Pick Holafly if you want unlimited data with no published daily cap and you don't plan to share much via hotspot. Pick Airalo if you want the cheapest fixed-GB package, a top-up option, or a regional or global eSIM, and in our three price checks its unlimited plans were also a little cheaper than Holafly's, with clearer limits.
If you can't predict how much data you'll use, or your trip crosses several countries, a pay-as-you-go eSIM such as Roamless is also worth a look (more below).
The one-line difference: Holafly sells days of unlimited data. Airalo sells gigabytes (plus unlimited day packages in many countries). Everything else (hotspot, top-ups, phone numbers, refunds) follows from that.
Prices and terms were checked on the providers' official pages on October 25, 2026, in USD. They change often, so confirm on the checkout page before you pay.
Holafly vs Airalo at a glance
| Holafly | Airalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Data model | Unlimited data, priced by number of days (1–90) | Fixed-GB packages (e.g., 1–50 GB) and unlimited day packages in many countries |
| Fair use / throttling | No daily GB figure stated; Holafly says a fair-use slowdown may apply for no more than one day | Unlimited packages slow to 1 Mbps after a stated daily amount (5 GB/day in Italy, USA and Europe; 3 GB/day in Japan) until the 24-hour reset |
| Coverage | 200+ destinations; Europe eSIM covers 33 countries | 200+ locations; local, regional (e.g., Europe "Eurolink", 41 countries listed) and global eSIMs |
| Hotspot | 1 GB per day of shareable data (a 7-day plan = 7 GB) | Allowed if your phone and the network support it; Airalo's fair-use policy says no tethering limit on unlimited packages |
| Top-ups | Plans are sold by days with no top-ups; buy the length you need up front | Top-ups on the same eSIM, plus optional auto-renewal at 10% data left |
| Reinstall / reuse | Can't be transferred or reinstalled once installed | The same eSIM can often be topped up for a later trip |
| When it starts | When the eSIM connects to a supported network at your destination | Packages start on first use in the coverage area |
| Phone number / SMS | Data only, no local number | Mostly data only; some packages add minutes and SMS (e.g., in the USA), and global "Discover+" packages include a +1 US-based number |
| Extras | "Always On": 1 GB backup data per month in 150+ countries while the eSIM stays installed | Airmoney credit and loyalty program |
| Refunds | Up to 6 months to request one; full refund if you no longer need the eSIM (per Holafly's Europe page) | 14-day withdrawal right that ends once the eSIM is activated; technical-issue refunds as Airmoney or to your card |
| App and install | App with one-tap install on iOS/iPadOS 17.4+, or QR code by email | App (iOS and Android) or QR code; install any time on Wi-Fi |
| Support | 24/7 chat and email | 24/7 multi-language chat, including WhatsApp |
Not sure your phone can take either one? Run our eSIM compatibility check first. Both providers need an unlocked, eSIM-capable phone.
Price examples: Italy, Japan and USA
These are the providers' own listed prices on October 25, 2026, for a one-week and a two-week trip. Holafly only sells unlimited day plans, so for Airalo we show both its unlimited package and a fixed-GB package of similar length.
Italy
| Trip length | Holafly (unlimited) | Airalo (unlimited, 1 Mbps after 5 GB/day) | Airalo (fixed data) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $23.90 | $23.00 | 5 GB for $10.00 / 10 GB for $17.00 |
| 15 days | $44.50 | $44.00 | 10 GB for $18.00 / 20 GB for $25.00 |
In Italy the two unlimited plans cost almost the same. The real saving is in Airalo's fixed packages: if 10 GB is enough for two weeks, you pay well under half of Holafly's 15-day price. Holafly lists Vodafone and WINDTRE; Airalo's Italy packages list Wind Tre and Iliad. For route and coverage advice, see our best eSIM for Italy guide.
Japan
| Trip length | Holafly (unlimited) | Airalo (unlimited, 1 Mbps after 3 GB/day) | Airalo (fixed data) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $27.50 | $26.50 | 5 GB for $10.00 / 10 GB for $17.00 |
| 15 days | $50.50 | $48.00 | 10 GB for $17.50 / 20 GB for $24.00 |
Japan is where the fair-use wording matters most. Airalo's unlimited Japan package drops to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day, a lower daily amount than in Italy or the USA. Holafly doesn't publish a daily number, but it says a slowdown can apply for up to a day. Both list KDDI and SoftBank in Japan. More detail in our best eSIM for Japan guide.
USA
| Trip length | Holafly (unlimited) | Airalo (unlimited, 1 Mbps after 5 GB/day) | Airalo (fixed data) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | $27.50 | $25.00 | 5 GB for $12.50 / 10 GB for $21.50 |
| 15 days | $50.50 | $46.00 | 10 GB for $22.00 / 20 GB for $36.00 |
The USA example matters if you're hosting visitors or you live outside the US. If you're a US resident, your home plan already works here, and Holafly says its eSIMs don't work for domestic use in your home country. Holafly lists AT&T and T-Mobile; Airalo lists T-Mobile and Verizon. Airalo also sells US packages that add calling minutes and SMS (for example 10 GB + 100 minutes + 100 SMS for 15 days at $29.00), which Holafly doesn't offer.
What the numbers say: on these three destinations, Airalo's unlimited packages were $0.50 to $4.50 cheaper than Holafly's for the same number of days, and its fixed-GB packages were far cheaper still. Holafly's case isn't price. It's the "unlimited with no stated daily cap" promise, the longer refund window and the 1 GB monthly backup.
Unlimited vs fixed GB: which data model fits you?
Most travelers use less data than they expect. Maps, messaging, ride-hailing, translation and some photo uploads usually fit in a modest fixed package for a week, especially if your hotel has Wi-Fi. Video calls, streaming, uploading lots of video or working from a laptop add up quickly.
- Choose a fixed-GB plan (Airalo) if you mostly use maps and messaging, you're on Wi-Fi in the evenings and you'd rather pay less and top up if needed. Our guide on how to check eSIM data usage shows how to keep an eye on it.
- Choose unlimited (Holafly or Airalo) if you stream, video-call daily or simply don't want to think about data. Read the throttling terms: "unlimited" means you won't be cut off, not unlimited full-speed data.
- Need hotspot for a laptop or a travel partner? Holafly caps sharing at 1 GB per day. Airalo's unlimited packages don't limit tethering, according to its fair-use policy, but full speed still stops after the daily amount. See our eSIM hotspot guide before you rely on tethering.
Setup experience
Both install the same way any travel eSIM does: buy, scan a QR code or install from the app, then switch the travel line on when you land. Our step-by-step guide on how to install an eSIM covers iPhone and Android.
The differences are small but worth knowing:
- Holafly emails a QR code and also offers one-tap installation in its app on iOS and iPadOS 17.4 or later. Your plan's days start when the eSIM connects to a supported network at your destination. Holafly eSIMs can't be reinstalled, so don't delete it mid-trip.
- Airalo installs from the app or a QR code, and you can install it any time on stable Wi-Fi. Packages start on first use in the coverage area. When data runs low, you can top up the same eSIM instead of buying a new one.
- With either one, turn on data roaming on the travel eSIM line after landing, and turn it off on your US line so your home carrier can't charge you for roaming.
Wondering whether to skip eSIM and buy a local SIM card? Our eSIM vs physical SIM comparison covers when a physical SIM still makes sense.
Holafly pros and cons
Pros
- Unlimited data on every plan, priced simply by number of days.
- No published daily GB cap; Holafly says any fair-use slowdown lasts no more than a day.
- 1 GB of "Always On" backup data each month while the eSIM stays installed.
- Generous refund window (up to 6 months, per Holafly's Europe page).
- 24/7 chat and email support.
Cons
- Usually costs more than Airalo for the same number of days in our checks.
- Hotspot limited to 1 GB per day.
- Data only: no local number, no SMS.
- No top-ups, and the eSIM can't be reinstalled or moved to another phone.
- No small fixed-GB packages on its country eSIMs, so light users pay for unlimited.
Airalo pros and cons
Pros
- Cheap fixed-GB packages, from a few dollars for short trips.
- Unlimited packages in many countries, priced at or below Holafly in our checks.
- Daily high-speed limits are stated in the package details.
- Top-ups and auto-renewal on the same eSIM.
- Regional (e.g., Europe) and global eSIMs, plus some packages with minutes, SMS or a +1 US-based number.
Cons
- Unlimited packages slow to 1 Mbps after the daily amount (3 GB/day in Japan).
- More choice means more to compare: country, regional or global, fixed or unlimited.
- Withdrawal right ends once the eSIM is activated; some refunds come as Airmoney credit.
- Hotspot depends on your device and the local network.
A third option: Roamless
Holafly and Airalo both make you choose a package before you fly. Roamless works differently: it's a single global eSIM with a pay-as-you-go balance that you spend only on the data you use. According to Roamless, the credits never expire and work in 200+ destinations, so leftover balance carries over to your next trip and the same eSIM keeps working when you cross a border.
Roamless also sells fixed Data Plans (valid 30 days) and an Unlimited Plan for 1–90 days. The unlimited terms are spelled out: 3 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the 24-hour reset, which is the same daily amount Airalo uses in Japan. Hotspot is included, and your balance or plan only starts when the eSIM connects to a local network. On October 25, 2026, its country pages showed a 3-day Unlimited Plan at $10.80 in Italy and $11.43 in Japan and the USA, with Data Plans listed from $3.95 for 1 GB. Roamless lists Vodafone, Wind and Iliad in Italy, KDDI and SoftBank in Japan, and Verizon and AT&T in the USA.
It suits light or unpredictable data users, multi-country trips and frequent travelers who want one eSIM they never have to replace. For the full head-to-head with Airalo, read our Roamless vs Airalo review.
Not sure how much data you'll need? Roamless lets you pay as you go on one global eSIM, or pick a Data Plan or Unlimited Plan for your destination. Choose your country on the Roamless site or app to see today's rates.
Which should you choose? By traveler type
Weekend or one-week city break
Airalo fixed data. A 5 GB or 10 GB package covers maps and messaging for most short trips and costs a fraction of an unlimited plan. Top up if you run low.
Two weeks in one country, heavy user
Close call. Airalo's unlimited packages were slightly cheaper in our checks and allow more hotspot use, but they slow down after a set daily amount. Holafly costs a bit more and has no published daily cap, but only 1 GB of hotspot per day. If you stream every evening without sharing, Holafly's terms may suit you. If you tether a laptop, Airalo's are better.
Multi-country Europe trip
Airalo's Europe eSIM if you know roughly how much you'll use (10 GB for 15 days was $28.00 on October 25, 2026). Holafly Europe (33 countries) if you want unlimited. Check that every country on your route is included either way. For more options, see our Europe travel eSIM guide.
Remote worker or laptop user
Airalo unlimited over Holafly, because of the 1 GB/day hotspot cap on Holafly. If you need full speed all day, a large fixed package may work better than any unlimited plan.
Frequent traveler or unpredictable data use
Roamless pay-as-you-go, so you don't buy a new package for every trip and unused balance stays for next time. See also our best eSIM for international travel guide.
Need a number for calls and texts
Neither Holafly nor most Airalo country packages give you a local number. Airalo's US packages with minutes and SMS and its global Discover+ packages (with a +1 US-based number) are exceptions. Most travelers keep their US line on for SMS codes and use WhatsApp for calls: see can an eSIM receive SMS and using WhatsApp with a travel eSIM.
Holafly vs Airalo FAQ
Is Holafly really unlimited?
There's no fixed data cap on Holafly plans, and Holafly doesn't publish a daily high-speed amount. It does say operators may apply a fair-use policy that temporarily slows your speed for no more than one day. Hotspot sharing is limited to 1 GB per day.
Can I use Holafly and Airalo at the same time?
Yes, if your phone can store more than one eSIM. You can install both and choose which line is used for mobile data in your settings. Only one line carries data at a time, so it makes sense as a backup (for example, a small Airalo package next to a Holafly plan), not as a way to double your speed.
Does Airalo give you a phone number?
Most Airalo country packages are data only. Some packages add minutes and SMS, such as Airalo's US packages, and its global Discover+ packages include a +1 US-based number, according to Airalo. Holafly plans are data only, with no number.
Which is cheaper for 2 weeks in Europe?
Airalo, in our check on October 25, 2026. Its Europe eSIM cost $28.00 for 10 GB over 15 days and $49.00 for 15 days of unlimited data (1 Mbps after 5 GB a day). Holafly's Europe eSIM cost $51.50 for 15 days of unlimited data. If you'll use more than about 20 GB in two weeks, the unlimited plans are worth comparing (Airalo's 20 GB / 15-day package was $47.00). Otherwise, a fixed package is the cheapest option.
Which is better for Japan, Holafly or Airalo?
Both list KDDI and SoftBank. Airalo is cheaper for fixed data and slightly cheaper for unlimited, but its unlimited Japan package slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day. Holafly costs a bit more with no published daily cap. Light and medium users should pick Airalo; heavy users who don't tether may prefer Holafly.
Can I keep my US number while using Holafly or Airalo?
Yes. Both are added as a second line. Keep your US line on for calls and SMS if you need them (your carrier may charge roaming for those), and set the travel eSIM as your data line.
Prices and terms checked on October 25, 2026, on each provider's official pages: Holafly Italy, Holafly Japan, Holafly USA, Holafly Europe, Airalo Italy, Airalo Japan, Airalo USA, Airalo Europe, Airalo unlimited fair-use policy, Airalo terms of use (refunds). Roamless terms and prices are from its Italy, Japan and USA country pages on roamless.com. Prices are in USD as displayed that day and may differ by currency or at checkout.