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 (0.45 USD) or 70 HTG from Digicel (0.50 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: 2nd of March 2024.
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: 65 HTG
- Natcom Haiti: 60 HTG
The following mobile operators also have SIM cards targeting 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 easily accessible to travelers:
- 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 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 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
Best eSIM in Haiti
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Haiti yet.
Note that the Haitian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).
However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.
The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for Haiti.
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 four best eSIMs for Haiti:
- Airalo Haiti Bon Bagay eSIM with one 1 GB option (cheapest <7 GB)
- Holafly Haiti eSIM with three choices between 3 GB and 15 GB (cheapest 7 GB > – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)
- Holafly Caribbean eSIM (covers 16 Caribbean countries with a generous allowance)
- Airalo Island Hopper eSIM with one 1 GB option (covers 24 Caribbean countries at higher prices and just 1 GB of data)
Because this is the SIM card buying guide for Haiti, 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 Haiti, you better check out my Haiti eSIM buying guide.
It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.
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
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 = 0.075 USD
- 10 HTG = 0.75 USD
- 100 HTG = 0.75 USD
- 1000 HTG = 7.55 USD
- 10 000 HTG = 75.45 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 Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
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 produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Digicel Haiti
You can get a Digicel SIM card for 65 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.
- 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)
Digicel has no eSIMs.
You can consider getting a travel eSIM for Haiti, which can, in specific scenarios, be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Digicel.
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 Haiti eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
But I will introduce them here quickly:
- Airalo: Bon Bagay (Haiti only) – use code APR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or APR10 (10% off)
- Holafly: Haiti – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
Once again, check out my Haiti eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.
For now, I will continue with Digicel.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Digicel Haiti
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Digicel Haiti
Digicel has only two data-featured prepaid plans: DigiNET (combo) & DigiPALENET (combo).
I will list all the prices in HTG (Haitian Gourde).
To convert HTG 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.
DigiNET – Digicel Haiti
The DigiNET plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access) & minutes.
The following DigiNET plans are available, which can be activated through the MyDigicel app:
Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Validity |
---|---|---|---|---|
25 HTG | 1 Day Diginét 25 | 500 MB | Unlimited | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
35 HTG | 1 Day Diginét 35 | 750 MB | Unlimited | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
45 HTG | 1 Day Diginét 45 | 1.5 GB | Unlimited | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
55 HTG | 1 Day Diginét 55 | 2 GB | Unlimited | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
65 HTG | 1 Day Diginét 65 | 3 GB | Unlimited | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
550 HTG | 7 Day Diginét+ 7 Jou | 7 GB | Unlimited | 7 days |
1900 HTG | 30 Day Diginét+ 30 Jou | 30 GB | Unlimited | 30 days |
DigiPALENET – Digicel Haiti
The DigiPALENET plans are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access) & minutes.
The following DigiPALENET plans are available, which can be activated through the MyDigicel app:
Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Validity |
---|---|---|---|---|
45 HTG | 1 Day Digipalenét 45 | 500 MB | 15 minutes | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
55 HTG | 1 Day Digipalenét 55 | 750 MB | 20 minutes | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
65 HTG | 1 Day Digipalenét 65 | 1 GB | 30 minutes | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
75 HTG | 1 Day Digipalenét 75 | 2 GB | 60 minutes | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
85 HTG | 1 Day Digipalenét 85 | 3 GB | Unlimited | until midnight (00:00 to 23:59) |
600 HTG | 7 Day Digipalenét+ 7 Jou | 7 GB | Unlimited | 7 days |
3000 HTG | 30 Day Digipalenét+ 30 Jou | 30 GB | Unlimited | 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 produced by Speedtest:
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.
- 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)
Natcom has no eSIMs.
You may want to get a travel eSIM for Haiti, which can be cheaper than getting a SIM card from Natcom (in some cases).
Especially when getting a Latin (Central- and South) America-wide eSIM if you do not stay in just Haiti or a global eSIM valid for up to a year if you want one eSIM to work practically worldwide.
My Haiti eSIM buying guide analyzes various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
Here is a quick introduction to them:
- Airalo: Bon Bagay (Haiti only) – use code APR15 (15% off – first-time users only) or APR10 (10% off)
- Holafly: Haiti – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ (5% off – no limits)
For more information, such as the prices and data allowances, check out my Haiti eSIM buying guide.
But let's continue with Natcom for now.
The Holafly Caribbean eSIM can be used in the following 16 countries:
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Aruba
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- French Guiana
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Natcom Haiti
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Natcom Haiti
Natcom has seven data-featured prepaid plans:
- Aswè Nèt (combo)
- Super Data Plans (combo)
- VIP Plans (combo)
- DL Plans (short-term data)
- Mu Plans (data)
- YouTube Plans (data for YouTube)
- Facebook Plans (data for Facebook)
I will list all the prices in HTG (Haitian Gourde).
To convert HTG 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:
Aswè Nèt – Natcom Haiti
The Aswè Nèt is a 15 HTG combo plan with unlimited data (without 5G NR access), 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 (without 5G NR access) 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 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 days | *134*450*2# |
75 HTG | Super Data 75 | 2 GB/day (6 GB) | N/A | N/A | 3 days | *134*750# |
1 for Facebook, Instagram & WhatsApp
VIP Plans – Natcom Haiti
The VIP plans are combo bundles with data (without 5G NR access) and minutes.
These VIP plans are available:
Price | Plan | Data | On-Net Minutes | Off-Net Minutes | International Minutes 1 | Validity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
500 HTG | VIP Plan 500 | 4 GB | 300 minutes | 3 minutes | Shared with off-net minutes | 30 days |
1000 HTG | VIP Plan 1000 | 10 GB | Unlimited | 8 minutes | Shared with off-net minutes | 30 days |
2000 HTG | VIP Plan 2000 | 20 GB | Unlimited | 20 minutes | Shared with off-net minutes | 30 days |
5000 HTG | VIP Plan 5000 | 60 GB | Unlimited | 60 minutes | Shared with off-net minutes | 30 days |
1 for in Canada & the United States
DL Plans – Natcom Haiti
The DL Plans are data bundles (without 5G NR access) valid until midnight.
The following DL Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing Activation Code:
Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
---|---|---|---|---|
15 HTG | DL 15 | 400 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
18 HTG | DL 18 | 700 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
20 HTG | DL 20 | 950 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
25 HTG | DL 25 | 1229 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
30 HTG | DL 30 | 1700 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
35 HTG | DL 35 | 2048 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
45 HTG | DL 45 | 3072 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
50 HTG | DL 50 | 3584 MB | Until midnight | *134# Press 1 |
Mu Plans – Natcom Haiti
The Mu Plans are data bundles (without 5G NR access).
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 bundles (without 5G NR access) for YouTube.
Dial the Activation Code to activate the YouTube Plans:
Price | Plan | Social Data 1 | Validity | Activation Code |
---|---|---|---|---|
15 HTG | YouTube 15 | 1 GB | Until midnight | *134*151# |
20 HTG | YouTube 20 | 2.5 GB | Until midnight | *134*202# |
100 HTG | YouTube 100 | 2 GB/day (14 GB) | 7 days | *134*110# |
350 HTG | YouTube 350 | 2.5 GB/day (75 GB) | 7 days | *134*350# |
Facebook Plans – Natcom Haiti
The Facebook Plans are data bundles (without 5G NR access) 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.
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 American Countries
Visiting other countries in the Americas? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide, covering other American nations, such as:
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Puerto Rico
- Saba
- Saint Barthélemy (Barts)
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin
- Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
- Sint Eustatius (Statia)
- Sint Maarten
- Suriname
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- United States
- Uruguay
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Venezuela
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.