6 Best SIM Cards for Egypt in 2024

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Before you pack your bags and go see the Pyramids of Giza, consider getting a SIM card for Egypt so you can stay connected. While I always try to disconnect when I travel to new places, sometimes I want to send a message or check my email. In those times, I’m grateful I thought ahead and got a SIM card for travel.

When it comes to accessing the Internet in Egypt, you’ll find several options, although my personal preference is having an Egyptian SIM card. I recommend you do the same so you can use Google Maps, book last-minute hotels, and search the Web. Also, information theft is unfortunately a common problem in Egypt, so having your own SIM card will help you avoid public Wi-Fi networks as well as keep your data safe.

In this guide, I’ll share the 6 best Egyptian SIM cards, including their advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose the one that suits your trip. That said, my top recommendation is the Holafly eSIM, which we use on all our travels abroad. We’ve never had any issues with it, but you can get our full Holafly review in our article.

Of course, a digital SIM might not work for you, or maybe you prefer a physical card you can insert into your device. In that case, SimOptions has the best mobile SIM cards for Egypt. I’ll tell you more about Holafly, SimOptions, and a few other local Egyptian SIM cards below, so keep reading!

How do SIM cards in Egypt work?

An Egyptian SIM card works just like the one you use at home. You can use your prepaid Egypt SIM card to browse the Internet and, in some cases, make calls and send texts at no additional cost.

If you use an eSIM for Egypt, like the one we have from Holafly, all you have to do is scan the QR code to activate the card. However, if you opt for a physical SIM, you’ll need to insert it into your mobile device.

Regardless of which type of card you get, it’s important to check your phone’s compatibility since not all devices work with all cards. You can check here to see if your phone is compatible with Holafly’s eSIM. If it’s not, and you choose to get a local SIM card in Egypt, you’ll have to double-check your device’s compatibility at the store.

Egyptian SIM card price comparison

I’m going to go over the different Egyptian SIM cards in this guide, but to get a brief overview, here is a chart comparing each card’s price, duration, and gigabytes of data.

After looking at the different prepaid SIM cards for Egypt, you’ll see that the Holafly eSIM card and the SimOptions SIM card are not the cheapest options, but they are the ones that allow you to have them ready before your trip and are easy to install, which gives you more time to spend exploring Egypt. Both Holafly and SimOptions offer customer support in English, which is another huge benefit.

Another thing I’d like to point out is that an Egypt eSIM is convenient if you don’t have a dual-slot device. You can simply scan the QR code to access the Internet, rather than take out your original SIM and replace it with the Egyptian one. You can even purchase the digital SIM card in Egypt since it arrives via email.

I’m okay with paying a bit more for the convenience and added peace of mind that Holafly provides. However, I know that some people prefer a physical SIM card, or they might have an incompatible device. Most local SIM cards in Egypt offer weekly and monthly plans, so you should be able to find one whether you’re taking a short trip or staying in the country for longer.

What is the best SIM card for Egypt?

The answer to this question really depends on what you’re looking for. If you don’t want to waste your vacation time looking for local SIM cards in Egypt, then consider getting the Holafly eSIM. You’ll be paying a bit more, but you’ll have high-speed Internet and customer support in English, plus you can purchase the international eSIM at home or in Egypt.

If you’re looking for a physical SIM card for Egypt, I recommend going with SimOptions. It has similar rates, and you’ll receive the card by mail within three business days, so be sure to order it before your trip.

Finally, if you don’t mind buying a SIM card in Egypt, you can always go shopping for one at a local store. To help you out, I’ll suggest a few different options below.

1. Holafly eSIM, the best SIM card for Egypt

First, the Holafly eSIM for Egypt is super convenient since you can activate it immediately. After ordering it on the website, you’ll receive an email with a QR code. Print it out or send it to your travel companion so you can scan it and access the Internet.

1. Holafly eSIM, the best SIM card for Egypt

Although this isn’t the cheapest option, the quality is unmatched, as Holafly offers high-speed data on all its plans. The coverage is very good, and if you run into any issues, you can speak to customer support in English via live chat or email.

If your device doesn’t have a dual slot for SIM cards, then a digital SIM is great because you won’t have to take out your original SIM. I also love that I can order my Holafly eSIM even if I’m already abroad.

You can read more about this company in our Holafly review, and if you click our link, you’ll get a discount on your Holafly eSIM. That said, you should check your phone’s compatibility here first!

2. SimOptions SIM card, the best physical SIM card for Egypt

When I need a physical SIM card for travel, I get it through SimOptions. For those who like to plan ahead, SimOptions is a great choice because you can buy the Egyptian SIM card before your trip and have it delivered to your home. Just be sure to give yourself enough time since it takes up to three business days to receive your order. This is especially important because SimOptions doesn’t currently deliver to Africa.

If your device has a dual slot, you can simply insert the Egyptian SIM card and access the Internet. Otherwise, you’ll have to remove your original SIM and replace it with the Egyptian one. Since you’ll still be at home, you can keep your original SIM in a safe place so you don’t risk damaging or losing it abroad.

Finally, SimOptions offers live chat and email support in English, so if you run into any issues, you can sort them out, preferably before your trip.

3. Vodafone SIM, a popular SIM card in Egypt

When it comes to local SIM cards in Egypt, there are a few options. One of the most popular is the Vodafone SIM card for tourists in Egypt. Vodafone is a major telecommunications company, so it has a solid reputation as well as pretty good 4G coverage.

Moreover, you can choose between different monthly plans depending on your data consumption, although they all last for 30 days.

Another advantage of the Vodafone SIM for Egypt is that it lets you make local and international calls. Also, customer support is in English, which is a huge plus.

On the downside, activating this card is a bit of a pain since you have to go through a series of steps via text message or through the app. It’s a good idea to ask for help from the store’s sales associate so you can be sure everything is working correctly.

4. The Orange SIM card, another Egyptian SIM card for tourists

The Orange SIM is another prepaid SIM card in Egypt with lots of official retailers throughout the country. It has very good coverage, so it’s a decent alternative if you need a reliable Internet connection, either for remote work or to keep in touch with family and friends.

Orange even offers special plans for heavy data usage, as well as monthly plans. I think this local Egyptian SIM card is a fine option as long as you’re going to be traveling for a month or more since there aren’t any plans shorter than 30 days. If you’re staying longer than that, you can renew your card without having to buy a new one, plus Orange offers some free minutes of local and international calls.

5. Etisalat SIM, an alternative data SIM card for Egypt

Another well-known mobile SIM card in Egypt is the Etisalat SIM. Personally, this company isn’t my first choice since it’s a smaller operator with less country-wide coverage. In addition, you need to activate the SIM card through text messages, so it can be a bit of a headache to get started.

Etisalat has data plans specifically for social networks, although you’ll also receive some free minutes for national and international calls. Some of the cards can be renewed, while others expire after 30 days, so you’ll have to look through all the options and choose whichever one is most suitable.

Overall, this company is popular, but it makes you jump through hoops just to access the Internet, so I recommend getting SimOptions or one of the other local SIM cards in Egypt.

6. WE SIM, a cheap SIM card for Egyptian Internet

The last Egypt SIM card that I want to suggest is the WE SIM. WE is a relatively new company that branched from Telecom Egypt, so it doesn’t have many official stores, nor does it have coverage everywhere in Egypt.

One thing that WE has going for it is that it has the cheapest SIM cards in Egypt. However, the trade-off is that you’ll have less coverage and reliability, so take that into account.

While this company has low rates for one-month plans, you’ll get more bang for your buck with the 90-day plan, which comes with 50 GB of data. So, if you’re taking a long-term trip and price is the most important factor for you, it’s a decent option.

Where to buy a SIM card for Egypt

Now that you know the best SIM cards in Egypt for connecting to the internet when abroad, I want to focus on where to buy these cards. Simply put, there are two options. You can buy an Egyptian SIM card in the U.S. (or your home country) and install it before your trip, or you can wait until you land in Egypt and purchase a card at the airport or a local store.

Where to buy a SIM card for Egypt

Buy an Egyptian SIM card before your trip

I highly recommend buying your Egypt SIM card prior to departure since you can sort out any issues before your trip. Again, the Holafly eSIM is my number-one choice since it instantly gets delivered to my inbox. I don’t have to remove my phone’s original SIM card either since all it takes to activate the eSIM is scanning the QR code.

If you want or need a physical card, your best bet is the Egyptian SIM card from SimOptions. Just remember that you must order your card before your trip, with enough time for delivery (1-3 business days).

Buy a SIM card in Egypt

The alternative is to buy a SIM card in Egypt, either at the airport or at one of the official stores. There are unofficial retailers throughout the country, but I don’t recommend going to these stores. We’ve heard that these places often deactivate your card prematurely and don’t provide all the data that you paid for.

If I were you, I’d purchase the international SIM card at the airport since you’ll already be there anyway. Then, you won’t have to waste your vacation time walking around town trying to find a store. Of course, you may land at a time when the airport shops are closed, which is why I recommend bypassing all this trouble and ordering your card ahead of time at home.

When buying a prepaid SIM card in Egypt, you’ll have to provide your passport. The store associate will insert the card into your device, and you should be good to go. Before you leave, make sure you request that they change the language of the notifications from Arabic to English.

I also suggest reviewing your available data through the USSD codes on your phone. You can ask the associate to help you with this, although they might tell you they can’t. Unfortunately, this is a common scam tactic in which retailers will provide fewer GB of data than advertised, so if this happens to you, it’s best to cancel the purchase and go to a different store.

How to activate an Egyptian SIM card

With an eSIM for Egypt, all you have to do is scan the QR code to activate the SIM. For a physical card, insert it into your device’s SIM card slot. You’ll have to remove your original SIM first if you don’t have a dual slot.

How to activate an Egyptian SIM card

Once you insert your physical SIM card, you’ll probably receive a text message prompting you to configure it to your device. The sales associate can help you with this process, so make sure you can access the Internet before you leave the store.

Requirements for using a SIM card for Egypt

Buying a SIM card for Egypt isn’t too complicated since it involves presenting your passport and choosing a data plan. The only thing to keep in mind is that your phone must be unlocked and compatible with the network frequency in Egypt.

For local cards, you’ll have to check the compatibility in the store. This is another reason why I rave about Holafly in our review. If you want to get the Holafly eSIM for Egypt, confirm that your device is compatible through this link. Don’t forget to use our code to save money on your Holafly purchase!

I hope this guide cleared up any confusion you had about how to get Internet in Egypt. I’m sure one of these Egyptian SIM cards will suit your trip, but if you have any questions or comments, share them below. I’d love to hear from you!

Have an amazing time in the Land of the Pyramids!