The Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Indonesia in 2024

These days, it’s almost impossible to imagine visiting a foreign country without mobile connection. You may need to call a rideshare, find your hotel on maps, connect to the internet when away from Wi-Fi, or translate signs in a foreign language.

However, using international roaming with your home carrier to get data could cost hundreds of dollars. This is why prepaid eSIM cards are the fastest growing option for international tourists who own an eSIM-compatible device.

In this guide, you’ll find the 5 best prepaid SIM and eSIM options available for tourists in Indonesia in 2024, including their pricing and data plans. Let’s get going!

Where to Buy Physical Prepaid SIM Cards For Indonesia

Getting a prepaid SIM card in Indonesia is relatively easy for tourists, with multiple options available.

Anete Lūsiņa

1. indonesia Airports

At international airports like Jakarta or Bali, you'll find various phone stores offering prepaid SIM cards for tourists upon arrival.

2. Network Provider Retail Stores in Indonesia

When looking to buy a prepaid SIM card in town, it's best to visit official mobile internet provider retail stores for the best service, registration, activation, and plan options.

3. Online

You could also consider having a physical prepaid SIM card shipped to your house before you travel by shopping on online sites (like Amazon). You’ll often find destination-specific travel SIM cards that partner with the large indonesia networks (like Telkomsel or Indosat Ooredoo) to connect your phone to mobile data.

Alternatively, you could consider buying a portable Wi-Fi hotspot device.

Shopping online requires a little travel pre-planning but allows you to search around for better prices and data plans that meet your needs.

The easiest online option, and the one that we highly recommend, is to purchase an eSIM. These digital SIMs can be instantly activated straight from your smartphone from apps like Airalo and Holafly, which then give you seamless access to data in your travel destination.

Cheap Physical Prepaid SIM Card Options For Indonesia Travel

Here are some of the most popular options for plastic SIM cards for tourists in Indonesia:

1. Telkomsel

Telkomsel provides prepaid SIM cards featuring three distinct data quotas: social media, internet, and local, tailored to specific regions or islands like Bali, Java, and Sumatra, with all plans valid for 30 days.

Prices range from 42,000 IDR for 11 GB to 138,000 IDR for a maximum of 70 GB.

2. Indosat Ooredoo

Indosat, under the IM3 brand, offers prepaid SIM cards with unlimited calls and texts to other IM3 numbers.

Their plans include options such as 2 GB for 45,000 IDR, 16 GB with 60 minutes of calling time and 60 SMS for 199,000 IDR, and 30 GB with 120 minutes of calling time and 120 SMS for 299,000 IDR.

Best Digital Prepaid e-SIMs For Tourists in Indonesia

Want to ditch physical plastic SIM cards? You can conveniently download and active the following international eSIMs from your smartphone instead.

1. Airalo

Airalo is an excellent eSIM provider for international travel. For Indonesia, they offer eSIMs from 1GB for 7 days at $5.50 up to 20GB for 30 days at $40, and other plans in between. It was super easy for us to set up in the app and purchase instantly.

More info: Read our Airalo review or visit their website.

2. Holafly

Holafly offers unlimited data volume packages for international travel. Holafly's data packages for Indonesia cost between $6 and $139 once off and are valid from 1 to 90 days, offering peace of mind that you'll never run out of data.

Although Holafly offers unlimited data in most countries, including Indonesia, if you're a globetrotter, it's worth keeping in mind that Holafly offers limited data plans to some other destinations. Be sure to check their website or app before traveling to a new country to confirm whether Holafly's unlimited packages apply.

More info: Read our Holafly review or visit their website.

3. Yesim

Yesim, a Swiss-based eSIM service, offers flexible plans for 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, and 20GB. The pricing of these eSIMs for Indonesia range from $15.40 to $60.50.

The 3GB plan is good for 7 days while the 5GB one is good for 15 days. The 15GB and 30GB plans both last for 30 days.

More info: Read our Yesim review or visit their website.

Largest Mobile Network Operators in Indonesia

eSIMs are great because they connect to the best network available wherever you are. Your phone might connect to Telkomsel or Indosat Ooredoo, depending on your location, at no extra cost. In contrast, if you buy a SIM card directly from one indonesia telecom provider, then your phone will only access that provider's network.

In Indonesia, expect to see these names as you connect to data on your travels:

1. XL Axiata: Affordable plans and reliable network.
2. Indosat Ooredoo: Innovative services and competitive pricing.
3. Telkomsel: Extensive network coverage and high-speed internet.

Registration Process For Prepaid SIM Cards in Indonesia

In Indonesia, registration is necessary, and you'll need to show your passport to the issuer. 

It's worth noting that an increasing number of countries are requiring registration from mobile phone users for security reasons, where purchasing a prepaid SIM card requires consumers to provide proof of identity.

For the countries that have these Know-Your-Customer (KYC) laws, registration will also apply to eSIMs. However, eSIMs do have the benefit of digital registration as opposed to the hassle of an in-person process. If your eSIM is data only (no local phone number), then you may be able to get connected without registering your info.