Tbilisi
SIM providers, plans, and activation tips.
You'll find that getting a local SIM card is essential for staying connected in Tbilisi, with Magti and Geocell offering counters at Tbilisi International Airport. Most newcomers opt for a tourist SIM, which can be purchased for a reasonable price, such as 20GB for 20 GEL/month from Silknet. Watch out for coverage outside the city, as some areas like Kazbegi can have spotty signal, but Magti is generally considered to have the best coverage across Georgia. To get started, you'll need to register your SIM with your passport, a simple process that operators will handle as part of the purchase. Today, you can take a concrete step by visiting the arrivals hall at Tbilisi International Airport to purchase a Magti or Geocell SIM before leaving the airport.
Ranked by contributor trust level and quality score.
Saburtalo · Experience date Feb 11, 2026
Switched to Silknet after losing signal repeatedly in Kazbegi. 20GB for 20 GEL/month. If you travel to the mountains or rural Georgia regularly, Silknet edges out Magti for coverage.
Rustaveli · Experience date Mar 31, 2026
Receiving calls when abroad: Telegram is universally used in Georgia and is free for calls and messages over data. WhatsApp is also widely used. Most Georgians prefer Telegram over regular calls. For calling Georgian landlines or non-app users from abroad: Skype rates to Georgia are very cheap (under €0.02/minute). Calling from a Georgian SIM abroad: standard international rates apply — use WhatsApp/Telegram instead. Georgian expat communities are very active on Telegram — join the 'Tbilisi Expats' and 'Digital Nomads Georgia' channels for useful local information.
Vera · Experience date Apr 8, 2026
Magti and Geocell both have counters in the arrivals hall at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). A Magti tourist SIM with 10GB data costs around 15 GEL (approximately $5–6). Show your passport — no Georgian residency required. Activation is instant. Magti has the best 4G coverage across Tbilisi, including the Old Town, Rustaveli, and Vake districts. If the airport counters are closed (late-night arrivals), Silknet and Magti stores are in every major supermarket in the city.
Freedom Square · Experience date Apr 23, 2026
Georgian operators do not throttle mobile hotspot on standard prepaid plans. Tested Magti hotspot: consistent 50–60 Mbps tethering in a Vake café. Geocell: similar performance. No hotspot caps on the standard tourist/prepaid plans. For digital nomads who work from cafés without reliable WiFi: a Georgian SIM hotspot is a solid backup. Many Tbilisi cafés have fast fibre WiFi (100–300 Mbps), so SIM hotspot is primarily a backup rather than a primary connection.
Vake · Experience date Feb 26, 2026
Magti has the best coverage across Georgia outside Tbilisi. Kazbegi (popular mountain town, 2.5 hours north): Magti and Geocell both have 4G in the town centre, signal weak on hiking trails. Batumi (Black Sea coast, 5 hours west): excellent coverage, same as Tbilisi. Kutaisi: solid 4G coverage. Remote Svaneti and Tusheti mountain regions: very limited signal on any operator — download offline maps before hiking. For weekend trips around Georgia, Magti's rural coverage advantage makes it the preferred choice.
Saburtalo · Experience date Mar 1, 2026
Geocell (owned by Telenor) offers competitive prepaid packages. A monthly plan with 20GB data runs 25–30 GEL. Geocell has excellent coverage in central Tbilisi and most major Georgian cities. Their app has an English interface and allows top-ups with foreign cards. For stays over 2 weeks, Geocell's monthly bundles are better value than Magti's daily or weekly options. Buy at any Geocell store — there are several on Rustaveli Avenue and in Galleria Mall.
Old Town · Experience date Feb 10, 2026
Many Georgian apps and services require a local +995 number. Key apps: Yandex Taxi (most popular ride-hailing in Tbilisi), Bolt (also widely used), local food delivery apps, and Georgian banking apps. Without a Georgian number you can still use Bolt (international registration works) but are limited for some local services. Getting a Georgian SIM for its local number is useful for a stay of more than 1–2 weeks. Telegram is also extremely popular in Georgia — many groups and channels are Georgia-specific and use Georgian phone numbers for registration.
Old Town · Experience date Feb 7, 2026
Georgian prepaid plans: Daily bundles (Magti): 1GB for 1 GEL/day — good for very short stays. Weekly bundles: 5GB for 8 GEL. Monthly bundles: 15–25GB for 20–30 GEL — best value for stays over 2 weeks. Geocell similar pricing. Always buy a monthly bundle if staying more than 5 days — the daily rate is expensive compared to monthly. The monthly bundle starts counting from activation date, not the month calendar — useful to activate on day 1 of your stay. Top up before your bundle expires to avoid being charged daily rates.
Vera · Experience date Feb 28, 2026
As of 2024, eSIM support from Georgian operators is limited. Magti has begun eSIM trials but availability is inconsistent. Geocell: no eSIM yet. Workaround for eSIM users: international eSIMs (Airalo, Holafly) offer Georgia data coverage — approximately $10–15 for 5GB. Georgian operators are the better value, so if your phone has a physical SIM slot, use a local SIM. eSIM situation expected to improve in 2025 as Georgian operators upgrade infrastructure.
Vera · Experience date Apr 29, 2026
Georgian SIMs (Magti, Geocell, Silknet) are not EU-based and have no EU roaming agreements. Using a Georgian SIM in EU countries: standard international roaming rates apply (expensive). If you travel from Tbilisi to an EU country: use your home-country EU SIM or an Airalo/eSIM for the EU leg. The Georgian SIM is only cost-effective within Georgia. Exception: Armenia and Azerbaijan have roaming agreements with Georgian operators — affordable roaming if making regional Caucasus trips. Check current roaming rates in-app before crossing any border.