7 Best Airalo Alternatives in 2026 (Tested & Compared)

Airalo is our top-rated eSIM provider for good reason — 200+ country coverage, competitive pricing, and a polished app that makes setup effortless. But it isn’t the right fit for everyone. Maybe you need unlimited data for remote work and Airalo’s capped plans don’t cut it. Maybe you’ve found a destination where Airalo’s pricing is steeper than competitors. Or maybe you want a built-in VPN, a pay-as-you-go model, or simply the cheapest possible eSIM.

We’ve tested 7 Airalo alternatives across 15+ countries over the past 6 months, running 200+ speed tests and comparing pricing, features, and real-world reliability. Every provider on this list is one we’ve personally used while traveling — no spec-sheet reviews here.

Here’s the quick version: Holafly is the best alternative if you need unlimited data. Saily wins on price. Nomad eSIM is the easiest entry point for first-timers. Read on for the full breakdown.

Quick Comparison: Top Airalo Alternatives

Before we dive into individual reviews, here’s how the top alternatives stack up against each other — and against Airalo itself.

Now let’s break down each alternative in detail.

1. Holafly — Best for Unlimited Data

Our pick if you need unlimited data without usage anxiety.

If the #1 reason you’re looking for an Airalo alternative is data caps, Holafly is your answer. It’s the only major eSIM provider that offers genuinely unlimited data — no hard caps, no surprise throttling under normal usage. We used 40-80GB per month during our 4-month testing period and never hit a wall.

What Makes Holafly Different

Where Airalo charges per gigabyte, Holafly charges per day. You buy a duration (5 days, 10 days, 15 days, or 30 days) and get unlimited data for that entire period. It’s a fundamentally different pricing model that favors heavy data users.

During our testing across Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and Indonesia, we averaged 30-90 Mbps download speeds in urban areas. That’s slightly below Airalo’s average (60+ Mbps), but the unlimited data more than compensates if you’re a heavy user.

Pricing

• Thailand: Unlimited/5 days for $27, 10 days for $47, 30 days for $87
• Japan: Unlimited/5 days for $19, 10 days for $34, 30 days for $69
• Europe: Unlimited/5 days for $27, 10 days for $47, 30 days for $87
• USA: Unlimited/5 days for $27, 10 days for $47, 30 days for $84

Price comparison vs Airalo: For light users (under 5GB), Airalo is significantly cheaper. But if you use 10GB+ per trip, the math shifts. Airalo’s 10GB/30-day plan for Thailand costs $26 — and if you burn through that, top-ups at a premium rate add up fast. Holafly’s 30-day unlimited plan at $87 gives you peace of mind and unlimited data for remote work, streaming, and video calls.

Key Features

• Unlimited data — no caps, no rationing
• 180+ country coverage — fewer than Airalo’s 200+ but covers all major travel destinations
• 24/7 WhatsApp support — fastest support response times we tested (under 3 minutes on average)
• Data sharing — share your connection with other devices via hotspot (some plans)
• Easy setup — QR code installation, 4-6 minutes from purchase to connectivity

Who Should Choose Holafly Over Airalo

Holafly is the better choice if you’re a remote worker running daily video calls, a content creator uploading large files on the road, or simply someone who doesn’t want to think about data limits. If you’ve ever rationed data mid-trip or been caught in a Zoom call when your plan ran out, Holafly eliminates that stress entirely.

Not ideal for: Budget travelers who use under 5GB per trip (you’ll overpay), travelers heading to destinations outside Holafly’s 180-country footprint, or anyone who prefers per-gigabyte pricing.

Get Holafly Unlimited eSIM

Read our full Holafly review or see how it compares in our Airalo vs Holafly breakdown.

2. Saily — Best Value (by NordVPN)

Our pick if you want Airalo-quality coverage at a lower price.

Saily is built by Nord Security — the same team behind NordVPN — and it shows. The app is clean, the speeds are strong, and the pricing undercuts Airalo by 10-20% across most destinations. If your primary reason for seeking an Airalo alternative is price, Saily is the one to beat.

What Makes Saily Different

Saily doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It offers the same capped-data, per-gigabyte model as Airalo — but at consistently lower prices. The NordVPN team leveraged their existing infrastructure and carrier relationships to deliver competitive rates from day one.

We tested Saily across 6 countries and averaged 40-110 Mbps download speeds, often matching or exceeding Airalo’s performance at the same locations. In Japan on 5G, we hit peaks of 180 Mbps.

Pricing

• Thailand: 1GB/7 days for $3.99, 3GB/30 days for $9.99, 10GB/30 days for $22.99
• Japan: 1GB/7 days for $3.99, 5GB/30 days for $13.99
• Europe: 1GB/7 days for $4.99, 5GB/30 days for $17.99, 20GB/30 days for $44.99
• USA: 1GB/7 days for $4.99, 5GB/30 days for $16.99

Price comparison vs Airalo: On a 5GB/30-day plan for Thailand, Saily costs $13.99 versus Airalo’s $15.50 — a 10% saving. For Europe, it’s $17.99 versus $19.00. These per-plan savings are modest individually but compound across multi-country trips. Over a 3-month Southeast Asia itinerary buying 3-4 plans, you could save $15-25 without sacrificing quality.

Key Features

• 150+ country coverage — smaller than Airalo but covers all popular destinations
• 5G support — available in Japan, South Korea, USA, and select European markets
• NordVPN pedigree — built by a company with 10+ years of network infrastructure experience
• Minimalist app — fast, clean, no bloat
• 24/7 support — live chat and email with 5-12 minute average response times

Who Should Choose Saily Over Airalo

Saily is the better choice if you’re a budget-conscious traveler heading to well-traveled destinations (Southeast Asia, Europe, Americas, Japan). If your destination is covered by both providers, choosing Saily saves you money with negligible difference in quality.

Not ideal for: Travelers heading to obscure or less-common destinations where Saily’s 150-country footprint might fall short. In those cases, Airalo’s 200+ country coverage is safer. Also not ideal if you want the most feature-rich app experience — Saily keeps things minimal.

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3. Nomad eSIM — Best for Simplicity

Our pick if you’re new to eSIMs and want to test the waters risk-free.

Nomad eSIM offers something no other major provider does: a free 3-day trial with 500MB-1GB of data in select countries. If you’ve never used an eSIM before and want to verify it works on your phone before spending money, Nomad removes the risk entirely.

What Makes Nomad Different

Beyond the free trial, Nomad positions itself as the “no-fuss” option. The app is straightforward — perhaps not as polished as Airalo or Saily, but functional and easy to navigate. We found it particularly popular in digital nomad communities, partly thanks to a generous refer-a-friend program that gives you credits toward future plans.

We tested Nomad in 5 countries and averaged 30-100 Mbps download speeds, putting it in the same ballpark as Airalo. Urban performance in Bangkok and Tokyo was strong; rural coverage in Portugal was slightly spottier than Airalo.

Pricing

• Thailand: 1GB/7 days for $5.00, 3GB/30 days for $12.00, 10GB/30 days for $28.00
• Japan: 1GB/7 days for $5.00, 5GB/30 days for $17.00
• Europe: 1GB/7 days for $6.00, 5GB/30 days for $20.00
• Free trial: 3 days / 500MB-1GB in select countries (Thailand, Japan, parts of Europe)

Price comparison vs Airalo: Nomad is slightly more expensive than Airalo in most destinations — about 5-10% more per plan. You’re paying a small premium for the free trial option and referral program. That said, once you’ve built up referral credits, Nomad can actually become cheaper.

Key Features

• Free 3-day trial — test eSIM compatibility risk-free in select countries
• 165+ country coverage — solid coverage, slightly less than Airalo
• Refer-a-friend credits — earn $3+ per referral, credits stack and never expire
• Simple interface — no learning curve, clear plan listings
• 24/7 support — chat and email

Who Should Choose Nomad Over Airalo

Nomad is the better choice if you’ve never used an eSIM before and want to test it for free, if you’re part of a digital nomad community where referral credits can add up quickly, or if you simply want a no-frills experience without feature overload.

Not ideal for: Travelers who want the cheapest per-plan pricing (Saily and Airalo both beat Nomad on raw price) or anyone who prioritizes a highly polished app experience.

Try Nomad eSIM Free

4. Ubigi — Best for Flexible Data Add-Ons

Our pick if you need premium 5G speeds or flexible top-up options.

Ubigi is the premium option on this list. It matches Airalo’s 200+ country coverage and surpasses it in 5G availability. If you’re a business traveler who needs blazing speeds for presentations, large file transfers, or HD video calls, Ubigi delivers.

What Makes Ubigi Different

Ubigi has invested heavily in 5G carrier partnerships across North America, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. During our testing, 5G speeds on Ubigi were genuinely impressive — 250-500 Mbps in Tokyo, which is 2-3x faster than what we saw on Airalo’s 5G plans.

Ubigi also offers a flexible data add-on system. Rather than being locked into a fixed plan, you can buy smaller data packages and stack them as needed. This is particularly useful for unpredictable trips where you might need more data one week and less the next.

Pricing

• Japan: 1GB/30 days for $7.00, 5GB/30 days for $20.00, 10GB/30 days for $35.00
• USA: 1GB/30 days for $8.00, 5GB/30 days for $22.00, 10GB/30 days for $38.00
• Europe: 1GB/30 days for $7.00, 5GB/30 days for $20.00
• Thailand: 1GB/30 days for $7.00, 3GB/30 days for $15.00

Price comparison vs Airalo: Ubigi is 20-30% more expensive than Airalo across most destinations. The premium buys you faster 5G speeds and more flexible top-up options. Unless you specifically need 5G performance, Airalo offers better value.

Key Features

• 200+ country coverage — matches Airalo’s breadth
• Extensive 5G network — best 5G coverage among all eSIM providers we tested
• Flexible data add-ons — stack and customize data packages
• 30-day validity — longer default validity than some competitors
• Multi-device support — works with tablets, laptops (via hotspot), and connected devices

Who Should Choose Ubigi Over Airalo

Ubigi is the better choice if you’re a business traveler who needs the fastest possible speeds, if you’re traveling to 5G-heavy markets (Japan, South Korea, USA, Western Europe), or if you value flexible data stacking over fixed plan sizes.

Not ideal for: Budget travelers (Ubigi is the most expensive provider on this list) or anyone who doesn’t need 5G speeds — 4G LTE from cheaper providers is more than adequate for most use cases including video calls and streaming.

Get Ubigi eSIM

5. Yesim — Best for eSIM + VPN Combo

Our pick if you want connectivity and privacy in a single app.

Yesim bundles an eSIM with a built-in VPN at no additional cost. If you’re traveling to countries with internet censorship (China, UAE, Turkey, Vietnam) or you simply want encrypted browsing without managing a separate VPN subscription, Yesim is a compelling all-in-one solution.

What Makes Yesim Different

The integrated VPN is Yesim’s headline feature. Toggle it on within the same app you use to manage your eSIM — no switching between apps, no separate subscription. During testing, the VPN added about 5-15% latency to browsing speeds but successfully bypassed geo-restrictions in Turkey and allowed secure browsing on public WiFi networks across all test countries.

We tested Yesim in Thailand, Turkey, and Indonesia and averaged 25-80 Mbps download speeds. Speeds were respectable, though a step below Airalo’s averages in the same locations. With the VPN active, expect the lower end of that range.

Pricing

• Thailand: 1GB/7 days for $6.00, 3GB/30 days for $14.00
• Turkey: 1GB/7 days for $7.00, 5GB/30 days for $20.00
• Indonesia: 1GB/7 days for $6.00, 3GB/30 days for $13.00
• Europe: 1GB/7 days for $7.00, 5GB/30 days for $21.00

Price comparison vs Airalo: Yesim is 10-15% more expensive per plan than Airalo. However, a standalone VPN like NordVPN costs $3-5/month separately. If you’d buy both anyway, Yesim’s bundle saves money.

Key Features

• Built-in VPN — no extra cost, toggle on/off within the eSIM app
• 150+ country coverage — covers major destinations
• Privacy-first approach — encrypted browsing on all networks
• Bypass geo-restrictions — access content blocked in certain countries
• Simple interface — one app for both eSIM and VPN

Who Should Choose Yesim Over Airalo

Yesim is the better choice if you’re heading to countries with internet censorship or surveillance, if you frequently use public WiFi and want automatic VPN protection, or if you don’t already have a VPN subscription and want an all-in-one solution.

Not ideal for: Anyone who already has a VPN (adding Yesim’s VPN would be redundant), budget travelers (the premium isn’t worth it without using the VPN), or travelers who need maximum speeds (the VPN layer adds latency).

Get Yesim eSIM + VPN

6. aloSIM — Best Budget Option

Our pick if you want the absolute cheapest eSIM that still works reliably.

aloSIM positions itself as the no-frills budget eSIM for travelers who just need data without bells and whistles. The app is basic, the feature set is minimal, but the pricing is aggressive — and in our testing, it worked reliably across 4 countries.

What Makes aloSIM Different

aloSIM doesn’t try to compete on features. No built-in VPN, no referral programs, no free trials. What you get is straightforward: affordable data plans with clear pricing and 170+ country coverage. The app interface is functional — not pretty, but it gets the job done.

We tested aloSIM in Thailand, Mexico, Portugal, and Indonesia and averaged 25-75 Mbps download speeds. That’s the lower end compared to Airalo and Saily, but more than adequate for standard travel use — navigation, messaging, social media, and occasional video calls.

Pricing

• Thailand: 1GB/7 days for $4.50, 3GB/30 days for $10.00, 10GB/30 days for $22.00
• Mexico: 1GB/7 days for $4.50, 5GB/30 days for $14.00
• Europe: 1GB/7 days for $5.00, 5GB/30 days for $16.00
• Indonesia: 1GB/7 days for $4.50, 3GB/30 days for $9.50

Price comparison vs Airalo: aloSIM is 5-15% cheaper than Airalo on comparable plans, putting it in a similar price bracket to Saily. The savings are more pronounced on multi-gigabyte plans — a 10GB plan for Thailand at $22 versus Airalo’s $26 saves $4, which adds up over multiple destinations.

Key Features

• 170+ country coverage — solid footprint
• Aggressive pricing — consistently among the cheapest eSIM options
• Simple, no-frills app — buy a plan, scan QR, connect
• Top-up support — add more data without installing a new eSIM
• Email and chat support — functional but slower than premium providers

Who Should Choose aloSIM Over Airalo

aloSIM is the better choice if you’re on a tight budget and every dollar counts, if you don’t need premium app features or the fastest possible speeds, or if you’re a backpacker who values cost over polish.

Not ideal for: Business travelers or remote workers who need premium reliability, anyone who values a polished app experience, or travelers heading to less-common destinations where aloSIM’s coverage might be thinner.

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7. Roamless — Best Pay-As-You-Go (No Expiry)

Our pick if you travel infrequently and hate recurring charges.

Roamless flips the traditional eSIM pricing model on its head. Instead of buying a fixed plan with an expiry date, you buy credits that never expire. Use $10 of data in Thailand this month, then spend the remaining credits in Portugal six months later. No wasted plans, no pressure to use data before it expires.

What Makes Roamless Different

The credit-based model is Roamless’s killer feature. Traditional eSIM plans are “use it or lose it” — if your 7-day plan expires with 500MB unused, that data is gone. With Roamless, unused credits carry forward indefinitely. This is perfect for infrequent travelers who don’t want the mental overhead of optimizing plan sizes and durations.

We tested Roamless in Thailand and Portugal and averaged 30-90 Mbps download speeds — on par with Airalo. The experience was seamless: load credits, connect, use data, and your balance decreases in real time.

Pricing

Roamless uses per-MB pricing that varies by country:

• Thailand: $0.50 per 100MB ($5/GB)
• Japan: $0.80 per 100MB ($8/GB)
• Europe: $0.70 per 100MB ($7/GB)
• USA: $0.60 per 100MB ($6/GB)
• Credit packages: $10, $20, $50, $100 (credits never expire)

Price comparison vs Airalo: For heavy users, Roamless is more expensive per gigabyte than Airalo’s fixed plans. A 10GB trip in Thailand costs roughly $50 on Roamless versus $26 on Airalo. But Roamless’s value proposition isn’t per-GB pricing — it’s zero waste. If you buy Airalo’s 3GB/7-day plan and only use 1.5GB before your trip ends, you’ve effectively paid double per GB. Roamless eliminates that waste entirely.

Key Features

• Credits never expire — buy once, use whenever you travel next
• 180+ country coverage — strong global footprint
• Real-time balance tracking — see exactly what you’re spending as you use data
• 5G support — available in select markets
• No plan management — no choosing between 1GB, 3GB, or 10GB plans; just use what you need
• Automatic carrier switching — connects to the best available network in each location

Who Should Choose Roamless Over Airalo

Roamless is the better choice if you travel 2-3 times per year and don’t want to worry about plan expiry, if your data usage is unpredictable (sometimes 500MB, sometimes 5GB), or if you hate the pressure of “use it before you lose it” eSIM plans.

Not ideal for: Heavy data users (the per-GB cost is higher than fixed plans), anyone traveling for extended periods in a single country (Airalo or Holafly offer much better value at scale), or travelers who prefer the simplicity of a single fixed-price plan.

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When to Stick with Airalo

We’ve spent this entire article talking about alternatives, but let’s be fair — there are plenty of scenarios where Airalo is still the best choice:

• Widest coverage: No other provider matches Airalo’s 200+ country footprint. If you’re heading to a less-common destination (think Myanmar, Mongolia, parts of Africa), Airalo is the safest bet for guaranteed coverage.
• Best app experience: After testing every major eSIM app, Airalo’s remains the most polished. The eSIM management dashboard, data tracking, and top-up process are best-in-class.
• Proven reliability: With 5+ million users and 300+ carrier partnerships, Airalo has the track record. We experienced zero failed activations across 12 countries. That kind of consistency matters when you’re relying on data in a foreign country.
• Regional and global plans: Airalo’s multi-country plans (Europe, Southeast Asia, Global) are competitively priced and genuinely useful for travelers hopping between countries.
• Moderate data usage: If you use 3-10GB per trip, Airalo’s pricing hits the sweet spot — cheaper than Holafly’s unlimited plans, more reliable than the budget options.

If none of the pain points above apply to you — if you don’t need unlimited data, aren’t on a razor-thin budget, and your destinations are well-covered — Airalo remains our #1 recommendation.

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Read our full Airalo review for an in-depth look at the platform.

How We Tested These Alternatives

We don’t write eSIM comparisons from press releases. Here’s how we evaluated each provider on this list.

Testing period: August 2025 through February 2026 (6 months of active travel).

Countries tested: Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Indonesia (Bali), Spain, Vietnam, Turkey, Greece, Colombia, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippines, Argentina, and Croatia.

What we measured:

• Speed tests: 200+ tests using Speedtest by Ookla and Fast.com, conducted at different times of day in both urban and rural locations.
• Setup time: Timed from tapping “Buy” to having a live data connection. Averaged across multiple activations per provider.
• Real-world usage: Video calls (Zoom, Google Meet), 4K streaming, large file uploads, navigation, and messaging — the same workflows a digital nomad or remote worker would use daily.
• Customer support: Contacted each provider’s support team multiple times, measuring response times and resolution quality across different time zones.
• Pricing accuracy: Verified all pricing directly from each provider’s app as of February 2026. Prices change frequently — always confirm on the provider’s website before purchasing.

Devices used: iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Google Pixel 8 Pro.

What we didn’t test: We focus on data eSIMs for travelers. We didn’t evaluate local phone number capabilities, enterprise plans, IoT/M2M connectivity, or eSIMs bundled with physical SIM cards.

Choosing the Right Airalo Alternative: Decision Framework

Still not sure which alternative fits your situation? Use this quick decision tree:

• Need unlimited data for remote work? —> Holafly
• Want the lowest possible price? —> Saily
• First time using an eSIM? —> Nomad eSIM (free trial)
• Need blazing 5G speeds? —> Ubigi
• Traveling to censored countries? —> Yesim (built-in VPN)
• Tight budget, just need basics? —> aloSIM
• Infrequent traveler, hate wasted plans? —> Roamless (credits never expire)
• None of the above / want the safest all-rounder? —> Stick with Airalo

For a broader look at all eSIM providers ranked, see our Best eSIM Providers 2026 guide. And if you’re new to eSIM technology entirely, start with What Is an eSIM? to understand the basics before you buy.