Holafly. Unlimited-style data, scores around 4.8/5 on both stores. Fair use still needs a read, and code SIMP is only 5% off.
Best Airalo alternatives in 2026
Airalo is the catalog pick: many destinations, metered packs, a familiar app. Leave it to stop counting gigabytes, to get a clearer price per GB, to get a phone number, or to cover a cruise. The six alternatives follow that job. The order is not a paid ranking.
Read the Airalo review firstWhich Airalo alternative fits the trip
In the US, “airalo alternative” is about 210 searches a month, and “airalo vs holafly” about 880. Airalo claims 200+ destinations. The stores show about 4.6/5 (App Store, ~99K ratings) and 4.5/5 (Google Play, ~172K ratings, 10M+ downloads). Code ESIMP15 takes 15% off the first order. That does not replace an unlimited plan or a calling line.
Nomad. A stated allowance, scores of 4.8/5 and 4.7/5, code ESIMPNOMAD at 20% off. Compare the country total, not an average.
Yesim if you need calls or SMS. GigSky if the trip is a cruise or a flight, not only a city.
Six Airalo alternatives, by job to be done
Star figures below are app-store ratings, not an eSIM Giga score. The catalog line under each profile is ours, and unlimited offers stay out of the median. The code and the site link are ours: an affiliate link, and the discount must show at checkout.
| Alternative | Choose it if | Code | Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | Stop counting gigabytes | SIMP−5 % | esim.holafly.com |
| Nomad | Clear packs and store scores | ESIMPNOMAD−20 % | getnomad.app |
| Saily | Polished app, Nord brand | ESIMG−10 % | saily.com |
| Ubigi | Repeat trips, hotspot, carrier | ESIMP−10 % | ubigi.com |
| GigSky | Sea, flight, or both | ESIMP−15 % | gigsky.com |
| Yesim | You need a number or SMS | ESIMG−15 % | yesim.app |
Holafly
Holafly sells unlimited-style plans across a claimed 200+ destinations, with hotspot on many offers and a claimed 24/7 desk. The App Store and Google Play show about 4.8/5 (about 34K and 73K ratings, 5M+ Android downloads). That is not an eSIM Giga score. Heavy use can trigger fair use, and the line is generally without calls or SMS. Code SIMP takes 5% off.
eSIM Giga sample: 6 priced plans, 173 destinations, 173 destinations with an unlimited-style offer.
What holds
- One price whether you stream or send a few messages
- High public scores on both stores, with a large rating base
- Claimed 24/7 support, useful on a first eSIM
What to check
- Unlimited can slow down after heavy use: read the plan
- Often pricier than a small gigabyte pack on a short light trip
- Code SIMP is only 5% off, confirm it at checkout
Nomad
Nomad (LotusFlare) sells prepaid local and regional data across a claimed 200+ destinations. The allowance is stated, top-ups happen in the app, and unlimited is not the core product. Public scores are high: about 4.8/5 on the App Store and 4.7/5 on Google Play (about 14K ratings each, 1M+ Android downloads). Plans are generally data-only.
eSIM Giga sample: 1,362 priced plans, 67 destinations, median €0.75/GB on limited plans, 58 destinations with an unlimited-style offer.
What holds
- A stated allowance, so €/GB is a real comparison
- Store scores among the highest in this set
- Code ESIMPNOMAD: 20% off, confirm the payable total
What to check
- Unlimited is not the core product
- Partner network and 5G vary by destination
- Hotspot is a plan field
Saily
Saily is the Nord Security travel eSIM, from the team behind NordVPN. Claimed coverage is 200+ destinations, with prepaid packs, top-ups and optional security tools. Public scores sit around 4.7/5 on the App Store (about 11K ratings) and 4.5/5 on Google Play (about 92K ratings, 5M+ downloads). The core is still a metered pack. A NordVPN subscription is not included with every eSIM.
eSIM Giga sample: 1,184 priced plans, 201 destinations, median €4.16/GB on limited plans, 123 destinations with an unlimited-style offer.
What holds
- An identifiable parent company (Nord Security)
- High iOS score and a large Android download base
- Code ESIMG: 10% off, confirm the payable total
What to check
- Travel packs are still primarily metered data
- Security extras and any number feature depend on the current offer
- Hotspot and 5G are destination-plan fields
Ubigi
Ubigi is backed by Transatel (NTT), with roots in France. One eSIM is installed once, then top-ups cover a claimed 200+ destinations, with hotspot, 5G where the partner provides it, and connected-car use. Public scores split: about 4.6/5 on the App Store (about 8.3K ratings) and 4.0/5 on Google Play (about 7.2K ratings, 1M+ downloads). Generally no native calls.
eSIM Giga sample: 950 priced plans, 149 destinations, median €2.33/GB on limited plans, 104 destinations with an unlimited-style offer.
What holds
- An identifiable telecom parent, Transatel / NTT
- One profile across trips, with hotspot in the pitch
- Code ESIMP: 10% off the first plan, confirm the payable total
What to check
- The Google Play score (4.0/5) sits well below the App Store
- Still data-only for native calls and SMS
- Unlimited labels can still include fair use
GigSky
GigSky is a longer-running brand, with prepaid data across 190+ countries and regions, plus cruise and inflight offers that city apps do not cover. A small starter allowance is often offered to new accounts. Google Play shows about 4.3/5. Plans are data-focused. Code ESIMP takes 15% off eligible land, regional, maritime or inflight plans.
eSIM Giga sample: 5,117 priced plans, 183 destinations, median €2.12/GB on limited plans, 146 destinations with an unlimited-style offer.
What holds
- Cruise and inflight connectivity, on top of land plans
- A longer-running brand than most travel apps
- Code ESIMP: 15% off eligible plans, confirm the payable total
What to check
- Specialty plans often cost more than a city pack
- Buy the right type: land, sea or flight
- The public score we cite is mainly Google Play, about 4.3/5
Yesim
Yesim (Genesis Group AG) adds a virtual number, calls and SMS to prepaid data across a claimed 200+ destinations, plus Ycoins credits. Public scores sit around 4.6/5 on the App Store (about 2.1K ratings) and 4.5/5 on Google Play (about 24K ratings, 1M+ downloads). Voice and the number depend on the plan and country. It is the alternative when the starting brand is data-only.
eSIM Giga sample: 3,533 priced plans, 185 destinations, median €2.00/GB on limited plans, 128 destinations with an unlimited-style offer.
What holds
- A number, calls and SMS where others sell data only
- Ycoins on later purchases
- Code ESIMG: 15% off, confirm the payable total
What to check
- Voice is not guaranteed on every destination
- iOS rating volume is still small (about 2.1K)
- Hotspot still has to be checked on the plan
Airalo is still the right call in three cases
Airalo is not something to replace on principle. 10M+ Android downloads and steady scores on both stores make it the most documented default in the category.
Code ESIMP15 (15% off the first order) is real. It does not change the order of this page. Confirm it in the payable total.
- You roughly know your allowance and you want the widest destination choice.
- You buy often: Airmoney credits and top-ups actually get used.
- You keep your primary line for calls, and Airalo only handles data.
Questions about Airalo alternatives
What is the best Airalo alternative?
Holafly if you want to stop counting gigabytes. Nomad if price per GB and store scores come first (4.8/5 and 4.7/5, 20% off). Saily if you want the Nord Security brand. Ubigi for a reusable eSIM backed by Transatel (NTT). GigSky for a cruise or a flight. Yesim for a number, calls or SMS.
Airalo or Holafly?
Airalo if you buy a set allowance and want the broader prepaid catalog. Holafly if you refuse a data counter and accept fair use. Both are data-only in the usual case. In the US, “airalo vs holafly” is searched far more than either brand name alone in this comparison.
Is Airalo cheaper?
On a short, light trip, an Airalo or Nomad gigabyte pack is often cheaper than a Holafly unlimited day. Compare the destination total. Code ESIMP15 (15% off the first order) has to show at checkout.
Does Airalo include calls?
Generally, no. An Airalo eSIM is a data line. For a number, calls or SMS, look at Yesim and confirm the country.
Is 4.6/5 an eSIM Giga score?
No. 4.6/5 and 4.5/5 are Airalo’s public app ratings on the App Store and Google Play, not a score calculated by eSIM Giga. They do not guarantee the local partner network.
Compare on the destination, not the brand
An alternative wins in one country and loses in another. Open the destination, sort by total price, then come back to the provider review for the network, hotspot and fair use.