Benin: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

Benin is certainly not the popular travel destination in (West) Africa.

But it still has a lot to offer.

So, what are your local or travel eSIM options for Benin?

You can get an eSIM for Benin for 9.50 USD from Airalo (Cotton Mobile).

I will also introduce you to a few global eSIMs that be used in Benin and 80+ other countries, including Benin's neighbors, for competitive rates.

Original publication: 18^th of December 2022. Last updated: 7^th of March 2024.

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Table of Contents

Airalo Cotton Mobile eSIM for Benin

Airalo is the most popular eSIM platform, covering around 190 countries (more than any other eSIM platform out there).

That is because it is the largest and oldest eSIM platform worldwide.

Airalo has an eSIM that can be used in Benin: Cotton Mobile.

Travel eSIM providers like Airalo set up roaming agreements with local mobile operators.

But do not get too worried about the term roaming – you will not get a 3000 USD roaming bill.

What Airalo does, and basically all mobile operators do, is partner up with a local mobile operator so that their customers can still stay connected when abroad.

In Benin, the Airalo Cotton Mobile eSIM uses the MTN Benin network up to 4G/LTE (no 5G NR yet).

Be aware: most travel eSIMs, including Airalo's Benin Cotton Mobile eSIM, are data-only eSIMs, so you cannot call or text with them (nor can you receive any calls or SMS).

1. Benin/Cotton Mobile Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 9.50 USD
2. Benin/Cotton Mobile Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 18.50 USD
3. Benin/Cotton Mobile Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 26.50 USD

Now, you may think this is a sad selection or that 1 GB of data is insufficient.

Both points are true… I agree – but you can make unlimited top-ups with the Cotton Mobile eSIM through the Airalo website or apps.

So if you need 5 GB of data, you can purchase the Cotton Mobile 1 GB eSIM and get four 1 GB top-ups.

Yes, it is a bit inconvenient for now; Airalo may offer 3 GB, 5 GB & 10 GB plans with a 30-day validity for Benin soon, as it did for many other countries it supports.

What makes things even more pleasant is that you can top up your eSIM when it is expiring or when you are out of data without the need to purchase a new eSIM.

But you may think that a local SIM card or eSIM will (still) be cheaper than Airalo or any other travel eSIM.

And you are right – that is true in most cases.

However, you will have to deal with the Beninese SIM card registration laws.

(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)).

Most mobile operators in Africa will only sell you (overpriced) tourist SIM cards (when available) or the most expensive plans because of “mandatory new plan requirements” (which are often lies to take more of your money).

So yes, you could get cheaper plans, but the question is if you can actually get them.

Oh, you should also be aware of the following, you can get up to 4G/LTE connections with the Airalo Benin Cotton Mobile eSIM, your speeds will most likely not be faster than someone using a local SIM card.

That is because you are roaming on the MTN Benin network instead of being a native customers

But that does not mean you will have (extremely) slow speeds – just (slightly) slower than native customers.

Anyway, the Airalo Benin Cotton Mobile eSIM is fantastic and is the eSIM I, and many Phone Travel Wiz readers, recommend the most.

The eSIMs are affordable, the data allowances can be tailored to your needs (1 GB only, but unlimited top-ups are available) & you will have a smooth network experience (in most cases).

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Local Beninese eSIM for Prepaid Customers

If you want the best and full network experience, including being able to call and text, you want to get a local eSIM.

You have two mobile operators in Benin: MTN Benin and Moov Benin.

Currently, no Beninese mobile operator offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.

For more information about the plans offered by the Beninese mobile operators, check out my Benin SIM card buying guide.

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International eSIM for Benin & More Countries

Okay, I went over the Benin travel eSIM options offered by Airalo.

As expected, these eSIMs can only be used in Benin and not in neighboring Burkina Faso, Nigeria, or Togo.

So what if you plan on visiting any of those countries, or you are on a world tour and wish to use one eSIM in multiple countries – do you have any other options?

Yes, you do. Airalo have regional, global & international eSIMs covering at least 80 countries; some include Benin too.

So let's see which multi-country eSIMs can be used in Benin and other countries, including Benin's neighbors.

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As you can see, the Hello Africa eSIM cannot be used in Benin (yet).

However, as many who visit Benin do not just stay in Benin (they often go to Burkina Faso or Nigeria as well), you can consider it.

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Overview of the Best eSIM for Benin (Airalo)

In this guide, I went over Airalo's Cotton Mobile as the only (reasonably priced) eSIM for Benin.

I recognize that there are other eSIM providers that do offer services for Benin.

But they are either crazy expensive or the quality of service is whack (based on my experience or the experiences of other Phone Travel Wiz readers).

But you are free to try them out and let me know if they were any good 😀.

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Buying a SIM Card in Benin

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

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