Play Poland SIM Cards and eSIM: Detailed Guides for Tourists

Visiting Poland and need reliable mobile connectivity? Get a Play Poland SIM card or Play eSIM, which has the biggest market share of 15 million customers. Play offers outstanding 4G/LTE coverage of up to 300 Mbps. This guide covers getting connected with Play while visiting – including network coverage, SIM card options, eSIM availability, costs, activation, and more.

1. Quick Facts about Play

• Play is owned by P4 Sp. z o.o., a subsidiary of Play Communications S.A.
• It launched operations in 2007 as Poland’s fourth mobile network operator.
• As of Q2 2022, Play has over 15 million subscribers – a 34% market share.
• Play offers 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G connectivity. Its 5G network covers over 50% of the Polish population.
• In 2020, Play merged with UPC Poland to offer converged telecom services.

2. Play Poland Coverage and Speed

In this part, we will analyze Play Poland’s coverage and speed.

2.1. Play coverage in Poland

Play Poland offers good overall mobile coverage, with a particular focus on 5G. According to the May 2023 Opensignal Mobile Network Experience Report, Play is in second place for 5G Availability, with users spending 10.9% of their time with an active 5G connection. Play is also in second place for Download Speed Experience, with users seeing average overall download speeds of 30.9Mbps.

In terms of video streaming, Play wins the Video Experience award outright, with a score of 69 points on a 100-point scale. Play also wins the Games Experience award outright, with a score of 72.4 points.

All in all, Play Poland has a decent mobile network experience, including excellent 4G and 5G coverage, high speed, and good gaming experience.

Here is a summary of Play Poland coverage based on the Opensignal report:

• 5G Availability: 10.9%
• Download Speed Experience: 30.9Mbps
• Video Experience: 69 points
• Games Experience: 72.4 points

2.2. Play speed

Play Poland has quite good overall mobile download speeds averaging at 30.9Mbps. As per Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience Report of May 2023, Play ranks second after T- Mobile in Download Speed Experience.

The 5G speeds of play average 21.9Mbps per download. Hence, Play wins a share of the 5G Upload Speed prize alongside Orange.

On average, Play Poland gives reasonable speeds for mobiles. All the 4 and 5 G speeds of it surpass the average of Poland.

Here is a summary of Play Poland speeds based on the Opensignal report:

• Download Speed Experience: 30.9Mbps
• 5G Upload Speed: 21.9Mbps

3. Play connectivity options for travelers

Play offers both SIM card and eSIM options for tourists visiting Poland:

Both options provide the same great Play coverage. Choose as per your device compatibility and convenience. If you have an eSIM-capable device, going for eSIM can be very convenient. With eSIM, you don’t have to go to a store or wait for delivery. 

4. Best Play SIM cards for tourists & cost

Play Poland offers prepaid plans for foreigners coming to Poland. The Play Poland SIM card costs around 5 PLN ( ~ 1 USD). Here is a table of Play Poland Unlimited bundles that are valid for 30 days and are suitable for tourists:

All bundles include 5G access.

5. Does Play Poland support eSIM?

Yes, Play introduced eSIM support in 2020. Play PL eSIM is available to private and business customers: Subscribers (post-paid services), Users (pre-paid services), and subscribers using Mix offers, not for tourists.

Play eSIM is available on iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and newer models. Most newer Android phones like the Samsung S20 series, Google Pixel, etc. also support Play Poland eSIM activation.

To use Play eSIM, your device should have:

• eSIM capability
• Latest OS version
• Play the eSIM app installed

Play offers dedicated eSIM plans with bundled data. You can also use data packs on the basic eSIM.

6. Where can you buy a Play SIM card and eSIM?

You can purchase Play Poland SIM cards and eSIMs through multiple channels:

6.1 Where to buy Play SIM for Poland

Here are a few options for buying a Play SIM card for Poland:

• Play Store – You can purchase Play Poland SIM cards directly from Play’s retail stores located throughout Poland. Search for the nearest store location on their website.

• Online retailers – Some online retailers sell Play SIMs that you can have delivered. Check sites like Expad24.com, which ships internationally. 
• Convenience stores – Large chain convenience stores like Żabka or Lewis sometimes stock Play SIM cards that you can purchase with cash.
• Airport kiosks – Major airports in Poland like Warsaw Chopin and Krakow Airport usually have kiosks that sell Play and other carrier SIMs upon arrival.
• Buy a prepaid package – Look on Play’s website for prepaid packages that include data, minutes, and texts. Have the SIM included in the package delivered to a Polish address.
• Mobile phone shops – Smaller phone shops and repair stores may keep Play SIM inventory to activate for customers.

Make sure any SIM you buy is set up for the correct Play rate plan and includes enough data/minutes for your stay in Poland. Activating the SIM is as simple as inserting it into your unlocked phone.

6.2. Where to buy Play Poland eSIM

Here are some options for purchasing a Play PL eSIM:

• Play app – Download the Play app on your device. Purchase and activate eSIM directly through the app.
• Play retail stores – Larger Play branded stores may be able to assist with activating an eSIM profile purchased directly from Play’s site.

Keep in mind an eSIM requires a compatible iPhone or Android device without a physical SIM inserted. After purchase, you’ll receive activation details to add the profile to your phone’s settings. Ensure it has enough data and minutes for your stay in Poland.

7. How to activate Play Poland SIM/eSIM

Activating a new Play SIM or eSIM is quick and easy:

7.1 How to use Play Poland SIM card

• Get a Play Poland SIM card in the required size (nano/micro/mini)
• Insert SIM in your unlocked phone
• Power on the phone and enable mobile data
• Wait for the automatic configuration of data settings
• Visit the Play website to register your SIM and verify your identity
• You can now purchase a data pack and start using SIM

7.2 How to activate Play Poland eSIM

Getting started with Play eSIM for Poland is quite easy as follows:

1. Install the eSIM
2. Activate the eSIM
3. Set up the eSIM
4. Start using the eSIM: Once the eSIM is activated and set up, you can start using its services.

Both SIM and eSIM activation takes only a few minutes. If you face any issues, contact Play support or visit a Play store for assistance.

8. Play Poland Call & SMS rates

Here are the prepaid call and SMS rates on Play:

These rates are for calls and SMS messages made within Poland. For calls and SMS messages made to other countries, please visit the Play website for more information.

Please note that these rates are subject to change without notice.

9. Useful USSD codes for Play Poland SIM/eSIM

Here are some useful USSD codes for Play Poland SIM:

• Dial *111# – Check your current balance and its validity period.
• Enter the code *111*49*1# and confirm with the green handset – Check your tariff.
• Dial *101# – Check package status.
• Dial *105# – Check how many MB are still available.

10. How to top-up Play Poland SIM/eSIM

You can recharge your Play SIM/eSIM using:

• Play app/website – Instant top-up using credit/debit cards
• Vouchers – Denominations of 20/30/50/100 PLN sold at Play stores, kiosks, supermarkets, etc.
• Play Express machines – Self-service kiosks for voucher/cash recharge
• Online banking – Make a funds transfer to automatically top-up balance

So you have multiple convenient Play Poland recharge options. Minimum top-up is 20 PLN. No fees or commissions apply for recharges.

11. Alternatives to Play in Poland

Some alternatives you can consider instead of Play Poland are:

• Orange – Second largest operator with good coverage
• T-Mobile – Reliable connectivity in cities and touristic areas
• Plus – Affordable prepaid plans with unlimited data packs
• polandesim.com – Offer Poland eSIM on the Orange network. Competitively priced plans in the 1-3GB range daily. Speeds and coverage is on par with Plus network performance.

Play generally offers better nationwide coverage at reasonable prices. But you can compare rates if needed.

12. FAQs about Play in Poland

Here are some commonly asked questions about getting Play SIM cards/eSIM in Poland:

13. Final words

Play is the top mobile operator in Poland providing quality coverage and fast speeds almost everywhere in the country. Their prepaid SIM card and eSIM plans offer excellent value for tourists.

You get access to Play’s 4G LTE and 5G networks at affordable rates starting 15 PLN. Both SIM cards and eSIMs are readily available online or in Poland through different purchase channels. So get Play Poland connectivity for a smooth travel experience in cities as well as rural parts of Poland.