Traveling to Mexico is one of my favorite things to do in the world. I lived in and traveled around the country for over five years, and whenever I return now, it feels like coming home.
Whether you’re headed to a resort area like Cancun or Los Cabos, or you’re hitting up the cities like Mexico City or Merida, you’ll want to make sure that you stay connected.
While it is much easier these days to find WiFi at hotels and cafes, if you don’t have data while traveling around Mexico, you won’t be able to use Google Maps to navigate between destinations, look up the details of a restaurant you just walked past to see if it’s any good, or send a WhatsApp message to the tour guide that you are supposed to be meeting, but they haven’t shown up yet.
Plenty of phone companies in the US allow you to use your phone when you are traveling abroad, but the fees can really add up if you’re traveling for a week or two. While it may be more convenient to use roaming data, it will be far more expensive.
The best option for always ensuring that you have data when you travel to Mexico is to get an eSIM. This is a virtual SIM card that most cell phones are equipped to set up.
All you have to do is download an app, purchase the eSIM, and follow the instructions for getting it set up. You can even set it up before you leave home, so as soon as you land in Mexico, you’ll have data at a fraction of the cost.
I have sampled close to a dozen different eSIM companies over the years, and these are my top five picks for value for money and reliability in remote places.
1. Saily
I started using Saily a few years ago after learning that the same company that makes my favorite VPN was now offering an eSIM. Saily is part of Nord Security, a Lithuanian-based company that has exceptional customer service and top-quality digital products.
I have used their eSIM in Oaxaca, Veracruz, Mexico City, and even France! I think it offers some of the best value for money out there when it comes to eSIMs for travel in Mexico.
2. Airalo
I mostly use Airalo when I am traveling around Europe because the prices for European eSIMs on here are some of the best, but I have used it on many trips to Mexico.
Airalo is particularly good when it comes to longer trips. The price is better for 7-10 days’ worth of data than if you just need data for a long weekend. I’ve used it in Puerto Vallarta, along the Nayarit Coast, and up in Baja without issue. Their setup and app are some of the most user-friendly as well.
3. Holafly
If you travel a lot to the same countries, Holafly is a great option. While many companies require you to purchase a totally new eSIM once the other one expires, Holafly allows you to use eSIMs that you have used in the past, simply topping them up and resuming their use.
This doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when you travel a lot, the eSIMs on your phone start to pile up, and it can start to get confusing (iPhones don’t allow you to delete them currently, so being able to reuse old ones is a huge plus!). Connectivity is good in major destinations like Cancun, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta, but not as strong in more remote parts of the Oaxaca Coast.
4. Ubigi
One of the newer eSIM companies to arrive on the scene, Ubigi is a good option for traveling to Mexico. What I like about Ubigi is that most of their eSIMs are valid for up to 30 days, even the low 1GB plans.
So if you are mostly going to be connected to WiFi, but you want to have 1-3GB on your phone in case of emergencies, this is a fantastic option. Plans start as low as $5.
They even have unlimited data plans to choose from if you are on the other side of the spectrum and expect that you will not only need data for your entire trip, but you may also need to use your phone as a hotspot to work from.
5. 4S eSIM
4S eSIM is without a doubt one of the most affordable Mexico eSIM options on this list. Plans start at $2.15 and include coverage across Mexico, the US, and Canada. So if you are visiting more than one country during your time in North America, this is a fantastic option.
They also offer 30-day plans for 3GB and 5GB of data in Mexico, all for under $10, which is an insane deal. The main network that they connect to is Movistar, which is good in big cities, but not the best for more rural parts of Mexico. So this is the option to choose for a trip to Mexico City, but perhaps not ideal if you’re headed to Puerto Escondido.