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Best eSIM for Sri Lanka in 2024: Which eSIM to buy?
Find out what Holafly, Maya Mobile, Hutch, Dialog, and Global YO has to offer and get your Sri Lanka eSIM starting at $6!
July 8, 2024
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When it comes to traveling to Asia, you might think about where to go that’s not Japan, China, or Korea. So, chances are you have in mind visiting Sri Lanka soon, and you need a way to stay connected while there. Having the best eSIM Sri Lanka will help you a lot!
That’s why we have prepared a list of the best alternatives in the market. So, forget about a physical SIM card, and talk about which eSIM for Sri Lanka you need to get for your trip!
Will my eSIM work in Sri Lanka?
When it comes to traveling, you might have different questions. One of those is surely, “Will my eSIM work in Sri Lanka?” So, let’s talk about it.
Currently, there are different carriers offering the eSIM service in the country. One of those is Dialog, which is commonly found with international companies offering an eSIM for Sri Lanka in 2024.
So, if you plan to take a Sri Lanka eSIM, there’s no need to worry; everything will work fine while you’re traveling. Now, what about other alternatives to get a stable internet connection in the country?
- Data roaming: Traveling and staying connected to the internet in the past was mostly possible thanks to roaming from different providers, but due to its price, it’s not the most common option nowadays.
- Physical SIM card: Before the eSIM, you could get a prepaid SIM card when arriving at your destination or maybe pay for one online, but due to these being limited in terms of data packages or delivery times, it became a less accessible alternative.
- Pocket WiFi: If what you need is to get internet on different devices, a Pocket WiFi would do its thing. It works as a mobile hotspot and allows you to get an internet connection during your trip, but prices are the downside since it can cost up to $100 per week.
- Free WiFi: Looking forward to saving some money? You could rely on a free WiFi hotspot every once in a while, but this will surely mess up your experience when visiting a place like Sri Lanka!
Which eSIM card is best for Sri Lanka?
When choosing which eSIM to take for your trip to Sri Lanka, chances are you need to check what each company offers side-to-side.
That’s why we have prepared a list of the best eSIMs to use when traveling to Sri Lanka. Keep reading as we will discuss each company’s main features, prices, advantages, and disadvantages!
- Holafly: Best unlimited data eSIM with data sharing
- Dialog: Best eSIM to get data at a cheap price.
- Hutch: Best local eSIM accessible to travelers.
- Maya Mobile: Best eSIM with different data packages to choose from.
- Global YO: Best eSIM with different discounts.
1. Holafly unlimited data eSIM for Sri Lanka
Holafly is our first option for your trip to Sri Lanka, even if you need an eSIM for Asia. The most important feature we can mention here is that you will get unlimited data and data sharing.
You can choose the exact number of days your eSIM needs to work, starting at $6 for 1 day and up to $139 for 90 days. So, there’s no need to worry about spending more money to get an ideal eSIM data plan!
Also, the Holafly eSIM for Sri Lanka will work with the network from Dialog, offering up to 5G speeds during your trip.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- The support team is available 24/7 in different languages and through different channels.
- Unlimited eSIM plans include data sharing of up to 500 MBs per day.
- Excellent coverage in the region, even with other packages such as eSIM for South Korea.
- Select exactly how many days you are traveling with your Sri Lanka eSIM to avoid unnecessary charges.
- Only need to scan a QR code for the eSIM to work on your device.
- Easy to purchase through the Holafly website or mobile app.
- Extremely flexible refund policy.
- Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t include phone calls, but thanks to the unlimited data it’s possible to make calls through VoIP apps without hidden fees.
2. Dialog
Dialog is one of the most important carriers in Sri Lanka. With up to 5G speeds and coverage in most of the country, it has rapidly become a go-to alternative for many.
As for tourists, there’s a way to get an eSIM from Dialog. You would have to visit their website and choose to get a new eSIM. There, you can choose to get a prepaid eSIM. To complete the purchase, you need to add your passport and phone number.
The only prepaid plan costs $RS 2,00, but it doesn’t offer a proper data plan. Travelers have to make phone calls that cost $RS 2,00 to get 1 MB for free, which makes it complicated to use.
While it offers access to postpaid plans, these are not accessible to travelers as they require a long-term contract!
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Offers access to the best local network.
- The eSIM is cheap and can be purchased only by travelers.
- Disadvantages:
- The purchase process is not user-friendly at all.
- Not many data plans to choose from.
- Using data with the basic plan is extremely complicated.
3. Hutch
Another local carrier to get an eSIM card from is Hutch. Compared to Dialog, it makes the purchase process easier for travelers.
If you want to get an eSIM from Hutch, there are two eSIM data plans for travelers. These cost $7 and $10, offering 50 GB and 125 GB of data each, and include unlimited calling to local numbers.
The purchase process for travelers is a bit complicated, as it requires booking proof, a photo of your ID, and a valid phone number.
While it provides good coverage, purchasing a data plan will take longer than many other companies do.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- eSIM plans are available for travelers.
- Offers a connection to a reliable network in Sri Lanka.
- Includes phone calls, but no SMS is included on the eSIM plans.
- Disadvantages:
- The purchase process is extremely long and requires a verification process.
- Not possible to pay for an eSIM for Sri Lanka without booking proof.
4. Maya Mobile eSIM
Getting back to international carriers, we have Maya Mobile as another alternative for you to get an eSIM data plan to visit Sri Lanka.
Maya Mobile offers a variety of data plans, ranging from 5 to 30 days, with both limited and unlimited data for travelers. Prices range from $6 for 5 days with 3 GB of data to up to $59 for unlimited data for 30 days.
Other unlimited plans are also available, each designed for certain uses, like streaming, data-sharing, or simply traveling alone and avoiding data roaming rates.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Offer a variety of data packages that work well for different types of travelers.
- Data plans vary from 5 to 30 days and include limited or unlimited data.
- Easier to purchase compared to local carriers.
- Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t work with 5G data speeds.
- Doesn’t offer reliable information about its coverage in Sri Lanka.
5. Global YO
The last alternative on this list comes with Global YO. From the before mentioned alternatives, Global YO is the newest option in the market.
Currently, the company doesn’t offer unlimited data plans in Sri Lanka. All the available data plans include limited data, varying from 500 MB to 10 GB. As for how long these last, you can get an eSIM card for 1 to 30 days.
Other than this, the eSIM services from this company don’t include something additional, such as phone calls or SMS packages. Still, it works for avoiding data roaming rates!
Advantages and disadvantages
- Advantages:
- Different data plans for travelers that visit Sri Lanka.
- Discounts are available for new purchases on Global YO.
- Disadvantages:
- Relatively new service without many reviews from other travelers.
- No unlimited data plans with their Sri Lanka eSIM.
- No additional add-ons are available with Global YO.
How do you purchase an eSIM for Sri Lanka?
Up to this point, you surely have chosen which eSIM to take for your next trip to Sri Lanka. So, now it’s time to see how to purchase it!
Time needed: 10 minutes
- Visit the Holafly website or use their mobile app
- Look for “Sri Lanka” on using their browser.
- Press on “Sri Lanka” and wait a few seconds.
- When on the eSIM page, choose how many days and how many eSIMs you need to visit Sri Lanka.
- Press on “Get Unlimited Internet” and proceed with the checkout to get a QR code to install your eSIM.
- After a few seconds, you will receive an email with your embedded SIM QR code that you have to scan to install.
Requirements to install a Sri Lanka eSIM
Lastly, let’s talk about what are the requirements to install a Sri Lanka eSIM on your device to get all your data in no time!
The first thing you need to have is an eSIM-compatible phone with open bands so it can connect to the local networks in Sri Lanka. That way, getting a reliable network connection won’t be complicated.
Also, to scan the QR code, you need an internet connection to complete the installation of the new eSIM profile.
Now that you know this, here’s what you need to do to activate your eSIM to visit Sri Lanka:
- Android:
- Go to your device “Settings” and then “Connections.”
- Press on “SIM Manager” and choose “Add eSIM.”
- Scan the QR code you received in your email and wait a few seconds until it is installed. You will also receive an activation code in case you need to do this process manually.
- iPhone:
- Go to “Settings” and then “Mobile Data.”
- Press on “Add Data Plan” and scan the QR code you received in your email to add your eSIM.
- There’s no manual installation on the iPhone. Also, depending on your carrier, your eSIM can be installed automatically, like what happens when using the Holafly iOS app.
Conclusion
So, now that you know what each provider offers, the price of their eSIMs, what features these include for the destination you are visiting, and much more, you can stay connected while in Sri Lanka at affordable prices.
With the available data plans from these carriers, you won’t have to worry about mobile data while on your trip.
Now, what’s the best option to get an eSIM data plan for Sri Lanka? For us, it has to be Holafly. With this company, you can get the exact eSIM data plan for the exact amount of days you plan to travel, and you won’t have to enable roaming to spend a lot of money to stay connected.
So, now it’s your turn to get yours to stay connected in Sri Lanka with unlimited mobile data!
FAQ about the Sri Landa eSIM
Yes. If you have a SIM card from Airtel, you can travel to Sri Lanka and pay for international roaming while there.
