Airalo alternativesfive travel eSIMs and who each suits

Reviewed by Itamar Bareket (CTO, MobiMatter) · Last reviewed

Short answer

The main Airalo alternatives are Holafly, Maya Mobile, MobiMatter, Nomad and Saily. Airalo sells its own plan line in each country on the networks it has chosen there. Holafly and Maya Mobile sell unlimited data, so you never pick an amount. MobiMatter sells plans on several vetted carriers in many countries, Airalo plans among them, so you can choose the network. Nomad and Saily are single-brand apps much like Airalo: Nomad has a free trial for new users, Saily an ad blocker built in. The table below prices one week with 6 GB at every brand.

Live right now, MobiMatter plans run on au (KDDI), NTT docomo, Rakuten, and SoftBank in Japan; AT&T, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon in the US; Türk Telekom, Turkcell, and Vodafone in Turkey; Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange, and SFR in France.

The alternatives and who each suits

  • HolaflyUnlimited data at one price per day
  • Maya MobileSeveral countries on one unlimited plan
  • MobiMatterChoosing your network, from plans ranked on quality and value
  • NomadTrying an eSIM before you pay
  • SailyOne reusable eSIM with an ad blocker built in

Airalo is in the price table for reference.

MobiMatter is rated 4.3/5 on Trustpilot from 57,137 reviews, 4.8/5 on the App Store and 4.9/5 on Google Play.

Why travelers look beyond Airalo

  • Airalo chooses the network: each country has one Airalo plan line on the partner networks Airalo picked there, so choosing a carrier means choosing another brand.[1]
  • Its unlimited plans give 3 GB a day at high speed (5 GB in the US), then slow to 1 Mbps until the daily reset.[2]
  • Some countries need an ID upload before the plan works (not Japan, the US, Turkey or France).[3]
  • Airalo is one of the best-known travel eSIM brands, but its list prices aren't the lowest: for one week with 6 GB, other providers list the same trip for less in 2 of 4 example destinations. Its lower prices usually come through discount or referral codes and Airmoney credit.[4]

The same trip at every brand: 1 week: 6 GB, 7 days

Each brand's cheapest plan that covers the trip, at the list price on its own site in US dollars, without sale prices or promo codes. The lowest like-for-like price in each column is highlighted in green and bold; an unlimited plan whose full-speed allowance isn't published is shown but not counted. Captured October 11, 2026. MobiMatter prices and networks: live catalog, checked October 12, 2026.

The same trip at every brand: 1 week: 6 GB, 7 days
BrandJapanUnited StatesTurkeyFrance
Holafly$27.50unlimited plan[8]$27.50unlimited plan[9]$27.50unlimited plan[10]$27.50unlimited plan[11]
Maya Mobile$19.99unlimited plan[20]$19.99unlimited plan[21]$19.99unlimited plan[22]$19.99unlimited plan[23]
MobiMatter$7.99 (Lower price)$8.49 (Lower price)$7.99 (Lower price)$7.99 (Lower price)
Nomad$18.00[16]$15.00[17]$15.00[18]$14.00[19]
Saily$17.99[12]$22.99[13]$15.99[14]$16.99[15]
Airalo$17.00[1]$21.50[5]$14.50[6]$16.00[7]

The alternatives and who each suits

Brands are listed in alphabetical order, here and in the table, with Airalo last for reference.

  • Holafly

    Good fit for: Unlimited data at one price per day

    Holafly sells unlimited-data eSIMs priced by the number of days, so you never pick a data amount. Hotspot sharing is limited to 1 GB a day, and its Japan, US, Turkey and France pages sell no fixed-data plans.

    Unlimited data and fair use
    Yes: Every plan is unlimited, no fixed daily cap stated; operators may slow speeds under fair use for up to one day[9]
    Hotspot / tethering
    Limited: Allowed, up to 1 GB per day[8]
    Multi-country plans
    21 multi-country plans incl. Global (142 countries); unlimited data only[24]
    Longest validity
    Up to 90 days (plans priced by the day, 1 to 90)[24]
    MobiMatter vs Holafly: full comparison

  • Maya Mobile

    Good fit for: Several countries on one unlimited plan

    Maya Mobile sells one global unlimited eSIM at the same price in every country, for up to 30 days. Maya picks the network, and its daily high-speed quota is not published.

    Unlimited data and fair use
    Yes: Every plan is unlimited with a daily high-speed quota, then standard speed; quota size not published[23]
    Hotspot / tethering
    Yes: Included[20]
    Multi-country plans
    One global unlimited plan for 165+ countries[20]
    Longest validity
    Up to 30 days (unlimited plans of 3 to 30 days)[20]
    MobiMatter vs Maya Mobile: full comparison

  • MobiMatter

    Good fit for: Choosing your network, from plans ranked on quality and value

    In many countries MobiMatter sells plans on several vetted carriers, Airalo plans among them, and ranks them on quality and value, so you choose by network, data and validity. Every eSIM sits in one MobiMatter account and app, with 24/7 support and rewards on each purchase.

    Unlimited data and fair use
    Yes: Offered in many destinations; the daily high-speed allowance and fair use depend on the plan and are stated on its page
    Hotspot / tethering
    Yes: Included on every plan
    Multi-country plans
    175 multi-country plans for these four destinations, up to 185 countries in one plan
    Longest validity
    15 plans valid 90 days or more for these four destinations, up to 365 days

  • Nomad

    Good fit for: Trying an eSIM before you pay

    Nomad sells its own plans per country, most valid 30 days, and gives new users 1 GB for 3 days free in 76 destinations. Its unlimited plans slow down after 2 GB a day.

    Unlimited data and fair use
    Yes: 2 GB a day at high speed, then slowed (1 Mbps on plan pages, 512 kbps in the fair-use document) until the daily reset[28]
    Hotspot / tethering
    Yes: Allowed[16]
    Multi-country plans
    15 regional and global plan families; Global covers 123 countries; fixed data[29]
    Longest validity
    Up to 365 days (Global-EX plans of 20 to 50 GB)[30]
    MobiMatter vs Nomad: full comparison

  • Saily

    Good fit for: One reusable eSIM with an ad blocker built in

    Saily sells its own plans per country on one eSIM you install once and reuse, with an ad blocker and virtual location in the app. It names its network on some country pages only.

    Unlimited data and fair use
    Yes: Unlimited plans (5 to 30 days): 5 GB a day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps until the daily reset[25]
    Hotspot / tethering
    Yes: Allowed, no limit stated[13]
    Multi-country plans
    10 regional plans; Global covers 121 countries; fixed data[26]
    Longest validity
    Up to 365 days (Global 20 GB and 50 GB)[27]
    MobiMatter vs Saily: full comparison

How we chose and priced them

The alternatives are the travel eSIM brands MobiMatter has full comparison pages for. Every fact about a brand comes from its own public pages and is linked to its source with the date it was read; each card shows the same four facts for every brand.

Prices follow the method of those pages: for one week with 6 GB in Japan, the United States, Turkey and France, each brand's cheapest plan that covers the trip (a bigger plan counts), at its list price in US dollars. When no plan with a set amount of data covers the trip, the cheapest unlimited plan that lasts long enough counts if its published full-speed allowance covers the trip. MobiMatter prices are read live from the plans on sale.

Disclosure: MobiMatter publishes this page and sells travel eSIMs, so it has a commercial interest in the comparison. MobiMatter also sells plans from some other eSIM brands, including Airalo.

Reviewed by Itamar Bareket (CTO, MobiMatter) · Last reviewed

Questions

What is a good alternative to Airalo?

It depends on what you want to change. To choose your network, MobiMatter sells plans on several vetted carriers in many countries, ranked on quality and value. For unlimited data without picking an amount, Holafly or Maya Mobile. To try before you pay, Nomad's free 1 GB trial for new users. For one reusable eSIM with an ad blocker, Saily. The table above prices one week with 6 GB at each.

What are the disadvantages of Airalo?

Airalo chooses the network in each country, so you can't pick the carrier. Its unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day (5 GB in the US) and some countries need an ID upload. It has strengths too: plans in many countries, a Global plan for 168 countries and loyalty cashback of 5% to 10%.

Source[2]

Is there a better eSIM than Airalo?

No eSIM is better everywhere: what you get depends on the network where you are. That is why MobiMatter lets you choose. In many countries it sells plans on several vetted carriers, Airalo plans among them, so if one network is weak where you're going you can pick another. Prices for the same trip are in the table above.

Can I buy Airalo eSIMs on MobiMatter?

Yes, for many destinations. MobiMatter sells some Airalo plans next to plans from other vetted providers, so you can pick the Airalo plan or another carrier in the same country and manage them all in the MobiMatter app.

Source[31]

Sources

  1. [1]Airalo: Model; Prices for the same trips: Japanairalo.com/japan-esim?currency=USD · captured October 11, 2026
  2. [2]Airalo: Unlimited data and fair use; Questions: What are the disadvantages of Airalo?airalo.com/unlimited-packages · captured October 10, 2026
  3. [3]Airalo: ID checkairalo.com/help/getting-started-with-airalo/E8DFWD88SHUX/why-do-i-need-to-verify-my-identity/MEMBY8RNOAT0 · captured October 9, 2026
  4. [4]Airalo: Why travelers look beyond Airaloairalo.com/loyalty-program · captured October 11, 2026
  5. [5]Airalo: Prices for the same trips: United Statesairalo.com/united-states-esim?currency=USD · captured October 11, 2026
  6. [6]Airalo: Prices for the same trips: Turkeyairalo.com/turkey-esim?currency=USD · captured October 11, 2026
  7. [7]Airalo: Prices for the same trips: Franceairalo.com/france-esim?currency=USD · captured October 11, 2026
  8. [8]Holafly: Prices for the same trips: Japan; Hotspot / tetheringesim.holafly.com/esim-japan/ · captured October 11, 2026
  9. [9]Holafly: Prices for the same trips: United States; Unlimited data and fair useesim.holafly.com/esim-usa/ · captured October 11, 2026
  10. [10]Holafly: Prices for the same trips: Turkeyesim.holafly.com/esim-turkey/ · captured October 11, 2026
  11. [11]Holafly: Prices for the same trips: Franceesim.holafly.com/esim-france/ · captured October 11, 2026
  12. [12]Saily: Prices for the same trips: Japansaily.com/esim-japan/ · captured October 9, 2026
  13. [13]Saily: Prices for the same trips: United States; Hotspot / tetheringsaily.com/esim-united-states/ · captured October 9, 2026
  14. [14]Saily: Prices for the same trips: Turkeysaily.com/esim-turkey/ · captured October 9, 2026
  15. [15]Saily: Prices for the same trips: Francesaily.com/esim-france/ · captured October 9, 2026
  16. [16]Nomad: Prices for the same trips: Japan; Hotspot / tetheringnomadesim.com/japan-esim · captured October 9, 2026
  17. [17]Nomad: Prices for the same trips: United Statesnomadesim.com/united-states-esim · captured October 9, 2026
  18. [18]Nomad: Prices for the same trips: Turkeynomadesim.com/turkey-esim · captured October 9, 2026
  19. [19]Nomad: Prices for the same trips: Francenomadesim.com/france-esim · captured October 9, 2026
  20. [20]Maya Mobile: Prices for the same trips: Japan; Hotspot / tethering; Multi-country plans; Longest validitymaya.net/esim/japan · captured October 11, 2026
  21. [21]Maya Mobile: Prices for the same trips: United Statesmaya.net/plans/usa · captured October 11, 2026
  22. [22]Maya Mobile: Prices for the same trips: Turkeymaya.net/esim/turkey · captured October 11, 2026
  23. [23]Maya Mobile: Prices for the same trips: France; Unlimited data and fair usemaya.net/legal · captured October 11, 2026
  24. [24]Holafly: Multi-country plans; Longest validityesim.holafly.com/esim-global/ · captured October 9, 2026
  25. [25]Saily: Unlimited data and fair usesaily.com/legal/terms-of-service/ · captured October 9, 2026
  26. [26]Saily: Multi-country planssaily.com/all-destinations/ · captured October 9, 2026
  27. [27]Saily: Longest validitysaily.com/esim-global/ · captured October 9, 2026
  28. [28]Nomad: Unlimited data and fair usenomadesim.com/documents/data-plan-detail-unlimited · captured October 9, 2026
  29. [29]Nomad: Multi-country plansnomadesim.com/global-eSIM · captured October 9, 2026
  30. [30]Nomad: Longest validitynomadesim.com/global-ex-eSIM · captured October 9, 2026
  31. [31]MobiMatter: Questions: Can I buy Airalo eSIMs on MobiMatter?mobimatter.com/travel-esim/airalo-offers · captured October 10, 2026

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