Skip to Content

SIM Cards in Belize: The Best Prepaid Plans | 2024 Guide

Belize – meaning muddy waters in Spanish, is known for its majestic beaches, the Belize Barrier Reef & various caves like the ATM cave.

There are also plenty of museums to visit, resorts to chill at & snorkeling and scuba diving locations – all instagrammable activities and locations!

Before you host a 1-hour live stream, you should know that social media apps consume a lot of data.

This is not an issue if you have a large data plan or, even better, an unlimited data plan; those allowances often do not apply when abroad.

And to make matters worse, international roaming rates are often insanely high, making it expensive.

If you do not watch out, you will come back home bankrupt.

Okay, roaming probably will not bankrupt you, but the costs are high.

So how to stay connected when traveling abroad in an affordable way? By using local SIM cards, like a Belizean one.

That way, you can enjoy local rates, which are almost always lower than international roaming.

So how much do SIM cards cost in Belize?

You can get a Belizean SIM card for 15 BZD (7.40 USD) from Smart or 22.50 BZD (11.15 USD) from Digi (formerly DigiCell) in their stores. Tourist SIM cards are sold from 20 BZD (9.90 USD) to 45 BZD (22.30 USD). SIM cards are not sold at Belize City-Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE).

Those prices are not too bad.

Sure, it can be cheaper in other places throughout the Americas, but it could also be much worse *cough* The Falkland Islands *cough*.

But there are quite some things to know before buying a SIM card in Belize.

In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Belize. Let's do this.

Buying a SIM Card in Belize Guide (logos of Digi & Smart!)

Original publication: 29th of December 2019. Last updated: 1st of March 2024.


Table of Contents

What is the Best SIM Card in Belize?

If you want to buy the best SIM card in Belize, I recommend going with Digi (formerly DigiCell) or Smart!. Digi has the best coverage and fastest speeds. If you do not mind sacrificing speed and coverage for lower prices, go with Smart!.

Phone Travel Wiz Approved Seal

So, who are all these mobile operators and what options are available for you?

Belize has two mobile operators offering prepaid services that are easily accessible to travelers:

  • Digi by Belize Telemedia Limited/BTL (formerly DigiCell)
  • Smart! by Speednet
Cellular Connectivity Illustration by Phone Travel Wiz

Anyone 18 years old or older living in or visiting Belize can buy a Belizean SIM card without restrictions.

  • Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
SIM Card Registration Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Where Can You Buy a Belizean SIM Card (+Prices)?

You can get a Belizean SIM card in Digi and Smart! stores.

You can expect to pay the following for Belizean SIM cards:

  • Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell): 22.50 BZD
  • Smart! Belize: 15 BZD

The following Belizean mobile operators also have SIM cards targeting tourists:

  • Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell): 20 BZD
  • Smart! Belize: 20 BZD & 45 BZD

(Travel) eSIMs for Belize

In recent years, (travel) eSIMs have become extremely popular.

Especially after Apple made iPhones (14- & 15 series) sold in the United States eSIM-only, forcing its users to use eSIMs – even when abroad.

As a result, the adoption of eSIM technology by mobile operators worldwide rose impressively quickly.

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

In my Belize eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

Buying an eSIM for Belize Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Cho!, Alosim & Airalo)

Surprisingly, travel eSIMs can be cheaper than a Belizean SIM card or eSIM in specific scenarios.

Moreover, Latin (Central- and South) America-wide and global eSIM options are also available at competitive prices (without having to deal with expensive international roaming rates).

In this Belize SIM card buying guide (the one you are reading), I will stick to the local SIM cards and eSIM, but you can read my Belize eSIM buying guide for more information about travel eSIMs covering the country.

But here is a quick overview already + applicable discount codes if you are interested in purchasing a travel eSIM for Belize:

  • Airalo: Cho! (Belize only) & Latamlink (19 countries in Latin (Central- and South) America)

Here are some discount codes to sweeten the deal:

  • Airalo: MAR15 for 15% off (if you have never bought an Airalo eSIM before). Otherwise, MAR10 for 10% off (for existing users) – only the first 3000 users can redeem either discount code)

Once again, check out my Belize eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.

Buying an eSIM for Belize Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Cho!, Alosim & Airalo)

The eSIM guide is as comprehensive as this SIM card buying guide, but it solely focuses on travel eSIMs (while the guide you are reading focuses on local SIM cards and eSIMs for prepaid users (where applicable).

Belizean Prepaid SIM Cards Explored

Below, I will guide you through Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell) & Smart! Belize, 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 said, let's see what Belize offers us.


Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

Digi Belize Logo New 2022
© Digi Belize

Digi Belize, just Digi and formerly DigiCell Belize, not to be confused with Digi in Malaysia, is the largest mobile operator in Belize.

Digi used to have a monopoly until Smart! Belize entered the market.

While Digi is still more expensive than Smart!, it still has the fastest speeds in Belize.

Digi uses the following frequencies:

  • 2G: 850 MHz & 1900 MHz
  • 3G: 850 MHz
  • 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 17) & 1900 MHz (Band 2)
  • VoLTE: No
  • VoWiFi: No

This is what you will learn about Digi:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Digi SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

Digi has the best coverage in Belize.

However, reception may be lacking in rural areas. Sometimes, you will have no coverage at all.

Below is Digi's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

You can buy a Digi SIM card for 22.50 BZD with 10 BZD credit and 1 GB of data (valid for 10 days) in Digi stores. Digi SIM cards are not Belize City-Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE).

Dial *100# or call *100 to access the Digi 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)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Short-term visitors and travelers can also take advantage of the Digi Tourist SIM card.

It costs 20 USD (or 40 BZD) and features 5 BZD credit, 4 GB of data, 300 local minutes & 300 local SMS – all valid for 14 days. The SIM card itself gets deactivated after 21 days, and it cannot be extended.

The thing is… this offer vanished from the Digi website when I updated this guide in April 2022.

If you know this offer is still available or not, let me know.

It will be a while before I revisit Belize, so I cannot confirm this myself yet 🤐.

Digi has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.

You can consider getting a travel eSIM for Belize, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Digi.

Especially if you get a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM (for when you visit at least two or more supported Latin American countries) or a global eSIM (for frequent travelers visiting multiple continents).

In my Belize eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

But I will introduce them here quickly:

  • Airalo: Cho! (Belize only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) – use code MAR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or MAR10 (10% off)

Once again, check out my Belize eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.

Buying an eSIM for Belize Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Cho!, Alosim & Airalo)

For now, I will continue with Digi.

Be aware that there is no VoLTE nor VoWiFi with Digi.

Support Me on Ko-Fi Orange

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

Digi top-up vouchers are sold in Digi stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Belize.

The following top-up options are available:

Top-UpValidity
5 BZD30 days 
10 BZD30 days 

To top up your Digi SIM card, dial *100# and follow the instructions.

If you use ePIN, dial *200 and follow the instructions.

You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Dial *201#, call 100, or text bal to 100 to check your Digi balance.

You can also top up and check your balance on the My DigiGo app (Android/iOS).

Digi Belize DigiGO App
© Digi Belize

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

Digi has four data-featured prepaid plans:

I will list all the prices in BZD (Belize Dollar).

To convert BZD to your currency (let's say CAD – Canadian Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Currency Exchange Banner
© Wise

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Digi After Dark Plan – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

The Digi After Dark plan are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS. For 1 night (between 20:00 and 6:00), costing 1.99 BZD.

Dial *100# to activate Digi After Dark.

PriceDataOn-Net Minutes 1Validity
1.99 BZD3 GB Unlimited1 night (20:00 – 6:00)

1 +unlimited on-net SMS

Digi Belize Digi After Dark Plan
© Digi Belize
All In One Bundles – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

The All In One Bundles are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

You can activate All In One Bundles by dialing *500#:

PricePlanDataLocal Minutes 1Validity
3 BZDS-Bundle350 MB30 minutes3 days 
6 BZDM-Bundle750 MB60 minutes5 days
9 BZDL-Bundle1500 MB90 minutes10 days 

1 +”unlimited” 10 000 on-net SMS

Digi Belize All in One Bundles
PrePaid Data Plans – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

The PrePaid Data Plans are, as the name implies, data bundles (without 5G NR access).

The following PrePaid Data Plans can be purchased by dialing *100#:

PricePlanDataValidity
1 BZDXS Plan130 MB6 hours 
2.50 BZDS Plan330 MB1 day
5 BZDM Plan680 MB3 days 
12 BZDL Plan1700 MB7 days 
20 BZDL+ Plan3000 MB15 days 
35 BZDXL Plan5500 MB30 days 
45 BZDXXL Plan 7500 MB30 days 
69 BZDWork From Home Data Plan 25 600 MB30 days 
Digi Belize PrePaid Data Plans
© Digi Belize
PrePaid Data Only Plans – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

The PrePaid Data Only Plans are, as the name implies, data bundles (without 5G NR access).

The following Prepaid Data Only Plans can (initially) only be activated in Digi stores:

PricePlanDataValidity
28.11 BZDEntry Plan4.5 GB1 month
44.99 BZDSmall Plan8 GB1 month
78.74 BZDMedium Plan15 GB1 month
Digi Belize PrePaid Data Only Plans

APN/Internet Settings – Digi Belize (formerly DigiCell)

  • Name: digi
  • APN: data

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

Support Me on Ko-Fi Orange


Smart! Belize

Smart Belize Logo
© Smart!

Smart! Belize, just Smart, is the smaller mobile operator in Belize.

It entered the Belizean market to end Digi Belize's (formerly DigiCell) monopoly.

Smart! is popular among the Belizean youth because of its youth-specific postpaid plans.

Smart! uses the following frequencies:

  • 2G: N/A – never had it
  • 3G: 850 MHz
  • 4G/LTE: 700 MHz (Band 13)
  • VoLTE: No
  • VoWiFi: No

This is what you will learn about Smart!:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Smart! SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Smart! Belize

Smart! has good coverage throughout Belize.

Smart!'s 4G/LTE coverage is still lacking, but it has 3G reception in the more populated areas in Belize.

It is not recommended going with Smart! if you plan on visiting rural Belize.

Below is Smart!'s coverage map produced by Speedtest:

SIM Card Price – Smart! Belize

You can get a Smart! SIM card for 15 BZD in Smart! stores. During promotions, you sometimes get 10 BZD credit and 1 GB of data. Smart! SIM cards are not Belize City-Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE).

  • 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)
SIM Card Prices Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

Short-term visitors and travelers can also take advantage of the Smart! Tourist SIM card.

The following Smart! Tourist SIM cards are available:

PriceCreditDataLocal SMSValidity
20 BZD11 BZDUnlimited25 SMS24 hours
45 BZD35 BZDUnlimited130 SMS10 days

Smart! has no eSIMs – not even for postpaid customers.

You may want to get a travel eSIM for Belize, which can be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Smart! (in some cases).

Especially when getting a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM if you do not stay in just Belize or a global eSIM valid for up to a year if you want one eSIM to work practically worldwide.

My Belize eSIM buying guide analyzes various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.

Here is a quick introduction to them:

  • Airalo: Cho! (Belize only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin America) – use code MAR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or MAR10 (10% off)

For more information, such as the prices and data allowances, check out my Belize eSIM buying guide.

Buying an eSIM for Belize Guide (logos of Holafly, Nomad, Latamlink, Cho!, Alosim & Airalo)

But let's continue with Smart! for now.

Be aware that there is no VoLTE nor VoWiFi with Smart!.

Support Me on Ko-Fi Orange

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Smart! Belize

Smart! top-up vouchers are sold in Smart stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Belize.

The following top-up options are available:

Top-UpValidity
5 BZD15 days 
10 BZD30 days 
20 BZD30 days 
50 BZD60 days 
100 BZD60 days 

The following online/eTopUp options are available:

Top-UpValidity
1 BZD – 9.99 BZD15 days 
10 BZD – 29.99 BZD30 days 
30 BZD – 49.99 BZD45 days 
50 BZD => 60 days 

To top up your Smart! SIM card, call 120 and enter your VoucherCode.

You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Call 122 to check your Smart! balance.

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Smart! Belize

Smart! has two data-featured prepaid plans: Mobile Prepay Plans (combo) & Mobile Data (data only).

I will list all the prices in BZD (Belize Dollar).

To convert BZD to your currency (let's say CAD – Canadian Dollar) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Wise Currency Exchange Banner
© Wise
Prepay Plans – Smart! Belize

The Mobile Prepay Plans are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

The following Mobile Prepay Plans are available, which can be activated on the website or on the Smart! app:

PricePlanDataOn-Net MinutesOff-Net MinutesLocal SMSValidity
35 BZDFlex Jr1 GB150 minutesShared with on-net minutes allowance130 SMS30 days
60 BZDChoice8 GBUnlimited600 minutesUnlimited30 days
90 BZDSelect27 GBUnlimitedShared with on-net minutes allowanceUnlimited30 days
Smart! Belize Mobile Prepay Plans
© Smart! Belize
Mobile Data – Smart! Belize

The Mobile Data plans are, as the name implies, data bundles (without 5G NR access).

You can activate Mobile Data plans by calling the Activation Code:

PriceDataValidityActivation Code
1.25 BZD165 MB24 hours638
2 BZD340 MB24 hours638
4 BZD680 MB3 days 638
7 BZD1250 MB7 days 638
14 BZD2500 MB7 days 3282
25 BZD4500 MB15 days 3282
40 BZD7200 MB30 days 3282
60 BZD11 000 MB30 days 3282
110 BZD20 500 MB40 days 3282
160 BZD32 000 MB40 days 3282
Smart! Belize Mobile Data Plans

APN/Internet Settings – Smart! Belize

  • Name: smart
  • APN: smart.com.bz

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

Support Me on Ko-Fi Orange

The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Belize

Getting a SIM card from Digi or Smart! would do you well when considering a Belizean SIM card.

Going to other places around the world? You should also check out my SIM card buying guides for other destinations worldwide.