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Will my phone work in the Dominican Republic? A guide for US travelers
Wondering if your phone will work in the Dominican Republic? Learn how to get cell service, use roaming with US carriers, and choose eSIM to save money.
First time in the Dominican Republic? You must be wondering if your phone will work. You’re not alone – staying connected is one of the top concerns for first-time visitors. The short answer is yes, most modern cell phones will work in the Dominican Republic, but it depends on your carrier, the phone’s model, and your service type.
In this article, you’ll learn if your phone will work in the Dominican Republic, what the cell service is like there, and what other options you can explore to stay connected.
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How to get cell service in the Dominican Republic
Your US phone will almost certainly work in the Dominican Republic. Still, there are two things to keep check to make sure you get cell service during your trip:
Check if your phone is compatible with Dominican networks
Ensure your phone supports the same network technology and frequency bands used in the Dominican Republic. Most modern phones are compatible with international bands, but it’s still smart to confirm if your phone works with local networks like Claro or Altice. The best way to do this is to call your carrier and ask directly. Your other option is to use online tools such as Kimovil. Simply enter your phone model, and it will show whether you can get cell service in the Dominican Republic without problems.
Check if your phone is unlocked
A locked phone is restricted to work only on a specific network or carrier. If you try to use a SIM card from a different carrier on a locked phone, it won’t work.
An unlocked phone is necessary to use a local SIM card or an eSIM from a Dominican carrier. Phones locked to a specific US provider may not work with other networks. You can contact your US carrier to confirm whether your phone is unlocked or to request unlocking if that’s an option for your specific situation. You can also check if your phone is unlocked by looking for a “No SIM restrictions” message in the About section of your phone.
Will my local plan support a Dominican Republic phone service?
US service providers partner with local mobile carriers to provide you with cell service in the Dominican Republic. You can connect to the local network, but roaming in the Dominican Republic means additional charges. Roaming applies to calls, texts, and data.
AT&T in the Dominican Republic
AT&T has coverage available in the Dominican Republic. They offer an International Day Pass for $12 per day. You can easily use your phone abroad just like you do at home with your domestic data, text, and call plan. So, while it is easy, access can become expensive if you plan on an extended stay.
The exception to this rule is the AT&T Unlimited Premium users. These users get unlimited data, texts, and calls in the Dominican Republic without roaming charges.
Verizon in the Dominican Republic
Verizon also offers cell service in the Dominican Republic. Like AT&T, it offers an International Travel Pass for $10 per day for use of your regular data and voice plan.
Verizon’s coverage is pretty good throughout the tourist regions, including Punta Cana and Santo Domingo.
T-Mobile in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is included as one of the 215+ supported destinations for T-Mobile users.
T-Mobile users on any Essentials plan will receive unlimited texts for free and calling at $0.25 per minute when in the Dominican Republic. If you have one of the eligible higher plans, like Go5G™ or Magento MAX plans, you can qualify for free 2G or 5G data.
T-Mobile also offers international roaming passes for the Dominican Republic, starting at $5 for a 512 MB, 1-day pass and reaching $50 for a 30 GB, 15-day pass.
Cell phone service in the Dominican Republic
Even if you’re using your international plan, you will be connecting through a local network. So, it’s useful to have at least a general idea about the local network coverage. Dominican Republic cell service is generally quite good, with various local providers offering coverage across most of the country.
The three leading Dominican Republic cell service networks are Altice Mobile, Claro Mobile, and Viva. Depending on where you’ll spend your time in the Dominican Republic, you may want to check the coverage map.
Claro Mobile coverage
Claro has the best 5G coverage in the Dominican Republic. Their cell phone service network seems to be the best developed, and it serves 5G in places such as Punta Cana, which usually doesn’t get more than 4G with other providers.
Altice Mobile coverage
Altice Mobile is the second-largest network on the list. It covers most of the same places as Claro but only has 5G in major urban areas such as Santo Domingo and Santiago. However, you can expect up to 4G in Punta Cana with Altice.
Viva Mobile coverage
Viva Mobile has the weakest cell service in the Dominican Republic, with most places receiving only 3G. It doesn’t offer 5G connectivity, even in Santo Domingo. The area around Punta Cana is lightly covered with 3G and the occasional regions with 4G.
Best options to stay connected in the Dominican Republic
You don’t have to rely on your local phone operator for your phone to work in the Dominican Republic.
Whether buying an eSIM for the Dominican Republic, choosing a local SIM card, or renting a pocket WiFi, there’s an option for everyone to stay connected in the DR.
Let’s explore them all in some more depth:
Using a SIM Card
If your phone isn’t eSIM-compatible, there’s another way that’s been around for a while longer–a local SIM card. Upon arrival at the airport or in-store, you can get one from local providers like Claro or Altice. Of course, this is one of the more budget-friendly options for getting data, calls, and texts for your stay.
On the other hand, switching SIM cards, contacting customer support, or even working out which plans work best for you can be inconvenient. Additionally, if your phone doesn’t support two SIM cards, you’ll be only available at your Dominican number.
Renting a pocket WiFi device
You can also rent a Pocket WiFi device without depending on local SIM or eSIM cards. Such portable devices can connect your multiple devices to the WiFi network while traveling. Remember that renting a pocket WiFi has quite considerable prices: approximately from $50 to $100 weekly. At this price, this option makes sense only for those who need high-speed internet on many devices.
Using the option of free WiFi
Another option for staying online without extra expenses is using free WiFi. Most hotels, cafes, and restaurants offer free WiFi. Convenient as it may be, this alternative may not always be as reliable or secure, so avoid accessing sensitive information when connected to such networks.
Using an eSIM
This is the most convenient way to stay connected during your trip to the Dominican Republic. You keep your primary number, don’t have to swap SIM cards, and can access 24/7 customer support in English. Plus, you have unlimited data during your entire stay.
All this, of course, is available if you choose the best eSIM card for the Dominican Republic. There are many options out there, but here’s why Holafly stands out.
Holafly offers the best eSIM for the Dominican Republic, with unlimited data for $7.90 for a single day up to $234.90 for 90 days. You choose exactly how many days you want it to be active. If you decide to stay longer, you can top up easily. The eSIM is activated via scanning a QR code, and it takes seconds to set it up and start using your unlimited data.
Keep your phone number
Receive verification codes and log into your WhatsApp while you're in the DR.
Will your phone work? The final answer
Yes, your phone will probably work in the Dominican Republic, especially if you are with major US carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. They have international plans and different roaming passes.
But, if you want to avoid high prices, and maintain the same quality of service, you can take the easy route and get your Holafly eSIM. With Holafly, you only pay for the days you’re using it, you never run out of data, and you have access to 24/7 customer service. Decided to stay longer? You can easily top-up your eSIM through the Holafly app.
It’s a convenient, affordable, and hassle-free way of staying connected that most seasoned travelers use nowadays.
FAQs about Dominican Republic cell service
Yes, most US cell phones will work in the Dominican Republic if they support GSM networks and the necessary frequency bands. For example, if you connect to Claro Mobile, you need to check if your phone supports their frequency bands: 2G (1900 MHz network). 3.5G (850 MHz network). 4G LTE (1700 MHz – 2100 MHz). Also, check with your carrier regarding roaming fees or whether you could use a local SIM or eSIM.
iPhones work in Punta Cana, but you need to be sure that your carrier supports international roaming or that you use a local SIM card or an eSIM. Just make sure your iPhone is unlocked so you can use a local SIM or eSIM.
Yes, the Dominican Republic is included in Verizon’s international coverage through its TravelPass plan. For $10 per day, you can use your regular data, text, and call plan just like you would in the US. Be sure to activate TravelPass before your trip to avoid high roaming charges.
To avoid high roaming charges, we recommend using a local SIM card, eSIM, or pocket WiFi. You can also use free WiFi in hotels, restaurants, and public places to access the internet.
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
