Works in Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi is where most visitors to Malawi head first. The plan connects there and in the other main towns on Airtel.
Malawi eSIM
18 plansUnlimited optionsInstant delivery5G where available
1 day
7 days
15 days
30 days
No plan of that length. Pick another.
1 day
3 days
7 days
15 days
30 days
No plan of that length. Pick another.
Lite gives you 1 GB a day at full speed and Heavy gives you 3 GB. After that the plan keeps working at a reduced speed until the next day.
Plan details
What the plan you picked above includes.
- Networks in Malawi
- Airtel
- Technology
- 3G/4G
- Routed via
- Singapore
- Tethering
- Supported
- Top up
- Available
- Calls and texts
- Data only, no phone number
- Fair use
- No daily cap
- Activation
- QR code by email, days start on first connection
QR code by email in secondsKeep your own numberTop up the same eSIMSecure checkout
Why RoamZivo for Malawi
Skip the rental counter
No pocket Wi-Fi or SIM counter to find when you land in Malawi, and nothing to return before you fly home. The eSIM is installed before you leave.
Share with your laptop
Hotspot is allowed on the plan selected above, so a second device can use the same data in a cafe or a hotel room.
How to get connected
Step by step guideCheck your phone
Your phone must be eSIM compatible and not locked to one carrier.
Install at home
Scan the QR code on WiFi before you fly. Your days do not start yet.
Switch on in Malawi
Choose the RoamZivo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.
Stay online
Watch your data in My eSIMs and top up the same eSIM if you need more.
Malawi travel data guide
A Malawi eSIM from RoamZivo is a prepaid data plan for Malawi that you install before you fly. Plans in Malawi run on Airtel, with 5G where the operator offers it. The eSIM is data only, so your own SIM stays in for calls and texts.
There are 18 plans to choose from. Data sizes run from 1 GB to 10 GB, validity from 1 to 30 days, and prices start at $7.99. Unlimited plans are listed too, each with its own fair use line. Hotspot sharing is supported on every plan. Top ups are available on the fixed data plans and go onto the same eSIM.
Visiting more than one country? The Africa eSIM covers Malawi and 20 other countries on one plan, from $8.99. The Global eSIM covers Malawi and 126 other countries on one plan, from $18.99.
Your days start the first time the eSIM connects in Malawi, not when you buy, so you can install it at home days early. For a week of maps, messaging and social apps, most travellers are fine with 3 to 5 GB. Video calls or streaming need more, or an unlimited plan. Travel data in Malawi from RoamZivo arrives as a QR code by email, with a copy kept in your account.
Malawi FAQ
Does the eSIM work everywhere in Malawi?
It connects wherever Airtel has signal, which is the same network local customers use. The eSIM is data only.
When do my days start?
On the first connection in Malawi, not at purchase. The plan selected above (3 GB) runs for 1 day from that moment. You can install the eSIM at home and the clock stays still until you connect.
Do I get a local phone number in Malawi?
No. The eSIM is data only. Your own SIM stays in for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working over the eSIM data.
Can I share data with my laptop?
Yes. Hotspot sharing is supported on the plan selected above, so your laptop or tablet can use the eSIM data through your phone.
Which network does the Malawi eSIM use?
The Malawi eSIM uses Airtel, listed as a 4G network. It is the only operator on our Malawi list. Some plans carry a 4G/5G label, but with a 4G operator we would plan for 4G.
Is 3 GB enough for two weeks in Malawi?
It is enough for maps, messages and light browsing over two weeks in Malawi, as long as photo and video uploads wait for WiFi. The 3 GB plan comes in 15 and 30 day versions. For heavier use, choose 10 GB or the 15 day unlimited plan.
Does the Africa plan include Malawi?
Yes, Malawi is on the Africa plan's country list, along with Zambia and Tanzania. That plan suits a trip across borders. For Malawi alone, the plans on this page are enough.
Should I install the Malawi eSIM at home?
Yes. Install it at home on WiFi, because the phone must be online to download it. The plan does not start until the eSIM connects to a network in Malawi for the first time.
Will the Malawi eSIM work on an Android phone?
Yes, if that Android model supports eSIM and is carrier unlocked. Check the model on our compatible devices page. After installing, make sure data roaming is switched on for the eSIM line, since it cannot connect in Malawi without it.
What happens after the daily amount on an unlimited Malawi plan?
The connection carries on at up to 1 Mbps until the next day. Malawi unlimited plans include 1 GB or 3 GB of full speed data each day, depending on which you buy. They do not cut off.
Can I use hotspot in Malawi?
Yes, all Malawi plans allow hotspot. If you share with a laptop on a fixed plan, watch the balance, because computers use data much faster than phones do.
How do I top up if I run low?
Open My eSIMs, pick this eSIM and choose a top up. It goes onto the same eSIM, so there is no new QR code to scan.
