Airhub
Holafly
Airhub vs Holafly: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated October 1, 2026
The Short Answer
Pick Airhub if you know roughly how much data you'll use and want the lowest price per gigabyte, plus SMS and often a local number bundled in. Pick Holafly if you'd rather pay a flat daily rate and never think about a data cap at all. They're not really competing for the same trip: Airhub rewards planning ahead, Holafly charges for not having to.
The Core Difference: Cheap Blocks vs. Flat Unlimited
Airhub sells data in multi-gigabyte blocks (3GB, 4GB) rather than single-day or single-GB units, and in cheaper destinations that lands at genuinely low per-GB prices: Thailand at $0.85 for 1GB and Japan at $1.55 for 1GB. Holafly skips the gigabyte math entirely and charges one flat price per day or per plan for unlimited data, so the bill is the same whether you use 200MB or 20GB that day.
The other real difference is what's bundled. Airhub plans include SMS and, in many destinations, a local phone number alongside the data, something Holafly doesn't offer on its standard plans. Neither includes voice calls. If receiving a verification text or handing out a temporary number matters more to you than the data pricing model itself, that tips things toward Airhub regardless of how much data you'll use.
Price Snapshot (before any code)
| Destination | Airhub | Holafly |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $1.55 (1GB) | $1.99/day (unlimited) |
| United States | $2.82 (3GB) | $1.99/day (unlimited) |
| Europe regional | $4.50 (4GB) | $1.99/day (unlimited) |
Airhub's price is per fixed block of data, however long it lasts you; Holafly's is per day of unlimited use. A light user burning under 1-2GB a day will usually spend less on Airhub; a heavy streamer or anyone bad at rationing a cap will usually spend less, and worry less, on Holafly.
Discount Codes
- Airhub: ESIMOFFER5, 5% off. Full code list →
- Holafly: ADAMANDLINDS, 5% off single esims / 10% off monthly plans. Full code list →
Holafly's code is ours. Airhub's own code, ADAMANDLINDS, isn't currently applying a discount at checkout (reported to Airhub, believed temporary), so ESIMOFFER5 is the public code we've verified still works there. See the Airhub page for the current status.
Is Airhub or Holafly the Right Pick
Go with Airhub if…
- You know roughly how many GB you'll use and want the lowest price per gigabyte
- You want SMS and a local number bundled with your data, not sold as an extra
- You're headed somewhere Airhub prices sharply, like Thailand or Japan
Go with Holafly if…
- You genuinely don't know how much data you'll use
- Heavy streaming, video calls, or hotspot use
- China is on the itinerary and you want the built-in VPN
Two Things Worth Knowing Before You Decide
Airhub still doesn't replace a real phone number. It bundles SMS and, on most plans, a local number, but there's no voice calling, so it's not a full substitute if you need to actually receive or make calls abroad. If a real number with calls guaranteed matters, SimLocal's UK plans include one.
Neither "unlimited" is truly unmanaged. Holafly's unlimited plans can apply a fair-use speed reduction after very heavy same-day use, though it isn't published as a specific daily GB number. Airhub has no such issue since you're buying a fixed block to begin with: you simply run out of what you bought.
For device setup and eSIM basics that apply to both providers, see our eSIM compatible devices guide.
Airhub vs Holafly FAQ
Which is cheaper, Airhub or Holafly
Airhub, for most trips, since you're paying a low per-GB block price instead of a flat daily unlimited rate. Holafly only wins on price (or at least on predictability) if you'd otherwise burn through multiple Airhub blocks in a single day.
Does Airhub include a phone number like a real SIM
On most plans, yes, a local number plus SMS, but not voice calls. It covers receiving a verification text or giving out a temporary number, not making or taking phone calls.
Which one is better for a trip to China
Holafly, if you don't want to set up a separate VPN: its China eSIM includes one built in. Airhub has no equivalent for China.
Can I just buy whichever is cheapest for my specific destination
That works for a single short trip. For longer or heavier-use trips, run the math on expected GB per day against Airhub's block pricing before assuming it's the cheaper option; past a certain point Holafly's flat rate overtakes it.
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.