Travel eSIM or airport SIM
Airalo can be installed before travel, so data can be ready when you land. A local airport SIM is normally better value if you are happy to arrange it after arrival.
Travel Information · Staying connected
SIM Cards, eSIMs & Mobile Internet in Cambodia
A straightforward comparison for a holiday, a longer stay or a move to Cambodia — with provider details checked against official pages.
The quick answer
Choose convenience for arrival, value for a longer stay.
Buy from a local network
A Smart, Cellcard or Metfone SIM/eSIM provides a Cambodian number and local packages. Compare service at the exact places you will stay.
Local number, plus backup
Start with a prepaid local line. Keep your home SIM active until banking, security codes and important accounts have been moved or properly tested.
Before you travel
Roaming, unlocked phones and eSIM checks
International roaming
Your UK, Australian or other home network may roam in Cambodia, but its price and fair-use limit are set by that operator. Check its Cambodia tariff and do not assume your normal allowance applies.
Before arrival, switch off data roaming on your UK or other home SIM to reduce the chance of an unexpected bill. Use Wi-Fi or a suitable local SIM/eSIM for internet access, and check any travel eSIM's own roaming instructions.
Check these first
- Your phone is network-unlocked.
- Your model supports eSIM.
- You have Wi-Fi for installation.
- You know when package validity starts.
- You know which line is selected for data.
Official prices
Current examples — not permanent prices
These were visible on official pages when checked. Providers can change them without notice.
| Provider | Published examples | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo | Unlimited: 3 days US$12.50; 7 days US$27; 15 days US$49; 30 days US$72.50 | Install before travel; Airalo currently identifies Smart as the primary network. Check live terms and any usage policy. |
| Smart Traveller SIM | 30 GB, 15 days, US$5; stated calls and SMS included | Physical SIM advertised at Smart booths in Cambodia's international airports. |
| Cellcard Traveller SIM | 3 GB/3 days US$5; 7 GB/7 days US$7; 15 GB/15 days US$12; 30 GB/30 days US$20 | Published tourist packages include on-network calls and SMS. |
| Metfone | Check its live tourist SIM page | Tourist SIM and eSIM are official services, but we could not verify a clear current price table. |
On these published prices, Airalo costs more than the local tourist-SIM examples. You are paying for pre-arrival convenience, not proven better coverage.
The main choices
Airalo, Smart, Cellcard and Metfone
Airalo
Airalo's Cambodia eSIM can be installed before travel and its official page currently shows Smart as the primary network. Its listed packages cost more than the local examples above.
Ian's experience: Ian found Airalo easy to install before travelling and useful because mobile data was ready on arrival. That is personal experience, not proof of Cambodia's best price or coverage.Check Airalo Cambodia →
Smart Axiata
Smart publishes a Traveller SIM and sells eSIMs through SmartNas, its website and Smart Shops. Its eSIM process requires a compatible phone, Wi-Fi, a valid passport or national ID, document scanning and face verification.
Smart Traveller SIM →Smart eSIM →Cellcard
Cellcard publishes physical Traveller SIM packages and eSIM purchase through its app. In June 2026 it announced a Cellcard eSIM option inside the official Cambodia e-Arrival app for international visitors with compatible phones.
Cellcard Traveller SIM →e-Arrival announcement →Metfone
Metfone's official site lists tourist SIM and eSIM services. Because its package details were not clear enough to verify, we have not copied prices from unofficial comparison sites.
Metfone official site →Coverage
There is no honest one-network answer for every journey.
Smart, Cellcard and Metfone all operate Cambodian networks. Signal and capacity can vary by neighbourhood, building and time in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Kampot.
On islands and in rural Cambodia, the exact beach, village, road or accommodation matters even more. We found no sufficiently current, independent evidence to name one dependable winner everywhere.
A sensible backup
- Ask your accommodation which network works at that address.
- Download offline Maps and language packs.
- For a long stay, test prepaid service first.
- If connection is essential, carry a second network.
Everyday use
Maps, messages, Grab and banking codes
Travel apps
Google Maps, Google Translate, Grab, WhatsApp and Telegram use internet data and should work over any functioning service. Voice calls and SMS are different: a travel eSIM may be data-only, while a local SIM normally supplies a Cambodian number.
Keep your home SIM carefully
If a bank still sends one-time codes to your home number, keeping that SIM active can prevent lockouts. On a dual-SIM phone, use the Cambodia line for data and the home line for essential SMS.
Before making or answering ordinary mobile calls, check your home network's roaming charges: receiving calls can cost money too, and turning off data roaming does not prevent voice-call charges. Confirm incoming verification texts work abroad. Never assume every bank can send codes overseas or over Wi-Fi.