Connectivity & communication

Morocco SIM Card Guide: Maroc Telecom, Inwi & Orange

From 30 MAD tourist SIMs at the airport to eSIMs you activate before landing: which carrier to pick, where to buy, how to top up.

Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca. Photograph: RIM 75, CC BY 4.0

Tourist SIM: From 30 MAD, about 3 USD
Widest coverage: Maroc Telecom
Most data per dirham: Inwi
Bring: Your passport: registration is mandatory

Staying Connected in Morocco: What You Need to Know

Tourist SIM cards in Morocco start from 30 MAD (about 3 USD) with all three carriers. Maroc Telecom has the widest coverage, Inwi gives the most data for the money, and Orange Morocco is strongest on international calls and eSIM support. Coverage is good in cities, on highways and across much of the countryside.

A local SIM saves you roaming charges and gives you data for Google Maps in the medinas, WhatsApp with your riad host, translation apps and ride booking.

Quick Recommendation

Which carrier to choose, by the way you travel.

Desert and mountains: Maroc Telecom. Heading to the Sahara, the Atlas Mountains or remote villages? It has the widest rural coverage and is the most reliable network outside cities.
Cities and heavy data: Inwi. Staying in Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca and Essaouira? Inwi offers the most data per dirham and fast city speeds. The 50 GB plan costs 200 MAD.
Calls home: Orange Morocco. It includes the most international minutes in its tourist plans and has the cheapest international call rates.

Compare All Three Carriers

Tourist plans, coverage and prices for Maroc Telecom, Inwi and Orange Morocco.

Maroc Telecom (IAM)

Best overall coverage & rural areas

4G coverage: 97% urban, 85% rural
5G cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier

Strengths

Widest rural coverage
Best in Sahara & Atlas
Most reliable network
Largest number of stores

Considerations

Slightly higher prices
Slower customer service
Tourist plans less flexible

Maroc Telecom (IAM) tourist plans
Plan	Data	Calls	Validity	Price
Jawal Tourist 30	5 GB	30 min national	7 days	From 30 MAD
Jawal Tourist 50	10 GB	60 min national	15 days	From 50 MAD
Jawal Tourist 100	20 GB	120 min national + 30 min international	30 days	From 100 MAD
Jawal Tourist 200	40 GB	Unlimited national + 60 min international	30 days	From 200 MAD

Inwi

Best value & data-heavy plans

4G coverage: 95% urban, 75% rural
5G cities: Casablanca, Rabat (limited)

Strengths

Best data-per-dirham value
Strong urban speeds
Good English support
Flexible top-up options

Considerations

Weaker rural coverage
Limited 5G rollout
Fewer physical stores

Inwi tourist plans
Plan	Data	Calls	Validity	Price
Inwi Tourist Pass 30	6 GB	30 min national	7 days	From 30 MAD
Inwi Tourist Pass 50	12 GB	60 min national	15 days	From 50 MAD
Inwi Tourist Pass 100	25 GB	120 min national + 30 min international	30 days	From 100 MAD
Inwi Tourist Pass 200	50 GB	Unlimited national + 60 min international	30 days	From 200 MAD

Orange Morocco

Best for international calls & eSIM

4G coverage: 95% urban, 78% rural
5G cities: Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier

Strengths

Cheapest international calls
eSIM support in stores
Good data speeds in cities
Orange global roaming deals

Considerations

Mid-range rural coverage
Fewer stores than Maroc Telecom
Speed throttling on cheap plans

Orange Morocco tourist plans
Plan	Data	Calls	Validity	Price
Orange Welcome 30	5 GB	30 min national + 15 min international	7 days	From 30 MAD
Orange Welcome 50	10 GB	60 min national + 30 min international	15 days	From 50 MAD
Orange Welcome 100	20 GB	120 min national + 60 min international	30 days	From 100 MAD
Orange Welcome 200	40 GB	Unlimited national + 120 min international	30 days	From 200 MAD

All prices are starting prices and may vary. Plans and data allowances are subject to change by the carriers. Verify current offers at purchase.

Where to Buy a SIM Card

You can buy a Moroccan SIM card within minutes of arriving.

Airport Kiosks

Open for all arriving flights, typically 6 AM - midnight

All three carriers operate kiosks at Mohammed V (Casablanca), Menara (Marrakech), Ibn Battouta (Tangier), and Al Massira (Agadir) airports. Staff speak English and French, and can activate your SIM on the spot. Available in arrivals halls, usually past customs.

Official Brand Stores

Monday-Saturday 9 AM - 7 PM, some open Sunday in tourist areas

Every Moroccan city has official Maroc Telecom, Inwi, and Orange shops. These are the most reliable places to buy, with trained staff who can help you choose the right plan and activate your SIM. Found in shopping centers, main streets, and commercial areas.

Small Telecoms & Corner Shops

Generally 9 AM - 9 PM daily, some open later

Small independent phone shops (téléboutiques) are everywhere in Morocco, including inside medinas. They sell SIM cards for all three carriers and can handle top-ups. Prices are the same as official stores, but staff may have limited English.

Medina Shops

Varies, most open 10 AM - 8 PM

In tourist medinas (Marrakech, Fes, Essaouira), you will find phone shops on main streets within the old city. Convenient if you are staying in a riad and do not want to travel to the new city. Same prices, same SIM cards.

How to Buy & Activate Your SIM

The whole process takes 5-10 minutes in the shop.

Bring Your Passport
Moroccan law requires passport registration for all SIM card purchases. Bring your original passport (not a copy). The shopkeeper will scan or photograph it. This is a legal requirement and cannot be skipped.
Choose Your Carrier & Plan
Tell the shopkeeper how long you are staying and what you need (data only, calls + data, or international calls). They will recommend the best plan. If in doubt, Inwi offers the most data per dirham, Maroc Telecom the best coverage.
SIM Installation & Activation
The shopkeeper will insert the SIM into your phone and activate it. You will receive a confirmation SMS within minutes. Make sure your phone is unlocked before purchasing. If your phone is locked to a carrier from your home country, the SIM will not work.
Test Your Connection
Before leaving the shop, test mobile data by opening a website or loading a map. Verify your data balance by dialing the carrier code: *111# for Maroc Telecom, *120# for Inwi, or #222# for Orange. Save these codes in your phone.
Set Up Top-Up Methods
Download the carrier app (IAM, My Inwi, or My Orange) for easy top-ups and balance checks. You can also top up at any corner shop, supermarket, or via scratch cards sold everywhere. Keep a top-up card handy for when you need more data.

eSIM Options for Morocco

If your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XS and later, recent Samsung and Google Pixel), you can connect before you land.

Provider	Data	Validity	Price	For	Against
Airalo	1-20 GB options	7-30 days	From 45 MAD equivalent	Wide range of plans, easy app setup, good support	Data only (no calls/SMS), slightly pricier than local SIM
Holafly	Unlimited data	5-30 days	From 170 MAD equivalent	Unlimited data with no throttling, for heavy users	Expensive compared to local SIMs, data only, no local number
Nomad	1-10 GB options	7-30 days	From 40 MAD equivalent	Budget-friendly, simple activation, covers 100+ countries	Smaller data packages, data only, slower than local carriers
Orange Morocco eSIM	5-40 GB options	7-30 days	From 50 MAD	Local number included, same speeds as physical SIM	Must activate at Orange store, limited eSIM store availability

eSIM prices are approximate and converted from USD/EUR. Actual prices vary by exchange rate and provider promotions.

How to Top Up Your SIM

You can top up in the carrier app, at a corner shop or with a scratch card.

Carrier App: Download IAM, My Inwi, or My Orange app. Top up with international credit/debit card. Instant activation. Also check balance, usage, and remaining data.
Scratch Cards: Available at every corner shop, supermarket, gas station, and kiosk across Morocco. Buy a card (from 10 MAD), scratch the code, and dial the top-up number. The most common method used by locals.
USSD Code Transfer: Transfer credit from another Moroccan number. Dial the carrier USSD code to send balance to your number. Useful if a local friend or your riad host can help.
Online Top-Up: Visit the carrier website (iam.ma, inwi.ma, orange.ma) to top up with an international card. Some third-party sites like Recharge.com also offer Moroccan top-ups.
Mobile Wallets: Orange Money and Inwi Money allow cashless top-ups from linked bank accounts. These mobile wallet services are growing in Morocco and offer instant recharges.

WiFi Availability in Morocco

A local SIM is the reliable option, but WiFi is easy to find. Here is what to expect.

Location	Quality	Speed	Free	Note
Luxury Hotels & Riads	Excellent	50-200 Mbps	Yes	Reliable, fast, and often the best WiFi in Morocco.
Mid-Range Hotels	Good	10-50 Mbps	Yes	Reliable in common areas. Room WiFi may be weaker in thick-walled riads.
Budget Hostels	Variable	2-15 Mbps	Yes	Often slow or intermittent. Do not rely on it for video calls.
Cafes & Restaurants	Good	5-30 Mbps	Yes	Most tourist-area cafes offer free WiFi. Ask for the password.
Shopping Malls	Good	10-30 Mbps	Yes	Morocco Mall, Menara Mall, and other large malls have free WiFi.
Trains & Stations	Basic-Good	2-20 Mbps	Yes	Free on Al Boraq high-speed train. Limited at stations.
Airports	Good	10-30 Mbps	Yes	30 minutes free, then paid. Better to use your SIM data.

Coverage & Practical Tips

4G/LTE coverage

4G covers all major cities, highways and most tourist routes, at 10-60 Mbps in urban areas. Coverage reaches over 95% of the population.

5G status in Morocco

Morocco launched 5G services in late 2024. Coverage is limited to central Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech and Tangier. Speeds can reach 500 Mbps where available, but 4G covers what most travelers need.

Rural and desert coverage

In the Sahara, the High Atlas and the remote Rif Mountains, only Maroc Telecom provides reliable coverage. Expect 3G or Edge in remote areas. Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) before you head out.

Phone compatibility

Morocco uses GSM networks on 900/1800 MHz (2G), 2100 MHz (3G) and 800/1800/2600 MHz (4G). Most unlocked international phones work. Make sure your phone is SIM-unlocked before you travel. CDMA-only phones (rare outside the US) will not work.

Tethering and hotspot

All three carriers allow free tethering and hotspot use on tourist SIMs, with no extra fee or plan, so you can share data with a travel companion or run a laptop when the WiFi drops.

Roaming alternatives

International roaming from your home carrier costs 50-150 MAD per day. A local SIM at 50 MAD gives you 10-12 GB for 15 days, which saves you hundreds of dirhams over a trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a SIM card at Morocco airports?

Yes. All three carriers have kiosks at Mohammed V (Casablanca), Menara (Marrakech), Ibn Battouta (Tangier), and other major airports. Prices are the same as city shops, staff speak English, and the process takes 5-10 minutes. Bring your passport for mandatory registration.

Which Morocco carrier has the best coverage?

Maroc Telecom has the widest coverage, especially in rural areas like the Sahara, Atlas Mountains, and small villages. Inwi and Orange are excellent in cities and along highways but may have gaps in very remote areas. For city-only trips, all three are equally good.

Can I use an eSIM in Morocco?

Yes. Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad offer Morocco data eSIMs you can activate before arriving. Orange Morocco also offers eSIM activation at select stores. Ideal if your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XS+, recent Samsung/Pixel) and you want to keep your home number active.

How much data do I need for a week in Morocco?

For typical tourist use (maps, WhatsApp, social media, occasional video calls), 5-10 GB per week is sufficient. For video streaming, frequent photo uploads, or hotspot use, opt for 20 GB or more. The 100 MAD plans with 20-25 GB are the sweet spot for most visitors.

Does my phone need to be unlocked?

Yes. Your phone must be SIM-unlocked to use a Moroccan SIM card. Contact your home carrier before your trip to request an unlock if needed. Most carriers unlock for free once your contract is fulfilled. eSIM users also need an available eSIM slot on their device.

What happens when my tourist SIM plan expires?

Simply top up and renew at any shop. Your SIM number stays active for 90 days from your last top-up. If you return to Morocco within that window, it will still work. After 90 days of inactivity, the number is deactivated and you would need a new SIM on your next visit.

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