Chad 1GB 7 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 1GB
- Validity
- 7 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$5.90
Chad eSIM
Chad stretches from the lake and savanna of the south all the way into the Sahara, so distances between places are measured in days rather than hours. Most visitors are aid staff, oil-sector workers, or travellers heading for the Ennedi massif and Zakouma National Park, and all of them arrange drivers, supplies and route conditions by phone well in advance. N'Djamena is the one place where you can count on getting things done online, which is why anything that needs a real connection is best finished before you leave the capital.
Plans listed
8
Network
Airtel Tchad, Moov Africa Tchad
Technology
4G
Local currency
XAF
Picked by how you travel
Best for a short trip
Fixed
Best for heavy data
Chad 20GB 30 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 20GB
- Validity
- 30 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$68.90
These picks are computed from price per GB, validity and plan features only — never from what we earn.
All Chad plans
Chad 10GB 30 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 10GB
- Validity
- 30 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
- Best value per GB
- Long stay
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$34.90
Chad 20GB 30 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 20GB
- Validity
- 30 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
- Best value per GB
- Long stay
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$68.90
Chad 2GB/day 15 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 2GB per day
- Validity
- 15 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$97.90
Chad 1GB/day 10 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 1GB per day
- Validity
- 10 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$33.90
Chad 512MB/day 7 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 512MB per day
- Validity
- 7 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$12.90
Chad 5GB 15 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 5GB
- Validity
- 15 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$19.90
Chad 3GB 15 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 3GB
- Validity
- 15 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$13.90
Chad 1GB 7 days
Airtel Tchad / Moov Africa Tchad
- Data
- 1GB
- Validity
- 7 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 4G
- Hotspot
- Budget
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$5.90
How much data you actually need
In town, plan on roughly 300MB–1GB a day for maps, email and WhatsApp. If you have photos to upload or a call to join, budget 1.5–2GB and schedule it for a day in N'Djamena rather than out in the field.
When you land
N'Djamena Hassan Djamous (NDJ) handles almost all arrivals, with Abéché (AEH) and Moundou (MQQ) used for onward domestic hops. The busiest land crossing is the bridge from N'Djamena over the river to Kousséri in Cameroon, a few minutes away, and there are further routes south into Cameroon and west towards Nigeria around Lake Chad. Get the line attached before you leave the terminal so your driver can call you.
Where coverage changes
N'Djamena is fine, and southern towns such as Moundou, Sarh and Doba have service within the built-up area. The north is a different country in practice: the long road to Faya-Largeau, the Tibesti mountains, the Ennedi plateau and the Ounianga lakes have effectively nothing, and the run out to Zakouma or Abéché drops out for long stretches. Anyone heading into the desert should plan the trip as a fully offline one from the start.
Cities travellers ask about
- N'Djamena — Capital on the Chari river and the base where every trip is put together.
- Abéché — Main eastern town and staging point for the desert and the Sudanese border.
- Moundou — The green southern second city, far easier to reach than anywhere northern.
- Ennedi plateau — Sahara arches and oases, reached by vehicle convoy and entirely offline.
- Zakouma National Park — Southeastern wildlife park with a seasonal window and a long approach road.
Apps to install before you fly
- WhatsApp for drivers, lodges and local trip organisers
- Google Maps or OsmAnd with the whole region saved offline
- Google Translate with French and Arabic packs downloaded
Networks in Chad
| Operator | Technology |
|---|---|
| Airtel Tchad | 4G |
| Moov Africa Tchad | 4G |
These are the networks operating in the country. A given plan may reach only some of them — check the network named on the plan itself.
Plan comparison
| Plan | Data | Validity | Hotspot | Sold by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chad 1GB 7 days | 1GB | 7 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
| Chad 3GB 15 days | 3GB | 15 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
| Chad 5GB 15 days | 5GB | 15 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
| Chad 10GB 30 days | 10GB | 30 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
| Chad 20GB 30 days | 20GB | 30 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
| Chad 512MB/day 7 days | 512MB per day | 7 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
| Chad 1GB/day 10 days | 1GB per day | 10 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
| Chad 2GB/day 15 days | 2GB per day | 15 days | Yes | eSIMonline |
FAQ
What languages will I get by on in Chad?+
French and Arabic are both official. In practice the south leans French while the north and east run on Chadian Arabic, and English only really gets you somewhere with international organisation staff. Download both the French and Arabic translation packs for offline use, because the checkpoints where you most need them tend to sit in places with no signal at all.
How do people stay contactable in the northern desert?+
Operators running Tibesti and Ennedi trips work on the assumption that there is no mobile signal, which is why convoys carry satellite phones and radios. What you can do is leave your itinerary and expected return date with a contact in N'Djamena, save maps, coordinates and emergency numbers to the device, and sort out charging from the vehicle, since you can go days without seeing a wall socket.
Are there restrictions on taking photos in N'Djamena?+
Yes, and it is worth taking seriously. Government buildings, military sites, the airport, bridges and checkpoints should not be photographed at all, and simply raising a phone near them can get your device inspected. The safe habit is to ask your host or driver first every time, and to ask people directly before photographing them, which locals genuinely care about.
When does a Chad eSIM start counting days?+
Most plans here start when the phone first connects to a network at the destination, so you can install in advance at home and switch it on after landing. Each plan page states its own rule.
Do I have to remove my home SIM?+
No. The eSIM is a second line, so you keep your home number for SMS OTP. Turn off roaming data on the home line and set the eSIM as the data line.
Related
Plan data in this build comes from a demo supplier used to exercise the system. Prices and networks are replaced with live data once a supplier API is connected.
Last updated: September 4, 2026