Algeria is 2.4 million km², roughly four times the size of France
The country is, by area, the largest in Africa, and most of it is desert. The connectivity reality reflects that: the northern coastal strip from Algiers to Constantine to Annaba runs on dense LTE; the Tell Atlas mountains thin out fast; the Saharan interior — Tassili n'Ajjer, the Hoggar, Timimoun — has cellular near oases and towns and very little between them. We say so up front because pretending otherwise costs you on day three of a desert trip.
Roamzy charges $3.69 per gigabyte in Algeria. That's $0.0036 per megabyte, billed in real time as your phone uses data on Algerian networks. No subscription. No expiry on the unused balance. One per-MB rate across 193 countries is how your bill is built, not a marketing line.
How much will Roamzy actually cost on this trip?
Visitors to Algeria split into two patterns: city travelers in Algiers and Oran (heavier cellular use, around 0.7 GB/day) and desert travelers in the south (lower use, more time on lodge Wi-Fi, around 0.4 GB/day):
| Trip length | Roamzy ($3.69/GB) | Tourist roaming pass | Local SIM at Algiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days (city) | $7.74 (2.1 GB) | $25–60 | $5–15 + paperwork |
| 1 week (mixed) | $18.06 (4.9 GB) | $45–110 | $10–25 + 30-day cap |
| 2 weeks (Sahara) | $29.49 (8 GB) | $80–180 (often two passes) | $20–40 + 30-day cap |
Competitor prices in columns 3 and 4 are 2025 ranges based on typical offerings; exact figures depend on your home carrier and the local market reality. Roamzy's rate in column 2 is our actual published rate from the pricing page.
A local Algerian SIM is cheap on paper. The trade-off is a passport-and-KYC visit to a city storefront, sometimes a local sponsor or guide assisting, and a 30-day cap. For a city trip, the eSIM saves the queue.
Where is Roamzy reliable, and where isn't it?
- Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Annaba — solid 4G/LTE, 5G in central districts
- The coastal road (autoroute Est–Ouest) — continuous LTE in populated stretches
- Tlemcen, Setif, Batna — workable LTE in town centers, weakening on approaches
- M'zab valley (Ghardaïa) — 4G in town, patchy on desert tracks
- Tassili n'Ajjer and the Hoggar — sparse cellular near oases; long stretches without signal between them
- Timimoun and the Grand Erg Occidental — 3G/4G in town, nothing in the dunes
If you're going south, download offline maps in Algiers or Tamanrasset before you head out. Sat phones are still standard kit for guided desert tours; the eSIM is for when you're back at a town or oasis.
How do I install my Roamzy eSIM?
| Plug type | Voltage | Frequency | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type C, F | 230 V | 50 Hz | iPhone XS+ | Pixel 3+, Galaxy S20+ |
- Sign in to Roamzy via Telegram or Google
- Your first eSIM is free and comes with real data on us. After that, top up from $20 in stablecoins (USDT or USDC): no cards, no banks, no FX surcharges
- The QR code appears in your dashboard as soon as the eSIM is issued
- On the iPhone itself (iOS 17.4 or newer), tap Tap to install in the QR card; otherwise Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → scan QR
- The counter starts the moment you land at ALG (Algiers) or ORN (Oran)
Supported stablecoins, networks, and common iPhone/Android setup errors are in the FAQ.
What are Roamzy's honest limitations?
Three traps Roamzy doesn't have, because they were never built in.
- No welcome promo that flips on the second top-up. Top-up #1 and top-up #20 cost the same per megabyte.
- No fine-print throttling on the day you cross to Tamanrasset. One rate, full speed when you have signal.
- No auto-renewal you forgot to cancel after the trip. Balance runs out, the eSIM stops.
We didn't make the Algeria rate honest to sound good. We made it honest because a tariff with no hidden clauses is the only kind you can't beat on price.
What if my route extends across the Maghreb?
- Tunisia — common continuation via the eastern border
- Morocco — the western border has historically been closed to direct crossing; most travelers fly
- If you want the underlying mechanics — how roaming actually gets priced and why it hurts