Holafly
Airalo
Holafly vs Airalo: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated September 7, 2026
The Short Answer
Pick Holafly if you'd rather pay more upfront to never think about a data meter. Pick Airalo if you're comfortable tracking gigabytes in exchange for a lower price. Neither is "better" outright — they're built on opposite pricing philosophies, and which one saves you money depends entirely on how much data you actually use.
The Core Difference: Unlimited vs. Pay-Per-GB
Holafly sells unlimited data as the whole product — one price per country or region, no gigabyte counting. Airalo sells data by the gigabyte, so a light user pays less but has to actually watch usage. For a short trip doing maps, messaging, and some browsing, Airalo is usually cheaper. For a heavy data user, or someone who'd rather overpay a little than risk running out mid-trip, Holafly's flat unlimited price removes that anxiety entirely.
Airalo does also sell unlimited regional eSIMs (Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, MENA, Africa, and Australia), so it's not purely pay-per-GB. But per Airalo's own fair-use policy, those "unlimited" plans run at full speed for the first 3GB each day, then drop to 1Mbps until midnight. Holafly's unlimited plans can also apply a fair-use speed reduction after very heavy same-day usage, though it isn't published as a specific daily GB number the way Airalo's is.
Price Snapshot (1GB-equivalent, before any code)
| Destination | Holafly | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.99/day (unlimited) | $4.50 (1GB) |
| Europe regional | $1.99/day (unlimited) | $5.27 (1GB) |
| Japan | $1.99/day (unlimited) | $4.50 (1GB) |
| Global | $9.90/day (unlimited) | $9.49 (1GB) |
Holafly's price is per day of unlimited use; Airalo's is per gigabyte. They're not directly comparable numbers — a 3-day US trip using under 3GB total would likely cost less on Airalo; the same trip streaming video or navigating constantly would likely cost less on Holafly.
Discount Codes
- Holafly: ADAMANDLINDS — 5% off single esims / 10% off monthly plans. Full code list →
- Airalo: NEWTOAIRALO15 — 15% off first esim purchase. Full code list →
Holafly's code is ours; Airalo doesn't run the kind of affiliate program that supports a code like that, so its code is the best public one we've verified — see the Airalo page for why so many different codes circulate for it.
Is Holafly or Airalo the Right Pick
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
Go with Airalo if…
- Light user — maps, messaging, some browsing
- Short, single-country trip where you can estimate GB needs
- You'd rather pay less and keep an eye on a data meter
Two Things Worth Knowing Before You Decide
Holafly's China eSIM has a VPN built in — Google Maps, WhatsApp, and Gmail just work without installing a separate VPN app first. Airalo has no equivalent; you'd need to sort out your own VPN for China regardless of which Airalo plan you buy.
Airalo's many different discount codes aren't a sign of a messy affiliate program — they're mostly individual users' Airmoney referral codes, each worth $3 off a first purchase. Holafly's ADAMANDLINDS code, by contrast, is one code that covers both its single-eSIM and monthly-plan products, which most Holafly codes floating around don't.
For device setup and eSIM basics that apply to both providers, see our eSIM compatible devices guide.
Holafly vs Airalo FAQ
Which is cheaper, Holafly or Airalo
Depends on usage. Airalo is usually cheaper for light data use on a short trip. Holafly is usually cheaper (or at least less stressful) for heavy data use, since the price doesn't change no matter how much you use.
Does either have a real unlimited plan with no cap at all
Not quite. Both apply fair-use throttling after heavy same-day use rather than a hard cutoff. Airalo publishes an exact number for its regional unlimited plans (3GB/day full speed, then 1Mbps); Holafly's policy isn't as specific but works the same way in practice.
Which one is better for China
Holafly, if you don't want to set up a separate VPN — its China eSIM includes one built in. Airalo has no equivalent, so you'd need your own VPN solution regardless of plan.
Can I use one for a multi-country trip and the other for a single-country trip
Yes, plenty of travelers do exactly that — Holafly's unlimited regional plans for a data-heavy multi-country leg, Airalo's cheaper per-GB local plans for a light single-country stop.
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.