Airalo vs Holafly

Airalo and Holafly are the two biggest travel eSIM brands on the market. Both work really well, but they play in completely different leagues. I've compared them in detail: customer ratings, coverage, features, unlimited data, tethering and the small print you should read before buying. Here's everything you need to choose without any regrets.

The bottom line and my verdict

Airalo has the biggest catalogue on the market: data plans sold by the gigabyte, across 200+ destinations, with a profile you can reuse and top up. Holafly is the opposite philosophy: unlimited data sold by duration, designed so you never watch your data gauge again.

On paper the two look similar. In real-world use, the difference shows up in two places: the customer rating and everyday peace of mind.

My straight answer: Holafly is my default pick for most travellers. Its Trustpilot rating is clearly better (4.7 vs 3.9 for Airalo, across more than 100,000 reviews), its unlimited model spares you any data anxiety, its support answers 24/7 including on WhatsApp, and you can use the code LEZBROZ (-5%). Airalo is still an excellent option if you have a specific need: paying the bare minimum for a small allowance, reusing the same travel profile trip after trip, or sharing your connection heavily.

Reliability and reviews: which one earns more trust?

This is where the gap is widest, so I'll give it to you straight. Here are the ratings I've compiled:

Both are very solid players, not fly-by-night startups. Airalo is based in Singapore, independent, and was the first eSIM brand to raise more than 220 million dollars. Holafly was born in Spain, now operates out of Dublin and claims more than 15 million eSIMs sold.

But on customer satisfaction, Holafly clearly wins. Its 4.7/5 rating across more than 100,000 Trustpilot reviews is one of the best in the entire eSIM sector. Airalo, despite very well-rated apps, sits at 3.9/5 on Trustpilot, with recurring complaints about slow after-sales support when something goes wrong. When you're abroad with no connection, responsive customer service makes all the difference, and that's a strong point in Holafly's favour.

Two opposite models: per GB or unlimited?

This is the heart of the matter, and it drives almost everything else.

Airalo thinks in gigabytes. You pick an allowance (1 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB...) and a duration. You pay for exactly what you take. It's perfect if you keep your usage in check or if you're travelling for a short time. The downside is you have to estimate your usage in advance, keep an eye on your gauge, and possibly buy a top-up if you run out.

Holafly thinks in unlimited. You pick a duration (from 1 to 90 days) and you stop counting altogether. GPS all day, streaming, video calls, maps, social media: you use your data without ever thinking about it. For a traveller who wants zero hassle, that's a huge comfort. Worth knowing: like almost every unlimited offer on the market, Holafly applies a fair use policy (FUP), meaning your speed may be reduced after very heavy use in a single day. In practice, for normal holiday use, you won't notice it.

In short: if you want to pay the bare minimum, Airalo. If you want to never worry about your usage, Holafly. And for most trips (holidays, city breaks, road trips), it's that unlimited comfort that really changes the experience.

Coverage and network

Both cover the whole world in 4G and 5G depending on the region, so you won't be let down there.

Airalo has the largest catalogue with more than 200 destinations, including local, regional and global plans. Holafly covers more than 190 countries, including 160+ with unlimited data. For a specific destination (Japan, United States, Thailand, Europe...), the best move is to check directly in the comparison tool on this page: it shows the real coverage and price of both providers for your trip.

Features in detail: hotspot, top-up, installation

This is where the two services really show their personality. Here's the full head-to-head, then I'll explain each point that matters.

Tethering (hotspot). Both allow it, but not in the same way. With Airalo, sharing is unlimited: you can plug in your laptop or tablet all day with no fees and no cap. With Holafly, hotspot is allowed but limited to around 1 GB per day. For occasional use (checking email on the laptop, connecting a tablet for an hour), that's plenty. But if you plan to work off a shared connection all day, Airalo is the better fit on that single criterion.

Top-up and reuse. Airalo lets you keep your eSIM profile and top it up from one trip to the next: handy if you often return to the same country. Holafly works more on a one-eSIM-per-trip basis, consistent with its unlimited-by-duration model: you buy a plan for your dates, full stop.

Installation and management. Nothing to report, it's simple on both sides: you scan a QR code or install directly from the app in a few minutes. Both apps are available in English on iOS and Android.

VPN and phone number. Neither includes a VPN or a phone number: they're pure data eSIMs, like the vast majority of the market. If you want to secure your connections on public Wi-Fi, you install a third-party VPN, independently of your eSIM.

Prices and promo code

I'm not fixing any price here, because prices change with the destination and the duration. The live comparison tool on this page calculates the real price of both for your trip, which is the only reliable way to know who's cheaper on your exact route.

What I can tell you is the logic: on a small allowance (a few GB, short stay), Airalo is often unbeatable, since you pay exactly what you take. On heavy use or a long stay where you'd want unlimited data, Holafly becomes very competitive, especially with the promo code.

And on that note: Holafly offers the code LEZBROZ for -5% on your order. Airalo, for its part, doesn't offer a discount code. On a comparable plan, that tips the scales a little further towards Holafly.

Customer service and conditions

Both advertise support available 24/7, in English, French and Spanish. But the real experience differs.

Holafly offers 24/7 chat, email and above all WhatsApp, which is very handy when you're abroad. A refund is possible as long as the eSIM hasn't been activated (within 30 days), and handled case by case afterwards in the event of a genuine connection problem. It's this responsiveness that largely explains its excellent customer rating.

Airalo offers in-app chat and email support, with a 14-day withdrawal right (which expires on activation) and a refund possible under conditions. The service exists and works, but this is precisely the most criticised point in reviews: after-sales response times can be frustrating when you have an issue mid-trip.

Who's it for? The verdict by profile

Rather than crowning a universal winner, here's how I'd choose depending on your case.

Choose Holafly if:

• You want unlimited data and never want to watch your usage.
• You're after the best customer rating and ultra-responsive support (WhatsApp 24/7).
• You're going on holiday, a city break or a road trip where you use your phone a lot.
• You want to use the LEZBROZ code (-5%).

That's my default pick for most travellers.

Choose Airalo if:

• You keep your usage in check and want to pay the bare minimum for a small allowance.
• You share your connection (hotspot) heavily all day.
• You want to reuse and top up the same eSIM profile from one trip to the next.
• You're heading to a very specific destination that only its 200+ country catalogue covers.

When in doubt, use the comparison tool above: it gives you the real price of both for your trip, so you can decide with full knowledge.