Are you preparing a trip and can’t decide on a brand of eSIM cards? Then you’re in the right place. At Passporter we want you to enjoy your trips to the fullest and we know that having internet on your mobile phone is a great advantage when you are abroad. That’s why we have prepared this post where we compare Airalo and Holafly, two of the best eSIM card brands at the moment. And we had the opportunity to test both of them on a trip to the United States.
Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market, however, in our experience in the end it comes out expensive as their plans have limited data that usually run out, forcing you to recharge the eSIM and paying more. That’s why at Passporter we always recommend cards with unlimited data, like those of the Spanish company Holafly, to travel without worries or unexpected expenses.
If you want to know all the advantages and disadvantages of the eSIM from Holafly and Airalo, follow us and we will share everything you need to know to choose the perfect eSIM for your trip.
Comparison of Airalo and Holafly eSIM card
| Brand | Plan duration | Data sharing | Unlimited data | App | GB per plan | Support | Price | Trustpilot | Passporter Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days | No | Yes | Yes | Unlimited data in all plans | English and other languages via direct chat and WhatsApp | 19€ -99€ | 4,6 | 4,3 |
| Airalo | 7, 15 and 30 days | Yes | No | Yes | 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 15GB and 20GB | In English, via bot | 5€ – 185€ | 3,9 | 3,8 |
1. Who offers better speed and data limit, Airalo or Holafly?
One of the biggest drawbacks of Airalo’s eSIM cards is that they don’t have plans with unlimited data like Holafly, but instead all their plans have a data limit of 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 30GB. This means that, if you haven’t calculated your connection needs for the trip properly, you will most likely run out of data and have to top up your eSIM and pay again.
At Holafly, by contrast, its eSIM plans have no data limit, meaning you can travel without worrying about running out. At Passporter we consider this aspect to be a great advantage, which is why we always recommend getting an eSIM card with unlimited data like the ones offered by Holafly.
2. Which card has better plan duration, Holafly or Airalo eSIM ?
In this aspect Holafly cards are better suited to all types of travel as their data plans can be for 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 30, 30, 60 and 90 days, while Airalo’s are only for 7, 15 and 30 days. If you are a digital nomad or studying abroad, the 90-day plans are perfect for you, so you won’t have to re-purchase the eSIM every month. With Holafly the contract duration is tailored to your trip, and you won’t be short or have too many days left like with Airalo.
3. Who has better price, Airalo or Holafly?
Currently Airalo is one of the cheapest brands on the market. The prices of its eSIMs depend on each destination, but typically the weekly price is around $5 and the monthly price is around $30. Regional data plans per continent cost around $60 per month.
Although at first glance Airalo may seem the cheapest option, we remind you that it is very likely to run out of gigabytes sooner than expected and you will have to top up more and pay again. In addition, in Trustpilot you will see that they have a worse score than other brands such as Holafly or Simoptions and quite a few negative comments.
That’s why we at Passporter think it’s better to spend a little more for an unlimited data eSIM card by Holafly and you won’t have to worry about paying again at any time.
4. Who offers better customer support, Airalo or Holafly?
Holafly’s customer support is one of the best in the industry as they respond in less than a minute at any time of the day and in several languages: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Japanese. If you have any doubt or problem during the purchase and installation process, they will solve it quickly through their chat or Whatsapp.
Airalo’s customer service, on the other hand, leaves much to be desired and cannot be counted on if we have a problem. Although the customer can contact them through the chatbot or through social networks, the truth is that they take a long time to respond, and if we have any problem with internet abroad, we usually need an immediate solution.
5. Do Holafly and Airalo eSIM allow data sharing?
One of the advantages of the Airalo eSIM cards is that they allow you to share data with other devices. In the mobile phone settings you can configure your data plan to allow this option. Keep in mind that if several devices use the eSIM at the same time, you will run out of data sooner. Holafly cards do not offer this service.
6. Which app is better, Airalo’s or Holafly’s?
Airalo has an App where you can buy your eSIM plan and install it directly on your phone. This is a plus point for the brand as it greatly simplifies the purchase and installation process.
Holafly also has an App where you can monitor your remaining contract time and consult how to install the eSIM manually in the case of making the purchase with your smartphone.
7. Who offers the best buying and installation process?
On the website of both brands you can choose your travel destination and purchase the eSIM data plan that suits you best. Then you will receive an email with instructions to install the eSIM and a QR code along with a numeric code to install it manually.
In the case of Holafly, you will also be able to consult this numerical code in their App so you don’t need to rely on a computer to do the installation. If you buy the eSIM from the Airalo App, you will be able to do the installation directly from there.
8. Reload the eSIM (if you run out of data)
It is possible to recharge some Airalo cards once installed, but not all. When you buy the data plan, you can check if they offer this service in the “additional information” section. This service is useful when we run out of data in the middle of the trip not to go through the installation process again.
Holafly doesn’t offer this service because it doesn’t need to since with their unlimited data plans you’ll never run out of gigabytes.
Advantages and disadvantages of Holafly and Airalo
At Passporter we have prepared these tables with the advantages and disadvantages of Airalo and Holafly eSIM cards based on our experience with them to help you make a decision. Although we are very clear that the cards with unlimited data like Holafly’s are one of the best options, you may find Airalo’s card better suited to your travel needs.
1. Advantages and disadvantages of Holafly eSIMs
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Unlimited data. – 24/7 customer support in English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese. – You can pay in euros, dollars and Mexican pesos. – Many data plan options: 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. – App where you can check the remaining days of the contract. | – Their eSIM cards do not include calls or sms. – They are one of the most expensive options on the market, but it is worth it because they do not run out of data and do not need to be recharged. – They do not allow data sharing with other devices. Installation cannot be done through their App. |
2. Advantages and disadvantages of Airalo eSIMs
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – It is the cheapest brand on the market. – They have an App and you can buy and install the eSIM from it. – They allow you to recharge the eSIM. – Their eSIM card allows sharing data with other devices. – They have eSIM cards for 190 countries. | – Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less. – They do not have unlimited data cards. – Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. – Their eSIM cards do not include calls and sms. – The duration of the plans is limited to 7 and 30 days. – Their customer support is only in English and takes a long time to respond. |
User reviews of Airalo and Holafly eSIM cards
One of the most reliable websites to consult opinions about a brand is Trustpilot, the best source of reviews where you can compare and read what thousands of users think about all kinds of brands such as Holafly and Airalo.
On the Trustpilot website they rate brands from 0 to 5, and Holafly has a score of 4.5, the best compared to all other eSIM providers, while Airalo has a score of 3.9, one of the worst.
These are some reviews you’ll see on Trustpilot that we thought might help you make a decision.
1. Holafly Trustpilot reviews
I had some difficulties with the card because of a trip cancellation, and also because of my inexperience with technology. The guys at Holafly quickly resolved it with priority and excellence. I highly recommend this company.
E. Alonso, Trustpilot
Excellent service from Wayre!!! I had previously used HolaFly’s service and everything was perfect. Now with the change to eSim because of my mobile version I can’t use it but I have made the purchase for a family member who is leaving soon for the USA.
Jacinto, Trustpilot
Excellent service, very secure transaction and very very quick to help me with my questions. Highly recommended! Wayra was the one who assisted me and she is great, if you are assisted by her, consider yourselves lucky!
Jensie Bolaños, Trustpilot
The truth is that my experience was very good, at the beginning it was a little difficult to get connectivity but nothing that was not solved by a Holafly WhatsApp operator…I would do it again without doubt…in my case I took the 10 day card for New York and it was perfect.
Sandra Mata DE LA Concepcion, Trustpilot
2. Airalo Trustpilot reviews
It worked great for me. I was able to surf and make calls without any problems in Paris and in Italy. I highly recommend it!!!
Fernando Revah, Trustpilot
Excellent, super affordable prices and you can see how your consumption is going and recharge it, I had no problems in any country, my husband and I love it. We are from Mexico and it served us perfect in Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece and France.
Fer Alor, Trustpilot
A very good experience on my trip. It was very helpful. Maybe the plan rate should be a little cheaper. But the service is very good
Daniel, Truspilot
Lousy service, the esim worked 1 day and since then nothing.
Claudio Reininger, Trustpilot
The customer service is non-existent, they do not respond. I have been sending messages and contacts for 3 days but nothing. It’s a waste of money, I do not recommend it.
Which card is better Airalo eSIM or Holafly eSIM?
Both Holafly and Airalo are brands with very good reputations, however, if we go to review sources like Trustpilot, Holafly’s 4.5 rating stands out over Airalo’s 3.7 rating.
As we’ve discussed previously, the price of Airalo cards is cheaper, but it comes out more expensive in the long run as with their gig plans limited to less than 20GB you’re likely to run out of data and have to buy more. On our US trip we ran out of data and had to top up on one occasion. That’s why we recommend considering plans with unlimited data. In this case the Holafly brand is the best option since the vast majority of their eSIM cards have unlimited data.
Another drawback of Airalo is that data plans are not flexible (7, 15 or 30 days), while Holafly offer eSIM cards with a duration of 5, 10, 15, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days, which is better suited to all types of travel.
The installation process of eSIM cards is always simple and fast, and both Holafly and Airalo eSIM can be bought on their website and installed through the QR code or the numeric code that will arrive in the mail after the purchase. With Airalo you can also do the installation from your App, and with Holafly you can consult the numerical code in the App to install the eSIM without using the computer.
From our point of view the quality of technical support is a key piece when choosing one brand or another. Airalo’s service does not have a very good reputation as they take a long time to respond, while Holafly’s service is a marvel because they answer in less than a minute and in several languages.
In summary, at Passporter we prefer to travel with Holafly eSIM cards because of their unlimited data plans and the quality of their technical service in English and other languages.
If you want to know more details about each brand we recommend you to visit this post about Holafly: Our review of Holafly: is it worth it? and this one about Airalo: Our review of Airalo: is it worth it?
Questions to consider before choosing an Airalo or Holafly eSIM
In our experience, Holafly eSIM cards are best for traveling because of their unlimited data plans and contract flexibility.
Holafly’s eSIM card brand has a 4.5 star rating, while Airalo has a 3.7 rating.
At Passporter we prefer to use Holafly’s eSIMs on our trips because of their unlimited data, 24h support in English and other languages and the flexibility of their contracts.
Airalo is an eSIM card brand with a good reputation in the market and a 3.7 rating on Trustpilot, where you will see both positive and negative reviews.
Holafly is a Spanish eSIM card brand with a very good reputation in the market and a score of 4.5 on Trustpilot, where you will see many positive comments.
Airalo eSIM cards do not offer unlimited data. The only eSIM company that offers unlimited data is Holafly.
Holafly eSIM cards offer unlimited data in most of their eSIM data plans.
Internet connection is required to activate eSIM cards, so it is recommended to activate before embarking on your trip or at the first place with wifi connection at the destination.
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