I bought 14 300GB eSIMs for Europe and they all stopped working when they reached 35GB. I filed a complaint with AirHub and they told me they didn't actually provide 300GB and only offered 35GB. I asked for a refund and they never gave it to me. That company is a scam. Stay away if you don't want to be scammed.

AIRHUB is a SCAM. They are thieves who steal your money and give you eSIMs with less GB than they offer.

Aug 3, 2025

Airalo

AJused in Portugal 🇵🇹

I live in Portugal and travel frequently, so using an eSIM provider seemed like the logical choice. Among the many options available, I chose Airalo for its competitive packages. Initially, the service worked as advertised for about a month, but since then, I’ve faced nothing but persistent and infuriating issues.

It appears that national networks have blocked Airalo from connecting, rendering the service practically useless. Unfortunately, Airalo’s support has been utterly unhelpful. Despite countless support tickets, messages, and screenshots, there has been no resolution.

What’s worse, Airalo refuses to provide a refund, instead forcing customers to accept Airalo credit. This so-called “credit” is completely worthless to me since their service does not work.

This has been a massive waste of time and productivity, especially since I rely heavily on mobile data for my work. The lack of accountability and support from Airalo is both frustrating and unacceptable.

I strongly advise anyone considering Airalo to avoid them at all costs and look for more reliable alternatives. Do not waste your money or your time.

Dec 10, 2024

Airhub

Frankused in Portugal 🇵🇹

If I've listened to the previous review, should have gone with their competitor ETxxx instead. Landed in Europe, activated it, connecting flight arrived in Funchal, connected got no data allowances. Took online chat 48 hours to resolve. Then found out the included voice minutes did not work, still repair in progress. The only good thing is online chat is available everyday including Sat & Sun.

Nov 17, 2024

GlobaleSIM

dzused in Portugal 🇵🇹

terrible - waste of time and got no service for two days - had to abort wasting more time and look for an alternative even though I got Global one for 30 days

Sep 22, 2024

Airhub

Bradused in Portugal 🇵🇹

The esim activated, but the data didn't work thereafter. I tried to contact their customer support multiple times thereafter and they didn't get back to me. Completely useless. Possibly even a scam.

Jul 14, 2024

Airalo

ACused in Portugal 🇵🇹

Fast 5G speeds in Madeira, Portugal (and the airport in Lisbon). Only downside is you can't check data usage — though with 30GBs for our seven-day trip we didn't really need to.

Dec 22, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many travel eSIM brands (providers) are available for use in Portugal, and how many prepaid data plans are there?

Portugal offers over 100 travel eSIM providers and more than 5, 700 prepaid data plans. This wide selection ensures travelers can find an eSIM that suits their needs.

Are there any unlimited data eSIM plans available for Portugal?

Unlimited data eSIM plans for Portugal are available from several providers. Firsty offers a plan with a 256 kbps speed limit and no cost for a single day. Yoho Mobile, Airhub, Roamify, MicroEsim, Billion Connect, abesteSIM, Truely, and Yesim all offer unlimited data for periods ranging from 1 to 15 days, with most plans subject to speed throttling or a 5 Mbps limit. The prices for these unlimited plans vary from free (Firsty) up to roughly $29 USD for the most expensive option. While these plans allow continuous data usage, travelers should consider their expected data consumption and choose a plan that provides sufficient data and acceptable speed for their activities.

What are the major mobile networks available for a travel eSIM in Portugal?

Portugal's mobile network infrastructure is primarily supported by the following major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs):

MEO: Operated by Altice Portugal, MEO offers extensive nationwide coverage and a wide range of mobile services.
NOS: As part of NOS Comunicações, NOS provides comprehensive mobile services, including voice and data, across Portugal.
Vodafone Portugal: A subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc, Vodafone Portugal delivers robust mobile services with significant market presence.
Digi: A recent entrant into the Portuguese market, Digi is expanding its network and services following its acquisition of Nowo Communications in 2024.

In addition to these MNOs, Portugal hosts several Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). MVNOs provide mobile services by leasing access from major carriers. Notable examples include Lycamobile, which operates on MEO's network and offers prepaid SIM cards with international calling plans, and Moche, a brand targeting youth customers with services on the MEO network. It's important to note that most travel eSIMs rely on MNO infrastructure rather than MVNOs.

Can I get a travel eSIM with a phone number and SMS for Portugal?

Travel eSIM plans that include a phone number and SMS capabilities are available for Portugal. Providers that offer such plans include GlobaleSIM, Roamify, Amigo eSIM, SimOptions, and MoreMins eSIM. The phone numbers they supply use dialing codes that are foreign to Portugal, such as +1 from the United States, +33 from France, and +44 from the United Kingdom; therefore the numbers are not local Portuguese numbers. All of these plans provide inbound and outbound voice calls, with SMS support that is usually inbound only for GlobaleSIM, but inbound and outbound for the other providers.

Prices for data‑only plans with a telephone number start around $4.00 USD and can rise to more than $100 USD for larger data packages. Validity periods vary from 5 to 30 days for most plans, with some options extending to 60 or even 365 days. These plans allow travelers to receive calls and text messages while roaming in Portugal without the need to buy a local SIM card.

Summarized by Gen AI. Last updated: November 2, 2025