Best Prepaid SIM Card for Aruba in 2026 (Tourist Guide)

Are you planning a trip to Aruba and looking for the best prepaid SIM card for staying connected in 2026? This is my complete guide to buying a SIM card in Aruba, updated with the latest tourist SIM prices, eSIM options and my personal experience from arriving at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).

Aruba will always be one of my favorite islands in the Caribbean. In 2006 I lived here for 6 months and I have been back many times since.

Every visit I still do the same thing on arrival: get connected as fast as possible, because it makes everything easier, from Google Maps to booking restaurants, renting a car and staying in touch on WhatsApp.

Last updated: March 2026.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on independent research and personal experience.

Do you need a SIM card for Aruba?

Most hotels in Aruba have WiFi, but do not expect it to work perfectly everywhere. I stayed for example once at the Ritz-Carlton and in the room the WiFi was good, but around the pool and on the beach it was noticeably slower, so I used mobile data most of the time.

In general there is no WiFi on the beach in the Palm Beach or Eagle Beach Hotel Zone. So getting a local prepaid sim card or an eSIM is worth it to stay connected everywhere.

Once you leave your hotel, having your own data is what makes Aruba travel smooth. Think Google Maps to get around, checking opening hours, booking restaurants, contacting your rental car company, ordering taxis and staying reachable for travel updates.

Aruba is a beach destination and there is no reliable WiFi when you spend the day at Palm Beach, Eagle Beach or exploring the island by car.

I love renting a car in Aruba to tour around the island. Without data on my phone, navigating and finding spontaneous stops would have been much more challenging.

A fun day trip is Renaissance Island to see the flamingos, but without mobile data you are disconnected for the entire day.

Mobile internet in Aruba: 4G and 5G coverage

Aruba has two mobile providers for tourists: Digicel and Setar. In my experience both networks are reliable and dense in all the main tourist areas. Aruba is small, so you will generally have good 4G coverage in and around Oranjestad and in the hotel zone around Noord, Palm Beach and Eagle Beach.

Where the difference matters is consistency. Based on my research and travel experience, the Digicel network feels slightly more upgraded than the Setar network. If you want the safest choice for coverage and reliability, Digicel is my recommendation.

When you leave the busiest areas, mobile data speeds can drop. If you plan to drive around the island and spend time away from the hotel zone, choosing the most reliable network matters more than saving a couple dollars.

Is there 5G in Aruba?

Yes there is 5G now in Aruba. I recently visited the island and my phone was connected to 5G most of the time in Noord and the Palm Beach hotel zone.

If you leave the hotel zone the realistic expectation is that 4G/LTE is the standard mobile connection you will use around the island.

Where to buy a prepaid SIM card in Aruba

Buying a SIM card at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA)

The easiest place to buy a tourist SIM card in Aruba is right after you land at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA). After baggage claim and customs you walk into a small arrivals hall where the SIM card shops are impossible to miss.

The Digicel shop is on the right side and Setar is on the left side. If you want to be connected immediately for rental car logistics or directions to your hotel, buying a tourist SIM at AUA is the most convenient option.

My experience: on one of my arrivals I got in too early and the SIM card stores were still closed. Aruba Airport has free WiFi and it worked very well, so I connected first and bought my SIM as soon as the shops opened since I had to wait for my rental car anyway.

Digicel Aruba Airport opening hours: 9.00 am to 8.00 pm every day.

Payment methods can differ per shop. On my recent visit, Digicel at the airport was credit card only, while Setar also accepted cash (USD and local currency).

Buying a SIM card in Aruba city centers

If you do not buy your tourist SIM at the airport, you can also visit the official Digicel and Setar stores in and around Oranjestad. Be prepared for waiting time, because the official stores can be busy and things do not always move fast.

There are also sim card kiosks in some of the bigger supermarkets and in busy areas around the hotel zone (Noord, Palm Beach, Eagle Beach). This can be a practical option if you want a tourist SIM after you have checked into your hotel.

Important for Aruba: tourists with a foreign passport can only buy tourist SIM plans. The cheaper local prepaid plans are for residents and are not available to visitors.

Buying an eSIM for Aruba online

If your phone supports eSIM, you can arrange an eSIM before you fly. This is the easiest setup because you land with data ready to use. Aruba has local operator eSIMs (Digicel and Setar), plus international travel eSIMs that you can buy online.

Local operator eSIMs from Setar and Digicel can only be bought on arrival in Aruba.

International travel eSIMs are data-only and can be purchased on the internet. This is the most convenient option to stay connected as you are online as soon as the plane lands. Based on our extensive research for the best Aruba eSIMs in 2026 Sim Local and Jetpac eSIMs came out as the best-buy with 10 GB for around $35 - $40 USD.

Prepaid SIM card providers in Aruba

There are two mobile providers in Aruba that offer tourist SIM cards: Digicel and Setar. As a tourist you will either get a physical prepaid SIM card or an eSIM, both come with a local Aruba phone number that starts with +297.

A prepaid SIM card in Aruba is locally called a ‘chippie’. The official languages in Aruba are Dutch and Papiamento, but everyone also speaks fluent English and Spanish, so buying a SIM card is very straightforward.

Digicel

Digicel is my top recommendation for Aruba in 2026. Both providers work well in the main tourist areas, but Digicel feels slightly more upgraded and is the best choice if you want the most reliable coverage while exploring the island.

Digicel tourist plans are available as a physical SIM card as well as an eSIM for compatible phones, which gives you flexibility depending on your setup.

Setar

Setar is Aruba’s other main provider and it also has strong coverage in tourist areas. It is a perfectly workable option even if you travel around the island. Setar is the original, government-founded national telecommunications provider in Aruba.

My experience: I was only staying in Aruba for 3 days and because the Setar shop opened a little earlier I chose to buy an unlimited data SIM from Setar. I used a hotspot to share one SIM with my girlfriend.

It did the job, but I was disappointed with the consistency of the Setar data speed at times, which is why I recommend Digicel instead for the best overall experience.

Prices of prepaid SIM cards in Aruba in 2026

All prices below are tourist SIM plan prices in USD. Aruba uses the Aruban Florin, but tourist pricing is commonly shown in USD.

Important: tourists with a foreign passport can only buy tourist SIM plans in Aruba. The cheaper local prepaid plans are for residents and are not available to visitors.

Digicel tourist SIM plans

• Unlimited data + 20 minutes international calls for 3 days = ~$20 USD
• Unlimited data + 30 minutes international calls for 7 days = ~$30 USD
• Unlimited data + 60 minutes international calls for 14 days = ~$50 USD

Setar tourist SIM plans

• Unlimited data + 20 minutes international calls for 3 days = ~$20 USD
• Unlimited data + 30 minutes international calls for 7 days = ~$30 USD
• Unlimited data + 60 minutes international calls for 14 days = ~$50 USD

For most travelers, the 7 day plan is the sweet spot. If you are only visiting Aruba for a long weekend, the 3 day plan is usually enough. For longer vacations, the 14 day plan is the most convenient option.

Best eSIM for Aruba in 2026

There are two types of eSIMs for Aruba:

• Local Aruba eSIM from Digicel or Setar, which matches the tourist SIM packages but you can only buy on arrival in Aruba with your passport at hand.
• International travel eSIM from global eSIM brands, useful if you want everything set up before departure. These are usually data-only with fixed data bundles.

If you are traveling to multiple countries, you may also want to check out my comparison of the best international SIM cards for traveling abroad.

To compare international eSIM value, a 10 GB plan is a useful benchmark for Aruba because it covers most 1 to 2 week trips if you mainly use maps, messaging, browsing and social media.

International Aruba eSIM comparison (10 GB benchmark)

• Jetpac: 10 GB for 30 days = ~$36 USD
• Saily: 10 GB for 30 days = ~$37.99 USD
• Sim Local: 10 GB for 30 days = ~$40 USD (Read my full review here: Sim Local eSIM for the Caribbean)
• Nomad: 10 GB for 30 days = ~$40 USD
• Airalo: 10 GB for 7 days = ~$46.50 USD (short validity, usually not the best value for Aruba)

Sim Local offers a 15% discount on all eSIMs if you use the coupon code: "Traveltomtom" at check out.

My eSIM verdict for Aruba: if you want the best value once discounts are applied, Sim Local is often the best buy with the Traveltomtom code. If you want the cheapest baseline price without using codes, Jetpac is the cheapest in your comparison.

What is the best prepaid SIM card for tourists in Aruba

The best prepaid SIM card for Aruba in 2026 is Digicel. The reason is simple: best network coverage and reliability, not the cheapest price. Tourist SIM plan prices are very similar between Digicel and Setar, so network quality is the deciding factor.

If you stay mostly in Oranjestad and the hotel zone, Setar will work fine. If you want the safest pick for exploring the island, choose Digicel.

eSIMs vs local prepaid SIM cards in Aruba

If your phone supports eSIM, eSIM is the most convenient way to get online. You can install it before departure and land connected, or you can choose a local operator eSIM on arrival.

For Aruba, local tourist SIM plans (physical SIM or local eSIM from Digicel or Setar) are usually better value for heavy data use because they are built around typical vacation lengths and offer unlimited data options.

International travel eSIMs are mainly a convenience option. They can be great if you only need a fixed amount of data and want everything arranged before your flight, but they are not the best value if you plan to stream a lot, upload videos or hotspot heavily.

Things to know before buying a SIM card in Aruba

• Tourist SIM only: as a visitor with a foreign passport you buy tourist SIM plans in Aruba. Local resident prepaid plans are not available for tourists.
• Bring an unlocked phone: Aruba SIM cards and eSIMs only work in unlocked devices.
• Airport timing: if you arrive early, the SIM shops at AUA may still be closed. Connect to the airport WiFi first and buy your SIM as soon as the shops open.
• Hotel zone convenience: if you skipped the airport, look for kiosks in bigger supermarkets and busy areas around the hotel zone.
• Sharing data: if you want to use hotspot to share data with a travel partner, confirm the hotspot rules at the moment you buy your plan.

My experiences buying a sim card at Aruba Airport

Upon arrival at Queen Beatrix Airport in Aruba I wasn’t able to buy a prepaid sim card because I got there too early and the sim card stores were still closed. Luckily I had to arrange my rental car and as I could only pick up my car later I had to wait anyway.

At first I quickly wanted to buy an eSIM for Aruba to make sure I was connected but there is free WiFi at Aruba Airport and it works very good. As soon as the sim card shops opened I went to buy my Aruba sim card. 

I was only staying in Aruba for 3 days this time and since the Setar shop opened a little earlier and they also have a sim card for Aruba with unlimited data including hotspot I decided to share 1 sim card with my girlfriend.

For what I needed the Setar sim card did the job ok, but I was a little disappointed with the Setar data speed. I expected faster mobile data to be honest.

See more of my experiences arriving at Aruba Airport and buying a sim card in my vlog about buying a sim card for Aruba below.

FAQ about SIM cards in Aruba

Can tourists buy a normal prepaid SIM card in Aruba?

Tourists buy tourist SIM plans in Aruba. The cheaper local resident prepaid plans are not available to visitors with a foreign passport.

What is the best SIM card for Aruba?

Digicel is the best SIM card for Aruba because it offers the most reliable overall network and feels slightly more upgraded than Setar.

Is it better to buy a SIM card at Aruba Airport?

Yes. Buying at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) is convenient and easy. It is the fastest way to get connected right after landing.

Is there 5G in Aruba?

I could not find confirmed 5G information on the official Digicel and Setar channels. For tourists, 4G/LTE is the realistic mobile internet standard across Aruba.

Can I buy an eSIM for Aruba?

Yes. Aruba has local operator eSIMs as well as international travel eSIMs. If your phone supports eSIM, it is an easy way to get connected without swapping a physical SIM.

Which Aruba SIM is best for the hotel zone in Noord, Palm Beach and Eagle Beach?

Both Digicel and Setar work well in the main tourist areas. If you want the safest choice for consistent performance, pick Digicel.

Do I need a passport to buy a tourist SIM in Aruba?

Bring your passport or a valid ID when you buy a tourist SIM. Rules can vary per shop and can change over time.

How to get from Aruba Airport to your hotel

No need to haggle for taxi prices in Aruba as there are flat taxi fares from the airport to the hotels. Depending on where your hotel is located you pay around $20 - $30 USD per ride.

You can also easily rent a car at Aruba Airport. The car rental companies are located opposite the arrival terminal.

After visiting Aruba multiple times, I can tell you that staying connected makes a big difference. From navigating the island to sharing those beach sunsets, having a reliable SIM card just makes everything smoother.

I hope this guide helped you decide which SIM card or eSIM is best for your trip. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along.

Enjoy Aruba, it’s One Happy Island!

• caribbean
• aruba
• dutch antilles
• oranjestad