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Samoa: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

Samoa – often grouped or confused with American Samoa – used to be known as Western Samoa until 1997.

Before that, the country was under New Zealand rule until (Western) Samoa declared independence.

Samoa is probably the country with the most generous visa policy – no visa is needed to enter the country.

Anyone from any nationality can stay in the country visa-free for 60 days (except for US nationals living in American Samoa – they need to apply first).

Those from the European Union (or European Economic Area) can stay visa-free for 90 days (in any 180-day period).

Like most Pacific nation islands, Samoa has a lot of stunning nature to see and explore.

Fantastic resorts and beaches.

And, of course, clear waters – I bet you will share you experiences on Instagram with #GoodLife (at least, I know I would).

But before you share your colorful Samoa experiences online, be aware that international roaming can be expensive.

Travel eSIMs can be a much more affordable way to stay connected, even in Samoa.

How much will a travel eSIM for Samoa cost?

You can get a travel eSIM for Samoa for as little as 9 USD for 1 GB data (7 days) and up to 35 USD for 5 GB, from Airalo.

While this may sound a bit pricey but international roaming will be even more expensive.

So yeah, these travel eSIMs can be worth it.

In this guide, I will go over the travel eSIM options offered by Airalo. Let's go.

Buying an eSIM for Samoa Guide (Airalo, Holafly, Simcorner & Faaf Mobile)

Original publication: 27th of September 2022. Last updated: 8th of March 2024.


Table of Contents

eSIMs offered by the Samoan Mobile Operators

Suppose you want to get the best service and reception available in Samoa.

In that case, it is better to get a SIM card or travel eSIM from the local mobile operators, which in this case would be the Samoan ones.

Not only will you not have to deal with latency, but you also get a higher priority on the network because you are a direct customer of the mobile operator instead of a roamer.

And with most travel eSIMs, you are roaming on the network(s) of the local mobile operator(s).

But that is not always the case – the slow speeds part, that is.

Some mobile operators throttle the speeds of prepaid customers because they want more people to get a postpaid plan.

Unfortunately, travelers cannot get postpaid plans – so one way to avoid throttling is by using a travel eSIM.

Yes – travel eSIMs sometimes have faster speeds than native prepaid customers because of throttling.

You have one option for getting an eSIM for your trip to Samoa: Airalo (with Faaf Mobile).

One of the main advantages of getting a travel eSIM for Samoa is that you can set up the eSIM before arriving in Samoa and activate it upon landing.

I have to mention that travel eSIMs will be more expensive than local eSIMs and SIM cards, but they are more convenient.

Moreover, I have plenty of experience with the eSIMs from Airalo, so I can vouch for them – so can many Phone Travel Wiz readers!

Phone Travel Wiz Approved Seal

So let's go over what the travel eSIMs offer for Samoa!


Airalo eSIMs for Samoa (Faaf Mobile)

Samoa Faaf Mobile eSIM Airalo
© Airalo

If you have read any of my eSIM or SIM card buying guides before, then you know I am a big fan of Airalo.

Not only does Airalo have eSIMs for most countries (around 190 countries) of any eSIM platform, but they are also often one of the cheapest while offering fantastic service in terms of speeds and reception.

That is because Airalo usually partners up with the mobile operator with the best coverage, the fastest speeds, both, or even multiple operators.

That way, you get the best bang for your buck, I have to say.

In the case of Samoa, the Faaf Mobile eSIM uses the Digicel Samoa network.

Digicel Logo
© Digicel

So, which Samoa Faaf Mobile eSIMs are available? You have these five options:

  1. Samoa/Faaf Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 7 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
  2. Samoa/Faaf Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 13 USD
  3. Samoa/Faaf Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 17.50 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
  4. Samoa/Faaf Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 27 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
  5. Samoa/Faaf Mobile 10 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 49 USD

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30th of December (2023 data only). The (promotional) prices were updated on the 31st of January.

Airalo Samoa Faaf Mobile eSIM with Prices
See the list above for up-to-date prices and allowances. The figures in this image may be outdated.

The Airalo links will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.


Airalo Faaf Mobile eSIM Pros

Are there any (more) reasons why you should get the Faaf Mobile eSIM? Yes, there are:

  • You can activate your Faaf Mobile eSIM as soon as you land in Samoa
  • You get full (up to 4G/LTE) access to Digicel Samoa's network
  • Faaf Mobile eSIMs are affordable (especially compared to roaming)
  • SIM card registration is not a thing you have to worry about with the Faaf Mobile eSIM, saving you time
  • Multiple top-ups can be purchased when you are out of data or when your initial plan expires easily on the Airalo site or apps

I could list many more pros, but these are the major ones.

Unfortunately, there are some cons to be aware of.

Airalo Faaf Mobile eSIM Cons

Why should you not get the Faaf Mobile eSIM?

  • The Samoan mobile operators, including Digicel Samoa itself, have much more generous data allowances
  • While you get access to Digicel Samoa's network, your speeds may not be as fast as going with Digicel Samoa itself because you will be roaming on their networks (and not be a native customer)
  • There is no 5G NR access with the Faaf Mobile eSIM (yet)
  • You cannot call or text with the Faaf Mobile eSIM (nor can you receive them – you get no (local) phone number)

Airalo Faaf Mobile eSIM Overall Thoughts

Honestly, the Faaf Mobile eSIM is fantastic.

The plans offered with Faaf Mobile eSIMs are generous and affordable.

You get fast speeds and access to Digicel Samoa, without standing in queues or dealing with SIM card registration bureaucracy.

And everything, purchasing and topping up, can be done online on the Airalo website or Airalo app (downloading the app is recommended).

Unfortunately, you cannot call or text with the Faaf Mobile eSIM, as it is a data-only eSIM.

But if you do wish to make actual calls, so not through apps like Whatsapp, consider a Samoan SIM card (but you will have to deal with the SIM card registration laws).


Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global)

Airalo Discover eSIM
© Airalo
Airalo Discover+ eSIM
© Airalo

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

Discover Global eSIM Airalo
© Airalo

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).

FL1 Liechtenstein Telecom Logo
© FL1 Liechtenstein Telecom

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(+).

Airalo Discover eSIM
© Airalo
Airalo Discover+ eSIM
© Airalo

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

eSIM Go Logo
© eSIM Go
Three (3) Logo
© Three (3)

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)

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM Network Availability (3G-4G-5G)

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:

  • Åland Islands 3
  • Albania
  • Argentina
  • Armenia (new)
  • Australia 5
  • Austria 3
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain (new) 3
  • Bangladesh (new)
  • Belarus 1
  • Belgium 3
  • Bolivia (new)
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Botswana (new) 2
  • Brazil 5
  • Brunei (new) 1
  • Bulgaria 5
  • Cambodia
  • Canada 5
  • Central African Republic (new) 1
  • Chad (new)
  • Chile
  • China 3
  • Colombia
  • Congo, Democratic Republic of (new)
  • Congo, Republic of (new)
  • Costa Rica (new)
  • Croatia 3
  • Cyprus 5
  • Czech Republic 3
  • Denmark 5
  • Dominican Republic 1
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt (new)
  • El Salvador (new) 1
  • Estonia 5
  • Eswatini (new) 1
  • Finland 5
  • France 3
  • French West Indies (new) 3
  • Gabon (new)
  • Georgia
  • Germany 3
  • Ghana (new)
  • Gibraltar 1
  • Greece 3
  • Greenland (new) 1
  • Guatemala (new) 1
  • Guernsey (new)
  • Guinea-Bissau (new) 1
  • Honduras (new) 1
  • Hong Kong 3
  • Hungary 5
  • Iceland 3
  • India
  • Indonesia 3
  • Ireland 3
  • Isle of Man (new)
  • Iraq 1
  • Israel 5
  • Italy 5
  • Ivory Coast
  • Japan 3
  • Jersey
  • Jordan (new)
  • Kazakhstan (new)
  • Kenya (new)
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait 3
  • Kyrgyzstan (new)
  • Latvia 3
  • Liberia 1
  • Liechtenstein 4
  • Lithuania 5
  • Luxembourg 3
  • Macau
  • Madagascar (new)
  • Malawi (new)
  • Malaysia
  • Mali
  • Malta 3
  • Mexico 5
  • Moldova
  • Monaco (new)
  • Montenegro 5
  • Morocco (new)
  • Netherlands 5
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua (new)
  • Niger (new) 1
  • Nigeria (new) 2
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway 5
  • Oman (new)
  • Pakistan (new)
  • Panama
  • Paraguay 1
  • Peru
  • Philippines 3
  • Poland 3
  • Portugal 3
  • Puerto Rico
  • Qatar 5
  • Réunion (new)
  • Romania 5
  • Russia
  • Saudi Arabia 5
  • Senegal (new) 1
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles (new)
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia 3
  • Slovenia 5
  • South Africa
  • South Korea 3
  • Spain 5
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Sweden 5
  • Switzerland 3
  • Taiwan 3
  • Tanzania (new)
  • Tajikistan 1
  • Thailand 5
  • Tunisia (new)
  • Turkey 3
  • Uganda (new)
  • Ukraine (new)
  • United Arab Emirates (new) 3
  • United Kingdom 5
  • United States 5
  • Uruguay (new)
  • Uzbekistan (new)
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Vietnam
  • Yemen (new) 1
  • Zambia (new) 1

1 on 3G only
2 check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is on 3G only (while the others are up to 4G/LTE)
3 5G NR access for all available networks
4 even if your phone does not support 5G NR, select FL1 Telecom/Telecom Liechtenstein for 4G/LTE access because Salt Liechtenstein is restricted to 3G only
5 check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is up to 4G/LTE (while the others are up to 5G NR)

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Eligible Countries Map Infographic by Phone Travel Wiz (October 2023 Version)

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
  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 – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

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

Interested in using the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM in another country or countries? Read my Airalo Global eSIM review (tested in numerous countries and counting).

Before Airalo updated its global eSIM, I used the old version (Discover Global) in 15+ countries. From August 2023, I will only test the Discover+ eSIM. This is why some country-specific reviews (like Global in Japan) still refer to the Discover Global one and show the old eSIM image instead of Discover+.

Airalo Discover Global eSIM Review by Phone Travel Wiz
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Overview of the Best eSIMs for Samoa (Airalo)

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

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

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 😀.


Buying a SIM Card in Samoa

Do these eSIMs not sound appealing to you, or does your phone not support eSIMs (but still thought this guide was insightful enough that you read it until the end)?

Consider getting a Samoan SIM card instead – that linked guide is the most extensive SIM card buying guide for Samoa on the web, packed with insightful information and tips.

Buying a SIM Card in Samoa Guide (logos of Vodafone & Digicel)