The best eSIM for Bulgaria is a data plan that fits your trip: enough gigabytes for your days there, installed at home before you fly. A SimOptions Bulgaria eSIM does that. It runs on 4G and 5G, activates automatically when you arrive and comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 100 GB for 180 days. It has no Bulgarian phone number, so you call with WhatsApp, FaceTime or another app. Visiting Romania, Greece or Serbia as well? Pick a Europe plan instead.
Which is the best eSIM for Bulgaria?
Short on time? These Bulgaria plans are data-only, 5G and can be topped up. Pick the size from the days you stay.
SimOptions Bulgaria eSIMs · data only · 4G/5G · See all eSIMs for Bulgaria · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Bulgaria
- Coverage: check that Bulgaria is on the country list. A Bulgaria plan suits a trip that stays in the country. A Europe plan suits a trip with border crossings.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a weekend in Sofia. For two weeks with maps, bus and train apps and video calls, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: the plan details say whether you get 4G/LTE or 5G. The Bulgaria plans support 4G/5G, the Europe plans 4G/LTE.
- A phone number: our Bulgaria and Europe plans are data-only. If you need a Bulgarian number, you need a line from a Bulgarian operator (see below).
- 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 Bulgaria?
These are the sizes on our Bulgaria eSIM page, with what each one suits:
- Bulgaria 1GB and 3GB: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days. A stopover or a weekend in Sofia with maps, messages and tickets.
- Bulgaria 5GB and 10GB: 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days. A week with maps, messages and photos.
- Bulgaria 20GB: 20 GB for 15 days. Two weeks, for example Sofia and Plovdiv plus a beach week on the Black Sea, with some video.
- Bulgaria 50GB: 50 GB for 30 days. A month, or if you work from your phone.
- Bulgaria 60GB and 100GB: 60 GB for 90 days or 100 GB for 180 days, for a long stay or a ski season.
If you run out of data, top-ups are available. Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size, and go a size up if you share your connection with a laptop. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for Bulgaria?
Not as a Bulgaria-only plan: those go up to 100 GB. If you don't want to count gigabytes, the Europe Unlimited plans give you unlimited data for 7 or 14 days, and Bulgaria is one of the countries they cover. They are data-only and run on 4G/LTE. See the Europe cards further down.
Do you need a travel eSIM if your phone plan is from the EU?
Maybe not. Bulgaria has been in the EU since 2007 (European Union: Bulgaria), so under the "roam like at home" rules you can use a plan from another EU country there at domestic prices. The rules also apply in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as Moldova and Ukraine. When you cross the border, your operator should send you a text that reminds you of its fair use policy (Your Europe: Mobile roaming costs). A travel eSIM still helps if your plan has a small data allowance abroad.
Coming from the US, India, Australia or the UK? Roam like at home doesn't cover your plan, so your carrier sets its own roaming prices. A travel eSIM gives you data at a fixed prepaid price, and your home line stays on your phone for texts and security codes.
Local Bulgarian eSIM or travel eSIM?
You have two kinds of choices in Bulgaria. We explain the local operators in detail in eSIM providers in Bulgaria, including Yettel. Here is the short version, from the operators' own pages.
- A1 Bulgaria has offered eSIM on its monthly plans since 2019 and on all its prepaid packages since November 2023, both starter packs with minutes and data-only packs. A1 says this suits visitors who want to keep their home number on the same phone (A1: eSIM for prepaid packages, in Bulgarian).
- Vivacom offers eSIM to all current and new customers on its monthly and prepaid plans. New customers can choose a SIM or an eSIM at no extra charge. To swap a plastic SIM for an eSIM, you go to a Vivacom store and pay a one-off fee (Vivacom: eSIM, in Bulgarian).
Both give you a Bulgarian number, but prepaid numbers are registered to a named person. Under Bulgaria's Counter-Terrorism Act, operators may not register more than 10 prepaid numbers with calls in one person's name (A1: Prepaid packages, in Bulgarian). A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a Bulgarian shop.
Choose a local eSIM if you live in Bulgaria, stay for months or need a Bulgarian number. 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. To call with a data-only eSIM, read how to make calls with a data eSIM.
Which eSIM for Sofia, the Black Sea coast or a trip across the border?
You don't need a different eSIM for each place in Bulgaria. A Bulgaria plan covers the whole country, from Sofia and Plovdiv to Varna, Nessebar and the ski slopes of Bansko. Signal still varies by place, whichever eSIM you use, so download offline maps before a hike in the mountains.
A Bulgaria plan stops working when you cross the border. If Bulgaria is one stop on a trip to Bucharest, Thessaloniki, Belgrade or Skopje, a Europe plan keeps you connected with one eSIM. The Europe plans cover Bulgaria and its neighbours Romania, Greece, Serbia and North Macedonia. They are 4G/LTE, data-only and can be topped up. Going on to Istanbul? Check the country list on the plan page, or see our best eSIM for Turkey guide. Our best eSIM for Europe guide compares the Europe plans, and there are guides for Romania, Greece and North Macedonia.
Europe plans · Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Serbia, North Macedonia and more · 4G/LTE · data only · See the Europe eSIMs · How to use an eSIM in Europe
How do you get an eSIM for Bulgaria?
- 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 data for the eSIM when you arrive: choose it as your data line, and switch off data roaming on your home line to avoid roaming charges (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating helps. 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 Bulgaria?
It depends on your trip. For data only, a Bulgaria eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice. If you also visit neighbouring countries, a Europe plan fits better. If you need a Bulgarian number, get a line from a Bulgarian operator such as A1 or Vivacom.
Can I get an eSIM for Bulgaria before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates automatically when you reach Bulgaria.
Is there a prepaid eSIM for Bulgaria?
Yes. SimOptions Bulgaria eSIMs are prepaid: you pay once for a set amount of data and days, with no contract. A1 and Vivacom also offer eSIM on their prepaid plans, registered to your name.
Does a travel eSIM for Bulgaria include calls or a Bulgarian number?
No. SimOptions Bulgaria and Europe plans are data-only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or another calling app over data, including to call home to the US, India or Australia.
Is there an eSIM with unlimited data for Bulgaria?
Yes, through Europe Unlimited plans for 7 or 14 days, which cover Bulgaria. The Bulgaria-only plans go up to 100 GB.
Does a Bulgaria eSIM work in Romania or Greece?
No. The Bulgaria plans only work in Bulgaria. For trips across the border, pick a Europe plan.
Can I use my EU phone plan in Bulgaria?
Usually yes, at domestic prices under the EU's roam like at home rules, within your operator's fair use policy. UK, US and other non-EU plans are not covered.
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.
How long is a Bulgaria eSIM valid before I use it?
The plan details say the eSIM becomes invalid if you don't use it within 1 year.
