Spain eSIM in 2026: plans, tourist SIMs and Gibraltar
Do you need an eSIM for Spain? Dated plan prices from Airalo and Spain's tourist SIMs, why every prepaid SIM needs ID, where to buy at Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat, and why Gibraltar, Andorra and Morocco are not covered by EU roaming.
By Nomad's Travel Guides. Published .
Researched from official and operator sources and fact-checked before publishing. Prices and rules change, so each one is dated where it appears.
This post contains affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Staying connected in Spain is easy, and Vodafone now sells a data-only eSIM for visitors. This guide compares an eSIM bought before you fly with a Spanish prepaid SIM, explains the ID rule, and covers the airports and the borders. Every price is dated and sourced.
Planning a route? Start with our Spain country guide, the Barcelona and Seville city guides and, for Seville, our guide to Real Alcázar tickets.
Do you need an eSIM in Spain?
If your SIM is from an EU or EEA country, probably not. Spain is in the EU, so "Roam like at home" applies: calls, texts and data cost what they cost at home. The European Commission's Your Europe service says the regime also covers Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway "as well as in Moldova and Ukraine" (Your Europe, checked 23 October 2026).
Two catches: your operator may set a fair-use limit on roaming data, and may charge extra if, over 4 months, you spend more time and roam more abroad than at home (Your Europe). Our Italy eSIM guide explains EU roaming in more detail.
If your SIM is from outside the zone (UK, US, Canada, Australia and others), plan ahead. "Other countries are not covered by this regime", Your Europe says, though many operators extend similar offers. A data eSIM or a local plan is the practical choice.
Networks and coverage
Spain's main mobile operators:
- Movistar.
- Orange. The company formed by the Orange and MásMóvil merger now calls itself "Orange España, filial del Grupo Orange" (a subsidiary of the Orange Group); its brands include Yoigo, Jazztel, MásMóvil, Simyo and Lebara (Orange España, in Spanish).
- Vodafone. Zegona bought Vodafone Spain on 31 May 2024 (Zegona), but the brand is unchanged and the company is still Vodafone España, S.A.U.; Lowi is its budget brand (Lowi, in Spanish).
- Digi (DIGI Spain Telecom) (Digi, in Spanish).
What Airalo's label means. Airalo's Spain plan lists a single network: Orange, 5G (Airalo plan page, as of 23 October 2026).
Islands. Airalo's plan notes say it "Covers mainland Spain but also the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza)." They do not mention the Canary Islands, and we found no statement either way. We do not rank the networks; check your route and download offline maps.
eSIM vs a local prepaid SIM
You will need ID for any Spanish prepaid SIM. Spanish law (Ley 25/2007) requires operators to register every prepaid SIM buyer "mediante documento acreditativo de la personalidad" (by an identity document), recording name, nationality and document number (BOE, in Spanish). Orange's terms cite the same law (Orange, in Spanish). Vodafone's DataOnly eSIM asks for a "documento identificativo (DNI o pasaporte)" (DNI or passport) at sign-up (Vodafone, in Spanish). Movistar's FAQ names only Spanish documents ("DNI/NIE"); we could not confirm it accepts a passport. Carry yours.
Unlike in Croatia, Spanish plans include EU roaming, except Vodafone's Spain-only DataOnly eSIM.
Local prices as of 23 October 2026, in euro (EUR). USD figures are our approximate conversion at the European Central Bank rate that day (EUR 1 = USD 1.1193).
| Option | What you get | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Holiday Mini | Unlimited data (37.6 GB in the EU), 100 national and international min, 15 days | EUR 25 (about USD 27.98) | Orange stores |
| Orange Holiday Maxi | Unlimited data (52.6 GB in the EU), 100 min, 28 days | EUR 35 (about USD 39.18) | Orange stores |
| Vodafone DataOnly | 7 GB, Spain only, 7 days | EUR 7 (about USD 7.84) | eSIM online |
| Vodafone DataOnly | 35 GB, Spain only, 7 days | EUR 15 (about USD 16.79) | eSIM online |
| Vodafone DataOnly | 75 GB, Spain only, 15 days | EUR 23 (about USD 25.74) | eSIM online |
| Vodafone DataOnly | 140 GB, Spain only, 30 days | EUR 42 (about USD 47.01) | eSIM online |
| Vodafone DataOnly Spain + EU | 90 GB, 15 days | EUR 39 (about USD 43.65) | eSIM online |
| Vodafone Prepago S | 90 GB (15 GB in the EU and UK), 500 min, 28 days | EUR 10 (about USD 11.19) | Renews every 28 days with credit |
| Movistar Prepago Plus | 60 GB (15.03 GB in the EU), unlimited national calls, 28 days | EUR 10 (about USD 11.19) | Movistar stores |
DataOnly starts when you are in Spain, and an eSIM not activated within 30 days of purchase expires. Vodafone Prepago's 90 GB may include a "+30GB extra" promotion. No page shows a SIM fee. Orange's English site gives older Holiday Maxi terms (100 GB at full speed, then 2 Mbps); we used the Spanish page. Prices change often.
Price per GB. Vodafone Prepago S is about USD 0.12 per GB, Movistar about USD 0.19 and DataOnly's 140 GB plan about USD 0.34. Airalo's fixed plans below run from USD 0.78 to USD 4.00.
Which wins? For one week, Vodafone DataOnly: 7 GB for about USD 7.84 against USD 8.00 for Airalo's 5 GB, or 35 GB for about USD 16.79 against USD 13.00 for Airalo's 10 GB. No Spanish operator sells a 7-day unlimited plan; Airalo's costs USD 23.50. For 15 days, Orange's Holiday Mini (unlimited, with calls, about USD 27.98) undercuts Airalo's 15-day unlimited (USD 43.00). For about a month, Holiday Maxi (28 days, about USD 39.18) costs far less than Airalo's 30-day unlimited (USD 63.00). If you can reach a store, a EUR 10, 28-day Vodafone or Movistar plan is cheapest for any stay over a week. Airalo's plan data shows no ID check, and it works the moment you land.
Where to buy. At Madrid-Barajas, Aena lists no operator store, only SimLocal InMotion in Terminals 1 and 4 (Floor 0, Arrivals, public zone, 6:00 to 22:00), selling SIMs from MásMóvil, Cube, Lyca and Lebara (Aena). At Barcelona-El Prat, Aena lists a Vodafone shop for "Pay as you go SIM cards and eSIMs" in Terminal 1 (8:00 to 22:00) and Terminal 2 (8:00 to 20:00), both on Floor 1 in the "Passenger-only zone" (Aena). We could not confirm that arriving passengers pass it.
Airalo plans for Spain
Airalo's Spain eSIM is data-only and covers Spain only. Prices below are as shown on Airalo's Spain plans (opens Airalo in a new tab) on 23 October 2026. The page showed USD; your currency may differ.
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 3 days | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| 3 GB | 3 days | 5.50 | 1.83 |
| 3 GB | 7 days | 6.00 | 2.00 |
| 5 GB | 7 days | 8.00 | 1.60 |
| 10 GB | 7 days | 13.00 | 1.30 |
| 5 GB | 15 days | 8.50 | 1.70 |
| 10 GB | 15 days | 13.50 | 1.35 |
| 20 GB | 15 days | 19.00 | 0.95 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | 9.00 | 1.80 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | 14.00 | 1.40 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | 20.00 | 1.00 |
| 50 GB | 30 days | 39.00 | 0.78 |
Airalo also lists "Unlimited" plans: 3 days USD 11.00, 5 days USD 17.00, 7 days USD 23.50, 10 days USD 32.00, 15 days USD 43.00 and 30 days USD 63.00. Speed drops to 1 Mbps after 5 GB of use per day.
What the numbers say:
- 10 GB for 30 days costs USD 14.00, only USD 1.00 more than 10 GB for 7 days: the safer buy if your dates might change.
- Is a regional plan cheaper? If you add Gibraltar, yes. Airalo's Europe plan (41 countries, including Spain and Gibraltar) costs USD 28.00 for 10 GB over 15 days. Separate Spain and Gibraltar plans at 10 GB each cost USD 37.50 together. The Europe plan does not include Andorra or Morocco.
- Hotspot: the plan details do not mention tethering; check with Airalo if you need it.
- Top-ups: Airalo says the plan is "Rechargeable online with no expiry", and its plan data shows no ID check.
Setting it up
Before you fly
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home carrier.
- Buy and install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. For Airalo's Spain plan, validity starts when the eSIM connects to a network in Spain, not when you install it (Airalo's Spain plans (opens Airalo in a new tab)).
- Save the QR code or installation details offline in case you need to reinstall.
At Madrid-Barajas or Barcelona-El Prat
- Switch mobile data to the Spain eSIM line.
- Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line. Airalo lists this as required on iOS and Android.
- If something does not work, both airports use the "Airport Free Wifi Aena" network. You register with an email address and get 15 minutes to confirm it, then unlimited time (Aena Madrid, Aena Barcelona).
What to turn off
- Data roaming on your home SIM, unless you are on an EU/EEA plan that includes it.
- Automatic data switching between lines (iPhone: "Allow Cellular Data Switching"; Android phones have similar settings). It can quietly use your home SIM.
- Near Gibraltar, around La Línea, your phone may join a Gibraltar network. Manual network selection on a Spanish network can avoid charges (our suggestion; we found no regulator advice).
Getting from the airport into the city is covered in our Barcelona guide.
Gibraltar, Andorra and Morocco
None of the three is in Your Europe's "Roam like at home" list. Check your home operator's prices before a day trip.
Gibraltar, which borders La Línea, is the common surprise. Spanish plans do cover it: Orange's Holiday plans include roaming in "Unión Europea, Gibraltar, Islandia..." (Orange, in Spanish), and Movistar's and Vodafone's roaming pages put Gibraltar in a free-roaming zone (Movistar, Vodafone, both in Spanish). We did not confirm Vodafone's covers Prepago S, and DataOnly cannot connect abroad. Airalo's Spain plan does not cover Gibraltar; its Gibraltar plan costs USD 24.00 for 10 GB over 15 days, or use the Europe plan above.
Andorra and Morocco cost extra on Spanish plans. Orange's "Everywhere" pass for both is 1 GB for EUR 10 a day or 7 GB for EUR 20 a week (Orange, in Spanish); Vodafone's day pass is 2 GB for EUR 15. Movistar lists Morocco data at EUR 12.10 per MB. Airalo sells separate plans: Andorra USD 24.00 and Morocco USD 33.00, each for 10 GB over 15 days.
Quick answers
Can I make calls or send SMS? Not with Airalo or Vodafone DataOnly. Orange's Holiday plans include 100 minutes, Vodafone Prepago S 500 and Movistar unlimited national calls.
Will I keep WhatsApp? Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your registered number, not to the line carrying your data. Keep your home SIM in for verification codes.
How do I top up? Airalo tops up in its app. Vodafone and Movistar prepaid plans renew every 28 days if you have enough credit; a DataOnly plan simply ends when its validity runs out.
Which currency? Spain has used the euro since 1 January 1999 (European Commission), so all local prices above are in euro.
Sources
Checked on 23 October 2026.
- Airalo, Spain eSIM plan page: airalo.com/spain-esim
- Airalo, Europe (Eurolink), Gibraltar, Andorra and Morocco plan pages: airalo.com/europe-esim, airalo.com/gibraltar-esim, airalo.com/andorra-esim, airalo.com/morocco-esim
- Your Europe, Mobile roaming costs: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm
- European Commission, Spain and the euro: https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/euro/eu-countries-and-euro/spain-and-euro_en
- European Central Bank, euro reference rates: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/eurofxref/eurofxref-daily.xml
- BOE, Ley 25/2007, disposición adicional única (Spanish): https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2007-18243
- Orange, prepaid plans, Holiday Mini and Holiday Maxi (Spanish): https://www.orange.es/tarifas/movil/prepago, https://www.orange.es/tarifas/movil/prepago/holiday-mini, https://www.orange.es/tarifas/movil/prepago/holiday-maxi
- Orange, English site: https://en.orange.es/
- Orange, general conditions, February 2025 (Spanish): https://www.orange.es/legal/comun/2025/condiciones-generales-comunes-es-20250220.pdf
- Orange España, brands (Spanish): https://corporativo.orange.es/marcas
- Vodafone, DataOnly eSIM and its terms (Spanish): https://esimprepago.vodafone.es/dataonly/, https://esimprepago.vodafone.es/dataonly/files/condiciones-de-contratacion.pdf
- Vodafone, prepaid plans and roaming (Spanish): https://www.vodafone.es/c/particulares/es/productos-y-servicios/movil/prepago-y-recargas/tarifas-de-prepago/, https://www.vodafone.es/c/particulares/es/productos-y-servicios/movil/roaming/
- Movistar, prepaid plans and roaming (Spanish): https://www.movistar.es/tarifas-moviles/prepago, https://www.movistar.es/tarifas-moviles/roaming/
- Zegona: https://www.zegona.com/
- Lowi and Digi (Spanish): https://www.lowi.es/, https://www.digimobil.es/
- Aena, Madrid-Barajas SimLocal InMotion and Wi-Fi: https://www.aena.es/en/madrid-barajas-adolfo-suarez/airport-services/shops-and-restaurants/simlocal-inmotion.html, https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/airport-services/wi-fi.html
- Aena, Barcelona-El Prat Vodafone shop and Wi-Fi: https://www.aena.es/en/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat/airport-services/shops-and-restaurants/vodafone.html, https://www.aena.es/en/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat/airport-services/wi-fi.html
