Smart's Traveller SIM is the standout local deal in Cambodia, bundling around 30 GB with a fistful of call minutes for about 5 US dollars, and its signal holds up well across Siem Reap and the main Angkor temples. Metfone reaches furthest into the provinces and the outer ruins, while Cellcard posts the quickest download speeds in the cities. Every prepaid SIM here must be registered to your passport, so you buy in person and show the document. If your trip stays around the temples, Phnom Penh, and the usual sights, a travel eSIM is far less fuss than the arrivals kiosks, see our Cambodia eSIM guide to compare, or let the eSIM Finder match you to a plan.
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How Cambodia's Networks Actually Differ
Cambodia runs on three main operators: Smart (Smart Axiata), Metfone (owned by Vietnam's Viettel), and Cellcard, the last major Cambodian-owned carrier. All three cover the cities, the temples, and the highways, and all three are remarkably cheap, so unlike many countries you are not choosing a network to avoid dead zones in the places tourists go. The real differences are speed and how far into the countryside each one reaches.
Metfone has the widest footprint, a legacy of Viettel building towers across the rural provinces, which is why it is the network most likely to keep a bar out at Banteay Srei, on the track to Kbal Spean, or over the Tonle Sap. Smart is the urban all-rounder that most tourists end up on, quick and dependable across Siem Reap, the main Angkor loop, and Phnom Penh, and its 30 GB Traveller SIM is the deal that keeps it popular. Cellcard tends to win the raw download tests in the cities, recently around 22 Mbps, and is a favorite for local calling, but its rural map trails Metfone.
Your Passport Is Required to Register
Cambodia requires every prepaid SIM to be registered to a valid passport, so the seller will scan or photograph your document and activate the line before you leave the counter. The process takes a few minutes and the staff handle it, but you must have the physical passport with you, not just a photo. A travel eSIM skips this registration step entirely.
Smart (Smart Axiata)
Smart: The Traveller SIM Everyone Buys
A huge data bundle for a few dollars, strong across Siem Reap and the main temples
Smart is the default tourist SIM for good reason. The Traveller SIM packs about 30 GB into a 15-day validity for roughly 5 US dollars, which is far more data than most Angkor visitors could burn in a stay, and the network is fast and steady across town and the headline temples. For a three or four day temple trip with a Phnom Penh add-on, this single card usually covers everything with data to spare.
You can pick one up at the Smart counter in the Siem Reap airport arrivals hall, at branded shops around the Old Market, or at countless small phone stalls, and staff will register and load it for you on the spot. Top-ups are sold everywhere, so extending or adding data on a longer trip is trivial. The only real gaps show up at the outermost temples and over the lake, where Metfone tends to hold on better.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Metfone
Metfone: The Coverage King in the Provinces
Viettel-owned, with the deepest reach into the countryside and the outer temples
Metfone is the network to choose if your Siem Reap plans reach past the famous three temples. Its tower network across the provinces means it is the carrier most likely to give you a usable signal at Banteay Srei, out at the jungle ruin of Beng Mealea, on the Kbal Spean trail, or in a Tonle Sap floating village, exactly where Smart and Cellcard start to fade. Bundles are cheap and generous, with large data allowances for a handful of dollars, and the Metfone airport kiosk is often the one staffed around the clock for late arrivals.
It is also the network that the travel eSIMs from Holafly and Nomad ride, and one of the two that Airalo uses, so if you like Metfone's reach but not the passport queue, an eSIM gives you the same footprint without the counter.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Cellcard
Cellcard: The City Speed Leader
The last Cambodian-owned carrier, fastest in town but thinner in the countryside
Cellcard tops the raw download tests in Cambodia's cities, recently clocking around 22 Mbps, and locals often prefer it for calls and mobile data in Phnom Penh and central Siem Reap. If your trip is city-heavy and you want the quickest possible connection for uploads or video calls in town, it is a strong choice. The trade-off is rural reach: away from the population centers and the main temple loop, Cellcard's map is thinner than Metfone's, so it is not the SIM to rely on for the outer ruins or a floating-village day. It is also not a network the international travel eSIMs use, so Cellcard is really a reason to buy a local SIM rather than an eSIM if speed in town is your priority.
Cambodia SIM Plans Compared
| Carrier | Sample Plan | Price | Coverage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart | Traveller SIM, ~30 GB, 15 days | ~5 USD (~20,000 riel) | Excellent in town and the main temples | Most tourists, best all-round value |
| Metfone | Large data bundle, 5 to 100 GB | ~1 to 10 USD | Widest rural reach, best at outer temples | Beng Mealea, Kbal Spean, the lake |
| Metfone | Small weekly data add-on | ~1 USD (~4,000 riel) | Widest rural reach | Light users heading off the loop |
| Cellcard | Tourist data bundle | ~5 to 20 USD | Fastest in the cities, thinner rural | City speed and local calling |
Cambodia uses the US dollar for almost everything, so most SIM prices are quoted and paid in dollars, with the riel (around 4,000 to the dollar) used mainly for small change. Airport kiosks charge much the same as city stalls here, so you do not lose out badly by buying on arrival, though the eSIM alternative still skips the passport step entirely.
Where to Buy a SIM in Cambodia
The Airport Arrivals Kiosks (Fastest on Arrival)
Smart, Metfone, and Cellcard all run kiosks in the arrivals hall at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, right past baggage claim. They register your passport and load a tourist plan on the spot, usually for the same 3 to 5 US dollars you would pay in town. Metfone's counter is often open 24 hours, handy for a late flight.
Carrier Shops Around the Old Market
Official Smart, Metfone, and Cellcard shops cluster near the Old Market and along Sivatha Boulevard in central Siem Reap. Staff speak enough English to sort a tourist plan, and a branded shop is the safest place to be sure you get the exact bundle you are paying for.
Phone Stalls and Minimarts
Countless small phone stalls and minimarts around Pub Street and Wat Bo sell SIMs and top-ups. Prices are cheap and service is quick, but confirm the data amount and validity before you pay, since a rushed stall can load a smaller add-on than you expected.
Test the Data Before You Walk Off
Wherever you buy, load a map or open a website before you leave the counter. Check that the plan size and days match what you paid for and keep any receipt. A minute of testing beats discovering an empty SIM on the road to Angkor the next morning.
eSIM or Local SIM for Cambodia?
| Factor | Travel eSIM | Local SIM |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | A few minutes, done before your flight | 5 to 10 minutes at a kiosk with passport |
| Passport step | None | Registration required in person |
| Network | Smart / Metfone (strong at the temples) | Any of the three, including fast Cellcard in town |
| Price (few days of data) | ~4 to 12 USD (Airalo, Nomad, Holafly) | ~5 USD for a big Smart bundle, calls included |
| Best for | Convenience, arriving already online | Rock-bottom price or a Cambodian number |
Cambodia is one of the few countries where the local SIM is so cheap that price alone barely separates it from an eSIM. The Smart Traveller SIM at about 5 US dollars for 30 GB is genuinely hard to beat on cost, and it includes call minutes. The eSIM wins on convenience: you install it before you fly, land in Siem Reap already connected, and never queue at a kiosk or hand over your passport. The honest read is that a budget traveler happy to spend ten minutes at a counter will save a little with a local SIM, while anyone who values walking straight out of arrivals and into a remork with working maps will prefer the eSIM.
Cambodia Connectivity Tips
Practical Advice for Staying Online in Cambodia
Lean on Metfone past the main temples: For Banteay Srei, Beng Mealea, Kbal Spean, or a Tonle Sap village, Metfone is the network most likely to hold a signal. Even then, download offline maps of the temple park before you set out for the day.
Carry small dollars and some riel: SIMs and top-ups are priced in US dollars, but change under a dollar comes back in riel at roughly 4,000 to the dollar, so a wad of small notes makes buying and topping up smoother.
Hotel and cafe WiFi does the heavy lifting: Nearly every guesthouse, cafe, and restaurant in Siem Reap has free WiFi, so your mobile data mostly handles maps, Grab and PassApp rides, and messaging while you move between temples.
Bring the physical passport: Registration happens at purchase and a phone photo is not reliably accepted, so take the real document when you buy a local SIM.
Grab and PassApp need data, not calls: Ride-hailing apps run the tuk-tuk and taxi scene in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, so a data SIM or eSIM matters more than call minutes for getting around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Cambodian SIM need to be registered with my passport?
Yes. Every prepaid SIM in Cambodia must be registered to a valid passport, so Smart, Metfone, and Cellcard sellers will scan or photograph your document and activate the line at the counter. It only takes a few minutes and the staff do the work, but you must bring the physical passport, as a phone photo is not reliably accepted. A travel eSIM avoids the registration step completely.
Which network reaches the outer temples and the Tonle Sap?
Metfone, by a clear margin. Its Viettel-built tower network gives it the widest rural footprint, so it is the carrier most likely to hold a usable signal at Banteay Srei, the jungle ruin of Beng Mealea, the Kbal Spean trail, and around the floating villages, where Smart and Cellcard start to fade. If your Siem Reap plans reach beyond the main Angkor loop, choose Metfone or an eSIM that rides it.
How much does a tourist SIM with plenty of data cost?
Very little. Smart's Traveller SIM bundles roughly 30 GB over 15 days for about 5 US dollars, plus some call minutes. Metfone sells large data bundles from around 1 to 10 dollars depending on size and validity, and Cellcard tourist plans run from about 5 to 20 dollars. Cambodia is one of the cheapest data markets anywhere, so you rarely need to ration.
Can I buy a SIM the moment I land at Siem Reap airport?
Yes, easily. Smart, Metfone, and Cellcard all run kiosks in the arrivals hall at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, just past baggage claim, and prices there match the city, unlike many airports. They register your passport and load a plan on the spot. Metfone's counter is often open 24 hours, which helps if you land late at night.
Should I get a local SIM or an eSIM for a Siem Reap trip?
It is close, because Cambodian SIMs are unusually cheap. A local Smart SIM gives you about 30 GB for 5 dollars with calls included, if you do not mind a few minutes at a kiosk and showing your passport. An eSIM costs a little more but installs before you fly, so you land in Siem Reap already online with no counter and no registration. Choose on whether you value the rock-bottom price or the convenience.