Mobile Networks in Brazil

Brazil has three national mobile networks: Vivo, Claro and TIM. Oi was the fourth until it sold its mobile business to the other three, in a sale that closed on 20 April 2022. Customers were split by area code, with TIM taking 29, Claro 27 and Vivo 11, so an old Oi number now belongs to one of them.

Vivo is generally the largest, with the broadest coverage in the south and southeast. Claro is close behind and has pushed 5G in the big cities. TIM has wide national reach and has invested in rural 4G. In São Paulo, Rio and Brasília all three work well, so coverage only separates them once you head inland or north.

Beside them sit two regional operators and a small MVNO layer:

• Regional: Algar Telecom, based in Uberlândia, and Sercomtel, based in Londrina.
• On Vivo: Vivo Easy and Datora.
• On TIM: Surf Telecom, which runs the Correios Celular chip, and Veek.

MVNOs resell one of the main networks at lower prices, with lighter support and lower data priority when the network is busy. Most Brazilians still buy directly from Vivo, Claro or TIM.

Prepaid country

Brazil is overwhelmingly prepaid (pre-pago). Recharges are sold in pharmacies, newsstands, apps and ATMs, and the plans bundle data plus social-app allowances that don't count against your cap, so WhatsApp keeps working after your data runs out.

Same masts, different APN

Each network has its own. Claro's current guides use java.claro.com.br with the username and password Claro, and a guide that gives claro.com.br is out of date. TIM uses timbrasil.br with the username and password tim. Algar uses algar.br with the username algar and the password 1212, and you need it set for roaming across the country. Vivo's help pages list no APN, and most guides give zap.vivo.com.br with the username and password vivo. If your phone shows no settings, check which network your SIM is on first.

MMS

Claro and TIM have published MMS gateways, and the Vivo, Claro, TIM and Algar pages list the MMS values we have. Algar's help page lists none, and Vivo's MMS values differ between guides. Where MMS fails with the right settings, use WhatsApp or another messenger.

eSIM and SIMs for visitors

Vivo, Claro and TIM support eSIM on compatible phones. Buying a Brazilian SIM requires a CPF, the national taxpayer ID, which residents have and visitors generally don't. That is why most tourists use a travel eSIM instead.

When data stops after a SIM swap, a reset or a new phone, check the APN first. Find your network above and copy its values exactly.