The best eSIM for Brazil is a data plan sized to your days there, installed on Wi-Fi before you fly. A SimOptions Brazil eSIM does that: it supports 4G/5G speed, activates when you land in Brazil and comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 60 GB for 90 days. It has no Brazilian phone number, so you call through WhatsApp or FaceTime. Need a local number? Local carriers such as Claro and TIM sell eSIMs too, through their own stores and channels.
Which is the best eSIM for Brazil?
Short on time? These Brazil plans are data-only and support 4G/5G. Pick the size from the days you stay: one week, two weeks or a month.
SimOptions Brazil eSIMs · data only · 4G/5G · See all eSIMs for Brazil · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Brazil
- Coverage: check that Brazil is on the plan's country list. A Brazil plan suits a trip that stays in the country. Visiting Argentina, Peru or another neighbour too? See the section on South America below.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a long weekend in Rio de Janeiro. For two weeks with maps, ride apps and video calls, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: our Brazil plan details list 4G/5G speed. You get 5G where the network offers it, and 4G elsewhere.
- A local number: most travel eSIMs are data-only. If you must call hotels, guides or restaurants on a normal Brazilian number, a local carrier 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 Brazil?
These are the sizes on our Brazil eSIM page, with what each one lasts:
- Brazil 1GB and 3GB: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days. A stopover or a short visit.
- Brazil 5GB and 10GB: 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days. A week with maps, messages and photos.
- Brazil 20GB: 20 GB for 15 days. Two weeks, with some video.
- Brazil 50GB: 50 GB for 30 days. A month, or if you work from your phone.
- Brazil 60GB: 60 GB for 90 days. A long stay of up to three months.
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, and how to reduce data usage abroad helps you make it last.
Which network does a Brazil eSIM use?
Our Brazil plan data lists TIM as the network. You don't pick the network yourself: the plan's settings use automatic network selection, with data roaming turned on for the eSIM. The eSIM activates by itself when you reach Brazil, and you have 1 year to start using it.
Signal still varies by place, whichever eSIM you use. Brazil is huge, and signal can be weak or absent on river trips into the Amazon, on remote beaches and on long drives between cities. Download offline maps before you head out (Google Maps: download areas offline).
Local eSIM or travel eSIM?
You have two kinds of choices in Brazil. Here is what the local carriers say on their own pages.
- Claro sells eSIM on prepaid and postpaid plans, online or in its stores. Foreign customers can activate a prepaid eSIM with their passport as ID, but only in a physical Claro store, where the eSIM has a fee. You activate it by scanning a QR code on Wi-Fi (Claro Brasil: eSIM).
- TIM lets its customers request an eSIM through its Troca Chip portal. One of the steps asks for your CPF, the Brazilian tax ID (TIM: eSIM).
Both give you a Brazilian number, but both pages are written for local customers, in Portuguese, and the steps go through a store visit or a CPF. A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop after you land. For more on the local operators, see our guide to eSIM providers in Brazil.
Choose a local eSIM if you stay a long time and need a Brazilian number for calls. 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 (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM), see how to set up a dual eSIM.
Travel eSIM or roaming with your home carrier?
Most readers of this guide come from the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. Before you travel, check whether your home plan includes Brazil and what it costs per day or per gigabyte. Apple's advice is the same: check with your carrier whether international roaming is included or sold as a travel pass (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling). If it isn't included, a data-only travel eSIM is usually the simpler choice. We compare both in international roaming vs travel eSIM.
Which eSIM for Rio, São Paulo or the Amazon?
You don't need a different eSIM for each place. A Brazil plan covers the whole country, from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to Salvador, Florianópolis, Foz do Iguaçu and Manaus. It activates when you arrive, so it works the same whichever city you fly into.
The usual data uses on a Brazil trip are maps, ride apps, messages, translation and booking tours. These need little data, so a 10 GB plan may be enough for a week. Video calls, streaming and posting videos from the beach or Carnival use much more, so go for 20 GB on a two-week trip.
Visiting other South American countries too?
Our South America plan covers Brazil together with Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. It comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 20 GB for 15 days, runs on 4G/LTE and is data-only. One eSIM then works across your whole route, and it activates in the first covered country you reach.
Staying in Brazil only? The Brazil plan fits better: it supports 5G and comes in bigger sizes, up to 60 GB. Check the country list of any plan before you buy, and see our guide to the best eSIM for South America.
South America plans · data only · 4G/LTE · See the South America eSIMs · See the Argentina eSIMs · All destinations
How do you get an eSIM for Brazil?
- 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.
- Turn on the eSIM when you land: turn on data roaming for the Brazil eSIM, and use it as your data line so your home line doesn't run up roaming charges. Our guide to the correct roaming settings for an eSIM shows how.
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 Brazil?
It depends on your trip. For data only, a Brazil eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice: 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks, 50 GB for a month. If you need a Brazilian number, a local carrier such as Claro or TIM fits better.
Which eSIM offers the best value for money in Brazil?
Compare the price per day of your trip, not just per gigabyte. Pick the smallest plan that covers your days with some margin, and top up if you run low. Our Brazil eSIM page lists every size with its current price.
Can I get an eSIM for Brazil before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you reach Brazil.
Does a travel eSIM for Brazil include calls or a local number?
No. SimOptions Brazil plans are data-only, with no phone number. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls, or get an eSIM from a local carrier for a Brazilian number.
Do I need a CPF to use a travel eSIM in Brazil?
Not for a SimOptions plan: you buy it online and install it before you fly. Local lines are different. TIM's eSIM steps ask for a CPF, and Claro activates prepaid eSIMs for foreign customers with a passport in its stores.
Does the Brazil eSIM support 5G?
Yes. Our Brazil plan details list 4G/5G speed, so you get 5G where the network offers it. The South America plan is 4G/LTE.
Does the eSIM work in the Amazon?
It works wherever its network has signal. In towns and cities you are more likely to have signal. On river trips and deep in the forest, signal can be weak or absent, so download offline maps first.
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, see how to unlock your phone.
Is there one eSIM for Brazil and Argentina?
Yes. Our South America plan covers both, plus Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
