The Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Montenegro in 2024
Jarrod Suda
Guide
A writer and editor at Monito, Jarrod is passionate about helping people apply today’s powerful finance technologies to their lives. He brings his background in international affairs and his experiences living in Japan to provide readers with comprehensive information that also acknowledges the local context.
Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.
Read moreThese 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 Montenegro in 2024, including their pricing and data plans. Let’s get going!
Airalo is our top choice to avoid expensive international roaming fees. Airalo offers eSIMs tailored to you, from 5 days up to months at a time, covering hundreds of countries, with both multi-country and various GB plans available.
The Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Montenegro For Travel in 2024
Facts About Prepaid SIMs in Montenegro
📞 Need a local phone number? | Consider a physical SIM card |
---|---|
🌐 Only need access to data? | Get an eSIM instead |
📱 Does your phone accept eSIMs? | |
📊 Unlimited data for 5 days | $27 with Holafly |
💸 1GB for 7 days | $4.50 with Airalo |
🌟 20GB for 30 | $40 with Airalo |
Where to Buy Physical Prepaid SIM Cards For Montenegro
Prepaid SIM cards are easily accessible for tourists in Montenegro, although they require personal information registration upon purchase. EU roaming SIMs won't work here since the country is not in the EU.
1. montenegro Airports
While prepaid SIMs are available at the airport, cheaper options can be found in the city center or through eSIMs.
2. Network Provider Retail Stores in Montenegro
Providers like One (Telenor), Crnogorski Telekom, and m:tel offer prepaid SIMs at their storefronts in town.
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 montenegro networks (like One or m:tel) 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 Montenegro Travel
Here are some of the most popular options for plastic SIM cards for tourists in Montenegro:
1. One
One offers a Tourist plan with a 4G/LTE SIM card and substantial data packages.
Options include 500 GB for 7 days at €10, 500 GB for 15 days at €15, and 1 TB for 30 days at €20, with the possibility of extension after the initial period.
2. m:tel
m:tel provides SIM cards at their shops, Tivat airport, and press kiosks nationwide.
Their prepaid tourist SIM costs €15 and includes €10 credit, allowing for 500 GB of data for 15 days, with calls and SMS charged separately. Activation can be done by calling any number or through the seller.
Best Digital Prepaid e-SIMs For Tourists in Montenegro
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 Montenegro, they offer eSIMs from 1GB for 7 days at $4.50 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 Montenegro cost between $27 and $79 once off and are valid from 5 to 30 days, offering peace of mind that you'll never run out of data.
Although Holafly offers unlimited data in most countries, including Montenegro, 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 Montenegro range from $14.30 to $48.40.
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.
To make sure your phone can support eSIM cards, read our list of eSIM-compatible phones.
Largest Mobile Network Operators in Montenegro
eSIMs are great because they connect to the best network available wherever you are. Your phone might connect to One or m:tel, depending on your location, at no extra cost. In contrast, if you buy a SIM card directly from one montenegro telecom provider, then your phone will only access that provider's network.
In Montenegro, expect to see these names as you connect to data on your travels:
- Crnogorski: Comprehensive network infrastructure, innovative solutions, affordable packages, ensuring seamless connectivity and customer satisfaction across Montenegro.
- m:tel: Broad network coverage, reliable mobile and internet services, competitive pricing, catering to diverse customer needs nationwide.
- One: Extensive 4G coverage, high-speed internet, international roaming, customer-centric services, serving urban and rural areas effectively.
Registration Process For Prepaid SIM Cards in Montenegro
In Montenegro, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prepaid SIM Cards For Travel in Montenegro
Should I buy a SIM card before traveling to Montenegro?
Yes, it is wise to plan ahead, but you can also opt for an eSIM even 24 hours before your trip if you have an eSIM-compatible phone. The best part about eSIMs like Airalo and Holafly is that the plans won’t activate until you connect within the plan’s designated country. This means you won’t be on the clock until your trip finally starts.
What is the best prepaid SIM card for Montenegro in 2024?
We believe Airalo offers the best prepaid eSIMs in Montenegro and around the world in 2024, with options that are 5G compatible, starting from 1GB for 7 days at $4.50 up to 20GB for 30 days at $40.
Is my phone compatible with eSIM?
Check our list to make sure your device is compatible with eSIM technology.
Learn More About eSIMs For Travel
Why Trust Monito?
You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.
Monito is trusted by 15+ million users across the globe.
Monito's experts spend hours researching and testing services so that you don't have to.
Our recommendations are always unbiased and independent.