Basics
Operators
Croatia has three network operators:
- Hrvatski Telekom (owned by Deutsche Telekom, formerly called T-Moblie)
- A1 Croatia (owned by Telekom Austria, formerly called vip)
- Telemach (formerly called Tele2)
Hrvatski Telecom (fomerly known as T-Mobile) is the market leader in Croatia with the widest coverage and highest speeds. A1 is its main rival and is holding "Best in Test" certificate in 2019. Finally there is Telemach which has smaller network coverage, but free roaming on Hrvatski Telekom in rural areas. The same order is reflected by OpenSignal's analysis in 2021. Hvratski Telekom has the highest 4G availability of 95%, followed by A1 at 87% and Telemach at 84%. It also has the highest speeds.
What speeds are concerned, be aware that Hvratski Telekom's prepaid SIM cards are capped around 75 Mbit/s in download and 50 Mbit/s in upload. This is sufficient for all major applications, but uncapped speed is only available on prepaid by A1 and Telemach. There are two MVNOs in the country: Bonbon on Hrvatski Telekom and Tomato on A1.
2G on Hrvatski Telekom and A1 is on 900 MHz and Telemach on 1800 MHz, 3G is on 900 MHz and 2100 MHz with all three providers. 4G/LTE is available on band 1, 3, 7 and 20 (800, 1800, 2100 and 2700 MHz) with carrier aggregation available on all three providers. In 2021 all three operators are rolling out 5G. Hrvatski Telekom and A1 have started on n28 (700 MHz) and n78 (3500 MHz), but are not available for prepaid so far.
All three network operators offer special Tourist SIMs only for foreign visitors. These offers are often available for the summer season only from May to October, but turn up very similar every summer.
The prices for top-ups are without a 10% 'network access fee'. This fee has been charged on all top-ups until 2019, but was abolished since then. Prices are indicated in Croatian kuna (kn or HRK), the national currency of Croatia.
Availability and recharges
New SIM cards are widely available, at news stands, post offices, service stations, some supermarkets and in operator's stores without registration. At the same places you can purchase top-ups, which are printed on a POS slip and provide you with typically 14-digit code and top-up instructions. In order to purchase top-up you need to simply state the operator and amount. Typically, you can pay with cash or credit cards locally or cards online.
If you'd like to top up your prepaid card online, you can do that on your operator's website, foreign cards are also accepted. Providers are often giving bonus via additional credit or minutes/SMS/data. You can also top-up through mobile applications of the provider
Be aware that Croatia shares a long border with Bosnia-Herzegovina which is located outside the EU. If your device accidentially picks up a Bosnian network, you will be charged much higher. You can prevent this by manually selecting a Croatian network.
Hrvatski Telekom (Simpa)
Hrvatski Telekom (formerly called T-Mobile) is the market leader in the country with the best coverage and speeds. Coverage map (switch between 2G/3G/4G by clicking on "Pokrivenost"). 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE are available for all prepaid plans, but no 5G yet. All Simpa plans now offer the max. 4G/LTE speed as the old cap of 75 Mbit/s was lifted.
Availability
Since a few years Hrvatski Telekom has channeled all prepaid voice and data SIM cards through their brand Simpa. SIM cards are available at post offices (Hrvatska Posta), some service stations (Tifon have them, you can also try INA, Petrol, Lukoil, Crodux), kiosks (Tisak, iNovine) and T-Centers (locator) (you need to choose region, and all centers are located on Google Maps). SIMs are coming in standard 3-in-1 costing 20 kn, with a credit of 20 kn.
If you register here to any address, even foreign, you will receive another 20 kn on your account. Top ups of 30, 60, 120 and 200 kn are available in many shops or online. A top-up of 20 kn is only available online or through the app. If you top-up online or through their app My Telekom you will receive 10 times the amount of kuna as a free bonus in megabyte (e.g. 100 kn gives a 1 GB bonus).
Your SIM card remains active for 90 days after any top-up of up to 60 kn, for 120 days by 120 kn and 180 days when topped up 200 kn.
To check your balance, use code *100#, send empty SMS to 13230 or send A to 13636, followed by 3 "Provjera stanja računa". To change language to English, text A 13636 and choose option 6, confirmed by "DA" for yes to switch.
Combo packages
Data default rate without a plan or data option is at 0.99 kn per MB.
They now offer the following new combo base plans, all implying a 0.24 kn call connection fee for calls, except on the XL plan:
| Plan | Price | Validity | Data | Voice/SMS | Activation code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tjedan | 24 kn | 7 days | 2.5 GB | 400 units | TJEDAN |
| XS | 49 kn | 30 days | 1 GB | 2000 units | SIMPA XS |
| S | 59 kn | 30 days | 2 GB | 2000 units | SIMPA S |
| M | 79 kn | 30 days | 5 GB | 2000 units | SIMPA M |
| L | 99 kn | 30 days | 8 GB (*) | 2000 units | SIMPA L |
| XL | 119 kn | 30 days | 13 GB (*) | 2000 units | SIMPA XL |
(*) = after activation, you can double the volume allowance through their app for free. On L and XL plans there is an option of activating additional data for one of two apps for free: Whatsapp or Snapchat.
To activate any plan text code to 13636. All packages reactivate after expiry, if you have enough balance, with rollover of remaining resources up to the double volumes of the plan.
An EU data cap is applied only to the weekly Tjedni plan (1.6 GB). For all other plans you can spend all data in EU roaming. For additional data they offer 1 GB at 14 kn, available after activating any package.
Data plans
For data alone you don't need to activate a combo pack. You can choose any of these data packages:
| Plan | Price | Validity | Data | EU cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAN | 10 kn | 24 h | unlimited | 0.7 GB |
| TJEDAN | 70 kn | 7 days | unlimited | 4.4 GB |
| S | 20 kn | 30 days | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| M | 40 kn | 30 days | 3 GB | 2.6 GB |
| L | 60 kn | 30 days | 6 GB | 3.8 GB |
| XL | 90 kn | 30 days | 9 GB | 5.6 GB |
To activate, text 'INTERNET #' while # stands for the plan size DAN, S, M, L or XL to 13636. To deactivate 30-day plans text 'D' to 13636.
Be aware that their data packages don't offer max. LTE speeds, but are capped at 75 Mbit/s in download and 50 Mbit/s in upload which is sufficient for most purposes. Their data-only SIM has been discontinued.
They offer a range of add-on packages for certain applications valid for 30 days:
- WhatsApp: 9 kn
- Snapchat: 9 kn
- Audiomak: 49 kn
- Instagram: 49 kn
- HBO MAXtv to go: 49 kn
- Facebook and FB Messenger: 49 kn
- Netflix: 49 kn
- YouTube: 49 kn
- Deezer: 49 kn
All these options give unlimited data through their apps and can be activated or deactivated on the Simpa app.
Tourist SIM
Their offer for visitors is called "Visiting Croatia"
For 85 kn it includes unlimited data in Croatia in up to max. 4G/LTE speeds for 7 days and 5 kn credit. Speed is up to 350 Mbit/s and real unlimited, an EU roaming cap of 2.883 GB applies outside of Croatia.
These two add-ons are available after one week:
- another 7 days of unlimited internet: 60 kn. To activate text 'FLAT' to 13636 or
- Internet Dan, Tjedan, S, M, L or XL given at the domestic prices above after having deactivated the weekly offer by texting D to 13636.
EU roaming
EU/EEA roaming principles of roam like home at domestic prices apply to all prepaid offers, but given FUP rules cap larger packages without surcharges such as the tourist plan.
For roaming in the Western Balkans a Travel & Surf add-on is offered with 200 MB for a week at 79 kn. Activation is by texting A to 13636 and choosing activation and Travel & Surf. However, a local SIM card is strongly recommended in these countries instead.
More info
- Tethering is allowed
- APN: internet.ht.hr
- Website of Hrvatski Telekom in Croatian: http://www.hrvatskitelekom.hr
- Website of Simpa in Croatian: http://www.simpa.hr
A1 Croatia (formerly called: vip)
new logo
A1 Croatia run by Austrian A1 was bought and rebranded from vip in 2018 and is now the second largest mobile provider in Croatia. Their coverage is generally on par or slightly lower than Hrvatski Telekom. Speed on prepaid used to be capped at 75 Mbit/s on 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE, but was uncapped for the new plans to LTE Max. No 5G access yet.
New A1 SIM cards are available for 20 kn with 20 kn credit, with 3-in-1 size at post offices (Hrvatska Posta), service stations (INA, Tifon, Petrol, Lukoil, Crodux), kiosks (Tisak, iNovine) and their shops (locator).
Top-up vouchers can be bought for 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 kn. If the top-up is made with Maestro or Mastercard, there is an additional bonus of 10% of the total top-up value.
A1 also gives out heavy data bonuses for online top-ups through their website or Moj A1 app similar to Hrvatski Telekom: 150 MB for 15 kn, 300 MB for 30 kn, 600 MB for 60 kn, 900 MB for 90 kn, 1.2 GB for 120 kn and 2.4 GB for 240 kn top-ups.
Check balance with *101# code, and remaining package volumes by *102*1#.
Data feature packages
Data outside of packages is at 0.69 kn per MB.
A1 now offers these base plans for 30 days with rollover of unused volumes to the next month:
| Plan | Data | Voice & SMS | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spikalica | 1 GB | 300 mins/SMS | 49 kn |
| Sheralica | 4 GB | 500 mins/SMS | 79 kn |
| Surferica | 8 GB | 1000 mins/SMS | 99 kn |
| Strimalica | 12 GB | 2000 mins/SMS | 139 kn |
| Fleterica | unlimited (*) | 1500 mins/SMS | 249 kn |
(*) = the unlimited plan has a general domestic FUP of 1 TB (= 1000 GB) and an EU roaming cap of 17.6 GB.
To select one of these plans, type 'A' to 13170 and choose plan.
For more data you can add these packages to the plans:
| Data | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 9 GB | 24 hours | 9 kn |
| 20 GB | 7 days | 60 kn |
| 1 GB | 30 days | 15 kn |
| 4 GB | 30 days | 40 kn |
| 10 GB | 30 days | 80 kn |
| unlimited | weekends
Fri 5pm- Sun midnight |
20 kn |
| unlimited | midnight - 8am
for 30 days |
50 kn |
- unlimited social media for Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, Tiktok, Instagram and WhatsApp for 30 days: 50 kn
Through their Moj A1 app further temporary offers are made. On this app you can also swap unused minutes or SMS to data or vice versa at rate of 1 min or 1 SMS is equal to 1 MB.
Tourist Offer
A1 has introduced a Tourist SIM in triple-size format. For 80 kn you'll get a starter pack with 7 days of "unlimited" 4G/LTE data and 100 units (min or SMS) included. It automatically activates when you first log on the internet. For more volume you have add:
- "unlimited" data day pack for 24 hours: 15 kn, activation: text 'DAILY' to 13220.
Note that "unlimited" means 20 GB for a week or 5 GB for a day in high speed up to 4G/LTE, before speed is throttled to 64 Kbit/s. To check data balance, text '?' to 13220. All starter packs, as well as the daily and weekly packs auto-renew. To stop auto-renew, text 'D' to 13200. Top-up is like regular A1 SIM cards, but plans can't be changed. Note that international roaming is not available on the Tourist Plan. It only works in Croatia.
EU roaming
A1 applies Roam like home rules to all its prepaid plans, but caps data allowances according to EU FUP rules. In fact, only the unlimited data plan is limited right now. The Tourist plan can only be used in Croatia.
More info
- Tethering is allowed
- APN: internet
- Website in Croatian: https://www.a1.hr
Telemach (formerly: Tele2)
new brand
Telemach is the third provider in Croatia. It was called Tele2 before it was sold to a local cable operator. They started 4G/LTE in 2016 already covering 90% and opened it to all prepaid plans. In cities coverage is similar to HT and A1. In rural areas (highways outside cities and unpopulated areas) Telemach roaming on Hrvatski Telekom without surcharges.
In 2020 Tele2 was sold to the United Group and rebranded to Telemach.
Availability
Their starter pack called "SIM2GO" is available at Telemach stores (locator), post offices (Hrvatska Posta), service stations (INA, Tifon, Petrol, Lukoil, Crodux), kiosks (Tisak, iNovine). It comes in two different starters:
- SIM2GO for 20 kn: including 1 GB for 30 days and 20 kn credit
- SIM2GO for 49 kn: including 2 GB, 500 mins and 500 SMS for 30 days
They have discontinued all previous prepaid plans and only offer their new Slagalica (Puzzle) combo plan with domestic minutes, SMS and a data allowance.
Top-ups among other channels are available online . Smallest top-up of 16.50 kn is available only online. All larger top-ups will give bonus data: 27.50 kn - 250 MB, 55 kn - 500 MB, 110 kn - 1 GB, 220 kn - 2 GB and 100 kn gives 4 GB for free as bonus.
Check balance with *150# code or sending SMS "STANJE" to 13880.
Data feature packages
These three monthly combo packs can be activated on the SIM2GO SIM cards:
| Plan | Data | Calls | SMS | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 500 MB | 200 mins | 200 | 39 kn |
| M | 2 GB | 500 mins | 500 | 59 kn |
| L | 7 GB | 1000 mina | 1000 | 99 kn |
For activation type plan size to 13888. It will be renewed automatically every month. To stop text 'STOP' to 13880, to check consumption or validity 'STANJE' to 13880. Data overuse is at 0.50 kn per MB.
For more data these add-on packages are offered:
- 3 GB for 24 hours: 15 kn, activation: 3GB24SATA
- 300 MB for 30 days: 15 kn, activation: 300MB
- 2 GB for 30 days: 35 kn, activation: 2GB
Activation is by texting code to 13999.
Data-only SIM
Starter pack for data- and SMS-only SIM is called NET2GO and sold for 70 kn in Telemach stores, post offices, paper shops, gas stations, super markets etc. It contains 20 GB for 30 days. Speed is throttled to 10 Mbit/s.
For more data or extension you can add another 20 GB pack for 30 days at 70 kn by texting 20 GB to 13888. Note that this data-only tariff is valid for for Croatia only and doesn't work in international roaming.
Tourist SIM
The 2019 version of their tourist SIM is called SIM2GO for tourists and sold for 75 kn at the ususal places.
It contains: 10 GB of data, 200 minutes of domestic voice calls with 0.39 kn call connection fee for 30 days and 10 kn credit. The same regular data packages mentioned above (at 'data feature packages') can be added.
For more data you can renew the package after 30 days or add a regular data pack from S, M or L plans (see above). After having switched to S, M or L, you can't return to the tourist plan. As long as you stay on the tourist plan, there is no international roaming on this SIM. It only works in Croatia.
EU roaming
Roam like at home in the EU/EEA is implemented on all SIM2GO plans, but the data-only plan and the tourist plan both don't work abroad.
More info
- Tethering is disabled if your phone honors carrier's settings (like iPhones do).
- APN: internet.tele2.hr
- Website in Croatian: http://www.telemach.hr
bonbon (on Hrvatski Telekom)
Bonbon is a MVNO on the Hrvatski Telekom network (see above). 4G, 3G and 4G/LTE is open for all plans, capped at 75 Mbit/s. Coverage is the same as Hrvatski Telekom and all services regarding MVNO are also available at Hrvatski Telekom's stores.
Availability
Their BonBon starter pack is available in their shops (locator) and many kiosks throughout the country.
Vouchers are available online and at many places for 15, 30, 60, 90 and 180 kn. For credit check, use USSD code *100#.
Loaded credit stays valid for 90 days after the last top-up. A 180 kn recharge will give you 365 days of validity.
Starter pack BonBon na bonove is sold for 20 kn with the same credit for voice, text and data. Default data rate is 0.70 kn per MB. Activation is immediate without registration or waiting period.
Data feature packages
They have the following weekly and monthly data packages which can be optionally extended by text and voice packs:
| Package | Time | Price | Data | EU cap | Voice | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYI | 7 days | 20 kn | 2 GB | 1.3 GB | 250 mins: +20 kn | |
| FOMO | 70 kn | unlimited | 4.4 GB | |||
| KIS | 30
days |
10 kn | 300 MB | no cap | 200 mins: +20 kn
400 mins: +35 kn 2000 mins:+55 kn |
200 SMS: +20 kn |
| A3 | 40 kn | 3 GB | 2.6 GB | |||
| VBD | 50 kn | 5 GB | 3.2 GB | |||
| OMG | 70 kn | 8 GB | 4.4 GB |
- unlimited Deezer streaming: +35 kn (not in roaming)
- HBOGo: +45 kn (not in roaming)
Activate by texting "hocu" to 13977 and deactivate by texting "necu" to 13977, by USSD code *121# or by app. All packages auto-renew, if not stopped. In the case of renewal all unused allowances will roll over to the next week or month. You can start any new package before the previous has been expired when it's already been used up. But be careful, as any unused allowance will be lost at the restart.
For data balance check, use *121# then option 3 or send 'stanje' to 13977
Data-only SIM
BonBon Internet Sim kartica is sold for 10 kn with SMS and data only, aimed at tablets and modems. You can then either add:
- 300 MB until midnight/3am: 3 kn per day
- 5 GB (EU cap: 0.7 GB) until midnight/3am: 10 kn per day
- 7 GB monthly package with roll-over to the next month, if package is renewed: 60 kn
To activate packages text 'hocu' to 13977. The selected package will auto-renew after expiry between midnight and 4am, if you have enough balance. To stop, text 'necu' to the same number. Activation and deactivation can also be done by USSD code *121# or through mobile app. Default data rate on this SIM card is 0.88 kn per MB, if you haven't booked a package.
EU roaming
Roam like at home in the EU/EEA is implemented on all call and data plans. From 2018 a FUP policy has been enforced for data. They only give a certain share of the domestic package without surcharges for roaming in the EU This max. volume is indicated as 'EU cap' in the table. Any use abroad beyond this FUP quota will be surcharged at low 0.04 kn per MB instead as long as you still have unused domestic data and at high 1.85 kn/MB when all domestic data allowance has been depleted.
More info
- Tethering is allowed
- APN: internet.ht.hr
- Website in English: https://www.bonbon.hr/welcome-to-croatia
- Extended website in Croatian: https://www.bonbon.hr/
- Arnaud Feld has a guide on how to activate mobile 4G/LTE with BonBon in Croatia with screenshots of the Croatian text messages.
- Text "jezik" to 13977 to change language to English.
Tomato (on A1)
Tomato is a MVNO on the A1 network. For coverage see A1(above). Prepaid is capped at 75 Mbit/s.
Availabilty
Their SIM card can be found at their shops (locator), gas stations, post offices, kiosks and supermarkets.
Topups are sold for 25, 60, 120 and 240 kn. If you topup online with Maestro or Mastercard, there is additional bonus of 200% of total top up value, among data bonus for 25 kn gives 250 MB bonus, 60 kn 600 MB, 120 kn 1.2 GB and 240 kn 2.4 GB.
Data feature plans
Their default tariff is 0.49 kn per MB. You can add one of their monthly packages where a unit can be used as one minute of domestic voice, one domestic SMS or 1 MB of data up to 4G/LTE:
| Value | Basic Plan | Plus Plan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mins/SMS/MB | Price | Activation | Price | Activation |
| 1000 units | 40 kn | MALA | 60 kn | MALA+ |
| 5000 units | 60 kn | SREDNJA | 80 kn | SREDNJA+ |
| 8000 units | 80 kn | VELIKA | 100 kn | VELIKA+ |
Activation is by text to 13435. The packages will be activated again after 30 days, if the account has enough credit. To stop text 'NE' to 13435. Check balances by *113*01#. Each plan has two variants: Basic Plan on which you are deducted a connection fee of 0.29 kn for each connected call, and Plus (20 kn more expensive to activate) which does not additionally charge a call connection fee. As 20 kn is roughly equivalent to 69 call connection fees, unless you plan to call a lot, it's better option to activate a higher Basic Plan for the same price. But keep in mind, this way you would need some extra balance in order to be able to call.
You can add a 500 units add-on to any plan for 15 kn by texting '500' to 13435 or 1500 units for 35 kn by texting "1500" to 13435.
You can also reactivate any plan even before 30 days pass from previous activation, but in this case you lose any existing units from previous one.
There is also Flat option with unlimited data for 5 days for 50 kn to be added to one of the three plans above. To activate text "FLAT" to 13435 .
More info
- in EU/EEA roaming: roam like at home applies
- APN: tomato
- Website in Croatian: http://www.tomato.com.hr