Are you preparing your next trip and can’t decide on an eSIM card? It is common for you to have a hard time choosing among all the brands that are currently on the market. That’s why we at Passporter have decided to help you with this task. In this post we compare two well-known brands of eSIM cards, Sim Options and Holafly.
You can read about the advantages and disadvantages of Holafly and Sim Options eSIM cards below, but here’s a heads up Holafly eSIMs are our favorite for their unlimited data and 24h technical support in English and other languages. Sim Options is a marketplace where local carriers sell their eSIMs, so their offer is quite diverse.
If you want to know which eSIM card best suits your trip, read on and we will share all the details with you.
Comparison of SimOptions 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 on all plans | In English and other languages, direct chat and WhatsApp | 19€ -99€ | 4,6 | 4,3 |
| Simoptions | 10, 15 and 30 days | No | No | No | 1GB, 6GB, 10GB and 20GB | In English via chat | 10,9€- 49€ | 3,5 | 3 |
1. Who offers better speed and data limit, SimOptions or Holafly?
Based on our experience we can tell you that one of the most important factors when choosing an eSIM card is the gigabyte limit. We doubt that anyone wants to run out of data in the middle of a trip, so we believe that in this aspect the best option is the eSIM cards with unlimited data from Holafly. This way you won’t have to monitor your gigabyte consumption or worry about buying another eSIM again.
Most SimOptions cards have data limits, and are likely to run out at some point. Also, short term plans tend to have very few gigabytes.
At Passporter we always recommend unlimited data eSIM cards by Holafly to avoid unnecessary worries.
2. Which brand offers better duration plans, Holafly or SimOptions eSim?
One of the advantages of Holafly cards is that in most countries they have a standard offering in terms of plan durations, which can be 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days. This makes them perfect for all types of travel, both for express travel and for digital nomads or students abroad.
At SimOptions, on the other hand, the duration of contracts varies greatly from country to country, and they do not offer many options. Generally, the plans last either 15 or 30 days.
3. Who has a better price, Holafly or SimOptions eSIM?
In this regard we can say that both Holafly and SimOptions are among the most expensive brands on the market. For example, a Holafly eSIM card for the US with unlimited data for one month costs €69, and with SimOptions, with a maximum 20GB limit, €34.9.
4. Who offers better customer support, Holafly or SimOptions eSIM?
Holafly’s technical support is 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 questions or problems during the purchase and installation process, they will solve them quickly through their chat or Whatsapp, which opens automatically when you buy the eSIM. The customer service of SimOptions, besides being exclusively in English, is not very helpful. They cannot assure the quality of the service because it depends on each local brand they sell on their website.
5. Do Holafly and SimOptions eSIM cards allow data sharing?
Holafly eSIM cards do not allow data sharing, and in the case of SimOptions, only some brands in their marketplace offer this possibility, but it is not the norm. Also, keep in mind that, if you share data, the gigabytes of the contract will run out sooner.
6. Which app is better, SimOptions or Holafly?
SimOptions does not have an App, but Holafly does. On Holafly’s website you can check the numerical code to perform the manual installation of the eSIM contracted and also you can see how many days of the contract are left.
7. Who offers the best purchase and installation process?
Comparing the purchasing process, we checked the websites of both brands. Holafly’s website is intuitive, and their data plans are very standardized. In addition, they make available to the customer all the information they may need. The SimOptions website, on the other hand, is rather chaotic and it is difficult to choose an eSIM card as the price, duration of the plans and gigabyte limit are very diverse.
As for the purchase, on the website of both brands you can choose the destination of your trip and buy the data plan for eSIM that suits you best. Then you will receive an email with instructions to install the eSIM along with a QR code and a numeric code to install it manually. In the case of Holafly, you can also consult this numerical code in their App to avoid depending on a computer when installing the eSIM.
8. Top up the eSIM (if you run out of data)
Holafly doesn’t offer this service because it doesn’t need to since with its unlimited data plans you’ll never run out of gigabytes.
In the case of SimOptions, only some of the brands they work with give you the possibility to recharge if you run out of data. This information can be found in the “More Details” section of each plan, under the “Top-up Options” tab.
Advantages and disadvantages of Holafly and SimOptions
We at Passporter have prepared these tables with the advantages and disadvantages of Holafly and SimOptions eSIM cards based on our experience to help you make the decision. While we are very clear that the cards with unlimited data like Holafly’s are one of the best options, you may find SimOptions’ 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 SimOptions eSIMs
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Quick and easy purchase and installation process. Some eSIMs include calls and SMS. Some eSIMs allow recharging. Coverage in more than 160 destinations. | Gigabytes are limited to 20GB or less. They do not have unlimited data cards. Short-term plans have very limited gigabytes. The duration of most plans is limited to 15 and 30 days. Their technical support is only in English. It is one of the most expensive brands in the market. |
Opinions from users of SimOptions and Holafly eSIM cards
Here are some reviews from SimOptions and Holafly customers who have already tested eSIM cards from these brands. The reviews are from Trustpilot, one of the most reliable sources of reviews and where you can compare and read what thousands of users think about all kinds of brands.
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 SimOptions has a score of 3.5, one of the worst.
If you want to know more about Holafly, we invite you to visit this post where we give you more details: Our opinion of Holafly: is it worth it?, and this one if you want to know more about the SimOptions eSIM: Our review of SimOptions: is it worth it?
1. Holafly Trustpilot reviews
Excellent service from Wayre!!! I had previously used HolaFly’s service and everything was perfect. Now with the change to eSim for 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
The truth is that my experience was very good, at the beginning it was a little difficult to get connectivity but nothing that a Holafly WhatsApp operator could not solve…I would go for 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
Very good personalized attention to solve your problems.
Bernardino, Trustpilot
For a trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt I hired two eSIM, one valid for the first two and one for Egypt. In the first two countries very good coverage and speed. In Egypt not so much, sufficient coverage in Cairo and scarce and at some point null in the rest, but perhaps attributable to the poor structures of the country.
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
2. Trustpilot reviews of SimOptions
Scam. If you buy US eSIM from AT&T they are going to give you a Chinese eSIM that has nothing to do with what it said on the website. Half an hour with customer service and they have done nothing but waste time and lie. SCAM!!!!
Ciro Djodeyre, Trustpilot
I was a friend who told me about Sim Options for when I have to travel, either personally or professionally. Now I always use one when I travel and believe me it is life changing, no more huge phone bills! I highly recommend it
Anays Hernandez, Trustpilot
It has been a good option for keeping my cell phone connected to an internet service. The costs are reasonable. I bought a SIM to use in Canada. I look forward to using others on my upcoming trips.
Gabriel Ramos-Toledo, Trustpilot
-For those who love to travel as much as I do, simoptions is a godsend. Very convenient and easy to use site, support that helps you choose the best solution, everything is super
Teresa Ryal, Trustpilot
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Which eSIM card is better, SimOptions or Holafly
At Passporter we always use eSIM cards on our trips because it is the best option to have internet abroad. As a consequence we have tested many eSIM cards and this has been our experience with the eSIM cards from Holafly and SimOptions.
Buying eSIM cards from SimOptions can be a bit of a hassle because of the way its website is structured, which for each country offers wildly diverse data plans from different brands. In contrast, Holafly’s site is very intuitive and the purchase process won’t take you any time at all.
The purchase process in both cases is done on the web, where you can choose the data plan that best suits you. Once the purchase is complete you will receive an email with installation instructions, a QR code for activation and another numeric code for manual installation. In the case of Holafly, you will also be able to consult this numerical code in their App.
Our recommendation is Holafly’s eSIM cards, which have proven to be the best for several reasons. First, because unlike SimOptions, they offer unlimited data plans, which is very convenient since you won’t have to worry about running out of internet in the middle of your trip. On the other hand, Holafly’s plans have very flexible durations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 days, perfect for all types of trips. In addition, it is the only company with 24/7 technical service in English and many other languages. We remind you that with SimOptions the technical service depends on each brand and they can not ensure a good service.
In short, we always use the Holafly eSIM cards because they are the best option for fast, simple and hassle-free internet
Questions to consider before choosing a Sim Options or Holafly eSIM
Holafly eSIM cards have a Trustpilot score of 4.5 and very positive reviews.
Holafly cards allow you to have internet connectivity without installing any physical card. You only need to scan a code for installation and in a few minutes you will have internet on your smartphone.
Holafly’s eSIM card brand has a 4.5 star rating, the highest of all eSIM card companies.
Holafly has unlimited data plans for your travel eSIM.
Internet connection is required to install the Holafly eSIM card, so it is recommended to activate it before you start your trip or at the first location with wifi connection at your destination.
Holafly data packages last for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 days.
The Sim Options brand has a 3.5 rating on Trustpilot and both positive and negative reviews.
Holafly’s eSIM card brand has a 4.5 star rating, while Sim Options has a 3.5 rating.
No, all Sim Options eSIM plans have data limits.
In our experience, Holafly eSIM cards are the best for traveling because of their unlimited data plans and contract flexibility.
At Passporter we prefer to use Holafly’s eSIM on our trips because of their unlimited data, 24h support in English and other languages and the flexibility of their contracts.
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