Best eSIM for Albania: Comparison

The cheapest eSIM plan for Albania starts at $1.70 for 1 GB over 7 days (Esim4travel), while Airalo offers the same gigabyte for €3.50 over 3 days. For a typical week-long trip, 3–5 GB is more than enough – hotels and cafes in Tirana and Sarandë have free Wi-Fi. A physical SIM card at the airport costs €25–29, but with an eSIM you can connect before you even land.

• Lowest price per gigabyte – Esim4travel: from $1.70 for 1 GB (local plan) and $0.80 for 1 GB/day (European package).
• Best plan variety – Airalo: 17 options from 1 GB to unlimited, including short 3-day packages.
• Cheapest unlimited – Airalo: €18 for 3 days or €32 for a week.
• Coverage in Albania – all eSIM providers operate on Vodafone and One networks, delivering 4G/LTE across nearly the entire country.
• Western Balkans roaming – since July 2021, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia share a roaming-free zone. However, this applies to local SIM cards, not eSIMs.
• Check visa requirements for your nationality before travel, and verify whether your device supports eSIM.

Below are the most popular packages for a standard 7–30 day trip. Prices current as of February 2026.

(Updated: February 2026)

If you are working remotely from Tirana or relying heavily on navigation, unlimited plans provide peace of mind. Note that "unlimited" often means a daily high-speed cap (typically 1–2 GB) after which speeds are throttled.

(Updated: February 2026)

If your itinerary includes Sarandë with a day trip to Corfu, or you are planning to visit several Balkan countries, a regional package saves money and eliminates the need for a new eSIM at every border.

Voye Europe packages work across 50 countries, including the entire Balkans, Georgia, Turkey, and the UK – useful for complex itineraries with layovers.

This is the central question, and the answer depends on trip length and usage habits.

Local SIM card at Tirana International Airport costs €25–29 for a tourist package (40–100 GB, 21 days). Vodafone Tourist Pack – €25 for 40 GB with 1 000 local minutes. Tourist Giga Pack – €29 for 100 GB and unlimited calls. One Telecom offers matching plans. Passport required for registration.

In city stores prices drop significantly. One Unlimited M with unlimited internet sells for 1 000 lek (about €8). That is roughly 3 times cheaper than the airport tariff for comparable data.

Tip: if you are arriving at Tirana International Airport and staying in Albania for over a week, consider buying a SIM card in the city rather than at the airport. The difference can be €15–20. Use an eSIM for connectivity during your first hours.

When an eSIM wins:

• Short trips (3–7 days) – eSIM from $1.70 (Esim4travel) vs €25 for an airport SIM.
• Multi-country itinerary – one regional package instead of buying a SIM in each country.
• Your phone cannot accept a physical nano-SIM or you prefer not to remove your primary card.
• You need internet the moment you land – eSIM activates remotely.

When a local SIM card wins:

• Extended stays (2+ weeks) – a city-bought package for €8–10 provides unlimited data for a month.
• You need local calls and SMS – eSIMs typically offer data only.
• Your phone does not support eSIM technology.

Albania has two main operators – Vodafone and One (formerly Telekom Albania + ALBtelecom). Both provide stable 4G/LTE coverage across major cities: Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Shkodër, Sarandë, Berat, and Gjirokastër. One has additionally rolled out 5G in 17 cities and resort areas, including Ksamil, Himarë, and Dhërmi.

In mountainous areas – on the road to Blue Eye or at Llogara National Park pass – signal can drop. Download offline maps beforehand. Along the coast from Vlorë to Sarandë, coverage is reliable, though secluded beaches like Gjipe Beach may have dead zones.

Important: Albania is not an EU member, so European SIM cards incur expensive roaming charges. A local SIM or eSIM is the only sensible way to stay connected.

The process is the same across all providers and takes 3–5 minutes.

1. Confirm your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XR and later, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3 and later, most flagships from 2020 onward).
2. Purchase a plan on the provider's website or app.
3. Receive a QR code via email or within the app.
4. Open phone settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM → Scan QR code.
5. Set the new profile as your primary for mobile data.
6. Enable data roaming – the network will connect automatically when you land at Tirana International Airport.

Note: install your eSIM before departure while you have stable Wi-Fi. QR codes are single-use, and downloading the profile requires an internet connection.

1. What is the cheapest eSIM for Albania? Esim4travel offers a 1 GB / 7-day plan for $1.70. For moderate usage (maps, messaging, some social media), this is sufficient for 2–3 days. If you need more, the 5 GB / 30-day plan at $5.25 is among the best value options available.

2. Does eSIM work in rural Albania? In cities and along the coast – reliably, with 4G/LTE. In mountainous regions (Llogara National Park pass, the road to Blue Eye, surroundings of Berat), signal may weaken or drop entirely. All eSIM providers use the same towers as local operators, so coverage quality is identical whether you use an eSIM or a physical SIM card.

3. Can I use one eSIM across the Balkans? Yes. Regional plans from Esim4travel (Best Europe, 35 countries) and Voye (Europe, 50 countries) cover Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Greece, and more. This eliminates the need to buy separate connectivity in each country.

4. Is an eSIM or a local SIM better for a 2-week trip? It depends on your needs. For data-only usage, an eSIM from Airalo at €19 (10 GB / 15 days) is cheaper than the €25 airport SIM. But if you need local calls or heavy data usage, a city-bought SIM at €8–10 with unlimited internet is better value.

5. Do I need a VPN in Albania? Major services and social media platforms work freely in Albania. A VPN is useful for protecting data on public Wi-Fi networks and accessing region-locked content (streaming services, banking apps). Learn more in Why eSIM Is Safer Than Public Wi-Fi.

For most travelers, the optimal choice is Esim4travel (lowest price per gigabyte) or Airalo (widest range of plans). For a weekend trip, 1–3 GB for a couple of euros is plenty. For two weeks of active use, go with 10 GB. Unlimited plans only make sense for remote work or heavy video streaming. And if your route extends to Montenegro, Greece, or North Macedonia, choose a regional package and forget about connectivity hassles at every border.

• What Is an eSIM and How Does It Work: A Simple Explanation
• What Are the Advantages of eSIM Compared to a Regular SIM?
• eSIM for Travel: How to Save on Roaming Charges
• eSIM Providers for Travel: Which One Offers the Best Value?
• How to Choose an eSIM Based on Trip Length

AKEP (Albanian Electronic and Postal Communications Authority) – telecom regulator

Vodafone Albania – official carrier website

One Telecommunications Albania – official carrier website

Airalo – Albania eSIM page

Esim4travel – Albania eSIM page