Airalo is usually better if you use a normal amount of data; Holafly is better if you use a lot and hate counting gigabytes. Airalo’s strength is cheap fixed-data plans and a huge catalogue; Holafly sells almost only unlimited plans priced by the day. On unlimited, they now cost almost the same — the real differences are hotspot rules, phone numbers and refunds.
We run ICY SIM, a competitor to both. We’ve compared them on facts we could check (dated 8 October 2026, with links), and we mention ICY SIM only at the end as an alternative.
- Light to moderate users → Airalo (fixed plans, e.g. Japan 5 GB / 30 days for $11).
- Heavy users → Holafly (unlimited by the day, Japan or Europe $27.50 for 7 days).
- On unlimited, prices are close: Airalo $26.50–27 vs Holafly $27.50 for 7 days.
- Hotspot: Holafly caps sharing at 1 GB/day; Airalo allows it within its 3 GB/day high-speed allowance.
- Both are legitimate, established companies with tens of thousands of reviews.
Airalo vs Holafly at a glance
| Airalo | Holafly | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2017–2018 (sources differ) |
| Plan types | Fixed GB + unlimited | Unlimited by the day (plus a “Light” global plan) |
| Unlimited fair use | 3 GB/day at high speed, then slower | Speeds may be limited temporarily under fair use |
| Japan, 7-day unlimited | $26.50 | $27.50 |
| Europe, 7-day unlimited | $27.00 | $27.50 (33 countries) |
| Japan, fixed ~5 GB | $11 (5 GB / 30 days) | Not offered |
| Hotspot | Yes (counts toward 3 GB/day on unlimited) | Yes, max 1 GB/day |
| Phone number | On the Discover+ global plan | No — data only |
| Refund (unused eSIM) | Possible; some reasons paid as in-app credit | Up to 6 months if not activated |
| Trustpilot | 4.1 (46k reviews) | 4.7 (114k reviews) |
Plans: fixed data vs unlimited
This is the real decision. Airalo is built around fixed packs — you buy, say, 5 GB for 30 days and top up if you need more. It now also sells unlimited plans, with 3 GB a day at 20 Mbps, after which you continue at reduced speed until the allowance resets 24 hours later. Holafly sells unlimited plans for almost every destination and you choose the number of days. Its terms allow operators to slow speeds temporarily under fair use, “for no more than one day”.
If you mostly use maps, messaging and the odd video, a fixed plan is cheaper. If you stream, video-call or work online every day, unlimited removes the worry of running out.
Price: which is cheaper?
For unlimited, they’re now nearly identical — $26.50 (Airalo) vs $27.50 (Holafly) for a week in Japan, and $27.00 vs $27.50 for Europe. For light use, Airalo wins clearly because Holafly has no small plans: 5 GB for 30 days in Japan costs $11 on Airalo, while the shortest Holafly unlimited week is $27.50. Prices vary by currency and change often, so check both before you buy.
Hotspot and working from a laptop
If you plan to tether a laptop, this is the biggest difference. Holafly caps hotspot sharing at 1 GB per day (so a 7-day plan gives 7 GB of shareable data). Airalo allows hotspot on its unlimited plans, but tethered data counts toward the same 3 GB/day high-speed allowance. For laptop work, neither unlimited plan is truly unlimited — a large fixed plan can be the better deal.
Calls and phone numbers
Holafly is data-only. Airalo is mostly data-only too, except its Discover+ global eSIM, which includes a US (+1) number with calls and SMS. For most travellers the simplest option is to keep your home SIM active for calls and texts and use WhatsApp, FaceTime or iMessage over eSIM data.
Refunds
- Airalo: an eSIM that hasn’t been installed can be refunded, but for reasons like “wrong purchase” or “plans changed” the refund is paid as Airmoney (in-app credit). Used or expired eSIMs aren’t eligible.
- Holafly: you can request a refund for an unactivated eSIM for up to 6 months. Connection problems must be reported during the trip, and a $3.50 admin fee may apply.
Three real trips: which one costs less?
| Trip | Airalo | Holafly | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| A week in Japan, light use (~3 GB) | 5 GB / 30 days: $11 | 7 days unlimited: $27.50 | Airalo — saves about $16 |
| A week in Japan, heavy use (~2 GB a day) | 7 days unlimited: $26.50 | 7 days unlimited: $27.50 | Either — about the same |
| A week in Europe working from a laptop | Unlimited, 3 GB/day high speed incl. hotspot | Unlimited, hotspot max 1 GB/day | Airalo — more usable hotspot data |
Prices checked 8 October 2026. For trips longer than a week, compare the exact number of days on each site — Holafly lets you pick any length, while Airalo sells fixed durations.
Coverage and networks
Both claim 200+ destinations, and both connect you to local partner networks rather than running their own. In practice, coverage depends on which local operator a plan uses in each country, so for an important trip it’s worth checking the network names on the plan page before you buy — and having a backup (your home SIM’s roaming, or Wi-Fi) for the first hour after landing.
Setup and app experience
The setup is the same idea for both: buy in the app or on the website, install the eSIM from the app or by scanning a QR code, then switch your data line when you land. Both have large numbers of App Store ratings; Holafly’s US App Store rating was 4.8 from about 40,000 ratings when we checked. If you’ve never installed an eSIM before, our guide to how eSIM works abroad walks through the settings on iPhone and Android.
Is Airalo legit?
Yes. Airalo is an established company founded in 2019 that has raised venture funding (a $220M Series C) and says it serves over 30 million users. It has a 4.1 Trustpilot score from about 46,000 reviews. The most common complaints there are activation problems, inconsistent speeds and recent price increases — normal issues for the category rather than signs of a scam.
Is Holafly legit?
Yes. Holafly is a Spanish-founded company (now with an Irish entity in Dublin) and has a 4.7 Trustpilot score from about 114,000 reviews. Worth knowing: Trustpilot currently shows a notice on its profile that it is “working with this business to address past violations” of its guidelines. App Store reviewers mention signal drops when crossing borders and slow hotspot speeds.
A 2025 university study (presented at USENIX Security) found that many travel eSIMs — Airalo and Holafly among those examined — route traffic through infrastructure outside your destination country. That’s common in the industry and is often why apps work normally abroad, but it’s worth knowing if privacy matters to you.
Verdict: which should you choose?
- Choose Airalo if you use a normal amount of data, want the widest choice of plans, or need a phone number (Discover+).
- Choose Holafly if you use lots of data, want to pick an exact number of days, and won’t rely on hotspot.
- Choose neither unlimited plan for laptop work — a large fixed plan often gives you more usable data.
An alternative: fixed data for less
If you’re a light or moderate user, a fixed-data plan from a smaller provider can cost much less than either. In our check, ICY SIM (our product) had Japan 5 GB / 30 days for $6 and Europe 10 GB / 30 days for $22, with hotspot supported. It has no unlimited daily plans on the website and a shorter refund window (24 hours for unused eSIMs), so compare honestly. Full seven-way comparison: best eSIM providers.
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