We've Used Holafly, Airalo, and Saily. Here's What Actually Matters.

Last Updated: February 2026

Every travel blogger with an affiliate link will tell you their eSIM is the best. We're not going to do that.

We've used Holafly across Europe, Airalo in spots where Holafly doesn't reach, and recently tested Saily. Each has trade-offs. None is perfect. This is what we wish someone had told us before we bought our first one.

The Problem Nobody Talks About

Most eSIM reviews read like this: "It's so easy. I landed in Paris and had data immediately. 10/10 would recommend."

Cool. But what about when you're trying to upload a 2GB video file from a hotel in Porto and your "unlimited" data is crawling at 3 Mbps? What about when your iMessage stops working and you miss texts from your family for three days? What about when you need to receive an SMS code to log into your bank and realize your eSIM doesn't have a phone number?

Those are the things that actually matter. Let's get into it.

How eSIMs Actually Work (30 Second Version)

An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into your phone. You buy a plan, scan a QR code, and your phone connects to local cell networks in whatever country you're visiting. No physical SIM swap, no hunting for a phone shop at the airport.

The catch: it's data only. No phone number. No SMS. Just internet.

That means WhatsApp calls work. FaceTime works. Regular phone calls and texts don't (unless you keep your home SIM active alongside it, which most people do).

Holafly: The Honest Take

What Holafly does well:

Unlimited data. That's the pitch, and it's mostly true. We've uploaded multi-gigabyte video files, run hotspot for our laptops, and streamed without hitting a hard cap.

Coverage in 270+ destinations worldwide, including regional plans that let you cross borders without switching SIMs. Their Europe plan covers 40 countries on one eSIM. Cross from France to Switzerland to Italy and it just works.

Setup is straightforward once you've done it once. Scan the QR code at home, keep it off until you land, toggle it on. Five minutes if you follow the steps.

Customer support is responsive. We've used their chat twice and got real humans within a few minutes both times.

Their return policy is genuinely good. You have up to six months to request a refund if your trip gets cancelled, your device isn't compatible, or you have connection issues. Most eSIM providers don't offer anything close to that. For us, that peace of mind matters when we're booking months in advance.

What Holafly doesn't tell you:

The "unlimited" has limits. Holafly uses local carriers with fair use policies. In practice, this means:

• Hotspot is soft-capped around 500MB to 1GB per day on most plans
• After very heavy usage, speeds can throttle
• You're not getting fiber speeds. Expect 10-30 Mbps in cities, slower in rural areas

For casual use (maps, social media, email), you'll never notice. For uploading video or working off your phone's hotspot all day, you might.

No phone number means no SMS verification. If your bank, airline, or any service sends you a text code, you won't get it on Holafly. You need to either keep your home SIM active (which might cost roaming fees) or switch your accounts to app-based authentication before you leave.

iMessage can get confused. When you're running two SIMs (your home number and Holafly), iMessage sometimes sends from the wrong one or stops working entirely. The fix exists (Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > select your number), but it's annoying when you don't know to look for it.

The app has quirks. Sometimes it shows your eSIM as "not installed" even when it's working fine. Sometimes it switches to Spanish randomly. Minor stuff, but worth knowing.

Holafly pricing (February 2026):

Europe (40 countries):

• 5 days: $19.50
• 10 days: $36.90
• 15 days: $50.90
• 30 days: $74.90

USA:

• 5 days: $19
• 15 days: $44

They also have single-country plans and a monthly subscription ($49-65/month) if you're on the road long-term.

If you want to try Holafly, use code CHRISANDSARA for 5% off.

Airalo: When It Makes More Sense

Airalo is cheaper and more flexible with data amounts. If Holafly is the Honda Accord, Airalo is the used Civic. It gets the job done for less money, with some trade-offs.

Use Airalo when:

• You're going somewhere Holafly doesn't cover well
• You have light data needs (email, maps, basic browsing)
• You want to spend less money
• You need a quick top-up option (Airalo lets you add data mid-trip easily)

Skip Airalo when:

• You need heavy data (uploads, hotspot, streaming)
• You don't want to think about data limits
• You're crossing multiple countries frequently

Airalo plans have hard caps. A 3GB plan means 3GB, and when it's gone, it's gone. For a week of light use, that's fine. For uploading content or working remotely, you'll burn through it fast.

Their interface is cleaner than Holafly's, and the app works well. Pricing varies wildly by destination, but you can often find 1GB plans for $4-5 as a backup option.

Saily: The New Option

Saily is made by the NordVPN people and launched more recently. It sits between Airalo and Holafly in price, with some security features baked in (ad blocking, web protection).

We've tested it in a few countries. Speeds were solid. The app is clean. No major complaints.

Saily now offers unlimited plans in 37 destinations including the US and most of Europe, though their Europe coverage (35 countries) is slightly less than Holafly's 40. They also have capped data plans similar to Airalo if you want to spend less.

Worth considering if you're already in the Nord ecosystem (NordVPN, NordPass) since they bundle things together.

What We Actually Use

For most trips, we use Holafly. The unlimited data and multi-country coverage is worth the higher price when we're uploading video and crossing borders regularly. The six-month refund window is a bonus, especially when booking travel months out.

For destinations Holafly doesn't cover well, or for quick domestic trips, we keep Airalo as a backup.

We haven't fully switched to Saily, but it's a solid option if you want something in the middle.

The honest answer: no single eSIM is best for everyone. It depends on where you're going, how much data you use, and whether you want to think about limits.

Setup Tips (Things We Learned the Hard Way)

Before you leave:

1. Check your phone supports eSIM. Most iPhones since XS/XR do. Most Android flagships from the last few years do. Some carrier-locked phones don't.
2. Install the eSIM at home over WiFi. Don't wait until you're at the airport with bad connection trying to scan a QR code.
3. Label it clearly in your settings. "Holafly Europe" is better than "Travel Plan 1" when you're troubleshooting at midnight.
4. Switch your important accounts to app-based 2FA. Bank, email, anything that sends SMS codes. You won't get those texts on a data-only eSIM.
5. Keep your home SIM in the phone but turn off data roaming for it. You can still receive calls/texts (depending on your carrier) without paying for international data.

When you land:

1. Turn off airplane mode
2. Go to Settings > Cellular and turn on your eSIM line for data
3. Make sure "Data Roaming" is enabled for that line
4. Wait 30-60 seconds. Sometimes it takes a minute to connect.
5. If it doesn't work, toggle airplane mode on and off. Classic fix.

If iMessage breaks:

Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive. Make sure your main phone number is checked and selected as "Start new conversations from." This fixes it 90% of the time.

Who Should Use What

Use Holafly if:

• You're going to Europe and crossing multiple countries
• You upload content, work remotely, or use heavy data
• You don't want to monitor your usage
• You're willing to pay more for convenience

Use Airalo if:

• You need coverage in destinations Holafly doesn't reach
• You have light data needs
• You want to save money
• You're okay with data caps

Use Saily if:

• You want unlimited data with built-in security features
• You're already using NordVPN products
• You prefer a cleaner app experience
• You want flexible options (both capped and unlimited plans available)

Consider a local SIM if:

• You're staying in one country for a long time
• You need a local phone number
• You want the absolute best speeds and prices
• You don't mind the hassle of buying one at the airport

The Bottom Line

eSIMs have made international travel easier. But the marketing promises more than the reality delivers. "Unlimited" has asterisks. "Easy setup" assumes you've done it before. "Best for travelers" depends entirely on what kind of traveler you are.

We use Holafly for most of our trips because the unlimited data and multi-country coverage works for how we travel. But we're not going to tell you it's perfect, because it's not.

If you want to try Holafly, use code CHRISANDSARA for 5% off. If it doesn't fit your needs, Airalo and Saily are solid alternatives.

Happy trails, friends.

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