Paraguay – known for its cheeses, for having the world's largest water reserver & for being one of the nations where old-school duels are still allowed.
But besides these (interesting) facts, Paraguay is also a fun travel destination.
The Monday Falls is probably the country's most famous waterfall.
Ybycuí National Park has several trails, waterfalls & locations you can stim in.
And the Misión Jesuística de la Santísima Trinidad is the remains of an old mission.
Oh, do not forget about Palacio de López – the presidential office
If you hate water, Paraguay may not fully be for you, but there are many non-water related activities in the country.
You may have read that staying in Paraguay may cost you three to ten million Paraguayan Guaraní, which sounds expensive.
But besides these nonsensical high currency numbers, Paraguay is one of the cheaper travel destinations in South America.
Luckily, SIM cards are inexpensive in Paraguay too.
You can get a Paraguayan SIM card for 5000 PYG (0.65 USD) from Claro & 10 000 PYG (1.35 USD) from Personal. Tigo has two starter packs priced at 5000 PYG and 10 000 PYG. SIM cards are available at the official stores of the mobile operators and at Asunción/Lunque-Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU).
Those prices are not too bad, right?
And mobile data costs are reasonable too for global standards, but a bit high for regional ones.
In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Paraguay. Let's do this.
Original publication: 2nd of January 2020. Last updated: 2nd of March 2024.
Table of Contents
What is the Best SIM Card in Paraguay?
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Paraguay, I recommend going with Tigo or Claro. Tigo has the best coverage and, overall, the best network. Claro has the fastest speeds. However, its (4G/LTE) coverage is the weakest in the country.
So, who are all these mobile operators and what options are available for you?
Paraguay has three mobile operators offering prepaid services that are easily accessible to travelers:
- Tigo Paraguay
- Personal Paraguay
- Claro Paraguay
Anyone living in or visiting Paraguay can buy a Paraguayan SIM card without restrictions.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
Where Can You Buy a Paraguayan SIM Card (+Prices)?
You can get a Paraguayan SIM card in the official stores of Tigo, Personal & Claro. Some Paraguayan airports sell (tourist) SIM cards (at inflated prices).
You can expect to pay the following for Paraguayan SIM cards:
- Tigo Paraguay: 5000 PYG or 10 000 PYG
- Personal Paraguay: 10 000 PYG
- Claro Paraguay: 5000 PYG
Note that Paraguayan SIM cards can be more expensive than those listed above when purchased at an airport.
Use the Wise Currency Converter tool (free) for up-to-date PYG (Paraguayan Guaraní) to your currency (let's say USD – US Dollar) exchange rates.
For your convenience, below are some exchange rates between PEN and USD (US Dollars):
- 100 PYG = 0.015 USD
- 1000 PYG = 0.15 USD
- 10 000 PYG = 1.35 USD
But for any other currency, the Wise Currency Converter tool.
(Travel) eSIMs for Paraguay
In recent years, (travel) eSIMs have become extremely popular.
Especially after Apple made iPhones (14- & 15 series) sold in the United States eSIM-only, forcing its users to use eSIMs – even when abroad.
As a result, the adoption of eSIM technology by mobile operators worldwide rose impressively quickly.
Currently, no Paraguayan mobile operator offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.
In my Paraguay eSIM buying guide, I analyze various eSIM options of eSIM providers I have tested extensively worldwide.
Surprisingly, travel eSIMs can be cheaper than a Paraguayan SIM card or eSIM in specific scenarios.
Moreover, Latin (Central- and South) America-wide and global eSIM options are also available at competitive prices (without having to deal with expensive international roaming rates).
In this Paraguay SIM card buying guide (the one you are reading), I will stick to the local SIM cards and eSIM, but you can read my Paraguay eSIM buying guide for more information about travel eSIMs covering the country.
But here is a quick overview already + applicable discount codes if you are interested in purchasing a travel eSIM for Paraguay:
- Airalo: Triple Communications (Paraguay only), Latamlink (19 countries in Latin (Central- and South) America) & Discover+ (130 countries worldwide + up to 200 worldwide minutes & 200 worldwide SMS)
- Alosim: Paraguay
- Holafly: Paraguay & South America (14 countries in Central- and South America) – options include unlimited data
- Nomad: Global (109 or 139 countries, depending on the variant)
Here are some discount codes to sweeten the deal:
- Airalo: APR15 for 15% off (if you have never bought an Airalo eSIM before). Otherwise, APR10 for 10% off (for existing users) – only the first 3000 users can redeem either discount code)
- Alosim: PTW for 5% off (as many times as you wish for as many eSIMs as you want)
- Holafly: PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off (as many times as you wish for as many eSIMs as you want)
- Nomad: ADU123 for 3 USD off (on your first-ever Nomad order only)
Once again, check out my Paraguay eSIM buying guide to learn more about these eSIM options.
The eSIM guide is as comprehensive as this SIM card buying guide, but it solely focuses on travel eSIMs (while the guide you are reading focuses on local SIM cards and eSIMs for prepaid users (where applicable).
Paraguayan Prepaid SIM Cards Explored
Below, I will guide you through Tigo Paraguay, Personal Paraguay & Claro Paraguay, and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices & availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans & special packs (such as social media packs)
With that said, let's see what Paraguay offers us.
Tigo Paraguay
Tigo Paraguay, just Tigo, is the largest mobile operator in Paraguay.
It has a market share of a little more than 40%.
Tigo, as a company, is active in various countries in Latin America and in Tanzania.
Tigo uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 850 MHz & 1900 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1700 MHz (Band 4)
This is what you will learn about Tigo:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Tigo SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Tigo Paraguay
Tigo has the best coverage in Paraguay.
4G/LTE reception is strong in Southeastern Paraguay (Asunción region).
Northwestern Paraguay consists of mostly swampland, forests & jungles with 2G, 3G, or weak 4G/LTE coverage.
Below is Tigo's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Tigo Paraguay
You can get a Tigo SIM card for 5000 PYG and 10 000 PYG (two starter packs) in Tigo stores. They are also available at Asunción/Lunque-Silvio Pettirossi International Airport.
Dial *222# to access the Tigo menu.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
The following two Tigo SIM cards are available:
| Price | Credit | Data | WhatsApp Data | Local Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 PYG | 30 000 PYG (10 days) | 3 GB (7 days) | Unlimited (7 days) | Unlimited (7 days) |
| 10 000 PYG | 50 000 PYG (15 days) | 5 GB (10 days) | Unlimited (10 days) | Unlimited (10 days) |
Tigo has no eSIMs.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Tigo Paraguay
Tigo top-up vouchers are sold in Tigo stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Paraguay.
To top up your Tigo SIM card, dial *222# and follow the instructions.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Dial *162, *611# and select option 1, or text S to 162 to check your Tigo balance.
Note that you can check your balance with S to 162 for free twice a day. Each subsequent balance inquiry will cost you 50 PYG/check.
You can also top up and check your balance (for free) on the Mi Tigo Paraguay (My Tigo Paraguay) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Tigo Paraguay
Tigo has three data-featured prepaid plans:
- Extendidos/Extended (combo)
- Diarios (Daily) Packages (data)
- Juegos Y Redes Sociales/Game & Social Network (data)
All Tigo plans can be activated by dialing *222#.
I will list all the prices in PYG (Paraguay Guarani).
To convert PYG to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Extendidos (Extended) Packages – Tigo Paraguay
The Extendidos (Extended) Packages are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access) and minutes.
Dial *222# to activate Extendidos:
| Price | Data | WhatsApp Data | Local Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8000 PYG | 1 GB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2 days |
| 12 000 PYG | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 18 000 PYG | 2.5 GB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 22 000 PYG | 3 GB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 7 days |
| 30 000 PYG | 4 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 days |
| 50 000 PYG | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 20 days |
| 70 000 PYG | 5 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
1 for unlimited navitagation from 22:00 – 6:00
Diarios (Daily) Packages – Tigo Paraguay
The Diarios Package are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Dial *222# to activate Diarios:
| Price | Data | WhatsApp Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2750 PYG | 120 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 2750 PYG | 220 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 3300 PYG | 250 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 3300 PYG | 450 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 4500 PYG | Unlimited | N/A | 1 night (22:00 – 6:00) |
| 5000 PYG | 1 GB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 6000 PYG | Unlimited | N/A | 2 nights (22:00 – 6:00) |
The Juegos Y Redes Sociales (Game & Social Network) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Dial *222# to activate Juegos Y Redes Sociales:
| Price | Data | Social Data 1 | Game Data 2 | WhatsApp Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8000 PYG | 1 GB | N/A | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | 2 days |
| 8000 PYG | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | N/A | Unlimited | 2 days |
| 12 000 PYG | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | N/A | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 15 000 PYG | 2 GB | Shared with data allowance | N/A | Unlimited | 4 days |
1 for Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, TikTok & WhatsApp.
2 for 8Ball, Call of Duty Mobile, Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, Dream League Soccer, Free Fire, PUBG & Roblox.
APN/Internet Settings – Tigo Paraguay
- Name: Internet TIGO
- APN: internet.tigo.py
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Personal Paraguay
Personal Paraguay, just Personal, is the second-largest mobile operator in Paraguay.
It is the local branch by Telecom Argentina, also with the Personal brand.
Personal uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 850 MHz
- 3G: 850 MHz & 1900 MH
- 4G/LTE: 1900 MHz (Band 2)
This is what you will learn about Personal:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Personal SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Personal Paraguay
Personal has extensive coverage in Paraguay.
4G/LTE reception is strong in Southeastern Paraguay (Asunción region).
Northwestern Paraguay consists of mostly swampland, forests & jungles with 2G, 3G, or weak 4G/LTE coverage.
Below is Personal's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Personal Paraguay
You can get a Personal SIM card for 10 000 PYG with 40 000 PYG credit (7 days) in Personal stores. They are also available at Asunción/Lunque-Silvio Pettirossi International Airport.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Personal has no eSIMs.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Personal Paraguay
Personal top-up vouchers are sold in Personal stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Paraguay.
To top up your Personal SIM card, dial *222VoucherCode.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would text *222123456 (without a * or # between 222 and the voucher code).
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Dial *121# or text SALDO to 121 to check your Personal balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the Tienda Personal – Paraguay (Personal Store – Paraguay) app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Personal Paraguay
Personal has seven data-featured prepaid plans:
- Packs Combo
- Pack De Suscripción /Subscription Package (data)
- Packs Ahorro/Savings Packs (data)
- Pack Internet Ilimitado/Unlimited Internet Package
- Packs Internet + Juegos /Internet + Games Packs
- Packs Internet + Redes Sociales/Internet + Social Networks Packs
- Pack de alto valor/High Value Pack (data)
All Personal plans can be activated by dialing *111, *454# and selecting option 4, or by texting INT to 454.
I will list all the prices in PYG (Paraguay Guarani).
To convert PYG to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Packs Combo – Personal Paraguay
The Packs Combo are combo plans with data (without 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.
Dial *111, *454# and select option 4, or text INT to 454 to activate Packs Combo:
| Price | Data | WhatsApp Data | Local Minutes | On-Net SMS | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8000 PYG | 1 GB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 48 hours |
| 12 000 PYG | 2 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 18 000 PYG | 2.5 GB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 22 000 PYG | 3 GB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 7 days |
1 for between 22:00 and 6:00
Pack De Suscripción (Subscription Package) – Personal Paraguay
The Pack De Suscripción (Subscription Package) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
The following Pack De Suscripción are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | WhatsApp Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 PYG | WhatApp ATR X24Hs x mil’i | Unlimited | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 1850 PYG | Mega Pack 50Mb | 50 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 2750 PYG | Mega Pack 220Mb | 220 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 3300 PYG | Mega Pack 450Mb | 450 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 5000 PYG | Mega Pack 1 GB | 1 GB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 11 000 PYG | Mega Pack 2 GB | 2 GB | Unlimited | 2 days |
| 13 000 PYG | Mega Pack 3 GB | 3 GB | Unlimited | 3 days |
Packs Ahorro (Savings Packs) – Personal Paraguay
The Packs Ahorro (Savings Packs) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Dial *111, *454# and select option 4, or text INT to 454 to activate Packs Ahorro:
| Price | Plan | Data | WhatsApp Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 PYG | Ahorro 75MB | 75 MB | Unlimited | 12:00 – 00:00 |
| 2750 PYG | Ahorro 120MB | 120 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 3300 PYG | Ahorro 200MB | 200 MB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 5000 PYG | Ahorro 1GB | 1 GB | Unlimited | 24 hours |
| 8500 PYG | Ahorro 1.5GB | 1.5 GB | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 11 000 PYG | Ahorro 2 GB | 2 GB | Unlimited | 4 days |
| 20 000 PYG | Ahorro 4GB | 4 GB | Unlimited | 7 days |
Pack Internet Ilimitado (Unlimited Internet Package) – Personal Paraguay
The Pack internet ilimitado (Unlimited internet package) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
The following Pack internet ilimitado are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4500 PYG | Unlimited Internet (nightly) | Unlimited | 1 night from 22:00 – to 06:00 |
| 6000 PYG | Unlimited Internet (nightly) x 2 days | Unlimited | 2 nights from 22:00 – 06:00 |
Packs Internet + Juegos (Internet + Games Packs) – Personal Paraguay
The Packs Internet + Juegos (Internet + Games Packs) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
The following Packs Internet + Juegos are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | Game Data 1 | Validity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8000 PYG | Pack 1GB + 5GB for Games | 1 GB | 5 GB | Unlimited | 2 days |
| 9500 PYG | Pack 1GB + 5GB for Games | 1 GB | 5 GB | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 12 000 PYG | Pack 1GB + 10GB for Games | 1 GB | 10 GB | Unlimited | 4 days |
1 for 8Ball Pool, Call of Duty Mobile, Candy Crush Saga, Clash of Clones, Dream League Soccer, Free Fire, PUBG & Roblox.
The Packs Internet + Redes Sociales (Internet + Social Networks Packs) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
The following Packs Internet + Redes Sociales are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | Social Data 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8000 PYG | Pack 1GB + Redes Sociales | 1 GB | Unlimited | 2 days |
| 11 000 PYG | Pack 1GB + Redes Sociales | 1 GB | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 14 000 PYG | Pack 1GB + Redes Sociales | 1 GB | Unlimited | 4 days |
1 for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter & WhatsApp
Pack de alto valor (High Value Pack) – Personal Paraguay
The Pack de alto valor (High Value Pack) are data plans (without 5G NR access).
Dial *111, *454# and select option 4, or text INT to 454 to activate Pack de alto valor:
| Price | Plan | Data | WhatsApp Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 000 PYG | Pack 4Gb | 4 GB | Unlimited | 10 days |
| 50 000 PYG | Pack 5Gb | 5 GB | Unlimited | 20 days |
| 70 000 PYG | Pack 5Gb | 5 GB | Unlimited | 30 days |
APN/Internet Settings – Personal Paraguay
- Name: Internet Personal
- APN: internet
- Username: Personal
- Password: Personal
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Claro Paraguay
Claro Paraguay, just Claro, is the third-largest mobile operator in Paraguay.
Claro, as a company, is active in Central America and South America.
Claro uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 1900 MHz
- 3G: 1900 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1700 MHz (Band 4)
This is what you will learn about Claro:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Claro SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Claro Paraguay
Claro has extensive coverage throughout Paraguay.
4G/LTE reception is strong in Southeastern Paraguay (Asunción region).
Northwestern Paraguay consists of mostly swampland, forests & jungles with 2G, 3G, or weak 4G/LTE coverage.
Below is Claro's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Claro Paraguay
You can get a Claro SIM card for 5000 PYG in Claro stores. They are also available at Asunción/Lunque-Silvio Pettirossi International Airport.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
If you recharge 5000 PYG, you will get 2 GB and unlimited WhatsApp for 7 days.
Claro has no eSIMs.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Claro Paraguay
Claro top-up vouchers are sold in Claro stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Paraguay.
To top up your Claro SIM card, text the VoucherCode to 123.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would text 123456 to 123.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Dial *111# to check your Claro balance.
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Claro Paraguay
Claro has only one data-featured prepaid plan: Packs Todos/All Packs (combo). It includes data (without 5G NR access) and minutes.
I will list all the prices in PYG (Paraguay Guarani).
To convert PYG to your currency (let's say USD) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
Packs Ya can be activated by dialing *989#:
| Price | Data | Social Data | WhatsApp Data | Local Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4500 PYG | 10 GB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | N/A | 1 night (00:00 – 06:00) |
| 5000 PYG 3 | 500 MB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | N/A | 2 days |
| 6000 PYG | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | N/A | 2 days |
| 6000 PYG 3 | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | N/A | 2 days |
| 8000 PYG | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | N/A | 3 days |
| 8000 PYG | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3 days |
| 10 000 PYG 3 | 1 GB | Shared with data allowance | Unlimited | N/A | 5 days |
| 13 000 PYG | 3 GB | 500 MB 1,2 | Unlimited | N/A | 3 days |
| 14 000 PYG | 2 GB | 500 MB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 5 days |
| 18 000 PYG | 4 GB | 500 MB 1 | Unlimited | N/A | 7 days |
| 20 000 PYG | 4 GB | 500 MB 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 7 days |
| 25 000 PYG | 5 GB | 500 MB 1 | Unlimited | N/A | 10 days |
| 35 000 PYG | 2 GB | 500 MB 1,2 | Unlimited | N/A | 30 days |
| 50 000 PYG | 10 GB | 500 MB 1,2 | Unlimited | N/A | 30 days |
| 199 000 PYG | 25 GB | 500 MB 1,2 | Unlimited | N/A | 30 days |
| 299 000 PYG | 40 GB | 500 MB 1,2 | Unlimited | N/A | 60 days |
1 for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube
2 for Free Life
3 auto-renews
APN/Internet Settings – Claro Paraguay
- Name: ClaroPY
- APN: igprs.claro.com.py
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Paraguay
Getting a SIM card from Tigo or Claro would do you well when considering a Paraguayan SIM card.
Going to other places around the world? You should also check out my SIM card buying guides for other destinations worldwide.