O2 SMS Only eSIM
Two Factor Authentication by SMS is now the industry-standard method of providing secure login for many services.
Have you ever been unable to access your bank account while travelling? Our SMS-only product provides you with a private and secure UK telephone number as a handy eSIM service that you can load into your phone as a second line and still receive the codes at home, and indeed anywhere in the world. Reliability is key for SMS Two Factor Authentication and being an O2 service, the delivery is pretty much guaranteed.
The number and service can be yours for life for just US$ 6.00 per month with no additional charges whatsoever. You can even port your existing UK number in with a PAC code.
You can receive and install this unique eSIM service within 5 minutes and it will be fully activated on receipt. Note that this is inbound SMS only with no calls or data supported.
Bulgaria eSIM and SIM card guide
Updated: June 2026
If you are looking for an eSIM Bulgaria option, the right choice depends on where you are landing and how much of the country you plan to cover. Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas usually have strong 4G and growing 5G, but coverage can thin out on mountain roads to Bansko, in the Rhodope villages, or on longer drives toward the Serbian and Turkish borders. For a short city break, a Bulgaria eSIM is often the fastest way to get online before you leave the airport. For a longer stay, a local prepaid SIM can still be the better value if you want a Bulgarian number for calls, bookings and local apps.
Travellers arriving at Sofia Airport can usually get connected quickly, but the best-value offers are often in operator shops rather than airport kiosks. If your trip includes the Black Sea coast, Rila Monastery, Veliko Tarnovo or ski days in the Pirin Mountains, choose a plan with enough data for maps, ride-hailing and messaging without depending on hotel Wi-Fi.
Bulgarian network comparison
| Operator |
Best for |
City coverage |
Rural coverage |
eSIM support |
Typical tourist pricing |
Traveller notes |
| A1 |
Road trips, smaller towns and more remote routes |
Excellent |
Strongest overall of the three |
Yes, usually activated in store with ID |
Starter packs often around BGN 10-20; larger bundles BGN 20-30+ |
A safe pick if you will drive away from the main tourist centres. |
| Vivacom |
Mixed city and coast travel |
Excellent |
Strong |
Yes, usually activated in store with ID |
Commonly BGN 10-25 for tourist bundles |
Often a very solid choice for Sofia, Varna and Burgas. |
| Yettel |
Budget-friendly data in cities and main roads |
Very good |
Good, but can lag behind A1 and Vivacom in remote areas |
Yes, on many compatible plans |
Usually BGN 10-20 for starter offers |
Fine for urban use, but less compelling for isolated valleys and mountain detours. |
For most visitors, A1 or Vivacom is the safer bet if you are heading beyond the cities. Yettel can work well for a Sofia weekend or a simple beach trip, but I would lean toward A1 or Vivacom for longer self-drive itineraries.
Recommended eSIM plans for Bulgaria
If you are only in Bulgaria for a few days, a data-only plan is usually the simplest choice. If you need a phone number for reservations, taxis or verification texts, one of the voice-and-data options is worth a closer look.
When a Bulgaria eSIM is the better option
- You want data active as soon as the plane lands in Sofia, Varna or Burgas.
- Your phone supports dual SIM, so you can keep your home number active for bank codes and calls.
- You are on a short city break and do not want to spend time comparing shop bundles.
- You are crossing borders into Romania, Greece or Turkey and prefer one simple setup instead of changing SIM cards mid-trip.
When a local physical SIM still makes sense
- You want a Bulgarian number for local calls, accommodation check-ins or delivery apps.
- You are staying longer and expect to use a lot of data inside Bulgaria.
- You are happy to visit an official operator store and show your passport at purchase.
- You prefer to buy a top-up voucher or speak to staff face to face if anything needs adjusting.
What travellers should expect on the ground
- Passport registration is normally required for prepaid SIM purchases in Bulgaria, so bring ID if you buy locally.
- Airport counters can be convenient, but city shops usually have better bundles and clearer advice.
- Foreign payment cards sometimes work for top-ups, but cash or in-store payment is often the less frustrating option.
- 4G is the safe expectation almost everywhere; 5G is most noticeable in Sofia and other larger urban areas.
- WhatsApp, Viber and other calling apps work well in cities, but mountain and rural coverage can drop off quickly on some roads.
- For a self-drive trip, a plan with generous data is useful because navigation and live traffic can burn through allowance faster than expected.
- Bulgaria is in the EU, so some local prepaid bundles include EU roaming, but the roaming allowance is usually smaller than the domestic allowance.
Planning beyond Bulgaria
If your route continues into neighbouring countries, it can be easier to stay on one regional plan instead of swapping SIMs at every border. Compare our Romania eSIM, Greece eSIM and Turkey eSIM pages if you are building a wider Balkans itinerary.
