Before traveling to Portugal you’ll want to set up a data plan for your phone since having data on your phone is almost required these days. But in most cases, you shouldn’t use your home plan’s data package because you could get hit with a huge bill. Luckily, eSIM data plans in Portugal are very affordable and easy to set up.
In this article, I’ll cover how to find the best Portugal eSIM data plan that gives you consistent high-speed mobile data without spending a lot of money.
Reasons To Avoid Using Your Home Plan’s International Data Plan in Portugal
Your current mobile provider likely has an international data plan option but there are typically multiple downsides—like being expensive and slow data speeds.
For example, the AT&T International Day Pass costs $10/day, Verizon TravelPass is also $10/day and many T-Mobile plans offer free international roaming but you’re only guaranteed 2g data speeds… which will struggle to load Google Maps or even email.
These “international data plans” are 5X as expensive as buying an eSIM data plan for Portugal—for example, eSIM data plans from Orange or Holafly will cost you around $2-$3/day.
For more in-depth information, check out The Savvy Backpacker’s guide on How To Use Smartphones and Data Plans In Europe and The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To Using eSIM data plans in Europe.
Comparing The Best eSIM Data Plans for Portugal
Portugal is a small country so they only have a few different mobile providers (MEO, Vodafone Portugal, and NOS) but none of the companies offer prepaid eSIM data plans that are convenient to visitors. Typically, the eSIM data plans offered by Portuguese mobile companies are best for long-term residents.
However, there are a few eSIM data plan companies that partner with Vodafone Portugal, MEO, and NOS to offer data services for visitors.
For this buyer’s guide, I’ll focus on these “tourist-friendly” eSIM plans.
Each eSIM plan I list in this guide will vary slightly so spend time looking at the specific details of each plan. But here are the main things to consider:
- Data Allowance: Most plans give you a set amount of mobile data (i.e. 5GB, 10GB, 30GB, etc) but others give you unlimited data over a set amount of time (5 days, 15 days, 30 days, etc).
- Plan Length: eSIM data plans can be valid anywhere from about 5 days to 90 days. It depends on your plan so it’s something you’ll want to consider when picking a plan.
- Mobile Hot Spot Tethering: Most eSIM plans don’t allow you to use your phone as a mobile hot spot.
- Voice Calls and SMS Texting: Most eSIM plans are data only—which means the plan doesn’t include voice calls or SMS texting. This isn’t much of an issue since you’ll probably not be calling people anyway.
- NOTE: You can still use iMessage to “text” between iPhones but you can’t send messages between iPhones and Android phones. Or you can download WhatsApp to send messages over data (which is what most Europeans do).
Orange Holiday Europe 50GB eSIM [Upgraded Portugal eSIM]
- Price: $59.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
- Data: 50GB
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 120 min outside of Europe.
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside of Europe.
- Credit validity: 28 day
- Data Tethering: Allowed
- Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
- This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used anywhere in Europe
- Service works everywhere in the EU
If you need a ton of mobile data, consider the newly released Orange Holiday Europe 50GB eSIM data plan which is a beefed-up version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM. It has 50GB of data and it’s valid for 28 days (compared to 14 days with the Orange Holiday Europe plan). This eSIM also comes with many features you don’t find with other plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual French phone number that works anywhere in Europe).
The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot so you can put that extra data allowance to good use. Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.
ORANGE HOLIDAY EUROPE ESIM [Full-Featured Portugal eSIM]
- Price: $49.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
- Data: 20GB (they sometimes give you 30GB of data)
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 120 min outside of Europe.
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 1000 outside of Europe.
- Credit validity: 14 day
- Data Tethering: Allowed
- Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
- This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used in Portugal
- Service works everywhere in the EU and UK
The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM data plan is the most robust eSIM plan on this list because it comes with many features you don’t find with other mobile plans—including international voice calling and texts (it gives you an actual French phone number that will work anywhere in Europe and you can make/receive calls to most countries in the world).
The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan also allows you to use your phone as a mobile hotspot—so that’s a nice bonus you don’t find with most other eSIM plans.
You’ll get 20GB of data with this plan but Orange sometimes runs a special where they give you an extra 10GB. But even 20GB should be plenty of data for most users. Orange is also one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so you’ll always get great coverage and high data speeds.
The potential downside to the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan is that it’s only valid for 14 days once activated so it’s not great for longer visits (but you can always buy a second plan).
I’ve personally used the Orange Holiday Europe plan while traveling through Europe and it worked flawlessly. Read my Orange Holiday Europe review to hear more.
Bouygues My European eSIM [Great Full-Feaured Portugal eSIM]
Bouygues is another major French telecommunications company and they’ve recently released their own prepaid eSIM data plan to compete with the popular Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. I used a prepaid Bouygues SIM card on a previous trip to Europe so I’m glad they’re finally offering an eSIM.
There’s a lot to like about the Bouygues My European eSIM plan—especially since it comes standard with 30GB of data and unlimited calls/texts within Europe. I also like how this Bouygues eSIM plan is valid for 30 days so it’s a great option for longer trips.
- Price: $44.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
- Data: 30GB
- Data Tethering: Allowed
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and credit for overseas calls
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and credit for overseas sms
- Credit validity: 30 day
- Phone Number: This eSIM card comes with a French phone number
- Coverage: Anywhere within the European Union (except Switzerland)
HOLAFLY PORTUGAL ESIM [Best Unlimited Data Portugal eSIM]
Holafly is an eSIM provider that I’ve personally used and enjoyed while visiting Europe (read my Holafly eSIM Review). Holafly sells both Portugal-specific plans and Europe-wide data plans but I believe the Portugal plan will work anywhere in the EU.
Holafly isn’t an actual mobile carrier but they rent bandwidth from Vodafone Portugal so you’re essentially getting the same service as local Vodafone customers.
Unlike other mobile companies, Holafly gives you unlimited data and a local phone number with 60 minutes of credit for making/receiving calls from European numbers. I also like how Holafly’s plans come in durations from 5 to 90 days—so you don’t have to over/underbuy for your particular trip.
Holafly doesn’t allow data tethering in most cases so you won’t be able to use your phone as a mobile hotspot.
Holafly eSIM Plan Specs:
- Prices For Unlimited Data (Check Holafly for details)
- 10 Days: $34
- 15 Days: $47
- 20 Days: $54
- 30 Days: $64
- 60 Days: $84
- 90 Days: $99
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Network Partner: Vodafone Portugal
- Calls coverage: 60 minutes of credit make calls from all of Europe—except Iceland, Norway, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Turkey. Comes with an Austrian phone number.
- SMS: None
- Tethering: No
- Data service works everywhere in the EU
ORANGE HOLIDAY ZEN ESIM [Best Budget-Friendly Portugal eSIM]
- Price: $29.90 (Check SimOptions for details)
- Data: 8GB (they sometimes give you 15GB of data)
- Service Speed: 4G/LTE
- Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 30 min outside of Europe.
- Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 200 outside of Europe.
- Credit validity: 14 day
- Data Tethering: Allowed
- Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
- This eSIM plan comes with a French phone number that can still be used in Portugal
- Service works everywhere in the EU and UK
The Orange Holiday Zen eSIM is the budget version of the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan. It comes with 8GB of data and has fewer voice minutes and texts, otherwise, it’s the same as the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM plan.
Most users will use more than 8GB of data over the course of a week or two of traveling but light data users could easily use less than 8GB of data during a typical 10-14 day trip.
MORE TIPS ON USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE IN PORTUGAL
I’ve written extensively about using smartphones and data plans in Europe and tips for buying SIM Cards For Visiting Europe. Below are some more helpful tips about using your phone in Portugal and throughout Europe.
BRING A PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER
Using your phone while traveling will quickly drain your batteries so I highly recommend a portable battery. I use Anker PowerCore 10000 because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.
Be Aware of Theft While Using Your Phone
Pickpockets love stealing smartphones so stay vigilant while you’re using your phone, stash it away safely while on public transportation/crowds, and don’t set it down while you’re in public. Read my guide to Pickpockets in Europe for more anti-theft advice.
TAKE STEPS TO LOWER YOUR MOBILE DATA USAGE
It’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data because many apps use data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat… those all constantly use data throughout the day without you knowing it (even when the app isn’t “open”). Here are some tips for limiting your data usage: That’s it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.
- USE AIRPLANE MODE AND BLOCK DATA TO SPECIFIC APPS: I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app. I’ll go in and turn every off except for things like Google Maps or others that I’ll use more frequently — this way when I turn off Airplane Mode only those apps that will use data. Then I’ll turn Airplane Mode back on when I’m done.
- DOWNLOAD OFFLINE MAPS: Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good YouTube video that explains everything.
- Save Heavy Phone Usage For WiFi: Wait until you’re somewhere with a WiFi connection before you do any heavy streaming or download files.
More Portugal Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker
Check out more of my favorite articles to help you plan your trip to Portugal and the rest of Europe:
- Lisbon on a Budget Travel Guide
- The Best Hostels in Lisbon
- Backpacking Europe Packing List
- Europe Packing List for Women
- The Best Travel Shoes
- The Best Travel Backpacks and The Best Travel Backpacks for Women
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