-5% on your 1st eSIMuntil November 30
Airalo and Holafly no longer split neatly into per-GB versus unlimited. As of October 2026, Airalo sells fixed-GB plans in 200+ locations and unlimited plans in 120+ of them, while Holafly sells unlimited data by the day in 200+ locations plus monthly subscriptions in 160+. The real differences now sit in hotspot rules, phone-number options and multi-country coverage.
Key takeaways
- Airalo sells both fixed-GB and unlimited plans, and some of its global eSIMs include a phone number with calls and texts (Airalo App Store listing, October 2026)
- Holafly's trip eSIMs are unlimited data sold by the day, with hotspot sharing capped at 1 GB per day of the plan
- Holafly also sells monthly subscriptions, Unlimited or a 25 GB Light plan, valid in 160+ locations and cancellable at any time
- Both run on partner networks in each country, and both need an eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked phone
- Simsima is a third option to compare: data-only eSIMs for 190+ destinations, with 4% back in SimCoins on every order
How Airalo and Holafly sell data in 2026
Airalo describes itself as an eSIM marketplace covering 200+ locations. You choose a local, regional or global eSIM, then either a fixed amount of data for a set number of days or an unlimited plan, which it offers in 120+ of those locations (Airalo on the App Store, checked October 2026). The validity period starts when the eSIM connects to a supported network at the destination, not at purchase.
Holafly was founded in 2017 and launched its eSIM in summer 2018 (Holafly, About us). Its trip eSIMs are built around unlimited data: you pick a destination and a number of days, from 1 to 90 days on its Japan plans, for example. Next to these, Holafly sells monthly subscriptions that cover 160+ locations with one eSIM: an Unlimited plan and a Light plan with 25 GB (Holafly plans).
- Plan types: Airalo offers fixed GB or unlimited; Holafly offers unlimited by the day, plus 25 GB or unlimited on its monthly plans
- Destinations: 200+ for both catalogs of trip eSIMs; 160+ for Holafly's monthly plans
- Global coverage: Airalo's global eSIMs cover 160+ locations in one install, according to its App Store listing
- Validity: both count from the destination network for most plans, so you can install before you leave
Unlimited plans: fair use and hotspot limits
Neither brand's unlimited means full speed with no conditions. Holafly states that local network operators can apply a fair usage policy that reduces speed for no more than one day before it resets. Airalo says it publishes the fair usage policy and data cap of each unlimited plan in the plan details, so read that line before relying on video calls or streaming.
Hotspot rules differ more. On a Holafly trip eSIM, you can share 1 GB per day of the plan's duration, so a 7-day plan includes up to 7 GB of shareable data; its monthly Unlimited subscription advertises unlimited hotspot. Airalo lists its unlimited plans with no hotspot limit. If you need to connect a laptop every day, this is the line to compare first.
Phone numbers, calls and texts
Holafly's trip eSIMs are data-only: you cannot make calls or send or receive SMS on them, and your messaging apps keep working over data. Its Unlimited subscriptions bought on or after November 4, 2025 include a US, UK or Canadian number that supports inbound SMS and internet-based calling only, not traditional incoming calls.
Airalo sells both kinds: most of its eSIMs are data-only, while some global eSIMs include a number with data, calls and texts. The plan details say which you are buying. In every case, your usual number stays on your main SIM, so keep that line on for calls and two-factor codes, with data roaming off to avoid charges from your home carrier.
Which one fits your trip
- You can estimate your data, or you mostly need maps and messaging: a fixed-GB plan, which Airalo sells and Holafly does not on its trip eSIMs
- You stream, upload or work online every day and want no counter: an unlimited plan from either, after checking its fair use line
- You tether a laptop daily: compare hotspot rules first, since Holafly's trip eSIMs cap sharing at 1 GB per day
- You need a number for SMS codes abroad: look at Airalo's global eSIMs with calls and texts or Holafly's Unlimited subscription
- You travel more than a month a year: Holafly's monthly plans are built for that; compare them with buying separate trip plans
A third option to compare: Simsima
Simsima is a travel eSIM marketplace with transparent prices across 190+ destinations, and it adds 4% back in SimCoins on every order, credit valid for 12 months. Its eSIMs are data-only: you install yours before you leave, on Wi-Fi, and it activates on its own when it connects to a supported network at your destination. Prices change, so compare Simsima, Airalo and Holafly for your own destination before you buy.
See the full Simsima vs Airalo price comparison — Live side-by-side prices across popular destinations
Frequently Asked Questions
Holafly is the best-known, alongside other travel eSIM providers such as Saily, Nomad, Ubigi and Yesim, and marketplaces such as Simsima. They all sell data plans that run on partner networks in each country, so the useful comparison is per destination: plan types, validity, hotspot rules and which networks the plan lists.
Holafly sells trip eSIMs for 200+ locations, including regional plans for areas such as Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Its monthly subscriptions cover 160+ locations. Check the exact country list on the plan page against your itinerary before you buy.
Any phone that supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked: every iPhone from the XS and XR onward, Google Pixel 4 and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and many recent Android phones, depending on the country where they were sold. The same requirement applies to Holafly and Simsima. On iPhone, Settings > General > About must show No SIM restrictions next to Carrier Lock.
Airalo says more than 30 million travelers have used it. Reliability in practice depends on the partner network in each country, listed in the plan details, and on your phone: most failures come from a carrier-locked phone, data roaming left off on the eSIM line, or a plan installed for the wrong destination.
Airalo says the validity period starts when the installed eSIM connects to a supported network at the destination. Holafly recommends keeping its eSIM turned off until you arrive, especially on regional plans. In both cases you can install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi, before you fly.
Yes. WhatsApp is tied to your account and phone number, not to the line that carries data, so it keeps working over the travel eSIM's data with your usual number, contacts and chats.
Best travel eSIM providers compared — Our full ranking of travel eSIM providers
eSIM vs SIM card: which is better for travel — Related comparison
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Dimitri MorvanFounder
Founder of Simsima. A passionate traveler based in Barcelona, he helps travelers stay connected without breaking the bank on roaming fees.
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