Last updated on December 27th, 2022 at 09:18 pm

Best South Africa eSim Compared – In this guide you will learn how to buy a South African eSim and how to activate the best eSim for South Africa. Click here to book online Cape Town activities and day trips
What Are The Most Popular eSim in South Africa?
You can get the most popular eSim providers in South Africa: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, MTX and Ubigi depending on how much data you need in South Africa. Read here South Africa sim card for tourist and best Eswatini eSim
What Is The Cheapest eSim For South Africa?
You can find the cheapest South African eSim with Airalo South Africa eSim prepaid for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $13 USD with 3 GB data. For $17 USD with 5 GB data and for $33 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.
Holafly South Africa eSim for $44 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER coming with 6 GB data valid for 15 days. MTX Connect eSim South Africa for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days. Ubigi South Africa eSim for $9 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).
WHERE TO STAY IN SOUTH AFRICA
For accommodation in South Africa you can find deals starting from $25 USD per room. If you prefer mid-budget accommodation will cost $40-60 USD and for $80 USD you will find luxury accommodation in South Africa.
Click here to get the best deals in South Africa with Booking
BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review
You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included
SOUTH AFRICAN ESIM COMPARED AND BEST PREPAID SOUTH AFRICA ESIM BACKGROUND

An eSim is a virtual sim card (embedded sim) that you can use to connect to data services while you’re traveling. It’s not a physical sim card that you insert on your phone. Usually, you scan a code that gives your phone access to the data plan package of that eSim.
An eSim data plan is a great way to get a data or internet package outside of your home sim card, or phone carrier service from Europe. And because you are using an eSim, you don’t have to worry about changing your phone number for Whatsapp, imessage, Telegram, or any other messaging apps.
Once you purchase an eSim, you’ll immediately be emailed a QR code that you can scan, and if you should be connected to data immediately. There are a few eSims in South Africa available for tourists and prepaid eSim data plans.
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Difference between an eSim vs getting a data plan
Ease of access to a data or internet package is the biggest difference of an eSim over a data plan from Regular mobile data carriers in your country. With an eSim, instead of buying the physical sim, you can buy a package online and activate it wherever you are.
How to Activate Your Esim Service

You can purchase your Holafly eSim here (in this case with Holafly eSim South Africa but there are other providers too). Choose the country you’re going to, and how many days you want to have unlimited data service or any other data packages for data eSim in South Africa.
Remember that you’re buying internet data and not credits for sending text messages/SMS, or making phone calls. You can use regular messaging apps for these like Whatsapp, Telegram, Messenger or iMessage.
Once you have your eSim confirmation, you’ll get the code. You can save this code in your phone as an image, and scan it later, or scan it now, and you’ll immediately activate it.
South Africa eSim Comparison What do I need to have to get a data package for eSim in South Africa
Before you can get an eSim South Africa data package, you need to first make sure that your phone supports the eSim functionality. Unfortunately this is not available for all phones. It became available in the last year or two, making only the newest phone versions to support this feature.
If you are using an iPhone or iPad running SIM card functionality, these are the models that support the eSim feature for iOS.
iPhone and iPad with Esim Functionality
iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone SE 2 (2020), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro,, MaxiPhone SE 3 (2022). On iPhone 13 models you can have two eSIMs activated at the same time.
For iPads, you have the following.
iPad Pro 11″ (model A2068, from 2020), iPad Pro 12.9″ (model A2069, from 2020), iPad Air (model A2123, from 2019), iPad (model A2198, from 2019), iPad Mini (model A2124, from 2019)
Your ipad needs to have the sim functionality to get the esim feature.
This is how you activate an esim with iOS devices.
Android Phones with the Esim Functionality
Samsung Esim Phones
Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21+ Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S22+, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Fold 3, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Watch (via Samsung Wearable application)
For Samsung subscribers, you can check the guide here for activating the esim.
Google Pixel Esim Phones
Have a Google Pixel phone, check this guide on how to activate esim. Below are the Google Pixel Phones that support esim:
Google Pixel 2 (only phones bought with Google Fi service), Google Pixel 2 XLGoogle Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3 XL, Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3a XL, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4 XL, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 5a, Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro.
Other Android Handsets that Support the eSim functionality:
Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, Huawei Mate 40 Pro
Oppo Find X3 Pro, Oppo Reno 5A, Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G, Oppo Find X5, Oppo Find X5 Pro, Oppo A55s
Motorola Razr 2019, Motorola Razr 5G, Nuu Mobile X5, Gemini PDA, Rakuten Mini, Rakuten Big-S, Rakuten Big and Sony Xperia 10 III Lite.
There are also Ultrabooks that have the eSim functionality in them.
So check the following ultrabooks and laptops:
Microsoft Surface Pro X, Microsoft Surface Go 2, Microsoft Surface Pro LTE Advanced
Acer Swift 3, Acer Swift 7, Asus Mini Transformer
Asus NovaGo, Asus VivoBook Flip 14, HP Elitebook G5
HP Probook G5, HP Zbook G5, HP Specter Folio 13, Lenovo Yoga C630, Lenovo Miix 630
Lenovo Yoga 520, Lenovo Flex 5G and Samsung Galaxy Book 2
Check if your phone is Unlocked
The idea of having an eSim is to have another carrier providing data service/internet service to your phone. Even if your phone supports the eSim functionality, the phone needs to be open or unlocked to use any data/sim company.
Locked phones are usually the phones you purchased with a data plan with a sim card or carrier service, where you have plans that you pay monthly until your contract expires, and allowed you to get your phone at a discount or for free.
Buying South Africa eSim And Best Prepaid eSim South Africa Data Plan
HOLAFLY SOUTH AFRICA ESIM DISCOUNT CODE

Holafly South Africa eSim for $44 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER coming with 6 GB data valid for 15 days.
BUY SOUTH AFRICA ESIM USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER
AIRALO SOUTH AFRICA ESIM DISCOUNT CODE

Airalo South Africa eSim prepaid for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $13 USD with 3 GB data. For $17 USD with 5 GB data and for $33 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.
MORE PREPAID ESIM SOUTH AFRICA
Nomad eSim South Africa

Nomad eSim South Africa for $20 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days can be a great idea if you aren’t planning to use so much data. Plans with Nomad eSim South Africa prepaid start at $48 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days and for $54 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.
MTX Connect eSim South Africa

MTX Connect eSim South Africa is a small provider offering data plans in South Africa. MTX Connect eSim South Africa for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days.
UBIGI SOUTH AFRICA ESIM

Ubigi South Africa eSim for $9 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).
GIGSKY SOUTH AFRICA ESIM

GigSky South Africa eSim for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. For $20 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.
BEST ESIM FOR SOUTH AFRICA CONCLUSION (CHEAPEST SOUTH AFRICA ESIM FOR TOURISTS)
The best eSim for South Africa I would go for the cheapest eSim in South Africa with Airalo South Africa eSim prepaid for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $13 USD with 3 GB data. For $17 USD with 5 GB data and for $33 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days.
MTX Connect eSim South Africa for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days. Holafly South Africa eSim for $44 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER coming with 6 GB data valid for 15 days. Ubigi South Africa eSim for $9 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).
BUY SOUTH AFRICA ESIM USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER
BEST TIME TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA
In South Africa summer months from December to February is so hot the weather and the high season. During the winter months from June to August the temperature is cold and it’s the low season.
We believe the best time to visit South Africa is during the spring months from September to November when the days are fresh and sunny. The fall season from March to May can be a great time for visiting South Africa.
Click here to know more about the weather in South Africa!
ATMS AND CURRENCY IN SOUTH AFRICA
There are ATMs in South Africa and exchange offices in the main touristic points. The main currencies are accepted and the local currency is the South African Rand around $1= 14 ZAR.
Click here to know the exact rate.
Feel free to use our links for discounts. Using our links will help us continue with the maintenance of the website and will not cost you anything. Thanks for the love guys.
Happy Travels!
Ruben Arribas is the co-founder of Gamintraveler and a Spanish traveler who has traveled to more than 100 countries around the world. He is now a full-time digital nomad.
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