MEO eSIM — coverage, plans & network
Portugal
Key highlights
- Portugal's largest mobile operator, part of Altice Portugal; network born as TMN in 1991
- Prepaid eSIM cards sold online at shop.meo.pt from €2.50, QR code by email
- Existing customers switch from SIM to eSIM free; up to six installs per QR code
- AviaeSIM's Portugal plans use local networks including MEO, with no registration
About the operator
MEO is Portugal's largest mobile operator, the heir of the incumbent Portugal Telecom: its network began as TMN in 1991, the country's first mobile network, and the MEO brand has belonged to Altice Portugal since 2015. It runs 4G and 5G across the mainland, Madeira and the Azores and competes with NOS and Vodafone Portugal.
MEO is also one of the few European operators that sells prepaid eSIM cards online: its shop lists eSIM versions of the M Móvel prepaid cards, delivered as a QR code by email. Visitors can use them, but the cards are built for residents who top up monthly, and the Portuguese registration rules still apply. AviaeSIM's Portugal eSIM, on local networks that include MEO, is the per-trip alternative.
- Founded
- 1991
- Headquarters
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Group
- Altice Portugal
- Network
- 4G, 5G
How to get the official MEO eSIM: price, QR code, registration
MEO sells prepaid eSIM cards in its online shop: on 26 September 2026 the eSIM section listed the eSIM M Móvel Livre card at €2.50, the eSIM M Móvel 50 GB card at €10 (data plus free calls and texts), an eSIM Enjoy card at €10 with all traffic included for 15, 20 or 35 days, a 200 GB MOCHE eSIM at €9.90 and an eSIM for North America at €15. MEO's eSIM page says the QR code arrives by email with the instructions, that the same code can be installed up to six times, and that an existing customer switches from a plastic SIM to an eSIM free through the my MEO app or in a store; Portuguese guides put a replacement eSIM on a prepaid line at €10. Guides say the card is registered to an identity document at purchase.
AviaeSIM's prepaid Portugal eSIM uses local networks including MEO, as the plan card lists, and is priced per trip: pay by card, receive the QR code by email in minutes, install before the flight and connect in Lisbon or Faro with no registration and no monthly renewal.
MEO local SIM vs AviaeSIM
| MEO prepaid eSIM (M Móvel) | AviaeSIM travel eSIM (Portugal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per GB | About €0.20 per GB on the 50 GB card at €10; the Livre card is a pay-as-you-go balance | Plans for Portugal from $1.19; the price per GB is on each plan card |
| Activation | Order online or in store; scan the QR code sent by email — up to six installs | QR code by email; installed in the phone's settings in about two minutes |
| Registration | Required — the card is registered to an identity document | None; only an email address at checkout |
| Validity | Monthly renewal cycles; the Enjoy card 15, 20 or 35 days | Fixed validity per plan, counted from the first connection in Portugal |
| Support | MEO stores, the my MEO app and call centre, mostly in Portuguese | AviaeSIM support by email, before and during the trip |
| Best for | Stays of a month or more, or a Portuguese number for calls | Short visits — landing connected without a shop visit |
Checked 26 September 2026 on shop.meo.pt (prepaid eSIM cards) and en.meo.pt (eSIM page); the €10 replacement fee for prepaid lines comes from Portuguese comparison guides — confirm with MEO.
Network & technology
MEO's 4G covers nearly the whole population and its 5G reaches the cities and coast: Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Faro and the Algarve resorts, plus Funchal and Ponta Delgada on the islands. The A1 and A2 motorways and the Lisbon–Porto rail line stay on LTE, and the Lisbon metro has signal on its lines. AviaeSIM's Portugal plans use local networks including MEO — the plan card lists them, currently NOS, Vodafone and MEO.
Reputation & market position
MEO is the market leader by subscribers and generally rated first or second for coverage and speed in Portuguese network tests, with NOS and Vodafone close behind in the cities. Its prepaid brand for residents is M Móvel, and the youth brand MOCHE sells large-data cards. The usual complaint from visitors is not the network but the buying process: travel guides say a prepaid card is registered to an ID at a shop or through the app, and the plans renew in cycles designed for people who live in Portugal.
Pros
- Prepaid eSIM cards can be bought online — eSIM M Móvel Livre €2.50, M Móvel 50 GB €10
- QR code arrives by email and can be installed up to six times
- Country-wide 4G with 5G in the cities and on the Algarve
Cons
- Cards are registered to an ID and renew in monthly cycles built for residents
- A replacement eSIM for a prepaid line costs €10 according to third-party guides
- The online shop and app are in Portuguese first
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your Portugal eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the MEO network
- 2Pay and receive your eSIM QR code by email
- 3Scan the QR code in your phone's settings to install it
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive
Frequently asked questions
Does MEO have a prepaid eSIM?
Yes. MEO's online shop sells prepaid eSIM cards — the eSIM M Móvel Livre at €2.50, the eSIM M Móvel 50 GB at €10 and an all-traffic Enjoy card at €10 — and existing customers can swap a plastic SIM for an eSIM free in the my MEO app or a store. The QR code arrives by email.
How much does a MEO eSIM cost?
The prepaid eSIM cards cost the same as the plastic versions: from €2.50 for the Livre card to €10 for the 50 GB card. Switching an existing MEO line to an eSIM is free; Portuguese guides say a replacement eSIM on a prepaid line costs €10. AviaeSIM's Portugal plans are priced per trip on the plan cards.
Can a tourist buy a MEO eSIM online?
The shop is open to anyone, but the card is registered to an identity document and the plans renew in monthly cycles built for residents, in Portuguese. If you only need data for a week or two, AviaeSIM's Portugal eSIM, on local networks including MEO, is bought online, delivered by email and needs no registration.
How do I get the MEO eSIM QR code?
After the order MEO emails the QR code and instructions; it is also available in the my MEO app, and the same code can be installed up to six times. Scan it under Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM. An AviaeSIM QR code arrives in your confirmation email and account and installs the same way.
Does a MEO eSIM work in Spain and the rest of the EU?
A MEO card is a Portuguese SIM, so EU roaming rules let it work in Spain and across the EU at Portuguese rates within the fair-use limits MEO sets. For a trip that starts in Portugal and continues to Spain or France, an AviaeSIM plan that lists those countries — a regional Europe eSIM — covers the whole route on one eSIM.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-09