Holafly vs Airalo: The Travel eSIM I Actually Use (Tested in Morocco, England & Scotland)

Published on October 2, 2026 · Updated on October 2, 2026

There are so many eSIM providers popping up lately that choosing one has somehow become more complicated than it needs to be. Every company promises great coverage, easy setup and cheap data, but which ones are actually any good when you’re travelling?

Two I’ve personally tried and tested are Holafly and Airalo. I’ve used Airalo in Morocco, England and Scotland, and Holafly on two separate trips to Morocco, so this isn’t a comparison based on specs and marketing claims. It’s based on actually travelling with both.

Both worked well for me, but after using them on proper trips, I definitely prefer one over the other. So here’s my straightforward Holafly vs Airalo comparison: what I liked, what annoyed me, what I’d do differently, and which one I actually use now.

DISCOUNT CODES (before you scroll!)

I’ve managed to sort out reader discounts for both, so if you decide either one’s right for you, pop these in and save yourself a little:

• Holafly: Use code SANDRAP for 5% off any Holafly travel eSIM (you can use my code multiple times) or 10% off Holafly Plans for the first 12 months. → Get the discount here.
• Airalo: Use code SANDRA8087 for €3 off your first purchase. 

Just so you know, these are affiliate links. If you buy through them it costs you nothing extra and it helps keep this little blog running. Thank you! 💛

The short version (my honest verdict)

Haven’t got time for all 2,000-odd words? No worries, here’s the TL;DR:

• I prefer Holafly, and the single biggest reason is unlimited data. I create a lot of content when I travel. I’m forever posting to Instagram and TikTok, uploading photos and videos, and I burn through gigabytes scarily fast. With Holafly I genuinely never think about it, and honestly, that peace of mind is everything.
• Airalo is brilliant too and its fixed-data plans can often work out cheaper, especially for short trips or if you’re a lighter user who mostly needs maps, messaging and a bit of browsing. My biggest frustration when I used it? Running out of data while I was out and then needing Wi-Fi to sort out more. Airalo has since introduced new options that make this easier, which I’ll explain below.
• Both had good coverage everywhere I personally used them. This isn’t one of those “one worked, one didn’t” situations. They both did the job.

Holafly vs Airalo at a glance

	Holafly	Airalo
Data model	Primarily unlimited data; choose how many days you need	Fixed-data and unlimited plans, depending on destination
Best for	Heavy users, content creators, longer trips	Budget-conscious travellers, short trips and lighter users
Coverage	200+ destinations	200+ destinations
Adding more data	Usually unnecessary on unlimited plans	Depends on the plan; additional packages/top-ups are available for eligible eSIMs
Price	Often pricier than small fixed-data plans	Fixed-data plans can be cheaper if you don’t need much data
My pick	My daily driver	Great alternative, especially for lighter usage

First, how travel eSIMs actually work

New to all this? No shame in it. Here’s the quick version.

An eSIM is basically a digital SIM built into your phone. Instead of faffing about with a tray-ejector tool and a fiddly little bit of plastic, you buy a plan online and install it digitally, usually through an app or QR code.

Once you arrive and connect to the supported local network, you’ve got mobile data without having to swap your physical SIM.

Your normal SIM can stay in your phone too, so you can keep your usual number active for calls and texts if you want. Just be careful with your home network’s roaming charges. Turn roaming for your primary SIM card off.

Two things I’d recommend doing before you travel:

1. Check that your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked. Not every phone supports eSIMs, and a carrier-locked phone can prevent you from using one.
2. Buy and install your eSIM while you’ve got reliable Wi-Fi. You don’t necessarily have to do it before you fly, but I personally prefer getting everything sorted before leaving home rather than standing in an airport trying to make airport Wi-Fi cooperate.

Trust me on that one.

My experience with Airalo (Morocco, England & Scotland)

Right, let me be fair to Airalo, because it deserves it: it worked.

I used it in Morocco, then again all around England and up in Scotland, and I had signal where I expected signal. Setup was fine, coverage was good. No complaints there.

My problem was never whether it worked, it was the data running out. 

The Airalo plans I used came with a fixed amount of data. And because of the way I travel, I’d chew through that allowance in no time.

That’s where it got stressful for me.

When my data ran out, I needed an internet connection to sort out more data. And the whole reason you need more data is usually that you’re out and about with no Wi-Fi in sight, right?

So I’d hit a wall. No data, no way to get myself back online there and then, standing on a street in Marrakech or somewhere in the Scottish Highlands, desperately hunting for a café with Wi-Fi.

Not exactly the relaxing holiday vibe, haha!

Important update: Airalo has changed quite a bit since I first used it. It now offers both fixed-data and unlimited packages, depending on the destination, and it’s rolling out a newer system that includes data-free access to the Airalo app so you can buy packages or contact support even when you don’t have mobile data.

So newer Airalo users may not run into the same problem I did.

Also, not every Airalo eSIM works exactly the same way when you need more data. Some eSIMs are rechargeable and can be topped up, while others require you to buy another package/eSIM.

P.S. Airalo tip: if you’re choosing a fixed-data package, I’d still buy a little more data than you think you’ll need. If your phone allows it, switch on a low-data warning too. It makes life much easier than suddenly discovering you’ve burned through your allowance halfway through the day.

Why I switched to Holafly (and used it in Morocco twice)

The switch really came down to one glorious thing: unlimited data.

With Holafly you pick your destination and how many days you need, and then you just… use it.

No allowance ticking down in the back of your mind. No constantly checking how many gigabytes you’ve got left. Bliss.

For the way I travel, that’s worth every extra penny.

I post constantly — Reels, TikToks, stories, big photo dumps — and uploading video over mobile data eats gigabytes for breakfast. With the fixed-data Airalo plans I used, I was always rationing myself. With Holafly I just film it, upload it and get on with actually enjoying the trip.

That mental freedom is the whole reason I keep buying it, honestly.

I’ve now used Holafly in Morocco twice, and coverage was solid both times. And I’m not going to lie. For a heavy-data content creator like me, “unlimited” isn’t just a marketing buzzword. It genuinely changes how I travel.

A few honest caveats, though, because I’m not here to sell you a fairytale:

• It can cost more than a small fixed-data plan. If you barely use your phone, paying for unlimited data might be unnecessary.
• “Unlimited” doesn’t necessarily mean unlimited full-speed data forever. Local network operators can apply fair-use policies, which may temporarily reduce speeds after particularly heavy usage. In real life it’s never caused me a problem, but it’s worth knowing.
• Hotspot/tethering allowances can vary by Holafly plan and destination. Airalo generally supports tethering too, including on its unlimited plans, although its own fair-use/data conditions can apply. If you’re planning to work from your laptop using your phone’s connection, check the exact plan before buying.

One Holafly setup lesson I learned the annoying way 

Okay, THIS caught me out good and proper. Although there’s an important update you need to know before I tell you what happened.

The first time I used Holafly, setup was a doddle.

The second time, I assumed I could just reuse the same eSIM. I swear I read it somewhere. So I bought another plan expecting it to simply load onto the Holafly eSIM already sitting in my phone.

At the time, that wasn’t how my Holafly setup worked.

I ended up with two Holafly eSIM profiles on my phone and genuinely couldn’t tell which one was the active, paid, working one. My phone kept stubbornly trying to use the old, expired profile, and my data just wouldn’t play ball.

Eventually, I figured it out and fixed it, but it was annoying couple of days. 

BUT — important October 2026 update: Holafly has now changed this.

Holafly introduced reusable eSIMs for new purchases from 30 September 2026. If you’ve bought a Holafly eSIM under the new system, you’re supposed to keep it installed. Future compatible Holafly plans can be added to that same eSIM instead of requiring you to install a completely new profile every time.

So please don’t automatically delete your current Holafly eSIM based on my old experience.

My problem happened with Holafly’s previous setup, and I’m leaving it here because it’s genuinely what happened to me, but the system has now changed.

If you’ve got an older Holafly eSIM from before the change, check Holafly’s current instructions for your specific eSIM/destination before removing or reinstalling anything.

And honestly? I’m very happy they’ve changed it. Having one reusable eSIM is much less confusing than staring at two identically named Holafly profiles wondering which one you’ve just paid for.

Pricing: which is cheaper, Holafly or Airalo?

This one’s slightly more complicated than simply saying one company is cheaper than the other.

Airalo’s fixed-data plans can often be cheaper than Holafly’s unlimited plans, particularly if you’re taking a short trip and don’t use much mobile data.

You choose the amount you need, so you’re not paying for unlimited data you’ll never use.

Holafly makes more sense to me when I know I’m going to use loads of data. You’re essentially paying extra for the convenience of not having to monitor an allowance.

Airalo now offers unlimited plans too, though, so it’s worth comparing the actual packages available for your destination rather than assuming Airalo = capped and Holafly = unlimited.

For me, the real question isn’t simply which one is cheaper?

It’s:

How much data are you actually going to use?

If you’re mainly checking Google Maps and WhatsApp a couple of times a day, a small fixed-data Airalo plan may be much better value.

If you’re uploading videos, constantly using maps, scrolling social media, video calling and generally treating mobile data like oxygen, unlimited data starts looking much more appealing.

Prices change all the time and vary loads by country, trip length and package, so definitely compare the live price for your destination before you buy — and don’t forget the discount codes up at the top to shave a bit off either one!

Coverage & speed

This bit’s refreshingly simple based on my own experience: both were good.

Across Morocco, England and Scotland I had a reliable connection on both providers wherever I’d reasonably expect one.

Neither left me high and dry on the coverage front. My Airalo frustration was always about using up my data allowance, never signal, and Holafly’s coverage in Morocco was strong on both trips.

Both companies offer eSIMs for 200+ destinations and connect you to partner mobile networks in the countries you’re visiting.

Actual coverage and speeds will obviously depend on the local network, your exact location, network congestion and the specific plan. Being in the middle of nowhere is still being in the middle of nowhere. An eSIM can’t magically build a phone mast next to you.

But for normal travel faff — maps, socials, messaging, video calls and uploading endless content — both were more than fine for me.

Customer support & refunds

Neither of these works quite like walking into your local mobile phone shop, so most support happens digitally.

In my experience you rarely need much help if your phone is compatible, unlocked and you’ve followed the installation instructions properly.

Both companies also have refund policies, but eligibility depends on the circumstances, so I wouldn’t assume you’re automatically covered if something goes wrong.

Holafly, for example, has refund provisions covering certain compatibility and connection issues, while Airalo also offers refunds for eligible purchases and problems.

Basically: check that your phone is compatible and unlocked before you buy, and read the current refund conditions if you’re worried about it.

It takes two minutes and could save you a headache later.

So, which eSIM should you pick?

Go for Holafly if you:

• Use loads of data (streaming or posting to Instagram and TikTok all day, every day)
• Are travelling for longer and can’t be bothered babysitting an allowance
• Value “never think about data again” over saving a few quid
• Want unlimited data as your default
• Know from experience that you absolutely inhale gigabytes when travelling

Go for Airalo if you:

• Are a lighter user (maps, messaging, a bit of browsing)
• Are off on a short trip
• Want the option of buying a smaller fixed-data package
• Don’t want to pay for unlimited data you probably won’t use
• Find an Airalo package that offers better value or network coverage for your specific destination

For me, the deciding factor was dead simple: I’d rather pay a little more and not worry about running out of data halfway through uploading something.

So Holafly is still my daily driver.

But Airalo is a genuinely good alternative, and now that it offers unlimited options too, the difference between the two isn’t quite as black and white as it used to be. Although from my research, I’ve noticed that Airalo unlimited packages are actually more expensive than Holafly.

Frequently asked questions