eSIM
Airalo
Travel eSIM for 200+ destinations: Standard and Unlimited plans
Airalo runs the largest global catalogue of travel eSIMs, with more than 20 million active travellers and coverage across 200+ destinations. The brand ships two complementary ranges: Standard plans (fixed volume at low prices, 1 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB) and Unlimited plans launched in 2023 (daily unlimited data with a fair-use throttle beyond heavy usage).
Datadopt compares the 2 000+ active Airalo plans so you can find the offer that best fits your destination and usage. New to Airalo? Get 3 USD credit on your first order via our partner link.
All Airalo plans
Datadopt lists the 2 000+ active Airalo plans. Use the Fixed volume and Unlimited tabs to split both ranges, then filter by destination, duration and price. Each "Subscribe" button redirects to Airalo via our partner link (3 USD credit for new customers).
Airalo highlights
The widest catalogue
200+ destinations covered, 2 000+ active plans listed on Datadopt. Single-country, regional (Eurolink, Asialink, Latam) and global (Discover, Discover Plus) plans.
Standard or Unlimited
Standard: fixed volume (1 to 20 GB), the cheapest tier on the market. Unlimited: daily unlimited data with a permissive fair-use policy, ideal for long trips.
Activation by QR code or app
QR sent by email in seconds. The Airalo app (iOS and Android) also supports auto-install and live usage tracking.
Referral program
Every Airalo user has a referral code that grants 3 USD to the invitee and 3 USD to the referrer on future orders.
Top-up
Expiring plans can be topped up from the app without reinstalling the eSIM. Handy to extend a stay or switch from Standard to Unlimited.
Among the lowest prices in the sector
Standard 1 GB / 7 days plans typically start below 5€. Unlimited daily plans stay competitive against Holafly on long stays.
Who is Airalo? Presenting the eSIM operator
Airalo is a travel eSIM provider launched in 2019. The promise fits in one sentence: offer a global catalogue of data plans at affordable prices, activatable in seconds through a dedicated application. In five years the brand has become the volume leader with more than 20 million users and 200+ destinations.
Unlike a classic MVNO, Airalo doesn't operate its own network: the brand resells access to local partner carriers (NTT Docomo in Japan, T-Mobile in the United States, Orange and Vodafone in Europe, China Telecom in China, du.mobile in the UAE, etc.) under a unified technical and commercial layer. This explains the very wide coverage and the variability of 4G/5G speeds depending on the destination.
Airalo distributes two main ranges: Standard fixed-volume plans (1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB for 7 to 30 days) which remain among the cheapest on the market, and Unlimited plans launched in 2023 that offer daily unlimited data with a permissive fair-use policy. This dual range covers occasional travellers (Standard) and digital nomads or streaming families (Unlimited).
The Airalo app (iOS 4.58★ / 97 000+ ratings, Android 4.48★ / 169 000+ ratings) handles QR install, top-up, live usage tracking and 24/7 customer support. A built-in referral program grants 3 USD credit to both the invitee and the referrer on every new signup.
Is Airalo reliable? With more than 32 000 Trustpilot reviews at 4/5, an App Store rating of 4.58/5 and a clear refund policy (credit to your Airalo wallet as long as the eSIM isn't activated), the answer is yes. Watch-outs: customer support can be slow on complex incidents, a few reports of plans stuck on 3G instead of the advertised 4G (mainly China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka), and no phone number on standard plans (data only, except the beta "Airalo with phone number").
Airalo reviews: what do 300 000+ users say?
Datadopt aggregates ratings from the three main review platforms (Trustpilot, App Store, Google Play) to give you an objective view of Airalo's reputation. Current data:
Trustpilot
4.0/5
32,912 reviews
App Store (iOS)
4.6/5
97,129 reviews
Google Play (Android)
4.5/5
169,332 reviews
Recurring strengths
- Among the lowest prices in the industry, especially on Standard 1-5 GB plans for short trips
- Slick, well-rated app on both stores, with live usage tracking
- Exceptionally wide catalogue: 200+ destinations, country, regional and global plans
- Transparent referral program (3 USD to both invitee and referrer)
Watch-outs
- Customer support can be slow on complex incidents, with templated responses
- 3G speeds reported instead of the promised 4G in a few countries (China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka)
- China: requires a VPN because Airalo eSIMs rely on Chinese carriers subject to the Great Firewall
- No true phone line on standard plans (data only)
Our take: Airalo is a fitting choice for travellers looking for the best price/volume ratio on a short or medium trip, or for those jumping between continents (Discover Global plans cover 130+ countries on a single eSIM). For long stays with intensive streaming, Airalo's Unlimited range is competitive but Holafly keeps an edge on 24/7 French-language support and the "don't count the GB" experience.
Airalo coverage: where do the plans work?
Airalo offers eSIM plans in more than 200 destinations, grouped into four ranges: single country, regional (Eurolink Europe, Asialink Asia, Latam Latin America, Africa, Arabia Middle East), global (Discover and Discover Plus, up to 130+ countries on a single eSIM) and themed (Xin Chao Vietnam, Change USA…). Here are the destinations most searched by our readers.
Popular destinations covered
⚠️ Heads-up on China
Like every travel eSIM provider that relies on local Chinese carriers (China Telecom for Airalo mainly), the Airalo China eSIM is subject to the Great Firewall: Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube are blocked. Install a VPN before departure (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, Mullvad). Airalo doesn't yet offer a "China with VPN included" bundle (unlike Holafly).
Airalo plan formats
Country plan (Standard)
Fixed volume (1 GB to 20 GB) for 7 to 30 days. The most economical format for a targeted trip (Japan 15 days, USA 7 days, Morocco 30 days).
Country plan (Unlimited)
Daily unlimited data, throttled beyond 500 MB to 2 GB/day depending on the destination. Available in ~70 countries in 2026 (Japan, USA, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, UAE, South Korea…).
Regional plan (Eurolink, Asialink, Latam)
A single eSIM for several neighbouring countries. Eurolink covers 39 European countries, Asialink 15 Asian countries, Latam 20 Latin American countries.
Global plan (Discover, Discover Plus)
A single eSIM that switches automatically between partner carriers in 130+ countries. Useful for world tours, nomads and multi-continent trips.
Airalo FAQ
How do I install and activate an Airalo eSIM?▾
Two options. Auto-install via the Airalo app (iOS and Android): open the app, select your plan, tap "Install" — the eSIM configures itself. Manual install via QR code: the QR is emailed after payment. iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add plan → scan QR. Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIM → Download SIM. Activation triggers on the first attach to the foreign network, not before.
When to install and activate the Airalo eSIM: before or after the trip?▾
Install before departure (at home, on Wi-Fi) to check the QR works. Activate on arrival: the plan validity starts on the first attach to the foreign network. A few Airalo plans (the newer "Global" ones) activate on install: check the "Activation policy" field on the product sheet.
Does Airalo work in China? Do I need a VPN?▾
Yes, China is covered, but because the Airalo eSIM runs on a Chinese carrier (China Telecom), the Great Firewall blocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Install a VPN (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad) on your phone before departure. Unlike Holafly, Airalo doesn't yet offer a "China with VPN included" bundle.
Can I use WhatsApp, TikTok and hotspot sharing with Airalo?▾
WhatsApp and TikTok: yes on all plans outside China (see previous question). Hotspot sharing is allowed on most Airalo plans. Some plans (notably Discover Global and a few regional plans) limit or forbid it — the "hotspot" field is shown on each Datadopt offer page.
How much does Airalo cost? Is there a discount code or referral code?▾
Prices start around 4-5€ for 1 GB / 7 days in Europe, and climb to 20-30€ for 10 GB / 30 days in most destinations. Airalo doesn't distribute a public "20% off"-style discount code: the main recurring perk is the 3 USD welcome bonus for every new customer via the referral program. Use our partner link to claim it automatically.
Can I make calls or send SMS with Airalo?▾
Not on standard plans: they are data-only. For calls and SMS, use WhatsApp / FaceTime / Google Voice / Skype over Airalo data. Airalo has been testing a "with phone number" range since 2024, still limited to a handful of destinations (US, UK mainly).
Does Airalo refund if there's a problem?▾
Yes, the refund policy covers a full refund (as credit in your Airalo wallet) as long as the eSIM isn't activated. After activation, a pro-rata refund is possible for a proven malfunction, never for regular usage. Contact support via the in-app 24/7 chat.
Is my phone compatible with Airalo?▾
iPhone XS and later (2018+), Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3+, Xiaomi 13+, recent Motorola Razr, Huawei P40+, Honor Magic 4+, global OnePlus 11+ versions, and Sony Xperia 1 IV+. See our full smartphone eSIM compatibility guide for the detailed model list per region (Chinese and Hong Kong iPhone / Xiaomi variants are excluded).
Airalo or Holafly: which one should I pick?▾
Airalo = wider catalogue, cheaper Standard fixed-volume plans, better-rated app on both iOS and Android. Ideal for short trips and moderate usage. Holafly = unlimited data with more permissive fair-use, 24/7 French-language support, higher price. Ideal for long stays and intensive streaming. Both are listed on Datadopt, compare case by case.
Airalo Standard or Unlimited: which range?▾
Standard = fixed volume (1-20 GB), floor pricing, ideal if you know your typical usage (~500 MB/day for light use, ~1 GB/day for social usage). Unlimited = daily unlimited data with a high-speed daily cap (500 MB to 2 GB depending on destination) then throttled, ideal if you plan on streaming, remote work or sharing among family. Unlimited is available in ~70 countries in 2026.
Alternatives to Airalo
Depending on your usage and budget, several alternatives may fit better:
Holafly
Unlimited data with permissive fair-use, 24/7 multilingual support: the reference for long stays and intensive streaming.
View the Holafly →
Nomad
Aggressive pricing on Asia, polished app, very popular among digital nomads.
View the Nomad →
Saily
By NordVPN: reinforced security and an unlimited range that challenges Airalo on the premium tier.
View the Saily →
Ubigi
The reference for roaming on iPad, Apple Watch and connected cars.
View the Ubigi →
Useful Datadopt guides
Link transparency
Datadopt is an Airalo partner. Some links on this page are sponsored (affiliate): when you subscribe to a plan from Datadopt, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This mechanism entirely funds the comparator's maintenance, editorial updates and review aggregation. Our recommendations stay independent: we also list alternatives to Airalo (Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi) and flag watch-outs on every provider.
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