Airalo vs Holafly 2026: Which eSIM Is Better?

Airalo and Holafly are the two most popular eSIM providers for travelers in 2026 — but they take fundamentally different approaches to mobile data abroad. After testing both providers across 15+ countries over 6 months, we can tell you exactly when each one wins.

The short answer: Airalo is the better choice for most travelers. It covers 200+ countries, offers flexible capped data plans starting at $4.50, and consistently delivers strong speeds. But if you need unlimited data — for remote work, heavy streaming, or just peace of mind — Holafly is the clear winner with truly unlimited plans and no data caps.

Let us break it all down.

Quick Verdict: Airalo vs Holafly

Choose Airalo if: You want wider coverage (200+ countries), lower prices for light-to-moderate data use, flexible plan sizes, or you travel to many different countries.

Choose Holafly if: You need unlimited data, work remotely on video calls, stream heavily, or stay in one destination for 1-3 weeks and want zero data anxiety.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Here is everything that matters, side by side.

Now let us dig into each category to show you where the real differences emerge.

Coverage Comparison

Airalo wins on coverage — and it is not close.

Airalo covers 200+ countries and regions, making it the largest eSIM marketplace in the world. Holafly covers 180+ countries, which is still impressive but leaves gaps in less-visited destinations.

For mainstream travel destinations — Southeast Asia, Europe, the Americas, Japan, Australia — both providers have excellent coverage. You will not notice a difference in Thailand, Mexico, Portugal, or any of the typical digital nomad hotspots.

Where the gap shows up is in less common destinations. Airalo covers places like Myanmar, Laos, several African nations, and smaller Pacific Island states that Holafly does not yet serve. If your travel plans include off-the-beaten-path countries, Airalo gives you significantly more flexibility.

Regional plans are another differentiator. Airalo offers regional eSIMs that cover multiple countries under a single plan — their Europe plan covers 39 countries, their Asia plan covers 16 countries, and they even offer a global plan spanning 124 countries. Holafly also offers regional plans, but their selection is smaller and availability varies.

Bottom line on coverage: If you are visiting popular travel destinations, both are excellent. If you travel to uncommon countries or want multi-country regional plans, Airalo has a clear edge.

Speed and Performance

We ran 200+ speed tests across both providers in real-world conditions. Here is what we measured.

Speed Test Results by Country

Country	Airalo (Avg Mbps)	Holafly (Avg Mbps)	Winner
Thailand	40–120	30–90	Airalo
Japan	50–150	50–150	Tie
Mexico	30–95	25–80	Airalo
Portugal	35–110	40–120	Holafly
Indonesia	25–80	20–60	Airalo
Spain	45–130	40–120	Tie
USA	40–120	35–100	Airalo
Turkey	30–85	25–70	Airalo

Overall speed winner: Airalo, though the margins are slim. Both providers connect you to the same underlying carrier networks in each country, but Airalo’s carrier partnerships tend to route through slightly faster tiers.

In our testing, Airalo delivered average download speeds of 55-95 Mbps across all countries, while Holafly averaged 40-85 Mbps. Both are more than fast enough for video calls, streaming, social media, and general browsing.

5G performance: Airalo offers 5G in select countries (Japan, South Korea, parts of Europe and the US), where we saw speeds of 200-400 Mbps. Holafly’s 5G support is more limited and not yet widely available.

A note on Holafly’s “unlimited” throttling: We pushed Holafly hard — using 80-100GB in a single month in Japan while editing and uploading video content. After extremely heavy usage (100GB+ in a week), we noticed a soft throttle from ~100 Mbps down to ~40 Mbps. Still perfectly usable for work, but worth knowing if you are a true power user.

Pricing Showdown

This is where the Airalo vs Holafly comparison gets interesting, because the two providers use completely different pricing models.

Airalo sells capped data plans — you buy a specific amount of data (1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB) for a set duration. Holafly sells unlimited data plans priced by duration (5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 20 days, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days).

Pricing Comparison: Popular Destinations

Thailand

Plan	Airalo	Holafly
1GB / 7 days	$4.50	—
3GB / 30 days	$11	—
5 days unlimited	—	$27
10GB / 30 days	$26	—
10 days unlimited	—	$47
30 days unlimited	—	$87

Japan

Plan	Airalo	Holafly
1GB / 7 days	$4.50	—
5GB / 30 days	$16	—
5 days unlimited	—	$19
10 days unlimited	—	$34
30 days unlimited	—	$69

Europe (Regional)

Plan	Airalo	Holafly
1GB / 7 days	$5	—
5GB / 30 days	$19	—
5 days unlimited	—	$27
10 days unlimited	—	$47
20GB / 30 days	$49	—
30 days unlimited	—	$87

USA

Plan	Airalo	Holafly
1GB / 7 days	$4.50	—
5GB / 30 days	$15	—
5 days unlimited	—	$27
10GB / 30 days	$26	—
10 days unlimited	—	$47
30 days unlimited	—	$84

The Cost Breakeven Point

Here is the critical calculation most comparisons miss: at what data usage does Holafly become cheaper than Airalo?

For a 30-day trip to Thailand:

• Using 5GB or less → Airalo wins ($11 vs $87)
• Using 10GB → Airalo wins ($26 vs $87)
• Using 15-20GB → Still Airalo, but closer ($40-55 vs $87)
• Using 25GB+ → Holafly starts making sense, because you would need multiple Airalo top-ups

The breakeven sits around 20-25GB per month for most destinations. Below that, Airalo is significantly cheaper. Above that, Holafly’s unlimited plan is the better deal — and you get the added benefit of never worrying about running out.

Budget tip: If you are truly budget-conscious and use under 5GB per month, also consider Saily , which undercuts both Airalo and Holafly on capped plans by 10-20%.

Data Plans: Capped vs Unlimited

This is the single biggest difference between Airalo and Holafly, and it should drive your decision more than anything else.

Airalo’s Capped Plans

How they work: You buy a fixed amount of data — 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, or 20GB — valid for a set period (7 or 30 days). When your data runs out, you can top up directly in the app without installing a new eSIM.

Advantages:

• You only pay for what you need
• Much cheaper for light-to-moderate users
• Top-ups are instant and easy
• Regional plans cover dozens of countries under one eSIM
• Wide range of plan sizes for fine-tuned budgeting

Disadvantages:

• You need to monitor your usage
• Topping up mid-trip adds friction
• Heavy usage gets expensive fast (buying multiple top-ups)
• Running out of data during an important video call is stressful

Holafly’s Unlimited Plans

How they work: You buy unlimited data for a set duration — 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, or 90 days. Use as much data as you want during that period.

Advantages:

• Zero data anxiety — stream, download, upload freely
• Ideal for remote workers running video calls all day
• No need to monitor usage or buy top-ups
• Simplifies budgeting (one fixed cost for your entire trip)

Disadvantages:

• Significantly more expensive for light users
• Possible soft throttling after extreme usage (100GB+/week)
• Fewer country-specific plan options than Airalo
• Not cost-effective for trips under 5 days if you use little data

When Capped Plans Make Sense

Choose Airalo’s capped plans if:

• You use WiFi for most heavy tasks (hotels, cafes, coworking spaces)
• Your monthly data usage is under 15GB
• You are visiting multiple countries and want one regional plan
• You are on a tight budget
• You are taking a short trip (1-7 days)

When Unlimited Plans Make Sense

Choose Holafly’s unlimited plans if:

• You work remotely and run 2+ hours of video calls daily
• You stream content frequently on mobile data
• You cannot rely on WiFi at your accommodation
• You want to use your phone as a hotspot for your laptop
• Knowing your exact data remaining stresses you out

Setup and App Experience

Airalo App

Airalo’s app is clean, well-organized, and intuitive. We installed and activated eSIMs in under 5 minutes on both iPhone and Android devices across all our test countries. The QR code installation process is smooth, and we had zero failed activations.

Standout features:

• Browse and filter plans by country or region
• In-app data usage tracking with clear visuals
• One-tap top-ups without reinstalling a new eSIM
• Purchase history and saved eSIM profiles
• Built-in support chat

The app makes it easy to browse plans, compare options, and manage multiple eSIMs. If you are visiting several countries, you can install multiple profiles and switch between them as you travel.

Holafly App

Holafly’s app is similarly polished and has improved significantly over the past year. Setup took us 4-6 minutes on average — marginally slower than Airalo, but not meaningfully so.

Standout features:

• Straightforward plan selection by country
• Built-in VPN feature (beta, available in select countries)
• WhatsApp support integration directly in the app
• Data usage dashboard (though less detailed than Airalo, since it is unlimited)
• Plan sharing for group travelers

One minor advantage: Holafly’s WhatsApp support integration is genuinely convenient when traveling internationally. Instead of navigating an in-app chat, you can message their support team directly through WhatsApp — an app most travelers already use daily.

Verdict on apps: Both apps are well-built and easy to use. Airalo has a slight edge for travelers managing multiple eSIMs or comparing plan options. Holafly’s simpler interface makes sense when you just need unlimited data and do not need to think about it further.

Customer Support

Good customer support matters when you are stuck in a foreign country with no data. Here is how both providers stack up.

Airalo Support

• Channels: 24/7 in-app live chat, email
• Response time: 2-15 minutes in our testing (4 support interactions)
• Quality: Helpful and responsive for common issues. Occasionally struggled with complex technical questions like APN configuration on specific Android devices.
• Languages: English, with limited multilingual support

Holafly Support

• Channels: 24/7 in-app live chat, email, WhatsApp
• Response time: Under 3 minutes in our testing (5 support interactions)
• Quality: Excellent — knowledgeable agents, proactive advice. One agent suggested we switch to a longer-duration plan mid-trip to save money, which was a nice touch.
• Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian

Support winner: Holafly. Faster response times, more support channels (especially WhatsApp), and broader multilingual support. Both providers are solid, but Holafly’s support team stood out during our testing.

Airalo Pros and Cons

Holafly Pros and Cons

Which Should You Choose?

The right eSIM depends on your travel style, data habits, and budget. Here is our recommendation framework.

Short Trips (1-7 Days): Choose Airalo

For weekend getaways and short trips, Airalo’s small data packs are unbeatable on value. A 1GB/7-day plan for $4.50 is all most travelers need for maps, messaging, and occasional browsing. You will save $20-30+ compared to Holafly’s minimum 5-day unlimited plan.

Remote Workers: Choose Holafly

If you are working remotely — running Zoom calls, uploading to Google Drive, collaborating on Figma — unlimited data is not a luxury, it is a necessity. One dropped video call because you hit your data cap can cost you more than the price difference between Airalo and Holafly. Holafly removes that risk entirely.

Multi-Country Travelers: Choose Airalo

Hopping between Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bali? Airalo’s regional plans cover multiple countries under a single eSIM, making it far more convenient and cost-effective than buying separate Holafly plans for each destination. Their Asia regional plan, for example, covers 16 countries in one package.

Heavy Data Users (15GB+/month): Choose Holafly

If you regularly use 15GB or more per month on mobile data — whether for streaming, hotspotting your laptop, or uploading content — Holafly’s unlimited plans become more cost-effective than stacking Airalo top-ups. The math is simple: one $87 Holafly plan for 30 days of unlimited data in Thailand beats buying 3-4 Airalo top-ups at $26 each.

Budget Travelers: Choose Airalo (or Saily)

If every dollar counts, Airalo’s small plans ($4.50 for 1GB) are the most affordable eSIM option on the market. For even tighter budgets, Saily by NordVPN undercuts Airalo by 10-20% on most plans, though with coverage in fewer countries (150+).

First-Time eSIM Users: Choose Airalo

Airalo’s app is slightly more beginner-friendly, and their smaller starting plans let you test eSIMs with minimal financial commitment. Buy a $4.50 plan, see how it works on your device, and upgrade from there. If you want a completely free test drive, Nomad eSIM offers free 3-day trials in select countries.

Final Verdict

After 6 months of side-by-side testing across 15+ countries, Airalo is the better eSIM for most travelers. Its wider coverage (200+ countries), lower prices for capped data, regional multi-country plans, and reliable speeds make it the most versatile option on the market.

Holafly earns its spot as the best unlimited data eSIM. If you work remotely, stream heavily, or simply refuse to worry about data caps, Holafly delivers genuine unlimited data without hard throttling. The higher price is justified by the peace of mind — and for heavy users (20GB+/month), it is often the cheaper option anyway.

Both are excellent providers. You genuinely cannot go wrong with either one — the question is simply which pricing model matches your travel style.

Get Airalo eSIM → Get Holafly Unlimited →

---

We tested Airalo and Holafly with our own money across 15+ countries between August 2025 and February 2026. This article contains affiliate links — if you purchase through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations. See our affiliate disclosure for details.