Your Cell Phone SIM/eSIM Options in Italy
Unlike in Spain, France and the UK, Italy requires people to register their Italian phone numbers with an Italian tax id. Those of us who are residents for only a few days have a problem there! I've researched many sites and am confirming this info that I find over and over again and feel is reliable.
Currently, TIM Italy, Vodafone Italy, Wind Tre & Iliad offer eSIMs to prepaid customers.
Note that the Italian mobile operators require your identification (ID for EU/EEA travelers and passport for anyone else) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards as part of Italy's SIM card registration requirements. I know I do not want to deal with any of that for privacy reasons. Luckily, there is a way to avoid this registration scheme: by roaming (super expensive) or using a travel eSIM (affordable AND can be cheaper than local SIM cards in many countries).
Travel eSIM providers Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, SimOptions & Ubigi offer attractive eSIMs for Italy, allowing them to be set up before arriving in Italy and activating them as soon as you land.
Very convenient, right? And I have used eSIMs from Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, SimOptions & Ubigi before, and I can assure you they work well!
So let's check out all the options, shall we?
Airalo eSIMs for Italy (Mamma Mia)
Airalo eSIMs are my favorite travel eSIMs out there because they are always good value for money compared to other travel eSIM providers (especially travel eSIMs not mentioned in this guide).
And the same can be said for the Mamma Mia eSIM – 20 GB of data is available for only 33 USD.
Wait… you have no idea who or what Airalo is? I have an in-depth review explaining how Airalo works and all its options, based on four years of using Airalo eSIMs – you can read it now or later (I will briefly introduce Airalo anyway in this guide).
You have six Airalo Mamma Mia eSIM options:
- Italy/Mamma Mia 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 4.50 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Italy/Mamma Mia 2 GB eSIM for 15 days (new), costing 8 USD
- Italy/Mamma Mia 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 10 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Italy/Mamma Mia 5 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 14.50 USD
- Italy/Mamma Mia 10 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 24 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
- Italy/Mamma Mia 20 GB eSIM for 30 days (new), costing 33 USD
Honestly, the Airalo Mamma Mia eSIM is not bad at all, especially considering its options and prices.
Let me review some of its pros and cons before you get a Mamma Mia eSIM (or continue exploring your other options mentioned in this guide).
Airalo Mamma Mia eSIM Pros
So, why should you get the Mamma Mia eSIMs? Well, because of the following
- You can avoid expensive international roaming fees
- You can purchase and set up your Mamma Mia eSIM before arriving in Italy (and activate it upon landing)
- The eSIM will start once you have it enabled and are in Italy – not earlier (so you can pre-purchase your eSIM months in advance in peace – I do this often)
- You can skip Italy's SIM card registration requirements and any queues at the airport or in town
- You get full (up to 4G/LTE) access to the Wind Tre Italy network
- The eSIMs are affordable and have generous data allowances
- You can manage your eSIM easily on the Airalo website or its apps (Android and iOS)
- If you need more data, top-ups are available (at the same prices as listed earlier – not at a markup)
What are the main cons of Airalo's Mamma Mia eSIMs?
- You cannot call or text with the Mamma Mia eSIM – it is a data-only eSIM (so you do not get a (Italian) phone number either)
- While you get access to Wind Tre's network, your speeds will not be as fast as going with Wind Tre Italy itself because you will be roaming on their networks (and not be a native customer)
- The Italian mobile operators have much more generous data allowances (while Mamma Mia's is capped at 20 GB, but top-ups are available)
- There are no unlimited data plans (unlike some other options mentioned in this guide)
- There is no 5G NR access with the Mamma Mia eSIM (but you will have 5G NR access with the Airalo Eurolink eSIM instead – more about it later)
Airalo Mamma Mia eSIM Overall Thoughts
I am a big fan of Airalo and its eSIMs in general, as mentioned in my Airalo review, including the Mamma Mia eSIM.
You get fast (up to 4G/LTE) speeds and access in Italy without standing in queues or dealing with SIM card registration bureaucracy.
But if making actual phone calls and sending real text messages are important to you (so not through an app like WhatsApp), you may want to buy a Italian SIM card instead (an in-depth guide).
Holafly eSIMs for Italy
Holafly offers unlimited data plans for Italy, many other European Union member states & a few other countries.
No idea who or what Holafly is? I have an in-depth review explaining how Airalo works and all its options, based on two years of using Holafly eSIMs – you can read it now or later (I will briefly introduce Holafly anyway in this guide).
But if you do not want to worry about data allowances, Holafly's Italy plans are completely unlimited. BUT unlimited data plans are more expensive than any eSIM mentioned in this guide.
The Holafly eSIMs use the Wind Tre (formerly Wind & 3 Italy) network.
Holafly Italy eSIM Pros
What are the main perks of Holafly's Italy eSIMs?
- You can avoid expensive international roaming fees
- You can skip Italy's SIM card registration requirements
- You get full (up to 4G/LTE) access on the Wind Tre, TIM Italy, Vodafone Italy & Iliad Italy networks
- You do not have to deal with hard data caps because you get unlimited data (50 GB – here I come!)
- If you, somehow, experience any problems, Holafly's support team responds surprisingly quickly (even on weekends)
Holafly Italy eSIM eSIM Cons
What are the main cons of Holafly's Italy eSIMs?
- You cannot call or text with the Holafly Italy eSIM – it is a data-only eSIM (so you do not get an (Italian) phone number either)
- While you get access to the Wind Tre, TIM Italy, Vodafone Italy & Iliad Italy networks, your speeds will not be as fast as going with the mobile operators themselves themselves because you will be roaming on their networks (and not be a native customer)
- The eSIM's validity, supposedly, starts as soon as you scan the QR code, not upon using it in Italy
- I say supposedly because I have installed eSIMs literally months in advance and had no issues using them later, but I do not want you to experience this issue with your hard-earned money
- While you get “unlimited” data, the soft cap seems to be 2.5-3 GB/day and 90 GB per month (if you get the 30-, 60-, or 90-day eSIM)
- I have not experienced this soft cap myself
- You cannot use your phone as a hotspot (tether) with any Holafly unlimited data eSIM
- There is no 5G NR access with the Holafly Italy eSIM
- You cannot top-up your eSIM – you have to buy a new one (in case you stay in Italy for a bit longer than initially planned)
- Holafly is the most expensive eSIM provider in this guide
Using Italian SIM Cards in San Marino and Vatican City
San Marino is a country within the borders of Italy. The same counts for Vatican City, although the latter is within the boundaries of Metropolitan Rome. Both countries, city-states, nation-states, or whatever you want to call them, have their own government.
However, there is no official border crossing or passport checks when entering San Marino or Vatican City.
Due to the size of Vatican City, it does not have a domestic mobile operator – so you cannot buy a Vatican SIM card, as there is none.
Instead, the Italian mobile operators cover Vatican City in full. You will have good reception throughout the entirety of the city. Likewise, it is unnecessary to buy a Sammarinese SIM card because the Italian mobile operators also cover all of San Marino. However, reception and speeds may suffer (slightly) the more inland you go.
Overview of the Best eSIMs for Italy
So, we reviewed some eSIMs that can be used in Italy.
I will give you a quick recap of each and link to their product pages in case you need more info or want to purchase an eSIM already (just remember the activation policies of Holafly, Nomad & SimOptions – do not buy their eSIMs too early):
- Airalo Mamma Mia eSIM (best value for money)
- Holafly Italy eSIM (unlimited data eSIMs)
- Nomad Italy eSIM (best value for money… too)
- Airalo Eurolink eSIM (best value for money for 39 European countries)
- Holafly Europe eSIM (unlimited data eSIMs for 32 European countries)
- Nomad Europe eSIM (the best of both worlds in terms of pricing and performance for 35 European countries)
- SimOptions Europe eSIMs (choice from multiple providers + calling & texting options (the only one in this list))
- Ubigi Europe Plans (most extensive Europe coverage (52 countries), with a liberal definition of Europe in your favor)
- Airalo Discover Global eSIM (reasonable global coverage (85+ countries) at attractive prices)
- AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions with 5G NR access in Italy (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (50/123) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)
- Nomad Global eSIM (extensive global coverage (110 countries) at high(er) prices)
- Ubigi World Plan (most extensive global coverage (175+ countries) at the highest prices)
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