Best SIM Cards for Students in Spain (2026)
Jules
Editor
Updated: October 2026 | Found helpful by 7 others
Updated October 2026. Spain has no student SIM brand: the October 2026 research found none active, so students buy the same plans as everyone else and the cheapest general plans are the best picks. Digi costs EUR 5 a month for 25 GB. For 50 GB with unlimited calls, O2 costs EUR 7 a month on the Movistar network, Simyo EUR 7.50 a month on Orange, and Lowi EUR 8 a month on Vodafone. All four bill by calendar month with no minimum term, and a prepaid SIM needs only a DNI, NIE or passport.
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What Is the Best Student SIM Card in Spain?
The best SIM card for a student in Spain depends on whether you prioritise the lowest price or more data. Digi at EUR 5 a month wins on price. For 50 GB, O2 is cheapest at EUR 7 a month. The 4 plans below are general plans, not student offers, so none asks for proof of enrolment or an age check. Prices as of October 2026, each checked on the provider's page.
Sorting reorders the offers below. Filters grey out offers that do not match; none are removed.
Our overall pick below is Digi, EUR 5 a month.
Digi 25 GB
Digi SIM on the Movistar network: EUR 5 a month for 25 GB, a set number of minutes, EU roaming included. Price as of October 2026.
Why we recommend it: The lowest price in our catalogue: EUR 5 a month for 25 GB, on Digi's own antennas plus the Movistar network.
Best for: Students on the tightest budget who mainly use messaging apps
Pros
- EUR 5 a month for 25 GB
- EUR 60 a year
- No minimum term
- eSIM available
Cons
- 100 national and international minutes, not unlimited calls, at this tier
- Online sign-up asks for a verified DNI in the app; with a passport, a store is safer
Lowi 50 GB
Lowi SIM on the Vodafone network: EUR 8 a month for 50 GB, unlimited calls, EU roaming included. Price as of October 2026.
Why we recommend it: EUR 8 a month for 50 GB with unlimited calls on the Vodafone network.
Best for: Students who prefer the Vodafone network
Pros
- 50 GB and unlimited calls for EUR 8 a month
- Runs on the Vodafone network
- EUR 96 a year
- eSIM available
Cons
- O2 has the same 50 GB for EUR 7 a month
- No English-language support listed
Simyo 50 GB
Simyo SIM on the Orange network: EUR 7.50 a month for 50 GB, unlimited calls, EU roaming included. Price as of October 2026.
Why we recommend it: EUR 7.50 a month for 50 GB with unlimited calls on the Orange (MasOrange) network.
Best for: Students who prefer the Orange network
Pros
- 50 GB and unlimited calls for EUR 7.50 a month
- Runs on the Orange (MasOrange) network
- EUR 90 a year
- eSIM available
Cons
- No English-language support listed
O2 Movil 50 GB
O2 SIM on the Movistar network: EUR 7 a month for 50 GB, unlimited calls, EU roaming included. Price as of October 2026.
Why we recommend it: EUR 7 a month for 50 GB with unlimited calls on the Movistar network: the cheapest 50 GB plan among the student picks.
Best for: Students who want more data on the Movistar network
Pros
- 50 GB and unlimited calls for EUR 7 a month
- Runs on the Movistar network
- EUR 84 a year
- eSIM available
Cons
- No English-language support listed
Price per GB counts unlimited plans as 200 GB, so they do not win by default. Filters grey out plans that do not match; none are removed. No provider pays for its position.
Holafly
Unlimited-data travel eSIM for Spain: EUR 22.90 for 7 days or EUR 61.90 for 30 days, as published on Holafly's Spanish page in October 2026.
Why we recommend it: A travel eSIM to get online on day one in Spain, before you set up a local SIM.
Best for: International students who just arrived and need immediate data access
Pros
- No NIE or enrolment proof needed
- QR-code activation
- Unlimited-data plans
- Bought before you land in Spain
Cons
- Data only: no Spanish number for the SMS codes banks and Cl@ve send
- Costs more than a local plan for a stay of a month: EUR 61.90 for 30 days
Is There a Student SIM Card Brand in Spain?
No. The October 2026 research looked for eligibility-gated mobile brands and found zero student or youth brands active in Spain: Vodafone's former youth brand yu no longer appears in tariff listings. So there is no student discount to wait for. The cheapest general plans, Digi, O2, Simyo, Lowi, are open to anyone with a DNI, NIE or passport, and comparing on price and data is the reliable approach.
Which Student Plan Gives the Most Data?
Among the student picks, O2, Simyo, Lowi give 50 GB, from EUR 7 a month (O2). If that is not enough, Pepephone has 150 GB for EUR 15 a month, and Lobster, the English-language operator, has 200 GB for EUR 12.99 every 28 days (EUR 168.87 a year, because it renews 13 times a year). Neither is a student offer.
How Much Do Student SIM Cards Cost in Spain?
The 4 plans compared here cost EUR 5 to EUR 8 a month, which is EUR 60 to EUR 96 a year. All include EU roaming and bill by calendar month; Lowi, Simyo, O2 include unlimited calls, while Digi includes a set number of minutes.
| Plan | Provider | Price | Data | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digi 25 GB | Digi | EUR 5 a month | 25 GB | Movistar |
| O2 Movil 50 GB | O2 | EUR 7 a month | 50 GB | Movistar |
| Simyo 50 GB | Simyo | EUR 7.50 a month | 50 GB | Orange |
| Lowi 50 GB | Lowi | EUR 8 a month | 50 GB | Vodafone |
Prices as of October 2026, each read on the provider's own tariff page (see Sources below).
Just Arrived to Study? Get Online in Minutes
If you have just landed in Spain and need data straight away, a travel eSIM such as Holafly (EUR 22.90 for 7 days, October 2026) works with no NIE, no enrolment proof and no store visit. It is data-only, though: for the SMS codes Spanish banks and the Cl@ve portal send, you need a Spanish number, so get a local SIM in your first days.
Day-one setup for international students
- 1Buy and install a Holafly Spain eSIM before departure, while you are still on Wi-Fi.
- 2Buy a local prepaid SIM with your passport in an operator store: no NIE or padron is needed for prepaid.
- 3Prefer online? O2, Lowi and Simyo sell eSIMs online; Digi's app asks for a verified DNI, so with a passport a store is safer.
- 4Cancel the eSIM plan once your local SIM is active.
See our eSIM guide for Spain for a full comparison of travel eSIM options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dedicated student SIM card in Spain?
No. The October 2026 research found no student or youth mobile brand active in Spain: Vodafone's former youth brand yu no longer appears in tariff listings. Students buy the same plans as everyone else, so the cheapest general plans are the student picks.
Which SIM card gives students the most data in Spain?
Among our student picks, O2, Simyo, Lowi give 50 GB, from EUR 7 a month (O2). For more, Pepephone has 150 GB for EUR 15 a month and Lobster 200 GB for EUR 12.99 every 28 days (October 2026).
How much does a SIM card cost for students in Spain?
The student picks cost EUR 5 to EUR 8 a month as of October 2026: Digi EUR 5 a month for 25 GB, O2 EUR 7 a month for 50 GB, Simyo EUR 7.50 a month for 50 GB, Lowi EUR 8 a month for 50 GB. All bill by calendar month with no minimum term, and each price was checked on the provider's own page.
Can international students use these SIM plans in Spain?
Yes. None of these plans require Spanish citizenship, a student visa type or proof of enrolment. Prepaid SIMs are sold with a DNI, NIE or passport, and the research found the passport accepted in all operator stores, so you do not need to wait for your NIE. Online sign-up varies: Digi's app asks for a verified DNI.
Sources
- DIGI: tarifas movil (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Lowi: tarifas movil (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Simyo: tarifas movil (accessed 2026-10-25)
- O2: tarifas movil (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Pepephone: tarifas moviles (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Lobster: movil and fibra (accessed 2026-10-25)
- Holafly: eSIM Espana (EUR prices) (accessed 2026-10-25)
Change log
Updated
- Every price re-checked on the provider's own page on 25 October 2026. The research found no student-specific SIM brand in Spain in 2026; the page now says so.
- Published