Best Zimbabwe eSIM (Convenient & Affordable)
Planning a trip to Zimbabwe and looking for an eSIM to keep you connected while you’re visiting?
At A Glance: Our Favorite eSIMs for Zimbabwe
The popularity of eSIMs is on the rise, and it’s easy to see why. They offer a convenient and cost-efficient way to stay linked to mobile data as you explore.
Yet, with numerous options on the market, selecting the ideal eSIM for Zimbabwe might seem daunting.
Fear not, I’m here to help! In the following, I’ll explore the best eSIM options for Zimbabwe, analyzing their data offerings, coverage areas, and connection rates, to guide you in choosing the optimal eSIM data plan for your travel needs.
ESIM Product Comparison
Airalo7 Days
$9.50/GB
Ubigi30 Days
$10/GB
Ubigi30 Days
$8.7/GB
Ubigi30 Days
$5.4/GB
Ubigi30 Days
$6.2/GB
Flexiroam3 Days
$11.50/GB
Flexiroam8 Days
$10.20/GB
Flexiroam24 Days
$9.6/GB
Flexiroam24 Days
$8.8/GB
Airalo
Airalo Zimbabwe provides only one eSIM option for travelers to the region. Clearly, it is expensive to travel here and most operators don’t even offer eSIMs for Zimbabwe at all
With Airalo you get
They make it easy to download your eSIM via their App and topup when you run out. The only downside in this case is that they use TelCel, the mobile provider with the least coverage in Zimbabwe.
Of course, if you are only using it in Harare, then it should not be a problem.
Pros
- Very affordable per GB
- Easy to top-up
- Hotspots allowed
Cons
- Only one plan
Ubigi
just have to pay for it.
Their Best Africa eSIM plans are the best value and cover a range of countries:
Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mayotte, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Réunion, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zimbabwe
Clearly, the 10 GB eSIM package is the best value at $5.4 per GB. So if you can make use of that, then I would buy that eSIM.
Ubigi is also using Telecel in Zimbabwe, so it will be a comparable service to Airalo’s Zimbabwe eSIM.
Pros
- Lots of packages to choose from
- Very affordable per GB
- Covers lots of Africa
Cons
- No specific ZImbabwe plan
Flexiroam
Flexiroam eSIMs are another option for travelers to Zimbabwe. Again, there is no Zimbabwe eSIM specifically, but they do offer Africa eSIMs that cover the country.
For example, they have the following Zimbabwe eSIM packages on offer:
- 1GB/3 Days – $11.50
- 3GB/8 Days – $30.50
- 1GB/8 Days – $12.50
- 7GB/24 Days – $61.50
- 5GB/24 Days – $48.00
- 7GB/15 Days – $59.50
- 3GB/15 Days – $32.50
- 5GB/15 Days – $46.00
NOTE: You have to open their shop page and type in “Zimbabwe” to see the full list.
Again, this is a regional Africa eSIM but the price per GB does not compete with Ubigi above. And they have fewer countries in the package:
Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Dem Rep, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Pros
- Huge range of plans
- Covers many African countries
Cons
- Not very affordable
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is essentially the digital version of a SIM card. It is inside your phone, tablet, or smartwatch and allows a device to connect to a cellular network without the need for a physical SIM card.
Instead of having to buy and insert a SIM card, an eSIM is e embedded in your device’s chip and can be programmed to use a specific network operator.
Benefits of Getting a Zimbabwe eSIM
There are a lot of benefits of using an eSIM while traveling to Zimbabwe and Africa in general:
- eSIMs are convenient; can be purchased online and activated immediately.
- Eliminates the need to search for a store or wait in line for a physical SIM card.
- No need to swap out SIM cards, reducing the risk of losing your home SIM.
- Allows you to keep your home number connected, ensuring no missed calls or messages.
- More environmentally friendly than physical SIM cards, as it avoids the use of precious minerals in production.
Devices Compatible with Zimbabwe eSIMs
Not all devices have an eSIM built in, so below is a quick list of compatible phones. Keep in mind these are older phones, and anything newer usually has an eSIM by default.
- iPhone 12, 11, X, SE (2nd generation)
- 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
There is also a quick way to see if your device has an eSIM. Just call this number – *#06# and if an eSIM identification number (EID) comes up, you are good to go.
Data Needed When Traveling to Zimbabwe
The amount of data you will need while in Zimbabwe depends on how much data you typically use each day.
Here are some examples to help you understand what kind of data consumer you are:
Light User
- Daily Data: 100-300 MB
- Examples:
- Email and Messaging: Checking emails and sending texts.
- Basic Browsing: Looking up directions, reading news.
- Social Media: Minimal social media browsing.
Moderate User
- Daily Data: 300-700 MB
- Examples:
- Streaming Music: Listening to music on the go.
- Social Media: Regular browsing, posting photos.
- Video Calls: Short video calls with friends or family.
- Online Gaming: Playing lightweight mobile games.
Heavy User
- Daily Data: 700 MB – 2 GB
- Examples:
- HD Video Streaming: Watching movies or YouTube in HD.
- Intensive Gaming: Playing data-intensive online games.
- Frequent Video Calls: Long video conferences or calls.
- Large Downloads: Downloading large files, apps, or updates.
Business Traveler
- Daily Data: 1-3 GB
- Examples:
- Work-Related Tasks: Accessing work emails, cloud services, and collaboration tools.
- Video Conferencing: Hosting or attending multiple video meetings.
- Large File Transfers: Sending and receiving large work-related files.
Family Travelers (Per Device)
- Daily Data: 300 MB – 1 GB
- Examples:
- Entertainment for Kids: Streaming cartoons or educational videos.
- Family Communication: Group video calls with family members.
- Photo Sharing: Uploading and sharing vacation photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Zimbabwe have eSIM??
Yes, eSIMs are available for travelers to Zimbabwe. Simply buy an eSIM online before or during your trip and activate it on your phone.
Is eSIM supported in Africa?
In general, eSIM is wide support across most of Africa. Of course, the costs per GB are a lot higher than in other more developed regions.
