Airalo and Holafly are the two most popular eSIM providers for travellers. Airalo wins on price and plan variety, while Holafly stands out with unlimited data plans. Here is how they compare across every important factor.
Updated March 2026
Starts from around £4.50 for basic plans. Per-GB pricing is consistently the cheapest. Offers plans from 1 GB to 20 GB.
Starts from around £19 for unlimited 7-day plans. Higher upfront cost, but unlimited data means no worrying about usage.
Metered plans from 1 GB to 20 GB. You choose exactly how much data you need. Top-ups available if you run out.
Unlimited data plans are the headline feature. No need to monitor usage or worry about running out mid-trip.
Available in 200+ countries and territories. By far the widest coverage of any eSIM provider. Local, regional and global plans.
Available in around 160 countries. Good coverage but not as extensive as Airalo, particularly for less common destinations.
Clean, intuitive app. Easy to browse plans, purchase, install and manage eSIMs. Data usage tracking built in.
Simple app focused on the purchase flow. Less polished than Airalo but gets the job done. Good for non-technical users.
In-app chat and email support. Response times can be slow during peak periods. Help centre with setup guides.
24/7 customer support via chat. Generally faster response times than Airalo. Support in multiple languages.
Huge variety of plan sizes and durations. Easy to top up mid-trip. Can hold multiple eSIMs for different countries.
Simpler offering — usually one unlimited plan per country with different duration options (5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30 days).
| Destination | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (7 days) | £4.50 (3 GB) | £19.00 (Unlimited) |
| USA (7 days) | £5.00 (3 GB) | £19.00 (Unlimited) |
| Europe (7 days) | £9.00 (3 GB) | £27.00 (Unlimited) |
| Thailand (7 days) | £4.50 (3 GB) | £19.00 (Unlimited) |
For most travellers, Airalo is the better choice. It is cheaper, covers more countries, and lets you choose exactly the plan you need. However, if you are a heavy data user who wants unlimited data without tracking your usage, Holafly is worth the premium. Budget travellers and light data users should go with Airalo. Heavy streamers and anyone who wants zero data anxiety should consider Holafly.