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.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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The comparison
Bulgaria eSIM providers compared
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rubric score (0-5) | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.6 | from $3.50/GB |
 AiraloWidest coverage catalogue | 4.5 | $4.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Network Generation 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
Bulgaria spec-by-spec breakdown
Every rubric dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating (0-5, our rubric) | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Countries | 186+ | 200+ | 160+ | 200+ | 200+ |
| Starting Price | from $3.50/GB | $4.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $3.50 | $4.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Singapore | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Live chat + WhatsApp + email | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only |
| Guarantee | 180-day refund | 14-day refund | 180-day refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Breadth score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Pricing Tiers score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Network Generation score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| App Features score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Support Channels score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.64 | 4.45 | 4.35 | 4.20 | 4.15 |
Score breakdown
Bulgaria provider scores
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Destination data
What the Bulgaria rows actually say
3 tracked networks, 7 plan tiers, cheapest tracked rate 0.77 per GB.
| Local network | Generations tracked |
|---|---|
| A1 | 4G |
| Vivacom | 4G |
| Telenor | 4G |
| Days | Plan price | Per day | Off the 1-day rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.52 | $2.52 | 4% |
| 3 | $7.23 | $2.41 | 8% |
| 7 | $16.87 | $2.41 | 8% |
| 14 | $32.65 | $2.33 | 11% |
| 30 | $64.45 | $2.15 | 18% |
Rows come from this comparison's own Bulgaria country data. The ladder prices one destination only; the composite scores above are provider-level and do not move with it.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, each weighted at 20 percent.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing and which network generations that carrier publishes
Installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability and refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
HelloRoam -- Highest Composite Score
HelloRoam scores 4.64/5 on our rubric overall for Bulgaria, with App 5.0 and Support 5.0 on an iOS and Android app, live chat plus WhatsApp, and a 180-day refund. Plans price 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, with unlimited from $5. 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.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
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
- iOS and Android app with in-app top-up, add-destination, and usage alerts
- Live chat, WhatsApp, and email support, including real-time channels
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- 186 countries, behind Airalo's 200+ catalogue
Airalo -- Widest Coverage Catalogue
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 on the rubric Coverage score and Eurolink bundle, covering 39 European countries on one eSIM, suit a multi-country trip more than a Bulgaria-only stay.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Automatic in-app install 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
- No live chat or WhatsApp channel: support runs on email and in-app messaging
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Daily Rate
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 a day of maps, messaging, and moderate streaming in Bulgaria.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 160+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 180-day refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support alongside email
Cons
- Speeds reduce after the 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 200-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.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
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
- 200 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
- 200 countries, just behind Airalo's 200-plus
Nomad -- Best Budget Per-GB Rate
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 3.8/5 on this scorecard Coverage score is the lowest of the five, a bigger factor on a Bulgaria trip extending into neighboring Balkan countries than on a Sofia-only stay.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
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 no live chat, WhatsApp, or phone channel
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 200 countries, behind only Airalo among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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FAQ
Bulgaria eSIM questions, answered
Who leads the Bulgaria eSIM comparison?
Who leads the Bulgaria eSIM comparison?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix. Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad follow on coverage breadth, daily unlimited, privacy, and per-GB pricing.
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 the existing 4G infrastructure covers the country well.
Does Bulgaria have 5G coverage?
Does Bulgaria have 5G coverage?
Only in limited trials around Sofia, per this comparison's enrichment data. 4G LTE alone covers the country well, a 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 also sells unlimited from $5, and its 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.