Quick answer
Airalo is a legitimate travel eSIM company founded in 2019, with 30 million customers and a 4.1 Trustpilot rating. Airalo is worth it for budget travelers who want fixed-data plans, top-ups and cashback, but refunds after a change of plans come as credit. eSIM.site is an alternative for comparing several plans per destination.
Airalo review: at a glance
| Feature | Airalo | eSIM.site |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Prepaid packages: fixed GB for set days, day-based unlimited, and data plus calls and texts in some countries | Pay once per plan: fixed data for a set number of days, plus unlimited and daily plans |
| Example price | US: 1 GB / 3 days $4.00, 3 GB / 7 days $9.00; Japan: 5 GB / 30 days $11.00 (Oct 2026) | Plans from $2.02; every destination page lists live prices |
| Destinations | 200+ locations, with local, regional and global eSIMs | 210 destinations plus 9 regional and global plans |
| Unlimited data | Yes, in about 150 destinations: 3 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset | Yes, in many destinations; each plan shows its fair-use limit before you buy |
| Calls, SMS or phone number | Some plans include local calls and texts (US: 1 GB + 10 min + 10 SMS, 3 days, $6.00) | No. Plans are data only; use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls |
| How you buy and install | Website or iOS and Android app; install through the app or directly on the device | Buy on the website, no app needed; QR code plus one-tap install links for iPhone and Android |
| Top-ups | Yes, on the same eSIM when a top-up package is offered; optional renewals at 10% data left | Yes, most plans can be topped up from your account |
| Hotspot and tethering | Allowed if your device and the local network support it; uses your plan data | Usually allowed and counted against your plan data; ask support about a specific plan |
| Multi-country trips | Regional eSIMs (Europe, Asia, North America and more) and Global eSIMs from $8.50 | Regional and global plans, plus a Travel Planner that issues one eSIM per country of a trip |
| Refunds | 14-day withdrawal right ends at activation; change-of-plans refunds paid as Airmoney credit | Only when the eSIM cannot connect at all after troubleshooting with support |
| Customer support | Live chat, in-app chat and WhatsApp, advertised as available any time | Support tickets from your account and email |
| Rewards | Airmoney cashback of 5% to 10% by loyalty level on eSIMs and top-ups | Gift cards; no cashback program |
| Customer rating | 4.1/5 from 46,700+ reviews (Trustpilot, Oct 2026) | Too new for a public Trustpilot rating |
Prices and policies as published by each brand, checked October 10, 2026.
Airalo is one of the largest travel eSIM brands, selling local, regional and global eSIMs for 200+ locations through its website and apps. This review covers what Airalo costs, how its unlimited plans work, its refund rules and what customers say, based on Airalo's own published pages and Trustpilot, checked in October 2026. We have not lab-tested Airalo's network speeds.
Is Airalo legit?
Yes. Airalo is a legitimate, venture-backed eSIM company founded in 2019 by Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir and Abraham Burak. Airalo reported 30 million customers in June 2026, raised a $220 million Series C led by CVC in July 2025, and rates 4.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Airalo runs a fully remote team in dozens of countries. Its Trustpilot score is 4.1 out of 5 from more than 46,700 reviews (October 2026), and recurring complaints mention activation or connection problems and rising prices.
How much does Airalo cost?
Airalo fixed plans start at $4.00 for 1 GB for 3 days in the US and in Japan; 3 GB for 7 days in the US costs $9.00 and 5 GB for 30 days in Japan $11.00. Airalo Global eSIMs start at $8.50 (October 2026).
Prices are in US dollars and can vary with your location and currency. The cheapest plans have short validity, so a slightly larger package often costs less per day.
Does Airalo have unlimited data?
Yes, in about 150 destinations. Airalo's default fair use gives 3 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the 24-hour reset. Hotspot use is allowed if your device and the local network support it, and it counts toward the same allowance.
Can you top up Airalo or get a phone number?
Yes, you can top up the same Airalo eSIM when a top-up package is offered, with optional renewals at 10% data left. Some countries have data, calls and texts plans, such as 1 GB with 10 minutes and 10 SMS for 3 days in the US for $6.00.
What is Airalo's refund policy?
Airalo's 14-day withdrawal right ends once the eSIM is activated, and refunds for a wrong purchase or a change of plans are paid as Airmoney credit rather than cash. If your plans may change, read Airalo's help article, linked below, before you buy.
What are the pros and cons of Airalo?
Airalo's main strengths are its choice of 200+ locations, low entry prices, top-ups and 5% to 10% Airmoney cashback. Its weaknesses are a lower Trustpilot score than Holafly or Saily, credit-only refunds after a change of plans and very short validity on the cheapest plans.
What are the best Airalo alternatives?
Saily and Nomad sell similar fixed-data plans at comparable prices, Holafly sells unlimited data by the day, Ubigi offers one reusable eSIM, and eSIM.site lets you compare several plans for one destination on a single page.
See the full list of Airalo alternatives, or compare Airalo vs Holafly and Airalo vs Saily side by side.
Strengths and weaknesses
Airalo
Large app-based travel eSIM store selling fixed-data, unlimited and some calls-and-texts plans in 200+ locations.
- Very wide choice: 200+ locations with local, regional and global eSIMs
- Low entry prices on fixed-data plans, from $4.00 in the US and Japan
- Airmoney cashback of 5% to 10% on eSIMs and top-ups
- Top-ups, plus calls-and-texts plans in some countries
- Trustpilot score (4.1) trails Holafly and Saily (4.7)
- Wrong-purchase or change-of-plans refunds are paid as Airmoney credit, not cash
- The cheapest 1 GB plans in the US and Japan last only 3 days
- Some reviewers report activation problems and rising prices
eSIM.site
Travel eSIM marketplace that lists several prepaid data plans for each destination, with live prices.
- Lists several plans from different networks for one destination, so you pick price, data and validity
- Fixed, unlimited and daily plans in many destinations, with top-ups on most plans
- No app needed: buy on the website and install by QR code or one-tap link
- Travel Planner books an eSIM for each country of a multi-country trip in one checkout
- Newer brand without a large public review base yet
- Strict refunds: only when the eSIM cannot connect at all after troubleshooting
- Data only: no plans with a phone number, calls or SMS
- No native app; eSIMs are managed from your web account
Which should you choose?
Airalo
Choose Airalo if you know roughly how much data you need and want low prices, top-ups on the same eSIM, cashback or a calls-and-texts plan.
eSIM.site
Choose eSIM.site if you want to compare several plans for one destination before buying, prefer not to install an app, or are booking eSIMs for a multi-country trip in one checkout.
See planseSIM.site prices today
Live starting prices for popular destinations. Open a destination to compare every plan.
Our verdict
Airalo is a legitimate and generally good-value choice for travelers who know roughly how much data they need: its fixed plans are cheap, top-ups keep one eSIM going, and Airmoney cashback rewards repeat use. It is less suited to travelers who may cancel, because refunds after a change of plans come as credit, and its Trustpilot score trails Holafly and Saily. Compare live plans before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airalo safe to use?
Airalo is a legitimate company that reported 30 million customers in June 2026. You buy through its website or apps, and the eSIM installs like any carrier profile. As with any eSIM, first check that your phone is eSIM compatible and carrier-unlocked.
Is Airalo worth it?
For light and moderate data use, yes: Airalo plans start at $4.00 and you can top up the same eSIM. Heavy users may prefer a plan with more full-speed data per day, and travelers who may cancel should note that change-of-plans refunds come as Airmoney credit.
Does Airalo work in the USA?
Yes. Airalo sells US eSIMs from $4.00 for 1 GB for 3 days, plus unlimited plans and data, calls and texts plans (October 2026).
Can I get a refund from Airalo?
Airalo's 14-day withdrawal right ends once the eSIM is activated. Refunds for a wrong purchase or a change of plans are paid as Airmoney credit rather than to your card.
How fast is Airalo unlimited data?
Under Airalo's default fair-use policy you get full speed for the first 3 GB each day, then 1 Mbps until the 24-hour reset.
What is Airmoney?
Airmoney is Airalo's cashback: 5% to 10% back, depending on your loyalty level, on eSIMs and top-ups, which you can spend on future purchases. It is not earned when you use a discount code.
Sources and methodology
We compare each brand on its own published prices, plans and policies, plus public customer ratings, and record the date every fact was checked. We do not run lab speed tests. eSIM.site sells travel eSIMs and publishes these comparisons, so we link every source for you to verify.
- Airalo: United States eSIMs
- Airalo: Japan eSIMs
- Airalo: Unlimited data fair use policy
- Airalo Help: Can I use tethering (personal hotspot)?
- Airalo Help: Wrong eSIM or change of plans
- Airalo: Terms of Use
- Airalo Help: Calls and texts with an eSIM
- Airalo Help: Airalo loyalty program
- Airalo: Contact
- Airalo on Trustpilot
- Airalo press release: 30 million customers (June 2026)
- BetaKit: Airalo raises a $220M Series C