The best eSIM for Iraq
A country in Western Asia, bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west. Here is the plan we would pick today, the live pricing for every plan we track, and the practical things to know before you fly.
The lowest price-per-gigabyte we currently track for Iraq. A solid fit for most one-to-two-week trips with maps, messaging, and the occasional photo upload.
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | $/GB | Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 GoMoWorld | 28GB | 30 | $29.99 | $1.07 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 18GB | 30 | $19.99 | $1.11 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 8GB | 30 | $10.99 | $1.37 | Get → |
 Nomad | 20GB | 30 | $39.00 | $1.95 | Get → |
 Saily | 20GB | 30 | $43.19 | $2.16 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 1.8GB | 7 | $3.99 | $2.22 | Get → |
| Nomad | 10GB | 30 | $25.00 | $2.50 | Get → |
| Saily | 10GB | 30 | $26.09 | $2.61 | Get → |
| Nomad | 5GB | 30 | $16.00 | $3.20 | Get → |
| Saily | 5GB | 30 | $16.99 | $3.40 | Get → |
| Nomad | 3GB | 30 | $10.50 | $3.50 | Get → |
 Roamless | 3GB | PAYG | $11.85 | $3.95 | Get → |
| Roamless | 1GB | PAYG | $3.95 | $3.95 | Get → |
| Roamless | 2GB | PAYG | $7.90 | $3.95 | Get → |
 GigSky | 10GB | 30 | $55.99 | $5.60 | Get → |
 Virgin Connect | 20GB | 30 | $140.50 | $7.03 | Get → |
GoMoWorld- Data
- 28GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $1.07
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
GoMoWorld- Data
- 18GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $1.11
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
GoMoWorld- Data
- 8GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $1.37
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
GoMoWorld- Data
- 1.8GB
- Days
- 7
- $/GB
- $2.22
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
Roamless- Data
- 3GB
- Days
- PAYG
- $/GB
- $3.95
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
Roamless- Data
- 1GB
- Days
- PAYG
- $/GB
- $3.95
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
Roamless- Data
- 2GB
- Days
- PAYG
- $/GB
- $3.95
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
Virgin Connect- Data
- 20GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $7.03
- Network
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell, Korek Telecom · 4G
Prices are live and may change. Google Fi is excluded from the value ranking because it is a full phone plan rather than a travel data plan.
Baghdad
- Arriving
- Baghdad International (BGW) is about 16 km west of the centre and heavily secured, so transfers are by official taxi or a pre-arranged driver through checkpoints. There is no rail link. The airport has 4G from Zain Iraq, Asiacell and Korek. Download offline maps and translation apps before arrival, as eSIM coverage for Iraq is limited and signing up locally is slow.
- On the subway and rail
- Baghdad has no metro (one is long planned). The city moves by taxis, local buses and arranged drivers, with security checkpoints across the centre. Coverage holds across the central districts on the three carriers, though speeds vary. Navigation apps are useful but offline maps are the dependable fallback.
- Free public WiFi
- Hotels, the malls (Baghdad Mall, Mansour Mall) and the larger cafes provide WiFi. BGW airport has terminal WiFi. Connectivity in hotels is generally functional; public hotspots are limited, so a working SIM or offline preparation matters here more than most capitals.
- Coverage in the city
- Zain Iraq, Asiacell and Korek run 4G across central Baghdad, Karada, the area around the International Zone, Mutanabbi Street and Tahrir Square. Speeds are variable and streaming quality is not guaranteed. VoIP services may be intermittently restricted, so keep a backup messaging method.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- Zain, Asiacell and Korek sell prepaid SIMs at BGW and in the city, with passport registration. eSIM coverage for Iraq is limited and mostly via roaming partnerships, so confirm your provider includes Iraq specifically before relying on it. A local SIM is the more dependable choice.
Erbil
- Arriving
- Erbil International (EBL) is one of the most modern airports in the region and the main gateway to the Kurdistan Region, which is generally calmer and better-connected than southern Iraq. Transfers are by taxi. The airport has 4G from Asiacell, Korek and Zain. Have data ready, though as elsewhere in Iraq, download offline maps as a backup.
- On the subway and rail
- Erbil moves by taxis and local buses; there is no metro. The ancient Citadel at the heart of the city, the surrounding Qaysari Bazaar and the modern districts are easily reached. Coverage holds across the city on the three carriers, and Kurdistan generally offers faster, more reliable mobile data than central and southern Iraq.
- Free public WiFi
- The malls (Family Mall, Majidi Mall), the hotels and the cafes provide WiFi. EBL airport has terminal WiFi. Hotel WiFi in Erbil is generally reliable, a useful supplement given the variable cellular speeds elsewhere in the country.
- Coverage in the city
- Asiacell, Korek (the Kurdistan-based operator) and Zain all run 4G across Erbil, the Citadel (one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the world), the Qaysari Bazaar and Sami Abdulrahman Park. The Kurdistan Region's networks are notably more consistent than those in Baghdad, Basra and the south.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- Asiacell and Korek (both strong in Kurdistan) and Zain sell prepaid SIMs at EBL and in the malls, with passport registration. As eSIM coverage for Iraq is limited, a local SIM bought in Erbil is the most reliable path for a Kurdistan visit.
Grab an eSIM before you arrive in Iraq to skip local SIM queues. Most urban areas offer 4G or better, while rural regions can slow down, so keep offline maps handy. Activating the eSIM in advance ensures you are connected the moment you clear customs.
Iraq presents unique connectivity challenges for travelers. Zain Iraq, Asiacell, and Korek Telecom provide 4G LTE coverage in Baghdad, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Basra, but service quality varies significantly between the Kurdistan Region and the rest of the country. The Kurdish north generally offers more reliable and faster mobile data than central and southern provinces.
eSIM availability for Iraq is limited compared to other Middle Eastern destinations. Fewer international eSIM providers include Iraq in their coverage, so check compatibility before traveling. In major cities, you can expect functional 4G for messaging and navigation, but streaming-quality speeds are not guaranteed outside of urban centers. Download offline maps and essential information before arriving.
- The Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah) has significantly better connectivity than southern Iraq
- Check that your eSIM provider specifically covers Iraq - not all Middle East plans include it
- Download offline maps and translation apps before arrival
- VoIP services may be intermittently restricted - have backup communication methods
- Wi-Fi in hotels and restaurants in Erbil is generally reliable
Average Data Cost
~$1-$4/GB
Network Quality
4G in major cities. Coverage quality varies significantly by region.
eSIM Availability
eSIM support is limited. Coverage primarily through roaming partnerships.
Major Carriers
Recommended Providers for Iraq
Plans for Iraq
From $3.99
Plans for Iraq
From $4.50
Plans for Iraq
From $3.99
Plans for Iraq
From $3.95
Pay-as-you-go: $3.95/GB
Plans for Iraq
From $9.99
Plans for Iraq
From $10.00
Plans for Iraq
From $10.00
Pay-as-you-go: $10.00/GB
- 1
Buy and install at home on WiFi.
Installation is not the same as activation. You can install the Iraq eSIM days ahead and only switch it on after you land, which avoids burning days of validity in transit.
- 2
Screenshot your current APN before you swap.
If you ever need to switch back to your home line quickly, that screenshot saves a support call from a foreign airport.
- 3
Decide on your dual-SIM strategy.
Keep your home line on for SMS-based bank logins, two-factor codes, and emergency calls. Set the travel eSIM as the data line only. Most modern phones can do both simultaneously.
- 4
Disable iMessage on the travel eSIM line.
Otherwise iMessage will try to re-activate against the new line on arrival and you will spend the first ten minutes troubleshooting it instead of finding the taxi rank.
- 5
Download offline maps for Iraq.
Google Maps and Apple Maps both support offline regions. Pull them down on home WiFi so a flaky activation never leaves you without a route from the airport. Our offline maps guide walks through it step by step.
- 6
Activate at the airport, not before.
Once the validity timer starts it does not pause. A 15-day plan you turn on the morning of departure burns a full day of validity before you even land.
We are building this section from real, verified traveler submissions rather than stock testimonials, so it stays empty until we have notes we can stand behind. If you have used an eSIM in Iraq recently, a one-paragraph note on what worked (and what did not) helps the next traveler.
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Pricing on this page is pulled live from our database and refreshed every four hours. Coverage notes are sourced from carrier roaming agreements and updated when carriers change partners. Provider rankings are determined by price-per-gigabyte and plan flexibility, not by who pays the largest commission.