eSIM plans · EuropeBulgaria eSIM: How Much Data You Need (2026)
HelloRoam prices in 31 currencies. Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Saily price in dollars. Bulgaria sizes to 11 GB over 7 days, and the 20 GB tier at $17.03 is the fit, on a published list naming A1, Telenor and 1 more. Airalo lists 200+ destinations against HelloRoam's 186.
Bulgaria travelers staying 7 days need between 4GB (light use) and 21GB (heavy streaming). The average traveler using maps and social media lands around 11GB total. If you grab the 20GB plan for $17.03, you get 9GB of headroom beyond your 11GB baseline. Unlimited data runs $2.62/day on a local mobile network, which ends data tracking for heavy users.
HelloRoam publishes 3 operators for Bulgaria: your eSIM attaches to A1, Telenor or Vivacom.
How much data will you use in Bulgaria? Email and maps only: the 0.5 GB light band, 4GB across 7 days. Social media and ride apps: 1.5GB/day, 11GB total. Video calls and streaming: 3GB/day, 21GB total. 3 operators on 4G LTE offer 7 plans across those tiers.
Each traveler type maps to a specific plan in Bulgaria. Light users: the 5GB plan at $5.20 covers the trip without paying for unused data. Moderate travelers pay $5.20 for 5GB and get the best balance between data size and per-GB cost ($1.04/GB). Video callers and streamers skip fixed plans and pay $2.62/day for uncapped 4G LTE data on a local mobile network.
The tier that fits a Bulgaria trip
Three tiers, and all 5 providers scored inside each one. Most travelers land on Moderate. Not sure? Take the quiz.
Light use, 1 to 3 GB
Maps and transit apps · Translation and messaging · Email and boarding passes
A few days in Bulgaria on maps, chat and boarding passes? The match score puts HelloRoam first here, 86 to Nomad's 83. Nomad undercuts the winner at $3.00 a gigabyte against $3.50. Optimising for cost alone? Nomad. No plan this small exists at Holafly, which is why it sits at 31. A 3 GB plan for Bulgaria runs $3.47.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 0.5 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoamMost Support LanguagesTier pick | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 86/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 83/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 77/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed 1 GB and 3 GB tiersPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 74/100 |
| HolaflyBest Unlimited Value | No plan at this size, unlimited daily onlyPublished rate $2.99/day | No rate to quote | 31/100 |
Moderate use, 3 to 7 GB
Photo sharing and social apps · Browsing and short video · Music and a call home
A normal Bulgaria trip, social apps on and the odd video? Holafly wins this tier 96 to 86, with HelloRoam second. It holds the cheapest gigabyte too, $1.99 at 1.5 GB a day. HelloRoam finishes on 86 and loses the tier. A 5 GB plan for Bulgaria runs $5.20.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 1.5 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HolaflyBest Unlimited ValueTier pick | Unlimited daily, no 5 GB tierPublished rate $2.99/day | $1.99 | 96/100 |
| HelloRoamMost Support Languages | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 86/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 83/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 77/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed 3 GB and 5 GB tiersPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 74/100 |
Heavy use, 10 GB and up
Streaming and video calls · A full remote work day · Laptop hotspot
Video calls and a laptop hotspot in Bulgaria? Holafly wins this tier 96 to 66, with HelloRoam second. It holds the cheapest gigabyte too, $1.00 at 3 GB a day. The provider our rubric puts first scores 66 here, which is not enough. Neither Saily and Nomad sells an unlimited day, so heavy use means buying the biggest bundle first. A 10 GB plan for Bulgaria runs $8.06, and unlimited runs $2.62 a day.
| Provider | Plan at this size | Per GB at 3 GB/day | Tier match |
|---|---|---|---|
| HolaflyBest Unlimited ValueTier pick | Unlimited dailyPublished rate $2.99/day | $1.00 | 96/100 |
| HelloRoamMost Support Languages | Fixed up to 20 GB, unlimited in some destinationsPublished rate $3.50/GB | $3.50 | 66/100 |
| AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | Fixed up to 20 GB, unlimited in some destinationsPublished rate $4.50/GB | $4.50 | 54/100 |
| NomadLowest Fixed Rate | Fixed tiers only, no unlimited planPublished rate $3.00/GB | $3.00 | 43/100 |
| SailyOnly Built-In VPN | Fixed tiers only, no unlimited planPublished rate $3.99/GB | $3.99 | 37/100 |
How to read the rate column: it is each provider's own published entry price, converted to a per-gigabyte figure at the daily usage for that tier. Without that conversion a daily plan and a per-GB plan cannot be compared at all. Published entry rates: Airalo $4.50/GB, Saily $3.99/GB, Holafly $2.99/day, Nomad $3.00/GB, HelloRoam $3.50/GB. Those are catalogue floors, not prices for Bulgaria. Destination prices above are HelloRoam catalogue prices, because HelloRoam's catalogue is the only per-destination feed this site reads. For the other four we have a published floor and no Bulgaria figure we would stand behind, so none is shown.
How trip length changes your Bulgaria plan
Short trips and extended stays need different data strategies. Find your trip length below.
Short trip (1-3 days)
A 1-3 day trip needs 5GB at moderate use. The 5GB plan at $5.20 covers maps and messaging on a local mobile network.
Standard trip (5-10 days)
Standard trips to Bulgaria total 11GB. The 20GB at $17.03 handles a full week of social media and maps.
Extended stay (14-30 days)
Extended stays of 14-30 days push past fixed plan limits. Unlimited data at $2.62/day on a local mobile network removes the cap.
Your Bulgaria shortlist, all 5 providers
Two questions decide most e-sim purchases: how big the bundle is and how long it lasts. Here is both, next to tethering, phone numbers and each published rate.
| Provider | Our rubric score | Min to max GB | Min to max validity | Hotspot | Local number | Entry rate | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamMost Support LanguagesTop of our rubric | 8.7/10 | 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited | Unlimited runs 1 to 30 days, fixed window not published | Not published | No, data only | $3.50/GB | Get Plan |
 HolaflyBest Unlimited Value | 8.6/10 | Unlimited daily, no GB tiers | 1 to 90 days | Capped at 1 GB per day | No, data only | $2.99/day | Get Plan |
 AiraloOnly Regional Bundles | 6.9/10 | 1 GB to 20 GB | 7 to 30 days | Included, full speed | No, data only | $4.50/GB | Get Plan |
 NomadLowest Fixed Rate | 6.6/10 | From 1 GB, top size not published | 30 days on the plans we list | Not published | No, data only | $3.00/GB | Get Plan |
 SailyOnly Built-In VPN | 6.5/10 | From 1 GB, top size not published | Not published | Included on all plans | No, data only | $3.99/GB | Get Plan |
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission when you buy through our links at no extra cost to you.
Who you're connecting to
In Bulgaria, the underlying carrier matters more than the brand on your plan.
Which carrier serves your eSIM in Bulgaria? The answer changes your speed, coverage area, and per-GB cost. Urban 4G LTE coverage in Bulgaria runs mostly on A1, which handles navigation, social apps and video calls without much fuss. A1 owns the 4G LTE coverage that matters to a visitor to Bulgaria: cities, airports, transit lines. Which of the five you buy from does not change those towers. It changes what you can buy and what happens if the plan does not fit. Crossing more than one border on this trip? Airalo is the only one of the five publishing a regional bundle, from 16 to 130 countries on a single profile. Reach costs it price: a published $4.50/GB, the dearest floor here. If you would rather not think about gigabytes in Bulgaria, Holafly sells only unlimited days, published from $2.99/day. Fair-use throttling kicks in past the daily threshold and tethering caps at 1GB. Working off cafe and airport WiFi in Bulgaria? Saily encrypts the connection without a second app, from a published $3.99/GB across 200 destinations. Nomad is the price play: a published $3.00/GB, the lowest fixed floor of the five, on 200 destinations. No unlimited tier, no bundles, email support only. HelloRoam publishes the widest support access of the five, 63 languages on chat, WhatsApp and email around the clock, plus 180 days to refund an unactivated eSIM. It does not win price at $3.50/GB. All 3 operators in Bulgaria support 4G LTE, so the plan size matters more than the carrier preference.
HelloRoam publishes its local operator list for Bulgaria, and the next section prints that list in full. The other four providers publish no equivalent list, so the cards below carry published facts about each provider instead of a carrier we would be guessing at.
Airalo
4G LTEReaches the most destinations of the five, at 200.
Saily
4G LTEAdds VPN routing on every plan.
Holafly
4G LTEUnlimited daily plans with fair-use speeds after the threshold.
Nomad
4G LTELowest fixed per-GB rate of the five, at $3.00.
HelloRoam
4G LTERuns on 204+ carrier partners with a 180-day refund window.
The networks that carry Bulgaria data
The published attachment list holds 3 local operators for Bulgaria. Your eSIM attaches to A1, Telenor or Vivacom. HelloRoam does not publish which one a given handset selects.
A second network is the practical benefit here. If one network thins out on a train or in a rural stretch, another can carry you. 68 of the 185 destinations HelloRoam publishes list more than one operator.
HelloRoam lists no 5G operator in Bulgaria, so expect 4G on the ground. Operator count does not set your plan size. Trip length does, so pick the tier first.
| Local operator | Network labels |
|---|---|
| A1 | 4G |
| Telenor | 4G |
| Vivacom | 4G |
Where this table came from: HelloRoam's own destination catalogue, read on 17 August 2026. That catalogue publishes an operator list for every destination it sells, and we copied it. Nobody ran a speed test to build it, and no throughput number sits behind any row.
What uses your data in Bulgaria
Activity-level data breakdown for a Bulgaria trip.
Streaming
Streaming moves a traveler into the heavy band, which the published benchmark puts at 3 GB a day. 7 days in Bulgaria at that rate comes to 21 GB, and the 20GB plan at $17.03 is the smallest Bulgaria tier that clears it. Downloading episodes over hotel WiFi keeps the day inside the 1.5 GB moderate band instead.
Navigation
Navigation alone keeps a Bulgaria trip on the 0.5 GB light band. That is 4 GB across 7 days, which the 5GB plan at $5.20 covers. Save the Bulgaria map region over WiFi before you fly and the same trip draws less.
Social media
Feed scrolling and photo uploads land on the moderate band of 1.5 GB a day. 7 days in Bulgaria works out at 11 GB, and the 20GB plan at $17.03 is the fit. Turning off autoplay video pulls the same day toward the 4 GB light total.
Work tools
The heavy band, 3 GB a day, is the one a remote worker buys against in Bulgaria. Over 7 days that is 21 GB rather than the 11 GB a moderate traveler needs. The 20GB plan at $17.03 covers the gap.
Your Bulgaria pricing notes
How much does an eSIM cost in Bulgaria? Plans start at $2.21 for 1GB and go up to $17.03 for 20GB. Full pricing: 1GB at $2.21 ($2.21/GB), 3GB at $3.47 ($1.16/GB), 5GB at $5.20 ($1.04/GB), 10GB at $8.06 ($0.81/GB), 20GB at $17.03 ($0.85/GB). Moderate users get the best value at 5GB for $5.20 ($1.04/GB), which covers a 4-day trip at 1.5GB/day. The entry plan at $2.21 for 1GB targets light users who keep the day on the published 0.5 GB band. At $2.62/day, unlimited data breaks even with the 20GB fixed plan after 7 days. Longer trips save money on unlimited. A 30-day unlimited plan drops to $2.15/day (18% off). The split is simple: Holafly sells unlimited days from $2.99/day, Nomad sells the cheapest published gigabyte at $3.00/GB, and your daily usage decides which is cheaper. Lowest per-destination price on file for Bulgaria: 1GB at $2.21, from HelloRoam. The cheapest published entry rate belongs to Nomad at $3.00/GB.
See how Bulgaria compares to similar destinations in Europe. For device-specific setup, read our guides for iPhone, Samsung, and Pixel.
Regional bundle vs single-country plan
Travelers visiting 2-3 countries in Europe save by buying one regional eSIM instead of separate Bulgaria plans. A single-country 1GB plan costs $2.21. If your total trip exceeds 7 days across borders, the regional bundle often wins on per-GB cost.
An airport SIM against a Bulgaria eSIM
Buying a SIM at the airport in Bulgaria costs $5-10 for 5-10GB / 28 days with a 15-30 minutes wait. An eSIM from $2.21 for 1GB installs before your flight and connects to a local network the moment you land. No passport queue, no store visit.
How to activate your Bulgaria eSIM
Start by selecting a Bulgaria plan sized to your usage tier (light, moderate, or heavy). Then scan the provider's QR code in your phone's eSIM settings over a stable WiFi connection.
Rename the new eSIM line to "Travel Data" so you can tell it apart from your home SIM. Set it as the default for mobile data and keep your original line for calls.
When you land in Bulgaria, your phone connects to a local 4G LTE network within seconds. No store visit, no passport check, no SIM tray.
ID required. Your eSIM provider handles backend registration, so activate before landing to avoid delays.
Common Bulgaria eSIM questions
Direct answers grounded in real plan data and carrier coverage.
What plan do I need?
Most travelers to Bulgaria need a 3GB eSIM plan. That covers 3GB over 7 days for social media, maps, and messaging. The catalogue prices that tier at $3.47 ($1.16/GB) on a local mobile network. Light users save with 1GB at $2.21. Heavy users should consider 20GB at $17.03. HelloRoam fits this trip shape best of the 5 providers we score, at a published $3.50/GB.
How much data do I need?
For a 7-day trip to Bulgaria, your data needs depend on activity. Maps and messaging use about 0.09GB a day, 1GB across the trip. Social media and navigation use 0.4GB a day, 3GB in total. Streaming and video calls run 3.53GB a day, 25GB. Bulgaria has decent WiFi in hotels and cafes, which offsets about 15% of your data needs. Bulgaria plans start at $2.21 on the catalogue.
Which provider is cheapest?
Bulgaria fixed plans start at $2.21 for 1GB on a local mobile network. Unlimited runs $2.62/day ($18.34/week). Both are catalogue prices. Light users save on fixed. Unlimited passes the largest fixed bundle at $17.03 after 7 days. Across published floors, Nomad is the cheapest fixed rate at $3.00/GB.
Is an eSIM worth it?
An eSIM is worth it for Bulgaria. WiFi in Bulgaria covers hotels and some public areas, but an eSIM keeps you connected everywhere. The 20GB plan at $17.03 gives you 11GB on a local mobile network for 7 days. That is $92.97 less than carrier roaming.
eSIM vs SIM card?
An eSIM is better than a physical SIM card for Bulgaria in most cases. eSIM plans start at $2.21 for 1GB and activate in under 5 minutes from your phone. Airport SIM cards cost $5-10 for 5-10GB / 28 days after a 15-30 minutes wait at a local mobile network counters. Bulgaria requires SIM registration with passport, which adds time at the counter. The eSIM runs on the same a local mobile network network.
How to set up?
On iPhone (iOS 17+): Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM, scan the QR your provider sends. On Android: Settings, Network, SIMs, Add eSIM, scan or enter the activation code. The plan connects to a local network in Bulgaria automatically. Bulgaria plans start at $2.21 for 1GB on the catalogue.
Plan match by traveler profile
Each profile maps to a specific plan size and provider for Bulgaria.
Backpacker
A backpacker in Bulgaria spends 7 GB on maps and messaging over 14 days. The 10 GB plan at $8.06 matches that on a local mobile network. HelloRoam fits the shape and refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days.
Backpackers staying 7 days in Bulgaria need 4GB for navigation and hostels. The 5GB plan at $5.20 matches.
Business traveler
A business traveler uses 15 GB across 5 days in Bulgaria on video calls and uploads. The 20 GB plan at $17.03 matches that on a local mobile network, at $0.85 per GB. HelloRoam is the shape fit of the five we score, on 186 published destinations.
Video calls and file uploads push daily use to 3GB. Over 7 days that is 21GB. Unlimited at $2.62/day on a local mobile network covers it.
Family group
A family traveler heading to Bulgaria should budget 14 GB for social media and navigation across 7 days. That lands on the 20 GB plan, $17.03 on a local mobile network. HelloRoam fits the shape of this trip, and publishes 63 support languages.
Families run 1.5 GB per person per day on social media and navigation. Over 7 days that totals 32GB. The 20GB at $17.03 fits per-device.
Digital nomad
Over 30 days in Bulgaria, a digital nomad runs through 75 GB on remote work and streaming. The 20 GB plan is priced at $17.03 here, $0.85 per GB, on a local mobile network. Holafly sells the shape this trip needs; Nomad publishes the lower fixed floor.
Digital nomads working from Bulgaria need 21GB across 7 days. The 20GB at $17.03 covers co-working uploads and video calls on a local mobile network.
Your questions, answered
How many gigabytes per day should I budget in Bulgaria?
Three habits, three daily rates in Bulgaria. The navigator, who uses maps, WhatsApp and quick searches, runs 0.5 GB a day and 4 GB across 7 days. The social traveler, on Instagram, maps and daily browsing, runs 1.5 GB a day and 11 GB, and the 20 GB plan at $17.03 covers the moderate figure. The remote worker, on video calls and cloud sync, runs 3 GB a day and 21 GB on a local mobile network.
Which plan shape fits my Bulgaria trip, fixed tiers or unlimited days?
Bulgaria sells both shapes, so pick the shape before the size. Fixed tiers start at the 1 GB plan for $2.21 and suit maps, messaging and browsing. Unlimited days start at $2.62 and suit streaming, video calls and hotspot use, where a fixed tier empties before the trip ends. The shortest unlimited commitment sold here is 1 day at $2.52. Shapes differ across the five providers we score. Unlimited days come from Holafly, catalogue-wide. HelloRoam and Airalo publish unlimited on part of the catalogue, so check the destination first. Nomad and Saily sell one shape only, a fixed bundle of gigabytes. The catch with Holafly: no per-GB tier exists, so it is unlimited or nothing.
Which eSIM plan fits a light or heavy data user in Bulgaria?
Three personas for Bulgaria eSIM sizing. The minimalist traveler (WhatsApp, offline maps, brief Google searches) needs 4 GB over 7 days. Buy the 5 GB plan at $5.20. The connected explorer (social media, navigation, daily browsing) needs the 20 GB plan at $17.03. The road warrior (video calls, streaming, cloud sync) needs 21 GB, and the 20 GB plan at $17.03 ($0.85/GB) is the largest tier sold here, so a heavy pace needs a second purchase or an unlimited plan.
What should I check on my phone before I buy a Bulgaria plan?
Three checks, in order. One: dial *#06# and look for an EID number, because no EID means no eSIM. Two: confirm the model, since iPhone XS and later, Galaxy S20 and later, and Pixel 3 and later are covered. Three: confirm carrier-unlock status, which a locked handset fails regardless of model. Pass all three and your phone joins Bulgaria's 4G LTE network the moment you turn the profile on. The spelling varies from site to site, e-SIM and e SIM included. The technology does not.
What starts the clock on a Bulgaria plan, the purchase or the landing?
Experienced travelers install at home and activate on arrival, because the timer answers to the network, not the receipt. Scanning the QR code over WiFi costs you nothing. The first Bulgaria network connection opens the validity window. The 1 GB plan at $2.21 suits a short stay. The 20 GB plan at $17.03 suits a longer one. Buy 1 to 3 days before the flight so the plan is fresh, installed and tested before you leave the house.
Is one Bulgaria plan enough if my route crosses into another EU country?
If Bulgaria is your only European stop, one country plan is enough and costs less at $1.04/GB. If your route adds a second country, it is not enough: the plan ends at the frontier. A regional bundle covers the whole route instead. Crossing borders? Airalo is the only one of the five selling a bundle that spans countries. HelloRoam and Nomad state plainly that no regional bundle exists yet. Nothing published by Holafly and Saily on regional bundles, in either direction. EU free-roaming rights do not extend to prepaid travel eSIMs bought from an overseas provider, so the border is a hard stop rather than a slowdown.
Which activities use the most mobile data in Bulgaria?
Three bands cover every Bulgaria itinerary. Light, 0.5 GB a day: maps, messaging, boarding passes. Moderate, 1.5 GB a day: the same plus social feeds and browsing. Heavy, 3 GB a day: streaming, video calls and a laptop hotspot. Pick the band your phone habits already sit in at home. The 5 GB plan at $5.20 is priced at $1.04/GB on a local mobile network.
How do I match a Bulgaria plan tier to the number of nights I am staying?
Moderate travelers in Bulgaria use 1.5 GB a day, so nights convert straight into a tier: 1 to 2 nights takes the 3 GB plan at $3.47 ($1.16/GB); 3 nights takes the 5 GB plan at $5.20 ($1.04/GB); 4 to 6 nights takes the 10 GB plan at $8.06 ($0.81/GB); 7 to 13 nights takes the 20 GB plan at $17.03 ($0.85/GB). Streamers and remote workers should add 20% before picking. The 10 GB plan holds the lowest per-GB rate here at $0.81/GB. Budget-focused travelers should compare that rate against the tier their nights actually require, because buying a bigger plan for a better per-GB rate stops paying once the extra data goes unused.
How many days must I commit to for unlimited pricing in Bulgaria?
Short-stay visitors commit to the 1-day block at $2.52 and stop there. Long-stay travelers and remote workers book the 30-day block, where Bulgaria charges $2.15 a day instead of the $2.62 base rate, a 18% saving. Full 4G LTE speed runs to 2GB a day before fair-use terms apply. Casual travelers on maps and messaging should look at a fixed tier rather than any of these blocks.
Which provider backs up a mis-sized Bulgaria plan?
HelloRoam publishes the widest support access of the five we score, at 63 languages over live chat, WhatsApp and email, around the clock. HelloRoam publishes support in 63 languages, Airalo 12, Holafly 10, Nomad 2 and Saily 1. Language matters more than it sounds when a plan is wrong in a country you have not been to before. On refunds: HelloRoam and Holafly publish 180 days, Nomad and Saily 30 days and Airalo 14 days, all measured on an unactivated eSIM. Buy the size you need in Bulgaria, then keep the receipt until the profile is live. Sizing up first is still cheaper than any refund: the 10 GB plan holds the lowest rate here at $0.81/GB.
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