Which is better, SimLocal, Airalo or Holafly?

We get asked which is better, SimLocal, Airalo, or Holafly, all the time from other worldschooling families and digital nomads. We have used travel eSIMs across Europe and Asia since 2022 with our three daughters, and we have personally used all three of these providers on real family trips. Here is how they actually compare.

The honest answer is that all three are solid, and the right one depends on two things: coverage in your destination and how much data you burn through. Below we break down each one based on our own use, then line them up side by side.

What is an eSIM and how does it work?

An embedded SIM (eSIM) is a digital SIM built into your phone. Instead of swapping a plastic SIM card when you land in a new country, you install an eSIM profile through your phone's settings. For international travel that means no hunting for a SIM shop at the airport, instant activation when you arrive, and no roaming bill from your home carrier. Your home number stays active on its own line, so you stay reachable while your data runs on the eSIM.

We switched to travel eSIMs during our European trips, when we were buying a local SIM in every country. Now we handle all of it digitally, which is far simpler with three kids in tow.

Holafly: best for unlimited data

Holafly is our go-to for unlimited data. Between homeschooling three kids, uploading videos to our YouTube channel, and navigating new cities, unlimited data is not a luxury for us, it is the thing that keeps the day moving.

Last tested: August 2026, our current daily eSIM while based in Da Nang.

How is Holafly for international travel?

Holafly does what it says: unlimited data across 200+ destinations on local partner networks. We have used it across Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Europe with consistently strong results. Installation is genuinely simple, scan a QR code, follow the prompts, and you are online.

Save 5% on Holafly destination eSIMs (10% on Plans) with code ADAMANDLINDS at checkout. For the current deal and how it works, see our Holafly discount code guide.

Destination eSIM vs the Holafly Plans subscription

These are two different products and they handle phone numbers differently, which trips people up. A Holafly destination eSIM is data-only: no phone number, no calls, no SMS, you talk to people through WhatsApp or FaceTime over the data. The Holafly Plans subscription is separate. The Light Plan is also data-only, but the Unlimited Plan adds a dedicated number in the US, UK, or Canada that receives SMS only. It does not place calls or send texts, and it is not a local number. So if you specifically want to receive verification texts on your Holafly line, the Unlimited Plan is the only option; otherwise, keep your home number on a second line.

Where Holafly falls short

The main catch is the fair use policy on the unlimited plans. Speeds can throttle after very high usage, though in normal travel we rarely notice it. We have only run into it when backing up large photo libraries or streaming for hours on a slow day indoors. Cost is the other consideration: the unlimited plans run more upfront than a small capped plan, so they pay off for heavy users, not for someone who mostly sits on WiFi.

SimLocal: a marketplace with voice and SMS

SimLocal works as an eSIM marketplace, reselling plans from local networks in 150+ countries. Because you are buying onto the same networks locals use, prices are often competitive. Its stand-out feature is that many of its plans include voice calls and SMS, which most travel eSIMs, including Holafly and Airalo, do not.

Last tested: 2025, as a budget backup rather than our daily eSIM.

What SimLocal does well

• Voice calls and SMS included on many plans, not just data
• Local-network pricing that can undercut roaming
• Regional and global options for multi-country trips
• Top-ups mid-trip through the app
• Works with most eSIM-capable phones

In our testing it landed as a solid budget backup rather than our first choice. If you actually need a real phone number that can call and text a local business, SimLocal is the one of these three that offers it.

SimLocal trade-offs

The marketplace model can be fiddly. Instead of a clean "Europe eSIM," you sort through country-by-country options with different data allowances and pricing, which takes more research. Support is also less polished than Holafly's, with slower responses at peak times.

Airalo: best for light and budget use

Airalo more or less created the consumer travel eSIM market and is still a strong pick for budget-minded and light-data travelers. The app is clean and buying a plan is quick.

Last tested: January 2026, its Europe regional plan during our winter train loop.

What Airalo does well

• Competitive pricing for light users and short trips
• Regional plans that cover several countries in one package
• 200+ destinations, including nearly everywhere tourists go
• An intuitive app and an established track record
• Frequent promos and discounts for new users

Airalo's regional plans shine on multi-country trips. Its Europe regional plan carried us across a train journey from France to Austria without a gap or an extra charge at the borders, which is one less thing to manage when you are already juggling passports and snacks.

Airalo trade-offs

Airalo plans are data-only, so no voice calls or SMS. That is rarely a problem since most communication runs through messaging apps, but it can complicate anything that needs a real local number. The bigger one is data caps: allowances are tighter than an unlimited plan, so on a longer stay heavy users end up buying top-ups rather than settling in with one plan.

Coverage: which works where?

All three cover the destinations most travelers need:

• Holafly: 200+ destinations, unlimited-data focus, including Japan, Europe, and Thailand
• Airalo: 200+ destinations with varied data allowances
• SimLocal: 150+ destinations, with voice and SMS on many plans

In practice the difference is small for most trips. We have found reliable coverage from all three across Europe, Asia, and North America. For a specific country, check each provider's coverage page before you buy, since carrier partnerships vary.

* Holafly destination eSIMs are data-only with no phone number. Only the Holafly Unlimited Plan adds a US, UK, or Canada number, and it receives SMS only, no calls or outgoing texts.

Pricing: which is better value?

Pricing shifts by destination, data need, and trip length, so rather than quote numbers that go stale, here is how we think about value. For unlimited data, Holafly usually wins for families and creators despite the higher upfront cost. For light data use, Airalo tends to be cheapest. For voice and SMS in one plan, SimLocal is the most complete. For current prices on your route, check each provider's site.

Network quality and speed

All three partner with major local networks, so speed differences are minor in most places. In Japan, for example, all three gave us speeds in line with what locals get on the same networks. The variance comes down to which carrier each provider partners with in a given country rather than the provider itself. Across our travels we have rarely seen a meaningful speed gap between them in the same location.

Is there a downside to using an eSIM at all?

The main one is device compatibility. Travel eSIMs need a reasonably recent phone: iPhone XS or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer, or most flagship Android phones from 2019 on. Check eSIM compatibility before you buy. Beyond that, inactive eSIM profiles can clutter your settings, a few countries still have thin eSIM support, and you need an internet connection to install the profile in the first place. Your home number stays active throughout, so there is no disruption for family or work.

Is there an eSIM that works at sea?

None of these work mid-ocean. Holafly, Airalo, and SimLocal all run on cellular networks, and open water needs satellite. For a crossing, your options are ship WiFi, a satellite communicator like a Garmin inReach for emergencies, or simply logging off for a few days. We learned this on our Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossing, where even the ship's WiFi was pricey and patchy. In port, all three eSIMs work normally.

Which should you choose?

There is no single best pick because needs differ. Work through it like this: check coverage for your destinations, estimate your data use, decide whether you need voice and SMS, then compare price for your trip length. From our own use:

• Japan: Holafly, since Japan is data-heavy and unlimited removes the stress of tracking usage
• Europe: Airalo's regional plan for light users, Holafly if you are leaning on data all day
• Need to call a local business: SimLocal, the only one here with voice and SMS
• Content creation: Holafly, so uploads and backups do not eat a data cap

For more on your options, read our eSIM vs pocket WiFi guide.

The bottom line

All three are good. For our family, Holafly is the daily driver thanks to unlimited data and simple setup, Airalo is the value pick for lighter trips, and SimLocal is the one to reach for when you actually need a callable number. Start by checking coverage and price for your destinations, and you will not go far wrong with any of them.

Planning a trip and want the connectivity sorted for you? Contact Lindsay at [email protected] for travel planning, including eSIM picks matched to your itinerary.