SIM cards and eSIM in Paraguay
SIM cards and eSIM in ParaguayWhich carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- You show a valid passport at the point of sale, complete a form from CONATEL (the telecoms regulator) and give a fingerprint; no residency is needed and the whole process takes a few minutes. Claro charges a separate registration fee of about 10,000 PYG (roughly $1.50) on top of the SIM.
- Among the cheapest anywhere: a SIM costs roughly 5,000-10,000 PYG ($0.70-1.40) and a decent prepaid data plan runs around 20,000-50,000 PYG ($3-7). A $10 top-up can buy roughly 30 GB. Airport packages run about $5-15 with 7-30 day validity.
- Claro, Tigo and Personal all sell at Silvio Pettirossi Airport in Asuncion, with packages around $5-15. In town, use official carrier stores or the kiosks in Asuncion's malls (Mariscal Lopez, Villa Morra, Shopping del Sol). Top up at any despensa (corner store), supermarket or the carrier app; look for 'Recarga Tigo/Claro' signs, with minimum top-ups around 5,000 PYG.
- Small. Airport kiosks charge slightly more than city retail, but with SIMs under $1.50 and a month of data costing a few dollars, the absolute difference barely matters.
- Tigo does not offer eSIM to tourists, only physical SIMs; Claro does have eSIM. Travel eSIMs for Paraguay run on the Claro and Tigo networks but cost from about $14 for a single gigabyte, against roughly $10 for around 30 GB on local prepaid, so a local SIM is dramatically better value and a travel eSIM only buys arrival convenience.
Paraguayan prepaid SIMs can only receive international calls, not make them, so plan on WhatsApp or another internet calling app; conveniently, Paraguay basically runs on WhatsApp anyway. There is no roaming, so the SIM stops working across the border, which matters if you are combining Paraguay with Argentina or Brazil. Keep your home SIM active for banking 2FA, ideally in a dual-SIM setup, and use the Tigo app for balance checks, since checks beyond the first two per day cost a small fee.
Local carriers
Tigo
Market leader with strong 4G in Asuncion and the countryside; its Tigo Money wallet is handy before you have a local bank account.
Claro
Competitive pricing on a solid, wide-reaching network; some rate its speeds ahead of Tigo, so either is a safe pick.
Personal
Cheapest of the big names but noticeably weaker outside Asuncion; not the one for a road trip.
Vox
The smallest operator, with decent coverage at lower prices than Tigo.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my passport to buy a SIM card in Paraguay?
You show a valid passport at the point of sale, complete a form from CONATEL (the telecoms regulator) and give a fingerprint; no residency is needed and the whole process takes a few minutes. Claro charges a separate registration fee of about 10,000 PYG (roughly $1.50) on top of the SIM.
Should I buy a SIM card at the airport in Paraguay?
Small. Airport kiosks charge slightly more than city retail, but with SIMs under $1.50 and a month of data costing a few dollars, the absolute difference barely matters.
What is the best eSIM for Paraguay?
Guac eSIM covers Paraguay with data plans starting from $0.58 per GB and instant activation, so your phone is online the moment you land. Airalo and Holafly are popular alternatives.