One of the main reasons why a holiday in Andorra is so special is the fact that it is such a unique country in many different senses. As a landlocked microstate at the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains, there are several factors which make this a country like no other. Take, for example, the fact that Andorra is the only country in the world where the primary official language is Catalan, or the fact that this is a state which doesn’t actually have an airport within its own borders.
One of the other interesting Andorra facts is that the country does not form part of the European Union. This can lead many travelers to Andorra to ask ‘Does Andorra have free data roaming?’ and the answer is that no, Andorra does not form part of the EU roaming network that exists across most of the rest of the continent.
But, don’t worry, you’ll still be able to access internet in Andorra via something called an Andorra eSIM for tourists. Below, in this guide to the eSIM for Andorra, we’ll outline what is the Andorra SIM card and share some details on the various eSIM companies in Andorra.
Can I get an eSIM in Andorra?
It is super simple to get an Andorra eSIM, and it’s absolutely worth doing in order to avoid racking up charges on your phone bill from accessing the internet in Andorra during your stay. Given that using data or making calls comes with an additional cost in Andorra, unlike when you’re in your phone contract’s country of origin or moving between one EU country and another, you can save a lot of money by checking out the eSIM Andorra options.
The good news is that the Andorra eSIM price can be very cheap and you’ll be able to obtain an Andorra eSIM without the need to sign a contract. As for where do you get an eSIM for Andorra, you can purchase and download one online. It’s that simple. And, you can do it before you travel. In fact, it is recommended that you download an Andorra eSIM before setting off on your holiday, to make sure it works properly and to give you that peace of mind before you jet off.
As we’ll get on to in the final section, which discusses eSIM Andorra compatibility, an eSIM isn’t a physical card. If you’d prefer a physical SIM card, that option does also exist and they are sold at a variety of shopping centres and transport hubs around Andorra.
eSIM providers in Andorra
If you’ve come across any Andorra eSIM review, then it was probably talking about one of two companies: Andorra Telecom and Holafly Andorra. These are two eSIM providers in Andorra and they each offer competitive deals. With both, you can go to their websites and download your Andorra eSIM in minutes.
If you’re opting for the Andorra Telecom eSIM then you’ll be engaging with a public company that is owned by the Andorran government. Meanwhile, the Holafly eSIM Andorra is provided by the company called Holafly, a global business whose mission statement is “to enable all travelers to enjoy internet connectivity wherever they are”.
As for which is better, that will depend on how much you plan to use your phone and on what your price point it. You might also want to investigate whether it is possible to share the data you purchase via an eSIM.
To work out which one is for you, simply read through a few of the Andorra eSIM reviews, which have stories of the experiences of all kinds of customers for both the Andorra Telecom eSIM and the Holafly Andorra eSIM. In any case, it’s worth noting that there is just one mobile operator in Andorra, so you will simply be comparing tariffs and not connection speed.
Which mobile phones are compatible?
Let’s dig deeper into the question of what is an eSIM. Well, the term eSIM is short for Embedded SIM, and it refers to the SIM card software that can be embedded into a device. The way it works is that, when you arrive in the county, you can select the Andorra eSIM in your mobile phone’s settings and then proceed from there.
This is a fairly modern phenomenon, meaning that not all mobile phones have the ability to work with an eSIM, at least not if they’re more than a few years old. The Andorra Telecom eSIM website has a handy guide as to which mobile phones are compatible with an Andorra eSIM. This is what they explain, broken down by brand:
- Apple: iPhone XS, IPhoneXR and later are compatible with the Andorra eSIM
- Samsung: Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Flip, Galaxy Note 20 and later are compatible with the Andorra eSIM
- Google: Google Pixel and later are compatible with the Andorra eSIM
These are just three brands and the Andorra Telecom eSIM website points out that other brands also manufacture some mobile phones which will allow you to download an eSIM for Andorra, including but not limited to Huawei, Motorola, Nuu, Oppo and Rakuten.
In the coming years, more and more devices should be compatible for an Andorra eSIM, as this is clearly the way the technology is going. That’s great news, as it means you can download an eSIM when visiting the country and focus on enjoying all the fun activities, fascinating culture and beautiful scenery that Andorra has to offer.