Best prepaid SIM Card for Spain: prices and where to buy?

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Enjoy the wonders that Spain offers you with a comfortable and low-cost internet connection like the one provided by the Spain SIM Card. Share your best moments visiting the imposing monuments that this country has for you, such as the Sagrada Familia or the Plaza de España. We encourage you to read this article because here you will find everything you need to know to buy, use and activate your prepaid SIM card.

Among other alternatives, we can find international roaming, which is usually expensive, and renting a pocket wifi which is impractical. In addition to the physical SIM card, we have the embedded SIM card for Spain. The latter makes it even easier to access mobile internet for travelers within the country

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Where to buy a SIM card in Spain?

To buy a prepaid SIM card for Spain, it is best to use an online store before your trip, as this way, you can avoid the long queues that form in the stores at airports in Spain. Also, the purchase and activation process in online stores is so simple and fast that it won’t take you more than minutes to do it from the comfort of your home.

In addition to the online stores, you can purchase the SIM card in commercial establishments in Spain. In most cases, these establishments are located in the main airports, such as Adolfo Suarez Airport and Los Llanos Airport, among others.

Easy to buy

If you are unsure about trying online stores to buy your SIM card for Spain, it is by far the most accessible alternative for tourists. There are a lot of suppliers on the web that sell and deliver these SIM cards all over the world. You should confirm if they can ship to your country before choosing a store. Beyond that, you will see that they have very complete data plans at an excellent price. They also make the purchase process easy and allow you to have your mobile internet secured in Spain before you arrive.

There is an alternative for everyone, and if you are still not convinced by the remote solutions, you can wait until you arrive in the country and look for a physical store to buy your local SIM card. This is less advisable as you must look for addresses in a country you are unfamiliar with and without internet access. Also, keep in mind that SIM card availability may depend on the branch you choose and even your arrival time.

Buy before you travel.

It is better to arrive in Spain without worries and buy your prepaid SIM card before arriving. Being connected has become very important to us, so arriving abroad without the internet can be problematic. Nowadays, you have various options on the web where you can buy these SIM cards. The remote alternatives have just as good service as the local options because they use the same coverage networks. 

We are also in the age of evolution, and now not only do we have physical SIM cards, but we also have eSIM for Spain. Online stores sell these virtual options, which do not require physical installation, so you don’t have to wait for international shipping. With a virtual SIM card for Spain, you will have excellent service in the country, with immediate delivery from home or once you are at your destination. Whether it is a traditional SIM card or an eSIM, if you have it before arriving, you will take the most comfortable way as a tourist.

Buy upon arrival

Now finally, we have another option, a little less efficient, to wait to arrive in Spain and buy a local SIM card. There are numerous telephone companies in the country. However, the entire communications network operates under the coverage of three, which are the largest. These local operators are Movistar, Vodafone, and Orange, with which you can buy a prepaid SIM card for tourists. 

When you take this route, you will rely on public wifi networks to stay connected until you are able to purchase and install a SIM card. Locally you must go through a registration process. Usually, the agent at the establishment will help you with this. In some cases, you may be asked to verify the IMEI of your phone and its compatibility with local networks. To use your mobile phone in Spain, it must have the same frequency bands used in Spain.

Movistar, Vodafone, and Orange stores in Spain

Thanks to the number of mobile operators in the country, throughout Spain, we can find many physical stores to buy local SIM cards. We have alternatives in shopping malls, authorized operator stores, electronics, and phone stores. Finally, it is also possible to buy in the international airports of the country, using the maps inside the terminals to locate these stores. 

We recommend you investigate before arriving which each telephone company offers prepaid packages. This way, once you arrive, you will have in mind what you want and will be able to communicate more quickly what you want. Remember that a lot of information in Spain will be in the local language, so if you are not fluent, it can be an obstacle. With all this in mind, you will be ready to buy a SIM card for Spain in the country.

How much does a SIM card cost to travel to Spain?

In Spain, as in most European countries, we can consider an average price range for a prepaid SIM card. Prepaid options start at 10$ for 50GB of browsing to use in a month. If you are a high-spend person, there are options up to $45 for 190GB of surfing to u

se in a month. On many occasions, SIM cards for Spain include calls and messages to local numbers. If you are interested in sharing data, you should check if this does not incur an additional fee.

The three operators mentioned above have a whole catalog of prepaid packages for you to choose from. You just have to choose one. However, a solution with unlimited data and calls (120 minutes) that you can buy and install almost immediately is the Holafly eSIM for Spain, which you will see below.

eSIM card for Spain, the new alternative

eSIM rates for Spain in Holafly online store . Source: Holafly

Didn’t manage to buy your SIM card beforehand? If you didn’t manage to buy your SIM card from home, then don’t worry, with the eSIM you will be able to connect to the Internet from Spain at a much cheaper price than other options such as roaming.

Best of all, you can do it from anywhere, before your trip or once you are there. Virtual SIM cards are the evolution of traditional SIM cards. To activate them, you just need to scan a QR code with your phone, and you can install it. They are more versatile and have excellent coverage in Spain, and Holafly has unlimited data plans with minutes for Spain.

Holafly’s eSIM for Spain is one of the best options you can take. You just have to check some points before buying one:

  • You must have a compatible phone to use eSIM for Spain. To help you verify this, use the list of compatible phones that Holafly has for you
  • The eSIM is virtual, and in just minutes, you can install them thanks to a QR code that you will receive in your email. For this, you must have a valid email address to which you have access.
  • Something important to know is that when you install your eSIM on your phone for the first time, you need an internet connection. It is recommended to do it from home or if you are in Spain with a secure wifi connection.

Holafly online store

As you can see, among all the options, one of the most outstanding is Holafly and their online store with eSIM for Spain. They offer excellent customer service in multiple languages recommended by their users. The language will not be an obstacle, thanks to the fact that you can use their website in more than ten languages. Finally, in the store, you can see the eSIM prices in five international currencies. They make it easy for their customers to buy

The digital SIM cards for Spain that Holafly sells are supported by the Movistar Spain network, one of the companies with the best service in the country. In all the data packages available for the destination, you will enjoy unlimited data and ideal durations for all types of stays. If you need to extend your service, you can easily purchase a top-up for the same destination.

Holafly also has in its catalog options with coverage in several countries. These regional eSIMs are for Europe, Asia, North America, South America, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. Ideal if your trip takes you to other countries so you don’t have to buy a new eSIM every time you cross a border.

You will also be able to have both your local SIM card and the virtual SIM card you purchase with Holafly simultaneously. Along with the installation QR code, you will also receive a quick setup guide. Holafly eSIMs are easy to use and install. It won’t take you more than a few minutes to get it ready to use.  Once you get home, you won’t have to install your SIM card again, so you won’t have any problems losing it.

Disadvantages of Holafly’s eSIM card

They have many advantages but also disadvantages among the eSIMs that Holafly offers. Currently, it is impossible to send text messages with this service. What you can do is use unlimited data is use apps such as WhatsApp or Skype.

How can I shop at Holafly? 

The purchase begins by logging into the official Holafly website and searching for the region or country you are traveling to. After that, you will see displayed all the data packages available for the destination. It’s time to choose one! Finally, you must proceed with the checkout. You have several payment methods, such as credit and debit cards and PayPal, among others, to complete the purchase. When you are done, you will receive the QR code to activate your eSIM.

How much does an eSIM for Spain cost?

The price of the eSIM card with data for Spain in the Holafly online store can be found in the following table, in addition to the price, you can also see the number of days.

Days of use Available Mobile DataPrice (USD)
5 Days Unlimited Data with calls19 USD 
7 Days Unlimited Data with calls27 USD 
10 Days Unlimited Data with calls34 USD
15DaysUnlimited Data with calls47 USD
20 DaysUnlimited Data with calls54 USD
30 DaysUnlimited Data with calls64 USD
60 DaysUnlimited Data with calls84 USD
90 DaysUnlimited Data with calls99 USD
Table 1. eSIM Card rates available with Holafly’s Spain data. Source: Holafly

How much does the eSIM cost to travel to Europe?

If you want to enjoy a comfortable and accessible internet connection during your trip through the countries of Europe, we recommend you to buy the Multicountry Europe eSIM card, as with this eSIM you will be able to access the internet from the Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Days of use Available Mobile DataPrice (USD)
5 Days Unlimited Data with calls19 USD 
7 Days Unlimited Data with calls27 USD 
10 Days Unlimited Data with calls34 USD
15DaysUnlimited Data with calls47 USD
20 DaysUnlimited Data with calls54 USD
30 DaysUnlimited Data with calls64 USD
60 DaysUnlimited Data with calls84 USD
90 DaysUnlimited Data with calls99 USD
Table 2. eSIM Card rates available with Holafly’s Europe data. Source: Holafly

Frequently asked questions about the SIM card for Spain

What other options offer me internet in Spain?

During your trip to Spain, you will be able to connect to the internet from different means. Among these alternatives, you will find the roaming service and the Pocket Wifi. In the case of Pocket Wifi, it is quite uncomfortable to have to carry it with you at all times, because if you don’t, you will not be able to access the Internet. Another of its cons is that you should keep in mind is that it works on the basis of its battery, so you should always be aware that it is charged.

How much does roaming cost in Spain?

The rates vary greatly depending on the operator. It is recommended that you check with your operator before traveling.

What do I need to know to choose the best SIM card with data for Spain?

There are two aspects that you should take into account. The first is the amount of data you use on average. The second is the number of days you will be in Spain. Based on this data, you will be able to choose the best SIM card for your trip. This way you will avoid running out of data, or that your data loses validity during your trip to Spain.

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