Airalo
$7.50 5 GB · 7 days
See planHow a hotspot works in practice
A personal hotspot turns your phone into a Wi-Fi access point for a laptop, a tablet or a travel companion's phone. With a Portugal eSIM, it's often the easiest way to get several devices online without buying several plans. On iPhone, it's under Settings > Personal Hotspot; on Android, look in the network settings under "Hotspot & tethering".
Check that the plan allows it
Not every plan allows tethering, and some cap it. The "Hotspot" column in the table shows what each provider publishes; when a provider doesn't say, we mark it as not specified. Unlimited plans are the most affected: hotspot banned, capped, or throttled past a daily threshold. Read the plan details before you buy if you plan to work on a laptop in Portugal.
A laptop uses far more data than a phone
- Automatic system and software updates.
- Cloud folder and photo syncing.
- Video calls: count on far more than an hour of browsing.
Set the hotspot as a metered connection on your laptop (Windows network settings, Low Data Mode on Mac): the system will then hold back some background downloads.
Our tips for Portugal
- Plan for more data than you'd use on your phone alone, or pick an unlimited plan that allows hotspot use.
- Protect the hotspot with a password.
- Keep a charger handy: sharing your connection drains the battery faster.
Rough data usage benchmarks
As a rule of thumb, an hour of browsing uses about 100 MB and an hour of standard-definition video 0.7 to 1 GB. A tethered laptop quickly reaches those numbers and goes past them with video calls or automatic backups. Keep an eye on your phone's data counter for the first few days, then adjust: you can often top up from the provider's app.
Set up your eSIM in 4 steps
- Make sure your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked.
- Buy the plan, then scan the QR code you receive (or install through the provider's app), on Wi-Fi.
- When you arrive, turn on the eSIM line for data, and turn on roaming for that line only.
- Keep your main SIM for calls and texts, with data roaming turned off.
Your phone must be eSIM-compatible and unlocked.
Portugal eSIM: using it as a hotspot
The bar shows price per GB: shorter is cheaper. Click a column header to sort.
All checked plans (65)
| Airalo | 1 GB | 3 | $4.00 | $4.00 |
| Airalo | 3 GB | 3 | $6.00 | $2.00 |
| Airalo | 3 GB | 7 | $6.50 | $2.17 |
| Airalo | 5 GB | 7 | $7.50 | $1.50 |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 7 | $10.00 | $1.00 |
| Airalo | 5 GB | 15 | $8.00 | $1.60 |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 15 | $10.50 | $1.05 |
| Airalo | 20 GB | 15 | $18.50 | $0.93 |
| Airalo | 5 GB | 30 | $9.00 | $1.80 |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 30 | $11.00 | $1.10 |
| Airalo | 20 GB | 30 | $19.00 | $0.95 |
| Airalo | 50 GB | 30 | $35.00 | $0.70 |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 3 | $11.50 | — |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 5 | $19.00 | — |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 7 | $27.00 | — |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 10 | $34.50 | — |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 15 | $48.00 | — |
| Airalo | Unlimited | 30 | $69.00 | — |
| Saily | 1 GB | 7 | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Saily | 3 GB | 30 | $7.99 | $2.66 |
| Saily | 5 GB | 30 | $9.99 | $2.00 |
| Saily | 10 GB | 30 | $16.99 | $1.70 |
| Saily | 20 GB | 30 | $27.99 | $1.40 |
| Saily | Unlimited | 5 | $18.99 | — |
| Saily | Unlimited | 7 | $26.99 | — |
| Saily | Unlimited | 10 | $34.99 | — |
| Saily | Unlimited | 15 | $48.99 | — |
| Saily | Unlimited | 20 | $59.99 | — |
| Saily | Unlimited | 25 | $65.99 | — |
| Saily | Unlimited | 30 | $71.99 | — |
| Yesim | 1 GB | 30 | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Yesim | 5 GB | 30 | $11.52 | $2.30 |
| Yesim | 10 GB | 30 | $19.20 | $1.92 |
| Yesim | 20 GB | 30 | $26.40 | $1.32 |
| Yesim | 30 GB | 30 | $33.60 | $1.12 |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 1 | $4.20 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 2 | $8.40 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 3 | $12.60 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 4 | $16.80 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 5 | $21.00 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 6 | $25.20 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 7 | $29.40 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 8 | $31.57 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 9 | $33.76 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 10 | $35.93 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 11 | $38.10 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 12 | $40.27 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 13 | $42.46 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 14 | $44.63 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 15 | $46.80 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 16 | $48.24 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 17 | $49.68 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 18 | $51.12 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 19 | $52.56 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 20 | $54.00 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 21 | $55.44 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 22 | $56.88 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 23 | $58.32 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 24 | $59.76 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 25 | $61.20 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 26 | $62.64 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 27 | $64.08 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 28 | $65.52 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 29 | $66.96 | — |
| Yesim | Unlimited | 30 | $68.40 | — |
Full ranking
- 1
9.5out of 10
- 2
7.4out of 10
- 3
7out of 10
How the score is calculated
Score out of 10 = 60% price (relative to the cheapest in the table) + 15% network (5G listed, network named) + 10% hotspot use + 15% range of options (unlimited available, number of durations).
Frequently asked questions
Do all plans allow hotspot use?
No. Some ban it or cap it, especially unlimited plans. The "Hotspot" column shows what each provider publishes.
How much data does a laptop use on a hotspot?
Far more than a phone: updates, cloud syncing and video calls add up fast. Set the hotspot as a metered connection on your laptop.
Is my phone eSIM-compatible?
Most iPhones from the XS onward, recent Samsung Galaxy phones and Google Pixels from the Pixel 3 onward are compatible. The phone also has to be unlocked. On iPhone: Settings > General > About, look for the "EID" line.
When should I install my eSIM?
Install it before you leave, on Wi-Fi, but turn on the data line when you arrive. Most plans only start at the first connection to the local network.
Do I keep my regular phone number?
Yes. Your main SIM can stay active for calls and texts; the travel eSIM only handles data. Remember to turn off data roaming on your main line.
Can I top up an eSIM in Portugal?
Most providers let you add data from their app. Terms vary, so check the plan page before you buy.