SIM cards and eSIM in Lithuania
SIM cards and eSIM in LithuaniaWhich carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card No ID registration needed
- The rules are murky: some guides say anyone can buy a Lithuanian SIM with no paperwork, while others report stores asking for a passport to register the card. Carry your passport when buying and expect some shops to record your details.
- Operator and brand stores in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda, plus supermarkets like Maxima, Rimi and Iki, petrol stations, kiosks, post offices and convenience stores. At Vilnius Airport, SIMs are sold from a Narvesen kiosk, but you pay more there for smaller allowances than in city shops.
- It is unclear which Lithuanian operators sell prepaid eSIMs to visitors. What is clear is that a local SIM or eSIM is excellent value inside Lithuania and poor value the moment you cross a border, so a regional travel eSIM makes more sense for a wider Baltic trip.
Prepaid brands wear different names in shops: look for Ezys, Extra, Pildyk and Labas, not Telia, Tele2 and Bite. An idle SIM quietly drains itself: with no plan active, a small daily fee is deducted from your credit, so top up only what you will use and activate a plan straight away. Most importantly, cheap Lithuanian prepaid data does not travel: domestic packages cannot be used elsewhere in the EU and separate, pricier roaming packs are needed, so pick a plan that explicitly includes an EU allowance if Lithuania is one leg of a longer trip. Checking your balance by USSD on Pildyk also costs a small fee; the app and website are free.
Local carriers
Telia Lietuva
Largest network with the best coverage. Prepaid is sold under the Ezys and Extra brands rather than the Telia name.
Tele2 Lietuva
Fastest speeds by a clear margin and the cheapest way in. Its prepaid brand is Pildyk.
Bite Lietuva
Slightly behind on coverage but fine in populated areas. Its prepaid brand Labas needs SMS activation, with instructions printed only in Lithuanian.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my passport to buy a SIM card in Lithuania?
The rules are murky: some guides say anyone can buy a Lithuanian SIM with no paperwork, while others report stores asking for a passport to register the card. Carry your passport when buying and expect some shops to record your details.
What is the best eSIM for Lithuania?
Guac eSIM covers Lithuania with data plans starting from $0.58 per GB and instant activation, so your phone is online the moment you land. Airalo and Holafly are popular alternatives.