Introduction
Bali is well-connected to the cell network, with most of the island enjoying 4G coverage, and some hotspots even receiving 5G. However, in extremely remote areas, connectivity can be spotty. That said, you can expect reliable cell reception in about 95% of the places you’ll travel.
There are several ways for you to stay connected in Bali, we put together blog post to help you pick the option(s) that suits you the most.
On this page, we review the technicalities, advantages and inconveniences of 4 main options:
- Option #1: Using your home provider roaming
- Option #2: Getting a local SIM
- Option #3: Using a travel e-sim
- Option #4: Using a pocket travel wifi
Option #1: Using my home SIM card roaming package
Wherever you are coming from; your current cell plan provider most likely offers some roaming options to cater to your needs when you travel abroad. If you are not sure about this; you can find the information on your provider website on by contacting them and letting them know about your destination and data needs.
#1: Using my home SIM card roaming package - Advantages
- You won't need an extra SIM card / phone number; just use your existing plan.
- You can subscribe to the roaming plan even before leaving your home; avoiding potentially spending time disconnected.
#1: Using my home SIM card roaming package - Inconveniences
- This option is more than often very costly, and you will most likely end up paying at least 10$ a day to remain connected.
- Data packages are often very minimal and only suffice for basic web browsing and messaging.
- Connection abroad may be spotty based on what deal your home provider has with the local networks.
Option #2: Getting a local SIM
Getting a local SIM in Indonesia is very easy and comes with a large set of options.
Technicalities
- You will need to have your passport at hand in order to activate your SIM, every newly activated number in Indonesia is required by law to be linked to an identity. Not to worry about this process; the shop attendant will do it for you. Once your SIM activated it might take up to 2h before it becomes functional. If it is not working by then, try to restart your phone or simply make sure your phone data is on and configured to use the new SIM.
- If you run out of data; not to worry you can top-up your SIM and continue using it as normal.
- All SIM sizes are available - as of September 2024 the E-sim format is tedious to get as a tourist on their own; but some are offered at the airport but they come at a hefty price.
SIM providers in Indonesia
The 2 main network providers in Bali are XL Axiata and Telkomsel - we recommend you rather pick either of these 2 instead of smaller providers (SmartFren, 3 etc.) as they will have the most coverage on the island. If you plan on going out of Bali and explore more remote places or different island - your best bet is to get Telkomsel as the XL Axiata network is not as developed in other parts of the country.
Where to buy an Indonesian SIM card ?
There are 2 main options for you to get a SIM in Bali:
- At the airport: right after you pass the airport custom and exit, you'll have to walk through a hallway filled with vendor selling SIM cards. These shops are open 24/7 and have a variety of different prices. If you'd like to go with this option; we would recommend you to go to the Telkomsel or XL Axiata shop for best price and technical support. Note that at the airport, SIM prices are marked up quite a bit, up to 5 times what you might find outside.
- If you are already in Bali, it is easy to find a shop that sells SIM cards and install them for you. These SIM will be the exact same one as the one sold at the airport but most likely at a cheaper price. For instance you can find this shop in Canggu or this shop in Seminyak.
#2: Getting a local SIM - Advantages
- Price of mobile data is fairly low in Indonesia - out of the 4 options in this guide, this most likely will give you the best deal.
- You get an Indonesian number that can also receive calls and SMS.
- You get the best network connectivity there can be.
#2: Getting a local SIM - Inconveniences
- If your mobile has a single SIM slot; you will have to take out your home SIM in order to swap it with the local SIM you purchased.
- In recent years there has been a few reports of tourist SIM randomly stopping to work after a few days. If this happens to you; you will have no choice but to visit a service center in Denpasar or get a new SIM.
Option #3: Using a travel e-sim
Note that for this option, your mobile phone must support e-sim. You can find a list of compatible devices here to see if your device does supports the feature.
A more recently available option to travellers are travel e-sim. Travel e-sim are SIM, usually working for a limited amount of time, which you can buy online and install on your phone without having to do any physical manipulation to your device.
Nowadays a range of companies offer this product for sale such as Holafly, airalo, aloSIM or even Saily.
But our personal favorite App to get e-sim when traveling to Bali is MobiMatter, from our experience it is the App offering the largest amount of options and the cheapest prices - most e-sims offered also have the option for you to top-up in case you run out of data; instead of having to buy a new SIM again.
The App is available for both Android and iOS and if you use our promo code SIMON77811 you will receive 50% cashback (up to $5) on your first purchase!
#3: Using a travel e-sim - Advantages
- You can purchase the e-sim before leaving, in your home currency.
- A lot of those e-sim cover different countries in the same region avoiding the need to install a different SIM for each country you visit.
#3: Using a travel e-sim - Inconveniences
- You must have a phone supporting e-sim.
- Depending on your choice of provider, you may not be able to top-up the SIM you bought.
Option #4: Using a pocket travel wifi
Now what if you travel in a large group or with your entire family and you are looking to enable everyone to stay connected without having to get a different SIM or travel package for everyone's individual phone ? Here comes the pocket travel wifi. Pocket travel wifi are also a great alternative in case your phone does not allow hotspotting / share connection.
This device lets you insert a SIM card in it and everyone can connect to its WIFI to enjoy a shared internet connection in a single spot. It is, generally very small in size and powered with a battery so you can bring it along with you everywhere you go. There are a few options on Amazon for you to choose from, ranging from about 30$ to 150$. Our personal recommendation would be to get a medium-range one to avoid battery and reliability issues.
Price starting at $84.99.
#4: Using a pocket travel wifi - Advantages
- You can connect all of your devices: laptop, tablets etc. all together easily and effectively
- Everyone in your family can stay connected with a single SIM purchase
#4: Using a pocket travel wifi - Inconveniences
- You need to carry around an extra small device
Conclusion
Picking the option that works the best for you is essential to enjoy your travels in Bali.
Here are our recommendation based your situation:
- Cheapest: option #1 Buying a local SIM outside the airport - as import prices are inflated.
- Most convenient: option #2 getting an e-sim via MobiMatter.
- Best for families: option #4 the pocket WIFI combined with a local SIM.
Finally there are a couple more things for you to consider:
- If you are not a big data user and only want basic web browsing, messaging as well as moderate video streaming and calls; a travel e-sim will be perfect for you.
- On the contrary if you are a large data consumer, we recommend you getting a local SIM with a high quota to get the best bang for your bucks.
- Lastly if you plan on going to more remote area; consider only local SIM from large providers: Telkomsel or XL Axiata.
