Azerbaijan: Buy the Best eSIMs | 2024 Guide

Azerbaijan is probably not the most popular travel destination in Asia or Europe, depending on your definition of those two continents, but it still has a lot to offer.

Especially when it is a relatively affordable country for travel.

One way to keep your costs low is by using a travel eSIM because international roaming can be crazy expensive.

Which is why using local and travel eSIMs is recommended to save money.

And if you get a travel eSIM, you do not have to deal with the SIM card registration bureaucracy and skip the queues in Azerbaijan.

So, how much do Azerbaijani (travel) eSIMs cost?

You can get an eSIM for Azerbaijan for as low as 7 USD up to 89 USD from Airalo & Holafly offering between 500 MB and unlimited data to be used locally, in Europe, or globally.

There are some mobile operators who will charge you 100 USD for only 100 MB of roaming data, so these travel eSIM offers are much better than most international roaming deals.

In this guide, I will go over the eSIM options offered by the Azerbaijani mobile operators (if available), Airalo & Holafly. Let's get started.

Original publication: 31st of August 2022. Last updated: 6th of November 2023.

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Table of Contents

In a Hurry? A Quick Introduction

I will write about four eSIM options in Azerbaijan (and explain why they are included).

But if you want to quickly check out what the best eSIMs are for Azerbaijan without my analysis and explanations, here is an overview of the eSIMs covered in this guide:

• Airalo Yaxsi Mobile eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (best value for money)
• Holafly Azerbaijan eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 30 days (unlimited data eSIMs) – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)
• Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global) with 12 choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (extensive global coverage (130+ countries) at attractive prices) + ability to make and receive calls & send and receive SMS (new) – read my ongoing Airalo Discover (+) (Global) eSIM review too!
• AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions with one 6 GB option (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (53/143) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)

The eSIM providers are in alphabetical order per grouping (Azerbaijan-only, regional & global) – not in order of preference (you would have to read the complete guide to find out which eSIMs I love the most for Azerbaijan 😜).

Let's truly get started, shall we?

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eSIMs offered by Azerbaijani Mobile Operators

In order to get the best performance out there, it is often recommended to go directly with the local mobile operators because you will get a higher priority on the network compared to roaming.

Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIMs to prepaid customers in Azerbaijan (yet).

Note that the Azerbaijani mobile operators require your identification (ID for EU/EEA travelers and passport for anyone else) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards as part of Azerbaijan's SIM card registration requirements.

(Why does this matter? Because hackers can steal your (critical) personal data if the mobile operator does not secure your data properly, like what happened in Australia (10 million Optus customers were affected, where info, like passport numbers, were stolen (including mine – luckily not my passport number but my boyfriend was not as lucky) or Indonesia (1.3 billion SIM card-related data was hacked)).

And some travelers do not want to deal with any of that for privacy reasons.

Luckily, there is a way to avoid this registration scheme: by roaming (super expensive) or using a travel eSIM (affordable AND can be cheaper than local SIM cards in many countries).

Travel eSIM providers Airalo & Holafly offer attractive eSIMs for Azerbaijan, allowing them to be set up before arriving in Azerbaijan and activating them as soon as you land.

Very convenient, right? And I have used eSIMs from Airalo & Holafly before, and I can assure you they work well!

So let's check out all the options, shall we?

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Airalo eSIMs for Azerbaijan (Yaxsi Mobile)

Airalo eSIMs are my favorite travel eSIMs out there because they are always good value for money compared to other travel eSIM providers (especially travel eSIMs not mentioned in this guide).

And the same can be said for the Yaxsi Mobile eSIM – 5 GB of data is available for only 21 USD.

Wait… you have no idea who or what Airalo is? I have an in-depth review explaining how Airalo works and all its options, based on four years of using Airalo eSIMs – you can read it now or later (I will briefly introduce Airalo anyway in this guide).

Anyway, the Yaxsi Mobile eSIM uses the Bakcell network.

You have three Airalo Yaxsi Mobile eSIM options:

1. Azerbaijan/Yaxsi Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 7 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Azerbaijan/Yaxsi Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 14 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. Azerbaijan/Yaxsi Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 21 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in October based on data up to the 11^th of October (2023 data only).

Honestly, the Airalo Yaxsi Mobile eSIM is not bad at all, especially considering its options and prices.

Let me review some of its pros and cons before you get a Yaxsi Mobile eSIM (or continue exploring your other options mentioned in this guide).

Airalo Yaxsi Mobile eSIM Pros

What are the main perks of Airalo's Yaxsi Mobile eSIMs?

• You can avoid expensive international roaming fees
• You can purchase and set up your Yaxsi Mobile eSIM before arriving in Azerbaijan (and activate it upon landing)
  • The eSIM will start once you have it enabled and are in Azerbaijan – not earlier (so you can pre-purchase your eSIM months in advance in peace – I do this often)
• You can skip Azerbaijan's SIM card registration requirements and any queues at the airport or in town
• You get full (up to 4G/LTE) access to the Bakcell network
• The eSIMs are affordable and have generous data allowances
• You can manage your eSIM easily on the Airalo website or its apps (Android and iOS)
  • If you need more data, top-ups are available (at the same prices as listed earlier – not at a markup)

Airalo Yaxsi Mobile eSIM Cons

What are the main cons of Airalo's Yaxsi Mobile eSIMs?

• You cannot call or text with the Yaxsi Mobile eSIM – it is a data-only eSIM (so you do not get a (Azerbaijani) phone number either)
• While you get access to Bakcell's network, your speeds will not be as fast as going with Bakcell itself because you will be roaming on its network (and not be a native customer)
• The Azerbaijani mobile operators have much more generous data allowances (while Yaxsi Mobile's is capped at 5 GB, but top-ups are available)
• There are no unlimited data plans
• There is no 5G NR access with the Yaxsi Mobile eSIM

Airalo Yaxsi Mobile eSIM Overall Thoughts

I am a big fan of Airalo and its eSIMs in general, as mentioned in my Airalo review, including the Yaxsi Mobile eSIM.

It offers reasonable data plans for low prices – even for Azerbaijani standards.

You get fast (up to 4G/LTE) speeds and access in Azerbaijan without standing in queues or dealing with SIM card registration bureaucracy.

But if making actual phone calls and sending real text messages are important to you (so not through an app like WhatsApp), you may want to buy an Azerbaijani SIM card instead (an in-depth guide).

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Holafly eSIMs for Azerbaijan

The second eSIM provider I recommend is Holafly.

It started something revolutionary in June 2022.

You can now get unlimited data plans for all European Union member states & a handful of other countries.

No idea who or what Holafly is? I have an in-depth review explaining how Airalo works and all its options, based on two years of using Holafly eSIMs – you can read it now or later (I will briefly introduce Holafly anyway in this guide).

Fortunately, unlimited data plans are available in Azerbaijan.

The Holafly eSIMs use the Bakcell network as well.

You have the following six Holafly Azerbaijan eSIM options:

1. Azerbaijan unlimited data eSIM for 5 days, costing 29 USD/29 EUR/24 GBP/44 AUD/37 CAD
2. Azerbaijan unlimited data eSIM for 7 days, costing 37 USD/37 EUR/34 GBP/54 AUD/47 CAD
3. Azerbaijan unlimited data eSIM for 10 days, costing 44 USD/44 EUR/37 GBP/64 AUD/57 CAD
4. Azerbaijan unlimited data eSIM for 15 days, costing 47 USD/47 EUR/39 GBP/67 AUD/64 CAD
5. Azerbaijan unlimited data eSIM for 20 days, costing 59 USD/59 EUR/49 GBP/84 AUD/77 CAD
6. Azerbaijan unlimited data eSIM for 30 days, costing 79 USD/79 EUR/67 GBP/114 AUD/104 CAD

The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!

Once again, let's see some pros and cons of the Holafly Azerbaijan eSIMs.

Holafly Azerbaijan eSIM Pros

What are the main perks of Holafly's Azerbaijan eSIMs?

• You can avoid expensive international roaming fees
• You can skip Azerbaijan's SIM card registration requirements
• You get full (up to 4G/LTE) access to Bakcell's network
• If you, somehow, experience any problems, Holafly's support team responds surprisingly quickly (even on weekends)

Holafly Azerbaijan eSIM eSIM Cons

What are the main cons of Holafly's Azerbaijan eSIMs?

• You cannot call or text with the Holafly Azerbaijan eSIM – it is a data-only eSIM (so you do not get a (Azerbaijani) phone number either)
• While you get access to Bakcell's network, your speeds will not be as fast as going with Bakcell itself because you will be roaming on its network (and not be a native customer)
• The eSIM's validity, supposedly, starts as soon as you scan the QR code, not upon using it in Azerbaijan
  • I say supposedly because I have installed eSIMs literally months in advance and had no issues using them later, but I do not want you to experience this issue with your hard-earned money
• You cannot use your phone as a hotspot (tether) with any Holafly data eSIM
• There is no 5G NR access with the Holafly eSIM
• You cannot top-up your eSIM – you have to buy a new one (in case you stay in Azerbaijan for a bit longer than initially planned)
• Holafly is the most expensive eSIM provider in this guide for Azerbaijan-only eSIMs

Holafly Azerbaijan eSIM Overall Thoughts

Fortunately, unlimited data plans are available for Azerbaijan.

I was not a fan of Holafly when it had travel SIM cards (discontinued) because they were crazy expensive (I am talking about 20 USD for 1 GB of data in some Caribbean nation expensive).

Luckily that is not the case with its eSIMs, so I have used Holafly eSIMs in many countries and counting.

Be sure to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off each Holafly purchase (yes, you can use it multiple times)!

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Best eSIMs for Europe & the World (including Azerbaijan)

So what if you plan to visit a neighboring European country?

Unfortunately, you cannot use your Airalo or Holafly eSIMs in any country than Azerbaijan.

Luckily, some of the eSIM providers mentioned so far do have eSIMs that can be used throughout most or all of Europe (+extras).

And there are also some global eSIMs with attractive prices that can be useful if you visit Europe and another continent or region.

I highly recommend these Europe or global eSIMs if you plan to visit multiple European countries to save money!

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Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global)

Airalo was probably the first eSIM provider to introduce a global eSIM – it was called Discover Global.

I have had decent to good experiences with that eSIM, but I felt it could improve.

Such as extending the validity of most plans (maximum used to be 180 days) and having 5G NR access in popular destinations (like many regional Airalo eSIMs do nowadays, even country-specific ones).

In August 2023, Airalo made a radical change to its global eSIM.

Until then, the eSIM could be used in about 85 countries – always up to 4G/LTE (with some networks on 3G only).

This eSIM was powered by FL1 Telecom Liechtenstein (network name can be Mobilkom (Liechtenstein) at times).

This mobile operator worked well in Europe and some Asian countries, but it was often one of the slowest performing (Airalo eSIMs).

Now, Airalo's global eSIM is called Discover(+).

It is powered by eSIM Go (which is basically Drei Austria).

The difference between the Airalo Discover and Airalo Discover+ eSIMs is that the latter has calling and texting functionalities (with an Austrian +43 phone number).

Because of this, Discover+ eSIMs can be up to 20 USD more expensive than regular Discover eSIMs.

For the previous Airalo Discover Global eSIMs, you paid the same prices as the Discover+ eSIMs for worse availability (85+ countries instead of 130+) and no calling or texting at all.

So… it is an upgrade 😎.

Not only that, but you (finally) get 5G NR access in quite some countries (55+)¹ as well.

¹ click here, press select the variant you want & click on network to see which network(s) allow for 5G NR access. You often have access to multiple local networks, but not all have 5G NR access (and some do not even give you 4G/LTE access)

Moreover, the most expensive option is now valid for a whole year (365 days) instead of 180 days.

The Airalo Discover(+) eSIM can be used in the following 130+ countries:

You have these 12 Airalo Discover Global eSIMs:

1. Discover 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 9 USD
2. Discover+ 1 GB (with 10 minutes and 10 SMS) eSIM for 7 days, costing 15 USD
3. Discover 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 17 USD
4. Discover+ 2 GB (with 20 minutes and 20 SMS) eSIM for 15 days, costing 27 USD
5. Discover 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 24 USD
6. Discover+ 3 GB (with 30 minutes and 30 SMS) eSIM for 30 days, costing 36 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
7. Discover 5 GB eSIM for 60 days, costing 35 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
8. Discover+ 5 GB (with 50 minutes and 50 SMS) eSIM for 60 days, costing 50 USD
9. Discover 10 GB eSIM for 180 days, costing 59 USD
10. Discover+ 10 GB (with 100 minutes and 100 SMS) eSIM for 180 days, costing 79 USD
11. Discover 20 GB eSIM for 365 days, costing 69 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
12. Discover+ 20 GB (with 200 minutes and 200 SMS) eSIM for 365 days, costing 89 USD

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in October based on data up to the 11^th of October (2023 data only).

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AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM

SimOptions also sells a global eSIM: AIS eSIM2FLY Global.

And it can be used in 140+ countries for 15 days – 53 of them with 5G NR access.

The AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM can be used in the following countries:

¹ with 5G NR access

If you get this eSIM from SimOptions, which I recommend, you will pay 39.90 USD.

The main issue I have with the AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM is its short validity.

Making it hard to call it an actual global eSIM… unless you can somehow visit 140+ countries within 15 days – something not even I can do🧐.

Still, it is a relatively affordable global eSIM covering 140+ countries… with 5G NR access!

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Overview of the Best eSIMs for Azerbaijan

So, we reviewed some eSIMs that can be used in Azerbaijan.

I will give you a quick recap of each and link to their product pages in case you need more info or want to purchase an eSIM already (just remember the activation policies of Holafly & SimOptions – do not buy their eSIMs too early):

• Airalo Yaxsi Mobile eSIM (best value for money)
• Holafly Azerbaijan eSIM (unlimited data eSIMs)
• Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (reasonable extensive global coverage (84+ 130+ countries) at attractive prices + calling and texting options (new))
• AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (53/143) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)

Remember to use code the relevant discount codes for (ADU123 (Nomad), PTW (Alosim), or PHONETRAVELWIZ (others)).

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Buying a SIM Card in Azerbaijan

Want to just use a SIM card but not your current one because roaming will be criminally expensive?

Consider getting an Azerbaijani SIM card instead – local SIM cards are the cheapest way to stay connected abroad.