Best eSIM for Serbia 2026: 12 Providers Compared

Serbia sits outside the EU roaming zone, so a local data plan matters here; Telekom Srbija (mts), A1 and Yettel carry strong 4G through Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis and the highways, with gaps in the Tara and Zlatibor back-country. Serbia mixes the riverside nightlife of Belgrade with the fortresses and festivals of Novi Sad, the monasteries of the south and the wild Tara and Zlatibor highlands. Getting around runs on good data for maps and messaging, and an eSIM is the cleanest way to get it: install before you fly, land at Belgrade Nikola Tesla, and your phone connects the moment it finds a local network. This guide compares the best eSIM options for Serbia, explains what Telekom Srbija, A1 and Yettel deliver, and helps you pick the right plan.

Serbia and EU roaming: why your European plan may charge here

Serbia is a candidate for EU membership but not a member, so the EU's roam like at home rules do not apply. A phone plan from Germany, France or Croatia is billed for roaming in Belgrade, often at rates set by your operator for non-EU countries, unless your operator has added Serbia to a cheaper Balkans or Europe zone. Check your plan's Serbia rates before you go.

The same goes for visitors from the UK, the US and Asia. That is why a Serbia plan sized to your trip, or a multi-country plan if you continue through the Balkans, is often the simplest option.

mts, A1 and Yettel: Serbia's three networks

Three operators share the market: Telekom Srbija, whose mobile brand is mts, A1 Srbija and Yettel, the former Telenor Serbia. All three run 4G across Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Subotica and Kragujevac and along the main motorways, and 5G is arriving in the largest cities. The regulator, RATEL, publishes an interactive mobile coverage map where you can check each operator's coverage along your route.

The networks a Simsima plan can use are listed in each plan's details, which matters most if you head into the western mountains or the far south.

Tara, Zlatibor and the Šargan Eight: coverage in the mountains

Western Serbia's highlands are the main draw outside the cities, and they are where coverage becomes uneven. Zlatibor town and the ski area at Tornik are covered, as are Bajina Bašta and Kremna. Inside Tara National Park, along the Drina canyon and on forest roads toward Perućac lake, expect gaps.

• The Šargan Eight heritage railway near Mokra Gora runs through a series of tunnels with no signal inside
• The Belgrade to Bar line through the mountains also loses signal in its many tunnels
• Đerdap gorge on the Danube: signal near Donji Milanovac and Golubac, weaker on the cliffs and river cruises
• Kopaonik ski resort: good in the resort, patchier on the higher slopes
• The monasteries of the Ibar valley, Studenica and Žiča: signal in the villages, weaker in the side valleys

Best eSIM plans for Serbia

Serbia is an affordable data market, so eSIM prices are low and allowances go a long way. Simsima runs on the local networks with transparent pricing. Here is how a light 1 GB pack compares across eSIM providers:

If you would rather not track your usage, Serbia also has unlimited-data eSIMs, with speed reduced after a daily high-speed allowance until the next day. Here is how the unlimited plans compare:

Simsima's full Serbia lineup runs from small packs up to larger monthly allowances on the local networks. Because data is cheap here, a 3 to 5 GB plan comfortably covers most trips, with more for longer stays or remote work.

Data for Belgrade, Novi Sad and Zlatibor in a week

A typical week spends three nights in Belgrade (Kalemegdan, Savamala, the river clubs), takes the fast train to Novi Sad for a day or two at the Petrovaradin fortress, and drives southwest to Zlatibor and Mokra Gora.

• Belgrade: ride-hailing apps such as CarGo, maps, restaurant searches and social media, around 500 MB to 1 GB a day
• Novi Sad and the Fruška Gora monasteries: around 300 to 500 MB a day
• Zlatibor, Tara and Mokra Gora: lighter use with gaps, around 200 to 400 MB a day
• Total for a week: about 3 to 5 GB, matching a mid-size capped plan in the table above

How to install your Serbia eSIM

Installation takes a couple of minutes and is best done at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. The plan activates on its own when it connects to a local network on arrival, so the validity window does not start early.

1. Buy your Serbia plan on Simsima and open the confirmation with your QR code
2. On your phone, go to Settings, then Mobile or Cellular Data, and choose Add eSIM
3. Scan the QR code or use the one-tap install link, then label the plan Serbia
4. Keep your home line as default for calls and texts, and set the eSIM for data
5. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only, then land in Belgrade and go online

Downsides of an eSIM in Serbia

• No Serbian number: street parking in Belgrade and other cities is usually paid by SMS from a Serbian number, so use pay machines or a garage
• Some taxi and delivery services confirm by phone, so share your home number or WhatsApp
• Tara, the Drina canyon and railway tunnels lose signal on any network
• Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked, and hotspot use depends on the plan
• For a long stay, a prepaid mts, A1 or Yettel SIM bought with your passport gives you a number and local rates

Serbia with Bosnia, Montenegro, Croatia or Hungary

Serbia is often one stop on a Balkans loop: Belgrade to Sarajevo through Višegrad, the train or road to Montenegro's coast at Bar, or north to Budapest. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are outside the EU like Serbia; Croatia and Hungary are inside it. A Serbia plan stops at the border, so for a route through several countries compare one plan per country with a Balkans or Europe plan that lists every stop, as our Europe guide explains.

eSIM Europe: The Complete Guide to Staying Connected Across 30+ Countries

Traveling beyond Serbia?

Get a multi-country plan and save on your mobile data.

Croatia

Montenegro

Hungary

Bulgaria

Croatia

Montenegro

Hungary

Bulgaria

Or choose another country:

Serbia eSIM plans — Browse and compare all available Serbia eSIM plans on Simsima

eSIM-supported devices — Check whether your phone supports eSIM before you buy a Serbia plan

How Simsima works — Learn how to buy and install an eSIM in a few minutes, and how it activates on arrival