Which operator should you choose when buying a Sim card in Portugal?

 

 

 

There are currently three leading mobile operators in Portugal, MEO, Vodafone, and NOS. MEO now has the largest share in overall sales and has the most comprehensive coverage. Vodafone comes in close second and NOS third, primarily due to customer satisfaction. Many other smaller companies offer various deals, but their coverage and customer satisfaction often leave much to be desired.

 

 

 

Instead of buying the device with your phone plans, you only buy a SIM card in Portugal. There are two kinds:

The pre-paid SIM card can be purchased without any documentation and can be bought at the news agent’s, phone company’s story, or online.

 

To get a monthly plan for your mobile phone, you need a tax number, known as a NIF, a valid ID, and proof of Portuguese address. If you’re staying in Portugal for less than a month, the pre-paid option is the best, but since it can get a little bit more expensive in the long run, it’s good to get the monthly plan for even just a few months living in Portugal. Some internet and cable TV plans also offer SIM cards as part of their deal, so be sure to check those out.

 

 

As for the monthly plans, the unlimited monthly plan by MEO, which lets you call and text to all operators without restrictions and gives you unlimited mobile internet data, starts at about €35.

 

 

Vodafone has a similar plan which also costs around the same. As you can see, the prices don’t differ that much between the various phone operators. Other plans are difficult to compare. Usually, the best strategy is to go to one of the physical shops and talk to the staff of the phone operator. They will recommend you various plans and may even change them a little to suit your needs better.

 

It’s far more important to choose an operator with decent customer satisfaction than to worry about a few euros difference in prices.