Cuba Phone Top-Ups and Internet: Cubacel, Nauta, Data

Cuba has a single telecom provider, the state company ETECSA. It runs mobile service under the Cubacel brand, Wi-Fi and home internet under the Nauta brand, and landlines. This guide covers how each service works, how to add credit from abroad or inside Cuba, and what to check before you pay.

Plans, prices and promotions change often. Always confirm with ETECSA or your seller before buying.

The basics: Cubacel, Nauta and data

• Cubacel prepaid line: has a main balance (saldo principal) in Cuban pesos (CUP). You use it for calls, texts, balance transfers and buying plans by dialing *133#. ETECSA says a permanent line stays active for 330 days after a qualifying top-up, then has a grace period for incoming calls and texts only (ETECSA has published different lengths for it, so confirm). Only top-ups of 100 CUP or more extend the line's validity (ETECSA).
• Mobile data: you can buy a data plan or pay per megabyte straight from your balance. ETECSA's own advice is to buy a plan and turn off pay-per-use so your balance doesn't drain (ETECSA). Plans last 35 days from first use (ETECSA).
• Nauta accounts: work at public Wi-Fi hotspots, internet rooms and Nauta Hogar. Options include rechargeable permanent accounts, prepaid hourly cards, and Nauta Plus, which gives unlimited browsing for 15 or 30 days and is paid in USD. You manage your account on the nauta.cu portal (ETECSA).
• Nauta Hogar: home internet over ADSL. You need a landline in an area where it's offered. ETECSA says customers who signed up from December 15, 2025 start on prepaid (ETECSA).

What changed in 2025, and where things stand in 2026

On May 30, 2025, ETECSA capped domestic top-ups to a line's main balance at 360 CUP per 30 days, whatever the channel (Prensa Latina). Many Cubans call this the "tarifazo". Balance already on a line wasn't affected. As of October 2026, ETECSA's website still lists the same cap (ETECSA).

The same changes added much pricier "extra data" plans in CUP, plus plans paid in US dollars. You buy the dollar plans through the MiTransfer wallet inside Transfermóvil or with an international card at an ETECSA office. After public complaints, ETECSA added two more plans in June 2025: an "additional" plan you can buy once every 30 days, and a plan for approved students (Bloomberg Línea). Both still appear on ETECSA's site in 2026.

For reference, in June 2025 the 360 CUP plan gave 6 GB, and USD plans started at US$10 for 4 GB. Prices may have changed since, so check current ones on *133# or in Transfermóvil.

Topping up from abroad

An international top-up (recarga internacional) is bought outside Cuba through a top-up website or app, and it lands on the line's main balance. The 360 CUP cap applies to domestic top-ups, not to this channel. International top-ups are also where ETECSA runs most of its promotions.

• ETECSA publishes a list of official international distributors. In late October 2026 it included Ding, DTOne, Recargas a Cuba, CSQ World, Boss Revolution, Katapulk and Recharge Phones, among others. The list appears alongside each promotion on ETECSA's website.
• Other services are popular with the diaspora, such as Cuballama, Fonoma, Cubatel, DimeCuba and MandaSaldo. Compare how much reaches the line, which bonuses are included, and what fees each one charges.
• Promotions are short and change almost every month. They often multiply the amount topped up several times or add unlimited late-night data. Check the dates (in Cuba time) and the minimum amount on ETECSA's website.
• You can also pay from abroad for a new line, which the recipient picks up in Cuba, or for a Nauta Plus account (ETECSA).

Step by step: sending a top-up

1. Get the full Cubacel number, including the +53 country code.
2. Go to the seller's official site or app, not a link someone sent you.
3. Enter the number and double-check it before you pay.
4. Read what will arrive: balance, bonuses and how long they last.
5. Pay and keep the receipt or order number.
6. Ask the recipient to check their balance with *222# and bonuses with *222*266#.

Topping up inside Cuba

• Transfermóvil: pay with a bank card (from 25 CUP), the CUP side of the MiTransfer wallet, or a recharge card code. Download it from Apklis or ETECSA's apps page.
• EnZona: another bank-card payment option, used through ETECSA's Servicios en Línea.
• Servicios en Línea and Mi Cubacel: ETECSA's self-service channels. Today ETECSA mainly promotes the Servicios en Línea app.
• Recharge cards: 120 and 240 CUP. Redeem them with *662*code# or *666 (ETECSA).
• Balance transfers: dial *234#. ETECSA allows up to three transfers a day at 5 CUP each, and a transfer you receive doesn't extend your line's validity. The default PIN is 1234, so change it.

Balance codes (USSD)

These are the codes ETECSA publishes in 2026 (ETECSA):

• *222#: main balance, voice, SMS, data and line validity
• *222*328#: data plan
• *222*266#: bonuses and USD plans
• *222*869#: voice plan. *222*767#: SMS plan
• *222*732#: status of a top-up
• *133#: buy plans

If you're visiting

• CubacelTur: a temporary SIM for visitors. You can pick one up on arrival at sales points in the international airports: Havana (Terminals 2 and 3), Varadero, Santa Clara, Cayo Coco, Camagüey, Holguín and Santiago de Cuba. There are 7-day and 30-day packages, and the 30-day "Básico Plus" includes unlimited WhatsApp and Facebook (ETECSA).
• Nauta hourly cards: for Wi-Fi hotspots. Sold at ETECSA offices, hotels and airports.
• eSIM: ETECSA doesn't list an eSIM option on its site. Some foreign eSIMs work in Cuba by roaming on Cubacel, but coverage and price vary by provider, so confirm before you travel.

Power cuts and connectivity

Blackouts hit mobile service hard. ETECSA reported in September 2026 that a nationwide grid failure knocked out more than 80% of its cell sites (ETECSA). Keep your phone charged, and if the network is congested, try again at another time of day.

Some people use VPNs or tools such as Psiphon for connection or privacy reasons. Only download them from official sources. OONI Explorer publishes open network measurements for Cuba.

WhatsApp is widely used for messaging, along with Facebook Messenger, Telegram and the Cuban app toDus, which has its own data plan.

Staying safe

• Buy from the seller's official site, or from a distributor on ETECSA's list.
• Be wary of deals that look too good, especially ones shared on WhatsApp or social media.
• Double-check the number: a top-up sent to the wrong line can be hard to recover.
• Never share your transfer PIN or your Transfermóvil PIN.

Frequently asked questions

How much CUP can you top up per month in Cuba?

Domestic top-ups are capped at 360 CUP per 30 days. ETECSA still listed that cap as of October 2026. International top-ups are separate.

How do I check my Cubacel balance and data?

Dial *222# for an overview, *222*328# for your data plan and *222*266# for bonuses and USD plans.

How do I top up a Cuban phone from the US or another country?

Use an international top-up website or app. Enter the number with +53 and check which promotion is running.

Does eSIM work in Cuba?

ETECSA doesn't offer eSIM on its site. Some foreign eSIMs work through roaming, so confirm with your provider that Cuba data is included.

Why is there no signal during blackouts?

Many cell sites go down without power, and the ones still running get congested.

Last reviewed: October 2026.