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Argentina SIM card: Where to buy in 2024
Traveling to Argentina? Don't forget to stay connected while you travel. Find out more about the SIM Card for Argentina!
Heading off to Argentina soon? You’ll need your passport, tango shoes, Spanish dictionary — and a prepaid SIM card.
That’s right, if you plan to travel to this country and want to avoid usage restrictions and costly international roaming, you’ll need to think ahead.
In this article, we explore the offers of the top mobile providers for an Argentina SIM card — outlining their best data packages and how you can buy their SIM cards.
We also explain why many people visiting Argentina find eSIMs to be a better option.
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Where can I buy a SIM card for Argentina?
Finding a physical SIM card in Argentina requires some effort. It often involves visiting the official mobile provider’s store, such as Movistar.
It can be a lengthy, complicated process requiring various forms of ID. That said, visiting one of the small shops (called kioscos) allows you to top up quickly with a pay-as-you-go system.
If you are planning a trip to Argentina and you want to acquire a SIM card, you have three different options:
- Buy a local SIM card from a mobile operator’s official store.
- Purchase an Argentina prepaid SIM card from an online provider.
- Buy a virtual SIM card (known as an eSIM), a convenient option that can be purchased and installed online in minutes.
Buy your SIM card before you travel
Buying your SIM card before you travel means pre-ordering a SIM that works with local networks or buying an eSIM.
You can buy a SIM card at a physical store in Argentina, but this involves a lot of time and effort.
You can order your SIM card ahead of travel for pick up upon arrival. This enables you to find the pick-up location (typically a kiosk in the airport) ahead of time and avoids having to figure things out as you go.
Buy your SIM card in Argentina
You can also buy a physical SIM card after you touch down. In this case, you’ll probably opt for the airport or a local store.
Regardless of where you buy them, these SIM cards offer:
- 3G, 4G, and sometimes 5G network connection
- Reloadable data plans
- Low-cost minutes and texts
- Some plans include free apps
You’ll find shops that sell SIM cards run by mobile service providers in the airport arrival hall. For example, if arriving at Buenos Aires EZE airport, there’s a Personal store in arrivals where you can buy a SIM card for Argentina.
Alternatively, you can opt to buy a SIM card once you’ve left the airport. Although more complicated — due to the potential language barrier and lack of secure connection until you get your SIM — this often leads to cheaper plans.
SIM cards are typically more expensive when purchased at the airport. For example, there are several Movistar and Claro stores dotted across the Argentinian capital.
One thing to keep in mind when buying a SIM on arrival is that you’ll have to rely on airport WiFi (and sometimes no WiFi) until you get connected. This can be a stressful experience — not the strongest start to your South American adventure.
Another drawback is that most payments are made in cash in Argentina. Since you probably won’t be arriving with pesos, buying a physical SIM involves the added step of exchanging money first.
What is the best SIM card for Argentina?
We recommend these three top mobile operators in Argentina.
Movistar
Movistar is a good place to start when trying to get connected in Argentina.
If you’re searching for a SIM card in Buenos Aires, you’ll find many Movistar retail stores in the city center, as they’re one of the most popular operators in this country.
Movistar SIM cards often have the following features:
- Some of the data plans include free music streaming apps
- You can top-up the data plans
- Unlimited text apps in some plans
Movistar’s main tourist data package is a 5 GB plan, with 2 GB for use on social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as limited SMS messages.
The principal disadvantage is that these plans must be used within 30-day renewal periods — and if you run out of data, you’ll have to find the nearest top-up spot.
Claro
Many travelers opt for a Claro SIM card in Argentina. It’s one of the country’s leading network operators.
You’ll receive a temporary mobile number and a certain amount of mobile data, which can be topped up either in-store or through an app on your cell phone.
Claro offers tourist data packages from 2-25 GB. Plus, if you underestimate the amount of data you’ll need, you can easily top up your plan with Claro’s data packs.
Personal
An alternative Argentina SIM card option is Personal. Like the other two, it’s a popular local and tourist SIM card option, offering extensive coverage across Argentina.
Personal is also the only provider with a store in Ezeiza International Airport (opposite check-in desk 40).
However, contrary to popular practice, this store only accepts card payments, so it is a more expensive option if you’re paying with a foreign card.
If you want to save some extra dollars then it’s much better to buy your SIM in the city center, largely because of the Blue Dollar exchange rate.
You’ll need to visit the nearest Personal store with your documents (including a passport image) and compatible devices to set up your SIM cards in Argentina.
Like the other two providers, Personal offers a range of plans for getting connected in Argentina, which can be topped up in newsagents or on the Personal website.
These plans range from 3-30 GB, and all offer WhatsApp connectivity and messaging free of charge.
Use an eSIM as a SIM card alternative for Argentina
In Argentina, prepaid SIM cards aren’t hard to find, but buying and setting up a physical SIM can take precious time away from your holiday or work trip.
Compatible with most modern smartphones, an eSIM offers a convenient and flexible alternative to traditional SIM cards. You can buy, activate, and start using your eSIM in a matter of minutes.
Holafly’s eSIM card allows easy setup via a QR code. With data speed equal to local networks Movistar, Claro, and Personal, and seamless connectivity around the country, it’s a smart choice for travelers looking for a cheap, reliable connection.
Setting up your personalized Holafly eSIM involves selecting the destination and the number of days for your trip.
However, you can top up your eSIM whenever and wherever you need to. So, if your plans change, you don’t need to buy a new eSIM to extend your package — all it takes is a quick update.
How much does a Holafly eSIM card for Argentina cost?
Holafly eSIMs for Argentina start at $9.90 USD and increase depending on how much data you need, with each day of data reducing the average cost per day.
For example, a Holafly eSIM for a two-week trip to Argentina costs $48.90 in total, which comes out at only $3.49 per day.
Holafly eSIMs are an affordable alternative to buying a prepaid or pay-as-you-go local SIM card, or even buying physical SIM cards online before your trip.
Forget the hassle of having to open that little SIM card drawer in your phone.
You can access unlimited mobile data with fast and reliable connectivity. You can also manage your plan through your app or on the Holafly website.
You even have 500 MB of hotspot data to share with friends and family on the go.
Stay connected in Argentina with Holafly
Tracking down a local SIM card from an Argentina phone provider can be a headache—and you’ll probably need mobile data to find one in the first place.
While you can buy before you fly, you’ll only be able to pick up your physical SIM card once you’ve arrived in Argentina.
This means you’ll need to navigate to an airport store upon arrival or venture into the city (WiFi-less) to collect your SIM card.
You can also buy your SIM at a local store, although, in Argentina, the two experiences are very similar — stressful, uncertain, and not a fun start to your trip — given the need to pick your SIM up in person.
If you want a convenient, flexible option for getting connected in Argentina, you need an eSIM. An eSIM allows you to get connected from the second you touch down, and avoids all the hassle (and cost!) associated with buying a physical SIM card from Movistar, Claro, or Personal.
When it comes to finding the right eSIM provider, Holafly’s eSIMs are your go-to. The virtual SIM card for Argentina works with Movistar networks, the best operators in the country, with unlimited data, high data speeds, and wide accessibility.
With a fast, stable connection and 24/7 customer support on hand, you can rest easy and use the time to visit the Mercado de San Telmo or the La Bombonera stadium. Try Holafly today to get connected in minutes.
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Based in London, Liv has spent the past year and half working for dslx from various cities including Barcelona, Buenos Aires and La Paz. Liv has always been interested in writing, having studied French and Spanish literature at undergrad, with a background in journalism. Having spent a year working full-time for dslx, Liv is working part-time alongside a Master's degree. When not working, she can be found cold water swimming, running half marathons, or rating London's best veggie restaurants.
