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The Best Prepaid SIM Cards for Russia in 2023
Russia is a country located in Eastern Europe, and you possibly know that is the largest country in the world with 17.125.200 square kilometers. That fact makes Russia a very interesting country with many activities to do and places to visit. First, we can mention its capital, Moscow, which is the largest city in the country. Another famous place there is St. Petersburg. If you visit Russia, you can enjoy of ancient cities, visit national parks, museums, ski resorts, lakes, palaces, and famous theaters.
Probably you are thinking about how you are going to be able to communicate in Russia and stay connected with your family and friends at home. We know international roaming fees are very expensive. Instead of using that service we recommend you to buy a prepaid SIM card that you can use in Russia. Here in this article, we are going to show you the best options available in the market. Continue reading and find the best SIM card to use in Russia.
What Are The Top SIM Cards Offers for Russia?
| About the provider | Sim Card Features | ||
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Move to TrueMove H & instantly connect to the widest 4G LTE and 3G roaming network coverage. Enjoy TrueMove H's international service and roam with confidence in Russia |
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The first SIM Card that truly covers every country in the whole world! Enjoy a great internet experience within Russia with the ISP Orange. They commit to provide the best service possible and have been awarded as the best internet operator in France many times in the row. |
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What is The Best SIM Card for Russia?
SimOptions – International SIM Cards
SimOptions is a company that provides international SIM cards all around the world. Maybe you are wondering why to buy an international SIM card instead of a national one. Well, getting an international SIM has its advantages. First, with SimOptions you are going to enjoy the high-speed internet connection all over Russia. You do not need to get to the country and try to find a store where they sell SIM cards. With Simoptions you can order it online and it will be with you at the moment you arrive at the country. The payment method is very simple too, you just need your credit card. Finally, when you get the SIM, it does not need activation, so you will start enjoying the services once that you insert it into your smartphone.
In addition to this, the international SIM card from SimOptions for Russia also covers in other countries that you can include in your travel list. This includes Austria, Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Ghana and more.
Let’s see the details about the prepaid SIM card:
Travel SIM World | $39.90 - 6GB
- Data: 6GB
- Calls/SMS: No
- Credit Validity: 15 days
Traveling to Russia is easy with SimOptions. Get a SIM card here.
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MTS – Mobile TeleSystems
This Russian mobile company provides services as a mobile operator, offering the best GSM 900 / 1800 coverage service. And at the moment, they are considered the largest operator in Russia. MTS currently has more than 106.5 million subscribers not only in Russia but also in Ukraine, Armenia, and Belarus. You can buy a SIM card from MTS at any of their stores around the country (visit their website to find a store). They offer several prepaid plans with data, text messages and minutes for calls. Some of them even include unlimited internet to navigate all day long, and others have unlimited data to use with social media. You have to be careful because these plans are only for smartphones and tablets, not for modems or routers. If you want to check how much credit you have, just dial #100# free. You can also download the app “My MTS” in Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone).
Let’s see some of the mobile tariffs:
Smart | 420 RUB ($6.65) – 5 GB
- Data: 5 GB
- Calls: 200 min (in Russia)
- SMS: 200
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1024#
Our Smart | 1040 RUB ($16.46)
- Data: unlimited
- Calls: 1500 min (in Russia)
- SMS: 1500
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1025#
Smart Top | 2025 RUB ($32.06)
- Data: unlimited
- Calls: 3000 min (in Russia)
- SMS: 3000
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1026#
Tariff “X” | 520 RUB ($8.23) – 7 GB
- Data: 7 GB (Unlimited: Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, Snapchat, YouTube, MTS Music, Apple Music, App Store, Google Play and more)
- Calls: 100 min (in Russia)
- SMS: 200
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1010#
You can also increase the amount of data on your plan if you think that it is not enough.
+ Internet 3 GB | 200 RUB ($3.17) – 3 GB
- Data: 3 GB
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1417*1#
+ Internet 5 GB | 260 RUB ($4.12) – 5 GB
- Data: 5 GB
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1517*1#
+ Internet 10 GB | 315 RUB ($4.99) – 10 GB
- Data: 10 GB
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1617*1#
Internet 20 GB | 365 RUB ($5.78) – 20 GB
- Data: 20 GB
- Credit Validity: 30 days
- Activation: *111*1817*1#
Buying a Russian SIM card from MTS may be a good choice. For more information, visit MTS.
Beeline – A brand of PJSC VimpelCom
This company has been working for many years (since 1993), providing communication services to Russian people. Located in Moscow, with more than 55.3 million customers, it is considered the second largest operator in the country. You can get their SIM card online, which includes all the services that you may want and need to use your mobile phone in Russia without problems.
There are some benefits to getting a Beeline card. If you need to call but you consumed all your credit, do not worry! With Beeline, you can make your call, and then they will deduct it from your balance the next time you top-up. Besides, you will get extra benefits if you top up with your Mastercard credit card. They will refund up to 10% of the bonuses and up to 6% in the balance each month. So it could be a good idea to take advantage of these benefits with your card.
Here below are the data packages:
Close people 1 | 500 RUB ($7.92) – 20 GB
- Data: 20 GB
- Calls: 400 min
- SMS: 300
- Credit Validity: 30 days
Close people 2 | 700 RUB ($11.08) – 50% off buying a new SIM card on the site.
- Data: unlimited
- Calls: 600 mins / Calls to numbers of all networks in Russia, except for local city numbers
- SMS: 300
- Credit Validity: 30 days
Close people 3 | 900 RUB ($14.25) – Unlimited Distribution
- Data: unlimited / Distribution of mobile Internet to other devices
- Calls: 1300 mins / Calls to Beeline and other operators
- SMS: 300
- Credit Validity: 30 days
Are you interested in buying a SIM card from Beeline? Order on their website.
MegaFon – Previously North-West GSM
This is the third-largest company that has been working in Russia as a national mobile operator. The company has been operated for more than 20 years. They are located in Moscow (the capital) and have subscribers in two countries. Those are Russia (62.1 million) and Tajikistan (1.6 million). The services that they provide are mobile and fixed-line services, mobile and broadband internet and much more. The telecommunications market is very wide. MegaFon gives many innovative digital products and services covering Russia, South Ossetia, Tajikistan, and Abkhazia. Their prepaid SIM cards can be obtained in their stores or online. When you get it you need to insert it into your device and dial 05001374 to activate. If you need to check your remaining minutes and data call *558# and to check your balance call *100#.
Let’s take a look to the prepaid SIM cards from MegaFon:
#Hello bundle | 750 RUB ($11.87)
- Data: 30 GB (unlimited to WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, TamTam, eMotion, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram)
- Calls: 30 min / domestic and international (unlimited to MegaFon Russia)
- Credit Validity: 14 days
Turn On! Look | 1000 RUB ($15.84) – Unlimited
- Data: unlimited
- Calls: 1500 min
- SMS: 300
- Credit Validity: 30 days
Turn On! Chat | 500 RUB ($7.92) – Unlimited
- Data: unlimited
- Calls: 500 min ( unlimited to all mobile numbers in Russia)*
- SMS: 100/day ( unlimited to MegaFon Russia)**
- Credit Validity: 30 days
* For new subscribers, calls to landline numbers are included in the package for the first 6 months
** For new subscribers the first 6 months
Turn On! Speak | 500 RUB ($7.92) – 5 GB
- Data: 5 GB (unlimited on WhatsApp, Viber, eMotion, Facebook Messenger, TamTam, Snapchat)
- Calls: 600 min ( unlimited to MegaFon Russia)
- SMS: not included
- Credit Validity: 30 days
Turn On! Have Fun | 450 RUB ($7.13) – 15 GB
- Data: 15 GB (unlimited on instant messengers, social networks, music, and video)
- Calls: 100 min
- SMS: not included
- Credit Validity: 30 days
Turn On! Premium | 3000 RUB ($47.49)
- Data: unlimited
- Calls: 5000 min
- SMS: unlimited
- Credit Validity: 30 days
Turn On! Write | 400 RUB ($6.34) – 5 GB
- Data: 5 GB (unlimited on WhatsApp, Viber, eMotion, Facebook Messenger, TamTam, Snapchat)
- Calls: 300 min ( unlimited to MegaFon Russia)
- SMS: 300
- Credit Validity: 30 days
To find more about these prepaid SIM cards, visit their website.
Tele2 Russia – Owned by Rostelecom
This is a company that works in the telecommunications sector in Russia, since 2003. Tele2 operates in 67 regions of the country (including the capital). With this company, more than 42.3 million customers enjoy high-speed mobile internet. To be part of this experience you need to get a prepaid SIM card. For this, just visit one of their stores or go online and order one. They have different options depending on the number of services that you need and the time you are going to be in Russia. Here below you have the prepaid rates to be able to use your cell phone in Russia.
My Online + | 700 RUB ($11.09) – 30 GB
- Data: 30 GB *
- Calls: 800 min (unlimited to other Tele2 Russia numbers)
- SMS: not included
- Credit Validity: 30 days
* Free traffic of social networks, WhatsApp, Viber, TamTam, and Instagram
Everywhere Online | 500 RUB ($7.92) – 40 GB
- Data: 40 GB *
- Calls: 500 min (unlimited to other Tele2 Russia numbers)
- SMS: 50 ( to Russian numbers)
- Credit Validity: 30 days
* Free traffic of social networks, WhatsApp, Viber, TamTam, and Instagram
My Online | 400 RUB ($6.34) – 15 GB
- Data: 15 GB *
- Calls: 500 min to other numbers in your home region (unlimited to other Tele2 Russia numbers)
- SMS: not included
- Credit Validity: 30 days
* Free traffic of social networks, WhatsApp, Viber, TamTam, and Instagram
My Talk | 200 RUB ($3.17) – 2 GB
- Data: 2 GB
- Calls: 200 min to other numbers in your home region (unlimited to other Tele2 Russia numbers)
- SMS: not included
- Credit Validity: 30 days
My Tele2 | 7 RUB ($0.11) – 5 GB
- Data: 5 GB
- Calls: unlimited calls to Tele2 numbers in Russia
- SMS: not included
- Credit Validity: 1 day
If you are interested in one of these SIM cards, visit the website for more information.
There you have all the options available to buy a prepaid SIM card to use in Russia. We mentioned some companies that provide local SIM cards (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and Tele2 Russia) and an international SIM card provider called SimOptions. Now it is your turn to choose the one that better suits your needs for your trip!
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