What Is Airalo? The Flexible International Travel eSIM

Traveling abroad is often expensive, but international mobile data doesn’t have to be. Prepare your phone for international travel by opting for an Airalo eSIM to avoid expensive roaming fees and overpriced airport SIM cards. Airalo provides travel data eSIMs that are affordable and easy to use. Airalo’s international and local plans offer different data packages, catering to both light and heavy data users. With Airalo, you get immediate connectivity so your phone works the moment you step off the plane.

What is Airalo?

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Airalo is one of the best data-only travel eSIM providers for local, regional, and international data, offering data packages with service in over 200 destinations. Unlike traditional physical SIM cards, Airalo’s eSIMs (embedded SIMs) allow users to download and activate cellular data plans digitally and remotely. No physical SIM cards or shipping times needed.

Airalo offers various data amounts, ranging from 1GB, 2GB, and 3GB options, to larger amounts for heavy data users including 50GB, 100GB, and unlimited data options. Depending on your vacation spot and Airalo’s local service partner, you’ll get either 3G, 4G LTE, or 5G speeds. (Airalo does prioritize 4G LTE and 5G networks, so you’ll have to deal with 3G speeds only when nothing else is available.)

How does Airalo work?

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Airalo provides mobile data to travelers by partnering directly with local network operators around the world. Instead of relying on expensive travel passes or international roaming from your home carrier, you can connect right to local networks. Airalo negotiates data access from regional carriers—such as Vodafone, Airtel, and Docomo—to allow travelers to connect to the strongest available networks at their destination. 

Purchasing an Airalo data eSIM grants you access to cellular data, with amounts depending on which plan you choose. Unlike your everyday service provider that usually gives monthly data amounts, travel eSIM providers offer data options for limited periods of time: usually valid over a week, two weeks, or a month. 

Your Airalo eSIM plan activates once it connects to a local network it can use, so if you choose a plan for Germany, your usage period starts once you connect to a German provider’s network. Once your service period is over, your eSIM will no longer work unless you buy more data.

Where can I use Airalo?

Airalo’s eSIMs provide mobile data coverage in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, making it easy to stay connected while traveling. In Japan, you can rely on fast 4G LTE coverage across Tokyo, Osaka, and beyond. European travelers get seamless connectivity throughout France, Italy, and Spain with a single regional eSIM. Those visiting the United States or Canada can choose from flexible plans with nationwide coverage, while Australia and New Zealand offer reliable data for urban and remote areas alike. Southeast Asia is also well-covered, with strong networks in Thailand, Singapore, and Bali.

Package availability varies by destination, so check your data options by popping your destination into Airalo’s search tool. 

Airalo eSIM travel data plans: Which plan is right for me?

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Airalo provides a range of data packages and time periods to meet your data needs while abroad. When choosing an Airalo eSIM, keep your mobile data needs in mind so you don’t overpay for data you won’t use. You probably need less data than you think, and most likely won’t need unlimited data unless you plan on working remotely from your vacation destination. 

When you choose how much data you want, decide whether you want to use it over one week, two weeks, a month, or up to 3 months. Your data habits probably fall under one of these three categories:

• Light data users should consider smaller data packs like 500MB, 1GB, or 3GB. That’s enough data to use maps and check emails while traveling.
• Moderate users can opt for a slightly larger allowance such as 5GB or 10GB, for regular access to email, social media, and general browsing.
• Heavy data users need 15GB or 20GB to ensure frequent streaming or gaming without a hitch.

Some destinations even offer an extended usage period of up to 180 days for long-term travelers. 

All plans operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, with data consumption deducted in real-time and remaining balances expiring at the end of your usage period. If you find you need more data to get you through your trip, you can purchase more by topping up. However, any unused data within your usage period does not roll over to the next if you decide to buy more data.

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card that can be programmed remotely, giving you access to the local cellular network without having to find or wait for a physical SIM card. Unlike the standard physical SIM, which comes in different SIM sizes, the eSIM is built into your device and you can't remove it (but also you should never need to. There's no extra fee for an eSIM since it’s downloaded remotely right into your phone. 

While this technology has actually been available in the United States for nearly a decade now, only in recent years has it become a smartphone standard. These days, almost all modern smartphones include eSIM compatibility. If you have a dual SIM phone, you can simply add a travel eSIM to your device with your domestic plan. Not only are eSIMs used in phones, but also in other connected devices, such as smartwatches.

Installing an Airalo travel eSIM

You can purchase, install, and manage your Airalo eSIM directly through the Airalo app for iPhone or Android, or you can purchase a data package through the Airalo website. 

Install your Airalo eSIM by either scanning your confirmation QR code or manually entering your activation code into your phone’s settings. Either way, make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before you purchase your travel eSIM since Airalo doesn’t offer physical SIM cards.

How to activate your Airalo eSIM

After installing your Airalo eSIM, your plan will automatically activate once you touch down at your destination and have service, ensuring instant connectivity upon arrival. You’ll have full access to your data and your plan will automatically end once you reach your data limit, or you run out of days on your plan. 

Make sure to follow the steps in our guide on phone settings you should change before traveling to ensure you aren't accidentally charged when activating your plan. If you need more data, you can always buy more to continue using your eSIM.

Why choose Airalo? Our expert tested it for 20 days

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WhistleOut put Airalo to the test when our expert Sherri Riggs traveled around Europe for 20 days. In her Airalo video review, she was thoroughly impressed by Airalo’s carrier switching capability. She noted that, "I really loved that you can switch between networks depending on where you are and how bad your data may be."

Airalo’s eSIMs offer cheap travel data in flexible data packages ranging in amounts and lengths, to meet your data needs. You can also seamlessly add more data if you are running out, and Airalo rewards topping -up with credits you can put toward more data. 

Airalo provides reliable service through local partners and offers manual carrier switching to always provide the fastest speeds. You may find 5G coverage is limited while abroad since your service depends on your destination’s local providers. If you're struggling to connect, you may find it helpful to turn off 5G in the device settings or by briefly enabling Airplane Mode, then manually switching to your Airalo network for the best coverage. 

Although you don’t get dedicated hotspot data with your Airalo eSIM, you can tether and share all your data to your other devices. While there’s no limit on how much of your data you share, Airalo does limit how much data you share daily on all plans. Capped at 3GB/day, you can share enough data to stream an episode or two of your favorite Netflix series on a tablet or laptop.

Airalo network flexibility

Airalo gives you carrier flexibility, letting you choose which local network to connect to. If you find the service your phone automatically connects to is too slow, you can always manually switch carriers to find the fastest speeds near you. 

Airmoney: Airalo’s data reward program

Airmoney is Airalo’s rewards system, giving customers credits every time they top up on data. Your Airmoney credits are automatically applied to your next data purchase. That means the more you use Airalo, the more you save through their built-in loyalty program, with balances visible in your account dashboard for easy tracking.

Airalo vs. international roaming

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Airalo’s data-only eSIMs are cheap and convenient for travel, and cost a fraction of what some home carriers charge for international roaming. For instance, 10 days of unlimited data throughout Europe with Airalo’s Eurolink pass only costs $35. But 10 days of unlimited data roaming passes through Verizon’s TravelPass or AT&T's international plans would cost $120 overall, or $12/day.

However, remember that Airalo only offers data-only eSIMs that lack calling and texting, and they offer less high-speed data than you would get from all major and most smaller carriers. For example, Airalo's Eurolink pass includes 3GB of high-speed data per day, then unlimited slower speeds, while Verizon's TravelPass offer 5GB of high-speed data before slower unlimited speeds.

If you are a frequent flier, consider switching to a home carrier that offers affordable unlimited plans which include talk, text, and international benefits. You can check out our favorite international plans to ensure your new carrier keeps you covered at home and abroad. 

T-Mobile includes free roaming with many of its postpaid plans, with Experience Beyond offering up to 15GB of monthly high-speed international data in over 215 countries. If that isn’t enough, T-Mobile also offers international travel passes (up to 15GB) that you can purchase to boost your data allowance.

Visible's unlimited plans offer excellent international benefits. Through their $35 Visible+ plan, you get one Global Pass each month, while the premium Visible+ Pro plan grants you two Global Passes per month for $10/month more. Each pass offers 2GB of mobile data in over 140 countries. You can even hold onto your Global Passes to use whenever you want.

Mint Mobile also offers international data roaming through a "Minternational Pass" on T-Mobile's global roaming network. Choose from their 1-Day, 3-Day, and 10-Day global data options, or opt for a 30-day data-free plan that just includes talk and text overseas. Pay as little as $5 for 1GB of data or as much as $20 with unlimited data: 10GB of high-speed or priority data and slower speeds after.

US Mobile is unique among MVNOs because it offers a generous international roaming feature on its Unlimited Premium plan. Unlimited Premium includes 20GB of international data and, depending on the network you pick, can be used in up to 180+ destinations.

Take full advantage of all three networks with US Mobile’s Teleport feature, which allows you to switch between networks. Network switching is free with Unlimited Premium, and we recommend Light Speed for travel since it offers the most international roaming locations.

Airalo vs. other travel eSIM providers

Airalo's easy to use and convenient user-friendly mobile app handles all eSIM management for you, including activation, data monitoring, and troubleshooting. While alternatives like Saily and Holafly highlight plan period personalization, Airalo offers the best international data eSIMs with the best data value and rewards clients for re-upping. 

Other travel eSIM providers include:

• Holafly
• Maya Mobile
• Orange
• Nomad
• Saily

Airalo travel eSIM: FAQs

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Can I use Airalo on multiple devices?

You can use Airalo data on multiple devices through data sharing. But your Airalo eSIM can only be installed and activated on one compatible device at a time. You can still share your data connection with other devices by enabling the hotspot feature on your primary device.

Does Airalo support phone calls and texts?

Most of Airalo’s plans do not support phone calls and texts since their eSIMs are data-only. Very few plans have Airalo call and text with a phone number, such as the Discover+ Global eSIM. However, even without talk and text, you can still use data-dependent alternative messaging apps or RCS messaging.

How do I top up my Airalo eSIM?

To top up and add more data to your Airalo eSIM, follow these steps:

1. Log into your Airalo account.
2. Go to My eSIMs.
3. Tap Top up.
4. Select and purchase your new data pack.
5. Restart your phone.

Should I install Airalo eSIM before travelling?

Yes, you should install your Airalo eSIM before travelling. You need coverage or Wi-Fi to install your eSIM, which might be hard to find if you are already abroad. Your eSIM won’t activate until it connects to the network in your destination, meaning your validity period won’t either.