Best Mobile Network In Portugal [2022 English Guide]
If you are planning to travel to Portugal soon, you will need a mobile network over there. It doesn’t matter if you are planning to move there temporarily or if you are moving there permanently, you need to have all the information about the mobile network and the charges in Portugal. If you don’t get a mobile network or a package, you have to spend a lot of money on roaming charges.
In our humble opinion, it is just a waste of money because many prepaid SIM cards are available in the country that will be a very affordable option for you in the long run. The best part is that these prepaid SIM cards in Portugal are straightforward, and you don’t have to hassle with getting one. These cards are readily available in stores all over the city, and you can also get them at the airport once your flight lands in Portugal. Portugal is a very famous destination for European tourists and is also laid-back. Whenever you move to a new country, you should get a local sim card so that you can communicate with the people back home and with the local people as well.
This article will discuss the best mobile network available in Portugal and provide a complete guide on what you should do for your next adventure in Portugal. So without any further wait, keep reading to find more information below.
Why Is It Important To Buy A SIM Card In Portugal?
We are going to be completely honest here that Portugal is not the number one country when it comes to providing high-speed connectivity of internet. Infrastructure changes still need to be made, and there is room for improvement. However, most of the hotels in the country will provide you with free Wi-Fi; the same is the case in many restaurants. But the thing is that it is not the most efficient solution to rely on the Internet that you will get from public places because it will be very slow.
There is another risk involved with using public Wi-Fi because it is an unsecured Network and can become the reason for a data breach. If you ever find yourself in a situation like this and don’t have any other option, then the best thing for you is to use a VPN. This is a solid reason for getting a mobile network card in Portugal. There are many other reasons why you might need a mobile network. You simply cannot function or do anything without having one anywhere in the world. If you want to order a taxi using a mobile application or check for the best restaurant in town, you will require an internet connection.
It is impossible to even navigate on the roads without an Internet connection, and you will not be able to function properly without one. So if you want everything to be convenient for you when you are living in Portugal permanently or for traveling purposes, it is always the best thing to do to get your hands on a mobile network card as soon as possible. You can also easily avoid high roaming charges by getting a network card. The process is simple, and you don’t have to wait. Within a matter of seconds, you will be online and getting access to high-speed internet through a local prepaid SIM card in Portugal.
Our Recommendation For The Best Mobile Network In Portugal
MEO sim card is the best one that you can get in Portugal. It is the most affordable option because, for €5, you can get 5 GB of data for seven days, including calling time. It is a great package overall because it gives you 4G or 5G coverage, depending on your smartphone in the country. If you don’t want to get it this month, you can also get an e-sim card that will give you 30 GB of data for only $19!
Best E-sim Cards In Portugal
Nowadays, you don’t need to rely on a single mobile network because e-SIM cards are prevalent worldwide. The same is the case with Portugal; these e-SIM cards will stand out from the proud if you are looking for an affordable mobile data option. If you want to get an e-sim card, you don’t even need to visit any local shop for that, and there is no need to swap a physical sim card that you already have with someone else. You can easily order this card online and receive a code to activate the card.
This card will ensure that you are connected to a foreign Network at all times and can start using it immediately at affordable prices. However, it is essential to keep in mind that getting this e-sim card will only give you access to mobile data. You cannot make calls on other sim numbers with this e-sim card. If you want to make phone calls, the best option is to get a physical sim card if you are planning to stay in the country for a long time. These cards are preactivated International numbers and will be delivered to whatever address you provide them. If you get a 20 GB data package in Portugal, you can make as many calls as you want for just $49.
Take a look at the E sim card details available in Portugal below:
- 1GB of data for one week costs $4.5
- 3GB data for a 1-month costs $7
- 5GB of data for one month costs $10
- 10GB data for one month costs $17
- 30GB data for 15 days costs $19
Sim Cards Are Available In Portugal, And Free Roaming In The Eu
If you are planning to visit Portugal anytime soon, then the best option for you is to get a Portugal sim card that will give you an option of free-roaming in the EU. This option is primarily included in the SIM card that you are going to purchase always better to check twice before getting a particular card in another country.
Free roaming means that you can efficiently utilize your sim card whether you are in Greece, Germany, or France during your entire trip! You will have mobile data everywhere you go, and you can also get calling and texting credit for more than 30 countries in Europe.
Best Mobile Network Operators In Portugal
There are three famous and best mobile network providers available in Portugal.
They include:
- MEO Portugal
- NOS Portugal
- Vodafone Portugal
Note: MEO Portugal is the country’s most popular mobile network provider. It was also the best to give you affordable mobile data rates and packages for calling and texting.
How To Buy A Sim Card In Portugal?
If you are in Portugal now and looking forward to buying a sim card, you don’t need to worry. You can easily find a prepaid SIM card in the country in every big city, and plenty of options are available. All you need to do is to open Google maps on your phone and find the nearest MEO, NOS, or Vodafone store. You can also find prepared SIM cards in Big convenience stores in big cities and even small ones.
However, you need to be very careful if you are not familiar with Portuguese because all the data package details will be written in Portuguese. The service is very limited, so you should be vigilant while purchasing because you don’t know what exact services you will get from the data package if you don’t know the language. However, you can find an official mobile phone store that will guide you properly, and you can quickly get the best package for you.
Is It Possible To Buy A Sim Card At The Lisbon Airport?
Yes, it is possible. This is the busiest and most popular airport in Portugal, and you can easily buy a prepaid SIM card here. However, your option is limited because only a Vodafone store is available at the Lisbon airport. If you are being to make a compromise and don’t care about getting the most popular sim card, another option available for you is the Lycamobile SIM card.
Note: Whenever you visit a store in Portugal to purchase a mobile network card, you need to have your passport along with you. They will not allow you to buy a Portuguese mobile network card without showing your passport for registration.
Is A 5G Network Provider Available In Portugal?
Yes, the 5G mobile network is available in Portugal. However, compared to the other European countries, this country’s 5G mobile network is not that advanced. However, the 5G network is only available in most big cities. NOS is the right mobile network provider you should choose if you want to use a 5G network in Portugal in a big city.
Prepaid SIM Card Prices in Portugal in 2022
MEO Portugal
| Data | Features | Price |
| 10 GB/ month | 500 min/ sms/ month | € 4.25/ week |
| Data | Features | Price |
| 5 GB/ month | 1000 min/ sms/ month | € 5.50/ week |
- €4,75 = 3 GB data + 500 minutes/ sms
- €5,50 = 5 GB data + 1,000 minutes/sms
Vodafone Portugal
| Data | Features | Price |
| 10 GB/ month | 500 min/ sms/ month for roaming 30 mins/sms in Portugal for EU | $20 for 30 days |
- €20 = 10 GB data in Europe + 500 minutes OR sms + 30 international minutes 30 days.
- €30 = Unlimited data ONLY for Portugal
NOS Portugal
| Data | Minutes | Price |
| 200 MB | 500 | €12,00 |
| 500 MB | 800 | €17,00 |
| 1 GB | 800 | €18,00 |
| 2 GB | 3000 | €20,00 |
- €27,50 (€25 + €2,50) = 5 GB data + 7,000 minutes
- €30 = 30 GB data valid in all of Europe for 1 month
Best Sim Card To Get In Portugal
Almost all of the mobile network providers available in portable I provide the same speed for the internet. No matter which famous destination you are traveling to, you can quickly get good network coverage and a 4G signal. However, you will not be able to get a 5G network coverage everywhere because it is only available in the major cities of Portugal. But if you want to use the 5G network for any reason, then the best prepaid SIM card for you will be NOS.
You have to pay the price for this one because this one is the most expensive option in the country. If you want the best sim card as a tourist in Portugal in 2022, then the best sim card option is MEO. They are not only affordable but also provide you with a good speed of internet. You can get 5 GB of data for the entire week at your portable price.
You will also get 500 minutes for calling no matter where you are in Europe. It is a great deal, and you should avail of this option if you are in the country. However, if you are planning to travel to other European countries after you are done with Portugal, this one will be the best option for you to purchase because you can use it in other countries as well. This is not the most convenient option for people who don’t like to get a weekly top-up on their sim card. You have to top it up every week, but if it is not a problem for you, then you are good to go with this card.
MEO
MEO is the most popular mobile network provider available in the country. Right now, they have more than 4.1 million subscribers all over the country. The good news about this mobile network is that it is growing daily and will become the largest telecommunication company in the country soon. It is good news for the people planning to get the SIM card because it will provide broader coverage in the country. It is the perfect sim card for Travellers planning to travel all over Portugal. You will not have any issue with the connection if you are in a busy neighborhood or not. You can stay online and communicate with your friends and family. This network is a good option for tourists.
Vodafone
Vodafone provides excellent 5G coverage in Portugal and a fast Wi-Fi connection. It is a prevalent mobile network in the country and comes on the list of the second biggest telecommunication companies. You can quickly get this one if you are looking for a good quality mobile network. The best part of getting this internet is that you can easily stream good quality videos and video call whoever you want by using this internet connection. You will not have to face any lag problems at all.
NOS
NOS is the right mobile network for you to choose if you are looking for the best mobile network in the country. It comes third on the number, and they have fantastic customer support. If you have experienced bad customer support on mobile networks before, you can say goodbye to that after trying this mobile network for the first time in Portugal. They have many affordable packages to choose from and a lot of plans for getting mobile data in the country.
Conclusion
If you are moving to Portugal anytime soon for any purpose, you will require a mobile data connection there. If you are planning a holiday or moving there for work purposes, then you need to stay online at all times to maintain proper channels of communique nation when working in the corporate sector. In such a case, you need to find the best mobile network in Portugal to start working immediately once you move to the country.
MEO mobile network is a good option if you are looking for good speed and coverage in the country. They have a 30 GB plan that you can get for only 15 euros, and you don’t even need a phone number for that! What more could you want from a mobile network package that is so affordable? Another option that is available for us is to use the Portugal internet. It is a company that will provide you with a mobile router and can take it anywhere you want. The best part about this mobile router is that you can get unlimited data by using this router. Vodafone is also quite popular all over Portugal and provides a 5G option, but it is only available in the country’s major cities. There are many ways for you to get your hands on a mobile network prepaid SIM card in Portugal.
When you arrive at the airport, you can find local stores on mobile networks and purchase the E sim card directly. However, you need to make sure that you have your passport, and you have to show it to them for registration of your sim card.
If you don’t plan to get your e-sim card from the airport, you can find the SIM card for mobile network stores in your local area after asking your neighbors or locals. It is also possible to order your sim card online by visiting the website, and you can check all the required information before you order your sim card.