Bissau’s whole network runs on a leased power ship, and most of the Bijagos Islands have no signal at all, so the SIM you pick matters less than knowing where it will actually work.
Six eSIM providers actually sell Guinea-Bissau, and two more do not, despite what their marketing pages imply. Below is what each one charges, which network it names, and the coverage reality in Bissau and the Bijagos Islands that no data plan can fix on its own. There is also a buyer’s guide for matching a plan to a mainland trip versus an island one.
Orange is the network almost everyone here names, sometimes split into separate Orange Bissau and Orange Guinea entities, sometimes paired with a second carrier still labelled MTN Areeba. Two providers will not name a carrier at all for this country. The table below sorts by entry price, then shows how far each plan actually stretches.
| Provider | Plans | From | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
|
eSIMply
Names Orange, the same carrier Airalo and Roamless disclose. Up to 38% off on the 3GB plan. No ID required, QR code by email.
Up to 38% off
|
1GB to 3GB · 7-30d | $11.951GB / 7d |
Orange |
|
Airalo
Also names Orange. Narrower range than most, topping out at 3GB, but a 3-day validity option suits a quick stopover.
|
1GB to 3GB · 3-7d | $9.501GB / 3d |
Orange |
|
Saily
Cheapest large bucket here, 10GB for 30 days at $31.99. Does not name a Guinea-Bissau carrier.
|
1GB to 10GB · 7-30d | $6.991GB / 7d |
Network not disclosed |
|
Nomad
Lists Orange and MTN Areeba, though MTN sold its Guinea-Bissau business in 2024 and it now operates as Telecel. Two 1GB/7-day listings appear on its own site at different prices.
|
1GB to 10GB · 7-30d | $7.001GB / 7d |
Orange / MTN Areeba |
|
aloSIM
Cheapest entry on our list at $5.50, and the only provider naming two distinct Orange networks for this country.
|
1GB to 20GB · 7-30d | $5.501GB / 7d |
Orange Bissau / Orange Guinea |
|
Roamless
30-day plans only, with no shorter validity option. Names Orange on 3G/4G, without 5G.
|
1GB to 5GB · 30d only | $12.451GB / 30d |
Orange |
Prices are from each provider's public Guinea-Bissau product page, shown in USD.
Physical Orange SIM cards are sold from shops around Bissau, and as with most Orange markets in West Africa, registering one means handing over a passport. Osvaldo Vieira Airport has no dedicated SIM counter, so this means a trip into the city before you can get online on a local number.
An eSIM skips that step entirely, installing before you leave home and activating the moment you land, for as little as $5.50 for 1GB over 7 days. What it does not give you is a Guinea-Bissau phone number, so anyone who needs to receive local calls or SMS, rather than just data, still has a reason to queue for a physical SIM.
Most visitors are better served keeping their home SIM in one slot for calls and using an eSIM for data, rather than dealing with local SIM registration for a short trip.
The only provider on our Guinea-Bissau list combining a named Orange network with no ID requirement at checkout.
eSIMply names Orange as the network it connects to in Guinea-Bissau, matching what Airalo and Roamless disclose for the same country. That single point of agreement across three independent providers is about as close to confirmation as an eSIM buyer gets here, since Guinea-Bissau has no public coverage-testing data to check against.
The lineup runs three capped plans, from 1GB for 7 days up to 3GB for 30 days, with the discount growing toward the top of the range: $11.95 for the smallest plan and $27.95 for the largest, a 38% cut off the listed retail price. For a short trip to Bissau with light WhatsApp and maps use, the 1GB plan covers the basics; add the Bijagós or a longer stay and it is worth sizing up.
| Plan | Validity | Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $11.95 | Save $5.15 (30%) |
| 2 GB | 15 days | $21.95 | Save $9.55 (30%) |
| 3 GB Best value | 30 days | $27.95 | Save $17.05 (38%) |
Buy online and a QR code arrives by email within minutes. Scan it in your phone’s eSIM settings before you fly, then switch on data roaming once you land so it connects to Orange automatically.
Also names Orange, but the shortest plan range on our list, built for a quick stop rather than a long stay.
Airalo’s Guinea-Bissau product page names Orange as the network, the same carrier eSIMply and Roamless disclose. It is the most recognised travel eSIM brand worldwide, though for this specific country its plan range is the narrowest of the six we compared.
All three plans max out at 3GB, with validity from 3 to 7 days, which suits a short stopover in Bissau more than a Bijagós-inclusive trip where the ferries alone can eat several days.
| Plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 days | $9.50 |
| 3 GB | 3 days | $24.00 |
| 3 GB Best value | 7 days | $25.00 |
Cheapest large bucket on our list for Guinea-Bissau, though it will not say which local network it uses.
Saily, built by the NordVPN team, does not name a specific Guinea-Bissau carrier on its product page. It lists speeds up to 5G depending on the local network, which is a hedge rather than a confirmed 5G claim for this country.
Its 10GB / 30-day plan at $31.99 is the cheapest large-data option among the six providers we checked, useful if a Bijagós trip means several days without a reliable place to top up.
| Plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $6.99 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $13.99 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $19.99 |
| 10 GB Best value | 30 days | $31.99 |
Names two carriers, Orange and the network still labelled MTN Areeba, though MTN sold that business in 2024.
Nomad’s Guinea-Bissau page names two carriers, Orange and MTN Areeba, and lists both 4G and 5G speeds. That MTN branding is worth a second look: MTN Group sold MTN Guinea-Bissau to Telecel Group in 2024, and the rebrand to Telecel Guinea-Bissau followed early the next year, so Nomad’s own listing appears to still use the older brand name for what is now a different company.
Its site also shows two separate 1GB / 7-day listings at different prices, $7.00 and $9.50, with no visible difference between them in the plan list. Both are genuinely on the page, so both are listed here rather than guessing which one is correct.
| Plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB Best value | 7 days | $7.00 |
| 1 GB | 7 days | $9.50 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $17.00 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $25.00 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $45.00 |
Cheapest entry on our list and the only provider naming two distinct Orange networks for Guinea-Bissau.
aloSIM names two networks for Guinea-Bissau, Orange Bissau and Orange Guinea, both running on LTE rather than 5G. It is the only provider on our list to break out two separately labelled Orange entities for this country.
The 1GB / 7-day entry plan is $5.50, the lowest of the six we checked, and the range climbs to the single largest bucket available anywhere on our list, 20GB for 30 days at $49.00.
| Plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB Best value | 7 days | $5.50 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $12.00 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $18.00 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $29.00 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $49.00 |
30-day plans only, on a named Orange network, with no shorter option for a quick stop.
Roamless names Orange as its Guinea-Bissau network, with a country-specific spec sheet listing 3G and 4G, not 5G, a more conservative claim than the generic marketing line elsewhere on its site.
Every plan runs a flat 30-day validity, from 1GB at $12.45 up to 5GB at $55.95, so there is no cheaper short-stay option for a weekend in Bissau.
| Plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB Best value | 30 days | $12.45 |
| 2 GB | 30 days | $23.95 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $34.45 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $55.95 |
Iraq throws a few curveballs that catch first-timers, and most have nothing to do with your data plan. The country runs almost entirely on cash, splits into two zones that need different networks, and occasionally switches its internet off on purpose. Your eSIM keeps you online most of the time, but it cannot beat a nationwide shutdown. These are the things to sort before you land.
Every provider on this list can sell you a working eSIM, but none of them can fix what happens once you are on the ground. Coverage thins to patchy 2G outside Bissau and the larger provincial towns, and most of the Bijagós Archipelago has little to no signal at all once you leave Bubaque.
Even Bissau’s own network depends on the capital’s power grid, which has run almost entirely off a single foreign-leased power ship since 2019. In October 2023 the ship’s operator cut supply over an unpaid $17 million bill and the capital lost power outright, and a cell tower without electricity does not care which eSIM is in your phone.
The single most expensive mistake first-timers make is assuming one Iraqi visa covers the whole country. The UK government is explicit that a Kurdistan Region visa is valid for travel in the KRI only, and there is no land crossing to convert it into a federal entry.
Travellers who fly into Erbil and then want Baghdad or Najaf generally have to fly into a federal airport and apply for the separate federal e-visa. Plan your route, and your visas, before you book.
Beyond exam blackouts, individual apps get throttled over security concerns. In August 2023 the telecoms ministry blocked Telegram outright before reinstating it days later, and WhatsApp, Facebook, and X have all been restricted during exam periods.
A reputable VPN installed before you arrive is the practical workaround, since downloading one after a service is already blocked is far harder. It also protects you on the slow public Wi-Fi travellers warn against.
Iraq is overwhelmingly a cash economy, and Rest of World reports fewer than a fifth of Iraqis even hold a bank account, with major platforms running 98 percent cash-on-delivery. Credit cards rarely work outside upscale hotels and a handful of Baghdad venues, and even hotels that advertise card payment often refuse at checkout.
Carry clean, new US dollars for exchange, then keep a wad of small dinar notes for taxis, tea, and tips. You will see ZainCash, FastPay, and Qi Card branding everywhere, but these wallets are built for residents with Iraqi accounts and are hard for a short-term visitor to load.
Travel between Iraqi cities means passing through multiple military and militia checkpoints, and travellers consistently describe them as friendly but occasionally slow. One detailed guide notes the Samarra checkpoint can mean 15 to 20 minute waits even with a local companion.
Keep your passport and visa printout in hand, avoid photographing checkpoints and military sites, and do not rely on having live data to navigate while you wait. Download your route offline first.
There is no Uber, Bolt or any ride-hailing app in Guinea-Bissau. Getting around Bissau means a shared taxi or a toca-toca minibus paid for in cash, and the US State Department specifically advises against the informal toca-toca buses most locals actually use. Reaching the Bijagós Archipelago means a boat, either the scheduled Consulmar ferry or a more basic pirogue, since no bridge connects the islands to the mainland.
Guinea-Bissau runs on cash. The UK Foreign Office calls it a cash-based economy with few ATMs and rare card acceptance, and outside Bissau and Gabú, working ATMs effectively disappear. Locals pay day to day through Orange Money rather than cards, though tourists generally cannot register for a wallet without a local SIM and ID.
There is no metro or modern rail network for tourists, so getting around Iraqi cities means taxis, and the app that makes this painless is Careem. Travellers on the Tripadvisor Iraq forum say transport in Baghdad is really easy if you use the Careem app, because it fixes the fare upfront and removes the haggling that unmetered street taxis depend on. Careem needs working data to book, which is the everyday reason a reliable eSIM matters here.
For intercity travel, Iraqis use shared taxis that locals call by the brand name kia, picked up at depots known as garages. A traveller guide lists sample fares such as Baghdad to Karbala around 10,000 IQD and Baghdad to Mosul roughly 20,000 to 25,000 IQD, paid in cash. These shared taxis cost more than buses but are faster and more comfortable, and they leave when full rather than on a timetable.
Alongside Careem, homegrown apps like Baly run ride-hailing and food delivery, and Baly markets itself as an Iraq-focused taxi and delivery app. Erbil and the Kurdistan Region are the easiest places to move around independently, while travel between federal regions can be slower because of checkpoints.
On money, plan to run almost entirely on cash. Rest of World reports that on Iraq’s largest e-commerce platform, 98 percent of orders are cash on delivery, which tells you how rarely cards are used even by locals. US dollars are widely accepted for exchange and larger payments, so bring crisp, undamaged notes, then change what you need into dinar.
ATMs exist in the bigger cities, and a traveller guide notes you can find ones accepting both Visa and Mastercard, but you have to look for them. Do not assume your card will work at the point of sale, since even hotels that advertise card acceptance frequently refuse. Always carry enough cash to cover a few days, especially before heading to smaller towns.
Keep a stash of small dinar notes for the things that come up constantly, like shared taxis, tea, bottled water, and tips. Euros are difficult to exchange outside major cities, so dollars are the safer foreign currency to carry. A backpacker budget runs roughly 45 to 65 US dollars a day, with Baghdad noticeably pricier than the southern cities.
These are the apps Reddit threads and traveller guides consistently say first-time visitors wish they had downloaded before flying, not the ones in generic packing lists.
Guinea-Bissau has no widely documented tipping rate, and government travel advisories do not mention it at all. Rounding up in cash for a guide, boat operator or lodge worker in the Bijagós is appreciated rather than expected.
This is a cash economy. The US State Department notes only a few establishments accept credit cards, and outside Bissau and Gabú, working ATMs are rare to nonexistent, including everywhere in the Bijagós. Carry enough cash for your whole trip rather than counting on a card or a machine.
Six places where your mobile data will earn its keep, and where coverage differences between providers actually start to matter:
Guinea-Bissau does not fit neatly into a single data budget, because a week in Bissau and a week split across the Bijagos Islands use data very differently. The questions below cover the choices that actually change which plan makes sense. For general guidance on sizing any travel eSIM, eSIMply also has a plan-sizing guide that applies beyond this country.
Maps, WhatsApp, and photo uploads from Bissau rarely add up to more than 1-2GB over a week, which is why every provider on this list sells a plan in that range. Add the Bijagos Islands, where offline maps do most of the work instead of live navigation, and 2-3GB over 10-14 days is a realistic budget for most trips.
Anyone planning research-heavy work, video calls, or a longer stay of a month or more should look at Saily’s 10GB plan or aloSIM’s 20GB tier, the two largest buckets on our list.
Orange is the network eSIMply, Airalo, Roamless, and both of Nomad’s and aloSIM’s listed entities route through, in one form or another, which makes it the closest thing to a default carrier for Guinea-Bissau. Saily does not name a carrier at all, so its coverage is unverified rather than confirmed weaker.
Nomad’s page still lists MTN Areeba as a partner network, though MTN sold that Guinea-Bissau business to Telecel Group in 2024. Treat that listing as legacy branding rather than a guarantee of what network you will actually land on.
Coverage on the mainland, in Bissau, Bafata, Gabu, and Cacheu, is workable for a standard-size plan. Once you reach the Bijagos, only Bubaque has meaningful signal, and islands like Orango, Joao Vieira, and Canhabaque have little to none, so a bigger data allowance there buys you nothing if there is no network to spend it on.
Download offline maps and anything you need to reference before you leave Bubaque, since a larger plan cannot substitute for coverage that simply is not there.
Guinea-Bissau borders Senegal and Guinea, and some travellers combine all three in one trip. A regional or multi-country eSIM can make sense if Senegal or Guinea are on the itinerary too, since it avoids buying a separate plan at each border.
For a trip confined to Guinea-Bissau itself, a country-specific plan from this list is cheaper and simpler than paying for regional coverage you will not use.
Set your eSIM as the default line for data and switch on data roaming for it before you land in Bissau. Guinea-Bissau requires a yellow fever certificate to enter and enforces a cash-declaration threshold at the border, so have both sorted before you rely on your phone for anything else.
Most questions about a Guinea-Bissau eSIM come down to two things: whether it will actually work where you are going, and which of the six providers is worth the money for a short mainland trip versus a longer island one.
The answers below cover both, plus the practical basics of buying, installing, and troubleshooting a plan before you fly.
Not strictly, but it beats paying your home carrier’s roaming rates and it gets you online the moment you land, rather than after a trip into Bissau to find a SIM shop and register with a passport. It also matters more here than in most countries, since Osvaldo Vieira Airport has no dedicated SIM counter of its own.
On Bubaque, the archipelago’s hub island, most Orange-based eSIMs will get a signal, though it is noticeably weaker than on the mainland. On smaller islands like Orango, Joao Vieira, and Canhabaque, there is little to no mobile coverage at all, and no eSIM plan can fix that since the problem is infrastructure, not the SIM.
This is not a plan-choice problem. Download offline maps and anything else you need before you leave Bubaque.
Yes. eSIMply, Airalo, Saily, Nomad, aloSIM, and Roamless all sell Guinea-Bissau eSIMs you can buy and install before you leave home, so you arrive already connected instead of relying on roaming or hunting for a SIM shop in Bissau.
Check your phone supports eSIM, buy the plan, then scan the QR code that arrives by email in your phone’s settings. It takes a couple of minutes, and you can do it from anywhere with wifi well before your flight.
aloSIM has the cheapest entry price on our list at $5.50 for 1GB over 7 days, and Saily has the cheapest large bucket at $31.99 for 10GB over 30 days. eSIMply is not the cheapest at either end, but it is the only provider combining a named Orange network with no ID requirement, which some travellers will value over a lower price.
Which one counts as best value depends on whether you care more about price, network disclosure, or plan size.
Orange is the most commonly named network here. eSIMply, Airalo, and Roamless all name Orange directly, aloSIM names two separate entities, Orange Bissau and Orange Guinea, and Nomad names Orange alongside a second network still labelled MTN Areeba.
Saily does not name a Guinea-Bissau carrier on its product page, so its network is listed as not disclosed rather than guessed.
Most travellers use WhatsApp for messaging and calls, and Google Maps or Maps.me for navigation, both light on data. A week in Bissau typically fits inside 1-2GB, which is why eSIMply, Airalo, and Nomad all offer a plan in that range.
Add a Bijagos stretch, or a stay longer than two weeks, and 3-10GB from Saily, Nomad, or aloSIM gives more room, along with a downloaded offline map for the stretches with no signal at all.
For data, yes. An eSIM installs before you leave home and skips the passport registration and trip into Bissau that a physical Orange SIM requires, with entry pricing from $5.50 for 1GB. A local SIM’s one real advantage is a Guinea-Bissau phone number, which an eSIM does not provide.
Most travellers get the best of both by keeping their home SIM in for calls and texts and running the eSIM as a second, data-only line.
No. Every travel eSIM on this list for Guinea-Bissau is data-only, with no local phone number and no cellular calls or SMS included.
Keep your home SIM in the second slot for calls, texts, and two-factor codes, set the eSIM as your default data line, and switch roaming off on the home line to avoid charges. eSIMply also offers an optional app that adds a temporary calling and texting number if you need one.
First, check that data roaming is switched on for the eSIM line specifically, since this does not cost extra and is the most common fix. If a VPN is running and the eSIM is stuck on “Activating,” turn the VPN off and try again, or manually select Orange as the network if your phone allows it.
If none of that works, contact the provider’s support. Outside Bissau and the larger towns, no fix beats the fact that coverage genuinely does not reach some parts of the country.
Yes. Hotspot and tethering are confirmed on eSIMply, Airalo, Saily, Nomad, aloSIM, and Roamless, so you can share your connection with a laptop or a travel companion at no extra cost.
Tethering burns through data faster than browsing on one phone, so size up a tier if you plan to use your eSIM as the main connection for more than one device.
We work in eSIM technology full time, so this comes from operating in the space rather than a one-off review. eSIMply is one of the providers compared here, and we say so plainly rather than pretending otherwise.
We may receive commission from some providers if you purchase via our links. This never influences our rankings, and a provider that underperforms is excluded regardless of any affiliate relationship.
Jamie has worked in telecommunications for more than 8 years across mobile, SMS, eSIM, apps, and adjacent technology. He now writes for eSIMply as the tech content writer, analysing the top eSIM providers and breaking down what travellers actually need to know.
While we do our best to ensure accuracy, prices and plan availability are subject to change. Last updated by Jamie Cole.
