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Best eSIM for Montenegro: which one to choose in 2026?

The Bay of Kotor and the old town, the beaches of Budva, the Luštica peninsula, Lake Skadar, the Ostrog Monastery or the Durmitor massif: in Montenegro, you drive from one end of this small country to the other, and you need internet for Google Maps, bookings and WhatsApp. The country uses the euro, which misleads many travelers: it is not in the European Union, so your plan does not get roaming at domestic prices. A Montenegro eSIM is installed before departure, activates when you land in Podgorica or Tivat, and you keep your usual SIM for your bank's text messages.

The country has three mobile operators, m:tel, Crnogorski Telekom and One, and not all travel eSIMs use the same one. We scrutinized 5 providers using the same criteria: price per GB, network used locally, coverage from the coast to the northern mountains, support, simplicity of the application, and the flexibility of the plans, including unlimited options. You will also find how your usual plan compares, the tourist SIM card sold locally, and entry formalities. The ranking first, then each offer in detail.

Rony
October 1, 2026 · 15 min read
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Best eSIM for Montenegro: which one to choose in 2026?
The eSIMrat verdict#1 of 5
voilà eSIM

voilà eSIM: m:tel and Telekom, 1 GB for €1.80

7.9/10

The only one in the comparison to go through both m:tel, the country's leading operator, and Crnogorski Telekom, voted the fastest mobile network in Montenegro by Ookla, with 5G announced on both, a small 1 GB plan for 7 days at €1.80 for a trip to Kotor, no blocked apps, a two-minute installation via an easy-to-use app, and human support available 24/7. Regarding the price per GB, it ranks third, at €1.16/GB: Airalo and Yesim are cheaper for larger volumes.

Price per GB : €1.16/GBNetwork : m:tel and Crnogorski Telekom
See the voilà eSIM offer

How these eSIMs were ranked

Each eSIM is rated on six criteria, weighted for Montenegro. The price per GB and network coverage carry the most weight. The country has three networks: according to figures from the regulator Ekip reported by Telecompaper, m:tel holds 41.9% of lines at the end of April 2026, Crnogorski Telekom 36.2%, and One (formerly Telenor) 21.9%. Regarding speed, Crnogorski Telekom received the Ookla Speedtest Award for the fastest mobile network for the second half of 2025, with a download speed approximately 15% above the runner-up. Esimzon, featured in our other comparisons, is excluded: on October 1, 2026, all its data plans for Montenegro were listed as out of stock. The ratings are the editorial team's opinion, not an average of customer reviews.

  • Price per GB25 %

    Cost per gigabyte based on the cheapest plan from each provider, excluding occasional promotions.

  • Network coverage25 %

    Get signal in Kotor, Budva, Podgorica, along the coast, at Lake Skadar, and in the Durmitor massif.

  • Reliability15 %

    Connection stability, reliability of the partner operator, and provider reputation.

  • Support15 %

    Available channels, opening hours, human or automated response.

  • Activation and application10 %

    Simplicity of installation, clarity of the app, consumption tracking.

  • Plan flexibility10 %

    Choice of data volumes and durations, unlimited, top-ups, data sharing.

Based on these criteria, voilà eSIM comes out on top thanks to its two networks, m:tel and Telekom, its 1 GB for €1.80, its simple app, and its 24/7 human support, with a price per GB of €1.16/GB that places it third out of five. Airalo takes second place with the lowest price per GB, on m:tel in 4G. Yesim is third: the cheapest 30 GB and unlimited plans, but no carrier announced before purchase.

Scores are the opinion of the eSIMrat editorial team, based on the criteria above, not customer reviews. eSIMrat earns a commission on links to its partners, which does not affect the ranking.

The eSIM ranking for Montenegro

The 5 eSIMs compared, from the highest rated to the lowest rated. The price per GB shown is that of the cheapest plan per gigabyte for each provider: a 50 GB 30-day plan from Airalo, a 500 MB 1-day plan from Yesim (its 30 GB plan equals €0.93), a 20 GB plan from voilà eSIM and Saily, and a 10 GB 7-day plan from Ubigi. One euro per GB separates the cheapest from the most expensive: with large volumes, the difference shows on your bill.

ProviderPrice per GBNetworkScore
  1. 1voilà eSIMvoilà eSIM€1.16/GBm:tel and Crnogorski Telekom7.9/10
  2. 2AiraloAiralo€0.89/GBm:tel (4G)7.6/10
  3. 3YesimYesim€0.92/GBLocal networks7.4/10
  4. 4UbigiUbigi€1.90/GBm:tel and One6.8/10
  5. 5SailySaily€1.60/GBLocal networks6.6/10

Prices checked on September 30, 2026 on the providers' sites. eSIMrat partners' prices come from the comparator and refresh on every build.

Every Montenegro eSIM in detail

  1. voilà eSIM

    1. voilà eSIM

    7.9/10
    €1.16/GBm:tel and Crnogorski TelekomData plans, 1 to 20 GB, 7 to 30 days

    Two networks including the fastest, 1 GB for €1.80, no blocked apps, 24/7 human support

    voilà eSIM is the only one in the comparison to use two Montenegrin networks: m:tel, the operator with the most lines in the country, and Crnogorski Telekom, listed under its former brand T-Mobile, voted the fastest mobile network by Ookla. If one has poor reception on a mountain road, your phone can switch to the other. On its Montenegro page, the brand shows 5G on both networks, depending on the area, states that no apps are blocked (WhatsApp, TikTok, banking apps), and hotspotting is unlimited, which is practical when renting a car for two.

    In terms of price, it sits in the middle: €1.16/GB for the 20 GB 30-day plan at €23.20, the third cheapest price per GB out of five, behind Airalo and Yesim. Its specialty is small to medium data volumes: the 1 GB 7-day plan at €1.80 is the cheapest in the comparison for this volume, over €2 cheaper than Airalo; the 3 GB 15-day plan is €4.20, and the 5 GB 30-day plan is €6.60. The code ESIMRAT gives a 5% discount, which can be found on the promo code page, further improving the value for money.

    The rest follows: the eSIM is installed in two minutes via an easy-to-use app, with top-ups and usage tracking all in one place, you have 180 days to activate it after purchase, the brand offers a refund in case of problems, and human support is available 24/7 on WhatsApp. The limitations: 20 GB maximum, no unlimited data, no Montenegrin number (calls are made via WhatsApp, Viber, or FaceTime).

    Pros

    • The only one on m:tel and Crnogorski Telekom, 5G announced on both
    • 1 GB for 7 days at €1.80, the cheapest at this volume, unlimited hotspotting
    • Easy-to-install eSIM, easy-to-use app, 24/7 human support

    Cons

    • Third lowest price per GB out of five, behind Airalo and Yesim
    • No unlimited data, 20 GB maximum
    See the offer
  2. Airalo

    2. Airalo

    7.6/10
    €0.89/GBm:tel (4G)Data plans from 1 to 50 GB, 3 to 30 days, unlimited from 3 to 30 days

    The lowest price per GB, 50 GB for €44.50, the widest range of durations

    Airalo has the lowest price per GB in the comparison: €0.89/GB on the 50 GB 30-day plan at €44.50. Its Montenegro eSIM, called Jezero, runs on m:tel, the country's leading operator, but in 4G only according to its product page. Its range is the widest: 3, 7, 15 or 30 days depending on the volume, with a 5 GB 30-day plan at €12, a 10 GB 30-day plan at €20 and a 20 GB plan at €32.

    Its limitations lie in the small data volumes and the unlimited plans. The 1 GB for 3 days costs €4, more than double the 1 GB for 7 days from voilà eSIM. Its unlimited plan starts at €17 for 3 days and goes up to €80.50 per month, compared to €57 at Yesim, which beats it across all durations. Support is provided via chat, in English.

    Pros

    • The lowest price per GB, 50 GB for €44.50 over 30 days
    • Most comprehensive range of durations, from 3 to 30 days

    Cons

    • m:tel network only in 4G, expensive small plans (€4 for 1 GB)
    • Unlimited pricier than Yesim at every duration, support in English
    See the offer
  3. Yesim

    3. Yesim

    7.4/10
    €0.92/GBLocal networksData plans from 0.5 to 30 GB, unlimited from 1 to 30 days

    The cheapest unlimited data for all durations, 30 GB for €28

    Yesim is the unlimited eSIM for Montenegro: €3.50 per day, €24.50 per week, €39 for 15 days and €57 per month, the lowest prices in the comparison for each of these durations. Over a month, that is more than €20 less than Airalo. For a road trip where you rely on GPS, stream in the evening and share your connection, it is the simplest choice.

    Among standard plans, it also sells the cheapest 30 GB plan: €28 for 30 days, which is €0.93 per GB, and a 20 GB plan for €22. The price per GB of €0.92/GB shown in the table comes from its 500 MB mini plan valid for one day, at €0.45. The limitations: no Montenegrin operator announced before purchase ("3G, 4G, LTE or 5G depending on the provider"), and support via chat only.

    Pros

    • Cheapest unlimited plan in the comparison from 1 to 30 days, €24.50 per week
    • 30 GB for €28 and 20 GB for €22, for 30 days

    Cons

    • Montenegrin operator not specified before purchase
    • Chat support only
    See the offer
  4. Ubigi

    4. Ubigi

    6.8/10
    €1.90/GBm:tel and OneData plans from 1 to 10 GB, unlimited for 7 and 15 days

    Two networks, m:tel and One, 5G announced, top-up without reinstalling a profile

    Ubigi, a subsidiary of Transatel (NTT group), uses m:tel and One, and includes Montenegro in its list of 5G covered countries. Two networks provide security both on the coast and in the north. Its practical advantages: prices in euros, top-ups via the app without reinstalling a profile, and ticket-based support.

    Price, however, puts it last: its best price per GB is €1.90/GB, on the 10 GB 7-day plan at €19, and the 10 GB 30-day plan costs €21, compared to €12.20 with voilà eSIM. The 1 GB 7-day plan costs €5, the most expensive in the comparison. Its unlimited plan costs €29 for a week and €44 for 15 days, with speed reduced to 2 Mbit/s after 20 GB according to its product page: Yesim is cheaper, without this announced cap.

    Pros

    • m:tel and One networks, Montenegro on its 5G list
    • Top up without reinstalling a profile, support via ticket

    Cons

    • The highest price per GB of the five, 1 GB at €5
    • Unlimited, throttled to 2 Mbit/s after 20 GB
    See the offer
  5. Saily

    5. Saily

    6.6/10
    €1.60/GBLocal networksData plans from 1 to 20 GB, unlimited from 5 to 30 days

    Ad blocker and tracker blocker, 24/7 chat

    Saily is the eSIM from Nord Security, the creators of NordVPN. The app is simple, featuring an ad and tracker blocker and built-in web protection, and the chat responds 24/7 in English. On the Wi-Fi of an apartment in Budva or a café in Kotor, it's a real plus.

    Its 20 GB 30-day plan at €31.99 works out to €1.60/GB, the fourth price per GB. The rest of the range: €3.49 for 1 GB for 7 days, €7.99 for 3 GB, €11.49 for 5 GB and €19.49 for 10 GB, all more expensive than with voilà eSIM. Its unlimited plan ranges from €24.99 for 5 days to €85.49 per month, the most expensive 30-day option in the comparison. And it does not announce the Montenegrin operator before purchase.

    Pros

    • Built-in ad and tracker blocker, 24/7 chat
    • Unlimited available from 5 to 30 days

    Cons

    • Montenegrin operator not specified before purchase
    • Most expensive 30-day unlimited plan, €85.49
    See the offer

Which Montenegro eSIM for your profile?

The eSIM we recommend for every type of traveler.

  • voilà eSIM
    One week between Kotor and Budvavoilà eSIM1 GB for 7 days at €1.80, or 3 GB for 15 days at €4.20, on m:tel and Telekom, without touching your usual plan.
  • Yesim
    Two weeks with plenty of dataYesim30 GB for 30 days for €28, the cheapest in the comparison at this volume.
  • Airalo
    A road trip with plenty of dataAiralo50 GB for 30 days for €44.50, which is €0.89 per GB, the best rate in the comparison.
  • Yesim
    One to four weeks of unlimited dataYesimThe cheapest unlimited plan in the comparison for all durations: €24.50 per week, €57 per month.
  • Saily
    Lots of public Wi-FiSailyAn ad and tracker blocker and web protection integrated into the app.
  • voilà eSIM
    Need help in case of an issuevoilà eSIMHuman support reachable 24/7 on WhatsApp, and a refund promised by the brand if something goes wrong.

Which network to choose in Montenegro: m:tel, Telekom or One?

The three operators cover the coast well, and the difference lies in the throughput and the northern region. Crnogorski Telekom, part of the Deutsche Telekom group and long sold under the T-Mobile brand, is the fastest: it received the Ookla Speedtest Award for the second half of 2025, based on nearly 70,000 tests. m:tel is the leader in terms of number of lines, with 41.9% of the market at the end of April 2026. One, the former Telenor, brings up the rear with 21.9%.

5G has been here since 2022: Telekom launched it in Podgorica in March 2022, and all three operators rolled it out in the 3.6 GHz band in 2023. According to the 5G guide from the law firm CMS, it has covered the urban areas of Bar, Budva, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Nikšić, Podgorica and Tivat since late 2023, and operators must cover at least half of the population by the end of 2026. On the eSIM side: voilà eSIM uses m:tel and Telekom, Ubigi uses m:tel and One, Airalo uses m:tel in 4G, while Yesim and Saily do not announce an operator.

Does your usual plan work in Montenegro?

Not by default, contrary to what you often read. Montenegro uses the euro but is not in the European Union: France Diplomatie points out in its useful information that European roaming rules do not apply there and advises caution with an EU SIM card. The EU has opened negotiations to extend "roam like at home" to the Western Balkans, authorized by the Council on June 4, 2026, but no date of entry into force has been set.

Some plans include it anyway, especially high-end offers or travel-focused plans, which add a data allowance usable in the Balkans. It is never automatic: Montenegro must be explicitly listed in your operator's destinations, and the allowance is often capped at a few dozen GB per month.

For others, you have to buy a travel pass from your operator. Without a pass or a compatible plan, data is charged at out-of-bundle rates, which are counted in euros per megabyte outside of the European Union. Before leaving, turn off data roaming on your regular line and let a Montenegro eSIM handle the data: €1.80 for 1 GB with voilà eSIM.

eSIM or tourist SIM card in Montenegro?

All three operators sell tourist SIM cards, and they are very generous. At One, the Tourist 15 gives 500 GB for 15 days for €15, and the Tourist 20 gives 1 TB for 30 days for €20. Crnogorski Telekom offers the same volumes at the same prices, plus a few GB usable in neighboring countries, and sells a tourist eSIM online after biometric identification with your passport or ID card. m:tel also has its Turist offers, with no prices shown on its website, and requires the card to be registered.

For a stay of two weeks or more with lots of streaming, the tourist SIM is therefore unbeatable on price. Its trade-offs: finding a shop or an authorized point of sale upon arrival, presenting an ID, and removing your usual SIM if your phone only has one slot. The travel eSIM, however, is installed before departure, requires no local formalities, and works as soon as the plane touches the tarmac in Tivat. Our rule: eSIM for a few days or to be connected upon arrival, tourist SIM for a long stay with high data consumption.

What coverage in Montenegro, from Kotor to Durmitor?

Along the coast, from Herceg Novi to Ulcinj, passing through Kotor, Tivat, Budva, and Bar, the network is dense and 5G is available in the cities. The same applies to Podgorica and Nikšić. It is in the mountainous north where the network becomes irregular: the Morača gorges, the Tara Canyon, and the Durmitor massif.

Around Žabljak, the Durmitor guide from montenegro.com warns that mobile signal is unreliable on many routes. Download your offline maps in Google Maps or Maps.me before leaving the coast, and inform your accommodation of your arrival time. An eSIM that uses two networks, such as voilà eSIM or Ubigi, increases your chances of getting a signal.

What to check before leaving for Montenegro

Two conditions for the eSIM: an eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked phone. iPhones from the XR onward, Pixels, Galaxy S and other recent models qualify; the full list is on our eSIM-compatible phones page. Installation takes three steps: you buy the plan, you scan the QR code received by email or install the eSIM from the provider's app, then, on arrival, you turn on data roaming for the eSIM and turn it off on your usual line.

Regarding formalities, the rules depend on your nationality: EU citizens do not need to apply for a visa for stays of less than 90 days, according to the travel advice from France Diplomatie: an identity card is sufficient for less than 30 days, a passport is mandatory beyond that. You pay in euros, by card or in cash. All plans are gathered on our Montenegro eSIM comparator, and if you head south, our best Albania eSIM comparison awaits you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best eSIM for Montenegro?
Based on our criteria, voilà eSIM: the only one using m:tel and Crnogorski Telekom, the fastest network according to Ookla, a 1 GB 7-day plan for €1.80, no blocked apps, an easy-to-install eSIM, an easy-to-use app, and 24/7 human support. Regarding price per GB alone, Airalo does better at €0.89 for 50 GB, and Yesim sells the cheapest unlimited plan at €24.50 per week.
Which mobile plan for Montenegro?
For a few days, a travel eSIM: €1.80 for 1 GB with voilà eSIM, €28 for 30 GB with Yesim. For two weeks or more with plenty of data, a local tourist SIM: 500 GB for 15 days for €15 with One or Telekom. Also check what your usual plan includes: some high-end plans cover Montenegro.
Does my usual plan work in Montenegro?
Not by default: Montenegro uses the euro but is not in the European Union, and European roaming rules do not apply there. Some plans include it in a travel bundle, while others require a pass. Without either, data is charged per megabyte.
How do I use my phone in Montenegro?
Install a Montenegro eSIM before departure, activate data roaming on the eSIM upon arrival, and turn it off on your regular line to avoid out-of-bundle charges. Montenegro is outside the European Union: without a compatible plan or pass, your regular data is charged per MB. Calls are made via WhatsApp, Viber, or FaceTime.
What is the best eSIM for the Balkans?
It depends on the country. Croatia is part of the European Union, so an EU plan works there just like at home. Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are not: get one eSIM per country, or a regional plan if you visit several in a row. For Albania, our dedicated comparison details the offers.
What is the downside of an eSIM?
You need an eSIM-compatible and unlocked phone, and a data-only travel eSIM does not have a Montenegrin number: calls are made via WhatsApp or another app. For a long stay with very high data usage, a local tourist SIM is cheaper. We detail everything in our article on the pros and cons of eSIM.
How many GB to plan for a trip to Montenegro?
Plan on 1 to 3 GB for a week in Kotor and Budva with Google Maps and WhatsApp, 10 to 20 GB for a two-week road trip up to Durmitor, and an unlimited plan if you share your connection or watch videos. The 1 GB 7-day plan costs €1.80 at voilà eSIM, the 20 GB plan €22 at Yesim, and unlimited €24.50 per week at Yesim.
Author
Rony

A travel obsessive, I built eSIMrat to share the best connectivity deals: the most reliable option at the best price, so you can leave with a clear head and make every trip the best it can be.

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