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Central African Republic: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

The Central African Republic (CAR) is certainly not the popular travel destination in (Central Africa.

But it still has a lot to offer.

So, what are your local or travel eSIM options for Central African Republic?

You can get an eSIM for Central African Republic for as little as 37 USD and up to 54 USD from Holafly.

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

Buying an eSIM for the Central African Republic Guide (logos of Holafly, Discover+, Hello Africa & Airalo)

Original publication: 18th of December 2022. Last updated: 17th of January 2024.


Table of Contents


Holafly eSIM for Central African Republic

Holafly Logo
© Holafly

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 Central African Republic… yet.

Phone Travel Wiz x Holafly Banner
No unlimited data for the Central African Republic (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 three Holafly Central African Republic eSIM (which uses the Orange Central African Republic network):

  1. Central African Republic 3 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 37 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
  2. Central African Republic 7 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 44 USD
  3. Central African Republic 15 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 54 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).

Holafly Central African Republic eSIMs
See the list above for up-to-date prices and allowances. The figures in this image may be outdated.

As expected, you cannot use 5G NR (yet) with the Holafly Central African Republic 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 Central African Republic 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 Central African Republic eSIM) when you use code PHONETRAVELWIZ 😏.

Holafly Travel eSIM Reviews by Phone Travel Wiz

Local Central African 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 four mobile operators in Central African Republic: telecel, Orange, azur & Moov.

Currently, no Central African mobile operator offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.

For more information about the plans offered by the Central African mobile operators, check out my Central African Republic SIM card buying guide.


International eSIM for Central African Republic & More Countries

Okay, I went over the Central African Republic travel eSIM options offered by Holafly.

As expected, these eSIMs can only be used in Central African Republic and not in neighboring Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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 Central African Republic too.

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


Airalo Hello Africa eSIM

Hello Africa Africa eSIM Airalo
© Airalo

Airalo also has the Hello Africa eSIM covering 26 countries with two variants: 1 GB/30 days very popular with PTW readers and 3 GB/30 daysmost popular with PTW readers.

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.

Like Asia, the Caribbean, Europe & Latin America, many readers tend to visit multiple African countries, so they would rather have a travel eSIM covering multiple countries than just one.

The Hello Africa eSIM can be used in 27 countries in Africa:

  • Algeria
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa)
  • Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville)
  • Eswatini (Swaziland) 1
  • Gabon
  • Ghana
  • Guinea 1
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Ivory Coast
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Namibia 1
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Tanzania
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • South Africa

1 on 3G only

Airalo Hello Africa eSIM Eligible Countries Map Infographic by Phone Travel Wiz (October 2023 Version)

Do you think the map above is nice, but you want a country list instead (because you do not recognize the countries on a map🗿)? You can find it in my Airalo review!

Below is an overview of how much each Hello Africa eSIM costs:

  1. Africa/Hello Africa 1 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 27 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
  2. Africa/Hello Africa 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 59 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

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.

With the Hello Africa eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit.


Overview of the Best eSIMs for Central African Republic (Holafly)

In this guide, I went over Airalo's Central African Republic as the only (reasonably priced) eSIM for the Central African Republic.

I recognize that there are other eSIM providers that do offer services for Central African Republic.

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 Central African Republic

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

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