The Best Travel eSIMs for Brazil in 2024

Brazil is known for so many things. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival, the Amazon Rainforest, and the iconic yellow and blue national soccer team (hello, Ronaldinho and Neymar!). It is also the largest country in South America, with more than 217 million people.

But besides the jungles and beaches, what else does Brazil have to offer? A lot!

Last updated : May 20th, 2024

Before going to Brazil, note that international roaming can be very expensive, and if you want to save money, availing roaming can make a hole in your wallet.

Travel eSIMs, though, is the most affordable way to stay connected in Brazil.

To help you choose the best eSIM for Brazil, here’s a comparison guide of the most reliable eSIM plans to use in the land of carnivals!

What is an eSIM?

To better understand what eSIM is, we need to refresh ourselves with terminology first.

Most of you are familiar with SIM but don’t actually know what that is or stand for. SIM is the acronym for Subscriber Identification Module. It is plastic, thumbnail-sized, that allows you to connect with your local carrier’s cellular network.

eSIM, on the other hand, is the digital version of the regular SIM with the word “embedded” in front. Unlike the traditional SIMs we have used for decades, this one isn’t removable and can be installed remotely via software. Since eSIM is embedded in your devices (smartphone, tablet, drone, and smartwatch), it allows you to enjoy a whole new world of flexibility, as you can now "download your SIM card".

So if you are travelling, to Brazil or other countries, the convenience of eSIM will allow to buy, and download a Prepaid Travel Data Plan (eSIM format, of course) for your trip without the hassle of the physical SIM card.

Why is an eSIM better than a prepaid SIM card in Brazil?

One thing that is often overlooked when traveling is how complex it can be to purchase a prepaid SIM card to use when you land in your destination country, or before your trip starts.

Here are other practical reasons why is makes sense to purchase a travel eSIM plan for Brazil :

• You can purchase your eSIM anytime, whether it's right before your trip at the airport, or after landing, as long as you have an internet connexion (Airport WiFi is fine). Prepaid SIM cards are purchased in stores, which have opening hours.

• You can use the internet immediately upon landing.

• You don’t need to converse in (broken) Portuguese to buy a traditional SIM card at the airport or in a local shop. eSIM providers are fully digital and usually provide experiences tailored in different languages, or at least in English.

• You can bypass Brazil’s SIM card registration laws, as long as you only need mobile data. When buying a SIM card in Brazil, you will have to provide proof of identity, before your SIM gets activated. This requirement is needed in order to get a phone number, which often comes as default regardless of the phone plan your purchase. Since many eSIM plans are data only, you don't need to provide proof of ID to purchase one.

• Prevent the loss of theft of your tiny SIM, allowing you to receive messages from home with your phone number.

Do local Brazilian providers offer prepaid eSIM plans ?

It is not clear whether TIM Brazil, Vivo Brazil, and Claro Brazil offer prepaid eSIM plans. Their websites are only in Portugese, and there doesn't appear to be an option to arrange for a prepaid eSIM plan prior to arriving in Brazil through their online platforms.

The main reason might come from Brazil's complex registration process from Prepaid phone lines. Purchasing a prepaid SIM card in Brazil requires a CPF (Cadastro de Pessoa Física), which is a local tax identification number. This requirement applies to anyone, regardless of nationality. However, foreigners can register for a prepaid SIM by visiting official stores with their passport and accommodation address, a process not easy to streamline for eSIM procurement.

Given these considerations, our advice is to explore third-party providers or eSIM MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) for your eSIM needs in Brazil. Below, we'll offer some recommendations for third-party eSIM providers to consider.

Vivo's website is only in Portugese and does not seem to offer the ability to purchase prepaid eSIM.

The 4 best Brazil eSIMs plans for Travelers, long and short term

Now comes the juicy part – our comparison guide.

If you’re in a hurry, then we have to say this right away: the best eSIM in Brazil are Airalo, Maya, Holafly, and Nomad. But when comparing which one is the “best” among the best, we must consider all their features to identify the one that is suitable to use for our dream destination.

Take a look at the table below to know all the essential features of the best eSIM plans in Brazil:

1. Airalo Maneiro: Enjoy the Cheapest Data in Brazil

If you’d been a reader, you would have known that we often use Airalo. This is because, in terms of speed, reliability, and price, Airalo won’t play games with you. They offer data plans from 1 GB to 10 GB, perfect for both short- and long-term travelers.

For your extended vacation, here's what we think are best plans for you:

Data

5 GB

Validity30 day(s)

🇧🇷 Brazil

Data only

Network(s) : Claro (LTE)

Special Offer: 15% OFF

Airalo - Joia - 5 GB

$19.97

$23.50

$3.99/GB

Learn more ›

Data

10 GB

Validity30 day(s)

🇧🇷 Brazil

Data only

Network(s) : Claro (LTE)

Special Offer: 15% OFF

Airalo - Joia - 10 GB

$35.70

$42.00

$3.57/GB

Learn more ›

On the other hand, a 3GB plan might be enough for a shorter stay in Brazil.

Data

3 GB

Validity30 day(s)

🇧🇷 Brazil

Data only

Network(s) : Claro (LTE)

Special Offer: 15% OFF

Airalo - Joia - 3 GB

$13.17

$15.50

$4.39/GB

Learn more ›

The best thing about Airalo is that they partner with local mobile telecommunication networks to give users the best coverage (4G LTE and 5G network from Vivo) and the fastest speeds. That said, you can definitely get the best bang for your buck.

Also, there’s no need to buy another eSIM should you run out of data. With Airalo, you can easily top up your plan through their site and app. A helpful feature, isn’t it?

2. Maya – Most Reliable Mix-and-match Plan

Once you search for the best eSIM in South America, the internet will lead you to Maya. Maya eSIM is also popular in Brazil, especially for digital nomads, because they can easily mix and match their data plans and connect to its reliable hotspot. The company offers the best of both worlds – the data package and unlimited plan. In total, they have 4 data packages and 2 unlimited plan offers (with a maximum speed of 5Mbps dropping to 1Mbps) in Brazil, with costs varying depending on the giga bytes and the duration of your plan.

Data

10 GB

Validity5 day(s)

19 countries

Data only

Maya Mobile - Latin America 10GB - 5 Days

$48.00

$4.80/GB

Learn more ›

In terms of convenience, Maya is like no other. The eSIM is easy to install – just scan the QR code and follow the email instructions, and you’re good to go. Unlike other eSIM that can be installed via app, we love this one offers an app-free experience. After all, downloading an app takes time and space on our devices.

3. Holafly – Best Unlimited Plan

Holafly is another reliable eSIM provider to use in Brazil. While it might come in a higher price tag than Airalo, the expense is justified as it provides excellent value. It offers an unlimited data plan that extends not only within Brazil but also covers other countries worldwide.

Holafly’s packages are priced from $19 to $54 (unlimited plan for 5 to 20 days). Like Airalo, Holafly also collaborates with local networks in the country. However, Holafy doesn’t state its exact Fair Use Policy. Unfortunately, the internet speed is getting slower after you consume X amount of data and will only be restored the following day.

So, if you’re working remotely, this might not be the perfect time for you. But if you think you’re not going to use more than 2 GB a day, we assure you that this could be your favorite SIM provider.

4. Nomad – Most Reliable eSIM App

Nomad is actually one of the most expensive eSIM in the market, but we still love them anyway because they provide fantastic service everywhere we go.

It gives global travelers a solid internet connection abroad with their data plans without switching to a plastic SIM.

To use Nomad, you only need to browse their website and look for eSIM packages suitable for your travel needs. Yes, we love a non-app approach to installing an eSIM, but the app assures you a better browsing experience for Nomad. Plus, the app is much better developed than the other eSIM apps on this list, allowing you to track your data usage seamlessly.

The most significant advantage of Nomad is that it partners with the largest and most reliable telecom operator networks in Brazil, such as Vivo and Tim. Thus, you can expect a high-speed 5G and 4G services.

Planning an extended vacation in Brazil? We don't want you to spend that much over an eSIM, so here's less expensive plans from Nomad.

Which eSIM Provider is the best for Brazil?

Without a doubt, the best option for a foreign tourist is not a prepaid local SIM card but an eSim. Besides being practical, it is super convenient since you no longer need to buy at a physical store and present the necessary documents.

On the other hand, the best eSIM brand to use for your travel will depend on what type of traveler you are. Are you vacationing in Brazil for a week, a few weeks, or a month? Are you going to use data for work or browsing social media?

Overall, we recommend Airalo, the world’s biggest international eSim provider that caters to more than 200 countries. They are budget-friendly, easy to install, and provide high speed with a flexible plan. For non-tech-savvy peeps, though, a Nomad eSim would be a reliable option. It has a dedicated app that will not make you feel stranded because it makes it easier to top up data.

However, if you don’t want to running out of data in the middle of your trip or should you be working while traveling, an eSim with unlimited data is the perfect option. You can go with Holafly or Maya, for that matter.

If you can't find the most suitable eSIM data plan for your trip, feel free to browse others plans on esims.io.

Firsty First Class

Firsty

$4.74

Global 1GB

Jetpac

$1.00

Latin America 1GB

Jetpac

$1.00

Brazil 30GB Data with calls 30Days

Airhub

$36.50

Brazil 20GB Data with calls 30Days

Airhub

$28.00

Brazil: Browse more prepaid eSIM plans

🇧🇷 Brazil: Browse more prepaid eSIM plans