Mexico eSIM: Best Prepaid Plans in 2023 + Discounts

picture by Spencer Watson on Unsplash 

Last update: April 5, 2023

Did you know that Mexico is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world?

That's right. In this beautiful country, you will find pristine beaches, impressive desert and mountain landscapes and breathtaking sites.

So many tourists flock to Mexico to see the world famous ancient ruins, taste the colorful food, and learn about its unique culture.

While most adventurers head to Mexico's renowned resorts, the country has so much more to offer. In fact, it is the 13th largest country in the world by land area.

With the help of an eSIM, your travel experience in Mexico is guaranteed to be less stressful and much more carefree. In this article, we'll cover everything about staying connected out there to give you peace of mind. So, let's dive in and find out the best eSIM plans for Mexico.

To start, note that prepaid eSIM plans in Mexico will cost you between $3 (500MB, valid for 3 days) and $419 (10GB, infinite validity).

If you are curious or need more in-depth options, you can use ourcomparison tool and find the offer that suits you best! Currently we have 114 eSIM plans that can be used in Mexico.

Should I buy my eSIM from a local Mexican carrier or an MVNO?

Where possible, we always recommend purchasing mobile plans directly from local carriers, asMVNO (Mobile virtual network operators, which are not local operators)will buy data, text and voice from local carriers and resell it to you.

This often means you'll pay a slightly higher price when buying from an MVNO (like Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad), and you'll get less network priority compared to buying from a local carrier. .

A final drawback is internet routing and latency, as MVNOs often have to route internet traffic themselves. This means that, for example, if you decide to purchase your Mexican eSIM from an MVNO based in France, your internet traffic could be routed through France and back while surfing in Mexico. This can lead to very slow internet speeds and high latency, even if you're surfing on 4G or 5G (so annoying!).

Wait: MVNOs haven't lost yet.

Most MVNOs are actually amazing and will give you a great browsing experience, with high speeds and latencies (yes, they are aware that traffic routing can be an issue and many of them solve it well).

First, MVNOs are winners in the sense that they are often multi-sourced. For example, in Mexico, the eSIM MVNO Airalo has roaming agreements that will allow you to be connected to the Movistar and AT&T networks. It's great, because you can enjoy the best of both worlds, and connect to one or the other depending on the quality of the network! This is a big advantage for travelers who cross the country and do not stay in the same place.

Second, MVNOs will often give you a more advanced buying and using experience. To be completely honest, local carriers haven't quite adapted to eSIM yet, and many of them aren't even reselling prepaid products to travelers yet. MVNO eSIMs (Airalo, Holafly, UPeSIM, etc.) are a step ahead and offer very simple experiences to buy, set up and use your eSIM.

Finally, no local operator in Mexico currently offers its own prepaid offers with eSIM.

What are the best mobile networks in Mexico?

When it comes to local mobile network providers in Mexico, three companies stand out: Telcel, AT&T and Movistar.

Generally, Telcel offers the best network coverage across Mexico, but in recent years other carriers have also improved their coverage, especially in urban areas. Whether you get a prepaid SIM or eSIM in Mexico, we recommend an option that lets you roam with Telcel (we'll talk about that in the next sections).

Unfortunately, none of these three local providers offer prepaid eSIM plans yet, but MVNO options will allow you to roam using these networks.

Let's dig deeper with insights from the Mexican network (source:Opensignal):

Telcel (best):

• Coverage and network types:has a 97% uptime score with at least 3G. Offers the best 4G coverage in Mexico. 5G is available in major cities.

• Speeds:Telcel has the fastest overall experience in Mexico. Telcel users saw average overall download speeds of 24.8 Mbps.

• Prepaid eSIM plans: Telcel does not directly offer its own eSIM plans: the Telcel network is only offered via eSIM MVNOs (see below).

AT&T Network Overview (Second):

• Coverage & types of networks:has an uptime score of 98.4% with at least 3G. Offers the second best 4G coverage in Mexico. 5G is available in major cities (coverage is not as good as Telcel for 5G).

• Speeds:Second best. AT&T users saw average overall download speeds of 16.3 Mbps.

• Prepaid eSIM plans: AT&T Mexico does not directly offer its own eSIM plans. AT&T network offered via eSIM MVNOs (see below).

Movistar (latest):

• Coverage & types of networks:Movistar has an uptime score of 98.3% with at least 3G. Offers the second best 4G coverage in Mexico. 5G is available in major cities (coverage not as good as Telcel & AT&T for 5G).

• Speeds:Third. Movistar users saw average overall download speeds of 15.6 Mbps.

• Prepaid eSIM plans: Movistar does not directly offer its own eSIM plans. Movistar network offered through some eSIM MVNOs (see below).

Nomad eSIMs: the best choice

For the average traveler, the'Mexico 5GB' Package by Nomad will be the best choice. With this plan, you get 5 GB of usable data in 30 days - perfect for a short or long vacation! The advantage of this plan is that it offers 4G/LTE speeds.

[DISCOUNT ALERT!]If you use our code ESIMSIO, you can buy it for just $20 (was $30).Nomad is an MVNO eSIM that provides an excellent overall experience. Setting up the eSIM can be done by scanning a QR code or directly by following the setup instructions in their iOS app. After creating your account, you can easily track your data plan usage.

Please note that Nomad plans are data only (no voice, no number, no SMS).

Data

5 GB

Validity30 day(s)

🇲🇽 Mexico

Data only

Network(s) : MoviStar (4G)

Nomad - Local Mexico - 30 Days - 5 GB

$18.00

$3.60/GB

Learn more ›

Nomad plans for Mexico (before discount):

Flexiroam: The eSIM provider with the cheapest options

Generally, Mexico is not an expensive country to explore. If you are on a budget and don't need a lot of internet access, we suggest purchasing the plan offered by Flexiroam,'Latin America 500MB'. For $3 you will get 500MB of data, which can also be used in other neighboring countries (12 countries in total). The only downside is that this package can only be used for 3 days, which is good because you can buy a new one easily.

Data

500 MB

Validity3 day(s)

12 countries

Data only

Flexiroam - Latin America 500MB

$6.00

$12.00/GB

Learn more ›

Flexiroam will offer you 3G and 4G connectivity in several countries. Their buying experience is pretty smooth and Flexiroam allows you to activate your plan within 3 months of your purchase date. A great thing is that Flexiroam will try to connect you to the strongest signal in your destination country (in case they have a roaming agreement with multiple providers on a given country).

Please note that the Flexiroam app is required for this data plan and eSIM activation. All Flexiroam plans are data only (no number, no voice, no SMS).

"Latin America" multi-country plans by Flexiroam including Mexico (before discount):

As you can see, these plans vary from very cheap to very expensive!

For digital nomads or social media gurus, our pick is FlexiRoam and their plan'Latin America 10 GB'. The plan includes 10 GB of data for 24 days. What's great is that it also works in 16 other countries. This plan is available for $70.

Data

10 GB

Validity24 day(s)

12 countries

Data only

Flexiroam - Latin America 10GB

$70.00

$7.00/GB

Learn more ›

Airalo: The provider with the best coverage in Mexico.

Contrary to Flexiroam & Nomad which do not clearly reveal which supplier you will be able to travel with, Airalo, one of the best and cheapest eSIM data providers on the market (they are not the cheapest in terms of cost/GB of data in Mexico, but still affordable) are transparent about the local carriers to which you will be able to connect during your trip.

Those two providers are Movistar and AT&T, and you'll be able to get 4G speeds on those two networks in Mexico with Airalo.

Expect to pay slightly higher prices than with Nomad & Flexiroam, while staying within the same ranges.

'Chorro Fon - 3 GB' by Airalo, which costs $21 and offers 3GB of data good for 30 days would be our recommended option.

Data

3 GB

Validity30 day(s)

🇲🇽 Mexico

Data only

Network(s) : Telcel (LTE)

Special Offer: 15% OFF

Airalo - Chorro Fon - 3 GB

$13.17

$15.50

$4.39/GB

Learn more ›

As with other providers, Airalo's data plans for Mexico come in several variations:

Airalo packages for Mexico (before discount):

Some multi-country plans (Latin America) by Airalo that include Mexico (before discount):

Buy a prepaid SIM card for Mexico

If you're old-fashioned (or your device isn't eSIM-capable), feel free to Mexico, you won't be able to use your regular SIM card unless you want to receive an intimidating bill by the end of the month. . One option is to use a prepaid SIM card. Then you can take a look at our partners Simoptions for ordering a prepaid SIM card in advance (many other options for ordering prepaid plans exist when it comes to SIM cards). Remember that your phone must be unlocked, so you can connect a different SIM card than the one you normally use.

Plus, you'll need to find a place to buy one, which can be quite tricky, especially outside of major cities. Your best bet is to buy one at the airport, but that, of course, can be expensive.

Can I rely only on WiFi in Mexico?

Another alternative is to use public WiFI, which is found throughout the country, and even in seemingly rural areas. Most are open to the public at no charge, but sometimes you may have to pay a fee. You can use public WiFi in airports, restaurants, cafes, public parks, museums, etc. from Mexico. For your security, avoid carrying out financial transactions and using sensitive data and use a VPN.

Check https://wifimap.io/ for a list of all known public WIFI hotspots in Mexico.

What is an eSIM and do I need to get one for Mexico?

An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a virtual SIM card that eliminates the need for a physical SIM card slot in your phone. It digitally stores your phone network data on your device, allowing you to connect to mobile networks without using a traditional SIM card.

Whether you should get an eSIM for your trip to Mexico depends on your preferences and phone compatibility. Here are some reasons to consider using an eSIM:

1. Convenience: eSIMs can be easily ordered and activated online within hours, eliminating the need to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive in the mail or purchase one upon arrival in Mexico.

2. Dual SIM functionality: If your phone supports dual SIM functionality, you can use an eSIM for a local Mexican number while keeping your regular SIM card active. This way you can have separate numbers and plans for each country without having to change your SIM card.

3. Eco-Friendly: eSIMs are greener than physical SIM cards because they produce no waste and do not require shipping.

4. No Physical Installation: Because eSIMs are digital, you won't need to open your phone's SIM card slot or worry about losing a small physical SIM card during your trip.

Before getting an eSIM for Mexico, make sure your phone is eSIM-enabled by checking its specifications or dialing *#06# to view your device information. If your phone supports eSIMs and you find the perks appealing, an eSIM could be a great option for your trip to Mexico.

What is Dual SIM?

A dual SIM phone is a device with two physical SIM card slots, usually housed in a single tray that can hold both cards. This type of phone allows you to keep two phone lines without having to swap SIM cards to use one or the other.

Dual SIM functionality does not necessarily require a dual SIM phone. Many devices have a SIM card slot and support an eSIM. On the other hand, some devices, like Apple's new iPhone 14, offer two eSIMs and no physical SIM card slot.

With dual SIM functionality, you can have two phone numbers on your device. This can be useful for travelers, tourists, or future expats, as you can keep one SIM card for your US phone account and use the second for a local account.

You can also use one SIM card for voice calls and texts while using the other for unlimited data. To avoid high charges when traveling abroad, disable roaming charges on your US SIM card.

Is your phone eSIM compatible?

To view your device information, dial *#06# on your phone. To determine if your phone has dual SIM functionality, look for an IMEI2 number. If there is only one physical SIM slot on your device, your phone is likely eSIM-enabled.

In the meantime, check out the up-to-date list of eSIM compatible devices here.

Are eSIMs better than physical SIMs?

The most important benefit of an eSIM is the ease and speed of ordering and setting it up. You can order and activate your eSIM online within hours, eliminating the need to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive in the mail.

For Americans traveling to Mexico, the main advantage of using an eSIM over a traditional SIM card is that shipping a SIM card to the United States can be difficult (but not impossible).

Additionally, while installing a physical SIM card is usually straightforward, an eSIM offers more convenience. For example, frequent travelers between the United States and Mexico may need to change SIM cards often. After a long flight with little sleep, this task may become more difficult than it should be.

Additionally, eSIMs are a greener option than physical SIM cards.

How to configure an eSIM?

Setting up an eSIM for Mexico is simple and can be done in three steps:

1. Order online 2. Receive an email with a QR code 3. Scan the QR code with your phone (internet access required)

Check out our excellent eSIM setup guides for both Android and iOS.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you want to stay connected in Mexico, our best recommendation if your device is compatible is to get an eSIM. These embedded SIM cards have been around for a few years now and are expected to become more and more popular every day. Did you know that the new iPhone 14 is an eSIM-only device? This is just another example of increased recognition of eSIMs.

Staying connected in Mexico won't be a problem if you choose eSIMs. Discover Mexican eSIMs esims.io to find more packages and get the best deal for you.

North America 15GB 30Days

Airhub

$12.00

Globetrotter 1GB

Jetpac

$1.00

Mexico 30GB Data with Calls 30Days

Airhub

$30.00

Global 30GB Data with Calls 30Days

Airhub

$42.00

Nomad

Jetpac

$45.00

Mexico: Browse more prepaid eSIM plans

🇲🇽 Mexico: Browse more prepaid eSIM plans