Key takeaways
Out of 17 traveler reports from the Maldives, Holafly leads so far: 5 of 5 travelers got it working. Early result, only 5 reports: treat it as a first sign, not a verdict. Unlimited data, but speed is capped. Nomad is our pick from nearby countries. It rests on 40 reports from nearby countries (Sri Lanka and India), not on local reports. eSIM4Travel is often the cheapest across all destinations. Its support is the best we tested.
- Early result Holafly 100% worked well in Maldives 5 of 5 reviewers 7.1 our score
- Pick based on nearby countries Nomad No traveler reports yet 7.2 our score
- Often cheapest overall, best support eSIM4Travel No traveler reports yet 8.8 our score
Affiliate disclosure
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The best eSIM for the Maldives depends less on your phone than on the water. The country is a scatter of small coral islands in open ocean, with no hills or city blocks to cut a signal, so the gaps sit in the sea between atolls, not on land. Two operators, Dhiraagu and Ooredoo, hold the only mobile licences [1], and Dhiraagu says its 4G covers all 187 inhabited islands [5].
Most visitors land at Velana International Airport (MLE) near Malé and travel on by speedboat, domestic flight or seaplane. A travel site reports that signal on seaplane transfers is generally limited to boarding and landing, so no data plan will cover the flight itself. Resort Wi-Fi is near-universal but often limited to public areas on larger islands, according to Maldives.com.
Traveler reports are thin here: 17 in total, and only Holafly and Yesim reach the 3 reports we need before we recommend a provider. This article keeps what the reports show apart from what the networks and our tests show. It also compares travel eSIMs with a local SIM, which is cheaper for heavy data but needs a passport scan, and foreigners can hold at most three numbers per operator [2].
Article Contents
Best eSIM Providers for the Maldives
eSIM plans in the Maldives at a glance
- Cheapest plan eSIM4Travel $1.19 0.1 GB 1 days
- Cheapest 5 GB plan Yesim €24 5 GB 30 days
- Cheapest 10 GB plan Global YO $38.49 10 GB 30 days
- Cheapest 20 GB plan Airalo $40 20 GB 30 days
- Most data Global YO $154.39 100 GB 60 days
- Longest validity Yesim €109 40 GB 365 days
- Lowest price per GB Global YO $154.39 100 GB 60 days
How well each provider's eSIM works in Maldives
The Vefru score is our overall rating of the provider. The percentage shows how many reviewers said their eSIM worked well in Maldives. Since unhappy customers review more often, it is best used to compare providers with each other.
7.1Our score
Worked well in Maldives
5 of 5 reviewers
100%
6.6Our score
Worked well in Maldives
7 of 9 reviewers
78%
7.8Our score
Worked in Maldives
1 of 2 reviewers Too few reports
50%
8.4Our score
Worked in Maldives
0 of 1 reviewers Too few reports
0%
8.8Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
8.0Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
6.3Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
7.2Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
7.1Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
7.5Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
6.1Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
6.9Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
8.1Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
7.1Our score
Worked in Maldives
No traveler reports yet
How we got these numbers: we read 17 public customer reviews that mention Maldives or a place in it, published between December 2023 and August 2026, and counted a report as "worked" when the reviewer said the eSIM connected, even with small hiccups. We treat 20 or more reports as strong evidence, 3 to 19 as limited, and fewer than 3 as too few to judge. A count like 7 of 9 means the eSIM worked well for 7 of the 9 travelers who reported from here; each provider section says what went wrong for the rest. The Vefru test score is a separate number: our own hands-on test of the provider, run outside Maldives, so it says how the provider behaves, not how the network performs here. The research behind this page was last verified on 26 September 2026, and local operator prices in the text carry their own dates; provider ratings, the plan tables and the price-per-GB chart are live and update on their own.
| Provider | Vefru test score | Worked in Maldives (reports) | Best for | Network in Maldives | Speed cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 7.1 | 5 of 5 (limited) | Unlimited data, island trips | Dhiraagu [9] | Capped from the start (our test), plus a fair-use throttle [9] |
| Yesim | 6.6 | 7 of 9 (limited) | Flexible plans, bundles | reported: Dhiraagu | Unlimited: throttled, limit not stated |
| GoMoWorld | 7.8 | 1 of 2 (too few) | not a top pick here | not named on its page (checked August 2026) [18] | No throttling in our test |
| Maya Mobile | 8.4 | 0 of 1 (too few) | not a top pick here | not named on its page (checked August 2026) [19] | Unlimited: slows after a daily allowance (our test) |
| eSIM4Travel | 8.8 | no reports yet | dear here, no reports | Dhiraagu [12] | Day plans slow after the allowance [12] |
| Global YO | 8.0 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | not named on its page (checked August 2026) [13] | Unlimited tier slows after 1 GB a day [13] |
| Ubigi | 6.3 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | unknown | No throttling in our test |
| Nomad | 7.2 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | Dhiraagu [10] | No throttling in our test |
| Roamless | 7.1 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | unknown | No throttling claimed |
| Airalo | 7.5 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | Dhiraagu [11] | No cap in our test |
| ByteSIM | 6.1 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | Dhiraagu and Ooredoo [14] | Day plans slow after the high-speed allowance [14] |
| Jetpac | 6.9 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | unknown | no Maldives plan found |
| Saily | 8.1 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | not named on its page (checked September 2026) [16] | Hard stop at the plan limit (our test) |
| GigSky | 7.1 | no reports yet | not a top pick here | no Maldives plans on sale [17] | no Maldives plan |
We ranked the Best group on traveler reports first, price second and our own tests third. Only Holafly and Yesim have the 3 or more country reports needed for a recommendation, so the group has two members instead of the usual four to six. eSIM4Travel would normally join it, but its mid-size plans are among the dearest here (see its section), so it sits in the Other group.
Holafly eSIM in the Maldives: best record, capped speeds
- Purchase process7/10
- Mobile app7/10
- eSIM installation9/10
- Customer support6/10
- Speed test4/10
- Prices5/10
- Customer feedback9.4/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Holafly is an Irish eSIM provider built around unlimited data, with trip eSIMs for 200+ destinations. Travelers report it working more often than any other provider we track. Its weak points are speed and price: our test ran at about 30 Mbps on 5G, and its unlimited plans cost more than most.
Key facts
200+ destinations
iPhone app 4.8
Android app 4.7
No top-ups
Hotspot 1 GB/day
30 to 40 Mbps
Trustpilot- 4.7/5113,513 reviews
Payments- Credit or debit card
Apple Pay
Google Pay
PayPal
Pros and cons
Truly unlimited dataMost reliable we track: 92% workedOne-tap install, no QR code6 months to refund an unused eSIM
Slow: about 30–40 Mbps on 5GPricier than other unlimited eSIMsSaved our card without askingNo top-ups, buy a new eSIM insteadHolafly eSIM in our hands
Holafly has the best Maldives record in the reports and suits travelers who want unlimited data on a resort or island trip without counting gigabytes. It worked well for 5 of 5 travelers who reported from the Maldives (100%, limited evidence). In our test its speed was capped from the start, which is fine for maps, messaging, browsing and streaming but slow for large downloads, uploads, cloud backups and laptop work. The five reviewers, writing between May and July 2026, describe an easy install and a steady connection, and one called it reliable "in the middle of the Indian Ocean in the Maldives" (4 May 2026). Another said the price beat other eSIM options and phone roaming for a Malaysian traveler (25 May 2026).
None of the five reports was a failure. One reviewer mentions some reception problems on a tour of Africa, the Seychelles and the Maldives without saying where, and says Holafly refunded in full (9 May 2026). A Nomad reviewer who also used Holafly in Italy and the Maldives the year before reported connection problems in some areas, again without naming one (30 June 2026); that review is not in our count. Holafly's own page warns that quality may be weaker or unstable outside urban areas [9], which matches the open-water gaps every network has here. Its lineup also changed: a third-party listing from March 2025 shows a limited plan, while its page now lists unlimited plans only (as of August 2026) [9].
Holafly says its Maldives eSIM connects to Dhiraagu, sells unlimited plans by the day, applies a fair-use throttle and caps hotspot use at 1 GB a day [9]. It has no top-ups, so a new eSIM replaces an empty one. Our comparison tool carried no Holafly plan for the Maldives at export time, so there is no plan table here; the Holafly page lists current plans. On price, Holafly is unlimited-only and usually dearer than other unlimited providers in our comparison. The slow start is a finding of our Holafly review, where its speed score was the lowest of the 14 providers.
Yesim eSIM in the Maldives: flexible plans, slow support
- Purchase process6/10
- Mobile app7/10
- eSIM installation8/10
- Customer support2/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices5/10
- Customer feedback8.6/10
- Coverage8/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Yesim is a Swiss eSIM provider built around unlimited plans sold by the day, with one eSIM for 200+ destinations. Data was fast in our test. But its support was among the slowest we have tested, and its fixed-data country plans cost more than most rivals.
Key facts
- 200+ destinations
- iPhone app 4.6
- Android app 4.7
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- Possible slowdown
- Trustpilot
- 4.3/52,963 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle PayPayPal
Pros and cons
Fast data in our testUnlimited plans by the dayPay with PayPal, Klarna or cryptoWebsite in 44 languagesAmong the slowest support we've testedPricey fixed-data country plansNo top-up once your data runs outSigns you up for marketing emailsYesim eSIM in our hands
Yesim is the second-best record here and suits travelers who want flexibility: Maldives plans, unlimited by the day and multi-country bundles that include the Maldives. It worked well for 7 of 9 travelers who reported from the Maldives (78%, limited evidence). Our reviews file holds no Yesim texts for the Maldives, so we cannot say where the seven successes happened or why the other two travelers had trouble. The count shows Yesim usually connects here; it does not explain the misses.
Third-party sources report that Yesim uses Dhiraagu here. Yesim says its eSIM switches automatically to a local operator that offers 5G [15], and its unlimited plans are throttled under a partner fair-use rule with no stated limit. Two findings from our test matter for a trip: its help desk was among the slowest we tested, and our plan started at purchase, so buying close to departure avoids burning days.
In our comparison tool, Yesim sells Maldives plans of 1, 3, 5 and 10 GB for 30 days, plus unlimited plans for 1 to 15 days. Its Global Plus bundles of 5 to 40 GB also cover the Maldives, with validity from 30 to 365 days, and a 7-day and a 15-day unlimited bundle. Plans are data-only. On price, its unlimited plans sit at the market average and its fixed country plans are dearer. Our Yesim review has the support timings, and you can buy from Yesim.
Yesim eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for YESIM in the Maldives.
Other eSIM Providers for the Maldives
These twelve providers are all tested by us, but each has fewer than 3 country reports (two have one or two, ten have none) or no Maldives plan we could confirm. Having no reports says how few people reported, not that the eSIM fails. We list them in the same order as the matrix.
GoMoWorld eSIM in the Maldives: two reports, one miss
- Purchase process8/10
- Mobile app8/10
- eSIM installation8/10
- Customer support6/10
- Speed test10/10
- Prices7/10
- Customer feedback7.6/10
- Coverage8/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
GoMoWorld is the travel eSIM brand of Irish operator eir, with plans in 202 countries. Every destination has the same four euro prices, and we saw no throttling at all. The catch is that everything happens in the app, and human support works only in office hours.
Key facts
- 202 countries
- iPhone app 4.8
- Android app 4.6
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- No throttling
- Trustpilot
- 3.8/51,987 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle Pay
Pros and cons
Very fast, no throttlingAmong the cheapest from 5 GBClean, easy appStart the plan when you landApp only, no QR codeHuman support only in office hoursApp stops when your data runs outWeaker in the US, Japan and ChinaGoMoWorld eSIM in our hands
GoMoWorld has two Maldives reports, which is too few to judge, and it worked for 1 of 2 travelers. A traveler in February 2026 said it worked fine in the Maldives and that the company answered problems fast. A traveler in December 2023 said the plan would not work, the app showed the 30-day plan as expired on the day of purchase, promised bonus data never arrived and two emails to support went unanswered. Both complaints are about the app, activation and support, not about signal.
Its plans in our comparison tool are 400 MB for 7 days and 2, 4 and 6 GB for 30 days, data-only, with no unlimited plan. Its page names no network (checked August 2026) [18]. In our test a plan stays idle until you press Start in the app, the eSIM is delivered only through the app, and human help is available in office hours only. Speed was the best we measured, with no throttling. On price it sits slightly below the market overall. Our GoMoWorld review covers the Start step, and you can buy from GoMoWorld.
GoMoWorld eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for GOMOWORLD in the Maldives.
Maya Mobile eSIM in the Maldives: one report, no data
- Purchase process9/10
- Mobile app8/10
- eSIM installation9/10
- Customer support6/10
- Speed test9/10
- Prices8/10
- Customer feedback9/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Maya Mobile sells one product: a global unlimited eSIM plan for 165+ countries that you install once and switch on for every trip. It was fast in our test, and it is the cheapest global unlimited plan we have compared. There are no single-country plans, and nothing shorter than 3 days.
Key facts
- 165+ countries
- iPhone app 4.5
- Android app 4.7
- Auto Top-Up
- Hotspot
- 5.5 GB/day at full speed
- Trustpilot
- 4.5/512,788 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle PayPayPal
Pros and cons
Cheapest global unlimited planVery fast: 785 Mbps on 5GWorked for 91% of travelersQuick checkout, many ways to payNo country or short plansPushes auto top-up hardClunky WhatsApp support“Unlimited” has a hidden daily limitMaya Mobile eSIM in our hands
Maya Mobile has one Maldives report, and it is a miss: it worked for 0 of 1 travelers. The reviewer wrote in April 2024 that they got no data in the Maldives and gave no further detail, so we cannot say whether the cause was signal, activation or the plan. One report is too few to judge, and Maya has since moved to unlimited-only plans.
Maya now sells only global unlimited plans, with a minimum of 3 days and nothing for short or small needs. Its Maldives page does not name a network (checked August 2026) [19]. Our comparison tool listed no Maya plan for the Maldives at export time, so there is no plan table. In our test its fair-use rule was the fairest of the unlimited plans, but its help desk worked only through WhatsApp with template replies. Maya is the cheapest global unlimited option we compared, which suits a long multi-country trip more than a Maldives week. See our Maya Mobile review, or the Maya site.
eSIM4Travel eSIM in the Maldives: dear here, no reports
- Purchase process8/10
- eSIM installation8/10
- Customer support10/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices10/10
- Customer feedback8.8/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of seven categories from our own paid test and customer reviews. eSIM4Travel has no app, so we do not score one.
eSIM4Travel is a US eSIM seller with plans for 158 destinations and no app. It was the cheapest provider in our price database, and its support was the best we have tested. Without an app, you cannot reach the store to top up once your data runs out.
Key facts
- 158 destinations
- No app
- Web only
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- No throttling
- Trustpilot
- 4.4/5202 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardPayPalApple Pay
Pros and cons
Cheapest provider we trackQuick, helpful human supportFast, no throttlingWebsite in 41 languagesNo app: out of data, you need Wi‑Fi to top upUS dollars only, no Google PayUnlimited slows after 3 GB a dayNo refund after 10% of data usedeSIM4Travel eSIM in our hands
eSIM4Travel has no traveler reports from the Maldives yet, and it is not cheap here, which is why it is in this group. In most countries it is the cheapest provider in our comparison. In the Maldives its 3, 5 and 10 GB plans sit above the middle of the other providers' prices, and its 20 GB plan is among the dearest. In our hands-on test it had the best help desk and an eSIM that installed from a QR code and worked right away.
eSIM4Travel says its Maldives plans use Dhiraagu [12]. In our comparison tool it sells day plans of 100 MB, 500 MB and 1 GB, a 1 GB plan for 7 days, and 3, 5, 10 and 20 GB plans for 30 days, with tethering allowed. Daily plans slow down after the allowance, and the activation window is 90 days [12]. It has no app, so once data runs out you need Wi-Fi to reach the store. It sells no phone number. Our eSIM4Travel review has the test details, and you can buy from eSIM4Travel if its plans fit your size.
eSIM4Travel eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for ESIM4TRAVEL in the Maldives.
Global YO eSIM in the Maldives: cheap but no reports
- Purchase process8/10
- Mobile app8/10
- eSIM installation9/10
- Customer support5/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices10/10
- Customer feedback8/10
- Coverage8/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Global YO is a US eSIM provider aimed at young travelers, with plans in 195 countries. It is the second cheapest provider in our price data, and buying and installing took minutes. Its weak spot is support: quick to answer, slow to help.
Key facts
- 195 countries
- iPhone app 4.5
- Android app 3.8
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- Over 150 Mbps
- Trustpilot
- 4.0/51,293 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle Pay
Pros and cons
Second cheapest we trackBuy and install in minutesApple Pay, Google Pay, social loginHotspot and top-ups on every planSupport is slow to actually helpApp only, no buying on the webApp stops when your data runs outUnclear refund rulesGlobal YO eSIM in our hands
Global YO is usually among the cheapest providers in our comparison, and in the Maldives its plans look cheap for 5 and 10 GB, but it has no traveler reports from here yet. That makes it a price pick with no local record behind it. It also has the only 50 and 100 GB plans in our comparison tool for the Maldives, for travelers who work remotely.
Its ladder runs from 1 GB for 3 days to 100 GB for 60 days, with top-ups and tethering allowed. Its page lists an unlimited tier that slows after 1 GB a day [13], although our comparison tool carries no unlimited Global YO plan. The page names no network (checked August 2026), says the plans have no phone number, and says some phones need the APN set by hand [13]. In our test you must buy in the app, and replies from its help desk were slow. Our Global YO review has the details, and you can buy from Global YO.
Global YO eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for GLOBAL YO in the Maldives.
Ubigi eSIM in the Maldives: plan not confirmed
- Purchase process4/10
- Mobile app3/10
- eSIM installation8/10
- Customer support2/10
- Speed test9/10
- Prices7/10
- Customer feedback8.2/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Ubigi is the travel eSIM brand of Paris operator Transatel, with one reusable eSIM for 200+ destinations. Data was fast in our test, and its 3 GB, 10 GB and 30-day unlimited plans are cheap. Its weak point is support: a chatbot that ends in an email ticket, with no live agent.
Key facts
- 200+ destinations
- iPhone app 4.6
- Android app 3.7
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- 568 Mbps on 5G
- Trustpilot
- 4.1/547,238 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle PayPayPal
Pros and cons
eSIM by email in a minuteVery fast: 568 Mbps on 5GCheap 3 GB, 10 GB and 30-day unlimitedBuy more data even with none leftNo live support, only email ticketsConfusing website and appFew plan sizes, no 20 GBNo refund after you scan the QR codeUbigi eSIM in our hands
Ubigi is the one provider whose Maldives plan we could not confirm, and it has no traveler reports from here yet. We found no Ubigi page for the country when we checked in September 2026, and our comparison tool lists no Ubigi plan for it. Third-party sources disagree: two list Ubigi as a Maldives option, and one says its Asia and World regional plans leave the Maldives out. We could not settle this, so its plan list should show the Maldives before anyone buys.
The other test findings matter only if the plan exists. Ubigi's speeds were among the strongest we measured, with no throttling, and its app lets you buy more data at a zero balance, which only GigSky matched. The site and app were clumsy, and our support ticket had no reply after 24 hours, the worst outcome in our tests. On price, its fixed plans sit near the market and its unlimited plans are among the cheaper ones. Our Ubigi review has the details, and the Ubigi site shows its current plan list.
Nomad eSIM in the Maldives: unreachable support, no reports
- Purchase process8/10
- Mobile app7/10
- eSIM installation8/10
- Customer support2/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices7/10
- Customer feedback8.6/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Nomad is a US travel eSIM brand run by LotusFlare, with plans for more than 200 destinations. It has a polished native app, fast data and prices close to the market average almost everywhere. Its weak spot is support: the chat is an AI bot with no route to a human.
Key facts
- 200+ destinations
- iPhone app 4.8
- Android app 4.5
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- 2 GB/day cap
- Trustpilot
- 4.3/544,625 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle PayPayPal
Pros and cons
Quick, easy purchaseGreat app with a data widgetFast, full-speed dataFair prices almost everywhereSupport is a bot, no humanEasy to lose the install buttonApp stops when your data runs outNo refund after installNomad eSIM in our hands
Nomad has no traveler reports from the Maldives yet, and it suits experienced users who will not need the help desk. Its page says the Maldives eSIM connects to Dhiraagu [10]. In our comparison tool Nomad sells five plans: 1 GB for 7 days, 3, 5 and 10 GB for 30 days, and 20 GB for 10 days. All are listed as 4G, with 30 days to activate and add-on data available. The 20 GB plan is flagged as including calling, but we could not confirm the minutes.
The finding against Nomad is support. In our test its bot looped on an APN question (the setting that lets the eSIM reach mobile data) and offered no route to a human, so a problem abroad is hard to fix. The app is good, with a remaining-data widget, and we saw no throttling. On price, Nomad sits slightly below the market with a flat profile across sizes. Our Nomad review has the details, and you can buy from Nomad.
Nomad eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for NOMAD in the Maldives.
Roamless eSIM in the Maldives: global credit, rate unconfirmed
- Purchase process5/10
- Mobile app7/10
- eSIM installation7/10
- Customer support7/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices5/10
- Customer feedback9/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Roamless is a US provider built around one global eSIM for 203 destinations, paid with pay-as-you-go credit. It was fast and unthrottled in our test, and travelers report it working in 91% of cases. Its weak point is buying: the website forces you into the app, and large data amounts cost more than most rivals.
Key facts
- 203 destinations
- iPhone app 4.8
- Android app 4.1
- Pay-as-you-go
- Unlimited hotspot
- No throttling
- Trustpilot
- 4.5/51,746 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle Pay
Pros and cons
One eSIM for 200+ destinationsFast, no throttlingWorked for 91% of travelersFree 500 MB trialWebsite pushes you into the appWe had to fix the APN to get dataCredit can expire after 12 monthsPricey for 10 GB and upRoamless eSIM in our hands
Roamless has no traveler reports from the Maldives, and we found no Maldives plan or rate for it. It sells one global eSIM with pay-as-you-go credit and 30-day fixed plans, and we could not verify a Maldives-specific rate. Our comparison tool lists no Roamless plan for the country, so it gets no plan table. It may work here through its global credit, but we could not confirm that.
Across all destinations, traveler reports put Roamless among the three most reliable of the 14 providers, but that says nothing about the Maldives. In our test the preselected APN did not work and we had to pick another by hand, and support fixed it in under half an hour. Its flat per-MB credit is cheap for 1 GB and dear from 10 GB up, and the app can place calls over the internet. See our Roamless review, or the Roamless site for its current rates.
Airalo eSIM in the Maldives: one plan, 20 GB only
- Purchase process9/10
- Mobile app8/10
- eSIM installation9/10
- Customer support7/10
- Speed test7/10
- Prices5/10
- Customer feedback8.2/10
- Coverage7/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Airalo is an eSIM marketplace from Singapore with plans for 200+ destinations, some with calls and texts. It is easy to buy and install. But prices sit at the market median, and travelers report more failed connections than with any other provider we track.
Key facts
- 200+ destinations
- iPhone app 4.6
- Android app 4.3
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- No cap on fixed plans
- Trustpilot
- 4.1/545,721 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle PayPayPal
Pros and cons
Buy on the web, no app neededWorks right after installFast, no speed cap on fixed plansMost plans with calls and textsAverage prices, not cheapLowest success rate we track: 72% workedApp stops when your data runs outClunky checkout, no QR downloadAiralo eSIM in our hands
Airalo sells one Maldives plan, 20 GB for 30 days, so it fits a long stay with heavy use, not a short trip, and it has no traveler reports from here yet. Airalo says the plan connects to Dhiraagu [11], and it is data-only. Earlier third-party listings showed a voice and SMS plan on Ooredoo. Airalo's page no longer lists it as of August 2026, and we could not re-confirm whether it still exists.
In our test Airalo had a smooth install and a good app. Its 20 GB plan was the cheapest per GB among the Maldives plans we checked in August 2026, although Airalo is rarely the cheapest in other countries and sits at the market price overall. Across all destinations, traveler reports gave Airalo the weakest reliability of the 14 providers, so a country record would matter more for it than for most. See the Airalo review, or buy from Airalo.
Airalo eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for AIRALO in the Maldives from 2 GB.
ByteSIM eSIM in the Maldives: many plans, no reports
- Purchase process4/10
- Mobile app4/10
- eSIM installation7/10
- Customer support2/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices5/10
- Customer feedback9.6/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
ByteSIM is a Hong Kong eSIM shop with a huge catalog: daily, fixed and unlimited plans for about 200 destinations. Data was fast in our test, and travelers report it working in 88% of cases. The checkout, the app and support were the weak points.
Key facts
- About 200 destinations
- iPhone app 4.6
- Android app 3.8
- No top-ups
- Hotspot
- 175 Mbps on 4G
- Trustpilot
- 4.8/54,279 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle PayPayPal
Pros and cons
Cheap for 3–5 GB short tripsFast 4G, no throttlingWorked for 88% of travelers180 days to get a refundCheckout asks for phone and addressClunky app, auto-activation failedPromises 5G, gave us only 4GSupport didn't reply in our testByteSIM eSIM in our hands
ByteSIM has the most Maldives plans of any provider, but it has no traveler reports from here and its larger plans are dear. In our comparison tool it lists 59 plans: daily plans from 500 MB a day and fixed plans up to 30 GB, with validities from 1 to 30 days. Its page names both Dhiraagu and Ooredoo and says one product is a true local SIM with a Dhiraagu number [14]. Its daily plans fall to a very low speed after the high-speed allowance [14].
In our test ByteSIM's checkout and app were clumsy, support gave no WhatsApp reply within 15 minutes, and there are no top-ups. It showed 4G only although it advertises 5G, and it refunds unused or never-connected eSIMs within 180 days. On price it sits at the market overall, but in the Maldives its 10 GB and 20 GB plans sit well above the middle of the market in our comparison tool. It suits experienced users who want a local-number plan. Our ByteSIM review has the details, and you can buy from ByteSIM.
ByteSIM eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for BYTESIM in the Maldives.
Jetpac eSIM in the Maldives: Maldives plan not found
- Purchase process5/10
- Mobile app5/10
- eSIM installation9/10
- Customer support5/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices5/10
- Customer feedback9.4/10
- Coverage9/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Jetpac is a Singapore eSIM provider with plans in 129 countries. It adds extras like in-app calls, free WhatsApp and Google Maps after your data runs out, and lounge access on delayed flights. Its website, app and support are rough, so it suits travelers who can fix small issues themselves.
Key facts
- 129 countries
- iPhone app 4.0
- Android app 4.1
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- 3 GB/day cap
- Trustpilot
- 4.7/53,528 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle Pay
Pros and cons
WhatsApp and Maps keep working without dataUnlimited hotspotCheap calls in the appFree lounge if your flight is lateSlow website, confusing checkoutNo top-up once your data runs outSlow, technical supportPricey for 3–20 GBJetpac eSIM in our hands
We could not confirm that Jetpac sells a Maldives plan, and it has no traveler reports from here. We located no Jetpac page for the country, and our comparison tool lists no Jetpac plan for it. A 2024 third-party listing showed eight Maldives packages on Ooredoo, while a July 2026 listing says Jetpac does not offer the Maldives. We could not settle which is current.
If a plan exists, Jetpac stands out for extras: in-app voice packs, a free lounge pass when a flight is delayed by an hour or more, and free WhatsApp and maps after the data runs out on larger packs. The app and checkout were rough in our test and support was average. Its prices run above the market for 3 to 20 GB, and traveler reports across all destinations were above average. See our Jetpac review, or the Jetpac site for its current country list.
Saily eSIM in the Maldives: one small plan only
- Purchase process7/10
- Mobile app9/10
- eSIM installation9/10
- Customer support10/10
- Speed test8/10
- Prices4/10
- Customer feedback9.4/10
- Coverage8/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
Saily is the travel eSIM from the company behind NordVPN, with plans for about 200 destinations. It has the smoothest install we have tested, a polished app and a built-in VPN. But prices run above the market in most big European destinations, and traveler reports sit below average.
Key facts
- About 200 destinations
- iPhone app 4.7
- Android app 4.5
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- 3 or 5 GB/day cap
- Trustpilot
- 4.7/531,741 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayGoogle Pay
Pros and cons
Easiest install we've testedFast 24/7 human supportFree VPN and ad blockerPlan starts only when you landPricey in big European countriesApp required, no eSIM by emailLess reliable than averageApp stops when your data runs outSaily eSIM in our hands
Saily lists one Maldives plan, 1 GB for 7 days, so it fits a very short stay with light use, and it has no traveler reports from here yet. Saily's page shows no hotspot limits, no calls or SMS, and a 180-day window to activate [16]. The page names no network (checked September 2026). Third-party listings from 2024 and April 2026 showed several sizes, and the page now lists one.
In our test Saily had the best-polished app, the smoothest install and one of the two best help desks, and the plan stops hard at its limit. Auto top-up is optional. Its prices run among the highest in the places people travel to most. It suits first-timers who value the app and need a few days of light data. See our Saily review, or buy from Saily.
Saily eSIM Plans in the Maldives
Selection of the best eSIM data plans for SAILY in the Maldives.
GigSky eSIM in the Maldives: no plans on sale
- Purchase process7/10
- Mobile app6/10
- eSIM installation8/10
- Customer support9/10
- Speed test6/10
- Prices4/10
- Customer feedback8.6/10
- Coverage8/10
Average of eight categories from our own paid test and customer reviews.
GigSky is a US travel eSIM that works like its own operator, with plans for 190+ destinations plus cruise, ferry and in-flight plans. Its app stays partly online after your data runs out. But its fixed-data plans are the most expensive of the 12 providers we compared.
Key facts
- 190+ destinations
- iPhone app 4.5
- Android app 3.9
- Top-ups
- Hotspot
- 3.5 GB/day cap
- Trustpilot
- 4.3/57,194 reviews
- Payments
- Credit or debit cardApple PayPayPal
Pros and cons
Buy more data even with none leftCruise, ferry and in-flight plansHuman support answered right awayCheap 1-day unlimited passesMost expensive per GB we trackApp required, no Google PayClunky, web-like appLess reliable than averageGigSky eSIM in our hands
GigSky sells no Maldives plans at the moment, and it has no traveler reports from here. Its own Maldives page says data plans for the country are temporarily unavailable and shows none [17], as of August 2026. A July 2026 third-party review says the same. We could not tell whether or when plans will return.
GigSky is a cruise and islands specialist. Its app stays partly online after the data runs out, so you can buy a new plan without Wi-Fi, and its help desk answered at once in our test. Outside the Maldives it is cheap on small plans in big European markets and among the dearest in about 50 countries. Any Maldives plan would appear in our comparison tool. See our GigSky review, or the GigSky page for the Maldives.
Best eSIM Plans for the Maldives
Price per GB in the Maldives by eSIM Provider
How much does each provider charge per GB in the Maldives? The chart below compares plans of 1 to 10 GB that last 6 to 14 days, the usual range for a one- or two-week trip. Provider websites show only their own plans, so this side-by-side view is one you would otherwise have to calculate yourself. A shorter bar means a lower price per GB.
Generated 12.11.2026 05:14
Eight providers have Maldives plans in our comparison tool: ByteSIM, Yesim, eSIM4Travel, Global YO, Nomad, GoMoWorld, Saily and Airalo. Global YO has the longest ladder, from 1 GB for 3 days up to 100 GB for 60 days, Airalo and Saily sell one plan each, and GoMoWorld stops at 6 GB. Yesim is the only provider with unlimited Maldives plans in the tool, and Holafly also sells unlimited, but its plans are not in the tool. Travelers with heavy use should read the local SIM section below, where the cost per GB drops sharply.
For a trip that also includes the United Arab Emirates, this two-country comparison shows plans for both. Our guides to the United Arab Emirates and India cover the neighbouring stops.
2 GB in the Maldives
Comparison of offers for 2 GB data plans in the Maldives from the most popular eSIM providers.
5 GB in the Maldives
Comparison of offers for 5 GB data plans in the Maldives from the most popular eSIM providers.
10 GB in the Maldives
Comparison of offers for 10 GB data plans in the Maldives from the most popular eSIM providers.
20 GB in the Maldives
Comparison of offers for 20 GB data plans in the Maldives from the most popular eSIM providers.
Unlimited in the Maldives
Comparison of offers for unlimited data plans in the Maldives from the most popular eSIM providers.
Best eSIM for Malé, the Outer Atolls and Island Transfers
No place in the Maldives has 3 or more traveler reports in our data, so there is no pick by island and the country pick applies everywhere. Our reports cover the country as a whole, not single resorts or atolls. Holafly, the overall pick, has no report tied to a named place either: its five reviewers wrote about the Maldives in general.
| Where you are going | What the reports show | Our pick |
|---|---|---|
| Malé, Hulhumalé and Velana airport | too few reports | Country pick applies |
| Resort islands | too few reports | Country pick applies |
| Guesthouses on local islands | too few reports | Country pick applies |
| Southern cities (Addu City, Fuvahmulah) | too few reports | Country pick applies |
| Outer atolls and liveaboards | too few reports | Country pick applies |
The network information gives some direction where the reports cannot. Dhiraagu lists 5G in Greater Malé, Emboodhoo Falhu and Marina, Kulhudhuffushi City, Hithadhoo in Addu City, Thinadhoo City and Fuvahmulah City [6], and says its 4G reaches all 187 inhabited islands [5]. A Dhiraagu-based eSIM and a 5G phone have the best odds in those places. Third-party sources name the usual weak spots: open water on speedboat and seaplane transfers, over-water villas at the far end of a long jetty, and the most distant outer atolls. This is network information, not a traveler finding.
Local SIM Cards and Operator eSIMs in the Maldives
A local tourist SIM beats a travel eSIM once you need more than roughly 3 to 5 GB, and a travel eSIM wins for light use and for skipping the airport queue. Both operators, Dhiraagu and Ooredoo, sell tourist packs. The price gap comes from the data allowance: the local packs are built around 20 GB to 100 GB.
Dhiraagu sells tourist add-ons of 100 GB for 7 days at MVR 225 and for 15 days at MVR 400, as of 30 Aug 2026 [7]. They sit on top of a tourist SIM, whose base price is separate. Maldives.com lists Dhiraagu's tourist packs from $40 for 20 GB, with local minutes and SMS, for 30 days, including GST, but we could not find those prices on Dhiraagu's own site, so treat them as reported. Ooredoo's own shop lists a $40 Tourist Pack with 20 GB and 150 minutes, and a $50 pack with 100 GB and 300 minutes, as of 30 Aug 2026 [20]. Maldives.com describes the $50 pack as 30 GB plus 70 GB of social data, so the contents are worth confirming at checkout.
Both operators need your passport at the counter for a physical SIM. Maldives.com reports that the online eSIM flow asks for a passport photo and a selfie before payment. A foreigner may hold at most three numbers per operator [2]. Dhiraagu says the QR code for its tourist eSIM stays valid for 48 hours and must be scanned on stable Wi-Fi, ideally from a second device. Its online store for tourist SIM kits was down for maintenance when we checked on 30 Aug 2026 [7].
The biggest cost trap is tax. Dhiraagu's prepaid rates include the 8% general GST [8], but the tourism-sector rate of 17% applies to anything sold in a tourist establishment [3]. A top-up bought at your resort shop therefore carries 9 percentage points more tax than the same top-up bought in Malé.
At Velana airport, Maldives.com places the Dhiraagu and Ooredoo counters next to each other at the arrivals exit, with free Dhiraagu SIM vending machines in the corridor from baggage claim. The local route costs you the queue while a resort transfer waits, plus the passport scan. For a short resort stay on light use, a travel eSIM is cheaper and ready before you land.
Mobile Networks in the Maldives
Two operators run all mobile service in the Maldives, Dhiraagu and Ooredoo [1], and Dhiraagu is the better-evidenced network for visitors. It says its 4G covers all 187 inhabited islands and reports Ookla awards for the country's fastest mobile network and its fastest 5G network [5]. The regulator publishes subscription counts only, so no official figure compares the two networks [4]. Ooredoo publishes no list of its 5G locations that we could find, and we could not verify its coverage claims.
Most travel eSIMs ride Dhiraagu. Holafly, Nomad, Airalo and eSIM4Travel say on their own pages that their Maldives eSIMs use it [9] [10] [11] [12]. ByteSIM names both Dhiraagu and Ooredoo [14], and third parties report Yesim on Dhiraagu. The pages of Saily, Global YO, GoMoWorld and Maya named no network when we checked in August and September 2026 [16] [13] [18] [19]. Several providers switched partner over time, so a network named in an older review may be out of date.
The gaps are water, not terrain. The islands are flat, so signal fails on open sea between atolls, on boat and seaplane transfers, and at the end of long jetties. Dhiraagu publishes a list of 5G-certified phones, from the Galaxy S21 to S26 and the iPhone 12 to iPhone 17 Pro Max in its model list, and a 5G phone that is not on it may fall back to 4G [6]. We found no announced 3G switch-off date. On the main tourist atolls the gap between the networks is small and should not decide a purchase. Our research finds it matters for outer-atoll and liveaboard trips.
How to Set Up an eSIM for the Maldives
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, then switch it on after you land at Velana airport. Most plans start on first connection, not at install, but two providers differ.
- Check that your phone has eSIM and is unlocked. Our list of eSIM-compatible phones helps.
- Buy the plan before you fly. Yesim started our plan at purchase, so buy it close to departure. GoMoWorld waits until you press Start in its app.
- Add the eSIM by QR code or in the provider's app. Holafly's QR code scans once, and a deleted eSIM cannot be reinstalled. Our guides cover iPhone and Samsung.
- After landing, turn the eSIM on, turn on data roaming for it and select it for mobile data. Keep your home SIM on for calls.
- If data does not connect, set the APN by hand. Global YO says some phones need this [13].
- Still stuck? Work through our eSIM troubleshooting guide, and save offline maps before any boat or seaplane transfer.
Calls and SMS in the Maldives
Most travel eSIMs for the Maldives are data-only, so calls go over WhatsApp or a similar app, and the country's calling code is +960. In our comparison tool, one Nomad plan (20 GB for 10 days) is flagged as including calling, and we could not confirm its minutes. ByteSIM's page describes a plan with a Dhiraagu local number [14]. Roamless and Global YO offer calls over the internet through their apps. Jetpac sells in-app voice packs, but we could not confirm a Maldives plan for it.
Airalo's earlier voice and SMS plan for the Maldives is no longer listed on its page [11]. A local SIM is the better route for a Maldivian number. Ooredoo's tourist packs include local minutes [20], and Maldives.com reports local minutes and SMS in Dhiraagu's packs too, as covered in the local SIM section above.
Frequently Asked Questions About eSIMs in the Maldives
Which eSIM is best for the Maldives?
What is the cheapest eSIM for the Maldives?
Can tourists buy a local SIM card in the Maldives?
How much data do I need for the Maldives?
Does an eSIM work on the boat or seaplane to a resort?
Which network do Maldives eSIMs use?
Summary: the best eSIM for the Maldives
Based on 17 traveler reports from the Maldives and our tests, Holafly has the best record: it worked well for 5 of 5 travelers, and all five said it connected. It suits an island trip on unlimited data with no counting. Its weakness is speed. It was capped from the start in our test, its hotspot is limited to 1 GB a day and it has no top-ups. Yesim worked well for 7 of 9 travelers and suits people who want unlimited plans by the day or a multi-country bundle. Its help desk was among the slowest we tested, and our data cannot say why two travelers had trouble.
The other twelve providers have fewer than 3 reports or no confirmed Maldives plan, so we do not recommend any of them on traveler evidence yet. For heavy use, a Dhiraagu or Ooredoo tourist SIM costs less per GB, at the price of a passport scan and an arrivals queue. On today's evidence, the best eSIM for the Maldives is Holafly for light to moderate use, with a local SIM as the alternative above a few GB.
Sources
We cite only regulators, official bodies, network operators' own pages and the providers' own pages.
Links last checked
Opens in a new tabRegulators and official bodies
-
1
Telecom Service Provider Licensees
The regulator's licence register: it lists exactly two mobile network operators, Dhiraagu and Ooredoo.
-
2
Regulation on Issuance and Usage of Mobile Phone Numbers
The rule that lets a foreigner hold at most three mobile numbers per operator.
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3
GST FAQ
The 8% general GST rate and the higher tourism-sector rate that applies to goods sold in tourist establishments.
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4
Latest Figures
The regulator's current statistics, which cover subscription counts and no per-operator speed measurements.
Official provider and operator pages
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5
Press releases
Dhiraagu's announcements of 4G on all 187 inhabited islands and of its Ookla awards, as stated by Dhiraagu.
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6
Dhiraagu 5G
The list of 5G locations and of 5G-certified phones, as stated by Dhiraagu.
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7
Tourist SIM
Tourist add-on prices in MVR and the purchase flows for tourist SIMs, as stated by Dhiraagu.
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8
Prepaid plans
Prepaid rates including 8% GST, and the clause on the tourism rate for items sold in tourist establishments, as stated by Dhiraagu.
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9
Holafly eSIM Maldives
Holafly's network, unlimited plans, fair-use throttle, hotspot cap and its warning about weaker coverage outside urban areas, as stated by Holafly.
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10
Nomad eSIM Maldives
The network behind Nomad's Maldives plans, as stated by Nomad.
-
11
Airalo eSIM Maldives
Airalo's single Maldives plan, its network and the withdrawal of its voice plan, as stated by Airalo.
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12
eSIM4Travel eSIM Maldives
The network, plan terms and 90-day activation window of eSIM4Travel's Maldives plans, as stated by eSIM4Travel.
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13
Global YO eSIM Maldives
Global YO's tiers, unlimited fair-use rule and APN note for the Maldives, as stated by Global YO.
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14
ByteSIM eSIM Maldives
ByteSIM's networks, its local-number product and the speed drop on daily plans, as stated by ByteSIM.
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15
Yesim eSIM Maldives
Yesim's claim that its eSIM switches to a local operator with 5G, as stated by Yesim.
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16
Saily eSIM Maldives
Saily's single Maldives plan and its terms, as stated by Saily.
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17
GigSky eSIM in Maldives
The notice that Maldives plans are temporarily unavailable, as stated by GigSky.
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18
GoMoWorld Maldives
GoMoWorld's Maldives destination page, which names no network, as stated by GoMoWorld.
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19
Maya Mobile eSIM Maldives
Maya's Maldives page, which names no network, as stated by Maya Mobile.
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20
Ooredoo Maldives shop
Ooredoo's tourist packs with data and minutes, as stated by Ooredoo.
Compare All eSIM Plans for the Maldives
Every Maldives plan from the 14 providers in this article, in one comparison with live prices.
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