The best eSIM for Azerbaijan is a data plan sized to your days there and installed before you fly. A SimOptions Azerbaijan eSIM runs on the Azercell and Bakcell networks with 4G and 5G, activates when you arrive and comes in sizes from 1 GB to 60 GB. It has no Azerbaijani phone number, so you call through WhatsApp or FaceTime. Need a local number? Azercell sells travel packs for visitors, but you pick them up at an Azercell office with your passport.
Which is the best eSIM for Azerbaijan?
Short on time? These Azerbaijan plans are 5G and data-only. Pick the size from the days you stay.
SimOptions Azerbaijan eSIMs · data only · 4G/5G · Azercell and Bakcell · See all eSIMs for Azerbaijan · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Azerbaijan
- Coverage: check that Azerbaijan is on the country list. An Azerbaijan-only plan suits a trip with no border crossings. A regional plan suits a trip that also takes in Georgia, Armenia or Turkey.
- Networks: our Azerbaijan plans run on Azercell and Bakcell, so you use the same local networks as people who live there.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a long weekend in Baku. For two weeks with maps, taxis and video calls, look at a bigger one.
- A local number: travel eSIMs are data-only. If you must call hotels or drivers on a normal number, a local SIM or eSIM fits better.
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
How much data do you need in Azerbaijan?
These are the sizes on our Azerbaijan eSIM page, with what each one suits:
- Azerbaijan 1GB and 3GB: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days. A stopover or a short city break in Baku.
- Azerbaijan 5GB and 10GB: 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days. A week with maps, messages, ride-hailing and photos.
- Azerbaijan 20GB: 20 GB for 15 days. Two weeks, with some video calls.
- Azerbaijan 50GB: 50 GB for 30 days. A month, or if you work from your phone.
- Azerbaijan 60GB: 60 GB for 90 days. A long stay.
If you run out of data, top-ups are available. Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it.
Local SIM or travel eSIM in Azerbaijan?
You have two kinds of choices. Here is what the local carriers say on their own pages.
- Azercell sells Travel packs, which it calls an offer for the country's guests. Each pack lasts 30 days and includes internet plus minutes for local and international calls, and the SIM or eSIM is free. A foreign citizen activates it at an Azercell Exclusive office or official dealer with a foreign passport. The packs don't work in roaming and you can't add extra internet packages to them (Azercell: Travel packs).
- Bakcell says foreign citizens can get a Bakcell eSIM, but only at Bakcell Customer Service Centers (Bakcell: eSIM).
Before you activate an Azercell eSIM, Azercell asks you to check that your phone's IMEI is registered (Azercell: eSIM). A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop in Baku.
Choose a local SIM or eSIM if you need an Azerbaijani number for calls, and don't mind a trip to an office with your passport. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land, and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip. You can keep your home number active next to it, see how to set up a dual eSIM.
Which eSIM for Baku, Gobustan or the mountains?
You don't need a different eSIM for each place. An Azerbaijan plan covers the whole country, from Baku to Gobustan, Sheki and the mountain resorts around Quba and Shahdag. Signal still varies by place, and it can be weaker on mountain roads and in remote valleys, whichever eSIM you use. Download offline maps before day trips out of Baku.
In Baku, the usual data uses are maps, taxi apps, translation and booking. These need little data, so a 5 GB or 10 GB plan may be enough for a week. Video calls and streaming use much more. Our Azerbaijan plans also let you share your connection as a hotspot, which helps on a road trip with friends.
Going to Georgia, Armenia or Turkey too?
If Azerbaijan is one stop on a Caucasus trip, a regional plan can be simpler than a new eSIM at every border. Our Asia plan covers 26 countries, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It is 4G/LTE, data-only and most sizes last 30 days. When we checked, an Azerbaijan-only plan of the same data size cost less than the Asia one, so choose the regional plan only if you really cross borders.
Staying in one country next? Read our best eSIM for Georgia, best eSIM for Armenia and best eSIM for Turkey guides, and check the country list of any plan before you buy.
Asia plans · 26 countries including Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia · 4G/LTE · data only · See the Asia eSIMs · Best eSIM for Asia
How do you get an eSIM for Azerbaijan?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email. Our install guide walks you through it. If you don't use the eSIM within a year of buying it, it expires.
- Turn on the eSIM when you land: it activates automatically once you reach Azerbaijan. Apple notes that roaming on your home carrier works the same with an eSIM as with a SIM card, so check your home line's roaming charges before you travel (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
New to buying one? Read how to buy an eSIM online. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Azerbaijan?
It depends on your trip. For data only, an Azerbaijan eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice. If you need a local number, Azercell's Travel packs fit better. For Georgia, Armenia or Turkey on the same trip, look at the Asia plan.
Can I get an eSIM for Azerbaijan before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you reach Azerbaijan.
Which networks does the Azerbaijan eSIM use?
Our Azerbaijan eSIM page says the plans run on Azercell and Bakcell, with 4G and 5G.
Does a travel eSIM for Azerbaijan include calls or a local number?
No. SimOptions Azerbaijan and Asia plans are data-only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls, or get an Azercell Travel pack for an Azerbaijani number.
Which eSIM is best for Baku?
The same Azerbaijan plan works in Baku and everywhere else in the country. Choose the size from your days and how much video you use.
Is there an eSIM for Azerbaijan and Georgia?
Yes. Our Asia plan covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Turkey among its 26 countries. Check the country list for the places you visit.
Can I use my eSIM as a hotspot in Azerbaijan?
Yes. Hotspot sharing is allowed on our Azerbaijan plans.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
