After traveling all over Albania and trying different eSIMs, we’d love to share our tips for getting the best one for your visit.
We’ve tested many eSIMs, not only in Albania but also around the world, so we know which ones offer the best value for money and are a reliable choice for travel.
That’s why we’ve only listed the top-rated eSIMs we personally used, trust, and have a history of great customer reviews. No fluff, no overcomplication, just facts.
Top three Albania Travel eSIM providers
Our recommended eSIM providers for travelers in Albania are Sim Local, Ubigi, and Gigago.
Sim Local
Fixed plans of 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20 GB.
Perfect choice for trips up to 30 days.
Great coverage at fast speeds across Albania.
Ubigi
Value-for-money fixed data plans (7-15-30 days), plus unlimited data plans for 7 and 15 days.
Connection to Albania’s best networks at fast 5G speeds.
Bonus: Affordable Europe plan for multi-country trips, including Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and more.
Gigago
Reliable eSIM plans.
Great budget options for short and long trips in Albania.
Best Albania eSIM packages for traveling in 2026
Let’s explore the various options and highlight the pros and cons of each of our recommended Albania eSIM providers.
1. Unlimited Data Plans
For unlimited data plans in Albania, the Ubigi eSIM is the best choice, both for Albania-only plans and for Europe plans which include Albania.
Keep in mind that unlimited eSIMs aren’t as good in Albania as they are in other countries, so they might not always offer the best value for money.
| Package | Price | Max speed * |
|---|---|---|
| Albania 7 days unlimited | 29 EUR | 20 GB total |
| Albania 15 days unlimited | 49 EUR | 30 GB total |
| Europe 7 days unlimited ** | 49 EUR | 20 GB total |
| Europe 15 days unlimited ** | 59 EUR | 30 GB total |
| Europe 30 days unlimited ** | 77 EUR | 60 GB total |
Unlimited data Albania eSIM plans
* After reaching the max speed limit, the speed is reduced to 2 Mbps
** European plan that includes Albania
2. Budget-Friendly Packages
As of 2026, Sim Local and Gigago offer the best selection of budget Albania eSIM plans for both short and long trips.
The absolute best value-for-money eSIM in Albania is the 5 GB package for 30 days from Sim Local, which costs only 12 EUR.
You can get this eSIM for just 10.8 EUR with our 10% discount, which is automatically applied to your cart when you use this link or our code SHIPPEDAWAY10.
| Albania eSIM | Sim Local | Gigago |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Days, 1 GB | 3.5 EUR | |
| 30 Days, 3 GB | 8.75 EUR | 7.4 EUR |
| 30 Days, 5 GB | 12 EUR | 10.8 EUR |
| 30 Days, 10 GB | 20.25 EUR | 18.9 EUR |
| 30 Days, 20 GB | 32.25 EUR | 35.3 EUR |
Budget eSIM plans for Albania
TRAVEL TIP
Book your Albania accommodation in advance to get the best deals and best hotels (especially during the high season)!
Check the price and availability of the best Albania hotels here.
3. eSIMs with local phone numbers
As most tourists don’t need calls and SMS in Albania, many eSIM packages are data-only and don’t include a phone number.
During our almost month-long trip to Albania, we never really needed a local Albanian phone number, as we communicated with everyone via WhatsApp and Messenger.
None of our recommended eSIMs come with a local phone number, and we don’t know of any reliable ones that do.
4. Regional eSIM plans
If, in addition to visiting Albania, you plan to visit other European countries, like maybe Croatia, then it makes sense to consider a regional eSIM plan.
You can buy the Europe extended eSIM from Ubigi, which, in addition to Albania, gets you online in the whole European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and a few more countries.
That way, you don’t have to buy a different eSIM for each destination on a multi-country trip – you just get the Europe plan.
We love that these plans are not expensive at all, especially compared to other providers.
| Europe extended eSIM | 7 Days | 15 Days | 30 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 8 EUR | ||
| 3 GB | 19 EUR | ||
| 10 GB | 39 EUR | ||
| 25 GB | 55 EUR | ||
| Unlimited | 49 EUR | 59 EUR | 77 EUR |
Albania, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and a few more countries.
Get it now 10% cheaper with code SHIPPEDAWAY
You can get more information about the best regional plans in Europe by reading our Best Europe eSIM article. We dive deeper into the best plans not only for the EU but also for Northern Europe (Scandinavia, Baltic), the Balkans, and beyond.
Personally, we prefer buying separate packages, as we usually stay longer in each country, but we do use a regional Europe plan for trips that combine multiple countries.
Albania trip
MUST-HAVE ✔
💳 Save money when changing currencies or taking out cash by bringing a backup travel card. Oh, and in case an ATM swallows your card. Yes, it happened to us. 🤦♂️
🔌 Bring a Universal Travel Adapter with fast-charging capabilities (45W and Power Delivery).
Benefits of buying an eSIM for Albania
When traveling in Albania, there are several advantages to choosing an eSIM over traditional SIM cards.
- Convenience: With eSIMs, there’s no need to swap SIM cards physically. eSIMs are built into compatible devices and can be activated digitally using a QR code or installation link.
- Cost savings: eSIMs often offer competitive data plans and pricing, allowing you to get online as soon as you arrive in the country and save on expensive international roaming charges.
- Environmental impact: eSIMs eliminate the need for plastic SIM cards, reducing waste and the environmental impact of traditional SIM cards.
Device eSIM compatibility
Please note that device compatibility may vary based on regional restrictions and carrier limitations. It’s important to check with your device manufacturer or eSIM provider to ensure compatibility before purchasing your Albania eSIM.
You can check this convenient list of eSIM device compatibility.
| Brand | Model |
|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone SE 3 (2022), iPhone SE 2 (2020), iPad Pro 11″ (1st Gen or later), iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd Gen or later), iPad Air (3rd Gen or later), iPad (7th Gen or later), iPad mini (5th Gen or later) |
| Samsung | Samsung Galaxy A17, Samsung S25 FE, Samsung Galaxy A35, Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, Samsung Galaxy A55, Samsung Galaxy A56, Samsung Galaxy A36, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, Samsung Galaxy S25, Samsung Galaxy S25+, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung Galaxy A40, Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S24+, Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, Samsung Galaxy Note20, Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, Samsung Galaxy S23, Samsung Galaxy S23+, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S22+, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9+, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ |
| Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Google Pixel 9 Pro, Google Pixel 9, Google Pixel 9a, Google Pixel 8 Pro, Google Pixel 8, Google Pixel 8a, Google Pixel Fold, Google Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel 7, Google Pixel 7a, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6a, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 5a, Google Pixel 4 XL, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4a | |
| Other phones | Fairphone, Hammer, Honor, Huawei, Motorola, Nokia, OnePlus, Oppo, Rakuten, Sharp, Sony, Surface, Xiaomi, Vivo, Asus, TCL, T-Mobile, MyPhone |
| Windows Laptops | Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Surface |
Finding Wi-Fi is great!
But not if it's not secure
For more than 6 years, we have been using a VPN app while traveling, as it secures our data, especially when connecting to a public WiFi. 📶
We know we’re safe to use our banking and payment apps and don’t have to worry about someone stealing our money or passwords. 👨💻
Plus, you might think the hotel WiFi is OK, but often there’s minimal or no security behind the connection at all. 🟥
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, it allows us to switch countries so we can watch Netflix shows and movies that might not be available otherwise. 🍿
Albania eSIM Step-by-Step Activation Guide
Activating your Albania eSIM is a simple process with just a few steps. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you activate your eSIM:
Time needed: 15 minutes
Albania eSIM Step-by-Step Activation Guide
- Purchase your eSIM
Buy an eSIM plan from one of the trusted eSIM providers that best suits your travel needs in Albania.
- Receive the installation instructions
After your purchase is complete, you will receive an email containing a QR code from the eSIM provider to your email address. Keep this email accessible on your device.
- Scan the QR code
On your device, open the camera app and scan the QR code received from the eSIM provider. This will activate the eSIM and initiate the download of the necessary eSIM profile. If you’re wondering how to do this on the phone, save the QR code image or take a screenshot, and then tap on it in your photo gallery. It should scan it.
- Optional: Manually enter the eSIM plan settings or use the installation link
If you can’t scan the QR code, follow the manual steps for adding the eSIM to your phone. It’s very straightforward and shouldn’t take a long time either. Recently, you can also simply follow an installation link to install an eSIM on your device.
- Confirm the eSIM activation
Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the activation of the eSIM profile. This may involve entering a confirmation code or selecting the appropriate settings on your device. Sometimes, you need to text the provider’s provided phone number to activate the eSIM.
Ensure your device has a stable internet connection for the initial activation process. We usually do this at the departure airport before flying into Albania, so we’re online as soon as we land. - Enable Data Roaming on the new eSIM plan
In your new eSIM plan settings, enable Data Roaming. Don’t forget this step or it won’t work.
- Turn off “Cellular Data Switching”
When you enable data roaming, make sure to turn off “Cellular Data Switching”. Otherwise, the phone might switch to your home plan if the eSIM loses connectivity. This is usually something that rarely happens, but it’s possible in elevators, where the connection drops. So, if your home plan gets connectivity first, it might cause extra costs.
- Set the new eSIM data plan as primary
Make sure to set the new eSIM plan on your phone as the primary one for mobile data. This way, your home plan won’t be used for data, but it can still receive texts and phone calls.
Otherwise, remember to remove or disable your physical SIM card while using the eSIM to avoid any conflicts or additional charges. - Start using your Albania eSIM
Once the eSIM activation is complete, you can start using your Albania eSIM to access mobile data. The validity period usually starts when the eSIM connects to the local network’s cellular data. But make sure to check this, as sometimes it starts right after installation (Steps 3-4-5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, eSIMs in Albania provide wide network coverage in all regions, including remote areas. Plus, our recommended eSIM connects to the best networks in the country.
To top up data on your Albania eSIM, you can follow the instructions provided by your eSIM provider. This may involve using an app or website to purchase additional data packages or credits. It’s recommended to top up before your current data plan expires to avoid any interruptions in connectivity.
Yes, with Albania eSIMs, you can keep your home country and WhatsApp numbers active and still receive phone calls and texts. Just make sure to set the Albania eSIM plan as the primary data plan so your home plan is not used, and you avoid roaming charges.
Yes, sharing data between devices with an Albania eSIM is possible. However, the ability to share data and the specific process (and number of devices) may vary depending on the eSIM provider and your chosen plan.
If you encounter connectivity issues with your Albania eSIM, it’s recommended that you contact your eSIM provider’s customer support team. They can provide troubleshooting assistance and guide you through any necessary steps to resolve the issue.
There are only a few eSIMs in Albania with unlimited data, and the best option is the 15-day plan for 49 EUR from Ubigi. You can get it 10% cheaper with the code SHIPPEDAWAY.
Best way to explore Albania?
RENTING A CAR
We love exploring places at our own pace and on our own time, especially to avoid crowds at popular destinations we visit. Plus, watching sunrises and sunsets at epic locations is a must. ☀
That’s why renting a car for us is a no-brainer, and an unmissable part of most trips. 🚗
We love having the choice to compare prices, choose different pick-up and drop-off locations (one-way rentals), and pay for a reasonable full insurance policy without going broke. 🤑
Final thoughts
We hope we have provided you with everything you need to choose the best eSIM for Albania that will suit your travel itinerary and budget.
All of our recommended eSIM providers, Sim Local, Ubigi, and Gigago, should deliver a great experience in terms of connectivity, network speeds, customer service, and ease of use.
Enjoy your trip to Albania!
Continue your Albania trip planning
- ⭐ Tirana Attractions & Activities (travel guide to the capital)
- ⭐ What Not To Miss in Berat (best places and experiences)
- ⭐ Shkoder Travel Guide
- ⭐ Gjirokaster, the Stone City
- 🥾 Theth, Albanian Alps (best mountain town)
- 🏰 How to visit Kruje Historical Town
- 🌞 Ksamil, South Albania
- 🌞 Best Attractions and Beaches in Himare
- 🌊 Osumi Canyon River Tubing (one of the best things we did in Albania!)
- 🌄 Bovilla Lake (stunning lake viewpoint)
- 💃 Albanian Night (fantastic show with traditional dancing and singing)
- 🛌 Riverside Komani (fantastic riverside hotel for visiting the Shala River)
Must-read - 🇦🇱 Best of Albania in Two Weeks (day-by-day itinerary)
- 🌄 North Albania in One Week (rivers, lakes, hikes, swimming spots)
- 🚗 Do you really need a car in Albania?
