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Best Local Prepaid SIM Cards Worldwide (Lookup Tool)

What are the best local prepaid SIM cards in every country worldwide?

That, of course, depends on the country.

Let's talk about Digicel – a mobile operator active in the Caribbean, Central America & (Pacific) Oceania.

In most English-speaking nations in the Caribbean, it is the best.

However, that cannot always be said about Central America or Oceania – even though it is all by the same company.

So it can be a challenge to determine which SIM card is the best in country B, even if you had an amazing experience in country A with a SIM card from the same company (Digicel for this example).

Luckily for you, I am crazy enough to buy every SIM card available in the countries I visit so that you do not have to.

Based on my research, testing & findings, I can tell you which SIM card is the best without you wasting your money or being disappointed because you accidentally bought the worst SIM card available.

Instead, I am the one wasting my money 🤪.

That is why you are always free to buy me a coffee (or tea), which does not get spent on tea but on SIM cards instead (I do not get them for free, unfortunately).

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Adu's collection of local prepaid SIM cards in 2020
Just a bunch of local SIM cards I have – and I have many more!

While I have in-depth SIM card buying guides, you may want to get a quick overview of the options in the country you are visiting.

That is what this page is for – and the lookup tool.

Here, you can easily see the best SIM card(s) in every country with the cost of a basic SIM card (so it excludes data-only and tourist SIM cards), and how much 1 GB of data will cost you.

Be sure to check the notes in the last column for additional information applicable to the country.

TIP: use this tool combined with the SIM card prices worldwide lookup tool.

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For up-to-date currency exchange rates (let's say Euro to US Dollars), use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

For convenience, I will also list the best SIM card of each country below.

Sometimes, there is a cheaper option or an option that may be better for your purpose (let's say better coverage or speed than the one mentioned in the table below).

Therefore, you should use the lookup tool above for more information.

If you are confused about all the symbols, those are the currency symbols.

For up-to-date currency exchange rates (let's say Euro to US Dollars), use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

(Note – I update multiple individual country guides every week, but this page and the tool get updated every now and then. Click on the country name to read the SIM card buying guide of that country and for up-to-date information).

Last updated (table): 6th of October 2022.

CountryBest SIM CardReasonNotes
AbkhaziaAquafonBest overall N/A
AfghanistanUnknownAfter the fall of the previous Afghan government, things have changed a lot. I have no plans on visiting the country any time soon, and my contacts left the country
Åland IslandsÅlcomOnly choice – monopolyElisa Finland and DNA offer free roaming in the Aland Islands – using their SIM cards will be much cheaper than getting an Aland Islands SIM card
AlbaniaVodafone Albania It has the best overall network.ALBtelecom offers loads of cheap data at 3G (speeds).
AlgeriaDjezzyBest coverage Buying your SIM card at the airport will not cost you more than buying it in town 
American SamoaBlueSky American Samoa Only choice – monopolyN/A
AndorraAndorra TelecomOnly option – monopolyAndorra Telecom is currently the only mobile operator in Andorra.
AngolaUnitel AngolaIt has the most extensive coverage throughout Angola and the fastest speeds.More expensive than Movicel.
AnguillaDigicel AnguillaIt has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 30 GB/app).Both mobile operators have extensive coverage throughout the country, and the speeds are similar.
Antigua and BarbudaDigicel Antigua and Barbuda It has attractive plans that include high data allowances for select apps, including TikTok and YouTube.N/A
ArgentinaPersonal ArgentinaIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. It is also the only mobile operator with a 5G NR network (also for prepaid).N/A
ArmeniaViva MTSIt is, overall, the best mobile operator in the country with the fastest speeds and best coverage.N/A
ArubaSETARIt is, overall, the best mobile operator.N/A
Ascension IslandSure Ascension Island Only option – monopolyDo note that the price of 1 GB of data will cost you more than 100 SHP.
AustraliaTelstraIt has the best network and the fastest speeds.Consider Boost Mobile, the only Telstra MVNO with full access to the Telstra network (but no 5G NR yet), for cheaper rates than Telstra itself.
AustriaA1 AustriaIt has the best network and the fastest speeds.N/A
AzerbaijanAzercellBest overall N/A
BahamasBTCGreat overallThe coverage with both operators is on par, so are their speeds.
BahrainSTC Bahrain (VIVA Bahrain)It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds in the country.N/A
BangladeshGrameenphoneIt is, overall, the best mobile operator with the best performance.N/A
BarbadosDigicel Barbados It offers a large variety of plansBoth mobile operators have excellent nationwide coverage.
BelarusMTSBest overallN/A
BelgiumProximus It has the best overall network.N/A
BelizeDigi Belize (formerly DiGiCell)It has the best coverage and fastest speeds.N/A
BeninMTN BeninEqually as good (or bad) as Moov BeninN/A
BermudaDigicel BermudaIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Moreover, its packages offer much more value than One's.N/A
BhutanB-Mobile Best overall N/A
BoliviaEntel BoliviaIt is, overall, the best mobile operator in the country.N/A
BonaireDigicel BonaireGood coverage and fast speeds like Flow Bonaire.Both mobile operators have good coverage and have equally fast speeds. The main difference is the type of plans they offer and the prices charged (which are rather similar).
Bosnia & HerzegovinaBH TelecomIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
BotswanaMascow WirelessBest 3G coverage N/A
BrazilClaro Brazil (including former Nextel Brazil)It has one of the best coverage nationwide and has a large variety of plans (at average prices).N/A
British Virgin Islands (BVI)Digicel BVIIt has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 30 GB/app).Both mobile operators have extensive coverage, and the speeds are similar.
BruneiDST Communications It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
BulgariaA1 BulgariaIt has, overall, a great network.N/A
Burkina FasoOrange Burkina FasoGood coverage Speeds can be slow in Burkina Faso 
BurundiLumitelWidest 4G/LTE coverage Econet Leo may sell their SIM cards for 500 BIF during certain promotions 
CambodiaMetfone CambodiaIt has the best overall coverage, but Smart has the best 4G/LTE availability.N/A
CameroonMTN CameroonBest coverage 4G/LTE is on 2500 MHz on Band 41, which is uncommon. Need a high-end phone for that. Speeds are slow in Cameroon.
CanadaTelusIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds in Canada.However, Telus and Koodo prepaid customers have a 100 Mbps speed cap.
Cape VerdeCV MóvelIt has the best coverage and the best variety in plans and packages.N/A
Cayman IslandsDigicel CaymanIt can be a good option if you use any of the Digicel apps.Both mobile operators are equal in speeds and coverage.
Central African RepublicTBATBAN/A
ChadTigo ChadBest coverage and the fastestCoverage throughout Chad is bad
Channel Islands (Jersey & Guernsey)Sure Channel Islands Best overall N/A
ChileEntel ChileEntel is the best mobile operator in most regards.N/A
ChinaChina UnicomBest for non-Chinese phonesA lot of bureaucracy to get a Chinese SIM card – be aware of that
ColombiaClaro ColombiaIt has the best overall coverage (mostly 2G & 3G).N/A
ComorosTelmaAmbitious operatorHuri, the other operator, blocks VoIP apps
Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)Airtel Congo Best overall and the cheapest N/A
Cook IslandsVodafone Cook Islands (formerly BlueSky Cook Islands)Only choice – monopolyIt is the only mobile operator in Cook Islands.
Costa RicaKölbiIt has the fastest speeds and the best 4G/LTE coverage experience.N/A
Côte d'Ivoire/Ivory CoastOrange Ivory CoastBest coverageN/A
CrimeaWin Mobile Best overall N/A
CroatiaSimpa by Hrvatski TelekomIt has the best overall network and the fastest speeds. Consider its tourist SIM card with unlimited data for 7 days, costing 85 HRK (12.80 USD).N/A
CubaCubacel (by ETESCA)Only option for travelers It is currently the only mobile operator in Cuba.
Curacao/CuraçaoDigicel CuraçaoIt has the fastest speeds and the best coverage.N/A
Cyprusepic Cyprus (formerly MTN Cyprus)It is the best and fastest mobile operator.Speeds have significantly improved in Cyprus – thanks to 5G. The cost of data has gone down as well.
Czech RepublicT-Mobile Czech It has the fastest network.N/A
Democratic Republic of the CongoTBATBAN/A
DenmarkLebara DenmarkIt has extensive coverage and fast speeds. Consider Lebara for free international calls from Denmark to 60 countries.Both MVNOs use the networks of Telia and Telenor, which have extensive coverage and fast speeds.
DjiboutiDjibouti TelecomOnly choice – monopolyIt is the only mobile operator in Djibouti.
DominicaDigicel DominicaIt has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 30 GB/app).Both operators have great coverage throughout the country (not in the mountains), and the speeds are similar.
Dominican RepublicClaro DominicanaIt has the best (2G & 3G) coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
East Timor / Timor-LesteTelemor It has the best coverage (especially in rural Timor-Leste) and the fastest speeds.N/A
EcuadorClaro EcuadorIt has the best (4G/LTE) nationwide coverage.N/A
EgyptVodafone EgyptIt is the best but the most expensive.Consider Etisalat if you prefer to create your own plan with Demagh Tanya, but know its reception is weak.
El SalvadorClaro El SalvadorIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
Equatorial GuineaGetesaBest in general N/A
EritreaNoneSIM cards are not available to travelers. And they do not even have mobile dataExpats can get a SIM card in the country. However, the process is lengthy. Still, no mobile data.
EstoniaTelia (Diil, Simpel & Super) EstoniaIt has the best overall network and the fastest speeds.Moreover, the Diil and Simpel Telia sub-brands allow for EU/EEA roaming.
Eswatini (Swaziland)MTN EswatiniBest coverage Eswatini is expensive compared to South Africa. Best operator is also cheaper than the other option (Eswatini Mobile) for some reason
EthiopiaEthio TelecomOnly choice – monopolyIt is the only mobile operator in Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Sure Falkland IslandsOnly option – monopolyIt is currently the only mobile operator in the Falkland Islands.
Faroe IslandsFøroya TeleBest coverage Vodafone has only 1 data pack (5 GB and 250 FOK credit) for 230 FOK
FijiVodafone FijiIt has great coverage and speeds. Vodafone is the best option in most aspects, but it is also the most expensive.Both mobile operators have great coverage and about the same speeds.
FinlandDNAIts coverage is comparable with Elisa's and Telia's. But DNA offers much more favorable data-featured plans than its competitors. Moreover, it is Finland's fastest (5G NR) mobile operator.N/A
FranceOrange France It has, overall, the best mobile operator, and its Mobicarte Vacances (Monde) and Orange Holiday tourist SIM cards are fantastic.N/A
French GuianaOrange CaraïbeIt has the fastest speeds in the territory. Moreover, it allows for free roaming in the French West Indies (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin – called Zone Locale).N/A
French PolynesiaViniIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds
GabonGabon TelecomBetter than Airtel Gabon (only competitor) in every regard, sometimes even cheaper than Airtel GabonN/A
GambiaAfricell GambiaIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.Its network can be overloaded during peak hours, resulting in slow connections.
GeorgiaMagtiComBest overallN/A
GermanyTelekom (formerly T-Mobile)It is the best mobile operator. However, it is the most expensive.N/A
GhanaMTN Ghana Best coverage and fastest speeds N/A
GibraltarGibtelecomOnly choice – monopolyN/A
GreeceCOSMOTEIt has the best overall network, with the best coverage and fastest speeds – even for 5G NR.N/A
Greenland Tele GreenlandOnly option – monopolyThe featured plan is part of TELE Greenland's Tusass Plus subscription. Make sure to cancel it before leaving Greenland to avoid being charged for no reason. Without this subscription, you will pay over 800 DKK for 1 GB
GrenadaDigicel GrenadaIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Moreover, Digicel also has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 30 GB/app).N/A
GuadeloupeOrange CaraïbeIt has the fastest speeds in the territory. Moreover, it allows for free roaming in the French West Indies (French Guiana (Guyane), Martinique, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin – called Zone Locale).N/A
GuamDoCoMo PacificIt is regarded as the best overall by the locals.N/A
GuatemalaTigo Guatemala It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds in the country.N/A
GuineaOrange GuineaBest in all regards and also offers 4G/LTEN/A
Guinea-BissauOrange BissauBest overall N/A
GuyanaDigicel GuyanaIt has (slightly) better (4G/LTE) coverage than GTT.N/A
HaitiDigicel HaitiIt is, overall, the best mobile operator.N/A
HondurasTigo HondurasIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.Tigo is only marginally more expensive than Claro.
Hong KongChina Mobile (CMHK)It has the fastest 4G/LTE & 5G NR speedsN/A
HungaryMagyar TelekomIt has the best network and has the fastest speeds.N/A
IcelandSíminnSínimm has the best (5G NR) network.Vodafone Iceland have generous data allowances.
IndiaJioIt is best overall and offers the most variety in plans.Mobile data speeds are already slow in India.
IndonesiaTelkomselIt is the fastest and has the best nationwide coverage, but it is the most expensive (but still affordable to most travelers).N/A
IranIrancell Best packages and easiest to get as a traveler N/A
IraqTBATBAN/A
IrelandVodafone IrelandIt has the best coverage in the country.N/A
Isle of Man Manx TelecomBest overall N/A
IsraelPelephoneIt has generous data allowances, 5G NR for prepaid customers, extensive nationwide coverage & the fastest speeds.N/A
ItalyMultipleSee NotesI recommend going with Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), TIM, Vodafone, or Iliad. TIM has the best coverage with Vodafone. The latter also has the best overall network and the fastest 5G NR speeds. Wind Tre has the fastest 4G/LTE network. Iliad is the cheapest
JamaicaDigicel JamaicaIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. It also has more choice in plans.N/A
JapanB-MobileSee notesBoth use the NTT DoCoMo network, which is the best in the country. Moreover, Bmobile and Mobal have generous data allowances.
JordanUmnaihIt has fastest mobile internet speeds.N/A
KazakhstanKcell/ActivIt has the best coverage in rural Kazakhstan on slower networks (2G or 3G).N/A
KenyaSafaricomBest operator in general but can be slow due to overcrowdingAirtel Kenya and Telkom will be merging in the coming few years
KiribatiATHKLOnly choice – monopolyNew submarine cable, called Southern Cross Next Cable, should be active in 2020. Expect faster speeds and lower prices from then on
KosovoVala (Kosovo Telecom).It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
KuwaitZain KuwaitIt is the best mobile operator in the countryN/A
KyrgyzstanMegaCom Kyrgyzstan Best overall Buying your SIM card at the airport will not be more expensive than buying it in town
LaosUnitelIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
LatviaLMTIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Moreover, it offers 5G NR to prepaid customers already.N/A
LebanonAlfaCheaper than Touch. More packages and and worse coverage than TouchData is expensive for Middle Eastern standards
LesothoVodacom LesothoBest overall N/A
LiberiaLoneStar Cell MTN50/50 market share and coverage is about the same as Orange LiberiaN/A
LibyaLibyanaAs good as Almadar AljadidThe chairman of Almadar Aljadid claimed that it is too dangerous to set up a network in southern Libya. Expect only coverage in the north, like in Libya and Benghazi
LiechtensteinSwisscomIt is, overall, the best mobile operator in Switzerland (and Liechtenstein, for that matter) with the best coverage and speeds in Liechtenstein for literal years.N/A
LithuaniaTele2 (Pildyk) LithuaniaIt has the fastest speeds by a long shot and best (4G/LTE) coverage in the country.N/A
LuxembourgPost Telecom LuxembourgIt has the best coverage.Orange is the cheapest.
Macau/MacaoCTMBest overall together with Three MacauEach operator has dedicated 3G SIM cards for their 3G network, and 4G/LTE SIM cards for their 4G/LTE networks. 4G/LTE SIM cards and packages are a but more expensive than 3G SIM cards and plans, but are significantly faster 
MadagascarAirtel MadagascarReliable coverage Coverage in rural Madagascar can be patchy at times 
MalawiAirtel MalawiGood coverage and cheaper than TNM (only competitor) Connection may be unreliable throughout Malawi 
MalaysiaDigiIt has the fastest speeds. Celcom has the best 4G/LTE coverage.N/A
MaldivesDhiraaguIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. It also has more choice in plans.N/A
MaliOrange MaliBest overall Fast speeds can only be found in the regional capitals in Mali 
MaltaEpic Malta (formerly Vodafone Malta)It has the best overall network.N/A
Marshall IslandsNTAOnly option – monopolyMobile data is EXPENSIVE on the Marshall Islands. Using NTA's WIFI hotspots will cost you 15 USD/month for phones and 35 USD/month for other type of devices 
MartiniqueOrange CaraïbeIt has the fastest speeds in the territory. Moreover, it allows for free roaming in the French West Indies (French Guiana (Guyane), Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy & Saint Martin – called Zone Locale).N/A
MauritaniaMauritelBest overall Connection quality is bad throughout Mauritania. It took until 2020 for the country to get 4G/LTE
Mauritiusmy.t (by Mauritius Telecom)It is the best performing mobile operator.N/A
MayotteOrange MayotteCheaper than SFR Mayotte while having good coverage N/A
MexicoTelcelIt is the fastest mobile operator in the country, and it has the best coverage.Consider Movistar & AT&T for slightly lower prices. But your network performance will be significantly worse than on Telcel.
MicronesiaFSM Telecom (FSMTC)Only choice – monopolyN/A
MoldovaOrange MoldovaIt is, overall, the best mobile operator in the country.Consider Moldtelecom (formerly Unité) for more generous allowances for worse network performance.
MonacoOrange France See FranceMonaco Telecom does not offer prepaid service (anymore)
MongoliaMobicomIt has the best coverage and the fastest speedsN/A
MontenegroCrnogorski TelekomIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
MontserratDigicel MontserratIt has good coverage in populated areas. Digicel also has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 30 GB/app). Flow's 4G/LTE network barely exists.N/A
MoroccoMaroc Telecom It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
MozambiqueVodacom MozambiqueIt is the best mobile operator overall.N/A
Myanmar / BurmaMPTIt has the best 2G and 3G coverage in rural Myanmar (with the slowest overall speeds).N/A
Nagorno-KarabakhKarabakh TelecomOnly option – monopolyN/A
NamibiaMTCBest coverage N/A
NauruDigicel NauruOnly choice – monopolyN/A
NepalNcellBest overall N/A
Netherlands/HollandT-Mobile NLIt has a great network with capped prepaid speeds @ 100 Mbps.N/A
New CaledoniaMobilis by OPT-NCOnly choice – monopolyIt is the only mobile operator in New Caledonia.
New ZealandVodafone New Zealand It is the fastest, especially on 5G NR.N/A
NicaraguaTigo Nicaragua ((formerly Movistar).)It has the best coverage in the country.Claro can be faster in some locations, but you will still be better off with Tigo.
NigerAirtel NigerBest overall Quality of service is bad in Niger
NigeriaMTN NigeriaIt has the best network, but it is also the most expensive option.Glo Mobile used to be the second-best, but its speeds have suffered over the years.
NiueTelecom NiueOnly choice – monopolyN/A
Norfolk IslandGlonetOnly option – Norfolk Telecom does not offer data No data packs are sold. The starter pack comes with 3 GB, which is expensive. 
North Korea KoryolinkOnly option for travelers No data packages with Koryolink. You will pay 0.20 USD per MB. Data is CRAZY EXPENSIVE in North Korea
North MacedoniaMakedonski TelekomIt has the best coverage. However, it throttles prepaid speeds to up to 21 Mbps.N/A
Northern CyprusKKTC Turkcell Best overall Both SIM cards can roam for free in Turkey, but not in Cyprus 
Northern Mariana IslandsDoCoMo PacificBest overall N/A
NorwayTelia Norway It has extensive coverage and fast speeds.Both Telia and Mycall allow for 5G NR use.
OmanOoredoo Oman It has the best coverage and is about as fast, and sometimes even faster, as Omantel.N/A
PakistanJazzJazz’ 2G network is the most extensive in PakistanIn terms of speed, both Jazz and Zong are topping the list.
PalauPalauCelOnly choice – monopolyIt is the only mobile operator in Palau.
PalestineJawwalBest coverage 2G speeds in the Gaza strip. Using an Israeli SIM card, bought in Israel, can significantly improve speeds 
Panama+móvilIt is regarded as the best mobile operator in Panama.Consider Claro (and Digicel) for plans with unlimited 4G/LTE data.
Papua New Guinea (PNG)Digicel PNGBest overall N/A
ParaguayTigo ParaguayIt has the best coverage and, overall, the best network.N/A
PeruMovistar PeruIt has the best coverage and 4G/LTE availability (the latter together with Entel).N/A
PhilippinesSmart!It has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.N/A
PolandOrange PolandIt is the best mobile operator.Consider Nju Mobile for even more savings. It is an Orange sub-brand targeting the youth (but anyone can get this SIM card) and has full access to the Orange network with low prices.
PortugalMEO (by Altice Portugal)It has the best coverage throughout the country (including in the Azores and Madeira).N/A
Puerto RicoClaro Puerto RicoIt has the best 5G NR coverage.Both mobile operators have extensive coverage
QatarOoredoo QatarIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds.Vodafone is not bad at all. It is just that Ooredoo is (significantly) better.
Réunion/ReunionOrange Réunion Good coverage and cheaper than SFR RéunionN/A
RomaniaOrange Romania It is the fastest mobile operator with the best overall network performance.N/A
RussiaMTS Best coverage and good speeds Prices for Russian SIM cards and data packages change depending on the region you buy your SIM card in
RwandaAirtel RwandaGreat coverage and cheaper than MTN RwandaN/A
SabaFlow/Chippie (formerly UTS Saba)It has the best (4G/LTE) coverage, is the fastest, and allows for free roaming in Chippieland (neighboring territories with Flow/Chippie).N/A
Saint Barthélemy (St Barts)Orange CaraïbeIt has the fastest speeds in the territory. Moreover, it allows for free roaming in the French West Indies (French Guiana (Guyane), Guadeloupe, Martinique & Saint Martin – called Zone Locale).N/A
Saint HelenaSure Saint Helena Only choice – monopolySpeeds are slow on Saint Helena because Sure uses satellites. Submarine cable is coming in 2020. Until then, data is expensive and slow 
Saint Kitts and NevisDigicel Saint Kitts and NevisIts 4G/LTE coverage is better than Flow's. Moreover, Digicel has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 45 GB per app)N/A
Saint LuciaDigicel St. LuciaIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Moreover, Digicel also has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 45 GB/app).N/A
Saint MartinFlow/Chippie Saint MartinIt allows for free roaming in Chippieland (neighboring territories with Flow/Chippie).N/A
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesDigicel St. Vincent It has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 30 GB per app).Both operators have great coverage, and the speeds are similar.
SamoaVodafone Samoa (formerly BlueSky Samoe)It has the most extensive coverage and more variety in plans.N/A
San MarinoSee ItalySee ItalyThe sole operator in San Marino, Prima, suspended their services in 2016. Italian providers cover San Marino instead 
São Tomé and PríncipeUnitelNo speeds restrictions but worse coverage N/A
Saudi Arabia (KSA)STC Saudi ArabiaIt has the best network, coverage, and overall mobile internet speed.N/A
SenegalOrange Senegal Best overall Coverage throughout Senegal is subpar
SerbiaYettel (formerly Telenor)It has best coverage throughout the country.Consider MTS for generous allowances with its tourist SIM cards.
SeychellesAirtel SeychellesIt is the faster option.N/A
Sierra LeoneAfricell Sierra LeoneIt has the best coverage (especially 3G) nationwide.N/A
SingaporeSingtelIt is the fastest mobile operator and has extensive coverage (like its competitors).Consider Singtel's tourist SIM card for 100 GB of data for as little as 12 SGD (applies to M1 too).
Sint EustatiusFlow/Chippie Sint Eustatius(formerly UTS Sint Eustatius)It has the best (4G/LTE) coverage, is the fastest, and allows for free roaming in Chippieland (neighboring territories with Flow/Chippie).N/A
Sint MaartenFlow/Chippie Sint Maarten (formerly UTS Sint Maarten)It has the best (4G/LTE) coverage, is the fastest, and allows for free roaming in Chippieland (neighboring territories with Flow/Chippie).N/A
SlovakiaSlovak Telekom (formerly T-Mobile)It has the fastest speeds and best coverage.N/A
SloveniaTelekom Slovenije (formerly Mobitel Slovenia/Slovenije)It is, overall, the best mobile operator.N/A
Solomon IslandsOur TelekomBest coverageAlthough the Solomon Islands has 1 submarine cable, speeds are still slow. The outer islands still use satellites
SomaliaTBATBAN/A
South AfricaVodacom South AfricaBest coverage and fastest speeds N/A
South KoreaSK TelecomIt is the fastest mobile operator in the country. Its Korea eSIM Red offer truly unlimited data. SK Telecom's tourist SIM cards (Korea SIM Gold and Korea SIM Purple) also offers unlimited data at slower speeds (5 Mbps and 10 Mbps).N/A
South OssetiaMegaFon South OssetiaOnly option – monopolyN/A
South SudanTBATBAN/A
SpainMovistar SpainIt is, overall, the best mobile operator.Vodafone Spain offers 5G NR to prepaid customers already and has the fastest 5G NR speeds.
Sri LankaDialogIt has the best (4G/LTE) coverage nationwide.Consider Dialog for early 5G NR access.
SudanZain Sudan Best overall 4G/LTE coverage is limited. Sudani operators have 3G packs for their 3G networks and 4G/LTE packs for their 4G/LTE networks.
SurinameTelesurIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds (more than double Digicel's). It currently offers 5G NR to prepaid customers too.N/A
SwedenTelia Sweden It is, overall, the best mobile operator and has the fastest speeds. However, it does not offer free EU/EEA roaming without registration.N/A
SwitzerlandSwisscomIt is, overall, the best mobile operator in Switzerland with the best coverage and speeds for literal yearsN/A
SyriaMTN SyriaOnly option – monopolyIt is currently the only mobile operator in Syria.
TaiwanChunghwa Telecom It has the best 4G/LTE coverage and the fastest 4G/LTE and 5G NR speedsN/A
TajikistanTcellBest coverage N/A
TanzaniaVodacom Tanzania Best coverage N/A
ThailandAIS (1-2 Call)It is the fastest and has the best nationwide coverage, but it is the most expensive (but still affordable to most travelers).N/A
TogoTogocel Best overall N/A
TongaDigicel TongaHighest speeds but limited coverage N/A
TransnistriaInterdnestrcom (IDC)Only option – monopolyIt is currently the only mobile operator in Transnistria.
Trinidad and TobagoDigicel Trinidad and TobagoIts 4G/LTE coverage is almost nationwide, whereas Bmobile's 4G/LTE reception is limited. Moreover, Digicel has the fastest speeds. Do consider Bmobile for unlimited data plans at slower speeds.N/A
TunisiaOoredoo Tunisia Good coverage and fastest speeds N/A
TurkeyTurkcellIt has the fastest speeds in the country and extensive coverate.N/A
TurkmenistanTM CellOnly choice (GSM). Ay Nazar uses CMDA (incompatible with most phones) N/A
Turks and Caicos IslandsDigicel Turks and CaicosIt has the best coverage and the fastest speeds. Moreover, Digicel also has attractive plans (Prime Bundles) with dedicated data allowances for Prime apps, TikTok & YouTube (up to 35 GB/app).N/A
TuvaluTuvalu TelecomOnly choice – monopolyTuvalu still uses satellites for internet. Therefore, mobile data is slow and expensive 
UgandaMTN UgandaBest coverage If you want to use social media in Uganda, you have to pay a Social Media tax of 200 UGX. Unfortunately, this applies to VPN use because Ugandans used VPNs to access social media without paying the tax
UkraineKyivstarBest coverage N/A
United Arab Emirates (UAE)Etisalat UAEIt is the fastest mobile network operator and has the best coverage.Etisalat has a strict policy of only selling tourist SIM cards to short-term visitors.
United Kingdom (UK)EEIt is the best overall without free EU roaming anymore.Consider Three/3 UK if you want to use/test 5G NR – it has the fastest speeds. Besides that, it is the worst Main Operator
United States (USA)MultipleSee NotesI recommend going with AT&T, T-Mobile, Google Fi, Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, or Ultra Mobile. They offer the best value, options, and quality compared to the competition.
US Virgin IslandsLiberty USVI (formerly AT&T)It has extensive coverage and already offering 5G NR to prepaid customers (one plan only).N/A
UruguayAntel UruguayIt has the best coverage and has great network performance.N/A
UzbekistanUcellBest overall N/A
VanuatuDigicel VanuatuIt has attractive plans with dedicated data allowances for Digicel apps.The difference between the two networks has become minimal in recent years.
Vatican CitySee ItalySee ItalyThe Vatican City does not have any operators. Italian operators cover the Vatican City instead 
VenezuelaSee notesSee notesYou cannot buy a Venezuelan SIM card unless you have the right to live there (citizen or resident) 
VietnamViettel MobileIt has fast speeds and extensive coverage.MobiFone is not bad and allows you to customize your plans.
Wallis and FutunaManuiaOnly option – monopolyData is CRAZY EXPENSIVE in Wallis and Futuna. 10 000 XPF is about 86 USD!
YemenTBATBAN/A
ZambiaMTN Zambia Best overall 0.30 ZMK daily tax if planning on using VoIP services 
ZimbabweEconet ZimbabweBest overall Mobile data is expensive for African standards