Albania – the country that has, over the years, become a popular travel destination for travelers of all kinds. Beaches, mountains, architecture – the country has it all.
There is a big chance that you would want to share your Albania experiences online – and I cannot blame you for that. It is truly a remarkable travel destination.
What can also be remarkable, in a bad way, is how expensive international roaming can be in Albania (or in general). Especially data roaming. Watching a YouTube video in Full HD can cost you a lot.
Luckily, you can get an Albanian SIM card. That way, you can enjoy local rates.
How expensive are Albanian SIM cards, and how much will data cost you?
You can get an Albanian SIM card for 100 ALL (1 USD) or 500 ALL (5 USD) from ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile), 500 ALL or 800 ALL (5 USD-8 USD) from Vodafone, or 500 ALL or 1500 ALL (14.95 USD) from One (formerly Telekom) in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA).
To me, this sounds exciting. There are countries out there where data will cost you an arm and a leg (almost literally), so seeing that SIM cards and data are available for reasonable prices are always a good thing.
But how is network coverage throughout the country? Which mobile operator is the best? And what type of packages are available?
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Albania. Let's go.
Original publication: 28th of May 2020. Last updated: 25th of September 2023.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Albania?
Anyone 18 years or older living in or visiting Albania can buy an Albanian SIM card from Vodafone, One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania) & ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania) with no restrictions.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Albania).
Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Albania?
You can get an Albanian SIM card in Vodafone, One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania) & ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania) stores. They are also sold at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA).
You can expect to pay the following for Albanian SIM cards:
- Vodafone Albania: 500 ALL or 800 ALL (depending on the promotion)
- One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania): 500 ALL & 1500 ALL
- ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania): 100 ALL & 500 ALL
The following Albanian mobile operators also have SIM cards targeting tourists:
- Vodafone Albania: 1500 ALL
- ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania): 1000 ALL
For up-to-date ALL:your currency (let's say EUR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Can You Use Your Phone in Albania?
Albania uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Albania. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).
Traditional European frequencies are used in Albania, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American frequencies, which differ from the European ones.
If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Albania.
If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Albania or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).
If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Albania (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE (and soon 5G NR).
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Albania
Albania has three mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Vodafone Albania
- One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
- ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania)
The following frequencies are used in Albania:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: 3600 MHz-3700 MHz (n77/n78) – testing only
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Albania, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).
Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).
If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.
VoLTE & VoWiFi in Albania
VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) is available in Albania. However, VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) is not available in Albania (yet).
This means that your phone does not have to downgrade to 2G or 3G when making a call in Albania (unlike mobile operators that do not support VoLTE).
The following mobile operators offer VoLTE only in Albania:
- Vodafone Albania
- One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
The following mobile operators offer neither VoLTE or VoWiFi in North Macedonia:
- ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania)
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in Albania
5G NR is not available in Albania as of 2022, and the Albanian government has not made any indications of when they will auction 5G licenses.
While Vodafone Albania has been testing 5G NR capabilities since 2019, there will not be a 5G NR auction yet because television broadcasters use frequencies intended for 5G NR (700 MHz).
However, two regulators in Albania, Autoritetit Te Komunikimeve Elektronike Dhe Postare (AKEP) and Autoriteti i Mediave Audiovizive (AMA), decided to work together to resolve that issue as of November 2021.
For now, you will have to deal with 4G/LTE (which has speeds above the global mean).
Best SIM Card in Albania
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Albania, I recommend going with Vodafone or One Telecommunications (formerly Telekom). Vodafone has the best overall network, while One Telecommunications is not far behind and slightly cheaper. ALBtelecom offers loads of cheap data at 3G (speeds).
Best eSIM in Albania
Vodafone Albania offers eSIMs, but it is unclear if they are available to prepaid customers too.
I will ask the next time I go to Albania – I forgot to do so when I was there the last time 💀 (but if you know the answer, let me know).
However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.
The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Albania.
But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.
Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).
So here are the seven best eSIMs for Albania:
- Airalo Hej Telecom eSIM with five choices between 1 GB and 10 GB(best value for money)
- Holafly Albania eSIM with six choices between 2.5 GB and 15 GB (generous data eSIMs – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)
- Nomad Albania eSIM with seven choices between 1 GB and 10 GB (best value for money… too – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)
- Airalo Eurolink eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 100 GB (best value for money for 39 European countries) – read my ongoing Airalo Eurolink eSIM review too!
- 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)
- Nomad Global eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (extensive global coverage (109 or 139 countries) at high(er) prices – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)
Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Albania, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).
If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for Albania, you better check out my Albania eSIM buying guide.
It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.
SIM Card Registration in Albania
SIM card registration with your passport information is required in Albania. It will be done at the point of purchase.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
EU Roaming in Albania
Note that Albania is not part of the European Union (EU) nor European Economic Area (EEA), meaning that EU roaming regulations do not apply in Albania.
As a result, you should not expect to roam for free if you have an EU/EEA SIM card while traveling in Albania.
It is unlikely that your mobile operator offers free roaming for Albania.
Western Balkans Roaming in Albania
Coming soon.
Roaming in the Western Balkans with Albanian SIM Cards
Coming soon.
Albania Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Being redone.
Currency in Albania
Albania uses the Albanian Lek with the symbol ALL (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as just L. or lek. For example, 25 ALL = L.25/25 lek.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between ALL and USD (US Dollars):
- 1 ALL = 0.01 USD
- 10 ALL = 0.10 USD
- 100 ALL = 1 USD
- 1000 ALL = 9.95 USD
- 10 000 ALL = 99.70 USD
For up-to-date ALL:your currency (let's say EUR – Euro) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks, and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Euros, my main currency, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards. Open a Wise account FREE!
Albanian Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Vodafone Albania, One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania) & ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania), and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge / top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Albania has to offer to us.
Vodafone Albania
Vodafone Albania, just Vodafone, is the largest mobile operator in Albania.
It is also the mobile operator with the fastest speeds.
Vodafone, as a company, is active in Africa (mostly as Vodacom), Asia, Europe, the Middle East & Oceania.
Vodafone uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: testing mode only
- VoLTE: Yes
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about Vodafone:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Vodafone SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Vodafone Albania
Vodafone has the best coverage throughout Albania.
Below is Vodafone's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Vodafone Albania
You can get a Vodafone SIM card, called Vodafone Club, for 500 ALL or 800 ALL, depending on the promotion, with 300 ALL credit and 500 on-net SMS in Vodafone stores. SIM cards are also sold at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA).
Short-term visitors and tourists can also get the Vodafone 3 Weekly Tourist Pack SIM cards – Vodafone's tourist offering.
For 1500 ALL, you get 15 GB of data, 5 GB for Netflix, Twitch & YouTube, 500 local minutes, 10 international minutes 1 & 100 local/international SMS for 21 days.
1 to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
Dial #123# to access the Vodafone menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
It is also possible to get a Vodafone eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.
However, it is unclear if eSIMs are available for prepaid customers too.
I forgot to ask when I was in Albania the last time (but I did not have a phone that supported eSIM back then 🤓).
Let me know if Vodafone eSIMs are also available to prepaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Albania without personal detail capturing, you can get Albania Hej Telecom eSIMs from Airalo (six options):
- 1 GB/7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 2 GB/15 days (new)
- 3 GB/30 days
- 5 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 10 GB/30 days (new) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 20 GB/30 days (new)
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7th of September (2023 data only).
No idea what or who Airalo is? Check out my Airalo review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over four years.
If you plan on visiting other neighboring European nations, consider the Airalo Eurolink eSIM to be used in 39 European countries with six variants:
- 1 GB/7 days
- 3 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 5 GB/30 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 10 GB/30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 50 GB/90 days
- 100 GB/180 days
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7th of September (2023 data only).
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!
By the way, you get free 5G NR access in 22 of the 39 supported countries!
I have used the Airalo Eurolink eSIM in 11 countries so far, and my goal is to test it in all supported countries.
- Be sure to check out my Airalo Eurolink eSIM review for my insights!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Albania.
You can read about them in my Best Albania eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Note that Vodafone offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Vodafone Albania
Vodafone top-up vouchers are sold in Vodafone stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Albania.
The following (online) top-up options are available:
- 300 ALL
- 500 ALL
- 800 ALL
- 1000 ALL
- 2000 ALL
- 3000 ALL
- 10 000 ALL
To top up your Vodafone SIM card, call 141 and follow the instructions.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial #123# or send a blank SMS (or whatever, like a dot, if your phone does not allow you to send a blank SMS) to 131 to check your Vodafone balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the My Vodafone (AL) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Vodafone Albania
Vodafone has four data-featured prepaid plans:
- Daily/Weekly Bundles (combo)
- 30 Days Bundles (combo)
- Vodafone Next + (combo)
- Extra Bundles (add-ons)
All Vodafone plans can be activated by dialing #123# or calling 131.
I will list all the prices in ALL (Albanian Lek).
To convert ALL to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Daily/Weekly Bundles – Vodafone Albania
The Daily/Weekly Bundles are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Dial #123# or call 131 to activate Daily/Weekly Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 2 | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 ALL | 3 Day Bundle | 300 MB | 300 minutes | N/A | 30 SMS 3 | 3 days |
| 700 ALL | 10 Days Bundle | 1.5 GB | 300 minutes | N/A | 30 SMS 3 | 10 days |
| 1500 ALL | GigaMax Bundle | 15 GB 1 | 500 minutes 2 | 10 minutes | 100 SMS | 21 days |
| 2300 ALL | Tourist Pack | 40 GB | 1000 minutes | N/A | N/A | 15 days |
| 2900 ALL | Tourist Giga Pack | 100 GB | Unlimited | N/A | N/A | 21 days |
1 +5 GB for Video Pass: Netflix, Twitch & YouTube
2 +10 international minutes to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
3 +3000 on-net minutes
30 Days Bundles – Vodafone Albania
The 30 Days Bundles are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Dial #123# or call 131 to activate 30 Days Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 ALL | Vodafone Basic | 50 MB | 50 minutes | N/A | 30 days |
| 1000 ALL | Vodafone Easy | 1 GB | 300 minutes | 300 SMS | 30 days |
| 1500 ALL | Vodafone Advance | 10 GB | 2000 minutes | 2000 SMS | 30 days |
| 2000 ALL | Vodafone Max | 25 GB | 3000 minutes 1 | 3000 SMS 2 | 30 days |
1 +10 international minutes to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
2 also for international use (no country restrictions)
Vodafone Next + – Vodafone Albania
The Vodafone Next + Plans are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The Vodafone Next + can be activated on the My Vodafone App:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 900 ALL | Vodafone Next Easy | 1 GB | 300 minutes | N/A | 300 SMS | 30 days |
| 1400 ALL | Vodafone Next Advance | 10 GB | 2000 minutes | N/A | 2000 SMS | 30 days |
| 1900 ALL | Vodafone Next Max | 30 GB | 3000 minutes | 10 minutes | 3000 SMS | 30 days |
1 for Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
Extra Bundles – Vodafone Albania
The Extra Bundles are combo add-ons with data (without 5G NR access) and national/international minutes. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
Dial #123# or call 131 to activate Extra Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 ALL | 100 National Minutes | N/A | 100 minutes | N/A | 7 days |
| 300 ALL | 20 International Minutes | N/A | N/A | 20 minutes | 28 days |
| 500 ALL | 40 International Minutes | N/A | N/A | 40 minutes | 28 days |
| 700 ALL | 5 GB Internet | 5 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 800 ALL | 6 GB Internet | 6 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
1 + international minutes to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
APN/Internet Settings – Vodafone Albania
- Name: Vodafone Albania
- APN: vodafoneweb
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
One Telecommunications Albania, just One (Telecommunications) and formerly Telekom Albania (and Albanian Mobile Communications – AMC a very long time ago), is the second-largest mobile operator in Albania.
4iG from Hungary purchased One Telecommunications and ALBtelecom, the last mobile operator covered in this guide, in March 2022.
4iG plans to combine the two mobile operators, but that will take a while.
Once completed, the combined mobile operator is supposed to have a bigger market share than Vodafone Albania.
One Telecommunications uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: not available yet
- VoLTE: Yes
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about One Telecommunications:
* Coverage
* How to Get a One Telecommunications SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
One Telecommunications has extensive throughout Albania.
Below is One Telecommunications's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
You can get a One Telecommunications SIM card for 500 ALL or 1500 ALL (Paketa All Inclusive – 3 Javore) with 15 GB of data, 5 GB for Facebook Messenger, Message+, Viber & WhatsApp, 500 local minutes, 10 international minutes 1 & 100 local SMS for 21 days in One stores. One SIM cards are not sold at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA).
1 to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
One Telecommunications has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Albania without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Holafly (six options):
- 2.5 GB/5 days (new)
- 3.5 GB/7 days (new)
- 5 GB/10 days (new)
- 7.5 GB/15 days (new)
- 10 GB/20 days (new)
- 15 GB/30 days (new)
6 GB/15 days
No unlimited data for Albania (yet)
The best part is that you can get 5% off using code PHONETRAVELWIZ on each Holafly eSIM purchase!
No idea what or who Holafly is? Check out my Holafly review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than ten countries over two years.
If you plan on visiting other neighboring European nations, consider the Holafly Europe eSIM to be used in 32 European countries, also with unlimited data, with eight variants:
- Unlimited/5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/7 days
- Unlimited/10 days– very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/15 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Unlimited/20 days
- Unlimited/30 days
- Unlimited/60 days
- Unlimited/90 days
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7th of September (2023 data only).
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 Holafly review!
Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off each Holafly purchase!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Albania.
You can read about them in my Best Albania eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Note that One Telecommunications offers VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G)) if your phone supports it and you have enabled it in the settings but no VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
One Telecommunications top-up vouchers are sold in One stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Albania.
The following (online) top-up options are available:
| Top-Up | Validity |
|---|---|
| 100 ALL – 499 ALL | 30 days |
| 500 ALL – 1200 ALL | 45 days |
| 1201 ALL – 2000 ALL | 60 days |
| 2001 ALL => | 180 days |
To top up your One Telecommunications SIM card, call 141 and follow the instructions.
Text BA to 142 to check your One Telecommunications balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the My One (AL) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
One Telecommunications has five data-featured prepaid plans:
- Paketa të Tjera/Other Packages (combo)
- Paketa të Tjera me Parapagesë/Other Prepaid Packages (combo)
- Paketat One Unlimited/One Unlimited Packages (combo)
- Paketa Turist/Tourist Package (combo)
- Paketat Shtesë/Addon Packages (add-on)
All One Telecommunications plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 142.
I will list all the prices in ALL (Albanian Lek).
To convert ALL to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Paketa të Tjera (Other Packages) – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Paketa të Tjera (Other Packages) are combo plan with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The Paketa të Tjera can be activated on the My One App:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 ALL | Daily Package | 500 MB | 100 minutes | N/A | 150 SMS | 1 day |
| 200 ALL | Daily Internet Package | 1 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1 day |
| 300 ALL | International S | N/A | 10 minutes | N/A | 30 days | |
| 400 ALL | Weekly Data | 2 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7 days |
| 500 ALL | International M | N/A | N/A | 20 minutes | N/A | 30 days |
| 500 ALL | Weekly Package | 1 GB | 300 minutes | N/A | 300 SMS | 7 days |
| 600 ALL | Monthly Internet package | 3 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 1200 ALL | Internet Monthly 1000 | 8 GB | N/A | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
1 Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Servia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
Paketa të Tjera me Parapagesë (Other Prepaid Packages) – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Paketa të Tjera me Parapagesë (Other Prepaid Packages) are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The Paketa të Tjera me Parapagesë can be activated on the My One App:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 ALL | Paketa Unlimited S | 500 MB | 150 minutes | N/A | 150 SMS | 45 days |
| 1000 ALL | Paketa Unlimited M | 1 GB | 400 minutes | N/A | 400 SMS | 45 days |
| 1300 ALL | Unlimited L+ | 8 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | 1000 SMS | 60 days |
| 1600 ALL | Unlimited Beats + | 23 GB | Unlimited | 300 minutes | Unlimited | 60 days |
| 2100 ALL | Unlimited XL+ | 33 GB | Unlimited | 500 minutes | Unlimited | 60 days |
1 Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Servia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
Paketat One Unlimited (One Unlimited Packages) – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
Paketat One Unlimited (One Unlimited Packages) are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The Paketat One Unlimited can be activated on the My One App:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 ALL | One Lite | 50 MB | 50 minutes | 50 SMS | 30 days |
| 1000 ALL | One Go | 1 GB | 400 minutes | 400 SMS | 30 days |
| 1500 ALL | One Smart | 10 GB | Unlimited | 1000 SMS | 30 days |
| 1800 ALL | One Extra | 25 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| 2100 ALL | One Premium | 34 GB | Unlimited 1 | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 + 50 international minutes to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Servia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
Paketa Turist (Tourist Package) – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Paketa Turist (Tourist Package) are combo plan with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The Paketa Turist can be activated on the My One App:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2300 ALL | One Tourist Advance | 40 GB | 1000 minutes | 1000 SMS | 15 days |
| 2900 ALL | One Tourist Ultra | 100 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 21 days |
Paketat Shtesë (Addon Packages) – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Paketat Shtesë (Addon Packages) are combo add-ons with data (without 5G NR access) and national/international minutes.
The Paketat Shtesë can be activated on the My One App:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 ALL | Minutes International S+ | N/A | N/A | 10 minutes | 30 days |
| 300 ALL | Minutes International M+ | N/A | N/A | 20 minutes | 30 days |
| 500 ALL | Minutes International L+ | N/A | N/A | 40 minutes | 30 days |
| 500 ALL | Internet Xtreme M | 3 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 600 ALL | M+ National Minutes | N/A | 300 minutes | N/A | 30 days |
| 600 ALL | Internet Xtreme L | 6 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| 700 ALL | Internet Xtreme XL | 8 GB | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
1 Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Servia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
APN/Internet Settings – One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
- Name: One
- APN: internet.t
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania)
ALBtelecom (Mobile), formerly Eagle Mobile Albania and not to be confused with Eagle Mobile in Russia, is the smallest mobile operator in Albania.
While it often has the cheapest plans and the most generous data allowances, it has the slowest speeds.
ALBtelecom uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3) & 2600 MHz (Band 7)
- 5G NR: not available yet
- VoLTE: No
- VoWiFi: No
This is what you will learn about ALBtelecom:
* Coverage
* How to Get an ALBtelecom SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
ALBtelecom has the worst coverage throughout Albania.
Its 4G/LTE reception is nowhere close to its competition.
Below is ALBtelecom's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
You can get an ALBtelecom SIM card for 100 ALL (SIM Card Super 100) or 500 ALL with 3 ALL credit and 4 GB of data 1 (SIM Card Super 500) in ALBtelecom stores. ALBtelecom SIM cards are also sold at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA).
1 if you create an account on Profili im
Short-term visitors and tourists can also get the Super Holidays Packages SIM cards – ALBtelecom's tourist offering.
For 1000 ALL, you get 15 GB of data, 1000 local minutes, 10 international minutes & 200 local SMS for 14 days.
1 to Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
ALBtelecom has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Albania without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Nomad (seven options):
- 1 GB/7 days (powered by two different providers with different prices) (price dropped) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 3 GB/15 days (price dropped)
- 3 GB/30 days (price dropped)
- 5 GB/15 days (price dropped) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 5 GB/30 days (price dropped) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- 10 GB/30 days (price dropped) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7th of September (2023 data only).
The best part is that you can get 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off using code ADU123 on your first Nomad eSIM purchase!
No idea what or who Nomad is? Check out my Nomad review, where I share my hands-on experience after using its eSIMs in more than 25 countries over two years.
If you plan on visiting other neighboring European nations, consider the Nomad Europe eSIM to be used in 25 or 35 European countries, depending on the plan, with eight variants:
- 1 GB/7 days (30 countries – new)
- 1 GB/7 days (35 countries)
- 3 GB/30 days (30 countries – new)
- 3 GB/30 days (35 countries)
- 5 GB/30 days (30 countries – new)
- 5 GB/30 days (35 countries) – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers (that was before the 25 countries options were added)
- 10 GB/30 days (30 countries – new)
- 10 GB/30 days (35 countries) – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers (that was before the 25 countries options were added)
- 15 GB/30 days (30 countries – new)
- 20 GB/30 days (30 countries – new)
- 20 GB/30 days (35 countries)
- 30 GB/30 days (35 countries)
- 40 GB/30 days (35 countries)
Remember to use code ADU123 for 3 USD/2.70 EUR/2.40 GBP/4.05 CAD off your first Nomad purchase!
I have used the Nomad Europe eSIM in eight countries so far, and my goal is to test it in all supported countries.
- Be sure to check out my Nomad Europe eSIM review for my insights!
Many more travel eSIMs will perform well in Albania.
You can read about them in my Best Albania eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison.
Be aware that there is no VoLTE nor VoWiFi with ALBtelecom.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
ALBtelecom top-up vouchers are sold in ALBtelecom stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Albania.
To top up your ALBtelecom SIM card, text RM VoucherCode to 141.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would text RM 123456 to 141.
Text Balance to 130 to check your ALBtelecom balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Profili Im (My Profile) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
ALBtelecom has seven data-featured prepaid plans:
- Daily & Weekend Packages (combo)
- Super Standard Packages (combo)
- Super Unlimited Packages (combo)
- GigaNatën Packages (data)
- Internet Packages
- 4G Internet Packages
- Super Weekend Packages (data)
I will list all the prices in ALL (Albanian Lek).
To convert ALL to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Daily & Weekly Packages – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Daily & Weekly Packages are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Text the Activation Code to 131 to activate Daily & Weekly Packages:
| Price | Plans | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 ALL | Daily Packages | 250 MB | 150 minutres | 150 SMS | 24 hours | CP1 |
| 500 ALL | Weekly Package | 1 GB | 300 minutes | 300 SMS | 7 days | CP7 |
Super Standard Packages – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Super Standard Packages are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Text the Activation Code to 131 to activate Super Standard Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes 1 | On-Net SMS | Local/International SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 ALL | Super Package 500 | 50 MB | 50 minutes | N/A | 50 SMS | Shared with on-net SMS allowance | 30 days | P500 |
| 1100 ALL | Super Package 1100 | 3.5 GB | 2500 minutes | N/A | 1000 SMS | 500 SMS | 30 days | P1100 |
| 1300 ALL | Super Package 1300 | 6 GB | 3000 minutes | 30 minutes | 3000 SMS | 600 SMS | 30 days | P1300 |
| 1300 ALL | Gigastic Package | 6 GB + 10 GB | 600 minutes | N/A | 600 SMS | Shared with on-net SMS allowance | 30 days | GIGA1300 |
| 1900 ALL | Super Package 1900 | 13 GB | 3500 minutes | 120 minutes | 3000 SMS | 600 SMS | 30 days | P1900 |
1 to Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
Super Unlimited Packages – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Super Unlimited Packages are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Text the Activation Code to 131 to activate Super Standard Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Western Balkans Data 2 | Local Minutes | On-Net SMS | Off-Net SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 ALL | Super Start Package | 100 MB | 880 MB | 150 minutes | 150 SMS | Shared with on-net SMS allowance | 30 days | start |
| 900 ALL | Unlimited Super 900 Package | 3 GB 1 | 1.5 GB | 600 minutes | 600 SMS | Shared with on-net SMS allowance | 30 days | U900 |
| 1100 ALL | Unlimited Super 1100 Package | 8 GB 1 | 1.89 GB | 3000 minutes | 1000 SMS | 500 SMS 3 | 30 days | U1100 |
| 1300 ALL | Unlimited Super 1300 Package | 24 GB | 2.23 GB | 2000 minutes | 1500 SMS | Shared with on-net SMS allowance | 30 days | U1300 |
| 1900 ALL | Unlimited Super 1900 Package | 32 GB | 3.23 GB | “Unlimited”, 4000 minutes 4 | “Unlimited”, 4000 SMS | 1500 SMS 3 | 30 days | U1900 |
1 unlimited data @ 128 after exhausting your data allowance
2 in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia & Serbia
3 also for international use
4 +150 international minutes to Afghanistan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
GigaNatën Packages – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
The GigaNatën Packages are data plans with data (without 5G NR access).
Text the Activation Code to 138 to activate GigaNatën Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ALL | GigaNatën 7 | 5 GB | 7 nights (23:01 – 6:59) | N7 |
| 300 ALL | GigaNatën 30 | 20 GB | 30 nights (23:01 – 6:59) | N30 |
Internet Packages – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Internet Packages are, as the name implies, data plans (without 5G NR access).
Text the Activation Code to 138 to activate Internet Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ALL | Daily | 0.5 GB | 24 hours | ID100 |
| 300 ALL | Weekly | 1 GB | 7 days | IJ300 |
| 500 ALL | Monthly 500 | 2 GB | 30 days | IM500 |
| 750 ALL | Monthly 750 | 4 GB | 30 days | IM750 |
| 1000 ALL | Monthly 1000 | 6 GB | 30 days | IM1000 |
| 1500 ALL | Monthly 1500 | 20 GB | 30 days | IM1500 |
| 3000 ALL | Monthly 3000 | 40 GB | 30 days | IM3000 |
4G Internet Packages – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
The 4G Internet Packages are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Text the Activation Code to 138 to activate 4G Internet Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ALL | Daily 100 | 1 GB | 24 hours | ID100 |
| 300 ALL | Weekly 300 | 1 GB | 7 days | IJ300 |
| 300 ALL | Monthly 300 | 2 GB | 30 days | IM300 |
| 500 ALL | Monthly 500 | 4 GB | 30 days | IM500 |
| 600 ALL | Monthly 600 | 6 GB | 30 days | IM600 |
| 1000 ALL | Monthly 1000 | 10 GB | 30 days | IM1000 |
| 1500 ALL | Monthly 1500 | 20 GB | 30 days | IM1500 |
Super Weekend Packages – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
The Super Weekend Packages are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Text the Activation Code to 138 to activate Super Weekend Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 ALL | Super Weekend 1 | 5 GB | 1 weekend (Saturday 0:00 – Sunday 23:59) | W1 |
| 600 ALL | Super Weekend 4 | 20 GB | 4 weekends (Saturday 0:00 – Sunday 23:59) | W4 |
APN/Internet Settings – ALBtelecom (formerly Telekom Albania)
- Name: ALBtelecom
- APN: internet
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Albania
Getting a SIM card from Vodafone Albania or One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania) would do you well when considering an Albanian SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other European Countries
Visiting other countries in Europe? Check out my Europe SIM card buying guide, covering other European nations, such as:
- Åland Islands
- Abkhazia
- Albania
- Alderney
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brecqhou
- Bulgaria
- Channel Islands
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Faroe Islands
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Guernsey
- Herm
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
Support Phone Travel Wiz
It takes a lot of time to analyze, translate & review the SIM card options worldwide (especially to test them out).
Your support helps me keep producing impartial content by eliminating the need to recommend international SIM cards as the best local SIM card (but some of them CAN be useful).
Every Ko-Fi donation, one-time or monthly, helps me to spend more time creating local SIM card buying guides.
Check Out My Resource Page
Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience?
Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!
Save money with international SIM cards, on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises & accommodation.
Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
Start Your Own Online Business – Make Money While Traveling
Do you want to learn how I started an online business that allows me to generate income while traveling?
In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
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A lot of useful videos are uploaded multiple times a week, and you do not want to miss out on them!
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