The five eSIM providers worth using
Dozens of apps sell travel eSIMs; most resell identical wholesale data with a different logo. These five have real track records, and real weaknesses, which we list too, because that's the part other comparison sites skip.
| Provider | Countries | Unlimited plans | Refund policy | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 200+ | No | Refund if eSIM never activated | Visit Airalo |
| Saily | 190+ | Yes | 30-day refund if unused | Visit Saily |
| Holafly | 170+ | Yes | Refund before activation | Visit Holafly |
| Nomad | 165+ | No | Case-by-case, contact support | Visit Nomad |
| aloSIM | 130+ | No | Refund if not installed | Visit aloSIM |
Airalo
The biggest name in travel eSIMs. Rarely the absolute cheapest, but plans exist for almost every country on earth and the app just works.
Where it shines
- 200+ countries, one app for every trip
- Regional plans (Europe, Asia) cover multi-country trips cheaply
- Frequent discount codes for new users
Where it doesn't
- Top-ups sometimes cost more than the original plan
- Customer support is slow at peak travel season
Saily
Built by the NordVPN team. Newer than Airalo but consistently undercuts it on price in Asia and Europe, with a cleaner app.
Where it shines
- Often 10-20% cheaper than Airalo for the same data
- Virtual location and ad-blocker features included free
- 24/7 live chat that actually responds
Where it doesn't
- Fewer plan sizes per country than Airalo
- No regional multi-country plans yet in some areas
Holafly
The unlimited-data specialist. Costs more per day, but you never watch a data meter, good for heavy users and long trips.
Where it shines
- Truly unlimited data in 170+ destinations
- Fixed daily pricing, easy to budget
- Strong for cruise + multi-country itineraries
Where it doesn't
- Hotspot/tethering capped or blocked on many plans
- Expensive for light users, you pay for data you may not need
Nomad
Aggressive pricing and frequent flash sales. Worth checking right before you buy, their promo prices often beat everyone.
Where it shines
- Flash sales can hit 50% off
- Clean data-remaining widget on iOS
- Good mid-size plans (5-15GB) most travelers actually need
Where it doesn't
- Coverage list is shorter than Airalo
- App is less polished on Android
aloSIM
Canadian underdog with fair prices and a pay-what-you-use top-up model. Their data often rides the same networks as pricier rivals.
Where it shines
- Competitive small plans for short trips
- Data never expires on some packages
- Responsive human support
Where it doesn't
- Smaller country list
- Fewer large-data options for heavy users
Head-to-head matchups
Ready to pick a plan? Start from your destination page , prices differ per country, and the cheapest provider changes with the map.