The best eSIM providers for Egypt in 2024 (+ Discounts)

Last update: April 2024

Traveling to Egypt ?

You have a couple options to stay connected through a cellular network:

• use your current phone line and spend big bucks roaming (around $10 per MB),

• purchase a prepaid SIM card (before your trip, or after landing),

• or purchase an eSIM, as long as your device is compatible.

Today we will cover the last option (prepaid eSIM plans).

As you might already know, eSIMs offer a convenient and affordable solution for travelers, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards. With eSIMs, you can buy and download your plan directly to your phone before you even leave home, or when you land as you connect to the Airport WIFI.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top six prepaid eSIM plans for Egypt, based on the latest product and pricing information.

Local Networks in Egypt: WE, Vodafone, Etisalat, Orange

Before we dive into the eSIM plans, let’s take a quick look at the local networks in Egypt. If you wish to read our in-detail review of Mobile Network Operators in Egypt, you can learn more here.

Egypt has a competitive mobile network landscape with four major operators: WE, Vodafone, Etisalat, and Orange. Here is a breakdown of their performance, based on Opensignal's latest Egypt report:

WE:

1. Dominates in Video Experience and Games Experience with scores of 58.3 and 44.9 out of 100, respectively. This indicates that users in Egypt have the best experience while streaming videos or playing multiplayer mobile games on WE's network.

2. Leads in both Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality awards.

3. Offers the second fastest average download speeds in Egypt at 21.6 Mbps.

4. Is third best Upload Speed Experience, with speeds up to 6.7 Mbps in 4G right behind Orange.

Vodafone:

1. Stands out in 4G Availability and 4G Coverage Experience. Users on Vodafone are connected to 4G services 87.2% of the time, which is notably higher than its competitors.

2. Achieves the 4G Coverage Experience award with a score of 9.2 out of 10.

3. While it doesn't lead in download speeds, it's competitive with scores close to the other operators.

Etisalat:

1. Best Download Speed Experience averaging 22.3 Mbps.

2. Wins the Upload Speed Experience award.

Orange:

1. Download Speed experience is fair, with 17.6 Mbps

2. Has the second best Upload Speed Experience averaging 6.8 Mbps.

Conclusion: esims.io recommends WE as it has the most wins in the overall experience.

From the data, WE seems to be the dominant operator in terms of mobile network experience in Egypt, excelling in multiple categories. However, Vodafone offers superior 4G availability and coverage.

Depending on your specific needs, such as video streaming, gaming, or consistent 4G coverage, you might opt for one operator over the others, but as a rule of thumb, we would recommend going with an eSIM that can roam with WE. eSIMs plans that can roam with both Vodafone and WE are even better.

The best eSIM plans for travelling to Egypt

Navigating the digital landscape of Egypt, one can't help but notice the stark contrast in eSIM data pricing compared to other countries.

In Egypt, the cost for mobile data via eSIM plans remains relatively high, averaging around $4.5 per GB for the most competitive offerings. This is in stark contrast to countries like France - where there is more "travel density" and competition - for example, where data costs are substantially lower, hovering between $1 to $1.5 per GB.

Such disparities can be attributed to the nascent stage of eSIM adoption in Egypt and the prevailing expensive roaming plans. However, as eSIM technology gains traction and becomes more commonplace in the Egyptian market, we hope to anticipate a shift. Increased competition is likely to drive prices down, making eSIM data plans more affordable for the masses in the near future.

Our recommendation (best value): Airalo and Nomad

The most advantageous eSIM plans fo Egypt are the ones from Nomad, and Airalo. They offer good roaming partners, while being among the most competitive in terms of price. They also offer great purchase and use experiences. While Airalo offers the best $/GB value overall, Nomad offers the best local network options when it comes to roaming.

Nomad Local Egypt - 30 days - 10GB

Nomad, a Singapore based eSIM provider, offers a "Local Egypt - 30 Days" eSIM plan designed specifically for use in Egypt.

Data

10 GB

Validity30 day(s)

🇪🇬 Egypt

Data only

Network(s) : Etisalat (4G)

Special Offer: $1 OFF

Nomad - Local Egypt - 30 Days - 10 GB

$27.00

$28.00

$2.70/GB

Learn more ›

Here are the key details:

• Data Allocation: The plan provides 10 GB of data. For reference, 10GB approximates to 120 hours of online browsing, or 10 hours of streaming.

• Cost: It is priced at $44.00, so basically this equates to $4.40 per GB before discount

• Duration: 30 days from activation, as the plan name suggests. The plan has a 30-day activation window, and like many digital products, it's essential to check the refund policy before purchase.

• Network Connectivity: Users will connect through local carriers Etisalat and Vodafone, both of which offer 4G services in Egypt. The ability to connect to two different local networks is a big plus. This will help with maximizing coverage when you are outside Cairo.

• Nomad's plan is data only (it does not come with a phone number). When you are out of data, you have the ability to top-up in the Nomad app or in your Nomad user account (you can also buy a new eSIM).

If you want to dig deeper about Nomad plans in Egypt, just know they offer other Egypt-only eSIM plans, which include more or less data.

Nomad also offers regional plans, compatible other countries in addition to Egypt:

Airalo - Discover - 365 days - 20GB

For those seeking more data, we like Airalo's "Discover" plan. This plan is a but of the "Swiss army knife" of eSIM plans: it has a long validity period (1 year, this means you can decide to use it sporadically over a long period of time, or use all of your data in a week), and it also offers compatibility in not less than 128 countries!

Data

20 GB

Validity365 day(s)

123 countries

Data only

Special Offer: 15% OFF

Airalo - Discover - 20 GB

$58.65

$69.00

$2.93/GB

Learn more ›

While this plan is clearly a global one, it remains super competitive for Egypt:

• Data Allocation: The plan provides a total of 20 GB of data.

• Cost: The plan is priced at $69.00, which breaks down to $3.45 per GB. This is the best $/GB we found for Egypt.

• Duration: The data is valid for a lengthy 365 days, making it suitable for those who might not consume data rapidly but want a long-term solution.

• Coverage: This plan boasts extensive global coverage, being usable in 128 countries.

• Usage Potential: With 20 GB of data, you can expect to: Engage in online browsing for approximately 240 hours, or Send around 20,000 emails, or Stream music with about 4,000 songs, or Watch up to 20 hours of standard-definition video, or Participate in around 12 hours of video calls.

• Network Connectivity: The plan connects through various local carriers depending on the country: Orange Egypt and Vodafone Egypt for those in Egypt.

• Additional Features: The plan is a data-only eSIM, is rechargeable online without an expiry, meaning top-up is super flexible.

Airalo's Egypt only eSIM plans:

Airalo's Regional plans that include Egypt:

The contenders: Yohomobile & Yesim

If you are interested in having an eSIM plan that comes with a free VPN, we can only recommend Yesim: their plan "Yesim Egypt 3GB" is pretty inexpensive, and although it does not include a lot of data, its inclusion of a VPN can attract many:

Data

3 GB

Validity7 day(s)

🇪🇬 Egypt

Data only

Special Offer: €7 OFF

Yesim - Egypt

$13.99

$21.52

$4.66/GB

Learn more ›

If you are interested in having an unlimited messaging plan, we would also recommend having a look at Yohomobile's plans. Their "unlimited messaging" plan comes with unlimited use of messaging apps (Whatsapp, Messenger, etc) for 30 days.

Data

Unlimited

Validity30 day(s)

🇪🇬 Egypt

Data only

Yoho Mobile - Egypt eSIM

$12.70

Learn more ›

Conclusion

Staying connected while traveling is more than just a luxury — it's a necessity. Egypt, with its rich history and vibrant culture, is no exception to this rule. As 2023 unfolds, travellers to Egypt have a plethora of options to ensure they remain connected, with eSIMs emerging as a front-runner due to their convenience and versatility.

From our exploration, it's evident that while Egypt's mobile data landscape is still maturing, there are promising signs of growth and competition. The local network scene is dominated by key players like WE, Vodafone, Etisalat, and Orange, each offering unique strengths. For those prioritizing overall mobile experience, WE stands out. However, for travelers seeking consistent 4G coverage, Vodafone might be the preferred choice.

When it comes to eSIMs, the market offers a range of options catering to different needs. Nomad and Airalo, in particular, have showcased plans that combine competitive pricing (from a local strandpoint) with comprehensive coverage. While Nomad's offerings are tailored more towards Egypt-specific needs, Airalo's "Discover" plan provides a global solution, ideal for those whose travels extend beyond Egypt's borders.

Yet, as with all choices, the best eSIM plan is subjective and depends on individual needs, travel plans, and data consumption habits. Whether you're a light browser, a heavy streamer, or somewhere in between, many options already exist.

If you did not find an option that suits your needs for Egypt in this article, you can also find more than 120 plans about Egypt here.

Middle East 20GB 30Days

Airhub

$18.50

Middle East 15GB 30Days

Airhub

$15.00

Globetrotter 1GB

Jetpac

$1.00

Middle East 10GB 30Days

Airhub

$10.50

Middle East 5GB 30Days

Airhub

$7.00

Egypt: Browse more prepaid eSIM plans

🇪🇬 Egypt: Browse more prepaid eSIM plans