The world's largest eSIM marketplace with plans in 200+ countries and regions.
Airalo has established itself as the go-to eSIM marketplace for travellers, and for good reason. With coverage in over 200 countries and a catalogue of 700+ plans, they offer the widest selection of any provider we have tested. Their pricing is consistently among the cheapest, particularly for single-country plans in popular destinations like Japan, the USA and Thailand.
The Airalo app is well-designed and straightforward to use. Purchasing and installing an eSIM takes just a few minutes, and the in-app top-up feature is genuinely useful for travellers who underestimate their data needs. The Airmoney wallet and referral credits add extra value for frequent users.
Where Airalo falls short is customer support — response times can stretch to 24-48 hours during busy periods, which is frustrating if you have a connectivity issue mid-trip. The lack of unlimited data plans also means you need to guess your usage upfront, and running out of data abroad is never ideal. Despite these drawbacks, Airalo remains our top recommendation for most travellers due to its unbeatable combination of price, coverage and ease of use.
Airalo offers approximately 700 plans across 200+ countries, with prices starting from £3.50.
| Destination | Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1 GB | 7 days | £3.50 |
| USA | 3 GB | 30 days | £8.50 |
| Europe | 5 GB | 30 days | £14.00 |
| Global | 1 GB | 7 days | £7.50 |
Airalo covers 200+ countries and regions worldwide. Plans are available as single-country, regional (e.g. Europe, Asia) and global options.
Download the Airalo app from the App Store or Google Play and create a free account.
Search for your destination country or region and browse available data plans.
Purchase your chosen plan — payment is processed instantly via card, PayPal or Airmoney credits.
Install the eSIM by following the QR code or direct installation prompt in the app.
Activate the eSIM when you arrive at your destination by enabling data roaming in your phone settings.
Airalo consistently undercuts Holafly on price for metered plans but lacks the unlimited data option that Holafly provides. Compared to Saily, Airalo covers more destinations but Saily offers a stronger privacy focus. Against Ubigi, Airalo wins on pricing and app experience. Overall, Airalo is the best all-round choice for most travellers who can estimate their data needs.
| Feature | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countries | 200+ | 160+ | 150+ | 190+ |
| Starting Price | £3.50 | £5.00 | £3.99 | £4.00 |
| Unlimited Data | No | Yes | No | No |
| Tethering | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Trustpilot | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
Yes, Airalo is a legitimate company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Singapore. They have sold millions of eSIMs worldwide and have strong ratings on both app stores. Your payment information is processed securely.
Airalo works with iPhone XS and newer models (XS, XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 series). Your iPhone must be carrier-unlocked to use an eSIM from Airalo.
Most Airalo plans support tethering and hotspot sharing, though a small number of plans from specific network operators may restrict this. Check the plan details before purchasing.
When your data runs out, your connection will stop. You can top up directly in the Airalo app without installing a new eSIM, or purchase a new plan if top-up is not available for that destination.
Airalo offers refunds for eSIMs that have not been installed or activated. Once the eSIM QR code has been used, refunds are generally not available. Contact their support team for specific cases.
No, Airalo does not offer unlimited data plans. All plans have a set data allowance. If you need unlimited data, consider Holafly as an alternative.
Installation takes about 2-3 minutes. You can install the eSIM before your trip over Wi-Fi and then activate it when you land by toggling data roaming on.
No, Airalo plans are data-only and do not include a local phone number. You can use apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype for voice and video calls over your data connection.
Yes, Airalo offers regional and global plans that work across multiple countries. For example, their Europe plan covers 39 countries, and their Global plan covers 87+ countries.
In almost all cases, yes. Airalo plans typically cost 70-90% less than carrier roaming charges. For example, a 1 GB plan for Japan costs around £3.50 compared to £10+ per GB with most UK network roaming.
Best for: Budget-conscious travellers who want the widest selection of destinations and competitive pricing.
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