Sudan: Buy the Best eSIMs | 2024 Guide

Sudan is certainly not a popular travel destination in Africa.

But it still has a lot to offer.

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

You can get an eSIM for Sudan for as little as 7.50 USD and up to 79 USD from Airalo (Sudnet) & Holafly.

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

Original publication: 26th of November 2022. Last updated: 18th of October 2023.

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Table of Contents

In a Hurry? A Quick Introduction

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

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

• Airalo Sudan Sudnet eSIM (top pick)
• Holafly Sudan eSIM with six choices between 2.5 GB and 15 GB – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)
• Airalo Menalink eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 3 GB
• 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!

Note: the promo codes mentioned above can also be used for regional and global eSIMs (they are not restricted to country-specific eSIMs only). In other news, the eSIM providers are in alphabetical order per grouping (Sudan-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 Sudan 😜).

Let's truly get started, shall we?

Airalo Sudnet eSIM for Sudan

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 Sudan: Sudnet.

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 Sudan, the Airalo Sudnet eSIM uses the MTN Sudan network up to 4G/LTE (no 5G NR yet).

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

1. Sudan/Sudnet 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 7.50 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Sudan/Sudnet 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 14 USD
3. Sudan/Sudnet 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 20 USD
4. Sudan/Sudnet 5 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 30.50 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).

I can already tell you that Airalo has the cheapest eSIM options for Sudan in this guide.

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 Sudanese 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 Sudan Sudnet 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 Sudan 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 Sudan Sudnet 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 to 5 GB + top-ups are available) & you will have a smooth network experience (in most cases).

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Holafly eSIM for Sudan

Holafly is one of the many travel eSIM resellers and is one of the popular ones.

In June, they started offering unlimited data plans for some its eSIMs, making Holafly unique.

And these unlimited data eSIMs can be used in various East– and Southeast Asian countries, almost all European Union member states (except for Liechtenstein) & a few other countries, like Canada and the United States.

Unfortunately, unlimited data eSIMs are not available in Sudan… yet.

I say yet because Holafly's goal is to offer unlimited data plans for every country it covers: 150+ countries.

And I can tell you that I get positive emails multiple times a week from Phone Travel Wiz readers that have used the unlimited data plans in East- and Southeast Asia, Europe & North America; they love these eSIMs.

For now, you have only six Holafly Sudan eSIM (which uses the MTN Sudan network (as well)):

1. Sudan 2.5 GB eSIM for 5 days, costing 29 USD/29 EUR/24 GBP/44 AUD/37 CAD
2. Sudan 3.5 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 37 USD/37 EUR/34 GBP/54 AUD/47 CAD
3. Sudan 5 GB eSIM for 10 days, costing 44 USD/44 EUR/37 GBP/64 AUD/57 CAD
4. Sudan 7.5 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 47 USD/47 EUR/39 GBP/67 AUD/64 CAD
5. Sudan 10 GB eSIM for 20 days, costing 59 USD/59 EUR/49 GBP/84 AUD/77 CAD
6. Sudan 15 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 79 USD/79 EUR/67 GBP/114 AUD/104 CAD

As expected, you cannot use 5G NR (yet) with the Holafly Sudan eSIM, nor can you call and text (it is a data-only eSIM).

Moreover, you cannot top up or extend the validity with the Holafly Sudan eSIM – so you need to buy another eSIM when you are out of data or the eSIM expires; you have to purchase a new one.

But you can get 5% off each and any Holafly purchase (so it does not have to be the Sudan eSIM) when you use code PHONETRAVELWIZ 😏.

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Local Sudanese 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 three mobile operators in Sudan: Zain Sudan, Sudani by Sudatel & MTN Sudan.

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

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

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International eSIM for Sudan & More Countries

Okay, I went over the Sudan travel eSIM options offered by Airalo & Holafly.

As expected, these eSIMs can only be used in Sudan and not in neighboring Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia or South Sudan.

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 & SimCorner have regional, global & international eSIMs covering at least 80 countries; some include Sudan too.

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

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Airalo Menalink eSIM

Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 13 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.

The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days – very popular with PTW readers & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in Sudan and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:

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

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
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 11^th of October (2023 data only).

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Overview of the Best eSIMs for Sudan (Airalo vs. Holafly)

I introduced you to various travel eSIMs that can be used in Sudan.

So, which eSIM do I recommend the most? Here is my recommendation order:

• Airalo Sudan Sudnet eSIM (top pick)
• Holafly Sudan eSIM
• Airalo Menalink eSIM
• Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (reasonable extensive global coverage (84+ 130+ countries) at attractive prices + calling and texting options (new))

Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for Holafly – a code is unnecessary for Airalo eSIM purchases.

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Buying a SIM Card in Sudan

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

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