Exploring eSIM Options in South Africa: A Comprehensive Comparison and Discounts for 2023

South Africa stands out as a prominent travel destination within Africa, attracting visitors from around the globe. However, navigating international roaming costs in the country, as in many others, can be a financial challenge. So, what are the viable local and travel eSIM choices available for those venturing into South Africa?

For as low as 5 USD and up to 79 USD, Airalo (CellSA) and Holafly offer eSIMs tailored for South Africa. Additionally, we'll delve into global eSIM options that extend coverage to South Africa and over 80 other countries, including its neighboring nations, all at competitive rates.

In a rush? Here's a quick introduction to six eSIM options in South Africa, each selected for specific reasons:

1. Airalo South Africa CellSA eSIM: Featuring six data choices from 1 GB to 20 GB, this is our top pick.
2. Holafly South Africa eSIM: Offering unlimited data for durations ranging from 5 to 30 days, ideal for those seeking unlimited data eSIMs.
3. Airalo Hello Africa eSIM: Providing two options between 1 GB and 3 GB.
4. Airalo Discover(+) eSIM: Formerly known as Discover Global, this eSIM offers extensive global coverage (130+ countries) with 12 data choices from 1 GB to 20 GB, along with the ability to make and receive calls and send and receive SMS (new feature).
5. Nomad Global eSIM: With coverage in 109 or 139 countries, this eSIM provides six data options from 1 GB to 5 GB at relatively higher prices.

Airalo CellSA eSIM for South Africa: Unveiling the Details

Airalo, the leading eSIM platform, covers approximately 190 countries, making it the largest and oldest of its kind globally. The eSIM tailored for South Africa is known as CellSA. Travel eSIM providers, including Airalo, establish roaming agreements with local mobile operators to ensure connectivity abroad.

The CellSA eSIM in South Africa operates on the Vodacom South Africa network up to 4G/LTE (5G NR not yet available). It's important to note that, like most travel eSIMs, including Airalo's South Africa CellSA eSIM, these are data-only, restricting calling and texting capabilities.

Now, let's explore the available data options for the South Africa/CellSA eSIM:

1. 1 GB eSIM for 7 days at 4.50 USD
2. 2 GB eSIM for 15 days (new) at 8 USD
3. 3 GB eSIM for 30 days at 11 USD
4. 5 GB eSIM for 30 days at 15.50 USD
5. 10 GB eSIM for 30 days at 26 USD

Airalo stands out for offering the most cost-effective eSIM options for South Africa, and the flexibility to top up without purchasing a new eSIM adds to its appeal. While local SIM cards might seem like a more economical choice, the intricacies of South Africa's SIM card registration laws and potential challenges in securing affordable plans should be considered.

It's worth noting that although the Airalo South Africa CellSA eSIM provides up to 4G/LTE connections, speeds may not surpass those of users with local SIM cards. This is due to roaming on the Vodacom South Africa network rather than being a native customer. Nonetheless, users can expect reasonably fast network speeds for a smooth experience.

In conclusion, these eSIMs offer affordability, customizable data allowances, and a reliable network experience for most users, making them an attractive option for travelers in South Africa.

Holafly's Offerings: Unlimited Data eSIMs for South Africa

Among the plethora of travel eSIM resellers, Holafly stands out as a popular choice. An interesting development occurred in June when Holafly introduced unlimited data plans for select eSIMs, setting it apart from the competition. These unlimited data eSIMs are not only applicable in South Africa but also extend their usability to various East and Southeast Asian nations, almost all European Union member states (excluding Liechtenstein), and a few other countries such as Canada and the United States.

Fortunately, South Africa is among the regions where unlimited data eSIMs from Holafly are available. The positive feedback received from Phone Travel Wiz readers who have utilized these unlimited data plans in East- and Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America highlights the popularity and satisfaction with Holafly's eSIMs.

Here are the six Holafly South Africa eSIM options, all utilizing the Vodacom South Africa network:

1. South Africa Unlimited Data eSIM for 5 days: Priced at 29 USD/29 EUR/24 GBP/44 AUD/37 CAD
2. South Africa Unlimited Data eSIM for 7 days: Priced at 37 USD/37 EUR/34 GBP/54 AUD/47 CAD
3. South Africa Unlimited Data eSIM for 10 days: Priced at 44 USD/44 EUR/37 GBP/64 AUD/57 CAD
4. South Africa Unlimited Data eSIM for 15 days: Priced at 47 USD/47 EUR/39 GBP/67 AUD/64 CAD
5. South Africa Unlimited Data eSIM for 20 days: Priced at 59 USD/59 EUR/49 GBP/84 AUD/77 CAD
6. South Africa Unlimited Data eSIM for 30 days: Priced at 79 USD/79 EUR/67 GBP/114 AUD/104 CAD

It's important to note that these eSIMs do not support 5G NR as of yet, and they are exclusively data-only, meaning you cannot make calls or send texts. Additionally, there is no option for topping up or extending the validity of the Holafly South Africa eSIM; a new eSIM must be purchased when data is exhausted or the eSIM expires.

Local South African eSIM Options for Prepaid Users

For those seeking the optimal and complete network experience, including the ability to make calls and send texts, acquiring a local eSIM is recommended. South Africa offers options from four major mobile operators and four Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) with prepaid offerings accessible to travelers: Vodacom South Africa, MTN South Africa, Cell C, Telkom South Africa, Air Mobile by Afrihost, Hello Mobile South Africa, Lycamobile South Africa, and Trace Mobile.

However, as of now, MTN South Africa and Vodacom South Africa are the only ones providing eSIMs, and none of these are available to prepaid customers. For detailed information on the plans offered by South African mobile operators, refer to the South Africa SIM card buying guide.

International eSIMs for South Africa and Beyond

Exploring beyond South Africa, let's consider travel eSIM options provided by Airalo and Holafly, along with those offered by local mobile operators (MTN and Vodacom). These eSIMs are designed exclusively for use within South Africa and are not compatible with neighboring countries such as Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, or Zimbabwe.

However, if your travel itinerary includes visits to these countries or you're embarking on a global tour, you'll need an eSIM that covers multiple nations. Fortunately, both Airalo and Nomad offer regional, global, and international eSIMs, encompassing at least 80 countries, some of which include South Africa. Let's explore these multi-country eSIMs suitable for use in South Africa and its neighboring nations.

Airalo Hello Africa eSIM

Airalo's Hello Africa eSIM covers a total of 26 countries across the African continent, offering two distinctive options: a 1 GB/30-day variant and a 3 GB/30-day variant. It's worth noting that many travelers, particularly those who explore multiple African nations, prefer the convenience of a travel eSIM that spans across various countries, rather than acquiring individual local SIM cards.

The Hello Africa eSIM can be utilized in 27 African countries, which are as follows:

- Algeria

- Botswana

- Burkina Faso

- Cameroon

- Central African Republic

- Chad

- Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa)

- Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville)

- Eswatini (Swaziland)

- Gabon

- Ghana

- Guinea

- Guinea-Bissau

- Ivory Coast

- Kenya

- Liberia

- Madagascar

- Malawi

- Namibia

- Nigeria

- Rwanda

- Senegal

- Sierra Leone

- Tanzania

- Tunisia

- Uganda

- South Africa

Here's an overview of the pricing for the Hello Africa eSIM:

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

The Hello Africa eSIM offers travelers substantial savings by eliminating the need to purchase SIM cards in each country they visit.

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global)

Airalo was among the pioneers in providing global eSIMs, originally known as Discover Global. While this eSIM offered a satisfactory experience, Airalo aimed to enhance it, such as extending the validity of plans and introducing 5G NR access in popular destinations, which has become a standard feature for many regional Airalo eSIMs.

In August 2023, Airalo introduced a substantial change to its global eSIM, now named Discover(+). This eSIM is powered by eSIM Go, essentially Drei Austria. The key difference between the Airalo Discover and Airalo Discover+ eSIMs is the latter's capability for making calls and sending texts, complete with an Austrian +43 phone number. Consequently, Discover+ eSIMs can be up to 20 USD more expensive than regular Discover eSIMs. The previous Airalo Discover Global eSIMs had the same pricing as the Discover+ eSIMs but offered less coverage (85+ countries instead of 130+) and no calling or texting functionality.

The significant upgrades don't end there, as the most expensive Discover+ eSIM is now valid for a full year (365 days) instead of the previous 180 days. The Airalo Discover(+) eSIM can be used in a vast array of 130+ countries and is available in 12 variants:

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

For travelers interested in using the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM in various countries, a detailed review is available, testing its performance in numerous nations and counting.

Nomad Global eSIM

Nomad not only offers an eSIM for South Africa but also provides a global eSIM that extends coverage to South Africa and a total of 109/139 countries, including most European nations. While Nomad's Global eSIM encompasses a few more countries compared to Airalo's Discover(+) eSIMs (109/139 versus 130, previously 85+), it is somewhat pricier than Airalo. However, Phone Travel Wiz readers have displayed significant interest in this eSIM and have shared positive experiences, especially since Nomad improved it with its 139 Country Plan powered by eSIM Go, offering 5G NR access in 50+ countries, as opposed to the 109 Country Plan by Truphone, which is limited to 4G/LTE only.

Here are the six Nomad Global eSIM variants:

1. Global 1 GB eSIM for 7 days (109 Countries Plan by Truphone): Priced at 25 USD
2. Global 1 GB eSIM for 7 days (139 Countries Plan by eSIM Go): Priced at 19 USD
3. Global 3 GB eSIM for 30 days (109 Countries Plan by Truphone): Priced at 40 USD
4. Global 3 GB eSIM for 30 days (139 Countries Plan by eSIM Go): Priced at 40 USD
5. Global 5 GB eSIM for 30 days (109 Countries Plan by Truphone): Priced at 45 USD
6. Global 5 GB eSIM for 30 days (139 Countries Plan by eSIM Go): Priced at 57 USD

The Nomad Global eSIM is applicable in 109 (Truphone) and 139 (eSIM GO) countries.

In conclusion, for those seeking eSIM options for South Africa and beyond, several choices exist, each tailored to different preferences and budgets. Here's a recommended order:

1. Airalo South Africa CellSA eSIM (top pick)
2. Holafly South Africa eSIM
3. Airalo Hello Africa eSIM
4. Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (offers extensive global coverage in 84+ to 130+ countries at attractive prices, along with calling and texting options)
5. Nomad Global eSIM (provides extensive global coverage in 109/139 countries at relatively higher prices)

If you're considering a trip to South Africa, acquiring a local SIM card is also a cost-effective alternative to stay connected without incurring steep roaming charges.