Staying connected during your trip in Bali is essential. Whether you’re navigating unfamiliar roads, booking a Grab or Gojek ride, or just staying in touch with family back home while you’re sipping on a cocktail at a beach club, having a SIM card or an eSIM in Bali will make travel easier and more flexible. 

No matter if you’re in Bali for just a weekend or you’re planning an extended trip, having an SIM card or an eSIM will ensure you’ll enjoy the island like a true local. 

International roaming with your local telco provider is convenient and easy to set up, however, international data and call rates are expensive, especially compared to getting a local SIM or eSIM. If you’re in Bali for a quick trip, international roaming is definitely more convenient. However, any longer trips we’d recommend getting a local SIM for cheaper calling and data rates. Further, you’ll need a local Indonesian number to sign up for ride-sharing apps like Gojek or Grab, which you’re likely to use often during your trip.  

Getting a SIM card or eSIM for Bali is pretty straightforward and easy — and there are a few ways you can go about it. 

You can purchase one when you arrive at the airport from local telco brands like Telkomsel, XL Axiata, and Indosat offering tourist SIM packages with data and call minutes. You can also get SIM cards once you’re in town at local convenience store. 

You’ll need to have your passport with you in store when you purchase a SIM card to complete the registration process, and your SIM card will be activated on the spot. 

Buying a SIM or eSIM in advance for Bali can save time and stress — especially after a long flight. Prices online for eSIMs or SIM cards are often slightly higher, but the convenience of landing with data and minutes ready to go is a big plus, especially if you need to book a ride, use Google Maps, or contact your hotel as soon as you land. 

Buying a SIM card at the airport is also easy, but you might pay a bit more than at a local mobile service provider or convenience store in town. If you're comfortable waiting, this option is often the cheapest, though it means you’ll have a few hours (or days, depending on your schedule) in limbo. 

There are a few SIM and eSIM providers that are popular in Bali, below are the best ones that are great for tourists:

The main difference between getting a physical SIM and an eSIM in Bali comes down to convenience and flexibility. 

A physical SIM is often cheaper and can include local call minutes and a local phone number, however, you’ll need to visit a store at the airport or in town to register and activate. 

On the other hand, an eSIM, is completely digital. Simply buy online and set up before you travel and you’re connected instantly. However, eSIMs do tend to be more expensive than a local sim in Bali, however, if you buy an Asia-wide eSIM like this one from GoHub, you can use the same eSIM for all your stops in places like Singapore, Malaysia, and more. 

If you’ve decided an eSIM works best for you, there are plenty of eSIM providers to choose from to make your trip easy breezy. 

Typically, an eSIM can be as little as AU$7 a week for 1GB via Airalo, where as unlimited data eSIMs from providers like Holafly are typically AU$30-45. GoHub is one of the best budget-friendly eSIM providers and multi-country eSIMs (that include Bali) start from AU$11.31 

A multi-country eSIM is great if you’re hitting a few countries during a short trip. You may consider getting a local SIM card or eSIM for just Indonesia if you’re only going to Indonesia, or if you’re staying in Indonesia for a long period of time before your next destination.