eSIM for Bali: Grab, boats and island hopping
For Bali, buy an Indonesia eSIM: Bali is a province of Indonesia, so one plan also covers Lombok, the Gili Islands and Nusa Penida. Combining Bali with Singapore or Thailand? The Asia eSIM covers them together. You’ll use data mostly for ride-hailing, maps and messages with drivers and villas.
Which plan
| Trip | Plan |
|---|---|
| Bali, Lombok, the Gilis or anywhere in Indonesia | Indonesia |
| Bali plus Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand | Asia |
| Bali with a stop in Australia or New Zealand | Indonesia plus Oceania, or Global |
A regional plan can start counting on a layover. If you fly via Singapore on an Asia eSIM, keep that line off until Bali: layovers and validity.
Indonesia plan sizes at the time of writing:
| Type | Plan size | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed data | 1 GB | 7 days |
| Fixed data | 2 GB | 15 days |
| Fixed data | 3 GB | 30 days |
| Fixed data | 5 GB | 30 days |
| Fixed data | 10 GB | 30 days |
| Fixed data | 20 GB | 30 days |
| Unlimited, daily high-speed cap on the plan line | ∞ | 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 30 days |
Plan sizes on sale on 17 October 2026. Prices change with the catalog, so they are shown live on the Indonesia page, not here.
What you’ll use data for
- Ride-hailing: Grab and Gojek are how most visitors get around, for cars and scooter rides alike. You need data to book and to message the driver.
- Messages with villas, drivers and dive shops, often on WhatsApp.
- Maps on scooter rides and between beaches.
- Boat tickets to Nusa Penida and the Gilis, often shown as a QR code or a message.
Islands and boats
Signal is usually good around the main Bali towns, the airport and the harbours. It can drop on the crossing, on remote coasts and on the far side of the smaller islands. Download maps for Nusa Penida and the Gilis before you sail, and screenshot your return boat ticket.
Working from Bali
Cafés and co-working spaces usually have Wi-Fi, but a laptop on a hotspot is the backup when it drops. Most plans allow sharing, but it depends on the local network, so check the plan details first and budget data at the streaming rate. More in hotspot from a travel eSIM and eSIM for digital nomads.
How much data
| Data a trip uses | 7 days | 10 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maps and messaging | 1.6 GB | 2.3 GB | 3.2 GB |
| Plus socials and photos | 4 GB | 5.8 GB | 8 GB |
| Streaming or hotspot | 10.5 GB | 14.9 GB | 20.9 GB |
Our recommender's rates, with 15% headroom added.
Arrival at Ngurah Rai (DPS) and getting to your area: Bali city guide and Lombok. The Indonesia eSIM guide shows the networks and the cheapest plan per trip length, from live data.
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked: supported devices.
- Pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or card. Your account is created from the payment.
- Install at home on Wi-Fi. On iPhone it installs from a link; elsewhere you scan the QR code. Both are on the install page and in your receipt. Steps for iPhone and Android.
- When you land, turn on the eSIM line and Data Roaming for it. Validity starts when it first connects in the destination.
Prefer an app? eSIM for Travel by e-sim.net finds the plan, installs it and shows what is left.
Questions
Which eSIM is best for Bali?
An Indonesia eSIM: Bali is part of Indonesia, so the same plan covers Lombok, the Gili Islands, Java and the rest of the country. If you are combining Bali with Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand, the Asia eSIM covers them together at the time of writing.
Is it worth getting an eSIM for Bali?
Yes, for most trips. Ride-hailing, maps, villa check-ins and boat bookings all run on your phone, and you'll want data outside the villa Wi-Fi.
Does a Bali eSIM work on Nusa Penida and the Gilis?
Yes, they are in Indonesia. Signal is usually fine in the main villages and harbours and weaker on remote coasts and on the crossing itself.
Does my Asia eSIM start on a Singapore layover?
It can. A regional plan's clock starts when it first connects in any covered country. Keep the eSIM line off until you land in Bali.
How much data do I need for 10 days in Bali?
About 2.3 GB for maps and messaging, about 5.8 GB with photos and social apps, and about 15 GB if you stream or work from cafés. These include 15% headroom.