Airalo review: we used it in nine countries
Airalo is the eSIM most travellers have heard of. We bought 14 of its plans, used them from Tokyo to Lisbon, and timed every install, speed test and support chat. Here is where it is the best choice, and where it is not.
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Our verdict
The most dependable all-round travel eSIM we tested. It is rarely the cheapest per GB, but it covered every country we visited, installed in about two minutes, and never left us without data.
Get it if
- You visit several countries a year
- You want one app for every trip
- You need hotspot on a small plan
Skip it if
- You want the lowest price per GB
- You stream all day: get unlimited
- You need a local phone number
- Destinations
- 200+ countries and regions
- Plans from
- $4.50
- Validity starts
- On first connection
- Hotspot
- Yes, most plans
- Phone number
- No, data only
- Top up
- In the app
- Refunds
- Only if not installed
- Plan types
- Local, regional, global
What will Airalo cost for your trip?
Our test results, country by country
Median of morning and evening tests at the same spots in each city, on an iPhone 15 and a Pixel 8.
| Country | Network we got | Median download | Signal on route | Time to connect | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Docomo | 24 of 25 | 2 min | Oct 2026 | |
| South Korea | KT | 25 of 25 | 1 min | Sep 2026 | |
| Thailand | AIS | 22 of 25 | 3 min | Sep 2026 | |
| Italy | TIM | 23 of 25 | 2 min | Aug 2026 | |
| United States | T-Mobile | 21 of 25 | 4 min | Jul 2026 |
Showing 5 of 9 countries. See all nine. Each country links to its full destination test.
Plans and prices
Airalo sells three kinds of plan. For one country, local is almost always cheaper.
One country
Cheapest per GB. Best for a trip to one place.
A group of countries
One eSIM for a multi-country trip, such as Europe or Asia.
Most of the world
Convenient for frequent flyers, but the most expensive per GB.
On a 10 GB plan, Airalo cost between 8% and 25% more than the cheapest eSIM in the same country. That gap shrinks on small plans and grows on large ones, so if you need 20 GB or more, compare first.
Going to one country? Check the price for your destination before you buy.
See Airalo pricesSetup and the app
From opening the app to a working connection took us 2 minutes on average.
The app installs the eSIM directly, so you do not need a second screen for a QR code. It also shows the exact settings to change when you land, which is the step most first-time users get wrong.
Coverage and networks
Airalo does not run its own network. It resells data from local carriers, and the carrier you get depends on the country and sometimes the plan. In most countries we tested, it used one of the two biggest networks.
5G worked in Japan, South Korea and the United States. Elsewhere we stayed on 4G, which was fast enough for maps, video calls and uploads.
Customer support
We contacted support four times with real problems, without saying we were reviewers.
| What we asked | Channel | First reply | Solved? |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM installed but no data | In-app chat | 4 min | Yes |
| Refund for an unused plan | 6 h | Yes | |
| Top up failed at checkout | In-app chat | 11 min | Yes |
| Hotspot not working | In-app chat | 7 min | Partly |
The fine print
The things that caught us out, so they do not catch you out.
- Installed means non-refundable
Once the eSIM is on your phone, most plans cannot be refunded. Install it a day or two before you fly, not weeks before.
- Data only
You get no local phone number. Calls and texts still go through your home SIM or apps like WhatsApp.
- Speeds can be limited on some plans
[Only if found in testing: which plans, and the speed cap we measured]
Airalo vs the others
How it compares with the eSIMs we would also consider.
Should you buy Airalo?
If you want one eSIM app that works almost everywhere and you do not want to think about it, yes. If you are going to one country and price matters most, check our destination guide first: something cheaper often exists.
Questions people ask
Is Airalo legit?
Does Airalo give you a phone number?
Can I reuse my Airalo eSIM on another trip?
When does my Airalo plan start?
Update history
- 16 Oct 2026
Rechecked prices in all nine countries. Japan 10 GB plan up $1.
- 9 Oct 2026
Added Japan test results from Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
- 2 Sep 2026
First published after testing in seven countries.