South America is a monumental continent more than twice the size of Australia. From the piranha-infested Amazon to the alpaca-strewn Andes, it has no shortage of stunning, wildlife-rich regions to explore.
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You’ve also got captivating colonial-era cities, palm-fringed beaches, amazing people, ancient wonders, next-level fiestas – the works. I might be biased, as I spent most of the 2010’s living there. But I reckon it’s the most rewarding destination on Earth.
Sorting out a seamless mobile connection can be a hassle for the country-hopping gringo. That’s why we created an affordable, stress-free eSIM exclusively for South America.
WHAT IS AN ESIM?
The eSIM, in case you’re not aware, is a digital SIM card profile that you download from a website or app and install on your phone. It offers similar functionality to a physical SIM, but doesn’t require juggling those god-awful tiny plastic cards.
Most modernish phones support eSIMs. See our eSIM compatibility checker tool.
WHY GET AN ESIM?
Global roaming is expensive, even with a ‘Day Pass’ plan. Should you exceed your data allowance, you might need to remortgage your home to cover the bill.
Local SIMs are cheap. But they’re way too much hassle on a cross-continental adventure. At every new country, you’d have to find a telco shopfront, queue for service, select a plan, swap SIM cards, surrender your passport, and hang around as the vendor activates your plan. All this while communicating in hand gestures and broken Spanglish – ‘una SIM card por favor.’
A South America eSIM covers you in most countries on the continent. Upon crossing a border, your phone automatically switches to the new local network. Installing an eSIM only takes about 5 minutes, and it’s waaaay cheaper than roaming.
WHY GET A SOUTH AMERICA ESIM?
Most eSIM brands offer regional plans for Latin America, covering heaps of South and Central American countries. The problem is that data in Central America is relatively expensive, which drives up the price.
Having spent plenty of time exploring South America, we know most gringos stick to the southern side of the Darian Gap. By creating a regional eSIM solely for South America, we offer much better value – you’re not paying for countries you won’t visit.
THE BEST SOUTH AMERICA ESIM FOR AUSSIES IN 2026
At present, ZenSim is among a small selection of brands offering a South America-only eSIM. Where one isn’t available, we’ll use the Latin America eSIM for comparison.
| eSIM | Countries | 10GB | 20GB | Unlimited | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZenSim (South America) | 9 | A$39 (US$26) | A$59 (US$39) | A$139 (US$89) | 4.9 / 5 |
| Simify (South America) | 11 | N/A | N/A | A$141 (US$102), 8 countries | 4.8 / 5 |
| Holafly (Latin America) | 18 | N/A | N/A | A$154 (US$98) | 4.7 / 5 |
| Saily (Latin America) | 12 | A$64 (US$44.99) | N/A | N/A | 4.7 / 5 |
| Jetpac (Latin America) | 15 | A$60 (US$37) – on sale | A$94.50 (US$60) – on sale | N/A | 4.7 / 5 |
| Airalo (Latin America) | 17 | A$52.50 (US$36) | A$71.50 (US$49) | A$142.50 (US$98.50) | 4.0 / 5 |
ZENSIM
An up-and-comer from down under, ZenSim is a small eSIM start-up providing exceptional service at affordable rates. We offer unlimited hotspotting, a transparent 3GB/day use cap on unlimited plans, and near 24/7-support through an Australian agent on WhatsApp
The ZenSim South America eSIM covers 9 countries, only missing Ecuador and the Guianas. Don’t sweat if Ecuador is on your itinerary, because you can add destinations through the mobile app, or get a ZenSim LATAM plan (17 countries, including Ecuador). ZenSim partners with top-tier networks and has an industry-leading 4.9 / 5 stars on ProductReview.com.au
| 30-Day Data | South America (9 countries) |
|---|---|
| 10GB | A$39 (US$26) |
| 20GB | A$59 (US$39) |
| Unlimited | A$139 (US$89) |
HOLAFLY
Based in Dublin, Holafly is a huge Spanish-owned multinational serving 13 million customers in 160+ destinations. A large part of its expansion is its successful affiliate program, in which Holafly pays bloggers, YouTubers, and influencers a commission for ‘recommending’ the brand.
Holafly doesn’t have a South America-only eSIM and only offers unlimited data packages. The daily use cap is hidden within a ‘Fair Use’ policy, and there is a 500MB-1GB hotspotting limit. Although pricey, Holafly lets you choose the exact duration to reduce costs. The brand has a 4.7/5 Trustpilot score.
| 30-Day Data | Latin America (18 countries) |
|---|---|
| 10GB | N/A |
| 20GB | N/A |
| Unlimited | A$154 (US$98) |
AIRALO
Serving 20 million+ customers for 201 destinations, Airalo is the world’s largest eSIM brand. The big, Singapore-based behemoth has a mobile app that supports 53 languages and a simple installation process via a QR code.
Customers can choose from a wide range of data caps and durations, but there is no dedicated Airalo South America eSIM. On a previous trip, I found Airalo had fairly average connection speeds, which could suggest it partners with lower-tier local networks. That might explain why it only has a 4.0/5 Trustpilot score.
| 30-Day Data | Latin America (17 countries) |
|---|---|
| 10GB | A$52.50 (US$36) |
| 20GB | A$71.50 (US$49) |
| Unlimited | A$142.50 (US$98.50) |
SAILY
From the makers of NordVPN, Saily is a Chicago-based brand that includes cybersecurity tools with its eSIMs. Punters get a virtual location feature, a built-in ad-blocker, and browsing protection. However, many Aussie holidaymakers don’t need elite cybersecurity protection, and the software adds to the cost.
Saily doesn’t have a South America plan, and the data cap choices on its Latin America regional eSIM are super limited. Strangely, the 30-day plan's highest data cap is 10GB, so heavy data users might want to look elsewhere. Nonetheless, Saily has a decent Trustpilot score of 4.7 / 5.
| 30-Day Data | Latin America (12 countries) |
|---|---|
| 10GB | A$64 (US$44.99) |
| 20GB | Not available |
| Unlimited | Not available |
JETPAC GLOBAL
Another large, Singapore-based player, Jetpac has a huge presence on social media. The brand offers various perks to sweeten the deal, such as voice calling in 50+ countries (US$1.99 per minute), delayed flight lounge access (you must register flight details in advance), and free access to certain apps (WhatsApp, Google Maps, Uber) after data runs out. Some of these could be useful, but they mightn’t justify the higher price tag.
Jetpac offers steep discounts on highly inflated rates, a practice known as “price anchoring” that saw Coles get into hot water with the ACCC. Even with the discounts, its Latin America eSIM isn’t cheap compared to a South America eSIM (not available here). Jetpac has a Trustpilot score of 4.7/5.
| 30-Day Data | Latin America (15 countries) |
|---|---|
| 10GB | A$60 (US$37) – sale price |
| 20GB | A$94.50 (US$60) – sale price |
| Unlimited | Not available |
SIMIFY
Based in Australia, Simify is one of few brands offering a dedicated South America plan, in this case covering 11 countries. However, much like Saily, the eSIM only has expensive low-data plans (1GB, 3GB, 5GB). The 5 GB-only plan costs A$59 ($43 USD) – not cheap.
Simify also has unlimited South America eSIM covering 8 countries (including Costa Rica, which is weird). Its daily-use cap is hidden in a “Fair Use Policy,” so you won’t know how much you can use before being throttled. On the bright side, there are no restrictions on hotspotting, and Simify has a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating.
| 30-Day Data | South America pricing |
|---|---|
| 5GB | A$59 ($43 USD) 11 countries |
| 20GB | N/A |
| Unlimited | A$141 ($102 USD) 8 countries |
WHAT IF I WANT TO VISIT CENTRAL AMERICA AS WELL?
If Central America is on your itinerary, don’t miss the multi-day sailing tour between Panama and Colombia – thank me later.
We also recommend checking out our Latin America eSIM for uninterrupted coverage in 17 countries (everything in South America, plus Ecuador, Mexico, and 5 Central American nations).
| 30-Day Data | Latin America (17 countries) |
|---|---|
| 10GB | A$69 ($42 USD) |
| 20GB | A$99 ($60 USD) |
| Unlimited | Not available |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SOUTH AMERICAN ESIM
There are a few things to consider when comparing eSIMs for South America.
COVERAGE
South America-only eSIMs are cheaper than LATAM eSIMs. Why pay more than you have to?
PARTNER NETWORKS
Some brands cut costs by partnering with lower-level networks.
TRANSPARENT PRICING
Avoid eSIMs that add sneaky card surcharges or FOREX fees at checkout (Australian brands are best).
DAILY USE CAPS
If you’re getting an unlimited plan, find out how much you can use per day before being throttled.
HOTSPOTTING LIMITS
Unlimited hotspotting is a non-negotiable if you plan to share a connection (i.e., working on a laptop)
SUPPORT
Responsive support from an Australian agent will prove useful should any issues arise. Online channels mean you don’t have to pay overseas calling rates.
REFUND POLICY
Some eSIMs provide full pre-departure refunds for any reason, handy if you need to cancel or reschedule.
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
High average feedback scores indicate good on-the-ground performance.
TOP UPS
The best South America eSIMs let you top up through a mobile app, adding more data, days, or even new destinations.
COST
Cheaper South America eSIMs give you leftover pesos to spend on empanadas and cerveza.
WHY TRUST ZENSIM ON YOUR SOUTH AMERICA ADVENTURE?
Best partner networks
5-minute installs
Responsive WhatsApp support
Easy in-app top-ups
Unlimited hotspotting
Transparent pricing
Generous refund policy
Australian-owned
4.9 / 5.0 score on Productreview.com.au
Cheaper than Latin America eSIMs
THE BEST ESIMS FOR AUSSIES IN SOUTH AMERICA
As one of the select few brands selling South America-only eSIMs, ZenSim offers the best value connections for Aussies exploring this epic continent.
Whether you’re backpacking Patagonia or crushing tinnies in Colombia, you’ll get plenty of leftover pesos to spend on the travel experiences you love.
Grab your low-cost South America eSIM today, or check out our Latin America eSIM if you’re hopping across to Central America as well.
FAQs
ZenSim covers 17 countries on its Latin America eSIM: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua.
ZenSim covers 9 countries on its South America eSIM: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela (missing Ecuador and the Guianas).
We created this special regional eSIM to help travellers save when visiting South America, as adding Central American countries significantly increases the cost.
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Written by
Harry Stewart
Australia-based content writer, fully-grown eater of party pies.
Harry is a remote-working article contributor zipping between picturesque places in his rusty, clapped-out motorhome. When he’s not patching holes in the roof, you’ll find him hiking national parks, researching eSIM plans, or dreaming of his next overseas getaway.
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