SETAR vs. Digicel Aruba: Which Mobile Network is Right for You?

Last updated: 24 October 2026. All prices checked on setar.aw, store.setar.aw and digicelgroup.com on 24 October 2026.

Short answer: for most visitors, a tourist plan from either SETAR or Digicel is the cheapest way to get data in Aruba. Both sell 3, 7 and 14-day tourist plans for $20, $30 and $50, both offer them as an eSIM, and both include unlimited data. SETAR is the island’s own operator and is generally regarded as having the stronger network. Digicel is the regional Caribbean carrier with its own networks on Curaçao and Bonaire. Residents choosing a monthly plan face bigger differences, covered below.

Aruba’s mobile market has two carriers: SETAR (Servicio di Telecomunicacion di Aruba), the island’s homegrown, government-linked provider, and Digicel, the regional Caribbean group. Resident prices below are in Aruban florins (Afl.), fixed at about Afl. 1.79 to the U.S. dollar. Tourist plans are sold in U.S. dollars. To compare plans for your own trip, try our Aruba mobile networks calculator.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only. Arubarates.com is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsing SETAR or Digicel. All comparisons are based on publicly available information.

The networks at a glance

Both carriers offer voice, SMS and 4G/LTE data across the island, and both sell physical SIMs and eSIMs. SETAR is generally seen as the stronger network on Aruba itself, especially away from the hotel areas. Digicel’s advantage is regional: it runs networks on Curaçao and Bonaire too.

Note that Digicel’s old free “roam like you’re home” offer for the ABC islands has ended. Digicel’s terms say that plan was not available after 10 December 2021. Today Digicel Aruba customers can buy a Caribbean Roaming pass for Curaçao, Bonaire and other Digicel territories: Afl. 25 for 3 days or Afl. 50 for 7 days, with free incoming calls while roaming there. SETAR also sells roaming options; check SETAR’s roaming page for current rates.

A valid ID, typically a passport for visitors, is required to activate a SIM or eSIM with either carrier.

Tourists: SIM and eSIM plans

For a stay of a few days to two weeks, a local tourist plan is usually far cheaper than roaming on your home plan.

SETAR Tourist SIM

SETAR’s tourist bundles are sold online at store.setar.aw and are available as an eSIM. The SIM is free when you buy a tourist bundle. SETAR also has a desk in the arrivals hall at Queen Beatrix International Airport, which closes at 6 PM, and Teleshops around the island.

“Other minutes” and SMS cover calls to other local networks and to Bonaire, Canada, Colombia, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, the Netherlands, Panama and the USA. After 5 GB in a day, speed drops until the allowance resets the next day. The tourist SIM expires 45 days after activation, and tourist plans are only for foreign visitors with a foreign ID.

Digicel Tourist eSIM

Digicel sells three tourist eSIM plans directly on its tourist SIM page. The eSIM comes preloaded with the plan. A physical SIM is available at Digicel stores.

All three include unlimited calls and SMS to Digicel numbers. The tourist SIM can’t be renewed after its plan ends, but you can add a regular prepaid plan while it’s active.

Head to head: tourist plans

Prices are identical, so the choice comes down to coverage and calling. SETAR includes more minutes on its 3-day plan and is the usual pick for an Aruba-only trip, especially if you’ll explore Arikok National Park and the quieter east coast. Digicel includes more minutes on its 7 and 14-day plans and suits travelers who will also visit Curaçao or Bonaire, as long as they budget for a roaming pass. Either way, buy the eSIM before you fly and you’ll be online when you land.

Our pick for tourists: SETAR for Aruba-only visits; Digicel if you’re also visiting Curaçao or Bonaire.

Tourist eSIM options: local vs. international

International travel eSIM apps such as Airalo and Holafly also cover Aruba. Both run on the Digicel network there. They’re easy to install at home, but the local tourist plans usually give more for the money and include calls.

Which to choose:

• Best value for a typical week: a SETAR or Digicel tourist eSIM at $30 gives unlimited data plus a local number, which helps when calling restaurants, tour operators or a taxi.
• Light data users: a small Airalo package can be cheaper if you mostly use hotel Wi-Fi and only need maps and messages.
• Multi-country trips: an international eSIM is convenient if you’re visiting several countries and want one app for all of them.
• Check your phone first: your phone must be unlocked and support eSIM. Also check whether your home plan already includes Aruba, since some U.S. plans do.

Prices for Airalo and Holafly were checked on their websites on 24 October 2026 and change often.

Residents: monthly postpaid plans

SETAR Postpaid U

SETAR’s postpaid line, “Postpaid U,” has five main tiers plus a senior plan. Every tier includes unlimited calls to SETAR mobile and fixed lines and unlimited SMS to SETAR mobiles. The differences are data, minutes to international and other networks, and roaming data.

The included international minutes cover calls to destinations including Bonaire, Canada, Colombia, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, India, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Venezuela and the USA.

Digicel Postpaid

Digicel’s postpaid lineup is shorter and built around unlimited data. Both single-user plans include unlimited Digicel minutes and local SMS.

The shared plans’ international minutes cover a list of countries that includes the USA, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands.

Head to head: postpaid

At the entry level the two are close: SETAR’s PU Start costs Afl. 120 for 30 GB, and Digicel’s Postpaid Start costs Afl. 125 for 25 GB. For heavy data users the gap is large. Digicel’s Postpaid Unlimited costs Afl. 155 for unlimited data, while SETAR’s biggest plan, PU Supreme, costs Afl. 330 for 200 GB. SETAR includes more roaming data on its higher tiers and is the choice for people who value network coverage most.

Winner for postpaid residents: Digicel on value; SETAR on network.

Residents: prepaid and top-ups

SETAR prepaid and Hybrid

SETAR’s Hybrid plan combines prepaid flexibility with a data bundle and no monthly commitment, and you can switch from prepaid to Hybrid while keeping your number. SETAR’s current prepaid data bundles:

One Bundles add unlimited minutes to SETAR mobile and fixed numbers (1,500-minute fair use), unlimited SMS to SETAR numbers (up to 1,000) and unlimited use of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat. One catch: if a bundle runs out and you haven’t blocked internet use, data continues at the pay-as-you-go rate of Afl. 2 per MB. Manage this via *123# or the SETAR app.

Digicel prepaid

Digicel’s Mega Data plans offer unlimited any-use data for 1 day (Afl. 5.49), 3 days (Afl. 14.49) or 7 days (Afl. 29.99), or 15 GB for 30 days (Afl. 55.99). For voice, the Prime Ultra bundles add unlimited Digicel minutes and some off-net minutes: from Afl. 9.99 for 1 day (10 off-net minutes) to Afl. 99.99 for 30 days (20 GB any-use data, 10 GB entertainment data and 150 off-net minutes). There are also 3, 7 and 14-day Prime Ultra bundles at Afl. 18.99, 33.99 and 56.99.

Head to head: prepaid

For data only, Digicel’s short Mega Data plans are simple and unlimited, while SETAR’s 1, 3 and 7-day bundles give large daily allowances at similar prices. Over 30 days, SETAR’s Afl. 50 bundle gives 12 GB and Digicel’s Afl. 55.99 plan gives 15 GB. SETAR’s One Bundles are the better buy for people who call other SETAR users a lot.

Winner for prepaid residents: roughly equal. SETAR suits on-net callers; Digicel suits data-only users.

Summary table

The bottom line

For tourists, the decision is easy: buy a $20 to $50 tourist eSIM from SETAR or Digicel before you fly. Pick SETAR for an Aruba-only trip, or Digicel if you’re also visiting Curaçao or Bonaire. Use an international eSIM such as Airalo only if you need very little data or want one app for several countries. For residents who use a lot of data, Digicel’s Afl. 155 unlimited postpaid plan is hard to beat. For residents who value coverage and call other SETAR users, SETAR’s plans are the better fit.

Many locals keep a SIM from each carrier, depending on which network their friends and family use. On a small island with two operators, that dual-SIM approach is sometimes the most sensible option of all.

Planning the rest of your trip? See our guides to flights to Aruba, where to stay and the Aruba airport, or compare plans in the mobile networks calculator.