RedEx
RedEx offers prepaid eSIM service for Romania. Its entry-level plan costs $4.50 and includes 1GB of data valid for 7 days. The service connects through roaming access to Orange Romania or Vodafone Romania base stations. In tests conducted in central Bucharest, RedEx recorded a median 5G download speed of 180Mbps, with latency staying between 45ms and 60ms. Registration does not require passport information. After payment, a QR code is generated, and scanning it on the phone usually takes around 3 minutes to complete setup and connect to the network.
Coverage: Shares the Orange and Vodafone networks, with stable signal in cities and along major tourist routes
Speed: Around 150–200Mbps on urban 5G, with 30–40Mbps upload on 4G
Setup: Buy online, scan the QR code, and install in about 3 minutes
Identity verification: No passport or local ID verification required
Device requirements: eSIM-compatible phones running iOS 15+ or Android 12+
Pricing: Ranges from $4.50 to $34, covering 1GB to 20GB
Cost per GB: Around $1.7–$4.5 per GB
Plan validity: Fixed 7-day or 30-day packages
Data policy: Service stops once the data is used up, with no low-speed fallback
Top-up method: Additional data can be purchased in the app
Best for: Short-term visitors staying 3–10 days
Best use cases: City travel, navigation, social media, and video calls
Not ideal for: Long stays or heavy data users
Barrier to entry: No local phone number or bank-card binding required; just pay and activate
Main strengths: No real-name verification, fast setup, and automatic switching across partner networks
Main limitations: Higher cost per GB than local operators and no unlimited data option]
Orange Romania
Orange Romania offers local prepaid eSIM plans, with standard packages starting at €6, usually including around 30GB of data plus local calling minutes. In central Bucharest, median 5G download speeds range from 220Mbps to 300Mbps, with latency between 20ms and 35ms. Its nationwide 4G coverage exceeds 98%, and signal stability in mountain areas and along highways is stronger than that of other operators. Activation requires account registration, and some packages ask for basic identity verification. Most plans run on a 28-day cycle and include EU roaming.
Coverage: About 98% nationwide, with strong signal in mountain regions and along highways
Speed: Around 200–300Mbps on urban 5G, with 20–35ms latency
Setup: Purchase through the website or app, then activate after registering an account
Identity verification: Some packages require basic personal information
Device requirements: Most mainstream eSIM-compatible smartphones
Pricing: Around €6–€15, including 30GB to 100GB
Cost per GB: Roughly €0.1–€0.3 per GB
Plan validity: Standard 28-day cycle
Data policy: High-data packages, with some subject to fair usage thresholds (FUP)
Top-up method: Online recharge or auto-renewal
Best for: Road-trippers and travelers moving between cities over longer routes
Best use cases: High-speed mobile use, video uploads, and remote work
Not ideal for: Short-term visitors who do not want to register or deal with local-language interfaces
Barrier to entry: Requires account registration, and some parts of the interface are in Romanian
Main strengths: Wide coverage, fast speeds, and low prices
Main limitations: Setup is less convenient than with international eSIM providers
Vodafone Romania
Vodafone Romania offers local prepaid eSIM plans starting at around €5, with common packages including 25GB to 100GB of data. In central Bucharest, median 5G download speeds are about 180–260Mbps, with latency between 25ms and 40ms. Base-station density is high in urban areas, and coverage is stable across major tourist cities. Nationwide 4G coverage is around 96%. Prepaid packages often include bonus data, so the actual usable allowance can be higher than the advertised amount. Activation requires account registration, and in some cases SMS verification is also required.
Coverage: Stable in cities and major tourist areas, with about 96% nationwide coverage
Speed: Around 180–260Mbps on urban 5G, with 25–40ms latency
Setup: Register through the website or app and then activate the eSIM
Identity verification: Light verification; some plans require phone-number or SMS confirmation
Device requirements: eSIM-compatible iOS and Android devices
Pricing: Around €5–€12, including 25GB to 100GB
Cost per GB: Roughly €0.1–€0.2 per GB
Plan validity: Standard 28-day cycle
Data policy: Large allowances plus bonus data, with fair usage throttling in some cases
Top-up method: Online recharge or auto-renewal
Best for: Tourists who need lots of data for video and social media
Best use cases: City travel, short-video uploads, and high-definition video calls
Not ideal for: Users spending long periods deep in remote mountain areas
Barrier to entry: Requires account registration and basic verification
Main strengths: Generous data, low prices, and stable city coverage
Main limitations: Weaker signal than Orange in more remote areas
YOXO by Orange
YOXO by Orange is Orange’s fully digital eSIM brand and uses a subscription model. Its basic package costs €9 per month and includes around 50GB of data plus unlimited local calls. The service runs entirely on the Orange network, with 5G download speeds in Bucharest of around 200–300Mbps and latency between 20ms and 30ms. Account and plan management are handled بالكامل through the app, and users can cancel at any time. Activation requires linking a bank card, and Visa and Mastercard are supported. EU roaming is usually included, with around 5GB to 10GB available.
Coverage: Uses the Orange network, with about 98% nationwide coverage
Speed: Around 200–300Mbps on urban 5G, with 20–30ms latency
Setup: Register in the app, link a bank card, and activate
Identity verification: Requires basic account information and payment verification
Device requirements: eSIM-compatible smartphones
Pricing: Around €9–€19 per month, with options from 50GB to unlimited data
Cost per GB: Around €0.1 per GB or lower
Plan validity: Monthly subscription, cancellable at any time
Data policy: High-data plans, with fair usage throttling on some packages
Top-up method: Automatic subscription billing
Best for: Visitors staying more than two weeks or digital nomads
Best use cases: Staying online for long periods, remote work, and cross-EU usage
Not ideal for: Short-term visitors who do not want to link a bank card
Barrier to entry: Requires app-based setup and an international payment method
Main strengths: Low prices, generous data, and strong network quality
Main limitations: The subscription model is not especially convenient for short stays
Digi Mobil
Digi Mobil offers low-cost local eSIM and physical SIM services in Romania. Basic plans cost around €2–€5 per month and include 10GB to 50GB of data. In urban areas, 4G download speeds are typically around 40–90Mbps, with latency between 35ms and 60ms. Its 5G coverage is limited and mainly concentrated in parts of Bucharest. Nationwide 4G coverage is around 90%, but performance is less stable in mountain areas and indoor weak-signal environments. Prices are clearly lower than those of Orange and Vodafone, making Digi Mobil a suitable option for budget-conscious users.
Coverage: Stable in cities, but weaker in remote areas and indoors
Speed: About 40–90Mbps on 4G, with limited 5G availability
Setup: Available through the website or in person, though the eSIM process is not especially optimized for tourists
Identity verification: Usually requires local identity details or registration information
Device requirements: eSIM-compatible smartphones
Pricing: Around €2–€5, including 10GB to 50GB
Cost per GB: Roughly €0.05–€0.2 per GB
Plan validity: Monthly billing
Data policy: Standard data packages, with throttling thresholds on some plans
Top-up method: Manual recharge or auto-renewal
Best for: Long-stay users on a tighter budget
Best use cases: Everyday city use, basic communication, and navigation
Not ideal for: Users who need consistently fast, stable service or who frequently travel into mountain regions
Barrier to entry: The setup process is more localized and less tourist-friendly
Main strengths: Very low cost
Main limitations: Coverage and speed are weaker than those of the main operators