Why an eSIM is Recommended for Burkina Faso
No Free EU Roaming
Unlike European countries, Burkina Faso does not benefit from free EU roaming. Your home plan will be expensive: between $2 and $5 per MB depending on your carrier. For a one-week trip with moderate usage (browsing, social media), you can easily spend $50 to $100 on roaming.
Very Limited Free WiFi
Free WiFi is very limited in Burkinabé hotels and cafes, especially outside Ouagadougou:
- Availability: very limited outside the capital
- Security: unsecured public networks, hacking risks
- Reliability: unstable connections, frequent dropouts
- Mobility: impossible to use while traveling (transport, rural areas)
An eSIM offers secure and reliable connectivity everywhere, essential for traveling in Burkina Faso.
Network Coverage in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has limited 4G coverage mainly in major cities:
| Carrier |
Coverage |
4G |
Market Share |
Used by |
| Orange Burkina Faso |
Ouagadougou, major cities |
Limited |
Leader |
Airalo, GoMoWorld |
| Moov Burkina Faso |
Ouagadougou, major cities |
Limited |
Significant |
Holafly, Saily |
Coverage by destination
- Ouagadougou: decent coverage in the capital
- Bobo-Dioulasso: variable coverage in the second city
- Rural areas: limited to absent coverage
- North and East: very limited coverage, some areas may not be recommended
Note: Coverage is limited outside Ouagadougou. Rural areas and some northern and eastern regions have very limited coverage. Check travel advisories before departure.
How to Install Your Burkina Faso eSIM
- Purchase your plan (QR code received by email in 2 min)
- Install 24-48h before departure from your WiFi
- Activate upon arrival in Burkina Faso (timer starts)
- Keep your home SIM for calls and texts
Compatibility: iPhone XS+, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+, Xiaomi 12+, OnePlus 8+
Best Burkina Faso eSIM 2026
<BlogSummaryTable
title="Top 5 Burkina Faso eSIM 2026"
countryCode="BF"
countrySlug="burkina-faso"
plans={[
{
rank: 1,
providerId: "airalo",
data: "1 GB",
duration: "7 days",
price: "$4.50",
highlight: "Global leader + Orange network",
promoCode: "ESIMP15",
},
{
rank: 2,
providerId: "gomoworld",
data: "3 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$5.80",
highlight: "Best value for money",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
{
rank: 3,
providerId: "holafly",
data: "Unlimited",
duration: "15 days",
price: "$47",
highlight: "Unlimited data + hotspot",
},
{
rank: 4,
providerId: "saily",
data: "3 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$6.20",
highlight: "NordVPN included",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
]}
/>
Why these providers?
- Airalo: global leader (8M+ users), Orange network, code ESIMP15 (-15%)
- GoMoWorld: Orange network, code ESIMP (-10%), best value for money
- Holafly: unlimited + hotspot, ideal for heavy users and families
- Saily: built-in NordVPN to secure public WiFi connections
Conclusion
For all travelers to Burkina Faso, an eSIM is highly recommended as home roaming is very expensive ($2 to $5 per MB) and free WiFi is very limited outside Ouagadougou.
Best choice: Airalo 1 GB at $4.50 with code ESIMP15 offers an economical solution for a short trip. For a longer stay, GoMoWorld 3 GB at $5.80 with code ESIMP is recommended.
For heavy users: Holafly unlimited eliminates any stress, even for streaming and hotspot.
Burkina Faso eSIM FAQ
