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Best eSIM for travel

Honest comparison of Holafly and Airalo, what each offers, what each misses, and how to choose before you board the plane.

Buying a local SIM at the airport used to be the sensible thing to do. Queue for 20 minutes, swap out your card, lose your home number in the process, and then spend 10 minutes figuring out whether it's actually working. An eSIM removes all of that, you activate it at home before you leave, your phone connects when you land, and your regular number stays available the whole time.

The two providers worth knowing are Holafly and Airalo. Both work in most major destinations. The difference is in how they price their plans and who each one suits best. This guide covers both without recommending one out of habit, the right choice depends on how you travel.

What to look for

The things that actually matter when choosing a travel eSIM.

Data limit vs unlimited. Some eSIMs sell fixed data packages, you buy 5GB or 10GB and stop when it runs out. Others offer unlimited data at a fixed price per day or per trip. If you use maps, stream music or work remotely while travelling, unlimited is significantly less stressful.

Coverage. Both Holafly and Airalo cover most popular travel destinations, but coverage varies by specific country. Always check that your destination is supported before purchasing. Multi-country plans are available from both providers if you're crossing borders on the same trip.

Activation. A good eSIM should be activatable before you leave home. You scan a QR code, the profile installs on your phone, and it activates automatically when you arrive in the destination country. Neither Holafly nor Airalo require you to be in the destination to activate.

Phone compatibility. Your phone needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Most smartphones made after 2018 support eSIM, check your phone's settings or the manufacturer's website if you're unsure. Locked phones tied to a single carrier will not work.

Calls and texts. eSIMs from both providers are data-only. Your calls and texts still go through your regular SIM. Use WhatsApp, Signal or any internet-based app for voice calls abroad, data is what the eSIM provides.

⚠️

Activate before you land. Don't leave eSIM activation for the airport or worse, the moment you need data. Scan the QR code at home, confirm it installs correctly, then set it to activate when you arrive. Both Holafly and Airalo let you do this in advance.

Our picks

Two providers worth knowing, each suited to a slightly different type of traveller.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you purchase, at no extra cost to you.
Holafly
Our top pick
Best for: most travellers who want simplicity and no data anxiety
Holafly sells unlimited data eSIMs at a fixed price per trip. You pay once, you get unlimited data for the duration — no tracking usage, no running out at an inconvenient moment. Coverage spans 160+ destinations. Plans are priced per number of days, which makes budgeting straightforward. The 4.6 Trustpilot rating reflects consistently good customer experience, which matters when something goes wrong in a foreign country.
Data
Unlimited
Pricing model
Per trip / per day
Coverage
160+ destinations
Trustpilot
4.6 / 5 ★
What we like
  • Unlimited data — no usage anxiety
  • Simple pricing — pay per trip
  • 4.6 Trustpilot — strong customer support
  • Activate before departure
  • Multi-country plans available
  • No contract or subscription
Consider before buying
  • Can be more expensive than Airalo for light data users
  • Unlimited does not always mean full-speed unlimited — check fair-use policy per destination
  • No calls or texts — data only
Prices vary by destination and trip length — check directly for a quote
Get Holafly →
Airalo
Best for light data users
Best for: travellers who use relatively little data and want the lowest possible cost per trip
Airalo operates as a marketplace of eSIM plans from local and regional operators across 190+ countries. You buy a fixed data package — a set number of GB for a set number of days — at competitive per-GB pricing. For travellers who primarily use maps and messaging rather than streaming or video calls, Airalo can work out cheaper than Holafly. The trade-off is that you need to monitor your usage and top up if you run out.
Data
Fixed packages (GB)
Pricing model
Per GB / per package
Coverage
190+ countries
App Store
4.6 / 5 ★
What we like
  • Very wide coverage — 190+ countries
  • Competitive per-GB pricing for light users
  • Top-up available if you run out
  • Activate before departure
  • App-based management
Consider before buying
  • Fixed data — can run out at a bad moment
  • Plan quality varies by local operator and destination
  • No calls or texts — data only
Prices vary by destination, package size and operator
Get Airalo →
💡
Which one to choose? If you use maps, stream music or work remotely while travelling, choose Holafly — unlimited data removes the stress of monitoring usage. If you travel light on data and want the lowest possible cost, Airalo can be cheaper for shorter or lower-usage trips. Either way, activate before you leave home — not at the airport.

Full comparison

Side-by-side breakdown across the features that matter.

Feature Holafly Airalo
Data type Unlimited Fixed GB packages
Pricing model Per trip / per day Per GB / per package
Coverage 160+ destinations 190+ countries
Multi-country plans Yes Yes
Activate before travel Yes Yes
Top-up if data runs out N/A — unlimited Yes
Calls & texts Data only Data only
App management Yes Yes
Trustpilot score 4.6 / 5 3.9 / 5
Best for Most travellers Light data users

Coverage, pricing and Trustpilot scores are subject to change. Always verify current details directly on each provider’s website before purchasing.

Frequently asked questions

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. Instead of buying a physical SIM at the airport, you scan a QR code before you travel and your phone connects to a local network when you land. No queuing, no swapping cards, no risk of losing your home SIM.

Is my phone compatible with eSIM?

Most smartphones made after 2018 support eSIM — including iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most Samsung Galaxy S and Z series. Check your phone’s settings or the manufacturer’s website to confirm. Your phone also needs to be unlocked — locked phones tied to a carrier will not accept an eSIM from another provider.

Should I choose Holafly or Airalo?

Holafly is the better choice for most travellers — unlimited data means no worrying about running out, and the pricing is straightforward. Airalo is worth considering if you are confident you will use relatively little data, as the per-GB pricing can work out cheaper in those cases.

Can I keep my regular number while using an eSIM?

Yes. An eSIM provides data only — your calls and texts still go through your regular SIM. Your home number remains active. Use WhatsApp, Signal or any internet-based calling app for calls abroad and you effectively have the best of both.

Can I use an eSIM in multiple countries?

Both Holafly and Airalo offer regional and multi-country plans that cover several countries under a single purchase. If you’re travelling across multiple destinations, check whether a regional plan covers all of them — it’s usually more convenient and cost-effective than buying separate plans per country.