Partial 5G in Colombia, and what that means for your eSIM
Colombia has 1 mobile network: movistar (5G). All 5 providers we rank route through these carriers. Our editorial pick routes through Claro CO, which is the sole 5G carrier operating in Colombia. Airalo's catalogue starts at $2.78/GB with 5G access. Runners-up HelloRoam and Holafly connect via Claro CO, scoring 4.9/5 and 4.3/5 on coverage.
Provider routing covers 1 mobile network in Colombia: Claro CO, Movistar CO, Tigo CO, and WOM CO. Claro CO connects through the strongest combination of urban coverage and rural reach among those options. Claro CO sits at the top of the published carrier list for travel eSIM traffic in Colombia. 5G remains limited outside major cities.
A travel eSIM in Colombia attaches to Claro CO on 5G. All 5 ranked providers ride that same host network rather than one of their own, so the network under a HelloRoam plan and the network under an Airalo plan is the same equipment. Claro CO is the only operator on the published list for Colombia, which removes any fallback if it drops. This site publishes no throughput figure, because it runs no speed test.
5G status in Colombia: 5G in Bogota and Medellin. Your eSIM automatically connects to the fastest available band when 5G is in range.
How to install an eSIM for Colombia without a shop visit
Purchase your Colombia eSIM from the provider app or website. Scan the QR code over WiFi at home. The eSIM installs in under 2 minutes. Label the new line "Colombia Data" to keep it separate from your home SIM.
When you land in Colombia, enable data roaming on the eSIM line. Your phone connects to Claro CO's 5G network within 30 seconds. Colombia requires SIM registration. Travel eSIM providers handle this automatically during activation.
Purchase your Colombia eSIM ahead of your trip for instant connectivity on arrival. Installation takes under 5 minutes on any unlocked iPhone XS or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20+, or Google Pixel 3+. We recommend completing setup at least 24 hours before your 10-day trip. Colombia has 1 carrier network, and plans start at $4.77 for 1GB.
Your eSIM connects to Claro CO's 5G network in Colombia. The country operates 1 network: Claro CO, Movistar CO, Tigo CO, and WOM CO. Claro CO provides the strongest combination of urban reach and tourist-corridor coverage based on network data.
Open your provider's app, scan the QR code, and select Colombia as your data plan destination. Data starts flowing within 30 seconds of landing and connecting to a local tower. The catalogue lists 6 plans for Colombia, starting at $2.78/GB on Claro CO's infrastructure.
Colombia requires SIM registration for mobile connections. Passport required. Travel eSIM providers typically handle this step for you during activation.
5G remains limited to select areas in Colombia. Your eSIM defaults to 5G on Claro CO, which handles streaming and video calls without issues.
For a full walkthrough with screenshots, see our eSIM buying guide.
Colombia data plans, and what each tier actually covers
The published price ladder for Colombia: 1GB at $4.77 ($4.77/GB), 3GB at $12.60 ($4.20/GB), 5GB at $20.16 ($4.03/GB), 10GB at $29.25 ($2.93/GB), 20GB at $55.50 ($2.78/GB). Best value sits at 20GB for $55.50, at $2.78 per gigabyte. Budget entry starts at $4.77 for 1GB. Premium unlimited daily data costs $8.56/day with 2GB at full speed before throttling. Longer commitments reduce the daily rate: the 30-day plan drops to $7.02/day (18% off). Among the 5 providers we ranked, HelloRoam scores highest on pricing (4.8/5). Holafly follows at 4.7/5. Ladder rates run from $2.78 to about $4.77 depending on plan size.
Before purchasing an eSIM for Colombia, our editors flagged these details.
SIM registration requirement: Passport required.
Claro has widest coverage including coffee region.
Light travelers (maps, messaging, email) use 500MB-1GB per day. Moderate users (social media, photo uploads, ride-hailing) need 1-2GB daily. Heavy users (video calls, streaming, remote work) consume 2-4GB per day.
For a 10-day trip to Colombia: light users need roughly 8GB, moderate users need 15GB. The 20GB plan at $55.50 on Claro CO covers the moderate scenario.
Colombia eSIM pricing on Claro CO: 1GB: $4.77 ($4.77/GB), 3GB: $12.60 ($4.20/GB), 5GB: $20.16 ($4.03/GB), 10GB: $29.25 ($2.93/GB), 20GB: $55.50 ($2.78/GB). Larger plans reduce the per-GB cost. All prices are one-time with no auto-renewal.
Unlimited option: $8.56/day with no data cap (2GB at full speed). Multi-day discounts available: the 30-day plan costs $7.02/day.
Airport SIM comparison: kiosk SIMs in Colombia cost $5-10 for 5-10GB / 28 days. eSIM prices start at $2.78/GB with instant activation.
Explore all destinations in South America or read our full buying guide to understand which provider wins for your travel style. See also: the rubric each provider is scored against.
Colombia verdict: per-gigabyte for short trips, unlimited for long ones
For budget travelers the pricing dimension is the one to read: HelloRoam publishes an entry rate of $3.50/GB and scores 4.8/5 there, ahead of Holafly at 4.7/5. Plans in Colombia attach to movistar on 5G, with Claro CO, Movistar CO, Tigo CO, and WOM CO also on the published carrier list. Airalo's Colombia catalogue undercuts that: the ladder steps from $4.77 for 1GB to $55.50 for 20GB, and the 20GB rung is its cheapest gigabyte at $2.78. Holafly sells unlimited at $2.99/day, so a trip past 19 days costs more on the day rate than the 20GB rung costs outright at $55.50. One local detail the rubric does not score: WOM entered 2023 driving prices down.
HelloRoam earns the Colombia pick at 9.5/10, with the top mark on network tier, pricing and support. Its published entry rate is $3.50/GB, which the 20GB rung on this ladder beats at $2.78/GB.
Airalo follows at 9.3/10, 0.2 points back, and the ladder this page quotes is Airalo's own Colombia catalogue, which bottoms out at $2.78/GB.
Worth knowing before you buy for Colombia: Coverage gaps in Amazon and remote mountains.
eSIM provider comparison for Colombia (June 2026)| Provider | Score | $/GB | Best For | Action |
|---|
| HelloRoam | 9.5/10 | from $3.50/GB | Editors Choice | Get deal → |
|---|
| Airalo | 9.3/10 | $4.50/GB | Widest Coverage | Get deal → |
|---|
| Holafly | 8.9/10 | $2.99/day | Best Unlimited | Get deal → |
|---|
| Saily | 8.4/10 | $3.99/GB | Best Privacy | Get deal → |
|---|
| Nomad | 8/10 | $3.00/GB | Best Budget | Get deal → |
|---|
See our budget eSIM guide for the cheapest options, or our unlimited eSIM guide if data caps are a concern.
Provider assessments for Colombia
HelloRoam
HelloRoam scores 9.5/10 on an entry rate of $3.50/GB, and the best rung on the Colombia ladder is 20GB at $2.78/GB, below that. Every provider here rides the same host networks in Colombia: movistar on 5G, plus Claro CO, Movistar CO, Tigo CO, and WOM CO.
Airalo
Airalo scores 9.3/10 on an entry rate of $4.50/GB, and the ladder on this page is its own Colombia catalogue: $4.77 for 1GB up to $55.50 for 20GB, bottoming out at $2.78/GB.
Holafly
Holafly scores 8.9/10 and sells unlimited only, at $2.99/day, so the comparison is a break-even: under 19 days that costs less than the 20GB rung's $55.50, and past it costs more.
Saily
Saily scores 8.4/10 on an entry rate of $3.99/GB, and 2 of the 5 rungs on the Colombia ladder cost less per gigabyte than that.
Nomad
Nomad scores 8.0/10 on an entry rate of $3.00/GB, and Airalo's catalogue floor for Colombia is $2.78/GB, under that.
Real-world usage in Colombia
Navigation and maps in Colombia
Google Maps and Waze use 5-10MB per hour of active navigation. On Claro CO's 5G network, maps load in under 2 seconds. The 20GB plan at $55.50 covers 2-3 weeks of daily navigation.
Messaging and video calls
WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Zoom run smoothly on 5G in Colombia. A 30-minute video call uses roughly 270MB. Hotel WiFi supplements your eSIM data for large downloads.
Streaming and content
HD video streaming uses about 1.5GB per hour on Claro CO's network. Holafly's unlimited plan from $2.99/day handles heavy streaming without data caps.
Typical 10-day trip
A moderate traveler uses about 1.5GB per day across maps, messaging, and photo uploads. For 10 days in Colombia, plan for 15GB total. The 20GB plan at $55.50 is the best match for this usage level.
Value analysis for Colombia
The 20GB plan delivers the strongest value at $2.78/GB for Colombia. Budget travelers can start with 1GB at $4.77. Both tiers connect through Claro CO's 5G network with identical speed access.
Unlimited data costs $8.56/day for Colombia. For trips under 7 days, a fixed plan wins on cost. Longer stays or heavy data usage tips the balance toward unlimited.
HelloRoam leads our Colombia value ranking with a 9.5/10 editorial score. 5 providers compete for Colombia. The published ladder starts at $2.78/GB.
How the rubric scored eSIMs for Colombia
All 5 providers are scored on the same five weighted dimensions, every input a figure the provider publishes: coverage 25%, pricing 25%, network tier 20%, app 15%, support 15%.
What the rubric read for Colombia: a carrier list of 5 operators, with movistar on 5G; a 5-rung published ladder from $4.77 for 1GB to $55.50 for 20GB; a lowest catalogue rate of $2.78/GB, which is Airalo's; an unlimited daily option in the same Airalo catalogue.
Read the full scoring rubric.
Colombia in the South America eSIM landscape
Colombia ranks in the mid tier for eSIM infrastructure in South America. 1 network accept eSIM roaming, with Claro CO providing the primary routing for all 5 providers.
Per-GB pricing in Colombia starts at $2.78, which is competitive for the South America region. 6 plans are available across providers, including unlimited daily data at $8.56/day.
Common questions about using an eSIM in Colombia
Why does HelloRoam earn your Colombia eSIM pick?
HelloRoam scores 9.5/10 on our published rubric for Colombia, the highest composite of the five providers ranked here. Plans for Colombia route through Claro CO on 5G. HelloRoam refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days. Its dimension scores are coverage 4.9/5, network tier 4.7/5, app 4.7/5, pricing 4.8/5 and support 4.5/5. Airalo's published ladder for Colombia starts at $2.78/GB, with its 20GB plan at $55.50.
How do you score eSIM providers in Colombia?
The BesteSIM rubric scores HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad on five published inputs. No figure here comes from a speed test. Coverage carries 25% and reads the operator list for Colombia, which names 1 carrier network led by Claro CO. Price carries 25%, normalised to cost per gigabyte across every plan size. Network tier carries 20%, app features 15%, and support access 15%, the last read off published support languages: HelloRoam answers in 63, Airalo in 12, Saily in 1. 5G in Bogota and Medellin. Every input is a published figure a reader can check.
What changed in the 2026 Colombia eSIM rankings?
Pricing update for 2026: the 1GB plan is now $4.77. All five providers route through Claro CO in Colombia. 5G coverage note: 5G in Bogota and Medellin. We rank 6 plans for Colombia, with the 20GB plan at $2.78/GB.
Which phones support eSIM for Colombia?
Your eSIM connects to Claro CO's 5G network in Colombia. 5G is confirmed on iPhone XS+, Samsung Galaxy S20+, and Google Pixel 3+. Your device must be carrier-unlocked. Claro CO publishes 5G service across Colombia. Check Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM (iPhone) or Settings > Connections > SIM manager (Samsung/Android) to verify. Most 2022+ Android flagships also work on Claro CO's 5G signal in Colombia.
Can I make phone calls with a Colombia travel eSIM?
Travel eSIMs provide data only on Claro CO's 5G network. No local phone number is assigned. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Zoom over your Colombia data connection. Keep your home SIM active to receive calls on your regular number. All five providers ranked here (HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad) sell data-only plans for Colombia.
What 5G coverage can I expect from a Colombia eSIM?
All five providers route Colombia eSIMs through Claro CO, the leading carrier in the South America region. 5G in Bogota and Medellin. Claro CO publishes 5G service across the main cities and tourist corridors, and every provider on this page rides that same network rather than one of its own.
Is eSIM support mature in Colombia compared to the rest of South America?
Colombia has 1 network operator accepting eSIM roaming: movistar. That puts it in the mid tier for South America eSIM maturity. All five ranked providers sell data-only plans on 5G here. Provider scores for Colombia are on each provider's review page, with the weighting shown in full on the rubric page.
Can I tether or hotspot with a Colombia eSIM?
It depends on the provider. Airalo, Saily, and Nomad allow tethering on their Colombia plans with no extra fee. You can share your 5G connection on movistar with laptops and tablets. Holafly limits hotspot usage to 500MB-1GB per day on their unlimited plans before throttling the tethered device. Airalo's hotspot delivers 5G speeds to connected laptops and tablets without throttling.
How much does an airport SIM cost vs eSIM in Colombia?
Airport SIM cards in Colombia typically cost $5-10 for 5-10GB / 28 days from local telecom vendors. You will wait 15-45 minutes in line, plus time for ID registration. An eSIM starts at $2.78/GB with instant Claro CO activation from your phone. Compare the two on published price alone: $5-10 for 5-10GB / 28 days at the kiosk against $2.78/GB from the phone, with no counter queue and no passport scan.
What is the best-scoring eSIM plan for Colombia?
The 20GB plan at $55.50 ($2.78/GB) takes the highest pricing score for Colombia, because it holds the lowest published cost per gigabyte in the catalogue. It routes through Claro CO on 5G, the same carrier every one of the five providers uses here. Full plan range: 1GB at $4.77, 3GB at $12.60, 5GB at $20.16, 10GB at $29.25, 20GB at $55.50. The 20GB tier suits trips of 5 days or more.
How much does roaming cost in Colombia vs an eSIM?
Home carrier roaming in Colombia typically costs $5-15/day or $10-20/GB. An eSIM starts at $2.78/GB on Claro CO's 5G network. The 20GB plan at $55.50 covers most trips for a fraction of roaming fees.
Can I use multiple eSIMs in Colombia?
Most modern phones support 8-10 eSIM profiles simultaneously. Only one data eSIM can be active at a time in Colombia. You can keep your home SIM active for calls while using an eSIM on Claro CO for data. Switch between profiles in Settings without removing any.
Staying connected in Colombia on WiFi and mobile data
Before your trip to Colombia, plan your data budget. Most travelers use 1-2GB per day for maps, messaging, and photo uploads. The 20GB plan at $55.50 covers a typical week-long visit on Claro CO's 5G network.
You will likely arrive at El Dorado (BOG). the local time zone is COT (UTC-5). wall outlets use Type A/B sockets, so pack the right adapter.
The emergency number in Colombia is 123. Store it before you leave home. the local currency is COP ($). Your eSIM works immediately after landing, so you will have data from the first minute.
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Colombia · 5 providers compared
