1 GB
Valid for 7 days
$5.99
$5.99 per GB
eSIM for Macao
Macao is small and dense: about 33 square kilometres holding the old Portuguese peninsula, the bridges, Taipa Village and the Cotai Strip. You will walk more than you expect, get lost in the lanes behind the Ruins of St Paul's, and rely on your phone for bus numbers, casino shuttle times, restaurant queues and the ferry schedule to Hong Kong. Free hotel Wi-Fi does not help while you are standing at a bus stop in the rain.
A FairSIM eSIM roams onto CTM or 3 Macau. Both run 4G LTE across the peninsula, Taipa and Cotai, and that is what you get here: no 5G on these two networks in our coverage sheet, so the page will not promise it. You install the eSIM over Wi-Fi at home, land, switch the line on, and skip the counter. Personal Hotspot is included on every plan, which matters if you are working from a Cotai hotel room.
The rule to know is jurisdictional. Macao is a separate telecoms market from Hong Kong and from mainland China, so a Macao plan stops working the moment you cross the Portas do Cerco border into Zhuhai or reach the Hong Kong side of the bridge. If your trip mixes two or three of them, buy a plan for each from the app, or take the regional Asia plan. Unlike mainland China, Macao does not block Google, WhatsApp or Instagram, so your usual apps behave normally here.
Macao eSIM plans
Wholesale rates in US dollars, with nothing added at checkout. Buy in the FairSIM app and the plan is on your phone in seconds.
How long is your trip?
All plans. Pick a trip length to narrow the list.
- Get it in the app for Macao
3 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for Macao$11.99
$4.00 per GB
- Best value
10 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for Macao$19.99
$2.00 per GB
Unlimited
Valid for 15 days
Get it in the app for Macao$49.99
Speed policy shown in the app
Coverage in Macao
- 4G LTE
- 5G
- CTMThe incumbent operator, and the network most travellers end up on. 3G and 4G across the peninsula, Taipa, Coloane and the Cotai resorts, plus the ferry terminals and the airport.
- 3 MacauHutchison's Macao network, with 2G, 3G and 4G. Solid in the built-up areas and a useful fallback where a building blocks one network.
Typical speed: 4G speeds in Macao are generally comfortable for maps, messaging, streaming and video calls. Expect slower throughput inside packed casino floors and at shift change on the Cotai shuttles.
Macao is tiny and heavily built, so outdoor coverage is close to complete: the peninsula, the Sai Van and Sai Van Lake bridges, Taipa, Coloane, Hac Sa beach, the airport, the Outer Harbour and Taipa ferry terminals. Signal can drop in basement car parks, hotel lifts and mid-channel on the ferry, and it ends when you cross into Zhuhai or Hong Kong.
How much data do you need in Macao?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Cotai weekend
Two or three nights in a Cotai resort with shows, shopping and the gaming floors.
Why data matters: Shuttle timetables, show and buffet bookings, Google Maps between resorts, and uploads from the canals and the light shows.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Hong Kong plus Macao
A few days in Hong Kong with a ferry or bridge crossing to Macao.
Why data matters: Two separate networks means two plans from one app. You need data for ferry tickets, border queues and the HZMB shuttle, and the switch is just a toggle.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Food and heritage walking trip
Old town lanes, Macanese restaurants, egg tarts and the Michelin list.
Why data matters: Maps in narrow streets with no signage in English, opening hours, queue apps, reviews and a lot of photos.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Cruise call or one-day stopover
A day off a ship or a side trip squeezed into a Hong Kong itinerary.
Why data matters: A single day is too short to buy a SIM. You need buses, a map, and a way to find your group again.
- 7 days
- 3 GB
- 14 days
- 5 GB
- 30 days
- 10 GB
Conference and business travel
MICE events at the Cotai venues and meetings on the peninsula.
Why data matters: Teams and Zoom over 4G, Personal Hotspot for the laptop, files and email between sessions.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
What your home carrier charges in Macao
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for Macao start at $5.99 and never bill per day.
Macao sits outside the inclusive roaming zones of most European plans, so check your zone before you land rather than after.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line, $6 for each extra line | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per day, high-speed data then slowed | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| EE (UK) | Macao is not in EE's inclusive roaming zones, so out-of-zone data rates apply; confirm the rate with EE before you travel | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Vodafone UK | Macao falls outside Vodafone's Roam-Further zones on most plans, so a non-inclusive daily or per-MB rate applies; check your plan's zone list | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Orange France | Not included in Europe or the standard travel zones; Orange sells a separate world pass and rates vary by plan | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra International Day Pass (Australia) | A$10 per day for 2 GB in eligible destinations; confirm Macao is on Telstra's current list | from $5.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
- 1
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
- 2
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
- 3
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for Macao
Install and label the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi, then switch the line and data roaming on after you land. Validity typically starts at first connection to a Macao network.
A Macao plan does not cover Hong Kong or mainland China. Buy a separate plan for each, or take the regional Asia plan if you are crossing borders.
Use the free casino shuttles. They run between the ferry terminals, the airport, the Border Gate and the Cotai resorts, and they are faster than waiting for a taxi.
Pay in patacas where you can. Shops take Hong Kong dollars at 1:1, which quietly costs you a few percent on every note.
Buses need exact coins or a Macau Pass or MPay QR. Load the app while you still have hotel Wi-Fi.
Photography is restricted on casino gaming floors. Take the photos in the lobbies and the canals instead.
Typhoon signals in summer can suspend ferries and flights with little notice. Follow the SMG weather updates and keep some data spare for rebooking.
Keep your home SIM active for two-factor codes, with its own data roaming switched off.
Apps you will actually use
- Google Maps works normally in Macao and handles the old lanes and bus stops well; download the map offline as a backup.
- MPay (Macau Pass) the local QR wallet for buses, shops and small restaurants; a physical Macau Pass card works on buses too.
- Bus Macao the official public bus information app with routes and arrival times. Fares are a flat few patacas per ride.
- TurboJET ferry schedules and tickets between Macao and Hong Kong from the Outer Harbour and Taipa terminals.
- Klook show tickets, attraction passes, HZMB bridge shuttle and airport transfers, often cheaper than the counter.
- WhatsApp messages and calls with hotels, drivers and tour guides; unblocked in Macao.
- WeChat almost universal for mainland visitors and many local businesses, including mini programs for bookings.
- Alipay widely accepted in shops and restaurants; handy if you already use it for mainland travel.
There is no Uber or Grab in Macao; Uber left the territory in 2017. You take metered taxis, the cheap public buses, or the free casino shuttles that loop between the ferry terminals, the airport, the border gate and the Cotai resorts. Taxis can be scarce late at night and at the border, so the shuttles are often faster.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi is genuinely easy to find in Macao: the government WiFi GO hotspots at public buildings, parks and ferry terminals, plus every hotel, casino, mall and most cafes. It is fine for a quick map check or a hotel booking. What it is not is continuous, and the moments you actually need data are the ones between the buildings: reading a bus timetable, finding the shuttle stop, or working out which border gate you want. Treat public Wi-Fi as a bonus and keep the eSIM as the default line.
Local SIM card or eSIM in Macao?
CTM and 3 Macau both sell prepaid tourist SIMs, at Macau International Airport, the ferry terminals, operator shops and convenience stores. They are reasonably priced in patacas and give you a local number, which is useful if you need to be called back by a restaurant or a taxi dispatcher. Macao applies real-name registration to prepaid SIMs, so you hand over your passport at the counter and the card is tied to you.
The friction is the queue and the timing. Arrivals halls in Macao are busy, shops keep shop hours, and a one-night stop or a cruise call leaves no room for an errand. A FairSIM eSIM is installed at home over Wi-Fi, roams onto the same CTM or 3 Macau towers, keeps your home number reachable for bank codes, and includes Personal Hotspot. It does not give you a local number, so if a local callback is essential, buy the local SIM as well.
Good to know before you land in Macao
- Currency
- Macanese pataca (MOP), pegged to the Hong Kong dollar. Hong Kong dollars are accepted almost everywhere, usually at 1:1, so you lose a little on every cash payment
- Plug type
- Mostly Type G (UK three-pin); older buildings may still have Type D or M
- Voltage
- 220 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency number
- 999; 112 and 110 also reach the operator
- Language
- Cantonese and Portuguese are official; Mandarin is common and English is widely used in hotels, casinos and restaurants
- Time zone
- UTC+8, no daylight saving
- Capital
- Macao itself; the SAR has no separate capital city
Macao eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Macao?
Yes. An unlocked eSIM phone connects to CTM or 3 Macau with a travel eSIM. On iPhone that means XS, XR or newer; most recent Pixel, Galaxy and mid-range Android phones support eSIM too.
Which network will my Macao eSIM use?
CTM or 3 Macau. Both run 4G across the territory. The app shows the network for each plan, and your phone will pick the stronger signal where more than one is available.
Is there 5G with a Macao travel eSIM?
No. The Macao networks available to FairSIM are 4G LTE with 3G fallback, so plan for fast 4G rather than 5G.
Does a Macao eSIM work in Hong Kong or mainland China?
No. Macao, Hong Kong and mainland China are separate telecoms markets. Buy a plan for each destination, or use the regional Asia plan if you are hopping between them.
Are Google, WhatsApp and Instagram blocked in Macao?
No. Macao does not apply the mainland restrictions, so Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and FaceTime work normally. If you cross into Zhuhai you will need a VPN.
Can I use Personal Hotspot in Macao?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot, with no separate cap on tethered data.
How much data do I need for a weekend in Macao?
A two-night Cotai weekend usually lands between 2 and 4 GB. A week of walking, maps, messaging and social uploads is closer to 5 to 8 GB, more if you stream or work.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM in Macao?
For a local prepaid SIM, yes: Macao requires real-name registration, so you register with your passport at the shop. A travel eSIM needs no local registration.
Local SIM or eSIM for Macao?
A local CTM or 3 Macau SIM gives you a Macao phone number and is cheap, but needs a counter, a passport and shop hours. A travel eSIM is installed before you fly, roams on the same networks, and keeps your home number reachable.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
Traveling beyond Macao?
Get your Macao eSIM in the app
Plans from $5.99. Install before you fly, track your data live, and top up in seconds if you need more.
Download on theApp Store
iPhone XS or later · iOS 17.4+ for one-tap install
