Last updated: 11 October 2026
Airalo is the travel eSIM most people try first, and it is a solid choice: plans for 200+ destinations, top-ups in the app, and fair prices on fixed data (see our Airalo review). But it is not the cheapest everywhere, its unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3 or 5 GB a day, and a change of plans is refunded in app credit, not money. If one of those matters to you, one of these six alternatives may suit you better.
The short answer:
- Holafly if you want unlimited data with no published daily cap and one price per day, and you do not need to top up.
- Nomad if you want the lowest price for a fixed amount of data and can live with 2 GB a day at full speed on unlimited plans.
- Saily if you want 5 GB a day at full speed on unlimited plans, plus ad blocking and web protection in the app.
- Ubigi if you also want data on a tablet or a Windows laptop, or a monthly plan that renews.
- Roamless if you want one eSIM for every trip and to pay only for the data you use, from a balance.
- eSIM Lounge (that is us) if you want daily or unlimited plans with the full-speed allowance stated up front, a person answering support, and member discounts that grow with every trip.
Every price below is in US dollars, for Japan, as of 11 October 2026. Where a provider's own site would not show US dollar prices to us, we took the price from esimDB and say so.
Airalo alternatives compared
| Model | Coverage | Unlimited? | Full speed on unlimited, then | Top-ups | Refunds | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo (for reference) | Fixed data and unlimited, some plans with calls and texts | 200+ destinations | Yes | 3 or 5 GB a day, then 1 Mbps | Yes, in the app | 14 days until activated; change of plans in Airmoney credit | A known name for many trips |
| Holafly | Unlimited by the day, plus monthly subscriptions | About 200 destinations | Yes, trip plans are unlimited only | No published daily threshold; operators may slow you for up to a day. Hotspot capped at 1 GB a day | No | Up to 6 months to ask; unactivated eSIMs in full, otherwise partial minus $3.50 | Heavy users who never want to count |
| Nomad | Fixed data and unlimited | 200+ destinations | Yes | 2 GB a day on most plans, then a slower speed | Add-ons once active | 30 days; uninstalled plans may be refunded; unlimited plans not refundable | Low prices on fixed data |
| Saily | Fixed data, unlimited, shared plans | Country and regional plans; global plan covers 121 countries | Yes | 5 GB a day, then up to 1 Mbps | Yes, in the app | Full refund within 30 days if not installed or activated | Privacy extras and heavy daily use |
| Ubigi | Fixed data, unlimited, monthly plans | Local, regional and world plans | Yes | 5 GB a day, then 2 Mbps (Japan 8-day plan, per esimDB) | Yes, in the app | Only if no data used; account recharges within 14 business days | Tablets, laptops and monthly plans |
| Roamless | Pay as you go balance, fixed data, unlimited | 200+ destinations on one eSIM | Yes | 3 GB a day, then 1 Mbps (Japan) | Yes, a balance with auto top-up | Its terms say all transactions are final unless the terms or the law say otherwise | Frequent travelers who hate buying a new eSIM each trip |
| eSIM Lounge | Daily, fixed and unlimited data | Country plans, plus Europe, Asia Pacific and two global bundles (the largest covers more than 160 countries) | Yes | 5 GB a day, then a reduced speed until the next day | Not yet: buy a second plan | Full refund if we cannot issue it or it fails because of us; no refund for a change of plans once issued | Steady daily use, clear limits, human support |
We left app store ratings out of the table: they change daily, and we only quote what we have checked ourselves. Our reviews give each rating with the date we read it.
Holafly: unlimited data with no daily threshold
What it is: a brand from Spain, now selling through an Irish company, that built its name on unlimited data sold by the day. Trip plans are unlimited only, and there are monthly subscriptions for frequent travelers.
Why pick it over Airalo: Holafly does not publish a daily amount after which it slows you down. Its terms say network operators may apply a fair-use policy for no more than one day at a time. Its refund window is long: you have up to 6 months to ask, and an eSIM you have not activated is refunded in full. Support runs 24/7 by WhatsApp, email and chat.
The catch: it costs the same whether you use 2 GB or 20, hotspot sharing is capped at 1 GB a day, and there are no top-ups: more days means a new eSIM.
Example price, Japan: unlimited for 7 days, $27.50, as of 11 October 2026 on Holafly's Japan page. Airalo's 7-day unlimited plan for Japan was $26.50 on the same day (per esimDB), with full speed for 3 GB a day.
More: Holafly review and Airalo vs Holafly.
Nomad: lower prices on fixed data
What it is: a price-focused eSIM store run by LotusFlare, a software company in California, with fixed-data and unlimited plans for 200+ destinations.
Why pick it over Airalo: on fixed data it is usually a little cheaper. When we compared eight fixed plans in Japan, the US, Mexico and Europe on 10 October, Nomad was cheaper on all eight (see Nomad vs Airalo). Its refund window is 30 days from purchase, and an uninstalled plan may be refunded to your card.
The catch: unlimited plans give 2 GB a day at full speed on most plans, less than Airalo, and unlimited plans cannot be refunded. Support is by chat only, with no hours stated, and unused plans activate themselves on the 60th day after purchase.
Example price, Japan: 5 GB for 30 days, $10, against Airalo's $11.00, and unlimited for 7 days, $25, as of 11 October 2026 (Nomad per esimDB, Airalo on its own site).
More: Nomad review.
Saily: more full-speed data on unlimited, plus privacy tools
What it is: the travel eSIM from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, launched in 2024.
Why pick it over Airalo: its unlimited plans keep full speed for 5 GB a day before slowing to up to 1 Mbps, more than Airalo gives in Japan. The app includes an ad blocker, web protection and a virtual location. You can share some plans with up to four travel companions, and an eSIM you have not installed or activated is refunded in full within 30 days.
The catch: you must install and activate a plan within 30 days of purchase, Europe and US fixed plans cost more than some rivals, and the global plan covers 121 countries.
Example price, Japan: 5 GB for 30 days, $10.99, and unlimited for 7 days, $28.99, as of 11 October 2026 (per esimDB; Saily's own site blocked our check).
More: Saily review and Saily vs Airalo.
Ubigi: for tablets, laptops and monthly plans
What it is: a brand of Transatel, part of the NTT group. Besides phones, Ubigi gives setup guides for iPads and Windows 11 laptops, and its eSIM is built into some connected cars.
Why pick it over Airalo: if you work from a tablet or a laptop with an eSIM slot, Ubigi is built for it. It sells monthly plans that renew, and its Japan unlimited plans keep full speed longer: 5 GB a day on the 8-day plan, and 60 GB a month on the monthly unlimited plan, then 2 Mbps rather than 1 Mbps.
The catch: monthly plans can be cancelled only after three months, according to Ubigi's Japan plan page. Refunds are narrow: an eSIM bought on its website is refunded only if none of its data was used, and a recharge in your account must be claimed within 14 business days with the receipt (Ubigi refund help).
Example price, Japan: 10 GB for 30 days, $16.50, and unlimited for 8 days, $25, as of 11 October 2026 (per esimDB).
Roamless: one eSIM and a pay as you go balance
What it is: a global eSIM app with one "Single Global eSIM" for 200+ destinations. You top up a balance of Roamless Credits and spend it on data, calls and texts, or buy fixed or unlimited plans.
Why pick it over Airalo: you install it once and keep it for every trip. On Pay as You Go you pay only for the data you use, and leftover credit carries to the next trip. New users get their first 500 MB free, and the Japan page lists hotspot as unlimited. Roamless also sells phone numbers for calls and texts.
The catch: its terms say all transactions are final unless the terms or the law say otherwise, and that credits left inactive for 12 months can be cancelled, even though its marketing says credits never expire. Pay as You Go costs more per GB than a plan if you use a lot.
Example price, Japan: 5 GB for 30 days, $9.95; unlimited for 7 days, $23.52, with 3 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps; Pay as You Go, $2.45 per GB. All as of 11 October 2026 on Roamless's Japan page (the Pay as You Go rate also per esimDB).
eSIM Lounge: daily plans, stated limits and a person in the chat
What it is: this site. We compare travel eSIMs and sell our own: country plans, plus bundles for Europe, Asia Pacific and two global plans, the largest covering more than 160 countries. Every plan is data only; you keep your number for calls and texts.
Why pick us over Airalo:
- Daily plans as well as fixed and unlimited ones: a fresh allowance every 24 hours, which suits steady use. See fixed, daily or unlimited.
- Unlimited with the limit stated: full speed for the first 5 GB each day, more than Airalo's 3 GB in Japan. Each plan states its fair-use rule before you pay.
- A person answers, in the chat or at support@esimlounge.com, every day from 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours (how we look after you).
- Refunds in money, not credit, when the problem is ours: if we cannot issue your eSIM, or it does not connect because of us and we cannot fix or replace it, we refund you in full to your card (refund policy).
- Status that pays back: your first eSIM makes you an Explorer. Silver (2 trips or $50 in 12 months) takes 5% off every plan, Gold (4 trips or $100) 10% plus a free day pass each year, and Platinum (7 trips or $175) 15% plus a free day pass with every trip.
Where others beat us:
- A small fixed allowance: in Japan we sell daily allowances and larger fixed plans, not a 5 GB monthly plan. If 5 GB covers your trip, Roamless, Nomad and Airalo had the cheapest such plans we found on 11 October 2026.
- Long unlimited plans: our unlimited plans stop at 15 days in Japan and 7 days in Mexico. For longer, look at Holafly, Saily or Airalo.
- Price in some places: in our Mexico comparison, checked on 10 October 2026, Nomad's and Airalo's week of unlimited cost a little less than ours. Ours keeps full speed for longer each day.
- Top-ups and an app store app: you cannot top up yet (buy a second plan instead), and there is no app store app: your eSIMs live in My trips, which you can add to your home screen.
- Calls, texts and a number: Airalo's "+" plans, Holafly's subscription and Roamless sell them; we do not.
- Changing your mind: once your eSIM is issued we do not refund a change of plans. Holafly and Saily refund an eSIM you have not activated or installed, and Nomad may.
- Round-the-clock help: Airalo, Saily and Holafly offer chat around the clock; ours runs 16 hours a day.
Example, Japan: see the plan cards on our Japan page for current prices. As of 11 October 2026, our 7-day unlimited plan for Japan cost less than every 7-day unlimited plan quoted above.
How to choose
- You use about the same amount every day: a daily plan (ours) or an unlimited plan with a generous daily cap (Saily, Ubigi, ours).
- You know your total, and it is small: a fixed plan from Roamless, Nomad or Airalo is usually cheapest.
- You stream, work remotely or share a hotspot: look at the full-speed amount per day, not the word "unlimited". Holafly publishes no daily cap but limits hotspot to 1 GB a day.
- You travel often: Roamless keeps one eSIM and one balance; our status tiers lower the price of every plan as you travel more.
- You want a tablet or laptop connected: Ubigi.
- Your plans might change: buy from a provider that refunds an eSIM you have not installed (Holafly, Saily, and Nomad case by case), and install it only when your trip is certain.
- Your trip crosses several regions: a global plan saves installing a new eSIM in each country. Check the country list first. Our guide to global vs regional eSIM plans compares them.
For one country, see our comparisons for Korea and Egypt.
FAQ
What is better than Airalo?
It depends on how you use data. Nomad and Roamless are often cheaper for a fixed amount of data. Saily and Ubigi keep full speed for 5 GB a day on unlimited plans, against 3 GB on Airalo's Japan plans. Holafly publishes no daily cap. eSIM Lounge adds daily plans, a stated 5 GB a day at full speed on unlimited, and human support from 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time.
Is there a cheaper eSIM than Airalo?
Often, yes. As of 11 October 2026, 5 GB for 30 days in Japan cost $9.95 at Roamless and $10 at Nomad, against $11.00 at Airalo. A week of unlimited data in Japan cost $23.52 at Roamless and $25 at Nomad, against $26.50 at Airalo. Prices differ by country, so compare for your destination.
Is Holafly better than Airalo?
For heavy users who never want to count, it can be: Holafly publishes no daily speed threshold and has a 6-month refund window. Airalo is better if you want top-ups, a fixed amount of data for less money, or to share more than 1 GB a day from your hotspot. See Airalo vs Holafly.
What is the best Airalo alternative for unlimited data?
Look at how much you get at full speed each day. Saily, Ubigi's Japan 8-day plan and eSIM Lounge give 5 GB a day, Roamless and Airalo 3 GB in Japan, and Nomad 2 GB on most plans. Holafly states no daily threshold but caps hotspot use at 1 GB a day.
Can I switch from Airalo to another eSIM mid-trip?
Yes. Phones can hold several eSIMs. Buy the new plan, install it while you still have Wi-Fi or Airalo data, then choose the new eSIM for mobile data and turn data roaming on for it. Keep the Airalo eSIM installed until the new one works. If you leave an activated Airalo plan because your plans changed, Airalo's refund comes as Airmoney credit, not money.
Facts checked on 11 October 2026 against each provider's own pages (airalo.com, esim.holafly.com, roamless.com, ubigi.com and cellulardata.ubigi.com) and, where a site would not show US dollar prices to us (Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, and Airalo's 7-day unlimited plan), against esimDB. Our own facts come from esimlounge.com/support, /refund-policy and the home page. Prices and terms change, so check them before you buy.