Prices checked on Airalo's own website on 9 October 2026, in US dollars. Visitors in Europe see euro prices, which differ.
Airalo is the name most travelers meet first when they look up eSIMs. It sells plans for more than 200 countries and regions through one app, claims over 30 million users, and became the first eSIM company valued at more than a billion dollars after a funding round in July 2025. We went through its plans, prices and terms to see where it is good value and where the small print bites.
The short version: Airalo is a solid, easy choice with fair prices on fixed-data plans, top-ups on every plan we checked and a big Europe plan that includes the UK, Switzerland and Turkey. Its unlimited plans slow down after 3 to 5 GB a day, and a change of plans is refunded only as app credit.
What Airalo is
Airalo was founded in 2019. Its CEO and co-founder is Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir, and the company works remotely across many countries. You buy and manage everything in its app or on its website: pick a country, a regional plan or a global plan, install the eSIM, and it carries your mobile data while your usual SIM keeps your number.
Plans and prices
Airalo sells three kinds of plan: fixed data (a set number of GB for a set number of days), unlimited (3 to 30 days, slowed after a daily amount), and "+" plans that add calls and texts on some destinations.
| Destination | Fixed data | Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 5 GB, 30 days: $11.00 | 7 days $26.50, 30 days $69.00 |
| Europe (41 countries) | 10 GB, 30 days: $31.00 | 3 days $11.50 to 30 days $71.00 |
| Thailand | 5 GB, 30 days: $8.00 | 3 days $9.50 to 30 days $49.00 |
| United States | 5 GB, 30 days: $13.50 | 3 days $11.50 to 30 days $68.00 |
| Global (168 countries) | 1 GB, 7 days: $8.50 | 7 days $45.00, 30 days $159.00 |
The cheapest way in is usually a 1 GB, 3-day plan at around $4. Short fixed plans cost only a little less than 30-day ones of the same size (Japan 5 GB is $10.00 for 7 days and $11.00 for 30), so the longer validity is often worth it.
The unlimited plans have a daily speed limit
Airalo states the limit on each plan: on Japan and the global plan, speed drops to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day; on Europe, Thailand and the US, after 5 GB a day. 1 Mbps is enough for messages and maps, slow for video. Full speed comes back the next day.
Coverage
The Eurolink Europe plan covers 41 countries, and unlike many Europe plans it includes the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Turkey, plus Norway, Iceland, Ukraine, Georgia and most of the Balkans. Airalo notes restrictions for use in Turkey beyond 91 days. The Discover global plan covers 168 countries.
Airalo names its partner networks on country plans: SoftBank and KDDI in Japan, True and AIS in Thailand, T-Mobile and Verizon in the US, with 5G on all three.
Using it
- When the plan starts: on the plans we checked, the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in the destination, and you have a year from purchase to start it.
- Top-ups: every plan we checked can be topped up in the app, and you can switch on auto-renewal. You cannot extend a plan's validity on its own.
- Hotspot: allowed, where your phone and the network support it.
- Phone number: the country, Europe and global data plans are data only. Discover+ adds a US +1 number with minutes and texts (no voicemail or call forwarding), and the US Change+ plan adds minutes and texts with no outgoing international calls.
App, rewards and payment
The app is well reviewed: 4.6 on the App Store (102,000 ratings) and 4.6 on Google Play (189,000 reviews) when we checked. Purchases earn Airmoney, an in-app credit of 5 to 10% depending on how much you have spent; it can expire, and it cannot pay for auto-renewals. Airalo takes cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay (not in every country), and Alipay in the app. On Trustpilot it scores 4.1 from about 46,600 reviews.
Support and refunds
Support is by live chat, around the clock. The refund rules matter:
- You can withdraw within 14 days, but only until the eSIM is activated.
- If the service fails and Airalo cannot fix it within 10 days, you get a replacement or a refund of the unused portion, if you ask within 30 days of the problem.
- If you bought the wrong plan or your plans changed, the refund is Airmoney only, not money back to your card.
The catches
- Unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after 3 or 5 GB a day.
- The global unlimited plan is expensive at $159 for 30 days.
- Change-of-plans refunds come as app credit.
- Most plans are data only.
How it compares with our plans
eSIM Lounge sells fixed, daily and unlimited plans for the same destinations, all data only. A few comparisons, checked against our plans on 11 October 2026. The plan cards on each destination page show our current prices.
- Japan, a week: Airalo's 5 GB for 7 days is $10.00. Our Japan daily plan of 1.5 GB a day for 7 days (10.5 GB in total) cost a little more, for twice the data, and our 7-day unlimited plan cost less than Airalo's $26.50.
- Europe, a month: Airalo's 10 GB for 30 days is $31.00 across 41 countries. Our Europe plan of 1.5 GB a day for 30 days cost less, across 30 countries, including the UK and Switzerland but not Turkey or Norway.
- Thailand: Airalo's 5 GB for 30 days at $8.00 is hard to beat for light use. Our Thailand plans start with a single day, and our week of 1.5 GB a day cost a little less than that $8.00.
Which is better depends on how you use data: a daily allowance suits steady use every day, a fixed amount suits uneven use. See fixed, daily or unlimited.
Who Airalo suits
Airalo is a good pick if you want one well-known app for many trips, a Europe plan that includes Turkey or Norway, or a plan with calls and texts in the US. If you want unlimited data for a week or more, or money back rather than credit when plans change, compare before you buy. Other reviews: Holafly, Nomad and Saily.
FAQ
Is Airalo legit?
Yes. It is one of the largest travel eSIM sellers, founded in 2019, with high app store ratings and a large funding round in 2025.
Does Airalo have unlimited data?
Yes, for 3 to 30 days on many destinations. Speed drops to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day on some plans and after 5 GB a day on others.
Can I get a refund from Airalo?
Before activation you can withdraw within 14 days. After that, refunds cover service failures, and a change of plans is refunded in Airmoney credit only.
Does Airalo give you a phone number?
Not on its standard data plans. The Discover+ global plans include a US +1 number with minutes and texts.
Facts checked on Airalo's own pages on 9 October 2026. Prices and terms change, so check them before you buy.