Mobile internet in Brazil: What is the best option?

Brazil is a South American country full of beautiful beaches, and extraordinary jungles, which is why many people are naturally seduced to explore this enchanting country. So if you will be traveling to Brazil soon, you are probably wondering how to get a Mobile internet connection in this country, to keep in touch with family and friends, or simply share your experience on social media. 

So we have made things easier for you, and through this article, we will carry out a general overview of different options to get internet for your trip to Brazil. You will learn about different alternatives, their features, prices, advantages, and disadvantages. Keep reading to find out which one will be the best option for you. 

Mobile internet in Brazil

Having Mobile internet in Brazil means that you’ll be able to access the Internet from your smartphone or tablet. Currently, there are a lot of alternatives with which you can stay connected to the internet while traveling to Brazil, and through this article, we will be talking about the following alternatives:

• Prepaid SIM card 
• eSIM cards 
• International roaming 
• Pocket WiFi
• Free WiFi

You should take into account that before choosing the best option for your travel, you should know about each and every one of them. As well as the coverage you will have with each option in different parts of the country. The costs and expenses that you’ll have to cover and check how they fit into your budget, and many other things that we will be talking to you about today.

Brazil internet providers

Acquiring a SIM card from one of the options mentioned above is not complicated, you can do it through virtual stores, physical stores before you travel, or when you arrive in Brazil. And even, you can find many Brazil internet providers in places like the airport, supermarkets, among others. Next, we will start talking much more in-depth about each of these options, 

Prepaid SIM Card for Brazil

The international data SIM is a card, just like the one you have in your cell phone and use at home, that gives you the possibility to connect to the internet from another country without worrying about cost overruns. You buy the card with the internet features you are most interested in, put it on your device and you will be able to enjoy your travels connected to the internet in Brazil.

These prepaid SIM cards are very easy to purchase. You can buy them either through online stores, such as Holafly, a well-known Spanish store. Or through physical stores of operators in Brazil. Whichever option you choose, you will be able to acquire one of these SIM cards for Brazil. However, some have more advantages than others. We will talk more about them below. 

Claro shops in Brazil

Claro is the most reputable cellular phone and internet operator in Brazil. It is known for having the fastest Mobile internet in Brazil, according to Speedtest, and offers services in 2G, 3G, and 4G. You can make unlimited calls to any operator in Brazil using code 21, and you will have APPs to browse without limits that do not consume your internet plan.

Vivo Shops

This company offers prepaid plans to navigate at 4.5G with the possibility of making and receiving unlimited calls from and to any operator in Brazil. Also, if you don’t get to use the whole data package, what you have leftover is accrued for the following week. On the other hand, they have plans with data amounts of 2 GB, 3 GB, and 4 GB for seven days.

Tim’s online shop

This company offers a network connection speed of 4.5G for plans with data amounts of 25 and 26 GB that for 30 days which include all the WhatsApp functions and unlimited social networks surfing! However, technical support is only available in Portuguese.

Holafly SIM Card for Brazil

If you want to buy a SIM card from an online store before starting your trip, then Holafly is a very good option. You should take into account its different variants (days, number of GB, and price):

This physical SIM card for Mobile internet in this country also has advantages and disadvantages, which you should take into account.

Advantages of Holafly’s SIM card for Brazil

• This physical SIM card also works in other countries such as Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Costa Rica.
• You keep your WhatsApp number.
• 24-hour support from the Holafly team, in case you have a connection problem.
• The Brazil SIM card includes a phone number, and you can use this number to receive calls.
• Simple installation and activation instructions.
• Connection speed on 3G networks.

Disadvantages of Holafly’s SIM card for Brazil

• It does not allow Mobile data sharing.
• Although the connection is fast, it is anchored to 3G networks.
• It does not include SMS, nor does it allow to make voice calls.

International eSIM for traveling to Brazil

If you are in a hurry and need to find a way of having Mobile internet fast, then your option could be an eSIM for Brazil or as we like to call it, a virtual SIM card. It is a device of smaller dimensions than the nano-SIM. It’s a new kind of SIM card type, so it does not require conventional installation and is implemented in the software of your cell phone, tablet, or smartwatch.

It is the direct evolution of the SIM cards that have accompanied us since the early 2000s. So if you would like to get one of these, then first must know everything about them. 

eSIM Brazil by Holafly

The second option to have Mobile internet in Brazil is through a virtual alternative. This is the virtual eSIM data, a device that is booming in the cellular telephony industry. A recommended place to buy this virtual SIM card is Holafly’s online store, and its eSIM for Brazil has the following prices:

It is time for you to know about the advantages and disadvantages of carrying this virtual SIM card in your cell phone during your trip. 

Advantages of Holafly’s eSIM for mobile internet in Brazil

• Easy installation of the eSIM through a QR code.
• Share your Mobile data with more devices.
• You keep your WhatsApp number in your own language, to continue using this app.
• It is possible to use the eSIM and the physical SIM at the same time.
• Holafly’s 24-hour attention and support through the store’s virtual chat. There is also support via WhatsApp and email.
• High-speed internet connection, generally in 4G networks.

Some negative points of the eSIM Brazil

• It is an eSIM for internet connection only.
• It does not include local or international calls.
• No text messages are available.
• It is not a toppable eSIM.
• Not all phones on the market today are compatible with eSIM technology. 

Roaming in Brazil with your local operator

Roaming is another way to stay connected to the internet in Brazil. It is the service provided by any operator for consuming MB, SMS, and making calls abroad. International roaming is an option, but it has certain disadvantages to take into account. Generally, the rates of the service from your Mobile operator are usually more expensive than in your home country. Here are some international operators that offer international roaming to their users. 

O2

This is a famous operator from the UK, and they offer their users the possibility of having international roaming by just paying 6 USD per day of use in Brazil. It is somehow, a very cheap option. They also give users access to their local data allowance, which can be extended, and unlimited text messages and phone calls too.

AT&T

If you live in the USA and are currently an AT&T user, then you can also activate your roaming when traveling to Brazil. Depending on your plan you will be able to acquire different benefits. First of all, many users can use the International Day Pass, with which you will have unlimited high-speed data, make calls, and send and receive text messages for 10 USD per day. On the other hand, you can also make use of daily MB paying 2.05 USD per MB. 

Telstra

Finally, if you are a Telstra user, and you have one of the Upfront cellular plans, you can activate International Roaming Day Pass to China by paying 10$, which will give you unlimited calls and SMS, plus 500MB of data. However, you can also pay 3 USD per MB with the pay-as-you-go option, if you prefer. 

Pocket Wifi for Internet in Brazil

Another good option for having Mobile internet in Brazil is the Pocket WiFi, it is a portable device, capable of managing a wireless connection and being able to share Mobile internet with other devices. Pocket wifi is a good tool to connect to the internet on your travels, especially if you need to connect several devices at the same time. But this portable device is not very practical for constant use.

MioWiFi is a company from Argentina where you can rent a Pocket WiFi for Brazil. The price of renting their Pocket WiFi is $64 a week with limited Mobile data. The shipping is around 40 to 50 USD depending on where the device is going. The last thing to know about the Pocket WiFi Brazil service is that if the device is damaged or lost, the company charges $260 immediately to their customer.

Another option for renting a Pocket WiFi is My Webspot. They are based in Europe, but they offer the Pocket WiFi Brazil service as well. This company will charge $83.85, and the service is limited to 1GB per day plus 11 USD for shipping. If you lose or damage the device, as seen in other companies, they will charge around $204 to 102 to the customer. 

Free WiFi

Finally, we bring you the cheapest option of all, since you will not have to pay a single dollar for the using this option. Yes, we are talking about free wifi. It is very common to find in a country like Brazil places that offer free WiFi, either in hotels, shopping malls, or supermarkets, among others. 

However, you must take into account that although you will not spend anything by having free wifi, it tends to be very insecure and unstable, since you will have to be close to the wifi spot to stay connected. So we recommend that you do not have it as the first option in case you want to be always connected to the internet.