Last Updated: November 20, 2023

Best eSIMs for Nigeria (Affordable Travel Data)

Shopping for an eSIM for Nigeria?

While traveling in Africa, we tried a range of eSIMs, including some in Nigeria. Some were great, other eSIMs not so much.

I want to highlight some of the top eSim mobile data plans for your trip to Nigeria.

Choosing The Best ESIM

One of the challenges of fishing through all the eSIM data plans online is figuring out which eSIM works for you. Because we have used so many eSIMs and have a lot of experience with them, I thought I would share a simple strategy for choosing an eSIM.

There are just a few questions you have to ask yourself about the connectivity you need:

How much data do you use per day
How long are you staying in Nigeria
Do you need a local phone number or SMS

Most of the time, you don’t have to worry about calls or SMSs (use Whatsapp or Signal instead).

And for data, you often get data in your hotel or cafes. So, you need to figure out if you will use Youtube, Netflix, and Tiktok a lot, or use a few websites.

At A Glance: Best eSim for Nigeria

Best eSIMs for Nigeria Airalo

We work on the road, so need a lot of data and go for unlimited eSIM plans where possible. But if you can get away with 5-10 GB for your trip, that is often the sweet spot for price/GB.

ESIM Product Comparison

Company

Data

Validity

Price/GB

Price

Best eSIMs for Nigeria

Airalo

Airalo is one of the leading eSim providers in the world and offers global eSims, regional eSims, and an eSim for pretty much every country in the world, almost.

Airalo partners with local network providers on the ground to provide you with good mobile data coverage, 4G LTE connection speeds, and their customer service is excellent.

Here are their eSim data plans for Nigeria:

You can pick a data plan to match how much data you need and to align with your trip length. Their price per GB is very competitive compared to other providers too.

Pros

Reliable service
Great customer support
Excellent coverage
Fast connection speeds
A few plans to choose from
Affordable

Cons

No plans with lots of data

See Prices on Airalo

Holafly

Holafly is also one of the better eSim providers to go for. They have data plans for most countries/regions in the world and provide great customer service to make your eSim setup as smooth as possible.

Their coverage and connection speeds are both excellent in Nigeria but they only have one Nigeria eSim data plan for you to choose from, see below.

This is a pretty affordable data plan per GB, but it is more expensive than Airalo’s. It might suit you if you want a lot of data for a short trip to Nigeria that is 15 days or less.

Pros

Reliable coverage
Good customer service
Fast 4G speed
Affordable per GB

Cons

Just one plan to too choose from
Plan only lasts 15 days

See Prices on Holafly

SimOptions

SimOptions is both an eSim provider and an eSim reseller which means you can buy eSims from other providers on their website too.

SimOptions does not offer any of their own Nigeria eSims, or any Nigeria specific eSims at all. But, they do offer some global eSims that also cover Nigeria and you can find the eSim data plans available below.

These are very affordable per GB and the fact that they work in over 100+ countries including Nigeria means you can use them as you travel around the world.

Pros

Reliable coverage
Good connection speeds
Helpful customer service
Affordable pricing
Works in 100+ countries

Cons

No Nigeria only eSims
Only Global eSims

See Prices on SimOptions

Ubigi

Ubigi is another excellent eSim provider that also provides eSims for use around the world. They have an eSim data plan that covers most countries in the world and they also have one for Nigeria.

However, they do not have a Nigeria-specific eSim, they only have their Best Africa eSim which covers Nigeria as well as multiple other countries in Africa.

Here are their Best Africa eSim data plans for you to choose from:

These Africa eSim data plans are very affordable. The 10GB plan is ideal if you want a lot of data for an excellent price too.

The coverage, connection speeds, and customer service you get with Ubigi are all excellent too.

Pros

Affordable per GB
Works in multiple countries in Africa
Good coverage
4G connection
Helpful customer service
Big data plan available

Cons

None I can find

See Prices on Ubigi

Maya Mobile

Maya Mobile offers more great Nigeria eSIMs for you to choose from. I have used Maya Mobile quite a lot in the last few months and have always been happy with their eSIMs.

They are typically competitively priced and reliable, and use the best mobile networks in each country (MTN is who they use for Nigeria, and they are considered the best). In this case, their price/GB is a little higher than Airalo, so I am not sure I would choose them for Nigerian eSIMs. But they are always worth looking at for a comparison:

These are all for 30 days.

Pros

30 day plans
Best network with MTN

Cons

More expensive

See Prices on Maya Mobile

Discover Other African eSIMs

See Africa Wide eSIMs

Benefits of Getting an eSim in Nigeria

Traveling to Nigeria can be made easier by using an eSim instead of a traditional roaming or local sim card.

The biggest advantage of eSims is how incredibly convenient they are. With just a few clicks online, you can purchase and activate your eSim without ever having to leave your home or wait in long lines.

Once you arrive in Nigeria, you can immediately connect to a network without having to search for and purchase a local sim card, saving you both time and hassle.

Your original phone number remains unaffected, which means that you can stay connected to your important calls, texts, and banking alerts while you’re away. Topping up your eSim is also quick and easy and can be done online in just a few clicks.

Transferring your eSim to a new device is incredibly easy in case you misplace your phone, so you don’t have to worry about losing your phone number and important contacts.

Another advantage of eSims is that there’s no need to swap out physical sim cards, which means you can say goodbye to the stress of losing or misplacing sim cards while you’re out exploring Nigeria.

With an eSim, you can relax and enjoy your travels with the peace of mind that you’re always connected and won’t lose your sim card.

Local Mobile Operators Offering eSims in Nigeria

There are several local mobile operators in Nigeria that offer eSims and these include.

MTN Nigeria
Glo Mobile Nigeria,
Airtel Nigeria
9mobile

You can buy an eSim from these local mobile operators by going online and buying your chosen eSim plan from their website.

Devices Compatible with eSim in Nigeria

eSims are an innovative type of sim card that’s already integrated into your device, making it unnecessary to use a physical sim card – eSim stands for embedded sim card in case you were wondering.

It’s important to note that not all devices have eSims, so it’s crucial to check if your device is compatible with eSims in Nigeria before purchasing an eSim plan.

Here are some devices that come with eSims:

iPhone XS, 12, 11, SE (2nd generation), and newer models
Samsung Galaxy S21, S20, Note 20, and newer models
Google Pixel 5, 4, 3a, and newer models
iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd generation), and newer models
Apple Watch Series 6, SE, and newer models
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, Watch Active 2, and newer models
Huawei Watch 3 and newer models

If you’re unsure whether your device supports eSims, don’t worry! You can easily check by dialing *#06# and pressing the call button.

If your device displays an eSim identification number (EID), then your device is compatible with eSims, and you can enjoy the convenience of using an eSim without needing to swap out physical SIM cards.

Data Needed When Traveling to Nigeria

If you’re getting ready to explore Nigeria, it’s natural to wonder how much data you’ll need to stay connected. The amount of data you’ll require will depend on your data usage habits. In general, 5 GB of data per week should be sufficient for most people.

But, if you’re a heavy data user, plan on streaming videos, or making video calls, you’ll want to consider a plan with more data, like 15 GB per week.

To avoid running out of data while you’re in Nigeria, it’s important to check your device’s data usage report before you leave. By doing so, you’ll have an idea of how much data you typically use, which can help you choose a plan that meets your needs.

Luckily, there are many budget-friendly eSim data plans available for Nigeria that you can select from depending on the length of your trip and data requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an eSim in Nigeria?

Getting an eSim in Nigeria is very easy, simply go online to your preferred eSim provider’s website and buy the eSim data plan that works best for you.

How much does an eSIM cost in Nigeria?

An eSim is free in Nigeria as it is included in the eSim data plan you decide to purchase.

How do I activate my eSim in Nigeria?

If you’ve purchased an eSim in Nigeria and are ready to activate it, the process is simple and straightforward.

First, check your email for the activation code sent by your eSim provider, usually in the form of a QR code.

Once you have the activation code, connect to the internet and navigate to your device’s settings app. Look for the option to add a new cellular plan or eSim, and select the eSim option. You’ll then be prompted to enter your activation code or scan the QR code.

Follow any additional instructions that may be required and in no time, your eSim will be activated and ready to use for all your data needs in Nigeria!

If you encounter any issues during the process, don’t worry! Simply reach out to customer support and they’ll be happy to assist you.

Does Airtel provide eSIM in Nigeria?

Yes, Airtel does provide eSims in Nigeria and you can purchase them from the Airtel Nigeria website.