Airalo eSIM review

The supermarket of eSIMs: plans for almost everywhere, just rarely the cheapest thing on the shelf.

Last reviewed May 1, 2026

Ratings

Overall
4.1
Coverage
4.5
Value
4.0
Ease of use
4.0
Support
4.0

At a glance

Plans from
$4.50
Countries
200+
HQ
Singapore
Founded
2019
Visit Airalo →

Pros

  • Genuinely global — country plans for almost every destination
  • Easy in-app QR install on iPhone and recent Android
  • Cheap regional plans (Asialink, Eurolink) for multi-country trips
  • Topping up is one tap, no need to reinstall

Cons

  • Pricing is uneven — some country plans are significantly overpriced
  • No native voice or SMS — data-only with VoIP fallback
  • Customer support quality varies by region
  • Requires installing and keeping the Airalo app updated to manage plans, install eSIMs and top up
  • You're locked to whichever in-country partner Airalo chose for the plan — no carrier choice if signal is weak in a specific area

Features

  • Hotspot tethering Yes
  • Voice calls No
  • SMS No
  • Top-ups Yes
  • Keep your number No
  • 5G support Yes

Overview

Airalo started in 2019 and quickly became the largest eSIM marketplace on the market. Rather than running its own network, it acts as a reseller — partnering with local carriers in each country and packaging their data into eSIM profiles you can install in minutes.

Plans and pricing

Airalo offers three tiers of plans: country-specific, regional bundles, and global plans.

  • Country plans typically start around $4.50 for 1 GB / 7 days.
  • Regional plans like Eurolink and Asialink are usually the best value if you’re hopping borders.
  • Global plans cover 80+ countries but are expensive per-GB.

Top-ups are available without reinstalling the eSIM, which is a meaningful convenience win over many competitors.

Network performance

Because Airalo resells local carrier capacity, real-world speed depends entirely on which partner you land on. Expect roughly what a local prepaid SIM on the same network would get. Rural coverage is where it varies most, and because each plan is tied to one partner network, you can’t switch if it’s weak.

Who it’s best for

Airalo is the right choice when you want a single app for global travel, value flexibility over unlimited data, and aren’t reliant on a local phone number.

Verdict

Airalo is the default recommendation for most travellers. Coverage is unmatched, the app is the most polished in the category, and prices are reasonable on regional bundles. Heavy data users in Europe should compare against Holafly's unlimited plans before buying.

Where we recommend Airalo

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