eSIM for South Africa
Mobile data in South Africa on Vodacom and MTN, from £3.99. Install by QR before you fly; your UK SIM stays in the phone. You pay by card in pounds: exactly the price shown.
- 1–20 GB plans
- 3–30 days
- Vodacom and MTN · 4G
eSIM for South Africa from the UK: from £3.99, on the Vodacom (4G) and MTN (4G) networks, among others; the days start at the first connection to a network in South Africa, not at purchase. Plans from 1 GB to 20 GB and the option of Unlimited (3 GB/day at high speed, then 1 Mbps), valid up to 30 days, 12 options in total.
- 5 GB plan
- 30 days: £8.99, or £1.80 per GB.
- Install
- The QR code arrives by email after payment; install the profile up to one year after purchase.
Prices checked in the catalogue on 24 October 2026.
Does my phone support eSIM?
On an iPhone, open Settings → Mobile Service (on some iPhones: Mobile Data): if there is an Add eSIM option, the phone has an eSIM. On Android, look for an option to add an eSIM in the SIM settings (Samsung: SIM manager → Add eSIM, in Samsung’s January 2025 guide SIM card manager → Add mobile plan; Pixel: Add SIM). Can’t find it? Look up your model in the list of eSIM-compatible phones.
Plans from £3.99
Unlimited plans, with a daily high-speed limit
Data only, no phone number. The days start with your first connection in South Africa. Prices in pounds at the rate of 1 Nov: your card is charged exactly this amount (see payment). Plans checked in the catalogue on 24 October 2026.
Payment by card & guarantees
Plans for South Africa are charged in pounds sterling by card: 5 GB for 30 days, for example, is charged exactly £8.99; you are charged in GBP, exactly the amount shown. The seller is registered in the United States, so your bank may apply its own rules to a payment to a seller abroad; your card must allow online payments to sellers abroad. How card payment works.
Sold by JET SHARING MOBILITY INC. (United States); your bank statement shows JET SHARING. Full refund within 30 days of purchase while the eSIM has not connected to any network. If the eSIM doesn't work and it isn't your phone's fault, we refund the payment whether or not it was installed. Questions: WhatsApp or support@esimworld.co.uk.
Price per GB in South Africa
On the 20 GB plan, 1 GB costs £1.35; on 3 GB for 30 days, £2.33.
What it costs per day in South Africa
Plan price in pounds ÷ days, at the rate of 1 Nov. A day on 20 GB for 30 days costs 3.9× as much as on 3 GB for 30 days; pick by trip length first.
How many GB for South Africa
To work it out for your own route and habits, use the data calculator.
Each cell shows a plan’s total data and price for that many days, not your use. Our editorial estimates, not measurements: HD video, background sync and backups, and sharing data as a hotspot all use more.
At a glance: eSIM in South Africa
- Purchase QR code by email · after payment
- Installation profile on your phone · up to 365 days
- Activation first network on the trip · the clock starts
A week in South Africa: your UK network vs eSIM
About the same as paying for roaming
5.6GB for 7 days (0.8GB a day, social media and photos) on pay monthly: what it costs on each UK network, next to the eSIM. “Included” means the network’s plans already cover South Africa within a fair use limit.
Roaming keeps calls and texts on your UK number; the eSIM is data only. giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, SMARTY, BT Mobile and Asda Mobile publish no pay monthly data pass for South Africa that we could find.
All 15 UK networks, by trip length · Pay monthly
| Network | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM in South Africa | £13.98 2 × 3 GB · 30 days | £26.97 3 × 5 GB · 30 days | £44.95 5 × 5 GB · 30 days |
| EE | £26.50 your UK data · 7 days | £79.50 3 × your UK data · 7 days | £132.50 5 × your UK data · 7 days |
| Vodafone | £56.00 7 × your UK data · 1 day | £120.00 15 × your UK data · 1 day | £240.00 30 × your UK data · 1 day |
| O2 | £38.00 5 GB + 1 GB · 30 days | £76.00 2 × 5 GB + 2 × 1 GB · 30 days | £145.00 5 × 5GB · 30 days |
| Three | £26.00 18GB · 7 days | £78.00 3 × 18GB · 7 days | £130.00 5 × 18GB · 7 days |
| iD Mobile | £35.00 20GB · 10 days | £60.00 3 × 10GB · 5 days | £105.00 3 × 20GB · 10 days |
| Lebara | £24.00 2 × 3GB · 15 days | £48.00 4 × 3GB · 15 days | £96.00 8 × 3GB · 15 days |
| giffgaff | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly |
| Tesco Mobile | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly |
| Sky Mobile | £14.00 7 × your UK data (up to 25GB a month) · 1 day | £30.00 15 × your UK data (up to 25GB a month) · 1 day | £60.00 30 × your UK data (up to 25GB a month) · 1 day |
| VOXI | £42.60 4 GB + 2 GB · 15 days | £79.80 3 × 4GB · 15 days | £159.60 6 × 4GB · 15 days |
| SMARTY | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly |
| Talkmobile | £30.00 8GB · 15 days | £60.00 2 × 8GB · 15 days | £90.00 3 × 8GB · 15 days |
| Lyca Mobile | £90.00 6 × 1GB · 30 days | £180.00 12 × 1GB · 30 days | £360.00 24 × 1GB · 30 days |
| BT Mobile | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly |
| Asda Mobile | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly | — no published figure for Pay monthly |
1.7× cheaper than paying for roaming
5.6GB for 7 days (0.8GB a day, social media and photos) on Pay As You Go: what it costs on each UK network, next to the eSIM. “Included” means the network’s plans already cover South Africa within a fair use limit.
Roaming keeps calls and texts on your UK number; the eSIM is data only. EE, O2, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, SMARTY, Talkmobile, BT Mobile and Asda Mobile publish no Pay As You Go data pass for South Africa that we could find.
All 15 UK networks, by trip length · Pay As You Go
| Network | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM in South Africa | £13.98 2 × 3 GB · 30 days | £26.97 3 × 5 GB · 30 days | £44.95 5 × 5 GB · 30 days |
| EE | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| Vodafone | £41.04 3 × 2GB · 8 days | £82.08 6 × 2GB · 8 days | £164.16 12 × 2GB · 8 days |
| O2 | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| Three | £26.00 18GB · 7 days | £78.00 3 × 18GB · 7 days | £130.00 5 × 18GB · 7 days |
| iD Mobile | £35.00 20GB · 10 days | £60.00 3 × 10GB · 5 days | £105.00 3 × 20GB · 10 days |
| Lebara | £24.00 2 × 3GB · 15 days | £48.00 4 × 3GB · 15 days | £96.00 8 × 3GB · 15 days |
| giffgaff | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| Tesco Mobile | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| Sky Mobile | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| VOXI | £42.60 4 GB + 2 GB · 15 days | £79.80 3 × 4GB · 15 days | £159.60 6 × 4GB · 15 days |
| SMARTY | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| Talkmobile | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| Lyca Mobile | £50.00 2 × 2.5 GB + 1 GB · 14 days | £100.00 5 × 2.5GB · 14 days | £200.00 10 × 2.5GB · 14 days |
| BT Mobile | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
| Asda Mobile | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go | — no published figure for Pay As You Go |
The sums assume data every day at 0.8GB a day, the same norm as the data calculator; highlighted is the option that costs least. We compare each network’s public roaming passes and daily rates. Some plans have roaming built in (for example Vodafone Global Roam, O2 Ultimate, Three Complete and Sky Diamond VIP), so check your own plan. Network prices as published for their own customers; the eSIM at its price in pounds on 1 Nov, charged in pounds by card. For other days or other usage, work out your own trip. Every destination: roaming or eSIM, by country.
This site is not affiliated with these networks and is not their official site; we sell eSIMs. How we compare.
Sources, checked on 24 October 2026: EE, Vodafone, O2, Three, iD Mobile, Lebara, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, VOXI, SMARTY, Talkmobile, Lyca Mobile, BT Mobile, Asda Mobile.
Your UK network in South Africa
We compare each network’s public roaming passes and daily rates. Some plans have roaming built in (for example Vodafone Global Roam, O2 Ultimate, Three Complete and Sky Diamond VIP), so check your own plan. On the passes and rates below, no UK network includes South Africa. giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, SMARTY, BT Mobile and Asda Mobile publish no data pass for South Africa, only rates per MB or no data.
| Network | In your plan? | If you pay for it |
|---|---|---|
| EE | No | Roaming Pass ROW Zone 1 (24h): £5.50 for 1 day · your UK data · pay monthly only |
| Vodafone | Not as standardEuro Roam and Global Roam plans: check yours | Daily roaming fee Zone C: £8.00 a day · your UK data · pay monthly only8-day Around the World Extra (data): £13.68 for 8 days · 2GB · Pay As You Go only |
| O2 | Not as standardVolt, selected Plus and Ultimate plans: check yours | O2 Travel Bolt On: £7.00 a day · data at up to 2 Mbps · pay monthly onlyData Roaming Bolt On 1GB (Zone 2): £9.00 for 30 days · 1GB · pay monthly only |
| Three | Not as standardComplete plans: check yours | Daily roaming charge (Around the World Extra): £8.00 a day · your UK data (up to 12GB a month) · pay monthly only3-day Go Roam pass (Around the World Extra): £17.50 for 3 days · your UK data (up to 12GB a month) · pay monthly only |
| iD Mobile | No | Roam Beyond 2GB / 1 day(s): £5.00 for 1 day · 2GB |
| Lebara | No | Roaming Add-On 8 Days (Zone 5): £4.00 for 8 days · 1GB |
| giffgaff | No | No data pass |
| Tesco Mobile | No | No data pass |
| Sky Mobile | Not as standardDiamond VIP: check yours | Roaming Passport Plus: £2.00 a day · your UK data (up to 25GB a month) · pay monthly only |
| VOXI | No | Global Roaming Extra 8 days: £16.00 for 8 days · 2GB |
| SMARTY | No | No data pass |
| Talkmobile | No | World Holiday Booster 1 day: £5.00 for 1 day · 500MB · pay monthly only |
| Lyca Mobile | No | South Africa 7 Days Roam: £10.00 for 7 days · 1GB · Pay As You Go only |
| BT Mobile | No | No data pass |
| Asda Mobile | No | No data pass |
As each network publishes it for its own customers, checked on 24 October 2026. “Your UK data” means the pass unlocks your UK allowance abroad, up to the network’s fair use limit. Roaming keeps calls and texts on your UK number; our eSIM plans here are data only.
Networks in South Africa
The South Africa plan runs on Vodacom (4G), MTN (4G) and Cell C (4G).
Africa plan (36 countries): Vodacom Pty Ltd. in South Africa.
Global plan (201 countries): Vodacom in South Africa.
Networks from our partner operator’s catalogue for South Africa. The phone joins the available one by itself.
Regional plans that include South Africa
More destinations: Africa
Plans for South Africa start at £3.99. Of the 6 destinations below, 1 starts lower than South Africa: Tunisia from £2.99, up to Botswana from £8.99.
Before you travel
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day of mobile data cost in South Africa?
On plans with a fixed data allowance, £0.23 to £0.90 a day in South Africa: 3 GB for 30 days at £6.99 is the lowest daily price, 20 GB for 30 days the highest. The plan that costs least for the whole trip: for 7 days, 1 GB at £0.57 a day; for 15 days, 2 GB at £0.33 a day; for 30 days, 3 GB at £0.23 a day. Unused days are not refunded.
Which network does the eSIM use in South Africa?
3 partner networks: Vodacom (4G), MTN (4G) and Cell C (4G). The profile joins whichever is available; you don’t choose the operator by hand.
What if the eSIM doesn't work when you land in South Africa?
Check, in this order: data roaming is on for the eSIM line, the eSIM is chosen as the line for mobile data, and aeroplane mode is off. The APN sets itself on this plan, so leave it as it is. Give the phone a few minutes to register on Vodacom and MTN; that first registration is what starts the plan’s days. Still no connection? See what to check when the eSIM has no signal abroad.
General questions have their own pages: how card payment works, refund policy, how to install an eSIM and help and FAQ.
Prices come from our partner operator’s catalogue and may change; the amount at the moment of payment applies. We are not a mobile operator: network access is provided by the partner operator, under the plan’s terms. See the terms and the refund policy.