Airalo and Holafly are among the most well-known eSIM services, but if you’re new to eSIMs, it can be hard to know what’s what. This Airalo vs Holafly comparison takes a close look at both services’ pros, cons, features, pricing, user experience and more to help you decide which is best for your next adventure.
If neither Holafly nor Airalo turns out to be ideal for you, my best international eSIMs roundup shares my top recommendations.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Airalo Is the Winner
Though I like both services, Airalo is my favorite because it has a wider range of plan types, including fixed, unlimited and call-and-text plans. It’s also more budget-friendly, especially if you don’t plan on using a lot of data. However, Airalo doesn’t have unlimited plans for every destination, whereas Holafly does.
Which Is Better: Airalo vs Holafly?
Airalo is my top pick, but it might not fit everyone’s needs. Below is a breakdown of the type of user each provider would be ideal for:
Our Detailed Comparison Methodology
I bought Airalo and Holafly plans and tested them to see how easy it is to purchase and install plans from each provider. I weighed up the pricing options to determine which one is better for those on a budget. I also explored each provider’s plan types and features to assess which service is best for certain situations.
In addition, when I test eSIMs, I tend to ask myself user-related questions such as, “Is this app easy to navigate?” “Is it well organized and bug-free?” and “How easy is it to get help from support if I need it?” I always explore support options (live chat, email, etc.) and contact customer support to see how quickly and clearly they respond.
Holafly vs Airalo: Comparison at a Glance
| Features |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Payment methods | Credit card, Debit card, PayPal, Alipay, Google Pay, Apple Pay | Credit card, Debit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay |
| OS | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Device support | Modern iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Huawei, Xiaomi | Modern iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Huawei, Xiaomi |
| Global | 137 | 108 |
| Regional | 3-42 (varies by region) | 2-33 (varies by region) |
| Total Destinations | 200+ | 200+ |
| Ad-blocker | ||
| Virtual location | ||
| Web protection | ||
| Other Security Features |
Airalo vs Holafly: Similarities
Though Airalo and Holafly specialize in different plan types, they’re alike in a number of ways. Let me break it down.
Global Coverage
Holafly breaks down its regional plans into smaller clusters.
Holafly and Airalo both cover more than 200 destinations, counting all plan types (regional, local and global). Though the providers distribute countries differently on the regional plans, and Holafly has a broader selection of smaller regional plans, the overall coverage is very similar.
The table below summarizes how each provider distributes countries across regional plans.
If a provider doesn’t have a multi-country plan for a specific region, you may still be able to find individual plans for those countries. For example, Airalo doesn’t have a Japan + China regional plan, but it covers China and Japan individually.
In some cases, the countries are covered under a different regional plan. For example, Airalo doesn’t have a dedicated Central America plan, but its Latin America plan covers Central American countries.
| Region Plan: | |
|
|---|---|---|
| Africa | Yes (38 countries) | Yes (29 countries) |
| Asia | Yes (18 countries) | Yes (16 countries) |
| Balkans | No (many Balkan countries are part of the Europe plan) | Yes (6 countries) |
| Caribbean | Yes (26 countries) | Yes (18 countries) |
| Central America | No (the Latin America plan covers some Central American countries) | Yes (6 countries) |
| China + Hong Kong + Macau | No (these are covered by the Asia plan) | Yes (3 countries) |
| Eastern Europe | No (some countries are covered by the Europe plan) | Yes (2 countries) |
| Latin America | Yes (17 countries) | Yes (18 countries) |
| Europe | Yes (42 countries) | Yes (33 countries) |
| Japan + China | No (covered by the Asia plan) | Yes (2 countries) |
| Japan + Korea | No (covered by the Asia plan) | Yes (2 countries) |
| Middle East | Yes (plus North Africa, 13 countries) | Yes (12 countries) |
| North America | Yes (3 countries) | Yes (3 countries) |
| Oceania | Yes (8 countries) | Yes (12 countries) |
| Scandinavia | No (covered by the Europe plan) | Yes (5 countries) |
Network Speed
Airalo and Holafly both support up to 4G and 5G speeds in most locations (LTE in some places), which vary by network. When you use a travel eSIM, the speeds you can expect depend on the local carriers the eSIM provider partners with. There may be multiple networks for each location, as shown in this image:
Airalo’s Italy plan demonstrates how network speeds can vary.
Your speeds may also be affected if you’re off the beaten track with a poor signal, or if the network you’re using is busy. I experienced 4G and 5G speeds with both Holafly and Airalo, but I wasn’t in a remote location.
Note that you typically get only a certain amount of high-speed data per day with unlimited data plans. This is due to fair-usage policies, which can vary by network provider.
User-Friendliness & Customer Support
I’ve always found Holafly’s support team to be responsive and thorough.
Installing an eSIM is a very simple process, and both Airalo and Holafly have beginner-friendly apps that are easy to navigate. You can also find detailed help pages addressing common issues on both providers’ websites.
Nevertheless, should you run into issues, both services offer support via a chatbot and live chat with a human (in-app chat and WhatsApp). However, bear in mind that you have to ask to speak to an agent.
Airalo has two kinds of live chat support and a link
to its help center in the “profile” section.
I’ve only ever had good things to say about Holafly’s customer support team; they’ve always responded quickly and in a friendly fashion. When I first contacted Airalo’s customer support team earlier this year, I found the response to be slow. However, Airalo seems to have improved a great deal in this area: I got a response from an agent within seconds this time.
Holafly vs Airalo: Differences
Holafly and Airalo have a lot in common, but they differ in a few key areas, including the following:
Plan Types
Though both Airalo and Holafly have unlimited plans, Holafly’s country, regional and global plans are all unlimited, whereas Airalo sells mostly fixed plans. Its unlimited offering is not available for all destinations. For example, Singapore, Brazil and Kenya are not included in Airalo’s unlimited plans, among other countries.
Airalo has a global eSIM plan with calling and texting features.
Another difference is that Holafly is mostly data-only (see below), whereas Airalo offers calling and texting functionality on some plans, including the global, U.S., Canada and U.K. plans. A phone number is provided, and you get a certain number of call minutes and SMS messages with each plan — for example, 1GB with 20 minutes and 10 SMS messages.
As for Holafly, the only exception is its unlimited recurring plan, which comes with a phone number to allow users to receive — but not send — SMS messages.
Recurring Plans
Holafly’s eSIM plans include monthly fixed and unlimited packages.
Holafly has monthly recurring packages, while Airalo doesn’t. These cover more than 170 countries and are ideal for people who are traveling for longer periods and don’t know how much data they’ll need.
One plan is unlimited, while the other — the Light plan — comes with a 25GB limit. You can pay for your plan monthly or yearly, but you’ll save more money in the long run with the latter option.
Another option is the 1GB Always On plan, which serves more than 70 countries and automatically activates when your Light or Unlimited plan runs out. This plan is basically a backup to prevent you from being unexpectedly stuck without data. It’s included with both recurring plans.
Airalo does have an auto-renewal feature for certain plans, but many support manual top-up only. The website doesn’t specify which plans can be auto-renewed, but you can look in “my eSIMs” for an auto-renewal toggle.
Airalo vs Holafly: User Reviews
Airalo currently has a four-star rating overall on Trustpilot, with more than half of reviewers giving it five stars. Holafly fares better, with four-and-a-half stars overall and more than 80% five-star reviews.
Airalo has been praised for its ease of use and value for money, while Holafly’s customers commend its support team’s professionalism and speed.
However, though I’ve had no major issues with Airalo or Holafly, some customers haven’t had the same experience. As is common in the eSIM industry, most complaints for both services relate to internet data not working in some locations.
The Verdict: Why We Think Airalo Wins Overall
Though I like both services, for me, Airalo edges ahead by a hair with its broader range of plan types and budget-friendliness. However, you might prefer Holafly if heavier data usage is in the cards.
Which eSIM company have you decided on? Do you prefer unlimited data or a lighter and cheaper option? Share your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: Compare Airalo vs Holafly eSIM
-
Airalo is my personal favorite because I find it easier to budget with, but Holafly is nevertheless an excellent service.
-
The disadvantage of Airalo is that it lacks recurring subscription plans, and it offers unlimited data plans only in certain locations.
-
The main disadvantage of Holafly is that its plans are pricier than average because they’re unlimited.
