Haiti – known for its beaches, food & the only country that officially recognizes Voodoo as a religion.
The country is also a comparatively inexpensive travel destination in the Caribbean.
Besides enjoying the beach, what else can you do in Haiti? A lot.
You can visit one of the many ruins, like the Sans-Soucis Palace from 1813.
Citadelle Laferrière has a stunning view from the top.
And if you still want to swim without being on the beach, head to Saut-Mathurine – Haiti's largest waterfall.
As you can see, there is no reason to be bored in Haiti.
Before posting your Haiti experiences on social media, be aware that international roaming can be expensive.
That is why I recommend getting local SIM cards, like a Haitian one, to enjoy local rates.
Amazingly, SIM cards in Haiti costs almost nothing.
You can get a Haitian SIM card for 60 HTG from Natcom (0.60 USD) or 70 HTG from Digicel (0.70 USD) in their stores and from resellers, including grocery stores. Natcom hands out free SIM cards at Port-au-Prince-Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) and Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP).
What is also amazing is that Haiti is the cheapest country for mobile data in the Caribbean.
But with low prices, do you enjoy a high-quality network or not?
You will find out today.
In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Haiti. Let's go.
Original publication: 29th of December 2019. Last updated: 13th of April 2022.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Haiti?
You can buy a Haitian SIM card from Digicel and Natcom as a tourist. There is nothing preventing travelers from buying a SIM card in Haiti.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
Moreover, your phone has to support the frequencies used in Haiti.
Finally, your phone needs to be unlocked (SIM-lock free) to use a Haitian SIM card.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Haiti?
You can get a Haitian SIM card in the official stores of Digicel and Natcom and from resellers, including grocery stores, pharmacies & kiosks. SIM cards are also available at Port-au-Prince-Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) and Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP – Natcom only).
You can expect to pay the following for Haitian SIM cards:
- Digicel Haiti: 70 HTG
- Natcom Haiti: 60 HTG
The following mobile operators also have SIM cards targetting tourists:
- Natcom Haiti: free! at Port-au-Prince-Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) and Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP) only
Can You Use Your Phone in Haiti?
Haiti uses GSM for their cellular communications, meaning that you need a GSM-capable phone to use your phone in the country. Fortunately, there is about a 99% chance your phone supports GSM.
Besides that, you need to be aware of the ITU regions to determine whether your phone will work in other parts of the world.
Although there are 3 ITU regions, you only need to know these two terms: American frequencies and European frequencies.
Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3) typically use European frequencies, meaning phones bought in those regions can be used in countries using European frequencies without issues.
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean), ITU Region 2, use American frequencies, which are different from the European frequencies.
Haiti uses a mix of American frequencies and European frequencies for 4G/LTE. 2G and 3G are exclusively on European frequencies.
If you bought your phone in the Americas (ITU region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you can go with any mobile operator.
It supports a traditional American frequency on 4G/LTE (1700 MHz on Band 4) and 3G (850 MHz).
However, you would not be able to use 2G nor 3G. Moreover, your coverage and reception will be limited.
If you purchased your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU regions 1 & 3) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, you can go with any mobile operator.
They support traditional European frequencies on 2G, 3G & 4G/LTE.
Suppose you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support. In that case, you can go with any mobile operator, as your phone will support both American frequencies and European frequencies, even on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Haiti
Haiti has two mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Digicel Haiti
- Natcom Haiti (National Telecom)
The following frequencies are used in Haiti
- 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1700 MHz (Band 4) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Haiti, check out this page by Will My Phone Work.
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 Haiti
Both VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) and VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFI calling) are not offered by the mobile operators in Haiti (yet).
This means that when you make a call, your phone will downgrade to 3G (or 2G when 3G is not available) instead of staying connected to 4G/LTE.
This is also why you often cannot use mobile while calling if not connected to WiFi.
VoWiFi is, as the name implies, calling on a WiFi connection as opposed to on a cellular network.
5G NR in Haiti
5G NR is not available in Haiti as of 2022, and the Haitian government has not made any indications of when it will auction 5G licenses.
Best SIM Card in Haiti
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Haiti, I recommend going with Digicel or Natcom. Digicel is, overall, the best mobile operator. Natcom offers many more plans than Digicel does.
Best eSIM in Haiti
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM (to prepaid customers) in Haiti yet.
However, you can get the Haiti (Bon Bagay) eSIM from Airalo with 1 GB of data valid for 7 days.
With this eSIM, you can skip Haiti's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Haiti!
If you plan on visiting other neighboring Caribbean nations, consider the Island Hopper eSIM with 1 GB of data (7 days) in French Guiana and these other islands:
With the Island Hopper eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit – averaging 8 USD/country in the Caribbean!
SIM Card Registration in Haiti
SIM card registration with your passport information is required in Haiti. It will be done at the point of sale.
Haiti Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Generally, the Caribbean is not known for being an affordable travel region.
However, there are a few gems where the cost of travel is not going to break the bank.
Haiti is one of them. And that is noticable when you look at the mobile data rates in the country.
The average price for 1 GB of data in Haiti is 0.85 USD, far below the Caribbean average of also 4.44 USD. The world average is 4.07 USD.
As you can see, Haiti has the lowest mobile data rates in the Caribbean.
In fact, Haiti is one of the 53 countries where the average cost of 1 GB of data is less than 1 USD, together with only the Dominican Republic from this region.
While the cost of mobile data is low in Haiti, for global standards, will you also get (s)low speeds?
Yes, you will. One of the lowest in the world.
Haiti's median mobile download speed is around 11 Mbps.
Yeah, that is slow.
Currently, Haiti has the slowest median download speed in the whole Caribbean, according to the Speedtest Global Index.
Many Caribbean nations are missing from the index.
And some of them (like Montserrat and Saba) have even slower mobile data speeds than Haiti.
But if we only look at the Global Index, Haiti has the 10th slowest median mobile download speed globally.
That is not a good sign.
What is even worse is that towers shut down because of a lack of fuel.
Or towers get destroyed by yearly hurricanes.
With incredibly low SIM card prices, good nationwide coverage, (terribly) slow mobile download speeds, and incredibly low mobile data rates, you should have a decent network experience in Haiti.
Currency in Haiti
Haiti uses the Haitian Gourde with the symbol HTG (which will be used throughout this guide).
However, prices are often listed as G. For example, 25 HTG = G25.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between HTG and USD (US Dollars):
- 1 HTG = 0.01 USD
- 10 HTG = 0.10 USD
- 100 HTG = 1 USD
- 1000 HTG = 9.90 USD
- 10 000 HTG = 99.10 USD
For up-to-date HTG:USD 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!
Haitian Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Digicel Haiti & Natcom Haiti (National Telecom), 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 Haiti has to offer to us.
Digicel Haiti
Digicel Haiti, just Digicel, is the largest mobile operator in Haiti.
Digicel, as a company, is active in many other Caribbean nations, Central America & Oceania.
Digicel uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 8), 1700 MHz (Band 4) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
This is what you will learn about Digicel:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Digicel SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Digicel Haiti
Digicel has good coverage throughout Haiti.
4G/LTE is still mostly concentrated in urban areas.
Below is Digicel's coverage map:
SIM Card Price – Digicel Haiti
You can get a Digicel SIM card for 70 HTG in Digicel stores and from resellers, including grocery stores, pharmacies & kiosks. They are also sold at Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP – Alo Communication store).
You may have to dial *120# to activate your Digicel SIM card.
Dial *129# to see your Digicel phone number.
Dial *509# to access the Digicel menu.
Digicel SIM cards get deactivated if there has been no activity for 120 days (no top-up for 120 days or no activity for 120 days).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel Haiti
Digicel top-up vouchers are sold in Digicel stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Digicel SIM card, dial *121*VoucherCode# or dial *509# and follow the instructions.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *121*123456#.
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 *111# or *120# to check your Digicel balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Digicel app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel Haiti
Digicel has one data-featured plan: the Prime Bundles. It includes data for select Digicel apps, minutes & SMS.
The following Prepaid Prime Bundles are available, which can be activated by dialing *111#, *500#, or *509#:
| Price | Plan | Any Use Data | Listen More (Music) Data | Listen More (Radio) Data | Watch More Data | Play More Data | Share More Data | Know More Data | Store More Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net/Canada/USA Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 HTG | 1 Day Prime Bundle | 3 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB | Unlimited | N/A | 1 day |
| 550 HTG | 7 Day Prime Bundle | 20 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | Unlimited | N/A | 7 days |
| 2500 HTG | 30 Day Prime Bundle | 70 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | Unlimited | 30 minutes | 30 days |
APN/Internet Settings – Digicel Haiti
- Name: Digicel
- APN: web.digicelha.com
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Natcom Haiti (National Telecom)
Natcom Haiti, just Natcom but standing for National Telecom, is the smaller mobile operator in Haiti.
It is owned by Viettel from Vietnam, which is directly owned by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense.
Natcom uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 8), 1700 MHz (Band 4) & 2100 MHz (Band 1)
This is what you will learn about Natcom:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Natcom SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Natcom Haiti
Natcom has good coverage throughout Haiti.
4G/LTE is still mostly concentrated in urban areas.
Below is Natcom's coverage map:
SIM Card Price – Natcom Haiti
You can get a Natcom SIM card, called Xchange, for 60 HTG in Natcom stores (1/2) and from resellers, including grocery stores, pharmacies & kiosks.
If you recharge at least 25 HTG, you get 250 MB of data and 25 on-net minutes for 24 hours.
However, it can take up to 3 days to get these bonuses.
Free Natcom Tourist SIM cards, with 100 MB for 1 day, are available at Port-au-Prince-Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) & Cap-Haïtien International Airport (VAP).
Exclusively for the Natcom Tourist SIM cards, you can get bonus data when you recharge the following amounts:
| Top-Up | Bonus Data | Bonus Data Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 200 HTG | 500 MB | 1 day |
| 500 HTG | 1 GB | 3 days |
| 1000 HTG | 5 GB | 7 days |
You may have to call 900 to activate your Natcom SIM card.
Dial *101# to see your Natcom phone number.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Natcom Haiti
Natcom top-up vouchers are sold in Natcom stores (1/2), kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
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 *101# to check your Natcom balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the MyNatcom app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Natcom Haiti
Natcom has eight data-featured plans:
- Aswè Nèt (combo)
- Super Data Plans (combo – yes, really)
- VIP Plans (combo)
- DL Plans (short-term data)
- DS Plans (data with no expiry)
- Mu Plans (data)
- YouTube Plans (data for YouTube)
- Facebook Plans (data for Facebook)
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in:
Aswè Nèt – Natcom Haiti
The Aswè Nèt is a 15 HTG combo plan with unlimited data, unlimited on-net minutes & unlimited local minutes for 1 night (23:00 – 5:00).
Dial *134*25# to activate Aswè Nèt.
| Price | Data | On-Net Minutes | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 HTG | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 night (23:00 – 5:00) | *134*25# |
Super Data Plans – Natcom Haiti
The Super Data Plans are, unlike the name implies, combo bundles with data and minutes.
Super Data Plans can be activated by dialing the Activation Code.
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1 | On-Net Minutes | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 HTG | Super Data 45 | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 days | *134*450*2# |
| 75 HTG | Super Data 75 | 2 GB/day (6 GB) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3 days | *134*750# |
1 for Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp
VIP Plans – Natcom Haiti
The VIP plans are combo bundles with data and minutes.
These VIP plans are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net/Canada/USA Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 HTG | VIP Plan 500 | 4 GB | 300 minutes | 3 minutes | 30 days |
| 1000 HTG | VIP Plan 1000 | 10 GB | Unlimited | 8 minutes | 30 days |
| 2000 HTG | VIP Plan 2000 | 20 GB | Unlimited | 20 minutes | 30 days |
| 5000 HTG | VIP Plan 5000 | 60 GB | Unlimited | 100 minutes | 30 days |
DL Plans – Natcom Haiti
The DL Plans are data-only bundles valid until midnight.
The following DL Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 HTG | DL 12 | 240 MB | Until midnight | *105*112# |
| 15 HTG | DL 15 | 600 MB | Until midnight | *105*115# |
DS Plans – Natcom Haiti
The DS Plans are data-only bundles with no expiry.
DS Plans can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 HTG | DS 50 | 450 MB | No expiry | *132*50# |
| 100 HTG | DS 100 | 1 GB | No expiry | *132*100# |
| 200 HTG | DS 200 | 2.2 GB | No expiry | *132*200# |
| 500 HTG | DS 500 | 6 GB | No expiry | *132*500# |
| 1000 HTG | DS 1000 | 13 GB | No expiry | *132*1000# |
| 2000 HTG | DS 2000 | 30 GB | No expiry | *132*2000# |
Mu Plans – Natcom Haiti
The Mu Plans are data-only bundles.
The following Mu Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 HTG | Mu200 | 2.5 GB | 30 days | *134*200# |
| 400 HTG | Mu400 | 6 GB | 30 days | *134*400# |
| 800 HTG | Mu800 | 12 GB | 30 days | *134*800# |
| 1000 HTG | Mu1000 | 15 GB | 30 days | *134*1000# |
| 2000 HTG | Mu2000 | 35 GB | 30 days | *134*2000# |
YouTube Plans – Natcom Haiti
The YouTube Plans are data-only bundles for YouTube.
Dial the Activation Code to activate the YouTube Plans:
| Price | Plan | YouTube Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 HTG | YouTube 15 | 1 GB | 1 day | *134*151# |
| 20 HTG | YouTube 20 | 2.5 GB | 1 day | *134*202# |
| 100 HTG | YouTube 11 | 2 GB/day (14 GB) | 7 days | *134*110# |
| 350 HTG | YouTube 35 | 2.5 GB/day (75 GB) | 7 days | *134*350# |
Facebook Plans – Natcom Haiti
The Facebook Plans are data-only bundles for Facebook.
Dial the Activation Code to activate the Facebook Plans:
| Price | Plan | Social Data 1 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 HTG | Facebook 20 | 2.5 GB | Until midnight | *134*32# |
| 100 HTG | Facebook 100 | 2 GB/day (30 GB) | 15 days | *134*101# |
| 350 HTG | Facebook 350 | 2.5 GB/day (75 GB) | 30 GB | *134*305# |
1 for Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Twitter & WhatsApp
APN/Internet Settings – Natcom Haiti
- Name: Natcom Internet
- APN: natcom
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Haiti
I would highly encourage anyone visiting Haiti to get themselves a Haitian SIM card – you will be saving a lot of money when you do so.
However, for some, getting a Haitian SIM card is not an option.
For example, your device may be SIM-locked, meaning that you cannot use any other SIM card other than the SIM card provided by your mobile operator.
There are other ways to stay online while in Haiti, but they may not be cheap.
However, these methods may be more expensive than getting a SIM card from the local mobile operators.
International Roaming
International roaming is the most convenient way to stay connected when traveling in other countries because you do not have to buy a new SIM card, have to deal with SIM card registration regulations, nor have multiple phone numbers to deal with.
However, international roaming has proven to be expensive in many cases, especially compared to buying local SIM cards. That is why many travelers are not fond of international roaming.
Find out whether your mobile operator has attractive roaming rates for Haiti here.
Using an International SIM Card or Travel SIM Card
International SIM cards are SIM cards made for the traveler in mind.
Using them is often cheaper than international roaming.
However, they are almost always more expensive than using a local SIM card.
There are many other advantages and disadvantages of getting international SIM cards, which you can learn about here.
Using a Mobile Hotspot (Pocket WIFI)
Mobile hotspots, or pocket WIFI, are small devices that connect to the local mobile operators of the country you are visiting.
Mobile hotspots are ideal for families or those traveling in a large group, as they allow you to connect multiple devices to one hotspot without the need of each traveler having to buy a SIM card.
You can either buy a mobile hotspot or rent one.
Using Free WIFI Networks
Using free WIFI connections is the cheapest way to stay connected because they are free.
The major downside of trying to use WIFI hotspots is that you will have to locate them, and they are not available on every corner in Haiti.
Make sure to protect your internet traffic with a VPN so that hackers cannot steal your personal data.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Haiti
Getting a SIM card from Digicel or Natcom would do you well when considering a Haitian SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other Caribbean Countries
Visiting other countries in the Caribbean? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other Caribbean nations, such as:
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:
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Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
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