Airalo vs Holafly (2025)
Side-by-side look at price per GB, “unlimited” fair-use, hotspot rules, coverage & speed — plus when each is smarter for your trip.
Quick take •
Prices & value •
Speed & fair-use •
Hotspot rules •
Coverage & regions •
Who should choose which •
FAQs
Quick take
Airalo — where it wins
- Lower cost for light/medium use: pay-per-GB packs often beat “unlimited” if you don’t stream a lot.
- Huge country list: easy single-country plans and solid regional bundles.
- Frequent promos: good value on large 10–20–30 GB packs.
Holafly — where it wins
- No GB micromanagement: daily “unlimited” style with fair-use — perfect for city days.
- Simple setup: app-based activation; great for short trips and first-timers.
- Regional passes: Europe & popular destinations covered with one plan.
Prices & value
Exact prices change with promos. As a rule: if you’ll use under ~5–8 GB over a week, Airalo tends to be cheaper. If you hate tracking data or expect social/video bursts each day, Holafly’s predictability is worth it.
| Scenario | Better pick |
|---|---|
| Weekend city break (maps, chat, rides) | Holafly for hassle-free daily use. |
| 1–2 week trip, light streaming | Airalo 10–20 GB often best value. |
| Back-to-back countries | Tie: Holafly Europe vs Airalo regional (compare price/GB). |
| Heavy uploads, tethering to laptop | Airalo big packs or Nomad promos (see alternatives). |
Speed & fair-use
Holafly’s “unlimited” usually includes a daily high-speed bucket. After fair-use you may see reduced speeds for the rest of the day — enough for messaging, maps, and basic browsing. Airalo doesn’t throttle — once your GBs are gone, you top-up.
Hotspot & tethering
Rules vary by country and plan for both brands. If laptop tethering matters, check your destination plan page first. As a trend, Airalo’s large GB packs are safer for sustained hotspot work. Holafly allows hotspot on many plans but may limit speed after fair-use.
Coverage & regions
Both partner with multiple carriers. In cities, performance is similar. Outside cities, check the in-app network list. If the signal is weak, try manual network selection, then toggle airplane mode.
So… which one should you choose?
Pick Airalo if you…
- Prefer clear cost-per-GB and rarely hit double-digit GBs daily.
- Want big packs for work days or hotspot sessions.
- Need a country Airalo covers but Holafly doesn’t (rare).
Pick Holafly if you…
- Don’t want to track usage and mostly use maps, chat, socials.
- Have a short/medium trip across popular cities.
- Prefer one regional pass (e.g., Europe) over juggling SIMs.
Good alternatives
- Nomad: competitive large-GB bundles and frequent discount codes.
- Full provider comparison with pros/cons and quick picks.
- Going to Europe or Asia? See Best eSIM for Europe and Best eSIM for Asia.
FAQs
Is Holafly truly unlimited?
It’s “unlimited” with fair-use. After a daily high-speed portion, speeds may reduce to keep essentials running.
Which is cheaper?
For light/medium users, Airalo’s pay-per-GB is typically cheaper. For convenience and predictable daily use, Holafly is simpler.
What about hotspot?
Airalo’s larger packs suit consistent tethering. Holafly allows hotspot on many plans but may slow after fair-use.
Do both work on iPhone & Android?
Yes — both support recent eSIM-capable phones. Install the plan, set it as the mobile-data line, and enable data roaming on arrival.
Refunds if it doesn’t work?
Policies differ by provider and usage; check each plan’s terms before purchase.