A practical comparison for residents and visitors alike

Aruba’s mobile landscape is defined by two carriers: SETAR (Servicio di Telecomunicacion di Aruba), the island’s homegrown, government-linked telecoms provider, and Digicel, the regional Caribbean powerhouse. Both offer voice, SMS, and data services across the island, but they differ meaningfully in network quality, pricing philosophy, and who they ultimately serve best. All prices below are in Aruban Florin (AWG/Afl.), fixed at approximately 1.79 AWG to the US dollar.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. Arubarates.com is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsing either SETAR or Digicel — all comparisons are based on publicly available information.

The Networks at a Glance

Before diving into specific scenarios, it helps to understand the infrastructure each carrier runs on.

SETAR operates the island’s fastest network, running on 2G GSM, 3G/HSPA, and real 4G/LTE on 1800 MHz (Band 3) with speeds up to 30 Mbps. Digicel, by contrast, offers 2G GSM on 900 MHz, 3G on 900 MHz, and 4G LTE on both 2100 MHz and 1800 MHz.

In practical terms, SETAR generally has superior coverage and speed on Aruba itself, while Digicel’s advantage lies in its regional reach. Digicel offers roaming at no extra cost across both Bonaire and Curaçao — the ABC islands are treated as a single network — making it the smarter choice for anyone visiting more than one of Aruba’s sister islands. SETAR, meanwhile, offers no equivalent free regional roaming.

Both SETAR and Digicel offer eSIM options in Aruba. A valid form of identification — typically a passport — is required to activate either a physical SIM or an eSIM with either carrier.

Scenario 1: Residents on Monthly Postpaid Plans

For Arubans who want the predictability of a monthly bill and access to the full range of services, both providers offer structured postpaid plans — though they differ considerably in structure and positioning.

SETAR Postpaid U

SETAR’s flagship postpaid line is called “Postpaid U,” offering five main tiers plus a dedicated 60+ senior plan. Unlimited calls and SMS to SETAR mobile and fixed lines are included across all tiers, with the key differentiators being data allowance, off-net/international minutes, and roaming data.

The range looks like this:

The included international minutes cover calls to Bonaire, Canada, Colombia, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, India, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Venezuela, and the USA. That’s a strong list covering many of the key diaspora destinations for Aruban residents.

Digicel Postpaid

Digicel’s postpaid lineup is leaner but makes a bold play on simplicity: their entry plan, “Postpaid Start,” offers 25 GB of data and 300 off-net/international minutes for Afl. 125 per month. Their “Postpaid Unlimited” plan offers fully unlimited data for Afl. 155, also with 300 off-net/international minutes. Both include unlimited on-net calls and SMS.

For families or households, Digicel also offers shared plans for up to four users — an “Unlimited Share 2” (two users, unlimited data) for Afl. 260, through to “Unlimited Share 4” (four users) for Afl. 440 per month. These shared plans also include international minutes to a comparable set of destinations including the Netherlands, USA, and neighboring islands.

Head-to-Head: Postpaid

At the entry level, both carriers land at similar pricing — around Afl. 120–125 per month — but SETAR’s PU Start only includes 30 GB while Digicel’s Postpaid Start includes 25 GB. For heavier data users, the comparison shifts dramatically: Digicel’s Postpaid Unlimited plan at Afl. 155 per month offers fully unlimited data, while SETAR’s equivalent (200 GB on PU Supreme) costs Afl. 330. If data consumption is the primary concern and you don’t travel between islands often, Digicel’s unlimited postpaid represents outstanding value. SETAR wins on network quality, coverage depth, and higher data caps in the mid-tier range — but at a significantly higher cost.

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

Scenario 2: Residents Using Prepaid and On-the-Go Top-Ups

Not every resident wants a monthly contract. The prepaid and “hybrid” segment is popular for budget-conscious users, young people, and those who prefer spending control.

SETAR Prepaid & Hybrid

SETAR’s Hybrid plan is a compelling middle-ground option: it uses the reliable LTE network for calls and couples it with a data bundle, with no monthly commitment. Users can switch from a prepaid number to a Hybrid plan while keeping their existing number.

SETAR’s prepaid data bundles start at Afl. 5 for 5 GB valid for one day, scaling up to Afl. 50 for 12 GB over 30 days. The 30-day bundle includes free access to WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat for the full period.

For those who also want voice, SETAR’s “One Bundles” combine data, unlimited SETAR-to-SETAR minutes, and unlimited SMS in a single purchase: Afl. 9 for a 1-day bundle with 7 GB, Afl. 30 for a 7-day bundle with 12 GB, and Afl. 60 for a 30-day bundle with 18 GB. These bundles also include the social media freebies and are subject to a fair-use policy of 1,500 minutes and 1,000 SMS for the “unlimited” on-net components.

The one significant catch: if a prepaid bundle runs out and the user has not blocked it, data continues at the pay-as-you-go rate of Afl. 2 per MB — significantly more expensive. It’s worth knowing how to block this via *123#.

Digicel Prepaid

Digicel has recently revamped its prepaid lineup with two main categories. For pure data, their “Mega Data Plans” offer unlimited any-use data for 1 day at Afl. 5.49, 3 days at Afl. 14.49, 7 days at Afl. 29.99, or a 30-day plan with 15 GB at Afl. 55.99.

For users who also need voice, the “Prime Ultra Bundles” layer in entertainment data, unlimited on-net calls, and limited off-net minutes: a 1-day bundle costs Afl. 9.99 and includes 1 GB of entertainment data and 10 off-net minutes; a 30-day bundle costs Afl. 99.99 and bundles 20 GB of any-use data, 10 GB of entertainment data, and 150 off-net minutes alongside unlimited on-net calling.

Head-to-Head: Prepaid

For casual and flexible usage, both networks offer competitive pricing in a similar range. SETAR’s One Bundles provide better value for on-island voice users — especially for on-net calls, which represent most local usage. Digicel’s Mega Data Plans are arguably simpler and slightly cheaper for data-only usage. SETAR’s 30-day data bundle at Afl. 50 gives 12 GB, while Digicel’s costs Afl. 55.99 for 15 GB — a modest edge for Digicel on data volume per florin. On network reliability, SETAR remains the stronger option, particularly in less urbanized parts of the island.

Winner for prepaid residents: Roughly equal, with SETAR slightly better for voice users and Digicel offering marginally more data per florin.

Scenario 3: Tourists Using a SIM-Only Package

For visitors arriving in Aruba for a stay of a few days to a few weeks, getting a local SIM is far more economical than paying international roaming charges. Both carriers cater to this use case.

SETAR for Tourists

SETAR offers dedicated tourist SIM starter kits, available at the Queen Beatrix International Airport arrivals hall (open daily, though closing at 6 PM) and at SETAR Teleshops around the island. Tourists have access to the same prepaid data bundle range as residents.

A SETAR SIM card costs approximately Afl. 37 from stores and resellers. Both eSIM and physical SIM are available — bring a valid passport for either. The tourist-oriented data bundles include:

Tablet-specific starter kits are also available, with a 1-day kit (1 GB) starting at USD 30 and a 7-day kit (4 GB) at USD 55, including the SIM and a small credit balance.

Digicel for Tourists

Digicel has a dedicated Tourist SIM product, preloaded with a plan matched to the visitor’s length of stay, providing instant access to local data, calls, and texts without roaming charges. Both eSIM and physical SIM options are available.

A Digicel SIM card costs approximately Afl. 26.50, including 250 MB of data, 25 on-net minutes, and 25 on-net SMS as starter credit. From there, tourists can top up with the same prepaid plans available to residents, including the Mega Data and Prime Ultra Bundles.

Digicel’s key tourist advantage remains regional flexibility: for those planning to hop between Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, no roaming fees apply across those three islands on the Digicel network. For a Caribbean island-hopping trip, that can represent meaningful savings.

Head-to-Head: Tourist SIM

Digicel wins on upfront SIM cost — it’s roughly Afl. 10 cheaper to get started. SETAR wins on network quality and speed, which matters for tourists who want reliable data at beaches, remote spots like Arikok National Park, or along the less-populated eastern coast. For a purely Aruba-based visit, SETAR is generally recommended as the best overall option. For those combining Aruba with a visit to Bonaire or Curaçao, Digicel is the clear practical choice.

Winner for tourists: SETAR for Aruba-only visitors; Digicel for ABC island hoppers.

Summary Table

The Bottom Line

There’s no single winner — it depends entirely on how you use your phone and where you go. For residents who are heavy data users on postpaid, Digicel’s unlimited plan at Afl. 155 is hard to beat on value. For residents who prioritize network quality and make a lot of on-net calls, SETAR’s postpaid and prepaid bundles are well-suited and backed by the island’s superior LTE infrastructure. For tourists staying only on Aruba, SETAR gives the best coverage and speed experience; for those visiting multiple ABC islands, Digicel’s seamless free roaming across Bonaire and Curaçao makes it the obvious choice.

Many locals, in fact, keep a SIM from each carrier — using SETAR for data and Digicel for on-net calling within their social circle, depending on which friends and family are on which network. On a small island with a duopoly, that pragmatic dual-SIM approach is sometimes the most sensible option of all.