced at 36 USD.
7. Discover 5 GB eSIM for 60 days, priced at 35 USD.
8. Discover+ 5 GB (with 50 minutes and 50 SMS) eSIM for 60 days, priced at 50 USD.
9. Discover 10 GB eSIM for 180 days, priced at 59 USD.
10. Discover+ 10 GB (with 100 minutes and 100 SMS) eSIM for 180 days, priced at 79 USD.
11. Discover 20 GB eSIM for 365 days, priced at 69 USD.
12. Discover+ 20 GB (with 200 minutes and 200 SMS) eSIM for 365 days, priced at 89 USD.

The Discover(+) eSIM stands out as an upgrade, featuring improved availability (130+ countries), calling and texting capabilities, and extended validity periods, making it a comprehensive global solution.

Choosing the Best eSIMs for Senegal (Airalo)

To recap, I've presented diverse travel eSIMs suitable for use in Senegal. If you're wondering which eSIM I recommend the most, here's the order of preference:

1. Airalo Senegal Ratba Mobile eSIM (top pick)
2. Airalo Hello Africa eSIM
3. Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (offering extensive global coverage in 130+ countries at attractive prices, along with calling and texting options)

For those not opting for their current SIM due to exorbitant roaming charges, considering a local Senegalese SIM card is a cost-effective way to stay connected while abroad.