Why an eSIM is Recommended for Benin
No Free EU Roaming
Benin is not in the EU. Your home plan will be very expensive. An eSIM is essential for this West African destination.
Benefits of a Benin eSIM
- Massive savings: 3 GB for $8-12 vs $40+ in roaming
- Good coverage: access to MTN and Moov networks
- Instant activation: connected as soon as you land
- No airport queues: skip SIM kiosks at Cotonou Airport
Network Coverage in Benin
Benin has decent 4G coverage in urban areas:
| Carrier |
Coverage |
4G |
Used by |
| MTN Benin |
75% |
Yes |
Most eSIM providers |
| Moov |
70% |
Yes |
Alternative |
Coverage by Destination
- Cotonou: good 4G coverage
- Porto-Novo: decent coverage
- Parakou: decent coverage
- Rural areas: limited coverage, mainly 2G/3G
How to Install Your Benin eSIM
- Purchase your plan (QR code received by email in 2 min)
- Install 24-48h before departure from your WiFi
- Activate upon arrival in Benin
- Keep your home SIM for calls and texts
Compatibility: iPhone XS+, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+
Best Benin eSIM 2026
<BlogSummaryTable
title="Top 5 Benin eSIM 2026"
countryCode="BJ"
countrySlug="benin"
plans={[
{
rank: 1,
providerId: "airalo",
data: "3 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$11",
highlight: "Global leader",
promoCode: "ESIMP15",
},
{
rank: 2,
providerId: "holafly",
data: "Unlimited",
duration: "5 days",
price: "$27",
highlight: "Unlimited data",
},
{
rank: 3,
providerId: "saily",
data: "1 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$8",
highlight: "NordVPN included",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
]}
/>
Conclusion
An eSIM is recommended for Benin as there's no free EU roaming.
Our recommendation: Airalo 3 GB at $11 with code ESIMP15.
Benin eSIM FAQ