Holafly Review and Comparison with Airalo: Finding the Best eSIM for Travellers
Discovering the Best eSIM for Travelers: An Honest Holafly Review and Comparison with Airalo
If you’re anything like me, you know how crucial it is to stay connected while travelling. Whether it’s for navigating your new destination, sharing your adventures on social media, or simply staying in touch with family and friends back home, having reliable internet access is a must.
That’s where Holafly eSIM comes in. Let me walk you through my experience with Holafly, including who they are, their plan options, prices, coverage, and how to set up and activate their service. Spoiler alert: It’s super easy!
More importantly, I share my best and worst experiences using Holafly and Airalo eSIM cards.
Table of Contents
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. Read my Affiliate Disclosure.
Who is Holafly?
Holafly is a company out of Spain that provides seamless internet connectivity for travellers. They specialize in offering eSIM solutions, which means you can activate a data plan on your phone without needing a physical SIM card. This saves you the hassle of swapping SIM cards and lets you stay connected effortlessly.
What are the Plan Options and Prices?
Holafly offers a variety of plans tailored to different travel needs. Here are some of their popular options:
- Short-Term Plans: Ideal for vacations or business trips lasting a few days to a couple of weeks. Prices start at around $19 for 7 days of unlimited data.
- Long-Term Plans: Perfect for digital nomads or extended stays. For example, a 30-day unlimited data plan costs about $47.
- Regional Plans: These are great if you’re hopping between countries. They offer plans that cover multiple countries within a region, like Europe or Asia, starting at $27 for 7 days.
What About the Coverage?
Holafly offers extensive coverage across the globe. Their eSIMs work in over 120 countries, ensuring you have access to fast and reliable internet almost anywhere you go. From big cities to remote countryside, I’ve found their service to be impressively consistent.
How Do You Set Up Your Holafly eSIM?
Setting up Holafly is a breeze. Here’s how I did it:
- Purchase a Plan: I went to the Holafly website, selected my destination and travel dates, and chose a plan that suited my needs.
- Receive the eSIM: After purchasing, I received an email with a QR code. This code is your eSIM, which you’ll need to scan to activate the service.
Installing and Activating the eSIM
This part is super straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Scan the QR Code: Open the camera on your phone and scan the QR code provided in the email. Follow the prompts to add the eSIM to your phone.
- Activate the eSIM: Once added, you can switch to the eSIM as your primary data line through your phone’s settings. It’s as simple as toggling a switch!
I recommend scanning the QR code and setting up the eSIM before you leave home, I usually do this at the airport while waiting for my flight. This way, you’ll land at your destination with internet access ready to go.
Although Holafly’s setup is usually seamless, it doesn’t hurt to test it before you travel.
My Tips and Tricks
- Test Before You Go: Although Holafly’s setup is usually seamless, it doesn’t hurt to test it before you travel. We did this. Before my husband and I (and our dog) moved to Berlin for three months, he tested to make sure the eSIM activated correctly and we could access the internet.
- Keep Your Primary SIM Active: If you have a dual-SIM phone, keep your primary SIM active for calls and texts, while using Holafly for data. This way, you don’t miss important messages.
- Customer Support: Holafly offers 24/7 customer support. I had a minor issue setting up my eSIM once we landed with some of the features (turned out I was doing it wrong!), and their support team was quick to help. They’re super friendly and responsive.
- Data Management: Even though many of Holafly’s plans offer unlimited data, it’s wise to keep an eye on your usage, especially if you’re streaming or using data-intensive apps.
Holafly vs Airola eSIM Comparison
Holafly Coverage
186 countries
Airalo Coverage 🏅
199 countries
Holafly Cost 🏅
1. Asia: $79 / Unlimited
2. Europe: $64 / Unlimited
3. North America: $ $87 / Unlimited
Airalo Cost
1. Asia: $37 / 10GB
2. Europe: $37 / 10GB
3. North America: $ $46 / 10GB
Holafly Set Up 🤝
Ease of use during installation was straightforward and fast and they provided great instructions.
Reviews on Holafly vs Airalo Reddit were mixed.
Airalo Set Up 🤝
I experienced issues with the ease of use during the installation and follow-up customer service.
Reviews on Airalo vs Holafly Reddit were mixed.
Holafly Customer Service 🏅
Great feedback from its users due to fast response times, text communication for immediate response and overall helpful approach in their interactions.
Airalo Customer Service
Mixed opinions, with a far greater number of users having dissatisfaction due to slow response time. I had to wait for troubleshooting and post-installation support.
Holafly Features 🏅
1. Unlimited data – no need to hotspot
2. Customer Service through WhatApp
Airalo Features
1. A loyalty program offers rewards for continuous usage
2. Notification when close to running out of data (can hotspot)
Holafly Rating
Trustpilot ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5
Airalo Rating
Trustpilot ⭐⭐ 2.3/5
The clear winner is Holafly
Holafly stands out as the top choice for travellers due to its unlimited data plans, exceptional customer service, effortless setup, and extensive global coverage.
My Personal Experience with Holafly and Airalo eSIM
Living Abroad in Berlin with Holafly
When my husband and I decided to live in Berlin for three months, we needed a reliable internet connection as remote workers. After researching various options, Holafly’s reputation for unlimited data and stellar customer service stood out. We both opted for Holafly, and it was one of the best decisions we made for our stay.
From the moment we set foot in Germany, we had no issues whatsoever. Setting up the eSIM was incredibly easy, and having unlimited data gave us peace of mind. I could work from various cafes, parks, and co-working spaces without ever worrying about running out of data or experiencing connectivity issues.
There were no surprise costs, and the coverage was great, we only experienced intermittent issues while driving in the countryside and visiting smaller villages, but it was only due to some dead areas where no wifi was present.
Travelling Solo in Spain with Airalo
My experience with Airalo, on the other hand, was quite different. Full disclosure, I was gifted an Airalo 30-day, 5GB eSIM card in hopes I might become an affiliate partner.
I installed the eSIM before leaving and tested it successfully. However, upon arriving in Madrid, it wasn’t working. While at the airport, I tried using Airalo’s 24/7 tech support hotline. Unfortunately, I was on hold the entire time I cleared security, and by the time I was ready to catch my cab to the train station, I had to end the call so as not to miss my train to Valencia.
Without wifi in Valencia and needing Google Maps to navigate to my rented apartment, I had no choice but to use my home provider’s service, which incurred extra costs.
Once I reached my apartment and connected to the wifi, I contacted Airalo’s support again, experiencing another long wait time. They instructed me to reinstall the eSIM, which finally worked (jet lagged and the time wasted with the eSIM card I didn’t venture out that night). The next day, while exploring Valencia, I relied on Google Maps.
Shockingly, after just four hours, I received a notification that I was nearly running out of data. In disbelief, I returned to my apartment to get on its wifi and see what happened by contacting Airalo 24/7 technical support.
After troubleshooting with them for nearly an hour, they determined the issues were due to other programs on my phone using data while I roamed the city.
This critical information about data usage was not highlighted during the purchase or by their tech support the day before. My only option was to buy another 30-day plan for an additional 5GB and disable all other programs.
In a state of frustration, I contacted my husband for advice. He suggested switching to Holafly, given our positive experience in Berlin. Within 15 minutes of purchasing Holafly, I was up and running with no further issues for the rest of my trip.
Airalo’s support lacked empathy and understanding of my situation as a solo traveller. They offered no bonus or considerate message, despite the significant inconvenience I faced.
As travellers, we know every minute counts, and I can’t tell you how much time was wasted by me using Airalo, not to mention the added cost I incurred as a result of this costly mistake.
Holafly, once again, saved the day, providing reliable and hassle-free connectivity. No other eSIM vendor will ever tempt me again. Holafly has earned my unwavering confidence as the best provider.
As a Holidaymaker
If you have any questions about my experience with Holafly, email me at renee@dreamplanexperience.com.
As you are planning your trip, check out my trip planning resources where I share my favourite go-to resources for accommodations, tickets, tours & excursions, transportation, and travel insurance.
