The Balkans – known for their architecture, history & landscapes.
The region is also known for being an affordable travel destination within Europe.
But I have to confess something.
This guide is not about the Balkans but the Western Balkans.
To some, there is no difference between the two, but there is.
In this guide, I will be focusing on Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia & Serbia.
If I were to talk about the Balkan Peninsula entirely, Bulgaria, Croatia & Greece would need to be added.
Some would even add Slovenia too.
But like I said, many travelers who hear the Balkans immediately think about the Western Balkans anyway – so I will just refer to it as the Balkans.
Anyway, while your intention of visiting this region will differ from other travelers, you probably want to stay connected.
Else you would not have clicked on this guide 😏.
But as you probably know, international roaming can be expensive – also in the Balkans.
That is why you should get a local SIM card per Balkan nation you visit to save the most money.
While a new Roam Like at Home scheme was introduced in July 2021, do not get too excited.
It is not as extensive as the one in the European Union (EU) – especially not for prepaid customers.
In fact, you cannot roam for free within the Balkans with most mobile operators as a prepaid customer.
But then again – the mobile operators had stingy allowances in the beginning too until updated regulations were passed.
So we probably have to wait a few years before the scheme becomes useful.
So, what are your options in the Balkans? Which SIM card is the best? How much do they cost? And what plans are available?
This guide will answer all these questions for every individual Balkan country.
Yes, this is the ultimate guide to buying a SIM card in the Balkans. Let's do this.
Original publication: 17th of April 2022. Last updated: 15th of January 2024.
Table of Contents
Best Prepaid SIM Cards in the Balkans
With only six countries in the Balkans, it should be quite easy to summarize which SIM card is the best for a particular country.
But unlike some other regions, like Central America, where you see the same mobile operators active throughout the region, the Balkans like their variation.
At least for now. MTS Serbia, which owns the m:tel brand, wishes to be active in all of the Balkans soon.
Anyway…
Which SIM cards are the best in the Balkans?
In Albania, Vodafone & One. In Bosnia & Herzegovina, go with BH Telecom or HT Eronet. In Kosovo, stick wth Vala. In Montenegro and North Macedonia, (Crnogorski/Makedonski) Telekom will rock. Also consider A1 in North Macedonia – the same applies in Serbia. But think about Yettel there too.
That is quite an impressive summary, right? And all within 300 characters 😎.
For your convenience, there is a table of the best SIM cards in all Balkan countries:
| Country | Recommended SIM Card(s) |
|---|---|
| Albania | Vodafone Albania & One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania) |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | BH Telecom & HT Eronet |
| Kosovo | Vala (Kosovo Telecom) |
| Montenegro | Crnogorski Telekom |
| North Macedonia | Makedonski Telekom & A1 Macedonia |
| Serbia | Yettel Serbia & A1 Serbia |
So, why are the mobile operators mentioned above the best in the stated countries?
You will have to read along to find out 😏.
SIM Card Prices in the Balkans
Now you know which mobile operators are the best in the Balkans.
But how much to SIM cards cost in this region?
It is hard to say because various currencies are used throughout the Balkans.
But I will give it a try:
You can get a Balkan SIM card for between 1 USD (in Albania (95.80 ALL)) to 20.45 USD (in North Macedonia (1177.65 MKD)). However, you will often spend around 4.50 USD per SIM per country (but the average is 5.60 USD). Tourist SIM cards are available too, with up to 500 GB, for 10 EUR or 15 EUR.
ALL? MKD? EUR? What do those symbols mean?
Well, you probably know EUR stands for Euro (and if you did not, then I am angry at you 😡 – just kidding 💶).
But ALL and MKD are just the ISO 4217 symbols for the currencies used in Albania (Albanian Lek) and North Macedonia (Macedonian Denar).
So, why not convert everything into US Dollars/Euros/(British) Pound Sterling/*insert your currency here*?
Currencies fluctuate every day – even every 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to keep track of all currency changes.
Instead, I want to keep track of SIM card offerings worldwide 🤓.
Worry not, Wise has a nifty tool keeping track of currencies worldwide in real-time.
So if you want to know how much 600 RSD is in US Dollars, Euros, or (British) Pound Sterling, simply select the currencies on the Wise currency converter tool.
Moreover, 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!
With that out of the way, let's see how much SIM cards cost throughout the Balkans:
By the way: mobile operators marked in bold are the recommended mobile operators for said country.
| Country | Operator 1 | SIM Card Price(s) | Operator 2 | SIM Card Price(s) | Operator 3 | SIM Card Price(s) | Operator 4 | SIM Card Price(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Vodafone Albania | 500 ALL or 800 ALL (depending on the promotion) with 300 ALL credit and 500 on-net SMS (Vodafone Club) | Tourist SIM card (Vodafone 3 Weekly Tourist Pack): 1500 ALL with 15 GB, 5 GB for Netflix, Twitch & YouTube, 500 local minutes, 10 international to select destinations & 100 local/international SMS (no country restrictions) for 21 days | One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania) | 500 ALL OR 1500 ALL with 15 GB, 5 GB for Facebook Messenger, Message+, Viber & WhatsApp, 500 local minutes, 10 international minutes to select destinations & 100 local SMS (Paketa All Inclusive – 3 Javore) | ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania) | 100 ALL (Sim Card Super 100) OR 500 ALL with 300 ALL credit and 4 GB (if you create an account on Profili im) | Tourist SIM card (Super Holidays Package): 1000 ALL with 15 GB, 1000 local minutes, 10 international minutes to select destinations & 200 local SMS for 14 days | ||
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | BH Telecom | 5 BAM with 3 BAM credit (30 days) and 1 GB (7 days) | Tourist SIM cards: 20 BAM with 5 BAM credit and 15 GB for 10 days (Ultra Tourist 1) | 40 BAM with 10 BAM credit and 30 GB for 30 days (Ultra Tourist 2) | 100 BAM with 100 GB for 15 days (Ultra Tourist Group Package) | m:tel Bosnia & Herzegovina | 4 BAM with 4 GB for 7 days | 10 BAM with 10 GB for 15 days | HT Eronet | 4 BAM with 4 BAM credit (!hej Slagalica) | Data-only SIM card (!hej Internet2Go Start Paket): 10 BAM with 10 GB for 30 days | Tourist SIM card (!hej Tourist): 20 BAM with 20 GB and 30 local minutes for 30 days | Haloo (HT Eronet MVNO) | 4 BAM with 4 BAM credit for 15 days | Tourist SIM card (Haloo Tourist): 20 BAM with 1 BAM credit, 20 GB, 100 local minutes & 100 local SMS for 15 days |
| Kosovo | Vala (Kosovo Telecom) | 3 EUR with 1 EUR credit, 3 GB, 50 local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 15 days | IPKO | 4.95 EUR with 1 GB, 200 local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 7 days (SIM + TiP Bazik) | 5 EUR with 3 EUR for 30 days (SIM + Refill) | 5.50 EUR with 2 GB, 150 local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 21 days (SIM + TiP Trendy) | 7.99 EUR with 6 GB, 200 local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 30 days (SIM + TiP Aktiv) | 11.99 EUR with 10 GB, 250 local minutes & unlimited local SMS for 30 days (SIM + TiP Ndryshe) | ||||
| Montenegro | Crnogorski Telekom (Montenegro) | 5 EUR | Data-only SIM card: 9.90 EUR with “unlimited” (200 GB) for 10 days | Tourist SIM cards (Telekom Tourist Prepaid): 10 EUR with 500 GB for 15 days | 15 EUR with 500 GB for 30 days | One Montenegro (formerly Telenor Montenegro) | 10 EUR with 200 GB, 3 GB Western Balkans data, unlimited Viber data (12 months), 500 on-net minutes & 500 off-net minutes for 15 days | Data-only SIM card ( Pripejd Internet Paketa): 9.99 EUR with 100 GB for 15 days | m:tel Montenegro | 10 EUR with 400 GB, 1.11 GB Western Balkans data, 500 local minutes & 500 local SMS for 15 days (VRH Prepaid) | Tourist SIM cards: 10 EUR with 500 GB for 15 days | 15 EUR with 500 GB for 30 days | ||
| North Macedonia | Makedonski Telekom (formerly T-Mobile Macedonia) | 300 MKD with 181 MKD credit, 1 GB, unlimited on-net minutes & 100 on-net SMS for 7 days | 1199 MKD with 15 GB and unlimited local minutes for 30 days | Data-only SIM card: 499 MKD with 5 GB for 30 days | A1 Macedonia | 299 MKD with 50 MKD credit, 10 GB (14 days) & unlimited on-net minutes (7 days) | Lycamobile Macedonia | Free, but a top-up of at least 100/200 MKD is required. Else, starter packs from 100/200 MKD are available (depending on the store) | – | – |
| Serbia | MTS Serbia | 300 RSD with 25 RSD credit for 7 days | 400 RSD with 25 RSD credit, 1 GB, 5 GB for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Viber & WhatsApp, unlimited on-net minutes & 100 off-net minutes/local SMS for 7 days (Moj Pripejd) | 600 RSD with 50 RSD credit, 2 GB, 10 GB for Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Viber & WhatsApp, unlimited on-net minutes & 200 off-net minutes/local SMS for 15 days (Sve Cool) | Data-only SIM card (Pripejd Mobilni Net): 300 RSD with 500 MB for 30 days | Tourist SIM cards: 600 RSD with 25 RSD credit and 15 GB for 5 days (Turist) | 1800 RSD with 25 RSD credit, 10 GB, 120 on-net minutes & 30 international minutes for 30 days (Super Turist SIM) | Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor Serbia) | 400 RSD with 5 GB and 20 GB for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Viber & WhatsApp (10 GB per app for two apps you have to select on the Yettel RSB app) for 7 days (Yettel Pripejd) | 600 RSD with 15 GB and 20 GB for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Viber & WhatsApp (10 GB per app for two apps you have to select on the Yettel RSB app) for 7 days (Yettel Pripejd Plus) | Tourist SIM card (Prepaid Internet Tourist Package): 545 RSD with 10 GB and 2 GB Western Balkans data for 15 days | A1 Serbia (formerly Vip Mobile) | 400 RSD with 1 GB, 10 GB for Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Viber & WhatsApp, unlimited on-net minutes & 100 off-net minutes/on-net SMS for 30 days (Mesečni Plan 300 if you dial *123# and select option 1) | Tourist SIM card (A1 Hello Stranger): 400 RSD with 20 GB for 3 days (if you top-up at least 200 RSD within those 3 days, the validity will be extended by 7 days (10 days total) | Globatel Serbia (A1 Serbia MVNO) | 299 RSD |
Best eSIMs in the Balkans
Some mobile operators in the Balkans offer eSIMs to prepaid customers. However, most have no eSIMs at all, while some offer them only to postpaid customers.
These Balkan mobile operators offer eSIMs to prepaid customers:
- Albania: Vodafone Albania (maybe)
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: N/A
- Kosovo: N/A
- Montenegro: One Montenegro (formerly Telenor Montenegro)
- North Macedonia: Makedonski Telekom
- Serbia: Yettel Serbia & Globatel Serbia
In all Balkan nations with eSIMs offered to prepaid customers, except for Serbia, SIM card registration is mandated by law.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for the Balkans without personal detail capturing, you can get eSIMs from Airalo (most affordable) or Nomad (more data and longer validity in most countries in the region).
This way, you can avoid the bureaucratic hassle of obtaining a SIM card or eSIM and just purchase an eSIM on an app.
Below are the eSIMs I recommend:
| Country | Local eSIMs | Airalo eSIMs | Nomad eSIMs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Vodafone Albania (maybe for prepaid) | Registration IS required | Hej Telecom – 1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days & 10 GB/30 days | Available, but much more expensive than Vodafone Albania and Airalo |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | N/A | Bosher – 1 GB/7 days & 3 GB/30 days | N/A |
| Kosovo | N/A | Kosnet – 1 GB/7 days | N/A |
| Montenegro | One Montengro (formerly Telenor Montenegro) | Registration IS required | Jezero – 1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days | Available, but much more expensive than One Montenegro and Airalo |
| North Macedonia | Makedonski Telekom | Registration IS required | Matka Mobile – 1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days | N/A |
| Serbia | Yettel Serbia & Globaltel Serbia | Registration is NOT required | Serbia Mobile – 1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days & 5 GB/30 days | Available, but much more expensive than Yettel Serbia, Globatel Serbia & Airalo |
Use code ADU123 for the best deals available when getting Nomad eSIMs (on the site or their apps).
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in the Balkans and eSIMs worldwide).
If you plan on visiting multiple countries in the Balkans or other neighboring European nations, consider the Eurolink eSIM ((six variants: 1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers, 5 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, 10 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days) in the Balkans (highlighted with an *) and these other countries:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria 2
- Belgium 2
- Bulgaria 2
- Croatia 2
- Cyprus 2
- Czech Republic
- Denmark 2
- Estonia 2
- Finland 2
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar 1
- Greece 2
- Hungary
- Iceland 2
- Ireland 2
- Italy 2
- Latvia 2
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg 2
- Malta 2
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland 2
- Portugal
- Romania 2
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain 2
- Sweden 2
- Switzerland 2
- Turkey
- Ukraine (new)
- United Kingdom 2
1 on 3G only
2 (limited) 5G NR availability at no additional cost! (list updated in December 2022)
With the Eurolink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit – averaging 10.78 USD/country in Europe (and get 5G NR access at no additional cost)!
- Check out my Airalo Eurolink eSIM review (tested in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia & Spain)
Holafly and Nomad also have eSIMs covering all of the European Union (and more).
But honestly, the Eurolink eSIM is superior (but you can consider the Holafly Europe eSIM if you want unlimited data in 30+ countries – just do not forget about code PHONETRAVELWIZ if you go with Holafly).
VoLTE & VoWiFi in the Balkans
VoLTE (Voice over LTE (4G) – also known as HD Voice) is available in the Balkans, and it is offered by some mobile operators. However, VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi – also known as WiFi calling) is not available.
Below is a (short) list of countries with VoLTE, and which mobile operator offers the features:
- Albania: Vodafone Albania & One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
- North Macedonia: Makedonski Telekom & A1 Macedonia
- Serbia: MTS Serbia, Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor Serbia) & A1 Serbia
5G NR in the Balkans
Commercial 5G NR has been available in North Macedonia in February 2022 and in Montenegro since March 2022. However, prepaid customers cannot use 5G NR in those countries. The other countries have no 5G NR at all.
Balkan Prepaid SIM Cards
I will be covering six countries in this guide.
While I would love it if you read this whole guide, it has more than 8k words.
Moreover, you may not even visit all these countries, so I do not blame you for just wanting to focus on the country you will go to.
Therefore, I created this index so that you can jump to the country you are interested in (instead of having to scroll for ages).
If you are done reading about a country and want to read another one, you can easily do so by jumping back to the index.
There will be a Jump back to the Index button at the end of each country section.
- Albania
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Kosovo
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Serbia
In this guide, I will:
- introduce you to the mobile operators in each country
- give my SIM card recommendation(s) for each country
- give you eSIM recommendations
- show you the coverage map(s) of the recommended mobile operator(s)
- tell you how much SIM cards cost and where to get them
- explain where to get top-up vouchers, how to top-up & how to check your balance
- give you the recommended plan(s) by the recommended mobile operator(s)
- provide a short recap of what you need to know about SIM cards in the country
With that being said, let's see what the Balkans has to offer to us
Albania Prepaid SIM Cards
In Albania, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Vodafone Albania
- One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom Albania)
- ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Cards in Albania
I recommend going with Vodafone Albania or One Telecommunications (formerly Telekom). Vodafone has the best overall network, while One Telecommunications is not far behind and slightly cheaper. ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania) offers loads of cheap data at 3G (speeds).
Recommended 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).
In the meantine, I recommend going with the Albania (Hej Telecom) eSIMs from Airalo.
You have these four options:
- Albania/Hej Telecom 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Albania/Hej Telecom 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Albania/Hej Telecom 5 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Albania/Hej Telecom 10 GB eSIM for 30 days
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Albania and eSIMs worldwide).
Or get the Eurolink eSIMs covering Albania and 35+ other European countries (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days).
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Albania
Below are the coverage maps of Vodafone Albania and One Telecommunications (formerly Telekom) produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania)'s coverage map, head to my Albania SIM Card Buying Guide.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Albania
You can get an Albanian SIM card for 100 ALL or 500 ALL from ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile), 500 ALL or 800 ALL from Vodafone Albania, or 500 ALL or 1500 ALL from One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom) in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Albania
Vodafone Albania and One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom) top-up vouchers are sold in Vodafone stores and One Telecommunications stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Vodafone SIM card, dial *123# or call 141 and follow the instructions.
For One Telecommunications, call 141 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.
Recharging online with international debit and credit cards is possible for Vodafone and One Telecommunications.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing #123# or sending a blank SMS (or whatever, like a dot, if your phone does not allow you to send a blank SMS) to 131 with Vodafone. For One Telecommunications, text BA to 142.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Albania
Vodafone Albania has four data-featured plans. But the Daily/Weekly Bundles are recommended.
They are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following Daily/Weekly Bundles are available, which can be activated by dialing #123# or calling 131:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 ALL | Daily 100 MB | 100 MB | N/A | N/A | 1 day |
| 300 ALL | Paketa 3 Ditore | 300 MB | 300 minutes 1 | 30 SMS | 3 days |
| 300 ALL | 1 GB Weekly | 1 GB | N/A | N/A | 7 days |
| 700 ALL | GigaMax Paketa 10 Ditore | 1.5 GB | 300 minutes 1 | 30 SMS | 10 Days |
| 1500 ALL | GigaMax | 15 GB 2 | 500 minutes 3 | 100 SMS 4 | 7 days |
1 +3000 on-net minutes
2 +5 GB for Video Pass: Netflix, Twitch & YouTube
3 +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
4 also for international use (no country restrictions)
One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom) has three data-featured plans. But the Paketat One Unlimited (One Unlimited Packages) are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following Paketat One Unlimited are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 142:
| Price | Plan | Data | Western Balkan Data | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 ALL | Paketa Unlimited S | 200 MB | Shared with data allowance | 100 minutes | N/A | 30 days | US |
| 900 ALL | Paketa Unlimited M | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | 400 minutes | 400 SMS | 30 days | UM |
| 1200 ALL | Paketa Unlimited L | 8 GB | 2.68 GB | 2000 minutes | 200 SMS 1 | 30 days | UL |
| 1500 ALL | Paketa Unlimited Beats | 22 GB | 3.34 GB | 4000 minutes | 300 SMS 1 | 30 days | UB |
| 2000 ALL | Paketa Unlimited XL | 32 GB | 4.46 GB | 4000 minutes 2 | 500 SMS 1 | 30 days | UXL |
1 also for international use (no country restrictions)
2 +100 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, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom & the United States
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Albania
- Both Vodafone Albania and One Telecommunications Albania (formerly Telekom) are recommended
- ALBtelecom (formerly Eagle Mobile Albania) should only be considered if you want a lot of data for low prices and do not care about speed (and are only staying in urban areas)
- Albanian SIM cards cost 100 ALL or 500 ALL (ALBtelecom), 500 ALL or 800 ALL (Vodafone), or 500 ALL or 1500 ALL (One Telecommunications)
- SIM cards are also sold at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA)
- Topping up can be done in Vodafone and One Telecommunications stores, through top-up partners & online
- Vodafone's Daily/Weekly Bundles (combo) range from 60 ALL to 1500 ALL. One Telecommunications' Paketat One Unlimited (combo) range from 600 ALL to 200 ALL
- Read my Albania SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Albanian SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Kosovo Prepaid SIM Cards
In Kosovo, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Vala (Kosovo Telecom)
- IPKO
- MTS Kosovo (northern Kovoso only)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Cards in Kosovo
I recommend going with Vala (Kosovo Telecom). It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. While IPKO is cheaper in most cases, the difference is often just 1 EUR or 2 EUR – not worth the trade-off.
Recommended eSIM in Kosovo
I recommend going with the Kosovo (Kosnet) eSIM from Airalo with 1 GB of data valid for 7 days.
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Kosovo and eSIMs worldwide).
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Kosovo
Below is Vala (Kosovo Telecom)'s coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Kosovo SIM Card Buying Guide.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Kosovo
You can get a Kosovar SIM card for 3 EUR from Vala (Kosovo Telecom) or between 4.95 EUR to 11.99 EUR from IPKO in their stores. SIM cards are also sold at Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari (PRN – IPKO only).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Albania
Vala (Kosovo Telecom – recommended option) top-up vouchers are sold in Vala/Kosovo Telecom stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Vala SIM card, dial *103*VoucherCode# or call 161, select option 2, and enter the 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.
Dial *101# or call 161 and select option 1 to check your Vala balance.
You may have to reply with 1 if you get a text message asking you to select option 1 or 2.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Kosovo
Vala (Kosovo Telecom) has four data-featured plans. But the Pakot e Kombinuara (Combined Packages) are recommended.
They are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
The following Pakot e Kombinuara are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 50555:
| Price | Plan | Data | Western Balkan Data | On-Net Minutes | Local Minutes | Local SMS | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.99 EUR | FOL S | 2 GB | N/A | Unlimited | 150 miutes | Unlimited | 10 days | FOL S |
| 4.99 EUR | FOL M | 3 GB | N/A | Unlimited | 300 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days | FOL M |
| 5.99 EUR | INT M | 6 GB | 1.69 GB | 150 minutes | Shared with on-net call allowance | 150 SMS | 30 days | INT M |
| 7.49 EUR | FOL L | 4 GB | N/A | Unlimited | 700 minutes | Unlimited | 31 days | FOL L |
| 9.99 EUR | INT L | 15 GB | 2.82 GB | Unlimited | 200 minutes | Unlimited | 30 days | INT L |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Kosovo
- Vala (Kosovo Telecom) is recommended
- While IPKO is not bad at all, Vala is just a far better option. Stay away from MTS d.o.o
- Kosovar SIM cards cost 3 EUR (Vala) or between 4.95 EUR to 11.99 EUR (IPKO)
- SIM cards are also sold at Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari (PRN – IPKO only)
- Topping up can be done in Vala/Kosovo Telecom (and IPKO) stores, through top-up partners & online
- Vala's Pakot e Kombinuara (combo) range from 2.99 EUR to 9.99 EUR. (IPKO's TiP (combo) range from 2.95 EUR to 9.99 EUR)
- Read my Kosovo SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Kosovar SIM cards
Jump back to the Country Index. | Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Montenegro Prepaid SIM Cards
In Montenegro, you have three mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- Crnogorski Telekom (Montenegro)
- One Montenegro (formerly Telenor)
- m:tel Montenegro
Recommended Prepaid SIM Cards in Montenegro
One Montenegro (formerly Telenor) offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Montenegrin mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards (as mentioned in the Best eSIMs in the Balkans section).
While you can enter Montenegro with an EU/EEA ID card, most mobile operators only accept passports for registration purposes.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Montenegro without personal detail capturing, you can get the Montenegro (Jezero) eSIMs from Airalo.
You have these three options:
- Montenegro/Jezero 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Montenegro/Jezero 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Montenegro/Jezero 5 GB eSIM for 30 days
Or get the Eurolink eSIMs covering Montenegro and 35+ other European countries (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days).
Finally, you have the Discover Global eSIM for use in Montenegro and 80+ other countries worldwide (1 GB/7 days with top-ups available up to 20 GB/180 days).
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Montenegro
Below is Crnogorski Telekom (Montenegro)'s coverage map produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Montenegro SIM Card Buying Guide.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Montenegro
You can get a Montenegrin SIM card for 5 EUR from Crnogorski Telekom or 10 EUR from One Montenegro (formerly Telenor) and m:tel Montenegro in their stores. Tourist SIM cards with 500 GB of data are sold for 10 EUR and 15 EUR. SIM cards are sold at Podgorica Airport (TGD) and Tivat Airport (TIV).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Montenegro
Crnogorski Telekom (Montenegro – recommended option) top-up vouchers are sold in Crnogorski Telekom stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Crnogorski Tekekom SIM card, dial *123*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.
Dial *111# or *112# to check your Crnogorski Telekom balance.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Montenegro
Crnogorski Telekom (Montenegro) has six data-featured plans. But the Internet Plans are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Internet Plans are available, which can be activated by texting dialing *111#:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.50 EUR | NET 1 | 1 GB | Until midnight |
| 3 EUR | NET 7 | 5 GB | 7 days |
| 5 EUR | NET 15 | 7 GB | 15 days |
| 7.95 EUR | NET 30 | 10 GB | 30 days |
Do you want to see the other plans offered by Crnogorski Telekom or the other mobile operators? Head to my Montenegro SIM Card Buying Guide.
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Montenegro
- Crnogorski Telekom (Montenegro) is recommended
- Montenegrin SIM cards cost 5 EUR (Crnogorski Telekom) or 10 EUR (One Montenegro (formerly Telenor) & m:tel Montenegro)
- SIM cards are also sold at Podgorica Airport (TGD) and Tivat Airport (TIV)
- Topping up can be done in Crnogorski Telekom stores, through top-up partners & online
- Crnogorski Telekom's Internet Plans range from 0.50 EUR to 7.95 EUR
- Read my Montenegro SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Montenegrin SIM cards
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North Macedonia Prepaid SIM Cards
In North Macedonia, you have two mobile operators and one Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) offering prepaid services:
- Makedonski Telekom
- A1 Macedonia
- Lycamobile Macedonia (A1 Macedonia MVNO)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Cards in North Macedonia
I recommend going with Makedonski Telekom or A1 Macedonia. Makedonski Telekom has the best coverage. However, it throttles prepaid speeds to up to 21 Mbps. A1 does not throttle prepaid speeds, and its coverage is almost as extensive as Makedonski Telekom's.
Recommended eSIM in North Macedonia
Makedonski Telekom offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Macedonian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards (as mentioned in the Best eSIMs in the Balkans section).
While you can enter North Macedonia with an EU/EEA ID card, most mobile operators only accept passports for registration purposes.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for North Macedonia without personal detail capturing, you can get the North Macedonia (Makta Mobile) eSIMs from Airalo.
You have these three options:
- North Macedonia/Makta Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- North Macedonia/Makta Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
- North Macedonia/Makta Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days
Or get the Eurolink eSIMs covering North Macedonia and 35+ other European countries (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days).
Finally, you have the Discover Global eSIM for use in North Macedonia and 80+ other countries worldwide (1 GB/7 days with top-ups available up to 20 GB/180 days).
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in North Macedonia
Below are the coverage maps of Makedonski Telekom and A1 Macedonia produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see Lycamobile Macedonia's coverage map, head to my North Macedonia SIM Card Buying Guide.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in North Macedonia
You can get a Macedonian SIM card for 100 MKD from Lycamobile, 399 MKD to 1199 MKD from Makedonski Telekom, or 299 MKD from A1 in their stores or from resellers, including gas stations. SIM cards are sold at Skopje International Airport (SKP).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in North Macedonia
Makedonski Telekom and A1 Macedonia top-up vouchers are sold in Makedonski Telekom stores and A1 stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Makedonski Telekom SIM card, dial *122# or call 122 and follow the instructions.
For A1, dial *100*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.
Recharging online with international debit and credit cards is possible for Makedonski Telekom and A1.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *122# with Vodafone. For A1, *101# or call 1700 and select option 1.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in North Macedonia
Makedonski Telekom has four data-featured plans. But the Internet (Plans) are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Internet (plans) are available, which can be activated by dialing *122# or calling 140140:
| Price | Plan | Data 1, 2 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49 MKD | Daily Internet | 1 GB | 24 hours |
| 59 MKD | Weekly Internet S | 500 MB | 7 days |
| 99 MKD | Weekly Internet M | 1 GB | 7 days |
| 129 MKD | Weekly Internet L | 2 GB | 7 days |
| 129 MKD | Monthly Internet S | 500 MB | 30 days |
| 249 MKD | Monthly Internet M | 2 GB | 30 days |
| 499 MKD | Monthly Internet L | 8 GB | 30 days |
1 speeds up to 21 Mbps
2 double the data allowances when activated on the Telekom MK app
A1 Macedonia has four data-featured plans. But the Internet Data Plans are recommended.
They are, as the name suggests, data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Paketat One Unlimited are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 1410:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code | Deactivation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 MKD | Daily Bundle 100 MB | 100 MB | 24 hours | DEN START | STOP DNEVEN 100MB |
| 39 MKD | Daily Bundle 1 GB | 1 GB | 24 hours | DEN PROMO START | STOP DNEVEN 1GB |
| 49 MKD | Weekly Bundle 400 MB | 400 MB | 7 days | NEDELA 200MB | STOP NEDELEN 200MB |
| 79 MKD | Weekly Bundle 1 GB | 1 GB | 7 days | NEDELA 1GB | STOP NEDELEN 1 GB |
| 99 MKD | Monthly Bundle 1 GB | 1 GB | 30 days | 1GB | STOP 1GB |
| 119 MKD | Weekly Bundle 2 GB | 2 GB | 7 days | PROMO | STOP PROMO |
| 199 MKD | Monthly Bundle 3 GB | 3 GB | 30 days | 3GB | STOP 3GB |
| 299 MKD | Monthly Bundle 10 GB | 10 GB | 30 days | 10GB | STOP 10GB |
| 399 MKD | Monthly Bundle 15 GB | 15 GB | 30 days | 15GB | STOP 15GB |
| 999 MKD | Monthly Bundle 50 GB | 50 GB | 30 days | 50GB | STOP 50GB |
Internet Data auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, text the Deactivation Code to 1410.
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in North Macedonia
- Both Makedonski Telekom and A1 Macedonia are recommended
- Macedonian SIM cards cost 100 MKD (Lycamobile Macedonia), 299 MKD (A1), or 399 MKD to 1199 MKD (Makedonski Telekom),
- SIM cards are also sold at Skopje International Airport (SKP)
- Topping up can be done in Makedonski Telekom and A1 stores, through top-up partners & online
- Makedonski Telekom's Internet (plans) range from 49 MKD to 499 MKD. A1's Internet Data Plans range from 19 MKD to 999 MKD
- Read my North Macedonia SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Macedonian SIM cards
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Serbia Prepaid SIM Cards
In Serbia, you have four mobile operators offering prepaid services:
- MTS Serbia (Srbija)
- Yettel Serbia (Srbija – formerly Telenor Serbia/Srbija)
- A1 Serbia (Srbija)
- Globatel Serbia (Srbija – A1 Serbia MVNO)
Recommended Prepaid SIM Cards in Serbia
I recommend going with Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor) or A1 Serbia. Both mobile operators have the best coverage throughout the country. A1 has the fastest speeds. Consider MTS Serbia for generous allowances with its tourist SIM cards.
Recommended eSIM in Serbia
Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor) and Globatel Serbia offer eSIM to prepaid customers.
If you want to get an eSIM before arriving in Serbia, I recommend going with the Serbia (Serbia Mobile) eSIMs from Airalo.
You have these three options:
- Serbia/Serbia Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Serbia/Serbia Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
- Serbia/Serbia Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Serbia and eSIMs worldwide).
Or get the Eurolink eSIMs covering Serbia and 35+ other European countries (1 GB/7 days, 3 GB/30 days, 5 GB/30 days, 10 GB/30 days, 50 GB/90 days & 100 GB/180 days).
Finally, you have the Discover Global eSIM for use in Serbia and 80+ other countries worldwide (1 GB/7 days with top-ups available up to 20 GB/180 days).
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Serbia and eSIMs worldwide).
Coverage Maps of the Recommended Mobile Operators in Serbia
Below are the coverage maps of Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor Serbia) and A1 Serbia produced by Speedtest:
If you want to see the coverage maps of the other mobile operators, head to my Serbia SIM Card Buying Guide.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices & Availability in Serbia
You can get a Serbian SIM card for 300 RSD from MTS and Globaltel and 400 RSD from Yettel (formerly Telenor) and A1 in their stores or from resellers, like convenience stores and kiosks. SIM cards are also sold at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG).
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check in Serbia
Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor Serbia) and A1 Serbia top-up vouchers are sold in Yettel stores and A1 stores, kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.
To top up your Yettel SIM card, dial *912*VoucherCode#.
For A1, dial *123# 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.
Recharging online with international debit and credit cards is possible for Yettel and A1.
Checking your balance can be done by dialing *121# with Yettel. For A1, dial *123# or text ? to 1200.
Recommended Prepaid Plans in Serbia
Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor Serbia) has three data-featured plans. But the Monthly Internet Add-Ons are recommended.
They are data plans (without 5G NR access).
The following Daily/Weekly Bundles are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 3282 or dialing *111# and selecting option 6:
| Price | Data | Western Balkans Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 209 RSD | 250 MB | Shared with data allowance | 30 days | 250 |
| 319 RSD | 500 MB | Shared with data allowance | 30 days | 500 |
| 429 RSD | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | 30 days | 1 |
| 639 RSD | 3 GB | 1.5 GB | 30 days | 3 |
| 1099 RSD | “Unlimited”, 100 GB 1 | 2.5 GB | 30 days | 10 |
1 unlimited data @ 2 Mbps after exhausting your data allowance
A1 Serbia has four data-featured plans. But the Prepaid Tarifni Dodaci (Prepaid Tariff Supplements) are recommended.
They are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
The following Prepaid Tarifni Dodaci are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 12307 or dialing *123#:
| Price | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 129 RSD | 1 GB | 1 day | 1GB |
| 289 RSD | 3 GB | 7 days | 3GB |
| 489 RSD | 6 GB | 7 days | 6GB |
| 689 RSD | 12 GB | 7 days | 12GB |
Recap of the Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Serbia
- Both Yettel Serbia (formerly Telenor Serbia) and A1 Serbia are recommended
- Serbian SIM cards cost 300 RSD (MTS Serbia & Globatel Serbia) or 400 RSD (Telenor & A1)
- SIM cards are also sold at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
- Topping up can be done in Yettel and A1 stores, through top-up partners & online
- Yettel's Monthly Internet Add-Ons (data) range from 209 RSD to 1099 RSD. A1s' Prepaid Tarifni Dodaci (data) range from 129 RSD to 689 RSD
- Read my Serbia SIM Card Buying Guide for (much) more about Serbian SIM cards
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