Airalo Vs Holafly: Which eSIM Provider Is Better?

Airalo and Holafly are both eSIM providers that offer mobile data plans. Both eSIM providers offer competitive rates, and they both have their pros and cons. So, which is the better eSIM provider? That depends on your needs and preferences.

To help you find the eSIM that suits your needs best, we’ve put together a comprehensive comparison of Airalo and Holafly. Keep reading to find out which eSIM is the better choice for you.

Airalo Vs Holafly Overview

Airalo is a newer eSIM provider, having launched in 2019. Holafly, on the other hand, has been around since 2018. Both providers offer a wide range of mobile data plans.

If you’re after a quick answer, here are the main takeaways.

Why Airalo Might Be The Best Option For You

Why Holafly Might Be The Best Option For You

Airalo And Holafly: How Do They Work?

Airalo and Holafly are both eSIM providers. Unlike a physical SIM card, an eSIM doesn’t need to be inserted into your device. Instead, the eSIM plan is downloaded directly into your mobile phone.

To use either service, you’ll need a device that’s compatible with eSIM technology.

Below, we’ll explain how you can buy and activate an eSIM plan on Holafly and Airalo. As you will see, both providers allow you to purchase an eSIM in just a few minutes.

How Does Airalo Work?

Here’s how you can buy an Airalo eSIM.

1. Create an account on Airalo.
2. Download the app or use the desktop version.
3. Choose your destination and preferred plan.
4. Install your eSIM.
5. Activate your eSIM.

How Does Holafly Work?

Here’s how you can buy an Holafly eSIM.

1. Pick an eSIM plan on Holafly.
2. Use the express checkout or enter your information.
3. Enter my discount code: ABROKENBACKPACK.
4. Pay.
5. You’ll receive an email. Scan the QR code to install your eSIM.
6. Activate your eSIM.

Airalo And Holafly Coverage

The coverage offered by Airalo and Holafly differs in several ways. Let’s take a closer look at what each provider has to offer.

Airalo eSIM Coverage

Airalo currently offers plans in over 200 countries and regions. The company is constantly expanding its coverage, so the number of countries will likely continue to grow.

They have three main types of plans:

1. Local eSIMs
2. Regional eSIMs
3. Global eSIMs

For each eSIMs, you’ll find short-term and long-term plans.

Regional Airalo eSIMs

Airalo offers 4 types of regional eSIMs:

1. Africa: Hello Africa works in 26 countries
2. Asia: Asialink works in 14 countries
3. Caribbean Islands: Island Hopper works in 22 countries
4. Europe: Eurolink works in 39 countries

Global Airalo eSIMs

Finally, Airalo offers a global eSIM. Discover Global works in 87 countries. It’s a great option if you travel to multiple destinations.

Holafly eSIM Coverage

Holafly offers data packs for 130+ countries and regions. They have two main types of plans:

1. Local eSIMs
2. Regional eSIMs

For each eSIMs, you’ll find short-term and long-term plans. As you can see, Holafly doesn’t provide global plans like Airalo. However, you might not even need this type of plan, so depending on your travel plans, it might not matter!

Regional Holafly eSIMs

Holafly offers 5 types of regional eSIMs:

1. Europe: Works in 32 countries
2. Asia: Works in 12 countries
3. North America: Works in Canada, Mexico, and the United States
4. South America: Works in 13 countries
5. United Kindom: Works in the UK

Airalo And Holafly eSIM Plans

Now that we’ve covered the coverage of each eSIM provider, it’s time to take a closer look at their eSIM plans.

Airalo eSIM Plans

As we mentioned before, Airalo offers three main types of plans: local, regional, and global. They also have short-term and long-term options for each type of plan.

Short-term Airalo plans are valid for 7, 15, or 30 days. Long-term plans are valid for 60, 90, or 180 days. It really depends on the type of plans and the destination. For example, the Discover Global plan is available for 180 days, but a local plan might be up to 30 days (with top-up options).

You’ll find unlimited data plans in some destinations, but it’s quite rare on Airalo.

Holafly eSIM Plans

Holafly offers two main types of plans: local and regional. They also have short-term and long-term options for each type of plan.

Short-term Holafly plans are valid for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 days. Long-term plans are valid for 60, or 90 days. Just like Airalo, it depends on the plan type and the destination.

Holafly offers unlimited data plans in several destinations. In fact, most destinations have unlimited data plan options, which can be useful if you need a lot of data.

Airalo And Holafly eSIM Prices

Now that we’ve covered the coverage and types of plans offered by each provider, let’s take a look at the prices.

Depending on the destination, prices may vary. But, usually, Airalo plans are cheaper than Holafly. I’ll compare a few destinations to show you the price differences.

United States

The cheapest plan on Airalo is just $4.50 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $26 for 30 days.

The cheapest plan on Holafly is $19 for 5 days, and the most expensive plan is $99 for 30 days. However, it’s important to note that the United States eSIM plans on Holafly include unlimited data.

Europe

The cheapest plan on Airalo is just $5 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $185 for 180 days.

The cheapest plan on Holafly is $19 for 5 days, and the most expensive plan is $99 for 30 days. However, it’s important to note that the European eSIM plans on Holafly include unlimited data.

Asia

The cheapest plan on Airalo is just $5 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $185 for 180 days. For $37, you’ll get 10GB, valid for 30 days.

The only Asia plan on Holafly costs $47. You’ll get 8GB, valid for 30 days.

That said, you’ll get better value when buying an Asian eSIM plan on Airalo. We still recommend browsing options on both websites as prices can differ depending on the destination.

Our Experience With Airalo And Holafly

We’re testing all the providers on eSIM Roamers. That said, we tried Airalo and Holafly. Let’s take a look at our experience with both providers.

Purchase

The purchase process is easy and secure on both websites. The main difference is that Airalo offers more payment methods than Holafly. That said, if you’re going to pay with a credit card, you should be good to go with any platform.

Usability

While both eSIM providers are easy to navigate and understand, I think Airalo is a bit more user-friendly.

Airalo’s website is simple and straightforward. You can activate your eSIM without leaving the website.

To activate your Holafly eSIM plan, you need to wait for an email.

Mobile Data

To give you an idea, I’ve been using Airalo as my number one eSIM provider. That said, I’ve been trying other providers, and I keep coming back to Airalo.

In the past, I had issues with Airalo. The issue was that my mobile phone was automatically connecting to the wrong network instead of the supported network. This usually happened when I entered a new country.

When it happened, I contacted Airalo support, and they sent me steps to fix the issue.

Apart from this, the Internet speed is usually fast and works fine. On two occasions, the Internet stopped working, and I simply needed to put airplane mode on and off to fix the issue.

When I used Holafly, I didn’t have any issues, but it’s important to note that I’ve only used it for one month in one country.

I’ve been using Airalo for a year now in multiple countries, so sometimes, I need to readjust the network to fit the country I’m in.

Support

Airalo support is faster than Holafly’s. They answered me within 7 minutes, while Holafly answered me within 19 minutes.

Verdict: Which eSIM Is Better?

I believe Airalo is better than Holafly because of the following reasons:

1. They offer more plans (including global plans)
2. They have longer plans if you need a plan for more than 90 days
3. Their plans are usually cheaper than Holafly
4. Their support is great
5. The website is easier to use and requires fewer steps when buying an eSIM

However, there’s one reason that could explain why you might prefer to use Holafly: unlimited data plans are available in multiple destinations.

Want to dive deeper? Read our Holafly review and our Airalo review to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions