Best eSIM for Cape Verde (2026): Prices, Networks and Which Plan to Buy
Updated · Wayfarro team
The best eSIM for Cape Verde depends on how much data you want. For a small plan, Airalo's 1GB for 3 days ($9) and Nomad's 3GB for 30 days ($21) are the cheapest, and Wayfarro's 1GB for 7 days ($14) undercuts Nomad's $15. From 5GB up, Nomad and Airalo are much cheaper. Wayfarro is the only one of the three selling unlimited data, from 1 to 30 days. Prices for Nomad and Airalo were checked in November 2026; Wayfarro's come straight from its store.
Most visitors fly into Sal or Boa Vista for a week at the beach, where resort Wi-Fi does a lot of the work. That's why the small plans matter most here.
Cape Verde eSIM prices compared
Prices read from each provider's Cape Verde page. Providers run sales often, so check before you buy.
| Plan | Wayfarro | Nomad | Airalo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB · 3 days | — | — | $9 |
| 1GB · 7 days | $14 | $15 | — |
| 2GB · 15 days | $21 | — | — |
| 3GB · 7 days | — | — | $24 |
| 3GB · 30 days | $22 | $21 | — |
| 5GB · 30 days | $45 | $29 | $35 |
| 10GB · 30 days | $71 | $45 | $49 |
| 20GB · 30 days | $116 | — | — |
| Unlimited · 3 days | $32 | — | — |
| Unlimited · 7 days | $71 | — | — |
| Unlimited · 15 days | $151 | — | — |
| Networks | Not named on the plan page | Unitel T+ | CV Móvel |
How to read this table: Wayfarro is cheaper than Nomad only at 1GB for 7 days, and a dollar dearer at 3GB. At 5GB and 10GB, Nomad is the cheapest and Airalo is close behind; both are well below Wayfarro. Airalo also sells 5GB and 10GB for 7 and 15 days at slightly lower prices than its 30-day plans. A dash means the provider doesn't sell that exact plan, or we couldn't confirm its US-dollar price.
Wayfarro's unlimited rows are its Unlimited Lite plans: 1GB a day at full speed, then 512 kbps until the next day. It also sells Unlimited Essential (1GB a day, then 1.25 Mbps) at $86 for 7 days and Unlimited Plus (2GB a day, then 2 Mbps) at $171. Neither Nomad nor Airalo listed an unlimited Cape Verde plan when we checked.
Which is the best eSIM for Cape Verde for your trip?
- A week at an all-inclusive on Sal or Boa Vista: Wayfarro's 1GB for 7 days at $14 covers maps, messages and a few photos, and it's cheaper than Nomad's. If 3 days of data is enough, Airalo's 1GB at $9 is cheaper still.
- A week moving around, or lots of photos and video: Nomad's 5GB at $29 is the best value here. Wayfarro's 5GB costs more.
- Island-hopping for two weeks or more: Nomad's 10GB at $45 or Airalo's at $49.
- You need data you don't have to ration: Wayfarro is the only option for unlimited, with plans from 1 day ($12) to 30 days. Remote workers and kitesurfers sharing videos are the people this suits.
- Cape Verde as part of a longer trip, say with Portugal: build it in Trip Builder with a plan per country, and see the Portugal eSIM guide for that leg.
Networks and coverage in Cape Verde
Cape Verde has two mobile networks: CV Móvel, the larger, and Unitel T+. Airalo's plans run on CV Móvel and Nomad's on Unitel T+. Wayfarro's plan page doesn't name its partner, so the network shows on your phone when you land. The regulator is ANAC.
The country is ten volcanic islands, nine of them inhabited, 600 to 850 km off the coast of West Africa, and coverage follows the people:
- Sal: Amílcar Cabral International Airport, near Espargos, is the main international gateway. The resorts are around Santa Maria in the south, and the island is well covered.
- Boa Vista: Aristides Pereira International Airport is 5 km from Sal Rei. The resort strip and the town have signal; the desert interior and the far beaches are patchier.
- Santiago: Nelson Mandela International Airport is about 3 km from the centre of Praia, the capital. Cidade Velha, one of the first European settlements in the tropics and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short drive west.
- São Vicente: Mindelo, the cultural capital and home of the country's best-known carnival, has good coverage, and Cesária Évora Airport is about 5 km out.
- Santo Antão and Fogo: the hiking islands. Santo Antão's deep valleys and Fogo's Pico do Fogo, an active volcano rising to 2,829 metres, have dead spots, so download offline maps before you set out.
Cape Verde travel tips that affect your data
The best eSIM for Cape Verde for a resort week is a small one. Hotel Wi-Fi covers evenings, and you mostly need data for maps, taxis and messages on the beach. Island-hoppers need more: you'll be checking inter-island flight and ferry times, and Wi-Fi in smaller guesthouses on Santo Antão and Fogo can be slow.
The local currency is the Cape Verdean escudo. Top-ups go onto the same eSIM without reinstalling, so starting small and adding data later costs you nothing extra.
How to set up an eSIM for Cape Verde
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM. iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent Samsung Galaxy phones do.
- Install before you travel, on Wi-Fi at home. The step-by-step install guide covers iPhone and Android.
- On landing, set the Cape Verde eSIM as your mobile-data line and turn on Data Roaming for it. Travel eSIMs technically roam, so data won't connect without it.
- Keep your home SIM on for calls and texts with its data roaming off.
Wayfarro's validity starts when the eSIM first connects in Cape Verde, not when you install it.
Bottom line
The best eSIM for Cape Verde for most resort holidays is a small plan: Airalo's 1GB for 3 days, Wayfarro's 1GB for a week or Nomad's 3GB. For 5GB and 10GB, Nomad and Airalo are clearly cheaper than Wayfarro. If you want unlimited data, Wayfarro is the only one of the three that sells it. See Wayfarro's Cape Verde eSIM plans.
FAQ
Which network does a Cape Verde eSIM use?
Cape Verde has two mobile networks, CV Móvel and Unitel T+. Airalo's plans run on CV Móvel and Nomad's on Unitel T+. Wayfarro's plan page doesn't name its partner, so the network shows on your phone when you land.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for Cape Verde?
Yes. Wayfarro sells unlimited Cape Verde plans from 1 to 30 days, and neither Nomad nor Airalo sold one when we checked. Its Unlimited Lite plans give 1GB a day at full speed, then 512 kbps until the next day.
How much data do I need for a week on Sal or Boa Vista?
Most beach-holiday visitors are fine with 1GB to 3GB for a week, because all-inclusive resorts usually have Wi-Fi. Airalo's 1GB for 3 days at $9 and Nomad's 3GB at $21 are the cheapest small plans. If you'll post a lot of photos or video, a 5GB plan from Nomad or Airalo is better value than Wayfarro's.
Does one eSIM work on every Cape Verde island?
Yes. A Cape Verde eSIM works on any island with signal, so it covers Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, São Vicente, Santo Antão and Fogo on one plan. Coverage is best in the towns and resorts and thinner in the mountains of Santo Antão and on Fogo's volcano.