Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Movistar El Salvador vs Virgin Mobile Mexico
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Movistar El Salvador |  Virgin Mobile Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Network | Mvno |
| Price from | $1.25 | MX$23 |
| Reference plan prices | Plan Ilimitado Streaming: $19 per month, 12GB, contract; Plan Ilimitado Datos: $25 per month, unlimited, contract; Plan Ilimitado Total: $35 per month, unlimited, contract | Virgin 150: $135 per 26 days, 7 GB, prepaid | Virgin 200: $180 per 30 days, 10 GB, prepaid | Libre 75 GB: $499 per 30 days, 75 GB, prepaid |
| Markets | SV | MX |
| Host network | Not confirmed | Telefonica Movistar |
| Unlimited plan price | $1.50 | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Paid | Not confirmed |
| Roaming countries | 72 | Not confirmed |
| Data rollover | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Credit check required | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes).
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Key differences
- Billing: only Movistar El Salvador offers Contract.
- Contract length: only Movistar El Salvador offers 24.
- Contract length: only Virgin Mobile Mexico offers 1.
- Markets: only Movistar El Salvador offers SV.
- Markets: only Virgin Mobile Mexico offers MX.
Our verdict on each
Movistar El Salvador
Movistar El Salvador suits anyone in El Salvador who wants to buy from the network itself rather than a virtual operator, with plans at $1.25 a month and unlimited data at $1.50. The trade-off is the long commitment at 24 months and a credit check.
Virgin Mobile Mexico
Virgin Mobile Mexico suits people in Mexico who want prepaid data bought by top-up, with an eSIM available and no contract term to serve out. Each package runs for 1 month, coverage is offered in Mexico, and support runs on chat, phone and email. Entry costs sit low for prepaid.
Score breakdown
| Area | Movistar El Salvador | Virgin Mobile Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherEntry price of $1.25 a month with unlimited plans at $1.50 keeps the monthly outlay modest. | 9.8Entry price of MXN 23 on prepaid billing, against a site median of €23.19. |
| Offer | 9.2Sim only, eSIM, 5G, data rollover and hotspot sharing, plus roaming across 72 countries. | 9.2Sim only plans with an eSIM, 5G and hotspot sharing on Telefonica Movistar. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Movistar El Salvador | Virgin Mobile Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 52 of 416 | 55 of 416 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 48 of 367 | 51 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 68 of 389 | 70 of 389 |
Where these facts come from
Movistar El Salvador
- movistar.com.sv: 8 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- tienda.movistar.com.sv: 6 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- roaming.movistar.com.sv: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- esim.movistar.com.sv: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Virgin Mobile Mexico
- virginmobile.mx: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Movistar El Salvador | Virgin Mobile Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract, PrepaidCovers more | Prepaid |
| Contract length | 24 | 1 |
| Legal entity | TELEFONICA MOVILES EL SALVADOR, S.A. DE C.V. | Virgin Mobile México, S. de R.L. de C.V. |
| Headquarters | El Salvador | Mexico |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Movistar El Salvador | Virgin Mobile Mexico | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited plan price | $1.50lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Roaming countries | 72below the median | Not confirmed | 100 |
Median across 176 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Movistar El Salvador
Pros
- On unlimited price the brand ranks 3 of 173 brands tracked, a strong placing for heavy users.
- Sim only, eSIM and 5G are all available, with hotspot sharing on the same lines.
- Data rollover carries unused data into the next cycle, so a light month is not wasted.
Cons
- Contract plans run 24 months, a long tie for anyone still choosing a provider.
- A credit check is required, so approval rests on your file.
- The entry price of $1.25 sits above Lonestar Cell MTN at $0.20.
Virgin Mobile Mexico
Pros
- Entry price of MXN 23 sits close to the site median for entry price of €23.19, so the opening outlay is not out of line with comparable prepaid plans.
- Sim only plans mean you pay for data alone, with no handset bundle added to the bill and no device to pay off.
- An eSIM is available, so a line can be set up without waiting for a card to arrive.
Cons
- Billing is prepaid only, so there is no monthly contract bill and no discounted longer term to set against a commitment.
- The service has no network of its own and rides on Telefonica Movistar, so coverage follows that host rather than the brand.
- Coverage is offered in Mexico, a single market, so the plan carries little value as a roaming option outside Mexico.
Who each suits
Movistar El Salvador
Who it suits
- People in El Salvador who want the network operator itself rather than an intermediary, since the seller type is network.
- Heavy data users who accept a 24 month contract in exchange for unlimited plans at $1.50.
- Travellers who will pay for roaming, given coverage across 72 countries.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for buyers focused purely on entry price, since Lonestar Cell MTN opens at $0.20.
- Not for anyone wanting rolling monthly billing: Movistar El Salvador bills contract and prepaid, while yesss also works on contract, rolling and prepaid.
Virgin Mobile Mexico
Who it suits
- People in Mexico who want prepaid data bought by top-up rather than on a monthly contract
- Shoppers who would rather activate on an eSIM than wait for a physical SIM card
- Users who want 5G and hotspot sharing from a prepaid plan without a handset bundle
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after a monthly contract bill, since billing here is prepaid only
- Travellers needing service away from home, as coverage is offered in MX only
- Shoppers who would rather buy from an operator running its own network, such as GETESA, than from a service hosted on Telefonica Movistar
Current offers
Movistar El Salvador
Current offer
Discount code
20% discount on postpaid plans for port-ins: 20%
Port number to Movistar, for contract duration
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Movistar El Salvador | Virgin Mobile Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| El Salvador | Yes | No |
| Mexico | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Movistar El Salvador
What do Movistar El Salvador plans cost at the start?+
Plans start at $1.25 a month and unlimited plans at $1.50. On starting price the brand ranks 22 of 258, while the unlimited price ranks 3 of 173 brands tracked. Buyers shopping on entry price should also weigh Lonestar Cell MTN at $0.20.
Which plans are on offer and what do they include?+
The reference plans are Plan Ilimitado Streaming, a contract plan with a monthly data cap, Plan Ilimitado Datos, which is unlimited, and Plan Ilimitado Total, also unlimited on contract terms of 24 months. Unused data carries into the next cycle through data rollover, so a quiet month is not simply lost. 5G and hotspot sharing are supported alongside them.
Virgin Mobile Mexico
How much does Virgin Mobile Mexico cost to get started?+
Entry price is MXN 23, and the billing model is prepaid, so a top-up is what gets paid rather than a monthly subscription. Against comparable prepaid plans, the site median for entry price is €23.19, which places the opening cost in a familiar range. Packages cover both small and large data allowances.
Do I have to sign a contract or buy a handset?+
No. Billing is prepaid, packages are sold as top-ups, and each plan runs for 1 month, so there is no long term to serve out and no device to pay off. Sim only plans are the norm here, which means the handset you already own and the number you already use stay as they are.