Magti, Geocell, Beeline: Which Georgia SIM is Best for Your Trip?

You land at Tbilisi or Kutaisi, your phone has no signal, and three brightly coloured kiosks are waiting. Each one sells a different plan, and nobody tells you which will still work when you reach a mountain village. Pick wrong and you could be searching for a bar of signal on a trekking trail, or paying for data you never use. This guide compares Magti, Geocell (Silknet) and Beeline with 2026 prices in GEL, so you can decide before you reach the counter.

The Three Operators at a Glance

Georgia has three main mobile networks, and each has a clear personality.

• Magti (magticom.ge): the premium choice, with the most reliable coverage in remote and mountainous regions. App: MyMagti.
• Geocell, now part of Silknet (silknet.com): the second-largest operator, strong in cities and good in many rural tourist areas, often at competitive prices. App: MySilknet.
• Beeline (beeline.ge): usually the cheapest, strongest in urban and semi-urban areas. App: MyBeeline.

All three sell SIMs at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) and Kutaisi International Airport (KUT), either at official kiosks or in stores. Brand stores are also easy to find in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. You need a valid passport to buy and activate any SIM or eSIM, tourist packages included. Staff register you, insert the SIM and set it up, which usually takes 5–10 minutes.

Magti: The Safe Choice for Mountains

Magti costs a little more, but it is the one most trekkers choose. Its 2026 tourist packages are:

• Tourist Card Basic: 25 GEL for 10 GB, 100 local minutes and 50 local SMS, valid 15 days.
• Tourist Card Plus: 40 GEL for 20 GB, unlimited local minutes and unlimited local SMS, valid 30 days.
• Tourist Card Unlimited: 65 GEL for unlimited data (fair usage policy applies after 100 GB), unlimited local minutes and SMS, valid 30 days.

If you stay longer or want something more flexible, the standard prepaid “Combo” packages are an option. A popular one is Combo 25: 25 GEL for 15 GB, 500 local minutes and 100 local SMS, valid 30 days. You can customise bundles in the MyMagti app or by dialling *111#.

Magti suits anyone heading to Kazbegi, Svaneti, Tusheti or Racha. It is also a good fit if you want one SIM that works everywhere and don’t want to think about it again.

Geocell (Silknet): Balanced Value With Calling Perks

Geocell services now run under the Silknet name, so look for Silknet signs at the airport and in stores. The tourist range is called Traveler:

• Traveler Basic: 22 GEL for 8 GB, 80 local minutes and 30 local SMS, valid 15 days.



• Traveler Plus: 35 GEL for 18 GB, 150 local minutes and 50 local SMS, valid 30 days.
• Traveler Unlimited: 58 GEL for unlimited data (fair usage policy applies after 80 GB), unlimited local minutes and 100 international minutes to select countries, valid 30 days.

The international minutes are the standout. If you need to phone home regularly, Traveler Unlimited costs 7 GEL less than Magti’s top tier and includes that perk. Standard options include Freedom 20: 20 GEL for 12 GB, 300 local minutes and 50 local SMS, valid 30 days. Manage bundles in the MySilknet app or by dialling *110#.

Silknet works well for city-focused trips, such as Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi plus a few day trips, and for people who make international calls.

Beeline: The Budget Pick With Limits

Beeline is the cheapest way to get data. Its tourist plans are short and simple:

• Tourist Saver: 15 GEL for 6 GB and 50 local minutes, valid 15 days.
• Tourist Value: 28 GEL for 15 GB, 100 local minutes and 20 local SMS, valid 30 days.

For a longer stay, Easy 15 gives you 8 GB, 200 local minutes and 50 local SMS for 15 GEL over 30 days. You can manage bundles in the MyBeeline app or by dialling *111#.

The trade-off is coverage. Beeline is good in major cities and along main highways, but it is significantly weaker in mountain and very rural areas. It is not a good primary SIM for extensive trekking. For a short city break, though, it is hard to beat on price.

Coverage in Kazbegi and Svaneti

This is where the choice matters most. Picture the crunch of cold gravel on the path up to Gergeti Trinity Church as the first light hits the peaks. That is exactly the moment you want a working map and a way to call for help, not a spinning loading icon.

• Magti: strong 4G/LTE across Stepantsminda and up to Gergeti Trinity Church. In Svaneti it is reliable in Mestia and extends to Ushguli, many surrounding villages and popular trekking routes. It is the best choice for safety and navigation.
• Silknet (Geocell): good in main towns like Stepantsminda and Mestia, and usually good on major roads leading to them. In remote valleys, high passes and very isolated villages, such as beyond Ushguli, the signal can turn weak or disappear.
• Beeline: the weakest in the mountains. You may get signal in the centre of Stepantsminda or Mestia, but it drops off quickly outside them.

5G is growing in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi, but it has not changed mountain coverage. Out there, 4G/LTE remains the standard.

How to Set Up an eSIM Step by Step

Magti and Silknet both fully support eSIM. Beeline supports it too, but promotes it less actively toward tourists. Here is the process:

1. Check your device. Most newer phones work, including iPhone XS/XR and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later.
2. Go to a store or kiosk. At Tbilisi Airport, look for Magti or Silknet kiosks. Tell the staff you want an eSIM.
3. Show your passport. It is needed for registration.
4. Choose a plan and pay in GEL.
5. Get your QR code. Staff will print it or show it on a screen.
6. Scan it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Add Cellular Plan (or Add eSIM). On Android, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (or Mobile network) > Add more (or Add eSIM). Menus vary by manufacturer. Label the plan something clear, like “Georgia SIM”.
7. Turn data roaming on for the new eSIM. Local data will not incur roaming charges.
8. Test it. Make a quick call or open a web page.

At the airport, Magti and Silknet eSIM activation takes roughly 5–7 minutes. Beeline eSIM is mainly handled at its brand stores, and airport kiosks may not offer it consistently, so ask before you plan around it.

Can you set everything up remotely before you fly? Not reliably. Magti lets you buy and activate new eSIM plans in the MyMagti app, but only after initial registration, and it needs an existing Georgian number or a prior account. Silknet’s app manages existing eSIMs and extra bundles, but fully remote activation for new tourists is still being developed. In Beeline’s app, it is not a main feature. Plan to activate in person on arrival, and if you need a pre-arrival solution, confirm directly with the operator.

2026 Budget Reality: What You Will Pay

Prices have moved up slightly, but you get more data for your money. Here are the tourist plans sorted by tier:

• Budget (15–28 GEL): Beeline Tourist Saver (15 GEL, 6 GB, 15 days), Silknet Traveler Basic (22 GEL, 8 GB, 15 days), Magti Tourist Card Basic (25 GEL, 10 GB, 15 days), Beeline Tourist Value (28 GEL, 15 GB, 30 days).
• Mid-range (35–40 GEL): Silknet Traveler Plus (35 GEL, 18 GB, 30 days) and Magti Tourist Card Plus (40 GEL, 20 GB, unlimited local minutes and SMS, 30 days).
• Comfortable (58–65 GEL): Silknet Traveler Unlimited (58 GEL) and Magti Tourist Card Unlimited (65 GEL), both with unlimited data under fair usage rules and a 30-day validity.

For most visitors, the mid-range tier is the sweet spot. Magti Plus gives the best coverage and unlimited local calls at 40 GEL, while Silknet Plus saves 5 GEL if you don’t need mountain-grade reception.

WiFi: Where It Works and Where It Doesn’t

Almost every café, restaurant and bar in Georgian cities and towns offers free WiFi, and it is generally fine for messaging and browsing. Hotels, guesthouses and hostels almost universally provide it too, with speeds that vary but are usually sufficient.

Transport is a different story:

• Georgian Railway: some modern intercity trains, especially newer Stadler Kiss trains on routes such as Tbilisi–Batumi, offer WiFi. It can be slow or unreliable, and older trains or quieter routes may have none. Don’t use it for anything critical.
• Marshrutka minibuses: WiFi is extremely rare on the backbone of budget intercity travel in Georgia. Don’t expect it.
• Public WiFi: a few city squares and parks have it, but it is neither widespread nor consistent.

That means a local SIM or eSIM is still essential for journeys, navigation and ride apps, even if your accommodation WiFi is good.

What Has Changed Since 2024

• eSIM is now routine. Magti, Silknet and Beeline have all embraced it, and at airports and major stores it often takes no longer than buying a physical SIM. Magti in particular has streamlined its airport eSIM process for tourists.
• More data per lari. Higher-tier plans have risen by roughly 5–10 GEL, but included data has generally grown by 15–25% across providers. Magti’s tourist packages gained approximately 10–15% at similar price points.
• Better airport service. Kiosks at Tbilisi and Kutaisi are better staffed, with average waits of 5–10 minutes even at peak times.
• Richer packages. Silknet added more international minutes to its higher tiers, and Beeline slightly increased data on its budget plans.
• No new rules. The passport requirement for SIM registration is unchanged, and no major tourist packages have been widely discontinued.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing by price alone. A 15 GEL Beeline plan is no bargain if it has no signal on your trekking route.
• Forgetting your passport. You can’t register without it, and staff do not usually make exceptions.
• Assuming you can set up an eSIM remotely. Magti’s app needs an existing Georgian number or account, and Silknet and Beeline are not built for remote tourist activation. Plan to do it in person.
• Counting on Beeline eSIM at the airport. It is mainly sold in brand stores, and kiosk availability is less consistent.
• Buying a 15-day plan for a 3-week trip. A 30-day plan usually works out better than topping up repeatedly.
• Relying on train or marshrutka WiFi. Download maps and tickets before you board.
• Skipping the test. After activation, make a call or load a page before you leave the kiosk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in Georgia?

Yes. A valid passport is mandatory for buying and activating any SIM or eSIM, including tourist packages. No exceptions are typically made. Staff handle registration, so bring your physical passport rather than a photo, and expect the whole process to take around 5–10 minutes.

Which SIM is best for Kazbegi and Svaneti?

Magti has the best coverage, with strong 4G/LTE across Stepantsminda up to Gergeti Trinity Church, reliable service in Mestia, and reach to Ushguli and many trekking routes. Silknet is good in main towns but weaker in remote valleys. Beeline is the weakest, so skip it for trekking.

Can I get an eSIM at Tbilisi Airport?

Yes, at Magti and Silknet (Geocell) kiosks. Show your passport, choose a plan, pay, and get a QR code, usually in about 5–7 minutes. Beeline eSIM is mainly handled at brand stores, and airport availability is less consistent, so check before relying on it.

How much does a tourist SIM cost in Georgia in 2026?

Prices range from 15 GEL for Beeline’s Tourist Saver (6 GB, 15 days) to 65 GEL for Magti’s Tourist Card Unlimited (30 days). Mid-range options sit between 28 and 40 GEL: Beeline Tourist Value, Silknet Traveler Plus and Magti Tourist Card Plus.

How do I top up my Georgian SIM?

Use the operator’s app (MyMagti, MySilknet or MyBeeline), its official website, or any brand store. You can also pay at terminals in supermarkets and convenience stores, such as PayBox and Nova. These terminals are common across the country, including in smaller towns.

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📷 Featured image by Vydeoo on Unsplash.