Best eSIM guide · 2026
Best eSIM Plans for Bulgaria (2026): Side-by-Side
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
The comparison
eSIM providers compared for Bulgaria
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rating | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 AiraloHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.5 / 5 | $4.50/GB |
 HelloRoam | 4.3 / 5 | from $3.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 / 5 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 / 5 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 / 5 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Speed Consistency 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
Spec-by-spec breakdown for Bulgaria
Every measurable dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | Airalo | HelloRoam | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Countries | 200+ | 186+ | 178+ | 150+ | 112+ |
| Starting Price | $4.50/GB | from $3.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $4.50 | $3.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2019 | 2025 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Singapore | United Kingdom | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only | |
| Guarantee | 14-day refund | Refund policy | 6-month refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Score25% weight | 4.9/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Pricing Score25% weight | 4.1/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Speed Score20% weight | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| App Score15% weight | 4.7/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Support Score15% weight | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.45/5 | 4.30/5 | 4.35/5 | 4.20/5 | 4.15/5 |
Score breakdown
Provider scores for Bulgaria
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, weighted by impact on traveler experience.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing quality, LTE/5G availability, median download speeds
Store ratings, installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability, response time, refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
Airalo -- Best Overall Coverage
Airalo's $4.50/GB rate is the highest in the matrix, nearly six times Bulgaria's own $0.77/GB local floor, a premium justified mainly by its 200-plus-country footprint for a Bulgaria stop paired with a wider Balkan or EU itinerary. Its 4.9/5 Coverage score and Eurolink bundle, covering 39 European countries on one eSIM, suit a multi-country trip more than a Bulgaria-only stay.
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Highest-rated app (4.8/5 iOS, 4.6/5 Android) with real-time data tracking and hourly runtime estimates
- Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- Established brand since 2019 with proven reliability
Cons
- Per-GB pricing higher than budget alternatives
- Unlimited plans available in select markets only, not all 200+ destinations
- Customer support slower than premium providers (4-6 hour email response)
HelloRoam -- Best Coverage + Value
HelloRoam scores 8.6/10 overall and prices Bulgaria plans from $3.50/GB, still well above the country's own $0.77/GB local floor but the second-cheapest fixed rate among the five compared. Its 204+ carrier partnerships route through Bulgaria's local networks rather than a roaming intermediary, relevant given A1, Vivacom, and Yettel BG's shared 4G LTE coverage.
Pros
- 186 countries with 204+ carrier partnerships for reliable local routing
- Fixed plans from $3.50/GB across popular destinations
- Unlimited plans from $5 for short stays, scaling by duration
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Email-only support with 12-24 hour response times
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- App store ratings still building compared to Airalo
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Data
Holafly's unlimited plan starts at $2.99/day, more than Bulgaria's own $2.62-per-day local unlimited rate, one of roughly a fifth of destinations in this comparison where the local unlimited price undercuts Holafly's general rate. Its 2GB daily volume before the fair-use throttle still comfortably covers Bulgaria's 132 Mbps average download baseline for maps, messaging, and moderate streaming.
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 178+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 6-month refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support with fast response times
Cons
- Speeds reduce to 256 Kbps-1 Mbps after daily fair use threshold on most plans
- Hotspot tethering limited to 1 GB/day on select destinations
- Not cost-effective for light data users (under 3 GB/trip)
- Fewer countries than Airalo
Saily -- Best for Privacy
Saily prices Bulgaria plans from $3.99/GB and bundles a NordVPN connection into every plan at no extra cost, useful given the good WiFi availability this comparison's enrichment notes flag across Bulgarian hotels and cafes. Its 150-country footprint covers the wider Balkan region well, though its per-GB rate still runs more than five times Bulgaria's own $0.77/GB local floor.
Pros
- Backed by NordVPN parent company Nord Security with proven privacy infrastructure
- Integrated VPN protection included on every plan at no extra cost
- Clean, privacy-focused app with VPN toggle inside the eSIM interface
- 150 countries with strong European coverage
- 30-day refund policy
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat or WhatsApp for urgent help
- Fixed data plans only; no unlimited daily tier
- 150 countries, a narrower footprint than Airalo
- 12-24 hour support response times
Nomad -- Best Budget Option
Nomad's $3.00/GB rate is the lowest fixed floor in the matrix, though Bulgaria's own $0.77/GB local price still runs well under it, one of the wider gaps between local and international pricing this comparison tracks. Its 112-country footprint and 3.8/5 Coverage score are the narrowest of the five, a bigger factor on a Bulgaria trip extending into neighboring Balkan countries than on a Sofia-only stay.
Pros
- Competitive pricing starting from $3.00/GB in Southeast Asia
- Simple, fast checkout with no account required in many cases
- Lowest per-GB rates for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan
- Plans start at a low entry price for short trips
Cons
- Email-only support with 24-48 hour response times
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 112 countries, the narrowest footprint among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about eSIMs for Bulgaria
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Bulgaria?
Which eSIM has the cheapest per-GB rate for Bulgaria?
Bulgaria's own local data floors at $0.77/GB in this comparison's country data, under every one of the four fixed-rate providers. Among those four, HelloRoam's $3.50/GB beats Saily's $3.99/GB and Airalo's $4.50/GB, while Nomad's $3.00/GB is the lowest fixed rate among the providers compared here.
Which carriers cover Bulgaria?
Which carriers cover Bulgaria?
A1, Vivacom, and Yettel BG run 4G LTE networks across Bulgaria, with Yettel BG listed as Telenor in this comparison's country dataset ahead of the carrier's 2022 rebrand. 5G stays limited to trials around Sofia, though average download speeds still reach 132 Mbps nationally on the existing 4G infrastructure.
Does Bulgaria have 5G coverage?
Does Bulgaria have 5G coverage?
Only in limited trials around Sofia, per this comparison's enrichment data. Average download speeds still reach 132 Mbps nationally on 4G LTE alone, a fast baseline this comparison's notes attribute to Bulgaria's existing network infrastructure rather than any current 5G rollout across the five compared providers.
Do I need ID to get a SIM in Bulgaria?
Do I need ID to get a SIM in Bulgaria?
For a local prepaid SIM bought in-country, yes. That requirement does not apply to any of the five international eSIMs in this comparison, which activate over a QR code without a local ID check, a practical advantage for a traveler who wants to skip the in-person registration step.
Is unlimited data cheaper than the local rate in Bulgaria?
Is unlimited data cheaper than the local rate in Bulgaria?
Close. Bulgaria's own unlimited-daily rate runs $2.62/day, slightly under Holafly's $2.99/day, one of roughly a fifth of destinations in this comparison where the local unlimited price beats Holafly's general rate. HelloRoam's duration-scaled unlimited tier is worth comparing directly against both before booking.
Is Bulgaria a cheap country for eSIM data?
Is Bulgaria a cheap country for eSIM data?
Yes, among the cheapest in this comparison. Bulgaria's own $0.77/GB local floor sits under half the $1.62/GB average this comparison tracks across Europe, and its enrichment notes flag Bulgaria directly as one of the cheapest EU countries for mobile data.
Can I buy a SIM at Sofia Airport?
Can I buy a SIM at Sofia Airport?
Yes. Sofia Airport sells a prepaid SIM for $5-10 covering 5-10GB over 28 days, a rate that undercuts every one of the five compared eSIM providers' general per-GB cards. It requires an in-person ID check, a step the five eSIM options in this comparison skip entirely.
Compare all 5 providers for Bulgaria
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.