Are you struggling to find the perfect eSIM for Mexico?
An eSIM is one of the easiest ways to get mobile internet access when you travel to Mexico. Instead of wasting time getting a local Mexico SIM card when you land, you can get an eSIM now and have a fun trip.
At A Glance: Best eSIM for Mexico
Below I will highlight the best eSIMs for anyone traveling to Mexico who wants a great data connection.
From my recent experience traveling around the world, I want to share with you the simplest way to pick and eSIM for your trip to Mexico. It boils down to a few simple questions about what features you need in your eSIM:
If you want to buy a prepaid Mexico eSIM before you leave, then Maya Mobile is the best option.
They have the cheapest eSIMs and a flexible eSIM with unlimited data for Mexico and Latin America. They have expanded the eSIM offerings a lot lately, so now you can choose exactly how long you want it for and how much data you need (1-20GB).
Below are some examples to give you a feel for the pricing:
The Latam option includes 16 countries in Central & South America, so if you move around, it is perfect. And it’s the same price as the Mexico-only option. Crazy, I know.
They work with Telcel, giving you the best coverage in Mexico. So, whether you are in Mexico City or on a small beach in Baja, you will have coverage.
They also give the auto-renew option, so you don’t always have to watch your data usage. Just switch it on, and your data is topped up automatically.
Holalfy is all about eSIMs with unlimited data which means you can use your phone and be online as much as you like while in Mexico.
They also use AT&T so you know you have a reliable mobile provider while you are traveling too.
You might be thinking that their plans will be expensive, but that is not the case.
You can choose from these unlimited data eSIMs for Mexico or for North America (USA, Canada, Mexico):
MEXICO ONLY – Hotspot/sharing only 500 MB per day
NOTE: Get a 5% discount with coupon: EXPERTWORLDTRAVEL
USA, CANADA & MEXICO
Hotspots/Tethering allowed up to 1 GB per day.
Nomad is a global eSIM provider that is both reliable and offers a great service in a lot of countries, including Mexico.
They offer three different prepaid Mexico eSIM plans that are data only. You can choose from
The 5GB/30-day plan is the most affordable at $6 per GB which is pretty good. There are more affordable 7-day plans available from other providers like Maya and Airalo.
Airalo has long been known as one of the best international eSIM providers as it has affordable prices, great customer support, solid speeds, and coverage.
Airalo offers a great range of Mexico travel eSIMs using local Mobile networks, including AT&T, Movistar, and Telcel. So they can connect you to the best option in each location.
You have 4 to choose from, starting at
Their most affordable Mexico eSIM card is $4.2 per GB, which is average. Maya has cheaper options when you go above 1 GB.
If you are traveling further afield in North America, Airalo also offers regional packages that include the USA, Canada and Mexico. They are a little more expensive per GB
Again, unlimited data is not available with Airalo for heavy users.
The benefits of getting a Mexico eSim include:
With a Mexico eSIM card, you can be connected to a local network within minutes of landing, and don’t have to go to a store to get a local SIM card.
With a Mexico eSim, you can keep your sim card from home, including your normal phone number. So, you will receive any calls or texts as normal.
An eSim is usually the cheapest way to get data while traveling in Mexico. You can choose the perfect eSIM to match your trip time data needs. And you won’t be punished with roaming fees when you get home.
Buying a virtual SIM or eSim is also more eco-friendly. SIM cards use metals from mines and come covered in plastic, eSims are digital, so you will feel good about it!
Not all devices are equipped with eSim technology. An eSim is an embedded SIM card built into your phone or tablet.
Since the technology is relatively new, only newer phones or tablets will be equipped with eSims. Generally, any high-end smartphone made in the last 3 years should have an eSim, other devices older than this probably won’t.
For example, the iPhone XS is the oldest iPhone model with an eSim inside it. So, how do you check if your device is compatible with an eSim? It’s very easy.
Dial *#06# on your phone. This will bring up all the unique information about your phone, including its IMEI number and maybe an EID (Embedded Identity Document) number. If you see an EID number, your phone is compatible with an .
The final step to using an eSIM on your device is ensuring it is unlocked from your provider. If you bought your phone or tablet through a contract, it might be locked to your mobile provider.
To check and unlock your phone, call your provider and ask them to unlock it. It should only take a few minutes to do.
For the best network coverage in any country you visit, choosing an eSim that partners with a local network provider is always the way to go.
This will ensure you always have a data connection, and fast connection speeds, and may be able to add call minutes and SMS to your eSim data plan.
Currently, there are only three local mobile operators offering eSims in Mexico and these include Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T. Look for eSim providers that use these networks for the best experience while you are there.
How much data do you need while traveling around Mexico? This all depends on your budget and how you want to browse while you are there.
If you want to use your cell phone as you would at home, then you should find a data plan to match your usage.
Most people use about 5GB per week on average, but this can be as high as 20GB a week for those uploading to Instagram all the time or watching movies on their phones via a data connection.
You should be able to see your data consumption over time as a report on your smartphone or get a report from your provider. Once you know how many GB per week you use on average, you can find a data plan to match.
If you are traveling on a tight budget, you do have the option to choose less GBs per week but you’ll have to be smart about reducing your data consumption. Also, be careful not to run out of data and have to top up as this will almost double your local eSim costs.
When you buy eSim data plans, they come with a limited time frame such as 7 days or 30 days. The data plan start date is the day you activate it. Therefore, if you activate it before you are in Mexico, you are losing days on your plan.
Make sure you only activate your eSim once you have landed in Mexico to make the most of the data plans.
If you are trying to conserve your data usage, go into settings on your phone and turn data off for the apps you don’t need. Apps that download photos and videos use the most data and Instagram is the biggest culprit.
By turning data off, these apps can never use your data allowance but they will still work on WiFi.
Did you know you can download specific areas on Google Maps and then use them offline without any data?
Google Maps is so helpful when traveling, I am on it more than anything else! I find everything from good restaurants to secluded beaches using it. By downloading the areas you are visiting on WiFi, you can use Google Maps as usual without using any of your data allowances.
Airplane mode stops your phone from connecting to a network so no apps can secretly use data in the background. This is a great way to conserve data and you can still use GPS with maps plus take pictures too.
Whatsapp is the most used messaging app in Mexico. The free app allows you to send messages and make calls using data only, so it is perfect for an eSim data plan. Plus, you can communicate with hotels, taxis, tour guides, and more through the app.