Use Cell phone in Egypt: How much does it cost? (Guide for travelers)

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In case you intend to go to Egypt any time soon, then this guide will help you a lot. As this is a country that many people tend to visit, knowing how to stay communicated is a good idea for many of us. So let’s see what people have to know to use their cell phones in Egypt.

Here you will learn all about how to have Mobile internet in Egypt. So, it might be good for you to see everything we have to tell here as this guide will even be helpful on future trips.

Contents

Can I use my cell phone in Egypt?

There aren’t many things people can do with their cellphones while in Egypt, to be fair. But, not knowing how to access the international internet can end up giving headaches to lots of travelers. The only thing that is actually needed here is to have an open-band device.

The rest of the things aren’t as important as this one, because if your cellphone doesn’t have open bands, then communicating can actually become a problem for you. Other than that, there’s no need to worry about it.

TechnologyBands
5G bandsNo 5G networks are available for now.
4G bandsLTE 2100
3G bandsUMTS 2100
2G bandsGSM 900, GSM 1800
Table N°1. Network frequencies in Egypt. Source: gsmarena.com

What are the options for using a cell phone in Egypt?

As for now, there are different options for people to use their cell phones in Egypt. We can choose from classic options such as SIM cards or Pocket WiFi devices to brand-new technologies such as an International eSIM. Let’s talk more about these options.

eSIM for traveling abroad

eSIM for Egypt
eSIM for Egypt. Source: Holafly.

One of the first option available to people to consider using is, undoubtedly, an eSIM for Egypt. These digital SIM cards are making things easier for travelers, making them one of the most used options in internationally.

And, now that we are talking about eSIM cards, we can recommend people to use the Holafly eSIM Egypt with unlimited data . This one is a good option for all kinds of travelers, and we are going to see a bit of what they offer. 

Days of useAmount of cellular dataPrice (USD)
5 daysUnlimited data27
7 daysUnlimited data34
10 daysUnlimited data37
15 daysUnlimited data47
20 daysUnlimited data54
Table N°2. Prices of Holafly’s eSIM data variants for Egypt

Something we can’t simply forget to mention here are the advantages and disadvantages of the service, so let’s talk about them in depth.

Advantages

eSIMs have plenty of advantages, especially in this all-digital era where people want to make things simpler.

  • Works with 4G networks and provides high-speed connection to people.
  • If bought with Holafly, it gives access to 24/7 customer support!
  • Recharge your eSIM through top-ups.
  • eSIMs won’t change people’s phone numbers.
  • Only requires a QR code to be activated.

Disadvantages

Are there disadvantages when using this service? Well, yes, but there aren’t many things to worry about here.

  • eSIMs are only available for use on one device
  • eSIMs only work in last-gen cell phones and smartwatches.
  • Travelers can’t make regular phone calls or send out text messages with the eSIM.

International SIM Card

Now, let’s talk about an alternative that most people might not think that was going to be on our list. International SIM cards are among the most famous options for travelers, and there are many reasons why.

For those wondering, there are many companies offering this service to people. For us, the Egypt SIM card from online stores is the most reliable option due to everything it has to offer. Now, we have to talk about the pros and cons of the service, so let’s see what we can expect from it.

SIM card advantages

SIM cards have been slowly evolving up to the point where it has many advantages, and we are going to see which are those advantages right now.

  • People won’t need to change their cellphone number to use this SIM card.
  • Some SIM cards provide people with a new phone number to use in Egypt.

SIM card negative aspects

To keep going on our list, it’s time to talk about those negative points the SIM card has. Gratefully, there aren’t many of them, so let’s get to it.

  • Only works with open-band devices.
  • Might run out of cellular data before the trip ends.

Pocket WiFi for Egypt

An alternative that was used long ago is still available for many travelers today. The Pocket WiFi Egypt service can be the solution many travelers need, but the service is quite expensive for many of us.

Even though it will give people access to cellular data for up to a week, the high price of over $100 to rent this device is making things easier for other alternatives to become more famous.

Free WiFi in Egypt

Egypt has become one of the most visited countries in Asia. Therefore, they have invested a lot in giving people access to free WiFi hotspots around many cities, just to help people stay connected with ease.

But, this option should be the last one to consider as these hotspots aren’t always easy to find. Still, if you want to make things easier, using Avast Wi-Fin Finder, WinMan, or WiFi Map can be a good idea.

Can I use my phone service in Egypt?

It will mostly depend on what service you have on your cellphone. There are many services out there offering people the chance to use a roaming service for Egypt, but it is not as cheap as people might think.

But, that will depend on what people actually want. We will talk about two services and see what they offer to their clients.

Using my cell phone in Egypt with AT&T

AT&T is a service that is mostly used by American citizens. There aren’t many things to worry about when using one as their roaming service also reaches Egypt.

They offer people two different roaming services. The first one only gives people access to phone calls, and it costs $15 per line to activate the service.

The other option we have is to get the International Travel Pass, which only costs $10 per day.

Using my cell phone in Egypt with Vodafone

Vodafone is an alternative for people who are living in the UK. They have different plans available for people who want to travel around the world, and we can tell you that Egypt is part of the list of countries where the roaming service works.

Now, for people who are traveling to Egypt, this service costs $7.2 per day. There aren’t other things that people have to know about this service, only the price to pay.

Local mobile operators in Egypt

Do you want to use a local Mobile operator in Egypt? It can actually be something hard to do. The cellular companies available there focuses on Egyptian citizens, which can make things hard for travelers. Still, people can give it a try if they’d like to.

How much does it cost to use my cell phone in Egypt?

Up to this point we have talked about many things. Some of them will be useful even in the future for some people, but it’s time to remember what we told before. So, pay attention as this might be useful for you in future adventures you take all around the world.

Service Internet tariff in Egypt
eSIM card EgyptUnlimited data for 15 days at 47 USD
AT&T roaming in Egypt$10 with the International Travel Pass
Vodafone Roaming in Egypt7.2 USD per day depending on the destination
Pocket WiFi for EgyptFrom 50 to 349.99 USD for a week of usage.
Public WiFi in EgyptFree
Table N°4. Rates of the different options to connect to the internet in Egypt

The only thing we have to say here is that this guide is not only helpful for people who are in Egypt. It actually might be helpful for travelers who are going to other locations, so keep that in mind for future traveling occasions.

To close things up, the only thing we have to say here is a recommendation. The Holafly service is pretty good, so keep that in mind when choosing an eSIM card.

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