Choose a destination

Kenya · KE

Kenya eSIM plans

from $6.13 per GB

Stay connected in Kenya for maps, ride-hailing and messages. Check network coverage by city or route, then choose an eSIM that fits how you travel.

Choose a planCheck my phone

20 GB · 30 days for $122.52. Catalog checked 2026-09-10; confirm the total before paying.

  • No plastic SIM
  • Price before payment
  • Help in the chat

What is an eSIM?

A digital SIM you add to your phone over the internet. No plastic card and no visit to a shop.

Use Letisim for maps, taxis and messages while keeping your usual number.

Check my phone

Calls and texts on your home SIM follow your operator’s rates.

Your SIMCalls and texts
LetisimInternet for your trip

eSIM plans for Kenya

Compare data, duration and when validity begins. A top-up label means more data can be added to that package.

Prices checked 2026-09-10. The live catalog is authoritative at checkout.

Open all current plans

All published plans for Kenya

Published plans checked 2026-09-10. Availability and price are confirmed in the catalog at checkout.
DataValidityPricePer GB
1 GBSafaricom4GReloadable7 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT FIRST CONNECTIONACTIVATE WITHIN 180 DAYS$7.80$7.80Choose plan
1 GBReloadable30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT PURCHASE$14.37$14.37Choose plan
3 GBSafaricom4GReloadable15 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT FIRST CONNECTIONACTIVATE WITHIN 180 DAYS$20.76$6.92Choose plan
3 GBReloadable30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT PURCHASE$22.04$7.35Choose plan
5 GBReloadable30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT PURCHASE$34.60$6.92Choose plan
10 GBReloadable30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT PURCHASE$63.12$6.32Choose plan
20 GBReloadable30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT PURCHASE$122.52$6.13Choose plan
50 GBReloadable30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT PURCHASE$329.29$6.59Choose plan
100 GBReloadable30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT PURCHASE$658.62$6.59Choose plan
UnlimitedSafaricom4G1 dayVALIDITY STARTS AT FIRST CONNECTIONACTIVATE WITHIN 180 DAYS$14.58—Choose plan
UnlimitedSafaricom4G3 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT FIRST CONNECTIONACTIVATE WITHIN 180 DAYS$43.74—Choose plan
UnlimitedSafaricom4G7 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT FIRST CONNECTIONACTIVATE WITHIN 180 DAYS$102.06—Choose plan
UnlimitedSafaricom4G14 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT FIRST CONNECTIONACTIVATE WITHIN 180 DAYS$204.12—Choose plan
UnlimitedSafaricom4G30 daysVALIDITY STARTS AT FIRST CONNECTIONACTIVATE WITHIN 180 DAYS$437.40—Choose plan

How far will your data go?

Choose an allowance to see what it could cover. Quality, compression and background activity change actual usage.

Compare available plans

With 3 GB, approximately…

Send photos

≈ 600 photos

Example: 5 MB per photo

Upload your own videos

≈ 47 clips

Example: a 1-minute Full HD clip ≈ 63 MB

Watch video

≈ 1 hr

HD example: 3 GB per hour

At standard quality: ≈ 4 hr 17 min

Make video calls

≈ 2 hr 46 min

1:1 at 720p: ≈ 1.08 GB per hour

Each result uses the whole allowance for that one activity. The results do not add up: maps, messages and other apps share the same data.

Taking photos or recording video on your phone does not itself use mobile data. Sending, watching or backing them up over the mobile network does.

Compare 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 GB
Alternative uses of the same allowance
DataPhotos · 5 MB1-minute clips · 63 MBHD video · 3 GB/hrStandard video · 0.7 GB/hrVideo calls · 720p
1 GB≈ 200 photos≈ 15 clips≈ 20 min≈ 1 hr 25 min≈ 55 min
3 GB≈ 600 photos≈ 47 clips≈ 1 hr≈ 4 hr 17 min≈ 2 hr 46 min
5 GB≈ 1,000 photos≈ 79 clips≈ 1 hr 40 min≈ 7 hr 8 min≈ 4 hr 37 min
10 GB≈ 2,000 photos≈ 158 clips≈ 3 hr 20 min≈ 14 hr 17 min≈ 9 hr 15 min
20 GB≈ 4,000 photos≈ 317 clips≈ 6 hr 40 min≈ 28 hr 34 min≈ 18 hr 31 min
Where these estimates come from

Planning examples, not guaranteed totals. We use 1 GB = 1,000 MB, round down complete files and minutes, and exclude overhead, retries and background traffic.

  1. 5 MB is Verizon’s high-resolution photo example. Your files can be smaller after compression or much larger as originals or RAW. Check the actual file size on your phone. Verizon ↗
  2. 63 MB models a 1-minute H.264 Full HD export at 24–30 fps using YouTube’s recommended video and stereo audio bitrates. It is not a universal camera-file size or the cost of watching a clip. YouTube ↗
  3. Viewing examples use Netflix’s published rates: up to 0.7 GB/hr at Medium and up to 3 GB/hr in HD. Other apps and quality settings can differ; these are not YouTube playback rates. Netflix ↗
  4. The call example uses Zoom’s 1:1 720p bandwidth: 1.2 Mbps up and 1.2 Mbps down, together about 1.08 GB/hr. Group calls and higher resolutions can use more. Zoom ↗

Sources checked 2026-09-08

Make your data last

Maps and messages

Start with your usual usage. Download maps, your accommodation address and bookings before departure.

Social posts and photos

Allow extra data if Wi-Fi will be limited. Check whether your phone backs up photos and videos over mobile data.

Video and work

Check recent data use on your phone and the package’s hotspot rules. Budget separately for video calls and large downloads.

03 / Installation

How to install an eSIM in Kenya

Your first eSIM? Here is what to open and what to tap.

Check the exact model, regional variant and system version. If Add eSIM or EID is missing, contact support before buying. A brand name alone does not confirm compatibility.

Manufacturer’s instructions · iPhone ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · Google Pixel / Android ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · Samsung ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · Huawei ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · Honor ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · Xiaomi / Redmi ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · Motorola ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · OPPO ↗

Manufacturer’s instructions · OnePlus ↗

On iOS 26, a Turn On Travel eSIM notification may appear after arrival. Choose the travel line for data and check whether you also want to keep your home line active. If no notification appears, use the manual steps below.

Check when your package starts: at payment, installation or first connection. If it starts on installation, install nearer your trip. Installing later does not postpone a package that started at payment.

These screens show settings on the models named below. Your operator and eSIM labels will differ. Screens retain the source language; each caption translates and identifies the control to use. Tap any image for a closer look.

iPhone 17 · iOS 26 · Screen source ↗

Before your trip · install the eSIM

Use a stable Wi-Fi connection or hotspot. Your exact phone model must support eSIM and be unlocked for other operators.

  1. 01

    Open your eSIM installation

    Connect the phone you will use for your eSIM to Wi-Fi. Choose one of the two options below. If this eSIM is already installed, skip to choosing the line for mobile data.

    The app or email on this phone

    In the Letisim app, open My eSIMs, choose your purchased eSIM and tap Install. On the preparation screen, tap Copy name and install.

    Or open your eSIM email on this same phone and tap Install eSIM. If the link opens your order page first, use the installation button shown there.

    A QR code on another screen

    Open your eSIM’s QR code from the email or order on a computer, tablet or another phone. Point the camera of the phone you are installing the eSIM on at the code, then tap the installation prompt.

    Both options lead to the phone’s system setup. Continue with step 2.

    The button or camera did not open setup?

    You can add the eSIM by scanning its QR code in Settings. Follow the path below, choose the QR scanner and use the code for your own purchase. If the QR is on this same phone, see the options without a second screen below the guide.

    iPhone: Settings → Mobile Service / Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code → Scan QR Code → Continue

    Google Pixel / Android: Settings → Network and Internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Set up an eSIM → scan your QR → Set up

    Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM → Scan QR code → Add → Next

    Huawei: Settings → Mobile network → SIM management → SIM 2 → Add eSIM → Add eSIM → Scan code → Add this eSIM

    Honor: Settings → Mobile network → SIM management → Add eSIM → Add eSIM or transfer from your device → Set up an eSIM → Set up

    Xiaomi / Redmi: Settings → Mobile networks → Use eSIM → Manage eSIM → Add eSIM → Add eSIM → scan your QR → confirm download

    Motorola: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs & mobile network → Download new SIM → Set up an eSIM → scan your QR → Set up

    OPPO: Settings → Mobile network → SIM & eSIM settings → Add eSIM → Set up an eSIM → scan your QR → Set up

    OnePlus: Settings → Mobile network → eSIM → Add eSIM → Add eSIM → Next → scan your QR → Set up

    Tap Add eSIM to add your travel eSIM.Enlarge screen ↗
    Tap Add eSIM to add your travel eSIM. Screen source ↗
  2. 02

    Confirm installation on your phone

    The install button or your QR code opens the phone’s system setup. Confirm that you want to add the eSIM, then stay connected to Wi-Fi until the profile finishes downloading. If the phone first asks how to add an eSIM, use your QR code. You do not need to transfer your home SIM from another phone.

    Continue / Add / Install / Set up → wait for the eSIM to download

    For the QR option: Choose Use QR Code to install using your QR code.Enlarge screen ↗
    For the QR option: Choose Use QR Code to install using your QR code. Screen source ↗
    After scanning, tap Continue to confirm installation of your eSIM.Enlarge screen ↗
    After scanning, tap Continue to confirm installation of your eSIM. Screen source ↗
  3. 03

    Give the new line a clear name

    For example, “Letisim Kenya”, so you can distinguish it from your home SIM. This is a label on your phone; it does not change the number or plan.

    iPhone: Settings → Cellular / Mobile Service → new eSIM → Cellular Plan Label → Custom

    Google Pixel / Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → new eSIM → Edit name

    Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → new eSIM → Name

    Huawei: SIM management → SIM 2 → your eSIM → Card name. You can keep the existing label if no rename option is shown.

    Honor: SIM management → SIM 2 → eSIM name. Rename it if your MagicOS version offers this option.

    Xiaomi / Redmi: Manage eSIM → your plan → Change nickname, if available.

    Motorola: Open the new eSIM in SIM settings and use the edit-name option if available.

    OPPO: Open the installed profile in eSIM settings and change its label if your ColorOS version allows it.

    OnePlus: Open the installed eSIM and edit its name if the option is available.

    Line name: Letisim Kenya
    Open the new eSIM to edit its name. The example label may differ from yours.Enlarge screen ↗
    Open the new eSIM to edit its name. The example label may differ from yours. Screen source ↗

Installation adds the eSIM to your phone. Choose it for mobile data at your destination. Package validity still follows its own start rule.

At your destination · turn on data

  1. 04

    Choose the eSIM for mobile data

    Turn on the new line and select it for mobile data. You can keep your home SIM for calls and texts at its usual rates. Turn off automatic mobile-data switching between SIMs.

    iPhone: Settings → Cellular / Mobile Service → Cellular Data → Letisim. Turn off “Allow Cellular Data Switching”.

    Google Pixel / Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Mobile data → Letisim

    Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Mobile data → Letisim

    Huawei: In SIM management, enable the travel eSIM and select it as the default mobile-data SIM. Adding it may disable a physical SIM in slot 2.

    Honor: In SIM management, enable the eSIM and choose it for mobile data. Check which physical SIM remains active.

    Xiaomi / Redmi: Enable the travel plan in Manage eSIM, then select it for mobile data. Some models use eSIM instead of physical SIM 2.

    Motorola: Network & internet → SIM settings: enable the travel eSIM and select it for mobile data.

    OPPO: Enable the profile in Mobile network → eSIM, then select it for mobile data. The eSIM may occupy the SIM 2 position.

    OnePlus: In Mobile network, enable the travel eSIM and choose it for mobile data. Turn off automatic switching to the other SIM.

    Choose your travel eSIM for Mobile data. Keep your home SIM for calls.Enlarge screen ↗
    Choose your travel eSIM for Mobile data. Keep your home SIM for calls. Screen source ↗
  2. 05

    Check roaming in your package guide

    If your eSIM instructions require data roaming, enable it for the Letisim line. Keep data roaming off on your home SIM. If an APN is specified, use the exact value in your own package’s guide.

    iPhone: Settings → Cellular / Mobile Service → Letisim → Data Roaming (sometimes under Cellular Data Options)

    Google Pixel / Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Letisim → Roaming

    Samsung: First select Letisim for mobile data, then Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Data roaming

    Huawei: Open Mobile network → Mobile data and check data roaming for the travel SIM. Follow the settings in your package guide.

    Honor: In the mobile-network settings, open the travel SIM’s data settings and enable roaming only if your package requires it.

    Xiaomi / Redmi: In Mobile networks, open the travel SIM’s data-roaming settings. Use the roaming and APN values from your package guide.

    Motorola: Open the travel eSIM’s network settings and check Roaming against your package instructions.

    OPPO: Open the travel SIM’s mobile-network settings and enable data roaming if required by your package.

    OnePlus: Open the travel SIM’s settings and check Data roaming against the instructions for your own package.

    Open Data roaming or Roaming for the travel line. Enable it only if your package instructions require it.Enlarge screen ↗
    Open Data roaming or Roaming for the travel line. Enable it only if your package instructions require it. Screen source ↗
  3. 06

    Check your connection

    Turn off Wi-Fi and open a map or website. If it loads, mobile data is working. If it does not, turn airplane mode on for about 30 seconds, turn it off and wait for a connection. Recheck the selected line and package settings.

    Wi-Fi off → website loads → you are connected

    Turn Wi-Fi off using this switch, then open a website or map to check mobile data.Enlarge screen ↗
    Turn Wi-Fi off using this switch, then open a website or map to check mobile data. Screen source ↗
No second screen for your QR code?

If the scanner has a gallery button, save the QR from your order and choose that image. If your order includes manual installation details, choose Enter details manually and copy the fields exactly. The available methods depend on your phone and eSIM. If neither is available, contact support; do not scan a sample code from this guide or delete an installed eSIM.

Menu names can differ by phone model and system version.

04 / Operators

Mobile operators in Kenya

Compare network coverage separately from speed. A national result does not predict reception inside your hotel or along a mountain road.

Compare Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya for your route. Check which network is included in the selected eSIM, then confirm coverage for your accommodation and trip stops.

Safaricom

If your package includes Safaricom, confirm mobile coverage for your accommodation and route with the operator. A shop locator or home-internet availability check does not establish coverage for a phone. [1] [4]

Official website ↗

Airtel Kenya

If your package includes Airtel Kenya, confirm mobile coverage for your accommodation and route with the operator. A shop locator or home-internet availability check does not establish coverage for a phone. [1] [5]

Official website ↗

Telkom Kenya

If your package includes Telkom Kenya, confirm mobile coverage for your accommodation and route with the operator. A shop locator or home-internet availability check does not establish coverage for a phone. [1] [6]

Official website ↗

The network in your chosen package is what matters. This country comparison does not mean every plan includes every operator. 5G depends on the package, phone and local coverage.

05 / Coverage

Coverage across Kenya

Check the addresses and roads you will actually use. Save maps and booking details before leaving Wi-Fi.

🇰🇪 Kenya
  1. Nairobi
  2. Coastal Kenya and Mombasa
  3. Rift Valley routes
  4. Eastern Kenya

Nairobi

In the capital, your most practical approach is to verify coverage around your hotel, office and airport transfer route before arrival. Operator tools and map apps are useful here because speeds and indoor signal can differ sharply between business districts, apartment blocks and major roads. [1] [3] [7] [8] [9]

Coastal Kenya and Mombasa

For beach trips, port areas and city stays, check coverage for the exact town or district rather than assuming the whole coast behaves the same. This matters on airport runs, ferry crossings and resort-to-city trips where your signal may change along the road. [1] [3] [4] [6] [9]

Rift Valley routes

On intercity drives and safari legs, keep an offline map ready and expect patchier service outside main towns. It is smarter to check coverage for the towns on your route than to rely on one city’s signal for the whole journey. [1] [3] [6] [7]

Eastern Kenya

If you are heading toward inland towns or longer road trips, map the route with a navigation app first and save key places offline. That gives you a fallback for taxi pickup points, fuel stops and accommodation check-ins if coverage changes mid-journey. [1] [3] [7] [8]

Kenya · eSIM

Overview

Kenya’s public telecom coverage tools are useful for trip planning because they let you check specific towns, districts and corridors instead of guessing from a national label. That matters in a country where a city stay, a coastal holiday and an inland road trip can all need different connectivity habits.

For travellers, the smartest approach is to pair an eSIM with an offline backup. Use public coverage pages to see which operator lists the area you care about, then keep Google Maps saved offline and use ride-hailing apps for point-to-point movement in cities. That way you can stay productive even if the signal changes between hotels, highways, ferry points or safari stops.

Useful apps and travel tools

Google Maps ↗

Useful for navigation, saved places and offline fallback when you are moving between airports, hotels, malls and intercity stops in Kenya. [7]

Uber ↗

A practical ride-hailing option for city transfers, especially in Nairobi and other places where you want app-based pickup instead of hailing on the street. [8]

Bolt ↗

Useful for airport runs, city hops and advance bookings, with local Kenya ride coverage presented on the official Bolt site. [9]

Before you buy

What the public coverage tools can show

Kenya’s communications regulator provides a GIS coverage portal, which is the best public place to compare ICT layers and look at telecom coverage by area. For travellers, that means you can check whether a specific town, corridor or district is worth choosing for mobile data, but it should still be treated as planning evidence rather than a guarantee inside every building. [1]

Why route checking matters more than a countrywide assumption

KTB’s tourism circuits show how varied Kenya’s trip patterns are: city breaks, coast stays and long inland routes all need different connectivity habits. A traveller who checks only one city may miss weaker stretches between towns, while someone who checks the route can decide when to rely on data, when to download maps and when to use offline navigation. [3] [7]

06 / FAQ

Questions about eSIM in Kenya

Which operator should I check first for Kenya?

Start with the operator that best matches your route, not just your first hotel. Safaricom, Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya all have public coverage information, but the useful check is whether the places you will actually visit appear in the area you plan to use. If you are staying mainly in Nairobi, a city coverage check is usually enough to begin with; for coast or inland road trips, verify the exact towns and corridors you expect to use. [1] [4] [5] [6]

Do I need a different eSIM plan for Nairobi and the coast?

Not necessarily, but your usage pattern may be different. In Nairobi you may rely more on navigation, ride-hailing and messaging, while a coast trip can involve more movement between hotel, beach, port and restaurant locations. If you expect heavier data use, choose a plan with enough allowance for maps, calls over apps and photo sharing instead of assuming the same amount will suit every part of the trip. [3] [7] [8] [9]

Can I rely on one city’s coverage for the whole country?

No. Kenya’s tourism and travel patterns are varied, and the public coverage tools are designed for checking specific areas. A strong signal in one city does not tell you what happens on an intercity highway, a ferry approach or a safari stretch. It is better to confirm the route you will actually use and keep an offline map ready as a fallback. [1] [3] [7]

Is an eSIM enough for taxi apps and maps in Kenya?

For most city trips, yes, as long as your plan has enough data and your phone supports eSIM. Google Maps, Uber and Bolt are all useful travel tools, but they work best when you have an active connection for live location, route updates and pickup details. For longer journeys, save your destination lists and offline maps before you leave. [7] [8] [9]

What should I do before a road trip outside Nairobi?

Check the towns and stops on your route in the public coverage tools, not only the starting point. Download offline maps, save hotel addresses and keep essential confirmations locally on your phone. That gives you a better fallback if the signal changes between major towns or when you reach a less busy stretch of road. [1] [3] [6] [7]

When should I install my eSIM?

Install it before departure if you want a calmer setup, then keep the line ready to switch on when you need data. The exact activation timing depends on the product, so it is safer to follow the package instructions and treat purchase, install and first connection as separate steps. Your home SIM and its charges stay separate from the travel data plan. [1]

Sources and checks · Country research checked 2026-09-08
  1. ICT Services Coverage Geo-Portal · Communications Authority of Kenya
  2. Market Structure · Communications Authority of Kenya
  3. KTB Unveils Nine Tourism Circuits to Transform Travel Experiences · Kenya Tourism Board
  4. 5G Coverage · Safaricom
  5. Airtel Kenya Home · Airtel Kenya
  6. Map of Telkom’s National Backbone Fiber Transmission Network · Telkom Kenya
  7. Google Maps · Google
  8. Uber Kenya · Uber
  9. Bolt in Kenya · Bolt
  10. Letisim public catalog · Letisim