Best eSIM for Cape Verde
Cape Verde has good 4G coverage across the main resort and city islands. A travel eSIM is almost always cheaper than carrier roaming; for the smaller, less-visited islands, verify your provider's coverage before purchase.
Last checked: October 2026. Plans and prices change — verify before purchase.
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How much will it cost for your trip?
Cape Verde's economy is closely tied to the Euro zone. Most tourist businesses accept Euros directly. Escudo cards are less common than Euro cash for smaller transactions. Ferry crossings between islands (e.g., Mindelo to São Antão — 45 min) have no mobile coverage offshore. Download offline maps for inter-island hikes before boarding.
Praia (Santiago), Mindelo (São Vicente), Sal and Boa Vista have good 4G. Fogo island — the active volcano — has signal in São Filipe town but the caldera and Pico do Fogo summit trail have no coverage. Santo Antão's dramatic interior valleys (Cova-Paul-Ribeira Grande route) have very limited signal. Download offline maps before any island hiking.
Prices sourced from provider websites. Network information sourced from provider documentation and independent travel guides (2026).
eSIM — Cape Verde
Network coverage in Cape Verde
Cape Verde has two mobile operators: Alou and Unitel T+. For a typical itinerary — Sal (Santa Maria), Boa Vista (Sal Rei), São Vicente (Mindelo) and Santiago (Praia) — both operators provide good 4G in the main resort and city areas. 5G has only reached limited pockets of Praia and Sal, and travel eSIMs still run on 4G.
The two operators diverge by island: Alou has the broader national footprint and is the more reliable option for less-touristed islands (Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Fogo, Brava). Unitel T+ has strong coverage on Sal, Boa Vista and Santiago — the three most visited islands. Airalo (Fogotel plan) routes via Alou on 4G. For Fogo's volcano trails and Santo Antão hiking routes where signal drops significantly, see the field tip above.
Where are you travelling from? Does your plan cover this destination?
All AT&T plansPlan data / 1 day: US$12; plan data / 30 days: US$120.Compare: the pass may be enough.
Unlimited UltimateIncluded in the plan.Keep your plan.
Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Welcome5 GB / 1 day: US$12; 20 GB / 30 days: US$100.Compare: the pass may be enough.
Experience Beyond (Go5G Next) · Experience More (Go5G Plus, Magenta MAX)Included in the plan.Keep your plan.
Essentials2 GB / 1 day: US$10; 15 GB / 10 days: US$50; 30 GB / 30 days: US$75.Compare: the pass may be enough.
All EE plans500 MB / 1 day: £8.Compare: the pass may be enough.
Ultimate PlansIncluded in the plan.Keep your plan.
Plus, Volt · Other O2 plansPlan data / 1 day: £7.Compare: the pass may be enough.
All Vodafone plansNo pass: pay as you go.Get an eSIM.
All Three plansNo pass: pay as you go.Get an eSIM.
All TELUS plansPlan data / 1 day: CA$18.Compare: the pass may be enough.
All Bell plans5 GB / 1 day: CA$16; plan data / 14 days: CA$100; plan data / 30 days: CA$120; plan data / 30 days: CA$320.Compare: the pass may be enough.
All Rogers plansNo pass: pay as you go.Get an eSIM.
All Vidéotron plansNo pass: pay as you go. (figure not confirmed by an official source)Get an eSIM.
All Telstra plansPay as you go: A$3/MB.Get an eSIM.
All Optus plansPay as you go: A$1/MB.Get an eSIM.
All Vodafone (TPG) plansPay as you go: A$1/MB.Get an eSIM.
All Vodafone Ireland plans100 MB / 1 day: €5.Compare: the pass may be enough.
All Three Ireland plansPay as you go: €4.99/MB.Get an eSIM.
All eir plansPay as you go: €4.99/MB.Get an eSIM.
Roaming or eSIM — should you buy?
Arrival protocol in Cabo Verde
VPN, passwords and documents
On hotel or café Wi-Fi, a VPN can be useful to keep your browsing private from the network operator. A password manager is also worth having for managing account access on the road. A secure cloud backup of your passport, visa and accommodation details can also be useful — keep an offline copy too. None of these are mandatory.
Mistakes to avoid in Cabo Verde
Continuing your trip in West Africa?
Many travellers combine Cape Verde with neighbouring countries. See our guides for eSIM in Senegal and eSIM in Gambia. For multi-country trips combining Cape Verde with neighbouring West Africa destinations, our global regional plan comparison may be useful.