Will you visit Indonesia soon? Make sure you know what to expect when it comes to buying one Indonesia SIM card.
Fortunately, Asia is one of the best places where you can easily buy a SIM card. You should be able to find a cheap SIM card pretty much anywhere in Asia. In fact, most data packages are affordable, which makes everything easier!
In this guide we will explain where to buy a SIM in Indonesia in person and online. We will also talk about prepaid SIM cards and eSIMs if your mobile supports them.
Before reading this guide, you may be wondering if you actually need a SIM card in Indonesia. If you don’t mind not having internet, you’ll likely find free Wi-Fi at restaurants, malls, and hotels.
That said, if you need data to get around, call a taxi, or translate Indonesian, you may want to get a SIM card for your travels in Indonesia.
The best SIM cards in Indonesia
If you are traveling to Indonesia, we recommend using a SIM card from Telkomsel, XL Axiata, Smartfren or Airalo. (I’ll come back to Airalo later, so read on to find out more!)
That said, if you plan to visit other countries during your trip to Asia, be sure to choose an option that offers coverage in other Asian countries.
How to buy a SIM card in Indonesia
You can purchase an Indonesia prepaid SIM card in person at some international airports, mobile phone provider stores, convenience stores, or online.
Usually at the airport you can expect higher costs and low data offers, so we do not recommend buying a SIM card at the airport. That said, you won’t necessarily find SIM card stores at every airport, so it’s essential to keep that in mind. And, when you see a shop, you may also have limited options.
For this reason, I recommend that you buy a SIM card directly from the mobile carrier’s store. Note that you may need your passport to purchase one.
However, this means that you will not receive the data immediately upon your arrival. So, if you prefer to always be connected, you can use an eSIM or buy an Asia prepaid SIM online.
Now, let’s take a look at the data plans offered by Telkomsel, XL Axiata, and Smartfren.
Telkomsel SIM cards
Telkomsel offers a prepaid tourist plan:
- 25GB of data, one month for IDR 150,000 ($ 9.66)
Axiata XL SIM cards
XL Axiata has two different prepaid plans available:
- 15GB of data, 30 days for IDR 41,736 ($ 2.69)
- 20GB of data, 30 days for IDR 88,946 ($ 5.73)
As you can see, it is a cheaper option than Telkomsel.
Smarfren SIM cards
Smartfren offers several SIM-only plans for tourists:
- 6GB, 30 days, IDR 30,000 ($ 1.93)
- 12GB, 30 days, IDR 45,000 ($ 2.90)
- 30GB, 30 days, IDR 70,000 ($ 4.83)
- 45GB, 30 days, IDR 100,000 ($ 6.44)
- 60GB, 30 days, IDR 125,000 ($ 8.05)
Overall, we think Smartfren is the best option if you plan to buy your SIM card in person. That said, anyone would do if you can’t find their shop!
How to buy Indonesia prepaid SIM card online
If you wish to have your SIM card ready for your arrival, you can purchase it online or on sites like Amazon.
You will find several plans on Amazon. For example, the Asia Pacific prepaid SIM card works in more than 17 countries and gives you unlimited data for 14 days. Indonesia is included.
But there are many other options worth considering, so take a look and make sure the countries you plan to visit are listed.
Another option is to buy a prepaid Asian SIM card on Simify. This works if you live in the US or Australia. They currently offer 3 different packages covering Indonesia:
- 6GB, valid for 12 days for $ 25 – works in 13 countries
- 6GB, valid for 15 days for $ 40 – works in 18 countries
- 10GB, valid for 30 days for $ 29 – works in 13 countries
Finally, the last option is to purchase an Indonesia eSIM card or, if you are traveling to multiple countries, an Asia eSIM plan.
How to buy an Indonesia eSIM card
eSIM is a new concept that allows you to have a virtual SIM card inside your phone. If your mobile supports eSIM cards, it is definitely one of the best options for getting data in Indonesia.
Curious? Learn more about eSIMs for travelers on eSIM Roamers.
I started using eSIM as soon as my mobile supported it. And I first tried it when I visited my family in Canada. To buy eSIMs, I usually use Airalo. Read on to learn more about the best eSIMs for Indonesia.
Airalo Indonesia
If you want to buy an eSIM for Indonesia, you can buy one on Airalo. This website offers many eSIM cards around the world and special plans for Asia and Indonesia. I have been using Airalo for several months and it works great.
Here are the options available:
- Indotel: 1 GB, valid for 7 days at $ 5.50
- Indotel: 3GB, valid for 30 days at $ 11
- Indotel: 5GB, valid for 30 days for $ 16.50
- Indotel: 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $ 24.75
Here is an overview of the options available for Asia:
- 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $ 5
- 3GB, valid for 30 days for $ 13
- 5GB, valid for 30 days for $ 20
- 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $ 37
- 50GB, valid for 90 days for $ 100
- 100GB, valid for 180 days for $ 185
The options mentioned above are part of Asialink and offer coverage in 14 countries, including Indonesia.
Alternatively, if you are traveling to other countries not mentioned in the list, you can try Discover Global, which offers coverage in 87 countries, including Indonesia.
Here is an overview of the options available on Discover Global:
- 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $ 9
- 3GB, valid for 15 days for $ 24
- 5GB, valid for 30 days for $ 35
- 10GB, valid for 60 days for $ 59
- 20GB, valid for 180 days for $ 89
Now, one important thing to note about Airalo is that you will need to keep an eye on the supplier in each country. Let’s say you’ve ever had trouble connecting to the internet on your trip. If so, it could be because you are automatically connecting to networks and need to manually select a network instead.
When you purchase the eSIM, you will have access to the list of supported networks in each country.
Holafly Indonesia
Alternatively, you can look at your options on Holafly. You can read our Holafly review to learn more about this eSIM store.
Here is an overview of their plans for Indonesia:
- Unlimited data, valid for 5 days for $ 19
- Unlimited data, valid for 10 days for $ 34
- Unlimited data, valid for 15 days for $ 47
- Unlimited data, valid for 20 days for $ 54
- Unlimited data, valid for 30 days for $ 64
- Unlimited data, valid for 60 days for $ 84
- Unlimited data, valid for 90 days for $ 99
Their Asia eSIM operates in 12 countries (including Indonesia) and they offer the following plan:
- 8GB of data for 30 days for $ 47
Nomad Indonesia
Finally, Nomad is also a great eSIM provider. Here is an overview of the plans available for Indonesia:
- 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $ 5
- 2 GB, valid for 30 days for $ 10
- 3GB, valid for 30 days for $ 13
- 5GB, valid for 30 days for $ 15
Nomad also has APAC, an eSIM plan for Asia. This plan offers coverage in Indonesia. Here is an overview:
- 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $ 6
- 3GB, valid for 30 days for $ 15
- 5GB, valid for 30 days for $ 17
- 10 GB, valid for 30 days for $ 50
- 20 GB, valid for 30 days for $ 69
Final thoughts on SIM cards in Indonesia
As you can see, getting an Indonesia prepaid SIM card or even an eSIM for your Indonesia travel is pretty straightforward. You will also be able to stay connected wherever you go in Asia without changing your SIM card, especially if you buy an Asia plan.
I believe eSIM card is the most convenient way to get data in Indonesia if you want to have the data when you arrive. This way, you don’t have to go to a store to buy a SIM card. Of course, you must first make sure your mobile supports eSIM.
Soon in Indonesia? Read one of the following blog posts:
