Italian SIM cards: Plans, prices, and alternatives

Should you get a local SIM card for Italy?

You definitely need some kind of internet connection while you’re in Italy — finding the best pasticceria in Rome requires serious research! A local SIM is one good choice, but is it the best option available? Not necessarily. Let’s look at the pros and the cons of a local Italian SIM. 

Pros of a local SIM card for Italy

A local SIM card for Italy will be relatively inexpensive, though activation fees can boost the initial down payment required to get online. Still, compared to the costs incurred through roaming fees, picking up a SIM at the airport for around USD 20 (or less!) isn’t a bad deal.

Getting a local phone number is another benefit offered by many physical SIM cards in Italy. While some options might be data only, several of the big regional mobile providers will let you make and receive calls and texts. While that’s a perk, it’s worth remembering that most of the people you might be contacting in Italy — tour guides, Airbnb hosts, or restaurants, for example — might have an online system for communication, like WhatsApp or email. 

A prepaid Italian SIM card can also be pretty generous in the amount of cellular data you can use. Without breaking the bank, you can probably get more data on one SIM than you’ll be able to burn through in a single trip.

Cons of a local SIM card for Italy

Local SIM cards are managed by a single regional provider, so if that company doesn’t have good coverage in the area you’re visiting, you’re out of luck. Unlike an eSIM for Italy, which can connect you to different networks depending on what’s available, you’re locked in to that one provider with your physical card.

A second drawback with a SIM card is that the plans available aren’t always flexible enough to fit the needs of different travelers. For example, a month of near-unlimited data is great — if you’re in Italy for several weeks and intend to be on a lot of Zoom calls. Going on a short Italian trip, for pleasure rather than business? You might end up paying for data you’ll never use.

Most other major problems with a physical SIM card arise from the fact that…well, it’s physical. You’ll need to find a pin to pop open that little tray on the side of your phone. If you don’t have dual SIM slots, you’ll need to put your regular SIM card somewhere safe, and if it gets lost or damaged, that’s a whole hassle waiting for you at the end of your trip.

When you’re buying your physical SIM from somewhere in Italy — an airport kiosk, for example — you won’t be able to do proper research on the company because you might not have internet access at the time. Even if you’ve managed to fight your way onto the sluggish airport Wi-Fi, the whole scenario doesn’t really give you enough time to assess all the options available and pick the right company and contract for your needs.

Best prepaid SIM cards in Italy

When you’re looking for a prepaid Italian SIM, you will come across four big brands: TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, and Iliad. The best SIM card for Italy will be the one that fits your particular needs: the length of your trip, the amount of data you plan to use, and the chances of you needing an Italian phone number. Let’s break them down one by one to see what’s on offer.

Heads up, though — the companies we’re covering here only list their prices in euros (the currency that Italy uses). In cases where we couldn’t get an exact USD figure, we’ve included a close approximation.

TIM

Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) is a solid choice, provides pretty consistent coverage across the peninsula, and includes 5G plans. Their basic tourist SIM gets you 200 GB of data, a phone number with unlimited calls in Italy, and 100 international minutes. That’s all for less than USD 20. For less than USD 10 extra, you can add another 100 GB to your plan. 

A great price? Well, don’t forget to check the fine print. The cost of the plan is around USD 18, but the SIM itself costs approximately USD 12. That means in total, you’ll probably pay around 30 USD to get online with this SIM. Again, exact prices may vary because we’re basing these USD figures off the currency exchange rate at the time of writing (April 2025).

Iliad

Iliad is another major Italian mobile provider, and you’ll find its pop-up stands in international airports as well as in busier cities and towns. The company offers some really good prices, though users have raised a few complaints that we should address.   

Iliad’s GIGA 120 Plan gives travelers in Italy 120 GB of data and unlimited calls and texts for just under USD 10 per month. When you first sign up for your SIM card, though, you’ll need to pay an activation fee of around USD 12. Other more data-heavy packages include the GIGA 200 Plan with 200 GB per month (around 12 USD) and the GIGA 250 Plan, providing 250 GB for close to USD 14. For both, you’ll need to factor in that extra activation payment.

Reading through Iliad’s user reviews, you’re likely to notice recurring complaints from travelers who purchased what they thought was a one-month plan, only to be billed for a second month later. In many of these cases, however, it does seem that those complaining may have signed up for the plan without fully understanding the contract they were signing. Even if you’re in a rush in the airport, it’s always worth reading the terms of service fully. For most users, Iliad’s plans work as intended and do not renew after the first month.

Vodafone

As you probably already know, Vodafone isn’t a uniquely Italian company. Its cellular infrastructure can be found around the world, and Italy is no exception. 

Let’s start with the Vodafone Dolce Vita packages, which come in two forms. You can get 200 GB of data for around USD 17 or 300 GB for USD 28. Both plans also let you connect from other countries in Europe, though the data allocated for those destinations is limited — 16 GB with the first plan and 27 GB with the second. These Vodafone plans, which last for around a month, also come with 200 minutes for calls (including international calls) and texts within Italy and 40 other countries. 

Want to learn more about these plans before you buy them? Well, tough luck! Finding official information online from Vodafone about these plans isn’t easy. Unlike other Vodafone SIMs, you can’t order these Dolce Vita cards in advance. You’ll need to arrive in Italy, find a Vodafone store, and purchase your card there. 

WindTre

WindTre is another company offering SIMs that work both in Italy and elsewhere. Like Vodafone, its services are a sensible choice for people who might be traveling for work and plan to use a lot of data. 

WindTre has two main prepaid plans aimed at tourists. The 100 GIGA plan includes 100 GB of data, unlimited calls in Italy, 100 minutes for calls to 53 countries, and 19 GB that you can use in the rest of the EU, all for approximately USD 28. The package runs out after 30 days, which will be more than enough time for most travelers. The 200 GIGA Plan, which lasts for 60 days, offers 200 GB, unlimited calls in Italy, 100 international minutes, and 32 GB you can use in the wider EU for close to USD 40. 

For added convenience, you can track your mobile data usage and manage your plan through the WindTre app. Just remember that, like most of the options on this list, the card itself needs to be purchased physically from a store in Italy. 

Where to buy an Italian SIM card

With a rumble, your plane touches down in Italy! What do you do once you’ve collected your bags? Message your family to tell them you’ve safely landed? Check your hotel address? Order an Uber? None of that’s happening without internet access, so first you’ll need to find an Italian SIM card.

Almost any international airport in Italy will have some small stores and kiosks that sell SIM cards. In some instances, these will be the official outlets of a mobile carrier, like Iliad, and in others you’ll be able to just buy the SIM card over the counter in a third-party store. 

Don’t have time to get one at the airport? Big electronics stores like MediaWorld or Unieuro can be found in most cities selling SIMs from a variety of different providers. The mobile companies themselves also have outlets in large urban centers.

Local convenience stores or “tabaccherias” all over Italy sell prepaid SIM cards too. Wherever you’re getting your SIM, though, make sure to have your passport to hand. You’ll need it to buy and register a SIM card in Italy. 

Alternatives to SIM cards in Italy

Before you splash your cash on a physical SIM card, it’s worth taking some time to scout out alternatives for getting online in Italy. A SIM card isn't the only route available, as the table below lays out.

Pocket Wi-Fi

Pocket Wi-Fi really does what it says on the tin — it’s a Wi-Fi router small enough to fit in your pocket. You can connect your smartphone, laptop, and any other devices you want to it, and as long as you’re within the device’s range, you’ll be online. Using pocket Wi-Fi in Italy has some obvious limitations though. You have to charge up, carry, and keep track of an extra piece of equipment everywhere you go. Even if you plan ahead and have it sent out from a provider in advance, you’ll probably need to physically visit a drop-off point in Italy to return it. Additional payments are needed to rent the hardware (on top of your data plan), and you could be charged if the device is lost or damaged.

eSIMs

An eSIM app is a great choice for accessibility, flexibility, and affordability while traveling in Italy. These services connect you to a range of local providers, giving you a more consistent level of coverage than a prepaid SIM with a single provider. Crucially, no physical SIM card or extra device is needed. A few taps on your smartphone and you’ll be online, comparing the reviews of nearby espresso bars on Tripadvisor.

One of the main advantages of an eSIM app is that your plan can be purchased before you travel and set to automatically activate on arrival in Italy. Forget about airport kiosks, hidden payments, and trying to find a pin to open your SIM tray. With an eSIM app like Saily, you can skip the hassle and focus on the important part — having the time of your life in Italy!

eSIM apps also give you a lot more choice when it comes to the specific amount of data you need. Unlike prepaid SIMs, which typically lock you into longer contracts, most eSIM plans can be tailored to short getaways as well as longer trips. If you do decide you need more data halfway through your vacation, you can just extend your plan via the eSIM app on your smartphone.

International roaming

Most mobile providers offer data roaming, which is a system that you can enable through your device. If you do turn this feature on, you’ll connect to regional networks in Italy, though your provider might cap how much data you can use each day. The big downside to roaming is how expensive it can be. Roaming fees are steep, and they build up fast. For even a few days of casual roaming, you can expect to see a major spike in your bill at the end of the month. Financially speaking, any option on this list is probably a better choice than international data roaming. 

Public Wi-Fi

When all else fails, you’ve still got public Wi-Fi! Airports, public transport, and bars and cafes in major cities are all likely to have a Wi-Fi network that customers can connect to. These hotspots are really helpful in a pinch, but not a great internet solution for your whole trip. 

The biggest problem with public Wi-Fi is that it’s always linked to a specific location, and unless you plan to spend the entire holiday in an airport or a cafe, that’s not going to be of much use when you’re out and about. Then there’s your internet speed. The more people who are using the same network, the slower it will be. That's why downloading files or watching a show on public Wi-Fi is rarely a great experience. These networks aren’t always safe either — if hackers have accessed unsecured Wi-Fi, or even set up the router themselves as a trap, you could end up exposing private data when you connect. Overall, public Wi-Fi is a useful quick fix but shouldn’t be relied upon.

Tips for reducing your data usage in Italy

When you’re traveling, running out of data unexpectedly can be a real pain in the . . . well, you know where, even if you didn’t learn the word on Duolingo! Whether you’re using a prepaid local SIM card, an eSIM, or any other finite source of cellular data, these tips can help you cut down on data usage and make the most of what you have.

Turn on data-saver modes

Most devices (and especially smartphones) have data-saver modes built into them. If you turn on these features, the amount of data being used by certain apps is limited. For example, social media and email services might not refresh as often, and file backups will be paused.

Use offline features

You don’t always need to be online to use essential features. Google will let you download its maps, so even if you don’t have a GPS signal and a live tracker, you can see street names and locations. Streaming apps like Spotify and Netflix allow premium users to save content for offline use too — a lifesaver on a long flight!

Switch to Wi-Fi for data-intensive tasks

Even if Wi-Fi isn’t an ideal option for getting online, it’s a good tool to have in your belt. Switch over to Wi-Fi for data-heavy tasks like large file downloads and uploads, streaming, and video calls. Wi-Fi networks with passwords in locations like hotels are safer than those elsewhere in Italy, and they’ll probably be faster than completely public connections. 

Use Saily’s ad blocker

The Saily eSIM app comes with a built-in ad blocker. According to a recent third-party study, Saily’s ad blocking feature can reduce data consumption by almost 30% per page — a massive win if you’re trying to conserve data. Every internet advert that loads on your screen as you browse is using up your mobile allowance while providing very little value to you, so using an ad blocker on vacation is the smart move.

Are physical SIM cards the best option?

Of course, the answer to whether SIM cards are the best option comes down to your specific needs as a traveler, but for most people, the answer is no — physical SIM cards aren’t the best option for getting online in Italy. SIM plans can be pricey and unnecessarily long, leading you to pay for data you’ll never actually use. Dealing with tiny microcards and SIM trays is no one’s idea of a good time, and your coverage might not even hold up as you move around the country.

For most people traveling for business or fun, eSIM apps offer the best connectivity solution in Italy. They’re flexible, affordable, and easy to set up. With Saily, you’ll be able to save your data with its ad blocker feature, as well as benefiting from the many cybersecurity functions that come bundled with the app. 

If you’re heading for the ancient streets of Rome, Sicily’s sun-washed beaches, or the blue waters of Lake Como, keep things simple and easy with an eSIM.