Airalo
eSIM Card
Airalo vs eSIM Card: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated October 3, 2026
The Short Answer
Both sell pay-per-GB data with no single flagship unlimited plan, so this isn't an unlimited-vs-metered call like Holafly vs Airalo. It's a question of how precisely you want to buy. Airalo sells a handful of preset bundle sizes per country and is the more recognized name with the bigger catalog. eSIM Card sells far more size-and-length combinations per country, plus an add-on virtual phone number, for travelers who know exactly what they need.
The Core Difference: Preset Bundles vs. Granular Sizing
Airalo's model is simple: pick a country or region, pick one of a few preset data sizes (say 1GB, 3GB, 5GB), pick a validity window, done. It also sells unlimited regional eSIMs (Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, MENA, Africa, Australia) that run at full speed for the first 3GB each day before throttling to 1Mbps until midnight, per Airalo's own fair-use policy.
eSIM Card goes narrower on purpose. Its United States page alone lists roughly 30 combinations: seven fixed-data tiers (1GB through 100GB) each sold across several validity windows from 3 to 90 days, plus two unlimited tiers ("Unlimited" and "Unlimited Plus") running 1 to 30 days. eSIM Card's unlimited plans also throttle after a daily full-speed allowance, but unlike Airalo, it doesn't publish the actual GB number, just "an allowed limit of data at full speed per 24 hours."
Price Snapshot (United States, before any code)
| Plan | Airalo | eSIM Card |
|---|---|---|
| Smallest tier | $4.50 (1GB, no fixed day limit stated) | $1.92 (1GB, 3 days) |
| Mid tier | — (no direct 10GB US match) | $12.86 (10GB, 30 days) |
| Unlimited | Regional only, not single-country US | $12.05 (Unlimited, 7 days) |
Airalo prices by gigabyte without eSIM Card's wide menu of validity windows per tier; eSIM Card prices by gigabyte and days together. A fair side-by-side needs matching both the data amount and the number of days, not just the sticker price.
Discount Codes
- Airalo: NEWTOAIRALO15, 15% off first esim purchase. Full code list →
- eSIM Card: ESIM10, 10% off esim. Full code list →
Neither code is ours: Airalo's is a $3 Airmoney referral code (ours is ADAMLINDS3, listed on the Airalo page), and eSIM Card's ESIM10 is a public code advertised directly on its own homepage. Neither provider runs the kind of affiliate program that supports a code like Holafly's or Ubigi's.
Is Airalo or eSIM Card the Right Pick
Go with Airalo if…
- You want the bigger, more recognized catalog and app ecosystem
- A multi-country trip where a regional unlimited eSIM covers several stops at once
- You're fine rounding up to the nearest preset bundle size
Go with eSIM Card if…
- You know your exact GB and day count and want a plan sized to match instead of rounding up
- You want the option to add a virtual phone number from the same app, for a separate fee
- You're confident in the plan before buying, since eSIM Card's refund policy is strict once it's installed or used
Two Things Worth Knowing Before You Decide
Airalo's "many different codes" aren't a messy affiliate program, they're individual referral links. Airalo's Airmoney program gives every user their own $3-off code, which is why dozens of different codes circulate for it instead of one official promo. eSIM Card has exactly one public code, ESIM10, advertised on its own homepage.
Only Airalo tells you the daily unlimited-speed number. Airalo's regional unlimited plans run full speed for 3GB a day, then throttle to 1Mbps. eSIM Card's unlimited tiers also throttle daily but don't publish the GB figure, so you're trusting an unnamed limit rather than a stated one.
For device setup and eSIM basics that apply to both providers, see our eSIM compatible devices guide. We've also written a more in-depth field-tested comparison of Holafly, Airalo, and Airhub on our travel site.
Airalo vs eSIM Card FAQ
Which is cheaper, Airalo or eSIM Card
It depends on the exact plan size you match them on. eSIM Card's smallest US tier (1GB, 3 days at $1.92) undercuts Airalo's smallest US tier (1GB at $4.50), but eSIM Card also sells far more size-and-length combinations, so a true comparison means matching both the GB and the number of days, not just picking the cheapest-looking number.
Does either have a real unlimited plan with no cap at all
No, both throttle after heavy same-day use. Airalo publishes the exact number for its regional unlimited plans (3GB/day full speed, then 1Mbps). eSIM Card's unlimited tiers throttle too, but it doesn't publish the daily GB figure, only "an allowed limit of data at full speed per 24 hours."
Can I get a phone number with either one
eSIM Card sells a separate virtual phone number add-on starting around $2.40 inside its own app. Airalo has no equivalent phone-number product.
Which is easier to get a refund from
Neither is generous once a plan is installed or used. eSIM Card's own policy limits refunds to narrow cases like a genuine coverage failure or technical fault with zero data consumed, claimed within 30 days. Buy the plan you're confident about on either platform.
Some codes and links on this page are affiliate codes and links, including our own (ADAMANDLINDS, where it applies). If you use one, we may earn a commission. We show our own code more prominently where we have one, not because it's automatically the best deal. See our about page for the full breakdown.