SIM card for GPS trackers
Updated
A GPS tracker needs a data SIM that fits its slot, supports its radio technology (2G, 4G, LTE-M or NB-IoT) and works in every country the tracker crosses. Trackers use little data, typically 30 to 50 MB a month, so a prepaid IoT SIM priced by volume is usually cheaper and more reliable abroad than a phone plan.
Status: Coming soon (checked 26 October 2026) · Notify me when available
Key points
- Check the radio first. Many low-cost trackers are 2G only. Where 2G is being switched off, they will stop working: see 2G and 3G shutdown dates.
- Data is small. Position reports are a few hundred bytes; the table below gives monthly totals.
- Borders. An IoT SIM uses local networks in each country; check permanent roaming rules if a tracker stays abroad for months.
- SMS. Many trackers are configured by text message (APN, server address, reporting interval).
How much data will it use?
| Reporting pattern | Assumption | Data per month |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle, working hours | 1 KB every 30 s, 8 h a day | about 28 MB |
| Vehicle or asset, always on | 1 KB every 60 s, 24 h a day | about 42 MB |
| Parked asset | 1 KB every 15 min | about 3 MB |
“1 KB per report” is our assumption: a small position message plus TCP and protocol overhead. Your tracker’s server log gives the real figure.
Set up a tracker with an IoT SIM
- Insert the SIM with the tracker switched off.
- Set the APN given with your SIM, usually by SMS command or in the tracker’s configuration app (see your tracker’s manual).
- Set the server address and port of your tracking platform.
- Choose the reporting interval; it drives data use and battery life.
- Check the first positions on your platform, then in your M2M.global account (data used, last session).
Private delivery for fleets
For a few trackers, internet delivery is fine. For a fleet whose tracking platform runs in your own cloud, private delivery sends positions straight into your VPC: the trackers have no public address and the platform has no internet-facing port to defend.
Related
- IoT SIM card
- SIM card for 4G and 5G routers
- Private APN vs public APN vs VPN
- GPS tracker setup by model: APN by SMS, 2G-only models flagged
Frequently asked questions
What kind of SIM card do I need for a GPS tracker?
A data SIM in the size the tracker accepts (usually nano, micro or standard), that works on the radio technology of the tracker (2G, 4G, LTE-M or NB-IoT) in the countries where it will move. SMS is useful if the tracker is configured by text message.
Do all GPS trackers require a SIM card?
No. Cellular trackers do. Bluetooth tags rely on nearby phones, LoRaWAN trackers use LoRa networks, and satellite trackers use satellite links.
How much data does a GPS tracker use?
Little. If each position report is about 1 KB on the wire, a report every 60 seconds around the clock is about 42 MB a month, and a report every 30 seconds during 8 working hours is about 28 MB.
Will my GPS tracker still work after the 2G shutdown?
Not if it is 2G only and the local networks switch 2G off. Check the tracker's bands and our table of 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.