Belgium boasts a highly developed mobile network infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity for both locals and visitors. Whether you’re an expat, a tourist, or simply looking to stay connected on the go, choosing the right mobile internet and SIM card plan is crucial for a hassle-free experience. In this updated article we review all current plans and present you the best deal for your money.
Key takeaways
- Belgium has great 4G coverage, 5G s now widely available in cities but not yet available on all prepaid plans.
- Airalo offers eSIMS with 10GB data for 10€
- Base reduced its flagship data offer from 8 GB to 4 GB for €15 — no longer the market leader on data value.
- A fourth operator, Digi Belgium, launched in December 2024, but does not yet offer prepaid plans.
Mobile Network providers in Belgium
Belgium has three established mobile network providers: Proximus, Orange, and Base (owned by Telenet). A fourth operator, Digi Belgium, launched its network in December 2024 in partnership with Romanian Digi Communications and Citymesh. Digi currently operates with a roaming agreement on the Proximus network but does not offer any prepaid plans yet.
Depending on your current mobile network provider, your phone will automatically connect to one of the Belgian networks when roaming. About 40 virtual operators (MVNOs) are also active in the country, mostly on the Base network.
Data roaming in Belgium
Due to EU regulations, European citizens are entitled to use their mobile phone plans at no extra cost while roaming within the European Economic Area, which includes Belgium. Your full home plan — data, calls, and SMS — applies just as it would at home.
For travellers from outside the EU, roaming costs can be expensive and add up quickly. It’s always advised to check with your current network provider about the roaming costs in Belgium. Most non-EU travellers will choose to turn off roaming and purchase a local SIM card or an eSIM instead.
E-Sim Cards
An eSIM is a digital chip embedded in your device that connects you to a mobile network — no physical SIM card required. Most smartphones built since 2018 support eSIM. They are becoming increasingly popular because you can activate a plan before you land, keep your main number for calls and SMS, and use the eSIM for data without paying roaming charges.
Note that Belgian operators (Proximus, Orange, Base) do not currently offer eSIM to prepaid customers. However, international eSIM providers work seamlessly in Belgium on the local networks.
Best eSIM deal: Airalo offers Belgium eSIMs with 10 GB for 10€ and 20GB for 17€, which remains better value than any physical prepaid SIM on the Belgian market for data-focused travellers.
Purchasing a SIM Card in Belgium
Where to Buy
As a tourist or expat, you can purchase a Belgian SIM card at official retail stores of the major mobile operators, as well as from many supermarkets (Carrefour, Delhaize), electronics retailers (Media Markt, Vanden Borre), and convenience stores. SIM cards are also available at major airports including Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL).
⚠ All SIM cards sold in Belgium must be registered. You’ll need to show a valid passport or national ID card at the point of purchase.
Recharging Your SIM Card
Topping up is best done online for most providers, where you’ll often receive bonus data or SMS on top of your credit. The exception is Orange, whose Belgian website is only available in Dutch and French, making it inconvenient for English-speaking tourists.
Prepaid SIM Cards in Belgium
Proximus
Proximus is the largest mobile provider in Belgium with the best nationwide coverage, including 5G in major cities. Their prepaid cards are called Pay&Go+. The plan structure can look complex at first, but online top-ups come with generous bonuses valid for 31 days.
| Top-up (online) | Call credit | Bonus minutes | Bonus SMS | Bonus data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €10 | €10 | +10 min | 500 SMS | 500 MB |
| €15 | €15 | +20 min | Unlimited | 3 GB |
| €25 | €25 | +50 min | Unlimited | 5 GB |
You can also convert call credit into extra data: trade in €12 of credit for 3 GB, or €6 for 500 MB. This means a €15 top-up can yield up to 6 GB total (3 GB bonus + 3 GB via credit conversion).
More info: proximus.be/prepaid-cards
Orange
Orange is the second largest provider in Belgium, with coverage comparable to Proximus. Their Tempo prepaid plans offer solid value. Orange’s best tourist deal is currently €15 for 5 GB data (Tempo Giga, including call minutes and SMS).
You can also transform €15 of call credit into 8 GB extra data via the Tempo Giga “transform” feature (dial *123*44#), making their data-only value competitive — though this requires navigating a Dutch/French-only interface.
| Plan / Top-up | Call time | SMS | Mobile data |
|---|---|---|---|
| €10 (Tempo Giga) | 67 min | 167 | 3 GB |
| €15 (Tempo Easy) | 42 min | 4,000 | 4 GB |
| €15 (Tempo Giga) | Incl. | Incl. | 5 GB |
| €15 → data swap | — | — | 8 GB |
⚠ Orange Belgium only offers its consumer website in Dutch and French, which can be inconvenient for English-speaking tourists. Top-up is also only possible with Belgian bank cards online.
Base (Telenet)
⚠ Plan changed since last update
Base, owned by Telenet, is the third major operator. It has strong 4G coverage across Belgium, especially in Flanders. Their B-prepaid+ card is available in stores for €15 or online for €5 (shipped to a Belgian address only).
Important update: Base has reduced its flagship data offering. The previous 8 GB for €15 deal is no longer available. The current best offer is 4 GB for €15, which includes 60 minutes of calls and 1,000 SMS, valid for 30 days.
| Credit | Call time | SMS | Mobile data |
|---|---|---|---|
| €10 | 40 min | 250 | 1 GB |
| €15 | 60 min | 1,000 | 4 GB |
| €20 | 80 min | 1,000 | 4 GB |
| €25 | 100 min | 5,000 | 8 GB |
All Base credit is valid for 30 days and can be used for roaming across the EU at no extra cost.
More info: base.be
Mobile Vikings
Mobile Vikings is an MVNO operating on the Proximus network, known for its flexible plans and community-driven approach. It’s popular with tech-savvy younger users. All plans include unlimited SMS in Belgium, and calls to other Mobile Vikings numbers are also free.
The downside for tourists: Mobile Vikings has no physical sales points and registration requires a Belgian bank card for online sign-up, making it impractical for most short-term visitors.
| Credit | Call time | SMS | Mobile data |
|---|---|---|---|
| €10 | 25 min | Unlimited | 1 GB |
| €15 | 50 min | Unlimited | 4 GB |
| €20 | 66 min | Unlimited | 6 GB |
What’s the best pre-paid sim card for data in Belgium?
Using a €15 top-up as the benchmark and focusing purely on mobile data (including any available bonuses or credit conversions):
Data for €15 top-up — 2026 comparison
* Proximus: 3 GB online bonus + 3 GB by converting €12 credit. Maximum possible when converting all available credit.
The new leader on value is Proximus, which can deliver up to 6 GB for €15 when you combine the online top-up bonus with the credit-to-data conversion. Orange comes in second at a straightforward 5 GB for €15 with no extra steps required. Base has slipped to third after reducing its data offer to 4 GB for €15.
However, for tourists who prioritise simplicity, Orange remains the most practical choice: 5 GB, calls and SMS included, straightforward. Just note that their website and top-up portal is only in Dutch and French.
Still the overall winner: If your phone supports eSIM, Airalo beats all local options with 10 GB for $20, instant activation, and English-language support.
Conclusion
Data roaming for non-Europeans is best avoided in Belgium. If your phone supports eSIM, Airalo remains the top choice at 10 GB for $20.
For physical prepaid SIM cards, Proximus now offers the best data value at up to 6 GB for €15 (with a credit conversion step), while Orange offers the most tourist-friendly experience at a flat 5 GB for €15 with no extra steps. Base has dropped from its former leading position after cutting its data allowance from 8 GB to 4 GB.
Keep in mind that a new fourth operator, Digi Belgium, launched in December 2024 and may introduce competitive prepaid plans in the near future — worth checking before your visit.
