How to Buy a SIM Card in Macao in 2026
The Macau SIM card market changes on 1 December 2026. 3 Macau, run by Hutchison, is giving up its 4G licence and ending its mobile service, which leaves CTM and China Telecom (Macau) as the two main networks. That matters if you are buying a tourist SIM: a cheap 3 Macau card bought now will not work for long. This guide explains what a visitor should buy instead, where to get a CTM card, what it costs, what to do if your trip includes Hong Kong or mainland China, and which of our eSIMs cover Macao. Our plans are on the Macao eSIM page.
Two networks from December
The Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) has said that Hutchison will end its mobile services in Macao on 1 December 2026. Hutchison's own notice puts the end of service just before midnight on 30 November. Its customers, about 140,000 people, are being moved to CTM under an agreement between the two companies, and the CTT says it is supervising the move. SmarTone had already left Macao earlier, so after December the city has two main mobile operators: CTM and China Telecom (Macau).
For a visitor the practical advice is simple: do not buy a 3 Macau tourist card for a trip that runs into December, even though reseller listings still show them at low prices, such as MOP48 for 2 GB.
CTM tourist cards
CTM sells prepaid cards aimed at visitors. The prices we found come from guides and resellers rather than from CTM itself, and they do not all agree:
- A Macau-only card at about MOP78 for 3 days or MOP188 for 7 days (reseller listing).
- A 3-day card for Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau at MOP98. One guide calls the data unlimited; another says 2 GB at full speed and slower after that.
Read the pack before you pay so you know how much full-speed data you are getting and which places it covers.
Buying at the airport
CTM SIM cards are sold at Macau International Airport, according to one guide, and another lists the airport 7-Eleven as a place that sells tourist SIMs, subject to availability. Guides also warn that airport prices can be higher than in town. We found no information on SIM sales at the ferry terminals, so if you arrive by ferry from Hong Kong, it is safer to have your data sorted before you leave.
If your trip includes Hong Kong or mainland China
Many visitors combine Macao with Hong Kong, and some go on into mainland China. A Macau-only card stops being useful the moment you leave. CTM's three-destination card covers all three for a short stay. For a longer trip, our eSIMs are the simpler choice: Global64 covers Macao and Hong Kong, and Orange World covers Macao, Hong Kong and China on the same plan.
Our eSIMs for Macao
The Global64 10GB eSIM costs $10 for 10 GB over 7 days from first use, and the Global64 20GB eSIM $15 for 20 GB over 14 days. They are data only and cover 64 countries, including Macao and Hong Kong but not mainland China. For a short city break, Global64 10GB costs about the same as a local card and is working when you land.
The Orange World 20GB eSIM costs $28 for 20 GB over 30 days from first use, with a French +33 number, 15 minutes and 50 texts. It is the one to choose if your route includes mainland China.
The Global PAYG eSIM costs $20 and includes €17.50 of credit, used only when you use data. It works on the CTM network in Macao and suits a light user who wants no expiry pressure.
The O2 SMS Only eSIM, $8 a month, gives you a UK number for bank and booking texts, with no data.
Macao SIM options compared
| Option | Price | Data and validity | Hong Kong / mainland China |
|---|
| Global64 10GB | $10 | 10 GB, 7 days from first use | Hong Kong yes; mainland China no |
| Global64 20GB | $15 | 20 GB, 14 days from first use | Hong Kong yes; mainland China no |
| Orange World 20GB | $28 | 20 GB, 30 days, +33 number, 15 minutes, 50 texts | Both |
| Global PAYG | $20 with €17.50 credit | Pay as you use, on CTM | Rates differ by country |
| CTM Macau tourist card | About MOP78 (3 days) or MOP188 (7 days) | Macao only (reseller listing) | No |
| CTM three-destination card | MOP98 | 3 days; full-speed allowance reported differently | Both |
Our recommendation
For a few days in Macao, or Macao and Hong Kong, install the Global64 10GB eSIM before you fly: $10, working on arrival, and no airport queue. Choose the Orange World 20GB eSIM if you are also going into mainland China or staying longer. If you prefer a local card, buy CTM rather than 3 Macau, whose service ends on 1 December 2026. Our eSIM installation guide explains the set-up, and every plan is on the Macao eSIM page.
