Mobile internet in Brazil: What is the best option?

Traveling to Brazil soon and looking for the best way to stay connected? Travel SIM cards, eSIMs, data roaming, and pocket WiFi are all viable options, each with their own pros and cons. Follow along as we take a closer look at each of them, hopefully helping you to make your pick.

Internet access in Brazil

Brazil has the sixth-highest number of internet users in the world, with more than 181 million users in total. This alone makes it obvious that internet access is plentiful in the country, and you won’t have any issues staying connected. 

The country doesn’t have much internet censorship either. While Brazil has banned social media platforms such as Facebook, X, or TikTok in the past, most bans aren’t permanent and were put in place to protect users from disinformation or other threats. The bans are typically lifted when the threats decline.

To enjoy the internet in Brazil without restrictions, simply get yourself a data plan from one of the sources below. Let’s take an in-depth look at each of them.

eSIM for Brazil

Over the last few years, eSIMs have emerged as the easiest, most convenient way to stay connected when traveling. Since it’s completely digital, you can buy your eSIM for Brazil online and set it up in a matter of minutes. Any international eSIM will connect you to local internet service providers, ensuring the best internet speed and coverage possible.

You do need an eSIM-compatible phone to use eSIMs. However, that shouldn’t be an issue, as most modern phones support eSIM technology nowadays. You’ll also want to make sure that it’s unlocked to be used on foreign networks, otherwise, the phone won’t work in Brazil. 

eSIM Brazil by Holafly

If you’re looking for the best eSIM for Brazil, look no further than Holafly. All Holafly plans offer unlimited data, 24/7 customer support, and up to 500 MB of data sharing daily. The eSIM supports up to 5G speeds, so you’ll be able to enjoy a lightning-fast connection in Brazil’s cities.

Holafly offers coverage in 200 destinations in total, with regional plans available as well. If you plan to explore more of Latin America on the same trip, you can simply get an eSIM for Latin America and stay connected anywhere in the continent without having to buy a new card every time you cross a border.

With over 50,000 reviews on Trustpilot and an average rating of 4.6/5, Holafly is the most trusted eSIM provider in the world. There’s no need to look for anything else when you can join 1+ million satisfied customers and enjoy unlimited data in Brazil.

Connectivity made easy

Activate your eSIM for Brazil in a few simple steps and manage your plan through our dedicated app.

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Prepaid SIM card

Using a prepaid travel SIM card for Brazil is a great option if you don’t have an eSIM-compatible device. It offers a very similar service, with the key difference being that you have to buy a physical SIM card instead of a digital product. This also means that, unless you have a dual-SIM phone, you’ll have to remove your regular SIM card for the duration of your stay.

Finding travel SIM cards shouldn’t be hard, though. You’ll find stands by local providers in any international airport in Brazil, as well as larger retail stores or dedicated cellular provider customer centers in most cities. Look for a SIM card from any of the providers below while in Brazil for a reliable mobile internet experience.

Claro

Claro is the most reputable cellular service and mobile internet provider in Brazil. According to OpenSignal, Claro offers the fastest mobile internet in Brazil both for download and upload speed. Claro travel SIMs also provide a cell phone number that you can use to make calls and send SMS messages.

Vivo

While Claro may have the best average network connection speed, Vivo stands out for the best 5G speeds according to the same research. They offer several different travel SIM data plans, however, no unlimited data plans are available.

TIM

TIM has received the Consistent Quality as well as 5G Video Experience awards from OpenSignal, making it one of the most reliable networks in Brazil. Just like Vivo, it has a range of different data plans, though all of them have a fixed amount of data.

Data roaming

Data roaming is another way to stay connected to the internet in Brazil. It could be argued that it’s the most convenient option, since it only requires you to enable data roaming on your phone to use mobile internet on your regular SIM card. However, data roaming is also one of the most expensive mobile internet options, which is why most users look for a cheaper alternative.

Here are the data roaming rates from some of the biggest cellular service providers in the world:

As you can see, some providers offer day passes, which is the only reasonable option to use data roaming. The pay-as-you-go rates tend to be outrageous and you can easily run up a bill in the hundreds of dollars if you’re active on online platforms or decide to watch a movie or two on data roaming.

Pocket WiFi

Pocket WiFi is a great way to stay connected if you’re traveling in a group and need to maintain multiple internet connections at once. It’s much more expensive than eSIMs or travel SIM cards, however, if you split the costs within the group it can prove to be an affordable option.

You can either buy a pocket WiFi device and buy data plans whenever you travel, or rent a device with the data plan included. MioWiFi and My Webspot are two of the best options for renting the device, with prices ranging from $60 to $84 for a week of limited data.

Keep in mind that that’s just the price for the rental itself, you’ll also have to pay an additional delivery fee which can range from $10 to $50 depending on the delivery address. On top of that, you may have to pay for insurance or cover damages if you lose or damage the device. This can easily make the price of pocket WiFi $100/week or more.

Free WiFi

If you’re desperate for an internet connection, free WiFi is always an option. Bigger cities in Brazil such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, or Brasilia have many spots where free WiFi is available but keep in mind that you may need to buy things like coffee, lunch, or other goods to gain access to such networks. 

If you weren’t planning for a coffee in the first place, the WiFi turns out to be not so free after all.

Besides that, free WiFi tends to be slower, less reliable, and less secure than mobile networks. It’s a good idea to simply use the free WiFi to buy an eSIM or find your way to the closest place that sells travel SIMs. 

Due to possible cybersecurity risks, it’s not sage to use Facebook, Instagram, or other social media platforms while on free WiFi. As a matter of fact, it’s best to avoid any apps or websites that require you to log in or add personal details, especially if you’re not using a VPN.

Choose a fast and secure connection with Holafly eSIMs

All in all, eSIMs offer the best way to stay connected in Brazil thanks to being affordable and easy to use. Holafly just so happens to offer the best eSIMs for Brazil, with unlimited data included in all plans, ensuring that even the heaviest social media users or movie enthusiasts will never run out of data during a Brazil trip.

On top of that, you get 24/7 customer support in case you experience issues or encounter questions. A flexible refund policy that keeps your money safe, and up to 500 MB of data sharing to keep your travel buddies connected on the same eSIM plan.

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Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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