A1 Croatia Prepaid eSIM
eSIMEUR 3 eSIM with credit back: a +385 number for low-frequency backup use, keep-alive at ~EUR 2 per cycle
Best for: A near-free +385 backup number for non-critical overseas service sign-ups and pre-travel Croatia numbers
Overview
A1 Hrvatska (A1 Croatia) sells a prepaid eSIM with a new +385 number entirely online: EUR 3 on the SIM-promo page, QR code and number delivered by email, and the EUR 3 returned as account credit. First activation grants 180 days of full service; later top-ups extend 92 days per EUR 2, and after expiry a 270-day recharge window keeps the number reachable for calls and SMS. No ID upload was observed in practice, making it a popular low-cost backup number for overseas service sign-ups.
A1 Hrvatska is the Croatian arm of A1 Group (Telekom Austria), running its own national network. The eSIM flow is fully online: a1.hr/privatni/mobiteli/sim-promo → "Želim novi eSIM broj" → pay EUR 3 (card / Apple Pay / Google Pay) → QR code + number arrive by email → scan to activate. The EUR 3 comes back as account credit, so the effective first-year cost is near zero beyond the initial outlay.
Validity mechanics (the part most guides get wrong): EUR 2 is NOT a 365-day extension. It buys 92 days of full service; after those lapse, a 270-day recharge window follows in which the number can still receive calls and SMS but cannot reliably originate traffic. 92 + 270 = 362 days per EUR 2 cycle — that arithmetic is the whole "EUR 2 per year" trick. For continuous full service, top up EUR 2 every ~80-90 days.
Top-up: a1.hr/kupi-bon accepts custom amounts from EUR 2 (fixed vouchers EUR 5/10/15/20/35 with bonus MB online), paid by card, PayPal, Keks Pay or A1 account.
China roaming field test (2026-08-17): on China Mobile the SIM registered but could not receive SMS; on China Unicom, SMS from ChatGPT, Tiger Brokers and BIT arrived, while "你好China" failed. Reception depends on platform risk control and SMS routing — treat it as a receive-mostly backup line, never the sole number for banks, brokers or exchange accounts.
Practical notes: no KYC upload observed at order time (rules can change; Croatian registration law still applies formally); eSIM can be activated while roaming abroad; device must support eSIM; moving the profile to another device requires deleting it from the old one first. Sources: a1.hr SIM-promo and kupi-bon pages + third-party tests, verified 2026-08-22.
Popular plans
| Plan | Data from | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| New eSIM number | Credit-based (EUR 3 returned as balance) | 180 days on first activation | EUR 3 |
| Keep-alive top-up (custom amount) | Adds to existing balance | +92 days full service, then 270-day recharge window | EUR 2 (minimum tested) |
Prices from a1.hr SIM-promo and kupi-bon pages, verified 2026-08-22. EUR3 back-as-credit is a webshop promotion and may end. China roaming results are a single-round field test (2026-08-17), not a guarantee.
Things to note
- 270-day window is receive-only, not full service
- China Mobile roaming registered but received no SMS (2026-08 test)
- SMS reception varies by platform risk control — unsuitable as sole number for banks/exchanges
- Croatian SIM registration law formally applies; no-KYC status may change
- EU roaming surcharges may apply on some data bundles
Key features
- EUR 3 eSIM with the amount returned as credit
- Fully online ordering — QR code by email, no store visit
- No ID upload observed at order time
- +385 number usable for overseas service sign-ups
- Custom top-ups from EUR 2 at a1.hr/kupi-bon