Comparison of the best prepaid SIM cards in North Macedonia
North Macedonia is a beautiful country located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula. If you are planning a trip, the first thing to do is make sure you have a good internet connection – and we’re here to help you with that!
In this article, we put together the best options for prepaid SIM cards available in North Macedonia. We focused only on prepaid plans because they are the best fit for travelers like you and me.
If you will be planning a trip to multiple countries, we recommend you consider buying an eSIM instead of a local SIM card. We’ll explain to you why below.
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Need an eSIM?
If you’re short on time, check the options from our most recommended providers for mobile internet around the world: Airalo and Nomad.
Mobile providers in North Macedonia
There are currently three mobile operators in North Macedonia:
- Makedonski Telekom
- A1
- Lycamobile
All three mobile operators offer prepaid SIM card options in Macedonia that are suitable for travelers. Let’s go through each of them.
Price comparison for prepaid SIM cards in Macedonia
| Provider | Price | Data coverage | Free roaming | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makedonski Telekom | From 6.50 EUR | From 10 GB | Only for the 20 GB plan | From 7 days |
| A1 | From 1.30 EUR | From 1 GB | No | From 7 days |
| Lycamobile | From 1.60 EUR | From 3 GB | Yes | From 7 days |
| Airalo (eSIM) | From 4 EUR | From 1 GB | Yes | From 7 days |
| Nomad (eSIM) | From 8 EUR | From 1 GB | Yes | From 7 days |
Makedonski Telekom prepaid SIM card options
Makedonski Telekom is the local brand of T-Mobile, one of the largest mobile providers in the world.
Telekom offers prepaid SIM card options starting from 10 GB which are quite good for travelers. Here are all the prices and options available:
| Price | Data coverage | Roaming in the Balkans | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.50 EUR | 10 GB | No | 7 days |
| 8 EUR | 10 GB | No | 30 days |
| 21 EUR | 20 GB | Yes | 30 days |
Their 20 GB prepaid SIM card is a very good option if you will be traveling to multiple countries. The full data coverage can be used in Macedonia and the following countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.
For more information about the Telekom offers, check their website here.
A1 prepaid SIM card options in Macedonia
A1 is one of the largest mobile operators in Macedonia and offers very good coverage around the country. A1 is also present in several other Balkan countries, so you may be able to get a good roaming deal if you have a SIM card from them already.
Here are their offers for prepaid SIM cards in Macedonia:
| Price | Data coverage | Roaming in the Balkans | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.30 EUR | 1 GB | No | 7 days |
| 1.90 EUR | 2 GB | No | 7 days |
| 3.20 EUR | 3 GB | No | 30 days |
| 6.50 EUR | 15 GB | No | 30 days |
| 4.85 EUR | 20 GB | No | 30 days |
In my opinion, A1 is the best option if you do not need a lot of internet. Their coverage is pretty good and they offer these smaller packages that you can’t get with Telekom.
The downside of A1 is that none of their prepaid SIM card plans in Macedonia offer roaming to other Balkan countries. This means that they are not one of the best alternatives if you will be traveling to other countries as well.
For more details, check their website directly.
Lycamobile prepaid SIM card options in Macedonia
The third mobile operator in North Macedonia is Lycamobile. They are the smallest of all three, but they also offer a few options of prepaid SIM cards that are suitable for travelers.
See the offers below:
| Plan | Price | Data coverage | Roaming in the Balkans | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data 99 | 1.60 EUR | 3 GB | 1 GB | 7 days |
| Data M | 2.10 EUR | 2 GB | 1 GB | 30 days |
| Data XL | 4.00 EUR | 6 GB | 1 GB | 30 days |
| Mega Data | 8.10 EUR | 25 GB | 1 GB | 30 days |
All Lycamobile prepaid SIM card plans in Macedonia offer roaming in the Western Balkan countries, but only for 1 GB. Once this allowance is finished, additional rates will apply.
For more details about their plans, check their website.
Our recommendation: the best prepaid SIM card in Macedonia
Now that you know all the options available, let me give you a bit of my personal opinion.
Some of my best friends are from Macedonia and I have asked their opinion as well to make sure I give you the most complete information possible.
The best prepaid SIM card for traveling to Macedonia is the 20 GB plan from Telekom. This plan has the best value for money.
With only 20 EUR, you will get a SIM card that has good coverage not only in Macedonia but also throughout the Western Balkans.
Telekom is also a very reliable network, offering good coverage.
However, if you are only looking for the cheapest option and won’t need a lot of data, A1’s smaller plans can be the best option for you.
What SIM card to use for multi-country trips?
If you will be traveling to multiple countries, the best option is the prepaid SIM card offered by Makedonski Telekom.
Lycamobile also offers roaming in the Western Balkans but only for 1 GB, which is quite little.
That being said, for multi-country travel, we recommend using an eSIM instead. It is the easiest way to make sure you will be connected wherever you go.
Don’t know how eSIMs work? Check our eSIM guide
Best eSIM for traveling to North Macedonia
There are quite a few options for eSIM available in the market these days. From my experience, the only brands I would personally recommend are Airalo and Nomad.
I have tested multiple other brands in the past but there were always issues. Either the connection was bad or the eSIM was complicated to install and get it going.
My experience has always been great when using both of these providers. I think the prices are quite fair for what you get – which is the comfort of already arriving at the destination with data working.
Where can you buy a prepaid SIM card in Macedonia?
You can buy prepaid SIM cards in Macedonia from:
- Official stores of the mobile providers
- Official resellers, such as gas stations or convenience stores
I must say that buying a SIM card in Macedonia is quite easy. If you land in Skopje, it is quite easy to find a store from Telekom or A1 in the center, and you can get connected within minutes.
FAQ – Popular questions about SIM cards in Macedonia
Can you buy a SIM card at Skopje International Airport?
Yes, you can normally find Telekom and A1 prepaid SIM cards at Skopje International Airport. There is one mobile shop that sells them, but it is up to their availability.
If you don’t find it, you can just go to their official store in the center. There are many, you can just find the one close to you.
What do you need to buy a prepaid SIM card in Macedonia?
Make sure you take not only the money needed but also a personal ID.
Depending on where you buy it, the ID won’t be necessary but it is good to make sure you have it in case they ask to see it.
Are there any promotions for prepaid SIM cards in Macedonia?
The local mobile operators are known to often run promotions giving away additional data coverage or discounts. A1 is one of the brands that often does that.
It is impossible for us to cover the promotions in this article because they keep on changing and are sometimes available just for certain clients, plans, or locations. I recommend checking directly at the store when you arrive.
How to avoid roaming fees in North Macedonia?
The best way to avoid the hefty roaming fees is to make sure you get a local SIM card or buy an eSIM for your trip.
I am a big fan of eSIMs because you can already leave the airport with your phone connected. It makes things much easier. Airalo is the brand we normally use for eSIMs, check their offers here.
Other SIM card guides for the Balkans
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to the Balkans, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to the Balkan region on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
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