If you’re going on vacation and looking for a suitable eSIM to stay connected, you’ve probably heard of Airalo. It’s probably the most well-known eSIM provider around. Airalo was also the first one we tried for ourselves and we’re still using it, so we’re happy to share our experience. So let’s talk about the pros and cons we found with this provider.
📱 Wondering what is an eSIM? Read our article. 📱
eSIM offer
Most bundles are for data only, not calls or texts. You’ll also find a few exceptions that allow you to make calls, but only within a specific country. You can still make WhatsApp or Messenger calls with data.
Coverage
Airalo offers coverage in more than 200 countries and regions, making it one of the best. In addition to individual countries, they also offer regional packages (for example, all countries in the Middle East, all countries in Asia, etc.) or global packages that cover most of the world. They have been on the market since 2019 and recently celebrated 5 million users.
Compared to other providers, the number of countries is really large, but the choice of regional eSIMs is quite limited. In addition, you should pay attention to what a particular regional package offers, because the Europe package, for example, doesn’t offer half of the Balkan countries.
Data volume
Airalo offers data packages from 1GB to 20GB, or up to 50GB in most countries. You can also find countries with only one package, often the 1GB one. For regional eSIMs you can also choose packages up to 100 GB. Airalo doesn’t offer unlimited data, you can only find it on two eSIMs, Thai and South Korean.
Some packages also offer the option to add additional data to an already installed eSIM (which also extends its validity). It won’t save you any money, but at least you won’t have to go through the installation process again.
Prices
Package prices are, of course, closely tied to the amount of data you purchase and the country you purchase it for. In general, a 1 GB data package can be purchased for as little as $4.5. If you buy a package with more data, the price per 1 GB goes down. For example, you’ll pay an average of $20-35 for 10 GB.
The best deals are generally for Southeast Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Packages for most African countries or South America are quite expensive.
For regional and global eSIMs, the price goes up quite a bit, so it’s often more worthwhile to get multiple eSIMs for a few specific countries that you’ll be switching between. For me, though, the Asia eSIM is worth it, which even with coverage in 14 countries is comparatively expensive with some of the countries included.
Validity
Unfortunately, packages do not have unlimited validity. An eSIM can be valid from 7 to 30 days. If you only get 1GB of data, you’ll only have one week to use it. If you get 3GB or more, your time is extended to 30 days. At the same time, be aware of when the validity starts. For some bundles it’s the moment you install the eSIM, for others it’s when the eSIM connects to the outside network.
Web and app clarity
Airalo has one of the cleanest and clearest websites of any provider. It’s in English and it’s great for a beginner. There’s a quick summary of how to set up your eSIM right on the homepage, and the help center answers every question you have, complete with pictorial instructions.
I find it just as easy to navigate their app, which I use to make my eSIM purchase, after which the app shows me exactly what to do next. I can immediately see how many days and dates I have left before the package expires, and I don’t have to do any complicated tracking.
How hard is it to buy and install an eSIM?
You can buy an eSIM either through the website or the app (we find it easier). You can only pay in US dollars, either by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, PayPal or even Alipay. Airalo offers one of the widest range of payment methods.
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Once you have purchased your chosen package, you will need to install the eSIM on your phone. This should take no more than five minutes. The app will guide you through the process. If you’re still lost, you’ll receive a video in your email along with your tax receipt showing you the whole process step by step.
The app even gives you 3 different ways to install the eSIM. One of them involves scanning a QR code, which requires a partner with a phone or laptop. But it’s cool that the app also gives you two other options where you can do without.
Can I share data via hotspot?
If you need to share data with another device, it’s no problem. Since Airalo does not offer unlimited data, it is possible to share data via hotspot. Of course, you have to be careful how you use it, because the more people you have connected, the faster it will be used up.
Loyalty program
Every time you make a purchase, you will get 5-10% of the eSIM price back into your virtual wallet. The percentage depends on how much you’ve already purchased from Airalo, but even the initial 5% seems like a good deal.
You’ll also get $3 per referral. The person you refer to Airalo will receive the same amount on their first purchase.
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Plus, credits last indefinitely, so you don’t have to worry about running out just before you go on vacation. You must have a minimum of $1 in your account to use credits.
Customer support
Airalo has a live chat on their website and they advertise that they answer 24 hours a day. We tried it and were disappointed.
If you have a trivial question that a chatbot can answer, it’s fine and even in English. If you have something more complicated, you have to go through the chatbot to an operator and then wait for one to be free. When we wrote our request in Czech, we waited a couple of hours until we were told that they didn’t have anyone speaking Czech at the moment and that we should try in English.
But when I used their contact form on the website and wrote to them in English, I got a reply within five minutes (about 2 hours at night).
Conclusion and Rating (Pros, Cons)
Airalo is definitely a great option to get started with eSIM. If you’re planning a vacation for a week or two in a country, it’s pretty easy to choose. Even as a complete beginner, you will be able to navigate the app without knowing English. So you don’t need any special experience to use Airalo.
Here’s a list of the pros and cons we’ve noticed over the time we’ve been using it, which might help you decide.
Advantages
- clear app and website
- easy to use
- number of covered countries and regions
- you can use hotspot
Disadvantages
- long waiting for customer support
- small selection of regional plans
- plans with a small number of data points have a relatively short validity period
FAQ
How does eSIM work?
An eSIM lets you connect to the Internet without buying a plastic SIM card. Just install it from the app and you’re connected in minutes. To learn more about how eSIM works, read in our article.
How to install Airalo eSIM?
You need a stable internet connection to install! There are three ways to install. Using a QR code, installing directly from the app or manually in setup using an activation code. We will guide you through all the installation methods in the article …
When to activate Airalo eSIM?
The activation of the eSIM happens automatically after the installation, either immediately or the first time you connect to the network in the country. This information is included in each package. If the activation is immediate, we recommend that you install it as close as possible to your departure date abroad.
How can I find out about eSIM support?
Most new phones are eSIM compatible. However, we recommend that you check this for your specific device using this guide …
