Airalo vs. Holafly: Which eSIM Provider Should You Choose?

Regardless of your travel destination, you’ll find that traveling with an eSIM makes your ventures much more enjoyable and convenient. eSIMs are digital, unremovable versions of physical SIM cards and, due to their increasing popularity, there is no shortage of eSIM providers to choose from.  Specifically, Airalo and Holafly are one of the most popular and revered eSIM providers out there. 

Airalo was one of the world’s first eSIM marketplaces and is known for their affordable pricing models and impressive coverage maps. 

Holafly is another leading eSIM store that has garnered praise for its unlimited eSIM data plans and high-quality customer service. Given that both providers have valuable and unique offerings, the problem you’ll face when evaluating the two is knowing which one to choose.

Having tested eSIMs from both providers, we can provide you with the insights you need to make a well-informed decision. Through our rigorous testing, we’ve revealed key distinctions between the two providers’ pricing models, data speeds, coverage, and so much more. 

By the time you’ve finished reading our guide, you’ll be able to settle the Airalo vs Holafly matter. 

Airalo vs. Holafly – General Comparison

By looking at our Holafly vs Airalo table, you can see that our testing methodology has revealed some crucial differences between the two eSIM providers. 

Although both Holafly and Airalo cover a significant number of countries, Airalo does offer the most affordable eSIM technology, which is something worth considering if you’re a budget-conscious traveler. 

That said, Holafly compensates for its slightly higher prices with unlimited data plans and a wider range of both device and customer support options. 

But, while this table contains valuable comparisons, you’ll need more information to confidently pick between Airalo or Holafly. For that reason, we’ve explored each section in more detail below. 

Airalo vs Holafly: Prices and Plans 

The prices and plans of both Airalo and Holafly each have their own advantages when it comes to affordability and data amounts. 

Firstly, focusing on the Holafly eSIM, Holafly covers over 190 countries with a considerable amount of destinations starting at their lowest price ($6). These destinations include the USA, Europe, and Asia. 

Of course, depending on where you’re traveling to, Holafly’s starting prices will vary. For instance, with Holafly, the cheapest package you can get for destinations like the Maldives is $44. 

Considering that these figures reflect the cheapest price range, it’s clear that Airalo seems like the most affordable eSIM provider on the surface.

But, for every destination Holafly covers, you’ve got more variety, with the option for both limited and unlimited data plans. 

With an unlimited data plan, you won’t have to constantly monitor your data usage to make sure it aligns with your budget or pay for additional data when your usage exceeds your limit. 

As you can imagine, the amount you pay to top up your data can tip the scales, with Holafly actually being the cheapest option. 

We actually have a 5% discount code for Holafly, which you can use for any destination. 

Shifting focus to Airalo, as of the time of writing this article, Airalo covers over 200 countries. 

For most of these destinations, you can pay $4.50 for 1GB of mobile data, making it immediately cheaper than Holafly’s eSIMs overall. 

Like Holafly, however, this starting price doesn’t apply to all destinations. For instance, if you were traveling to Zambia with Airalo, you would pay $9.50 for that 1GB of mobile data instead. 

While Airalo’s affordability is indisputable, remember to consider the additional fees for data top-ups and the fact that you’ll be charged per text message and per minute when you make or receive phone calls. With Holafly’s unlimited data plans, you won’t have to worry about such charges. 

Overall, both companies are tied up on what they offer, but Holafly is a better option when it comes to data plans and features.

Airalo vs Holafly: Internet Data Speed Comparison 

No Airalo or Holafly eSIM review would be complete without looking into the quality of their respective data speeds. 

Since the Holafly coverage map isn’t as extensive as Airalo’s coverage map, we’ll focus on Holafly’s data speeds first. 

Holafly partners with high-quality local carriers all around the world, which is why they can provide reliable coverage in most destinations. 

Providing 4G/LTE (and even sometimes 5G) across locations like the USA, Spain, and France, Holafly’s data speeds are often consistently great. 

We say ‘often’ because, with Holafly, there are fair usage policies you need to take into account. These policies relate to high data usage, meaning that if you use an excessive amount of data, you could later experience slower speeds. 

But when it comes to cellular networks, there isn’t much difference when it comes to Airalo – some of Airalo’s eSIMs can support 5G cellular networks, but the majority of their eSIMs support 4G/LTE speeds in most locations. 

Again, like Holafly, Airalo also works with the top local carriers. 

Ultimately, it has everything to do with where you’re traveling when it comes to fast and reliable data speeds. 

To give you a general idea of what to expect, we’ve conducted a few speed tests for both Holafly’s and Airalo’s eSIMs in different locations. 

Holafly: 

• 79MBs in Thailand
• 8.03MBs in Spain
• 106.03MBs in Chile

Airalo: 

• 45.8MBs in Egypt
• 2.02MBs in Colombia
• 39.4MBs in Japan

It’s worth noting that if the local carrier network has an issue for either eSIM provider, it will affect how both Holafly’s and Airalo’s eSIMs work. 

Overall, Holafly wins this round – despite not having as extensive coverage as Airalo, Holafly compensates with its slightly faster data speeds (on average). 

Airalo vs Holafly: Coverage 

We’ve mentioned coverage a few times in this article, so you know that both Holafly and Airalo can offer impressive coverage all over the globe. 

Airalo’s coverage has a clear advantage over Holafly’s coverage, providing local, regional, and global eSIM plans in over 200 destinations. 

Holafly, on the other hand, only offers some global eSIM unlimited data plans, as well as local and regional plans. However, as we said before, Holafly supports eSIM technology in over 190 countries, which still makes it one of the most widely used eSIM services. 

Overall, if you’re basing your ‘Airalo or Holafly’ choice on coverage alone, Airalo’s plans are better tailored to specific countries and regions. 

Airalo vs Holafly: App and User Experience 

An eSIM provider’s app and the quality of the user experience will impact the convenience of purchasing, activating, and managing your eSIMs. 

Both Airalo and Holafly have free apps that you can find on iOS and Android app stores. 

Additionally, they both have well-designed user interfaces that make purchasing and activating eSIM data plans incredibly simple and straightforward. 

Given that both apps also cater to a number of various payment methods and preferences, there is no distinguishable ‘winner’ of this category. 

Before you start using either of these two apps, we recommend consulting Airalo’s and Holafly’s device support pages first. You’ll find them linked below. 

• Holafly’s device support page
• Airalo’s device support page

Airalo vs Holafly: Customer Support 

The degree of customer support is another factor that will affect the quality of your experience with both providers. After all, technology issues are commonplace, and you need a responsive, knowledgeable support team to guide you through any mishaps. 

In Airalo’s case, its 24/7 customer support has been a focal point of criticism for many users. 

Looking at reviews from Airalo’s Trustpilot rating (2.4), many users have reported issues with slow response times and generally unhelpful solutions. 

Also, while Airalo offers customer support in different languages, users must change the language of the site and access either WhatsApp or Messenger to continue the conversation with the customer support team.

The site’s live chat option only works in English and doesn’t offer meaningful responses to users, which is likely to have contributed to Airalo’s low ratings. 

Holafly, on the other hand, has an excellent support team that is available 24/7 and will usually respond to your query in less than five minutes. 

What’s more, you can reach out to Holafly’s support team in various ways, including via live chat, WhatsApp, or email. Best of all, Holafly can help you find a helpful solution in multiple different languages, including Spanish, Italian, English, French, and Japanese. 

Overall, the customer support side of the Airalo vs Holafly matter has a clear winner. 

Airalo vs Holafly: Additional Features and Extras 

A good way to determine if an eSIM service is right for you is to look into any additional features it offers its users. 

To start with, we’ve looked at Holafly’s additional features. 

1. Holafly’s Hotspot 

Across many of Holafly’s limited and unlimited data plans, you can enjoy 500MB of mobile hotspot data per day. This is a great feature for groups of travelers where not everyone has an eSIM-compatible device and needs access to a reliable internet connection. 

2. Holafly’s European Phone Numbers 

Many of Holafly’s eSIM plans come with a European phone number, which enables you to make and receive phone calls within Europe for up to an hour. As you can imagine, this feature is ideal for travelers who want to save on additional expenses. 

3. Holafly’s Data Monitoring 

Holafly’s app isn’t just user-friendly; it’s specifically designed to help travelers with all of their data needs. With Holafly’s app, you can easily track how much data you’re consuming and you’ll even receive notifications when you’re nearing your limit. This feature makes for a seamless eSIM service, completely free of internet interruptions and surprise bills. 

We’ll now discuss Airalo’s additional features. 

1. Airalo’s Airmoney

Airalo has a loyalty program known as Airmoney, in which you can receive up to 5% cashback on new purchases. You can then use this ‘Airmoney’ to make future, cheaper purchases with Airalo. 

2. Airalo’s Phone Calls 

Although Airalo offers phone calls and texting options in less popular destinations, this feature is still noteworthy. Remember to take into account that, unlike Holafly’s equivalent service, you will be charged if you use these features with Airalo. 

3. Airalo’s Offline Mode 

Airalo’s offline mode feature grants you the ability to open the Airalo app and follow the instructions you need to access your eSIM data without needing to rely on a stable internet connection. This feature makes arriving at a new destination a much less daunting experience. 

Airalo vs Holafly: Refund Policies 

In the circumstance where you require a full or partial refund, you need to know that you can easily get one without the additional stress. 

With Holafly’s refund policy, you have six months to request a refund. This means that you have complete peace of mind knowing that you have plenty of time to request a refund from Holafly. 

But what can you request a refund for? 

As you can see from the image above, you can request a refund from Holafly for the following reasons:

• If you no longer need your Holafly eSIM due to changes in your plans. 
• If you purchased an eSIM only after finding out that your device is locked or incompatible with eSIM technology. 
• If you purchased a Holafly eSIM and are experiencing connection issues. 

Holafly’s refund process is also straightforward; all you need to do is reach out to Holafly’s support team, and they’ll provide helpful instructions. 

Airalo’s refund policy, in contrast, looks quite different. 

With Airalo, you only have 30 days from the date of purchase to request a refund, meaning you’ll have to act fast to get your money back if needed. 

Once you install an eSIM from Airalo, Airalo will consider that eSIM to be used and won’t be eligible for a refund. Beyond this, if you meet Airalo’s refund criteria, you may be subjected to processing fees. 

From both refund policies, it definitely looks like Holafly is more dedicated to providing their users with the appropriate compensation than Airalo. 

Airalo vs Holafly: What Do Users Think? 

There’s no better way to confirm the quality of an eSIM provider’s services than by examining testimonials from current or former users. 

As you know, there is a great imbalance when it comes to Holafly vs Airalo through Trustpilot’s lens. 

But what do users think about Airalo outside of Trustpilot? 

Across companies like CNN and Freaking Nomads, Airalo has received a lot of praise due to its widespread coverage and affordability. Airalo’s app – both iOS and Android – has also garnered respectable praise, earning a 4.7 and 4.6 rating, respectively. 

Users seem to like Airalo’s painless activation process and data top-up features, enjoying the flexibility that comes without having to commit to more expensive data plans. 

However, as you’d see in Airalo’s Trustpilot reviews, many of its app users have had issues with slow response times, unhelpful solutions, and inconsistent functionality. 

In contrast, you can find dozens of testimonials on Holafly’s own website, displaying how users love not having to deal with hefty roaming charges and the ability to conduct online activities like streaming without any hassle. 

Of course, since these testimonials are from Holafly’s official website, it’s understandable that all of these reviews are positive. 

But even outside of Holafly, travel bloggers like Project Untethered and Project Gora have commended Holafly’s reliable data across multiple countries and even within some very remote locations. 

Holafly’s iOS and Android app has ratings of 4.4 and 4.2, with a majority of the criticisms relating to the slower data speeds that come with Holafly’s fair usage policies and technical issues like app freezes. 

Conclusion: Which eSIM to Use for International Travel, Holafly or Airalo? 

Overall, both Holafly and Airalo are great as leading eSIM providers and excel at different aspects of what makes a great eSIM. 

Obviously, the right eSIM for you will depend largely on your travel destination, your unique travel needs, and which features you prioritize when looking for the perfect eSIM. 

If we had to choose one go-to eSIM provider, it would be Holafly. As seasoned travelers ourselves, we know the value of being able to use high amounts of data on our travels, and with Holafly’s unlimited data plans, our needs are more than met. 

Beyond unlimited data, we love that Holafly’s support team is rapid, friendly, and highly knowledgeable, making resolving technical issues a breeze.

Airalo vs. Holafly: FAQ

In case you have any further queries, keep reading – below, we’ve answered some of our most frequently asked questions. 

Cintia Soto Tomeu

Adventurer, passionate traveler, and tech enthusiast. On Roami, I aim at sharing the best solutions to help you navigate the complexities of staying connected abroad, ensuring a hassle-free experience. I enjoy playing chess, reading Brian Greene, and exploring different cultures!