Best Tourist Sim Cards in Brazil in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Brazil across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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When traveling to Brazil, having a sim card is essential for seamless navigation and access to the internet. It allows you to easily explore new cities, find top-rated restaurants, locate your accommodation, book taxis, and share your travel experiences with your loved ones.
While roaming is an option, the international fees can quickly become expensive. Therefore, we highly recommend either getting an eSIM or a local sim card to enjoy local phone rates.
The good news is that obtaining either option in Brazil is incredibly straightforward. To help you make an informed decision, this comprehensive guide provides up-to-date pricing information and identifies the absolute best sim card available for your needs.
The best sim card in Brazil is the Claro prepaid sim card. This card comes with a huge 12GB data which is valid for 1 month for just 34.99 BRL (+ a 10 BRL sim registration fee brings this to 44.99 BRL) which I consider to be great value.
On top of this, Claro has the most extensive and reliable mobile network in Brazil, although Vivo and Tim both have fantastic networks as well.
If you are staying for less than 30 days I recommend choosing a sim package which is valid for less time . The cheapest is VIvo’s 15 day package with 4GB data for 15 BRL (25 BRL including the sim registration fee).
If you prefer the convenience of an eSim, Airalo’s Brazil eSim uses the Vivo network and is a good option. The prices (around 60 – 130 BRL and for less data) aren’t remotely competitive to the local sim card offerings so if you’re looking for the best value then you should stick to a physical sim card.
A Tourist Sim Card in Brazil costs 34.99 BRL in October 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Brazil will cost between $7 USD and $27.50 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Brazil which includes 3GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $18 USD.
In Brazil, when it comes to sim card providers, there are three major players that dominate the market. Claro, Vivo, and Tim are the leading telecom companies offering sim card services nationwide.
Claro, owned by the Mexican telecom giant América Móvil, boasts a strong network coverage and a wide range of prepaid sim card options to choose from. They are known for their competitive pricing and various data packages tailored for different user needs.
Vivo, a subsidiary of the Spanish telecom company Telefónica, is another popular sim card provider in Brazil. They offer reliable network coverage and attractive prepaid plans, focusing on unlimited voice and data packages.
Tim, also known as Telecom Italia Mobile, is a longstanding player in the Brazilian telecom market. They provide a range of sim card options with competitive prices, along with good network coverage and a variety of data plans.
These three major sim card providers continue to compete fiercely in Brazil, offering a variety of options to suit the needs of different customers.
Claro is one of the leading telecommunications companies in Brazil, offering reliable and affordable tourist sim cards for travelers. Their sim cards provide seamless connectivity across the country, ensuring that tourists can stay connected with friends and family. With competitive data plans and excellent network coverage, Claro enables visitors to explore Brazil without worrying about losing connection. Claro’s tourist sim cards are a convenient and essential companion for travelers seeking a hassle-free communication experience in Brazil.
The price of a Claro tourist sim card in Brazil is 44.99 BRL (including 10 BRL registration fee).
The plan offered by Claro stores includes 12GB + 2GB for TikTok + unlimted Whatsapp + unlimted calls valid for 1 month.
Vivo is a leading telecommunication company in Brazil, providing tourist sim cards to enhance connectivity for visitors. These sim cards offer affordable data plans, ensuring uninterrupted internet access during travel. Vivo’s sim cards provide extensive coverage across major tourist destinations, allowing tourists to easily navigate and stay connected with loved ones. With Vivo, tourists can fully enjoy their Brazilian experience without worrying about communication barriers.
The price of a Vivo tourist sim card in Brazil is 40 BRL (including 10 BRL registration fee).
The plan offered by Vivo stores offers 10GB data valid for 30 days.
Tim is a leading telecommunications company in Brazil that offers tourist sim cards for travelers. With excellent network coverage across major tourist destinations, Tim ensures constant connectivity. Their sim cards provide high-speed internet, affordable voice calls, and texts, enabling tourists to share their experiences and stay connected with loved ones back home. Tim’s hassle-free activation process, competitive prices, and reliable service make it the preferred choice for tourists visiting Brazil. Stay connected and explore Brazil with Tim’s tourist sim cards.
The price of a Tim tourist sim card in Brazil is 40 BRL (including 10 BRL registration fee).
The plan offered by Tim stores includes 12BG data + Prime Video + unlimited whatsapp valid for 30 days.
Identify mobile providers: Claro, Vivo and Tim are your best options in Brazil.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can usually be found in major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. If possible, I always recommend to to avoid airports and head in to an official store in the city.
Bring the necessary documents: It is always a good idea to carry your passport or identification documents for sim card registration purposes. We’ve found most providers will need to confirm your identity to provide a sim card and it can be a major hassle to head to a store only to have to come back again later with your passport.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are a good starting point, but the staff will usually be able to suggest the best option.
Pay and activate your card: Pay for the SIM card and plan, and the staff will activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always search for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Brazil at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Brazil then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Brazil have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Claro, Vivo and Tim. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Brazil are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Brazil with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Brazil. The Airalo Brazil eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $18 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Brazil without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Brazil is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Brazil and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Brazil eSim uses the Vivo network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Vivo networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Brazil.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Brazil eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $7 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $13 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $18 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $27.50 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 3GB data plan for $18 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Brazil eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Brazil eSim uses the TIM S.A./ Vivo S.A.network to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Brazil
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Brazil eSim:
Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD
Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD
Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD
Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD
Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is built directly into a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike regular physical SIM cards, there is no need to physically insert or remove the eSIM from the device.
Instead, the eSIM is a part of the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This means that users can easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of changing SIM cards.
The use of eSIM technology offers users convenience, flexibility, and simplicity, especially for travelers or those who frequently switch between different mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the need to buy and insert physical SIM cards, making it much easier to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users simply need to scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or enter the activation details manually. Once activated, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and access voice calls, data, and messaging services just like with a regular SIM card.
There are several reasons why using an eSIM can be beneficial. First, it offers convenience by eliminating the need to physically insert or remove a SIM card when switching networks or plans. This is especially useful for frequent travelers who may need to use local SIM cards in different countries.
Second, eSIM allows for dual SIM functionality, meaning you can have two active mobile numbers on the same device. This is helpful for separating personal and work numbers or managing multiple phone lines.
Third, eSIMs are embedded within the device, saving space by eliminating the need for a physical SIM card slot. This allows manufacturers to make devices smaller or use the extra space for other components.
Fourth, remote provisioning is possible with eSIMs, enabling activation and management of mobile plans over the air. This eliminates the need for a physical SIM card or visiting a store, offering greater flexibility and convenience in managing your mobile connectivity.
Finally, using an eSIM-compatible device ensures future-proofing, as more mobile networks and service providers are offering support for eSIMs. By taking advantage of eSIM technology, you can stay up-to-date with new services and offerings as they become available.
Overall, eSIM technology provides flexibility, convenience, and future-proofing for mobile connectivity, making it a compelling choice for many users.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Using an eSim is new for many travellers, however, the good news is it’s surprisingly easy to get set up – even for the technologically challenged!
Here’s a general guide on how to use an eSIM:
Check eSIM Compatibility: Ensure that your device supports eSIM functionality. Many newer smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other devices are eSIM compatible including all iPhones produced since 2018.
Obtain an eSIM: There are multiple ways to acquire an eSIM. You can purchase an eSIM online from a provider like Airalo (which we recommend) or directly from a mobile network operator. Some devices also allow you to scan a QR code provided by your carrier to download the eSIM profile.
Activate the eSIM: Your eSim provider will send you instructions to activate the sim. This will usually involve scanning a QR code, entering an activation code, or downloading the eSIM profile directly onto your device.
Set up the eSIM: Once activated, your device will guide you through the eSIM setup process. This typically involves selecting the eSIM as your preferred mobile plan, configuring settings like data roaming, and entering any necessary authentication details.
Enjoy the Connection: Once the eSIM is set up, you can use it as you would with a physical SIM card. Make calls, send messages, browse the internet, and use data services as needed. You can also switch between eSIM profiles if you have multiple eSIMs installed on your device.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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