Internet in Georgia (the Country): What Tourists Should Use
You land in Tbilisi or Kutaisi, and you need a map and a ride right away. This guide covers Georgia the country in the Caucasus, not the US state, and the answer to the data problem is simple. A Magti tourist package costs about $11 with the SIM included, or you can install a data eSIM at home and skip the counter.
A local SIM usually costs less per GB, and it comes with a Georgian number. An eSIM costs more, but it works from the moment you land and fits iPhones with no SIM tray. Roaming with your US carrier fits a day or two.
In short:
- Georgia has three mobile operators: Magti, Silknet, and Cellfie. The national tourism site points travelers to Magti for the most remote places.
- Magti's Welcome package is 30 lari (about $11) with a free SIM at Tbilisi or Kutaisi airport.
- Verizon TravelPass and AT&T International Day Pass list $12 a day for one line, so 7 days of use is $84.
- The Moosetrip Georgia eSIM starts at $4.50 for 1 GB over 7 days. 5 GB for 30 days is $14 on 2026-10-30.
Georgia eSIM from $4.50Install at home, connect when you land.See plans
Internet options in Georgia compared
Dollar amounts for lari prices are rough, and the exchange rate moves. Check it before you buy.
| Option | Price | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magti Welcome | 30 lari ($11) | Free SIM, 3 GB, local calls, 30 international minutes, 15 days | Short trip, local number |
| Magti 5 GB | 15 lari ($5.50), SIM not stated | 5 GB, free local texts, 15 days | Adding data |
| Cellfie Maxi | 25 lari ($9) | 20 GB, 30 days | Heavy data users |
| Moosetrip eSIM | $4.50 to $47.50 | Data only, 1 GB to 20 GB | Data from the moment you land |
| Verizon or AT&T daily pass | $12 per day for one line | Your US number, talk, text, and data | A day or two |
| Free Wi-Fi | $0 | Cafes, restaurants, malls, hotels | Backup |
Georgian operators: Magti, Silknet, Cellfie
Magti. The national tourism site says to choose Magti if you plan to reach the most remote places in Georgia. Magti's own tourist page, checked 2026-10-30, lists two offers:
| Offer | Data | Calls and texts | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome package | 3 GB | Free local calls and texts, 30 international minutes | 15 days | 30 lari ($11) |
| Internet package | 5 GB | Free local texts | 15 days | 15 lari ($5.50) |
You turn on the Welcome package by dialing 2230 and pressing OK, and the 5 GB offer by dialing 3315. For the international minutes, dial 00 or + first. The 5 GB offer does not say it comes with a free SIM, so ask at the counter what the SIM costs.
Silknet. The tourism site calls it the most popular network. You may see its mobile service called Geocell, an older name that still appears on its site. Silknet sells a Tourist package, so ask for current data and prices at the shop.
Cellfie. On 2026-09-30, it listed 7 GB for 30 days at 17 lari (about $6) and 20 GB for 30 days at 25 lari (about $9). That was the most data for the money among the plans we compared.
A Georgian number is handy if you plan to call guesthouses and drivers, since the Welcome package includes free local calls.
Airport SIM cards: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi
Magti says you can get the free SIM with the Welcome package at Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports. Batumi airport is not on that page, so if you land there, plan on a shop in town or an eSIM set up at home.
Before you line up:
- Bring your passport. You may be asked for it.
- Check your phone. A local SIM works only on an unlocked phone, and a plastic one needs a tray. Many newer iPhones sold in the US are eSIM only. You can check your phone here.
- Think about your US SIM. On a phone with one slot, a local SIM means taking your US SIM out, and bank codes sent to your number will not reach you until it is back in.
Roaming with your US carrier
Roaming needs no setup, and your normal number keeps working. Verizon lists TravelPass at $12 per day, per line, outside Mexico and Canada, with 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour session. AT&T lists International Day Pass at $12 per day for one line, plus $6 for each extra line used that day, for customers on an unlimited plan. Confirm Georgia and the rate in your carrier app before you fly. Make sure the carrier means the country.
For one line, 7 days of use is $84 and 14 days is $168. Our 10 GB plan for Georgia is $26 for up to 30 days. That comparison is not exact, since a daily pass includes calls and texts and our eSIM is data only.
Some US plans include travel data. If yours covers Georgia and gives you enough high-speed data, keep it. You do not need an eSIM.
Travel eSIM for Georgia
An eSIM is a digital SIM. Our Georgia plans list the Magti, Beeline, and Geocell networks. Prices on 2026-10-30:
| Data | Valid for | Price | Maps and taxi apps | Video calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.50 | 5 hours | 1.5 hours |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $10 | 15 hours | 4.5 hours |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $14 | 25 hours | 7.5 hours |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $26 | 50 hours | 15 hours |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $47.50 | 100 hours | 30 hours |
The hours are cautious, and each one assumes you spend the whole plan on that activity. For a weekend in Tbilisi, 1 GB can be enough. For a week of maps and rides, take 3 GB. If you video call home each night, take 5 GB. For two weeks or more, take 10 GB.
Compare that with Magti's 5 GB at 15 lari, and the local SIM wins on price. An eSIM is the pick when your phone has no tray, or when you want your US line to stay in the phone.
How to set it up:
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your carrier.
- Choose your plan on the Georgia page.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi with the QR code. Days count from your first connection in Georgia, so you can do this well before your trip.
- After you land, pick the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming on that line.
- Turn off data roaming on your US line.
- If you run low, add data to the same eSIM. You do not need to install it again.
Our eSIM is internet only, with no phone number. Your regular number stays on as a second line.
Wi-Fi in Tbilisi and other cities
Georgia is easy on Wi-Fi. The national tourism site says free Wi-Fi is available in almost every cafe and restaurant in Tbilisi and other cities, in shopping centers, and in hotels. That makes a small data plan workable in the city. Use Wi-Fi for photo backups and big downloads, and keep mobile data for maps and rides. Skip banking and passwords on open networks.
Signal in the mountains
Many visitors head for Kazbegi, Svaneti, Gudauri, or Bakuriani. Coverage in the mountains depends on the terrain, and signal can drop on passes and in gorges even if the town at the end of the road is fine.
For the most remote places, the tourism site points to Magti. Whatever you use, prepare before you leave the city:
- Download offline maps of the whole region.
- Save your guesthouse address and route in your notes.
- Tell people at home you may be out of touch for a few hours.
- On a ski slope, keep your phone in an inside pocket. Batteries drain faster in the cold.
5G in Georgia
Magti said in October 2025 that its 5G reaches nearly all of Georgia. You do not need it for a vacation. 4G is plenty for maps, messages, and video calls, so do not choose a plan for 5G alone.
Common mistakes
- Waiting to install the eSIM until you land. You need internet to install it, and airport Wi-Fi may not connect. Do it at home.
- Forgetting data roaming on the eSIM. Your phone can show a network and still have no internet until this is on.
- Leaving your US line set for data. Check which line is chosen, or a daily pass may start.
- Taking too little data. Daily video calls use more than you expect.
- Heading to the mountains with no offline maps. The signal can drop just when you need the next turn.
Going on to Armenia?
Our Georgia plan works in Georgia only. For Armenia you need a separate plan. See our Armenia plans.
Questions
What is the best way to get internet in Georgia as a tourist?
For a week or two, a Magti tourist package is cheap and comes with a local number. If your phone has no tray, or you want data as soon as you land, install a data eSIM at home. Keep your US plan if it already covers Georgia.
Which network is best in Georgia?
The national tourism site points to Magti for the most remote places and calls Silknet the most popular network. Our eSIM plans list Magti among their networks.
How much is a SIM card in Georgia?
On 2026-10-30, Magti's Welcome package with a free SIM was 30 lari, about $11. Its 5 GB for 15 days was 15 lari, about $5.50.
Can I buy a SIM at Batumi airport?
Magti names only Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports for its free SIM. If you fly into Batumi, plan on a shop in town or an eSIM set up at home.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM in Georgia?
Bring it. You may be asked for it at the counter. An eSIM installed at home needs no counter visit.
When should I install the eSIM?
At home, over Wi-Fi, before you fly. Days count from your first connection in Georgia, so installing early does not use up your plan.
Will I keep my US number with an eSIM?
Yes. It stays on as a second line. Turn off data roaming on that line so you do not start a daily pass by accident.
Sources
- Magti, offers for tourists, checked 2026-10-30
- Magti, SIM cards for tourists in Georgian airports, checked 2026-09-25
- Magti, 1 Year with Magti 5G, October 27, 2025
- Silknet, tourist packages, checked 2026-10-30
- Cellfie, plans, checked 2026-09-30
- Georgia National Tourism Administration, Telecom, Mail and Internet, checked 2026-10-30
- Verizon, TravelPass FAQs, checked 2026-10-30
- AT&T, International Day Pass, checked 2026-10-30