FairSIM eSIM for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a US territory that runs on US infrastructure. The dollar, 911, US postal service, US power sockets, and the same mobile networks you would use in Miami. You land at SJU, pick up a rental car, and within an hour you can be in Old San Juan, at the El Yunque gate, or heading west on Highway 22 toward Rincón.
A FairSIM eSIM roams onto AT&T or T-Mobile, both with 5G on the island and 4G LTE as the fallback. You install it over Wi-Fi before you leave, switch the line on when you land, and skip the store queue. Personal Hotspot is included on every plan. Worth saying plainly: if you already have a US mainland plan, Puerto Rico is domestic for you and you do not need a travel eSIM. This page is for travelers arriving from the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia and everywhere else, where your home carrier will bill you international rates.
One local rule to plan around: the ferries to Vieques and Culebra leave from Ceiba, tickets sell out days ahead, and residents get boarding priority over visitors. You book online and show the ticket on your phone. Rental cars are the same story, with AutoExpreso electronic tolls billed to the car rather than collected in cash. Both jobs need data before you reach the gate.
- CarriersAT&T, T-Mobile
- CompatibilityCheck if eSIM is available on your phone
- No days lostPurchase now, data will start when you arrive
Puerto Rico eSIM plans
Plan starts: On first data use
Coverage in Puerto Rico
- 4G LTE5G
AT&T
Wide 4G LTE and 5G across the island, strong in the San Juan metro, along the main highways and in the larger coastal towns.
- 4G LTE5G
T-Mobile
The other host network, with 5G in San Juan and most populated areas, plus older 2G and 3G layers still live in places as a fallback.
5G on both networks in the populated areas, with 4G LTE as the everyday fallback
Typical speed: Typical US-style LTE and 5G speeds in San Juan and the metro area: fast enough for video calls, maps and uploads. Speeds drop in the mountains and on the far west and southwest coasts.
San Juan, Bayamón, Carolina, Caguas, Ponce, Mayagüez, the airport and the main highways are well covered. Expect gaps inside El Yunque's trails and in the karst country around Utuado and Adjuntas. Vieques and Culebra have service in town and at the main beaches, but it thins out on the quieter east and south shores.
How much data do you need in Puerto Rico?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
San Juan long weekend
Old San Juan, Condado, Santurce and a day at the beach.
Why data matters: Uber across the metro, Google Maps in the old city grid, restaurant bookings, and photos uploading from El Morro.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Island road trip
A rental car west to Rincón, south to Ponce and back through the mountains.
Why data matters: Navigation on Highway 22 and the Ruta Panorámica, AutoExpreso toll questions, gas stations and lunch spots found on the move.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Vieques and Culebra island hop
The Ceiba ferry or a short hop from Isla Grande, then a few slow days.
Why data matters: Ferry tickets and schedule changes, golf cart rentals booked by message, and bio bay tours confirmed the day before.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Cruise call or homeport turnaround
A day in San Juan, or a night either side of a Caribbean sailing.
Why data matters: Ship Wi-Fi is slow and expensive. On land you want maps, a taxi, boarding passes and a call home on a real network.
- 7 days
- 3 GB
- 14 days
- 5 GB
- 30 days
- 10 GB
Remote work month
A long stay in Condado, Ocean Park or Rincón with a laptop.
Why data matters: Zoom and Teams all day, Personal Hotspot when the apartment Wi-Fi drops, and a backup line when power goes out.
- 7 days
- 20 GB
- 14 days
- Unlimited
- 30 days
- Unlimited
What your home carrier charges in Puerto Rico
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for Puerto Rico start at $5.99 and never bill per day.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile (US) | 5 GB of high-speed data included on Experience More, 15 GB on Experience Beyond, then 256 kbps; $10 per day for a full-speed pass | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| EE (UK) | £6 per day, £30 for 7 days or £50 for 15 days, using your UK allowance | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Vodafone UK | £8 per day, £6 on plans started before 11 August 2021 | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Orange (France) | Connexion 24h at €8.99 per day, or a Pass Voyage from €9.99 for 3 days; €13.31 per MB without either | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Telekom (Germany) | No per-MB data: a Travel & Surf pass from €5.95 for 2 days or €49.95 for 4 weeks, unless your MagentaMobil plan's yearly non-EU allowance covers the trip | from $5.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
Three steps between you and the internet abroad. Nothing to pick up at the airport.
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for Puerto Rico
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, then turn the line and data roaming on after you land. Validity usually starts at the first connection to a Puerto Rican network.
If you have a US mainland plan, check it first. Puerto Rico is domestic for AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile subscribers, and you may not need anything extra.
Book the Ceiba ferry to Vieques or Culebra as soon as dates are fixed. Residents board first and visitor seats go quickly.
Rent a car if you are leaving the metro. Uber coverage fades outside San Juan and public transport between towns is limited.
Ask the rental desk how AutoExpreso tolls are billed. Nearly all highway tolls are electronic and charged back to the car.
Carry a power bank. Outages are not constant but they happen, and your phone is the map, the ticket and the flashlight.
Between June and November, follow the National Hurricane Center rather than social media, and keep the eSIM topped up if a storm is forecast.
Spanish goes a long way outside Condado and Old San Juan. Keep Google Translate's offline Spanish pack downloaded for the mountain towns.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Hotel, Airbnb, café and airport Wi-Fi is widespread and generally decent in San Juan, and most restaurants will hand over a password. Outside the metro it is patchier and slower, and the bigger issue is power: outages still happen across the island, and when the grid drops the Wi-Fi drops with it while the mobile network often stays up on backup. Treat Wi-Fi as a bonus and keep your own data line as the thing you actually rely on.
Local SIM card or eSIM in Puerto Rico?
Local prepaid is easy to find. Claro Puerto Rico, Liberty Mobile and T-Mobile all have stores in the malls and on the main avenues, and prepaid starter packs are sold in Walgreens and supermarkets. Prices are US-style, which means a prepaid month usually costs more than a short travel plan, and you are buying 30 days of service whether you stay three nights or three weeks. There is no SIM counter in the arrivals hall at SJU, so a local SIM means finding a store after you have already landed and picked up the car.
A FairSIM eSIM is installed at home over Wi-Fi, roams onto AT&T or T-Mobile, and starts when you first connect on the island. Your home number stays on the phone for bank codes and airline messages. You keep data-only billing with no contract, no ID paperwork and no leftover balance. If you are continuing to the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic or the mainland, you buy the next plan in the same app instead of hunting for another store.
Puerto Rico eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Any unlocked eSIM phone connects to AT&T or T-Mobile with a travel eSIM. On iPhone that means XS, XR or newer, and iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install.
Which network will my Puerto Rico eSIM use?
AT&T or T-Mobile. Both run 4G LTE and 5G across the island. The app shows which network each plan uses.
Is there 5G in Puerto Rico?
Yes, on both AT&T and T-Mobile in San Juan and the populated areas. Your phone needs 5G support; otherwise you get 4G LTE, which is fine for everything most travelers do.
Do I need an eSIM if I have a US phone plan?
Usually not. Puerto Rico counts as domestic for US carriers, so your calls, texts and data work as they do at home. A travel eSIM is mainly for visitors from the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.
Can I use Personal Hotspot in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot with no separate cap, which is useful when the apartment Wi-Fi goes down with the power.
Will I have signal in El Yunque, Vieques and Culebra?
In the towns and at the main beaches on Vieques and Culebra, yes. Deep inside El Yunque's trails and on the quieter shores, expect dead spots. Download offline maps before you go.
Do I need a passport for Puerto Rico?
US citizens travelling from the mainland do not; it is a domestic trip. Everyone else follows US entry rules, including ESTA or a US visa. Check before booking, as requirements change.
How much data do I need for a week in Puerto Rico?
A San Juan long weekend uses around 3 to 5 GB. A week with maps, messaging and photo uploads is closer to 5 to 10 GB. Streaming or working remotely pushes that higher.
Local SIM or travel eSIM for Puerto Rico?
Do not count on a SIM counter at SJU arrivals, and local prepaid is sold in 30-day blocks at US prices. A travel eSIM installs before you fly, uses the same AT&T or T-Mobile towers, and keeps your home number active for bank codes.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
