eSIMrat
Airalo Review
Verified partner4.4 / 5eSIMrat score
The market's pioneering travel eSIM, advertised across 200+ destinations, as local, regional or global plans. Each plan names the local carrier it runs on. Dollar pricing.
ESIMRAT- DESTINATIONS
- 197
- FROM
- €0.50/GB
- NETWORK
- 4G / 5G
- MAX DATA
- 50 GB
- CALLS / SMS
- No
Our marks, criterion by criterion
Price per GB
4.3From €0.49 per GB in the esimrat catalogue, 5 GB for 30 days in France at €9.46. Fair, without being the cheapest per GB.
Coverage
4.5197 countries in the esimrat catalogue, 200+ destinations advertised, with local, regional and global plans.
App
4.5iOS and Android app in 53 languages; buy, manage and top up eSIMs from the phone.
Support
4.424/7 multilingual support over live chat, on the site and in the app.
Transparency
4.2Each plan names the local carrier it runs on. Prices are set in dollars, so the euro amount follows the day's rate.
Flexibility
4.4Plans from 1 to 50 GB, 3 to 45 days, plus 826 unlimited options in the catalogue. No calls or texts.
Technical note
An overview of Airalo's performance across 6 criteria
How we score
This score is eSIMrat's own, not an average of customer reviews. It covers six criteria we assess ourselves from the catalogue's real coverage, the prices we record, and test purchases and installs. We earn a commission on sales made through our links: it changes neither the score nor the order of our rankings, which stay sorted by price per GB.
The eSIMrat verdict
Airalo is the travel eSIM pioneer and it shows: a wide catalogue, a mature app in 53 languages, chat support available around the clock, and the local carrier shown on every plan. The price per GB is fair without being the lowest on our comparator, and dollar pricing makes the euro total move from one day to the next. A safe pick if you want an established name; compare per GB on your destination before paying.
Good for
- Travellers who want to know which local network they land on
- Multi-country itineraries with the regional and global plans
- Heavy users who want an unlimited option
- Anyone who prefers an app in their own language (53 available)
Less suited if
- You want the lowest price per GB (→ Esimzon, Roamify)
- You want fixed euro pricing (→ Saily, Ubigi)
- You need native calls or texts (→ Yesim, Sim Local)
- You want human support 24/7 with excellent value for money, an eSIM that is simple to install and an easy-to-use app (→ voilà eSIM)
Pros and cons
Pros
- 197 countries in the catalogue, local, regional and global plans
- The local carrier is shown on every plan before you buy
- 24/7 multilingual chat support
- iOS and Android app in 53 languages, top up without reinstalling
- Unlimited options on many destinations
Cons
- Price per GB above the cheapest on the comparator
- Dollar pricing: the euro total moves with the exchange rate
- Data only: no calls or texts
- Short validity on small plans (3 days for 1 GB)
Airalo price list: sample prices
Prices vary by destination. Here is an overview for the most requested countries.
Prices checked in September 2026. Check live rates on the comparator.
How to install your eSIM with Airalo
Buy your plan
Download the Airalo app (iOS or Android) or buy on airalo.com: it is the same account.
Pick your destination
Choose your destination and your data plan.
Scan the QR code
Pay and scan the QR code to install the eSIM.
Get connected
Turn the connection on when you land. That's it.
If something goes wrong
Check that your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked, then run the install from the Airalo app over a stable Wi-Fi connection. If it stalls, Airalo's live chat answers 24/7.
Turn Airplane mode on and off again. Check that the eSIM from Airalo is selected for mobile data in your settings. Turn data roaming on. Restart the phone. If nothing changes, switch network selection to manual and pick another operator.
Look at per-app usage in your phone's settings to spot the hungry apps. Turn off automatic updates and high-resolution video playback. Your remaining data shows in your Airalo account, or in its app when there is one.
With Airalo the QR code is optional: the eSIM installs straight from the app, under My eSIMs. The code also sits in your account on airalo.com. If in doubt, the 24/7 chat resends it.
What users say
Reviews synthesised from the App Store, Google Play and online feedback. We do not republish reviews word for word: we summarise the trend.
- ★★★★★Trustpilot
A 5G connection problem sorted by support with precise instructions for the phone model in question.
- ★★★★★Trustpilot
An eSIM bought by mistake for an incompatible device, refunded in full after a chat with support.
- ★☆☆☆☆Trustpilot
Install instructions judged inadequate on a Pixel 9, with roaming charges paid while troubleshooting.
Alternatives to Airalo
Airalo is not the only option. Depending on your priorities, these providers are worth comparing.
voilà eSIM
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Yaalo
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Qrispy
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Esimzon
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eSIMNEXA
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eSIM Card
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Yesim
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Maya Mobile
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Ubigi
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Saily
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GoMoWorld
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eSIMo
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Roamify
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Holafly
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Sim Local
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Nomad
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Roamic
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eSIM4Travel
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Billion Connect
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Simify
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Esimatic
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Voye Global
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eSIMX
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ByteSIM
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GlocalMe
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eSIMPal
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eTravelSim
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ChillSim
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Roamix
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eSIMGlobe
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Frequently asked questions
For a week in Europe with typical use (maps, messaging, social media), 5 GB is enough. At Airalo, 5 GB valid 30 days costs €9.46 in France and €8.00 in Spain (esimrat catalogue prices, converted at the day's rate). For streaming or tethering, aim for 10 GB.
It depends on the plan: most travel eSIMs allow tethering, some cap or exclude it. The plan page on Airalo's site states it, so read it before paying.
An eSIM works on most smartphones released after 2019: iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3 and later. Your phone must be carrier-unlocked. Our eSIM-compatible phones page lists the models.
Yes. Most recent smartphones handle a physical SIM (calls, texts, your number) and an eSIM from Airalo (mobile data) side by side. You keep your usual number and use the eSIM for the Internet.
Contact Airalo's chat, available 24/7, with your order number. Feedback read on Trustpilot describes full refunds granted for an eSIM bought by mistake for an incompatible device. The exact terms depend on the eSIM's state (installed or not, data used or not).
No. An Airalo eSIM gives you a standard data connection on the local network: TikTok, ChatGPT, banking apps and VPNs work as they do on your usual SIM, subject to the visited country's own restrictions.
Yes. Airalo lets you top up the eSIM from the app without installing a new one: you add a plan to the same profile and it activates after the current one.
Practical information
- Coverage
- 197 countries in the esimrat catalogue
- Plan type
- Data only, by volume or unlimited
- Durations
- 3 to 45 days
- Support
- 24/7 multilingual live chat
- Top-up
- From the app, no reinstall
- Currency
- Dollars, shown in several currencies
- App
- iOS and Android, 53 languages
Interested in Airalo? Compare first.
Check it really is the best price per GB for your destination before you click.