Of everything I planned for my trip to Brazil, getting connected turned out to be the trickiest part.

I found out that getting a SIM card in Brazil is near impossible as a tourist because you need a CPF (Brazilian tax number) which is why figuring out the best eSIM for Brazil was a priority.

When I landed at São Paulo-Guarulhos airport, my luggage ended up getting lost, and if it wasn't for the eSIM I'd pre-downloaded through Sim Local, I would have had such a tough time.

This was a lifesaver for me because it was so easy to install. I didn't want to risk using the airport WiFi to access my files and get online while I was already dealing with lost luggage, and honestly, I don't think it would have even worked properly in that crowded arrivals hall.

Having the Sim Local eSIM already active on my phone meant I could sort everything out immediately, filing the lost luggage report, messaging my accommodation, figuring out where to buy a few basics, without relying on sketchy airport WiFI.

There are so many options out there and getting the best eSIM in Brazil can feel like a research project on its own. After trying a few on different trips, the one I can recommend is Three Global 18GB eSIM for $26.50. You get 18GB of data for 30 days and it only starts once it connects in Brazil. It also works in 70 destinations so it covers the rest of South America too.

It also wasn’t my first time using Sim Local. I had already used it in Italy and Turkey which is why I trusted it for Brazil and very recently in Peru as well. I was in the mountains and exploring the cities covering a lot of distances each day – I had no problems, and no dropped signal. If there were any issues like installation, I reached out to Sim local’s customer support who was available 24/7.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. I only provide unbiased and completely honest recommendations. Read more about the site’s privacy policy.

📱 Get your Sim Local eSIM
BLACK FRIDAY SALE 20% off every Three plan, 20 Nov to 4 Dec 2026

💜 Tip: You get an extra 5% off with my code THEGONEGOAT

Why Is It So Hard To Get A Brazilian SIM Card As A Tourist?

my recommendation on the best esim for brazil and south america

The CPF requirement is the main issue. It's a Brazilian tax number that locals use for basically everything, and most carriers won't sell you a SIM without one. As a tourist, you obviously don't have one, and you're not getting one in the fifteen minutes between clearing immigration and finding your ride.

TIM is supposedly the exception, the one carrier that'll sell to tourists with just a passport.

But knowing that in theory and actually managing it after a 12-hour flight, jet-lagged, trying to find the right counter and hoping whoever's working that day knows the tourist process, are two different things. I wasn't willing to risk that part of my first day in the country on that working out.

So before I flew, I downloaded an eSIM through Sim Local. I am so glad I did because it turned out to matter a lot more than I expected. My luggage got delayed and I arrived really late at night so this was one less hoop to jump over especially as a solo traveller.

The Best eSIM for Brazil I recommend: Sim Local’s Three Global 18GB plan for 30 days

a general overview of the best esim for brazil

If you're in Brazil for anything close to a normal trip, two to four weeks, I'd go with Sim Local's Three 18GB for 30 days plan, which comes in around US$26.50. That works out to about US$0.88 per day or roughly US$1.47 per GB.

I was also working remotely during this trip, and using my maps frequently to book Ubers and navigate the city. I usually kept maps running in my pocket while I was exploring the streets of Sao Paulo which made getting around safer and easier.

I also used Google Translate every few minutes because my Portuguese was very limited and all I knew was "obrigada." It adds up fast and 5GB can be gone within the week if you're not being careful.

18GB gave me enough room to use my phone normally when I was in Brazil. I wasn't rationing data or hunting for cafe wifi just to post something. And because it's valid for the full 30 days, it covers a proper trip without you needing to top up halfway through and go through the whole purchase process again.

If you're only there for a week, the 12GB plan is probably fine. If you’re using a lot of data like videos and movies or tethering your laptop, 30GB is better. For everyone else, 18GB is the sweet spot.

Not sure how much you need? There is also a really cool feature where Sim Local's Find My Plan tool asks you four quick questions and suggests a plan, so you're not paying for data you won't use.

Here's what's included:

18GB of data at 5G speeds where available
Hotspot/tethering with no restrictions
Coverage in 70 destinations, including Brazil
24 months to activate after your purchase so you can buy it now and use later (it only starts once it connects to a local network)

How Fast is the Sim Local eSIM in Brazil?

I was mostly just in São Paulo and it was fast there and the maps loaded instantly. Based on my time there, I was on 4G for most of the time. Basically, you’ll have reliable coverage in major Brazilian cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Salvador.

In remote areas such as the Amazon rainforest or rural regions, signal strength may be inconsistent.

On reliability, I didn't have a single dropout. I was travelling around South America and found the speed very good in Brazil with no random deactivations and nothing I had to reinstall.

How Do You Set Up a Global eSIM for Brazil?

The process itself is very easy. I was shocked how easy it was. Sim Local's support team is available 24/7 on WhatsApp, by email or by submitting a ticket. I used WhatsApp and within 30 seconds I was connected to someone. Here's how it works:

Check if your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible. Most phones in the last few years are, but it’s a two minute check that saves you the headache. Sim Local has a compatibility checker on their site
Buy your plan — Get the Three Global eSIM (20% off until 4 December 2026) and use THEGONEGOAT code.. Choose your data amount and duration.
Activate your new eSIM by downloading the plan or scanning the QR code a day before
Enter the 4-digit code Sim Local sends to your email for confirmation
Turn on Data Roaming in your mobile settings when you land
That's it. You're connected.

And if it doesn't work, or your plans change, Sim Local offers a 100% refund within 14 days of purchase, no questions asked.

How it Compares To Other Providers: Sim Local vs Airalo vs Saily & Others

I looked at a few other options before committing.

Provider	30 Day Plan	What stood out
Sim Local	US$26.50 for 30 days (about US$1.47/GB)	Fair price for the data, easy app setup, support I could actually reach, installed first try with no failed activations
Airalo	US$36 (about US$1.80/GB)	Comes with call minutes and texts bundled in, worth it if you need a local number, but most of us are living on WhatsApp anyway
aloSIM	US$40 (US$2.99/day). Daily-capped "unlimited" plans from US$85 for 30 days	Unlimited data looks tempting, but you're paying extra for a label when 10GB was already more than I needed
Saily / newer budget options	US$39.99 (US$2.00/GB)	Price per GB stops being competitive once you scale up, and support isn't always easy to reach if something goes wrong mid-trip

There are cheaper options out there if you go hunting, but a lot of them cut corners somewhere, either the support disappears once you've paid, or the data speeds get throttled after a certain point without it being obvious in the plan description.

For a trip to Brazil where I actually needed things to work, I'd rather go with a provider that's been around long enough to have sorted those issues out, and on the 18GB plan Sim Local actually came in cheaper than the bigger names anyway.

Sim Local has been doing this for over 15 years and has helped more than 4 million travellers stay connected. They also have stores in major European airports like London Heathrow, Vienna, Madrid and Athens, plus vending machines in more than 100 airports around the world.

Is a Global eSIM Better Than Using Roaming in Brazil?

why i think using a global esim is much better than using a roaming in brazil

The obvious question is why not just turn on roaming through my home carrier. Mostly because it's expensive and it is not reliable.

Roaming rates in Brazil through most home networks add up fast and are so pricey if you're using your phone normally for a month, and you don't find out how bad it is until it's too late to do anything about it.

A global eSIM means you know what you're paying upfront, there's no surprise bill waiting when you land back home. Sim Local also works with local providers so you get a local experience instead of paying your home carrier’s roaming rates.

Once I did the maths on that versus a $26.50 eSIM for the whole trip, roaming wasn't really worth considering unless the trip was only a couple of days.

What You Should Know Before Using a global eSIM in Brazil?

Install the Three Global eSIM a day or two before you fly, not the morning of. It only takes a few minutes but it's one less thing to deal with when you're already stressed about everything else.

Don't delete it once it's installed even if you're not using it yet. Most eSIMs, Sim Local included, can only be downloaded to a device once, so removing it means you can't just redownload the same plan.

Turn on data roaming in your eSIM settings after installing it.

And check your usage a week or two in if you're someone who's constantly on calls or uploading heavy content. My Three Global 18GB eSIM lasted long with room to spare, but it's worth keeping an eye on it rather than assuming.

Who Is Sim Local Best For?

Solo travellers: you land with data already working so you're not relying on anyone else to sort your ride or your accommodation.
Women travelling alone: being able to share your live location, book an Uber and check your route the second you land makes a real difference in a big city like São Paulo.
Digital nomads: 18GB over 30 days is enough to work remotely on top of maps and messaging, which is exactly how I used it.
Multi-country travellers: If you’re doing Brazil plus other South American destinations, an eSIM for multiple countries saves you buying a new one at every border.

eSIM Brazil FAQs

1. Can tourists buy a SIM card in Brazil?

Technically yes, but most carriers ask for a CPF, which tourists don't have. TIM is meant to sell to tourists with a passport, but it's hit and miss at the airport. With an eSIM, you just save yourself all that headache.

2. Does an eSIM work everywhere in Brazil?

In the big cities like São Paulo, Rio, Brasília and Salvador, yes, and it's fast. In remote areas like the Amazon or rural regions, expect patchier signal.

3. How much data do I need for a trip to Brazil?

If you're using maps, Uber and Google Translate a lot, 5GB can disappear in a week. For two to four weeks, 18GB for 30 days is the safe bet. If you're unsure, Sim Local's Find My Plan tool will suggest one.

4. Can I use my eSIM as a hotspot in Brazil?

Yes, hotspot and tethering are included with Sim Local's Brazil plans, with no restrictions or extra costs.

5. Does the Three Global eSIM come with a phone number?

No, it is a data only plan. Your normal phone number remains and WhatsApp, iMessage and other apps work as usual over data.

6. Which destinations does the eSIM cover?

It covers 70 destinations including Brazil. It just doesn’t cover Canada, Mexico, Japan and Thailand

7. Is there a Black Friday deal on Sim Local eSIMs?

Yes. Every Three global eSIM plan is 20% off from 20 November to 4 December 2026. The discount is already applied on the site, and my code THEGONEGOAT can be used for an extra 5%.

8. When should I install my Brazil eSIM?

A day or two before you fly. Install it at home on WiFi, then switch on data roaming when you land. You have 24 months to activate it, and your days only start counting once it connects to a local network.

9. What happens if my eSIM doesn't work?

Sim Local's support is available 24/7 on WhatsApp, by email or by submitting a ticket, and you can get a 100% refund within 14 days of purchase if it doesn't work or your plans change.

Is the Three Global eSIM the Best eSIM For Brazil?

Sim Local's 18GB, 30 day plan for Brazil comes in at around US$26.50.

For that you get enough data to actually use your phone normally for 30 days, decent speeds in the cities, a setup process that took me five minutes, and no CPF, no kiosk, no leaving it to last minute and buying in the airport.

My luggage still took 24 hours to turn up, but at least I wasn't also trying to sort out a phone connection while that was happening. My suggestion: Get the eSIM done before you leave and cross it off the list.