Quick answer
Choose Airalo if you want the lowest price for a set amount of data, top-ups and calls-and-texts options. Choose Holafly if you use a lot of data and want unlimited days without counting gigabytes. Airalo costs less for light use; Holafly is simpler for heavy use. eSIM.site is a third option for comparing several plans per destination.
Airalo vs Holafly: at a glance
| Feature | Airalo | Holafly | eSIM.site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Prepaid packages: fixed GB for set days, day-based unlimited, and data plus calls and texts in some countries | Unlimited data priced by number of days (1 to 90 days); separate monthly subscription | 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) | US: unlimited 3 days $11.90; Japan: unlimited 7 days $27.50, 30 days $73.90 (Oct 2026) | Plans from $2.02; every destination page lists live prices |
| Destinations | 200+ locations, with local, regional and global eSIMs | 200+ destinations, with regional eSIMs (Europe: 33 countries) and a Global eSIM | 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 | All trip plans are unlimited; an operator fair-use slowdown may apply for up to one day at a time | 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) | Trip eSIMs are data only; the monthly subscription adds a US, UK or Canadian number | 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 | Website or Holafly app; install through the app or the emailed QR guide | 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 | No top-ups on trip eSIMs; you buy a new eSIM for extra days | 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 | Allowed but capped at 1 GB per day on trip eSIMs | 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 eSIMs (Europe, Asia, Latin America and more); one eSIM per trip | 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 | Full refund within 6 months if not activated; partial refunds can carry a $3.50 fee | 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 | Chat, email, WhatsApp and in-app support, 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 | HolaCoins: 5% to 7% cashback by level, plus referral rewards | Gift cards; no cashback program |
| Customer rating | 4.1/5 from 46,700+ reviews (Trustpilot, Oct 2026) | 4.7/5 from 114,000+ reviews (Trustpilot, Oct 2026) | Too new for a public Trustpilot rating |
Prices and policies as published by each brand, checked October 10, 2026.
Airalo and Holafly are two of the best-known travel eSIM brands, but they sell data in opposite ways. Airalo sells fixed packages, such as 3 GB for 7 days, plus unlimited plans in about 150 destinations. Holafly sells only unlimited data, priced by the number of days.
This comparison uses each brand's own published prices and policies and its Trustpilot rating, all checked in October 2026. Every source is linked at the bottom of the page.
Which is cheaper, Airalo or Holafly?
Airalo is cheaper for light and moderate data use: 1 GB for 3 days in the United States costs $4.00 and 5 GB for 30 days in Japan $11.00. Holafly only sells unlimited days, from $11.90 for 3 days in the US (October 2026).
| Trip (prices Oct 2026) | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|
| United States, a few days | 1 GB / 3 days: $4.00 | Unlimited / 3 days: $11.90 |
| United States, one week | 3 GB / 7 days: $9.00 | Unlimited, priced by the day |
| Japan, one month | 5 GB / 30 days: $11.00 | Unlimited / 30 days: $73.90 |
Holafly only becomes better value when you would otherwise need a very large Airalo package or several top-ups. If you mostly use maps, messaging and email, an Airalo package costs a fraction of a Holafly plan.
Is Holafly really unlimited?
Yes. Every Holafly trip plan has unlimited data, but an operator fair-use slowdown can apply for up to a day at a time, and hotspot sharing is capped at 1 GB per day. Airalo unlimited plans give 3 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the daily reset.
Both brands call their plans unlimited, but the limits differ. With Holafly you never run out of data, yet sharing your connection with a laptop is limited to 1 GB a day on trip eSIMs. With Airalo, the default fair-use policy slows unlimited plans to 1 Mbps after 3 GB in a day, which is still enough for messaging and maps.
If you work from a laptop over a hotspot, neither unlimited plan is ideal; a large fixed-data package usually fits better.
Can you top up Airalo or Holafly?
Airalo lets you top up the same eSIM when a top-up package is offered and can renew automatically when 10% of your data is left. Holafly trip eSIMs cannot be topped up: when the days run out, you buy a new eSIM.
Top-ups matter on longer or unpredictable trips. With Airalo you keep one eSIM and add data as you go. With Holafly you choose the number of days up front, and if you extend your stay you install a second eSIM.
Do Airalo or Holafly include a phone number?
Airalo sells data, calls and texts plans in some countries, such as 1 GB with 10 minutes and 10 SMS for 3 days in the US for $6.00. Holafly trip eSIMs are data only; a phone number comes only with Holafly's monthly subscription.
Most travelers keep their home number on their physical SIM and use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls, so a data-only eSIM is usually enough. If you need a local number for a single trip, Airalo's calls-and-texts plans are the simpler option.
Which has better refunds, Airalo or Holafly?
Holafly is more flexible: an eSIM that has not been activated can be fully refunded within 6 months. Airalo's 14-day withdrawal right ends once the eSIM is activated, and refunds for a wrong purchase or changed plans are paid as Airmoney credit rather than cash.
If your travel dates might change, Holafly's long refund window is a real advantage. Airalo's credit can be used on a future trip, but it does not go back to your card.
Which has better reviews, Airalo or Holafly?
Holafly rates 4.7 out of 5 from more than 114,000 Trustpilot reviews, while Airalo rates 4.1 out of 5 from more than 46,700 reviews (October 2026). Airalo is the larger company, with 30 million customers reported in June 2026.
Both are established, legitimate companies. Airalo was founded in 2019 and raised a $220 million Series C in 2025. Holafly was founded in Spain in 2017 and reported more than 15 million eSIMs sold by September 2025. Ratings change over time, so check the current scores on Trustpilot.
Where does eSIM.site fit?
eSIM.site lists several fixed-data, unlimited and daily plans for each destination on one page, with no app needed and top-ups on most plans. It is data only, newer than Airalo and Holafly, and only refunds an eSIM that cannot connect at all.
For a trip across several countries, the eSIM.site Travel Planner lets you pick every country on your itinerary and issues each eSIM on the day you need it, in one checkout. Before you buy any eSIM, check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
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
Holafly
Unlimited-data travel eSIM sold by the day, with no fixed-GB plans and a long refund window.
- Simple unlimited data by the day, with no need to estimate gigabytes
- Up to 6 months to request a refund on an unactivated eSIM
- 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot from more than 114,000 reviews
- Always On: 1 GB of backup data every 30 days while the eSIM stays installed
- No small fixed-data plans, so light trips cost more ($11.90 for 3 days in the US)
- Hotspot sharing is limited to 1 GB per day on trip eSIMs
- No top-ups: extra days or a new trip need a new eSIM
- Trip eSIMs have no phone number for calls or SMS
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 the lowest price, top-ups on the same eSIM, cashback or a calls-and-texts plan.
Holafly
Choose Holafly if you use a lot of data, do not want to track usage, and value a 6-month refund window on unactivated eSIMs.
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
For most travelers who use maps, messaging and some social media, Airalo is better value than Holafly: its fixed packages cost a fraction of an unlimited plan, and you can top up if you run low. Holafly is the better choice for heavy users who stream and video call every day and want the reassurance of unlimited data, as long as they do not depend on laptop hotspot use. To see several plan types side by side for your destination, compare live prices on eSIM.site.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for a one-month trip, Airalo or Holafly?
For a month in Japan, Airalo's 5 GB plan costs $11.00 while Holafly's 30-day unlimited plan costs $73.90 (October 2026). Choose Holafly only if you will use far more than 5 GB; otherwise Airalo, with a top-up if needed, costs much less.
Can I use a hotspot with Holafly?
Yes, but Holafly trip eSIMs allow sharing up to 1 GB per day, so a 7-day plan allows 7 GB of hotspot use in total. Airalo allows tethering when your device and the local network support it, and it counts against your plan data.
Is Airalo legit?
Yes. Airalo is a legitimate eSIM company founded in 2019. It reported 30 million customers in June 2026, raised a $220 million Series C in July 2025 and rates 4.1 out of 5 from more than 46,700 Trustpilot reviews (October 2026).
Is Holafly legit?
Yes. Holafly was founded in Spain in 2017 and contracts through Holafly Limited in Dublin, Ireland. It reported more than 15 million eSIMs sold in September 2025 and rates 4.7 out of 5 from more than 114,000 Trustpilot reviews (October 2026).
Do I need an app for Airalo or Holafly?
No. Both brands sell eSIMs on their websites and in iOS and Android apps. Airalo can be installed through its app or directly on the device, and Holafly sends a QR code installation guide by email.
Can I get a refund if my trip is cancelled?
With Holafly, an eSIM that was never activated can be fully refunded within 6 months. With Airalo, the withdrawal right ends at activation, and change-of-plans refunds are paid as Airmoney credit rather than cash.
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
- Holafly: eSIM USA
- Holafly: eSIM Japan
- Holafly: eSIM Europe
- Holafly: Refund policy
- Holafly FAQ: How to request a refund
- Holafly: Trip service terms and conditions
- Holafly: Plans subscription
- Holafly: Rewards (HolaCoins)
- Holafly: About us
- Holafly press release: crosses $500M (Sept 2025)
- Holafly on Trustpilot