Airalo vs Holafly: which eSIM to choose for traveling in 2026?

Airalo vs Holafly: a comparison in one table

Out of ten criteria, Airalo wins on six, Holafly on three, and customer support is a tie. The table summarizes the essentials, with details following in each section.

Report as of September 23, 2026, on airalo.com, esim.holafly.com and Trustpilot.

Two different models

The first difference between Airalo and Holafly is not the price, it's what they sell. Airalo is a catalog: data plans by volume per country, per region, or for the entire world, and, in the most in-demand countries, an unlimited range from 3 to 30 days. Holafly offers a single type of product: unlimited data, where you choose the duration of validity down to the day.

This choice of model changes the way we compare. Compared to a 10 GB plan, an unlimited plan always seems expensive. Compared to another unlimited plan of the same duration, the comparison becomes fair. That is why we first compare unlimited to unlimited, and then separately look at what data volume costs with Airalo for those who do not need unlimited.

Both brands are virtual operators: they do not own any antennas and resell the capacity of local operators. The speed you experience on-site depends on the host operator, not the logo on the app. We detail this mechanism on our compared eSIM operators page.

Price for unlimited data for the same duration: Japan, United States, Thailand

On the unlimited, this price comparison is definitive: Airalo is cheaper than Holafly in all three countries and across the three durations recorded. The gap ranges from 6% in Japan for 7 days to 57% in Thailand for 30 days.

One detail stands out: Holafly displays exactly the same price in all three countries. Airalo sets a price per destination, and it is in countries where data is locally inexpensive, such as Thailand, that the gap widens the most. The complete ranking for each country, across all providers, can be found on our Japan eSIM page and its equivalents.

Prices recorded on September 23, 2026, on airalo.com and esim.holafly.com, in euros, unlimited plans.

Holafly offers: a single pricing structure, per day.

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 / 5

eSIMrat rating

• ✓Unlimited data in all plans
• ✓Duration chosen by the day
• ✓More than 200 destinations
• ✓24/7 customer support
• ✓Refunds available for up to 6 months

%promo code “ESIMRAT” (-5%)

From

3€79

1 day, unlimited

View offers

Holafly is a Spanish company founded in 2017 by Pedro Máiquez and Lidia Hu, based in Madrid and Dublin. It started by selling physical SIM cards to travelers before transitioning to eSIM, and announced more than 15 million eSIMs sold in September 2025. Its specialty: unlimited data, in over 200 destinations.

Holafly sells unlimited data where you choose the duration day by day, with a daily price that decreases as the stay gets longer: €3.79 for one day, €2.30 per day for one month. The pricing structure is identical in Japan, the United States, and Thailand.

The code ESIMRAT, tested in the cart, applies to destination eSIMs. Even with the discount, Holafly unlimited remains higher than Airalo over the compared durations, but the gap drops to 23 cents in Japan for 7 days (€24.23 vs €24.00). Our Holafly promo code page details the cart test.

Prices recorded on September 23, 2026 on esim.holafly.com, in euros. Discounted prices calculated based on the -5% rate applied in the cart.

Airalo offers: unlimited and data-based plans

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 / 5

eSIMrat rating

• ✓More than 200 destinations
• ✓Data-based or unlimited plans
• ✓Unlimited: 3 GB/day cap announced
• ✓Top up from the app
• ✓24/7 multilingual support

%promo code “ESIMRAT” (-15%)

From

4€00

1 GB, 3 days

See the offers

Airalo was founded in 2019 and operates from Singapore. It raised 220 million dollars in July 2025, reaching a valuation of over one billion, and currently claims more than 30 million customers. It sells local, regional, and global eSIMs, in both volume-based and unlimited plans, across more than 200 destinations.

It's the question most comparisons skip: what if you don't need unlimited data? Holafly doesn't sell data-volume plans, so you pay for unlimited even if you consume very little. Airalo, on the other hand, offers both. Here are its offers in Japan, the most requested destination of the three.

The calculation is simple: 20 GB over 15 days is 1.3 GB per day, for €21.50, compared to €46.90 for the Holafly unlimited plan of the same duration. A traveler who uses maps, messaging, and social media without watching videos on the go generally stays below that. Beyond that, Airalo's unlimited plan remains cheaper than Holafly's. In Thailand, the 20 GB over 15 days is €16.00, and in the United States, it is €32.50. Our Airalo sheet details the rest of its catalog, including regions and global plans.

Unlimited plans as of September 23, 2026, on airalo.com, data-volume plans from the official Airalo catalog on the same day, in euros.

"Unlimited": what the fine print actually says

Neither of the two unlimited plans is unlimited at full speed. The difference between Airalo and Holafly lies in what each one states in black and white.

Airalo publishes a specific figure on its fair usage policy page: beyond 3 GB consumed in a day, the speed drops to 1 Mbps until the reset, which occurs every 24 hours from the time of activation. At this speed, messaging, maps, and simple browsing will work, but high-definition video will not.

Holafly does not publish any specific numerical threshold. Its FAQ indicates that some operators apply a fair usage policy which can reduce speeds after a certain volume, especially during peak hours, and that this reduction never lasts more than one day.

In practical terms, with Airalo you know exactly what to expect, and 3 GB per day easily covers a day of maps, social media, and messaging. With Holafly, the threshold depends on the local carrier and is not announced in advance. For normal use, both are sufficient. For intensive and regular use, only Airalo lets you do the math before buying.

Tethering: the most concrete difference

If you plan to share your connection with a computer, a tablet, or a travel companion, this is the criterion that should guide your choice between Airalo and Holafly, even before the price, when choosing between Airalo and Holafly.

At Airalo, tethering has no specific limit or device limit: it draws from the same 3 GB per day high-speed ceiling. At Holafly, the shareable volume is set at 1 GB per day per plan, meaning 7 GB in total on a 7-day plan, according to its product page.

The rat's advice: if you work on a computer during your trip, do not rely on the word "unlimited." With Holafly, a single system update on your computer can consume your entire daily data allowance. With Airalo, you have three times more margin every day, on the same type of plan.

Local operators and coverage

Both brands announce wide coverage: over 200 destinations. In terms of raw coverage, there is therefore no clear winner: what matters is the local operator your eSIM connects to in the visited country.

In Japan, Airalo relies on SoftBank and a second network, while Holafly uses KDDI and SoftBank. In Thailand, Airalo lists True as the primary network. In the United States, whether you land in New York or elsewhere, Airalo's primary network is T-Mobile. Airalo has a useful habit: it displays the primary operator for each plan directly on the page, before purchase.

Both also offer regional and global plans to move between several countries with a single eSIM: a Europe eSIM for a road trip across the continent, an Asia eSIM for a tour of the region, and a global eSIM for international travel across multiple continents. If your usual mobile plan is European, check before purchasing: roaming within the European Union is generally already included, so a Europe eSIM would be unnecessary.

Connection speed: what causes it to vary

The speed of a travel eSIM does not depend on the brand, but on three factors you can check before purchasing: the local carrier used, the 4G or 5G supported by your phone, and the cap on the unlimited offer.

The operator first: Airalo and Holafly resell the capacity of local operators, and two eSIMs from the same operator offer the same performance. In Japan, both go through SoftBank. Then your device: a 5G-compatible phone will only benefit from 5G if the plan and the host operator offer it in the area where you are located.

Finally, no more unlimited data restrictions: with Airalo, speeds drop to 1 Mbps after 3 GB of data in a day. With Holafly, a reduction may apply after an unpublished data volume, for a maximum of one day. At 1 Mbps, browsing, messaging, and GPS will work, but high-definition video and large downloads will not.

To check on-site, run a speed test (for example, using the Speedtest by Ookla app). If the result stays stuck around 1 Mbps at the start of the day, it's not a cap: change the operator in your eSIM settings or contact support.

Installation, application, and customer support

Regarding installation, Airalo and Holafly are equally good. You just need to download the app, make your purchase, and then the eSIM installs in a few minutes via the app or with a QR code before departure. Once you arrive, it activates on the local network: validity only begins at that moment. Holafly offers one-tap automatic installation from its app on iPhone, starting from iOS 17.4.

The Airalo app is available in 53 languages and its top-up feature adds data to an already installed eSIM without having to buy a new one. It's practical if you extend your stay: you keep the same profile and just add more data.

Regarding customer service, both announce 24/7 assistance. Airalo responds notably on WhatsApp, while Holafly responds via chat, email, WhatsApp, and within its application. In case of an activation problem, it's your first recourse, and the experience is comparable on both sides: they guide you to reinstall the profile or change networks.

Are Airalo and Holafly reliable?

Yes, both are established players, not brands built in six months. Airalo claims over 30 million customers, Holafly has over 112,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Neither shows the usual red flags: impossible-to-find pricing, hidden terms, or lack of support.

In terms of reviews, Holafly leads Airalo. On September 23, 2026, Holafly shows 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot for 112,694 reviews. Airalo shows 4.1 out of 5 for 44,506 reviews, including 16% one-star reviews. On their esimrat profiles, Airalo is noted at 4.4 out of 5 and Holafly at 4.2 out of 5: the price gap and transparency compensate for Airalo's more mixed reviews.

An aggregate score doesn't tell the whole story: it mixes very different trips, countries, and usage patterns. It remains consistent with the rest of the comparison. Holafly sells a unique product, easy to understand, which leaves little room for the unpleasant surprise of a plan that is too small. Airalo sells for less, but requires you to carefully choose your data volume.

Refunds, phone numbers and options

Holafly highlights a generous refund policy: a full refund in case of cancellation, with up to six months to request it, according to its product pages. It also includes Always On, presented as new on its website: when your unlimited data is exhausted, 1 GB of backup data per month activates automatically. Finally, Holafly sells monthly subscriptions, the Plans, with data worldwide and data sharing, for those who travel every month.

Neither of them provides a local number on their data plans. You keep WhatsApp, iMessage, and internet calls. Airalo also offers plans in the United States that include local calling minutes and SMS, which Holafly does not do.

To receive your usual SMS, such as your bank codes, keep your primary SIM active alongside it for security, using dual SIM. Our Holafly sheet summarizes its other conditions.

Verdict: Airalo or Holafly, depending on your profile

There is no single winner in this duel Airalo vs Holafly, there is a good choice for every traveler profile.

The rat's advice: before paying for unlimited data, check your mobile usage for the last thirty days in your phone settings. If you are under 1 GB per day, a data-volume plan is more than enough: in Japan, 10 GB for 15 days costs €16.00 at Airalo, compared to €43.00 for unlimited and €46.90 at Holafly.

Alternatives to Airalo and Holafly, cheaper

If your main criterion is price, Airalo and Holafly are neither the only alternatives nor the cheapest. On a 10 GB plan valid for 30 days, several lesser-known providers cost half as much as Airalo, and Holafly does not sell this format.

The difference is found elsewhere. In Thailand, the same plan costs €6.56 at eSIM4Travel and €6.79 at eSIMX, compared to €10.00 at Airalo. In the United States, it costs €7.31 at eSIM4Travel and €7.99 at Roamic, compared to €20.50 at Airalo.

voilà eSIM belongs to the same group as this comparator, and we treat it like the others: it ranks third in a tie in Japan, behind eSIM Card and eSIM4Travel. What sets it apart, in addition to its value for money: a simple-to-install eSIM, an easy-to-use application, and human customer support, available 24/7. Its limitation: it does not sell unlimited plans, so it does not meet the needs of heavy users, whereas Airalo and Holafly remain the good options.

These prices change often. Our destination pages compare offers from 25 providers, sorted by price per GB, including the promo codes we have tested in the cart. For other countries, start from our list of compared destinations.

Prices recorded on September 23, 2026, from official provider catalogs, 10 GB / 30 days plans, in euros.