If you’ve recently travelled abroad, you know the huge checklist of things that need to be done before getting to relax on a quiet beach. And if you’re anything like me, there’s almost something on the list that’s forgotten, which then comes back to haunt you at the wrong time. One such thing is connectivity, as no one in the history of travel has ever liked the long queues at airports to get a new SIM card. Over the past few years, though, there’s been a solution, and that’s eSIM. These non-physical SIMs are installed on your phone and help you connect to the network in any desired country. No need to spend outrageous prices at the airport anymore. Two major players in the eSIM space are Holafly and Airalo. While both provide connectivity across different countries, their approaches are super different. I tested them both on a recent trip to Vietnam, and here’s how both operators compare.

Holafly vs Airalo: Quick Comparison

Different Options, Different Pay

The biggest differentiator between Holafly and Airalo is the available package options. For context, Airalo offers plans without unlimited data, meaning you can configure how much you really need. Passing through France on a road trip to Spain? You can get a 1GB data plan (valid for three days) for $4 to continue using navigation, and you’re good to go. This significantly reduces the end user’s cost and provides more flexibility. However, there’s a problem. Airalo’s plans, while cheaper, start with 1GB or 3GB for the duration of the day you select. But given that the average American family uses 650-700 GB of data per month, 3GB isn’t actually a lot. You can get through that much data within just an hour of watching YouTube in Full HD. So, for any trip longer than a day, you’ll have to spend more on higher capacity plans, which can quickly add up.

On the other hand, Holafly’s approach is a whole lot different. Their plans are always unlimited, meaning you don’t have to worry about finishing up your quota and can watch movies, shows, and play games without worry. As you might expect, Holafly’s plans are more expensive, generally starting from $4 per day for unlimited data. While the exact pricing would depend on your specific country, I’m generally more on board with unlimited data, since even a short WhatsApp call can use several hundred megabytes. And you can also get 5% off using my coupon FOSSBYTES.

Global eSIM

Both Holafly and Airalo offer global eSIM plans for frequent travellers and business people who regularly travel to different countries. Like with the regular eSIM, the pricing and data strategy are very different on both. Airalo offers a 7-day 1GB global plan for $13, which goes all the way up to $34 for just 3GB for 30 days. Any additional data requirement will cost more. Holafly’s package, while expensive, at $62 for 7 days, offers unlimited data in 110+ countries. Honestly, if you plan to get a global SIM, that means you travel a lot, and in that case, Holafly’s unlimited plan is a really good deal.

Holafly also offers a global subscription plan with coverage in 160+ destinations, and you can cancel it at any time, so it’s a good option even if you are planning a trip for just 30 days. They have a Light Plan with 25GB of data for $49.90, an Unlimited Plan for $64.90 monthly, and you can also hotspot with no limits. And if you use my code FOSSBYTES, you get 10% off for 12 months on your subscription.

Support & App Experience

Holafly and Airalo offer plenty of installation options for both Android and iOS users. You can either set up using the QR code, do it manually, or even through their respective apps. It’s the support infrastructure, though, where Holafly edges ahead. On Trustpilot, Holafly has a rating of 4.6, with multiple reviews highlighting the company’s 24/7 multilingual support, which has proven very helpful during times of worry. People have also mentioned Holafly’s excellent refund policy, which works for up to 6 months after purchase. Their app, however, isn’t the best. It was buggy when reporting total data usage, and I also ran into the infamous “this content isn’t available at your location” problem on Netflix a couple of times.

On the other hand, Airalo has a rating of 3.9. While it’s by no means bad, there have been some complaints about the network coverage and unhelpful support staff. That being said, the Airalo app is really stable. It was easy to use and free of bugs that could hinder the user experience, and included helpful tutorials that made the setup straightforward. 

Both Holafly and Airalo have loyalty programs that grant users special discounts and cashback. Airalo’s loyalty program offers up to 10% cashback on every purchase, compared to Holafly’s 7%. 

Personal Experience

As mentioned, I decided to put both services head-to-head during my recent trip to Vietnam. For some context, I set up both before my flight, and the experience was excellent on both. I bought the unlimited week plan with Holafly for $27, while the 10GB 7-day plan cost me $16. Both plans were instantly connected to service after I landed, and, being a tech reviewer, I started my usual testing, which included speed testing, downloading content, and calling my family back home. 

Call quality with WhatsApp was really good with both, and my family didn’t have any problems hearing my voice. Similarly, navigation and translation between Vietnamese and English were handled very well on both. Network speeds were also comparable in both Saigon and the quiet beach town of Tuy Hoa, hovering around 50 Mbps download and 15 Mbps upload. However, the 10GB network limit didn’t last very long. After only a few days, I ran through all my data while on a train journey without Wi-Fi. This was a big worry. But fortunately, Holafly was there to the rescue with the unlimited data. Personally, I’d choose Holafly over Airalo because data can run out quickly, and you could end up stuck in an unfamiliar place. 

Verdict

In the end, the choice would depend on your specific needs. If you’re like me and can’t stop worrying about finishing your data mid-trip, or if you frequently have to be on video calls, then Holafly is the best bet. The only downside is the app glitches, which can sometimes interfere with sessions. However, if you’re transiting through a country for a short time or taking a short trip, Airalo’s cost savings are the way to go. Don’t forget to use my code FOSSBYTES at Holafly if you want to get a discount on your eSIM.