Traveling can get hectic at times, so you really don’t want to worry about your internet connection in such chaotic circumstances. Fortunately, there is no need to purchase local SIMs to avoid dreaded roaming charges anymore — you can now take advantage of eSIM technology.
One of the biggest eSIM providers in the world at the moment is Holafly, and if you’re wondering if it’s the right choice for your next trip, you’ve come to the right place. To give you the full picture, we’ll evaluate just how good Holafly is by taking a close look at its features, pricing, and overall reliability. Most importantly, we’ll see how it stacks against main competitors.
Ready?
Website | esim.holafly.com |
Pricing | Starts at around $6 per day for local plans |
Platform compatibility | Android and iOS |
Supported mobile networks | 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE |
Phone calls | Yes |
Mobile hotspot support | Yes |
Key takeaways from testing Holafly eSIM
- Holafly’s eSIM offers unlimited data plans, making it a top choice for travelers who want to browse the web without the fear of running out of data.
- The service provides extensive coverage in over 200 destinations by partnering with local cellular providers.
- Holafly is praised for its excellent customer service 24/7 assistance and a favorable refund policy.
- Check out the best Holafly deals and discounts to stay connected on the go.
What is Holafly?
Holafly is an eSIM provider that connects travelers with unlimited prepaid data plans that don’t require physical SIM cards. As one of the pioneers in the eSIM industry and with a 4.6 rating on Trustpilot, Holafly is a trustworthy company you can consistently rely on when traveling.
Regardless of where you’re traveling to, there’s a high possibility that Holafly will provide coverage with its network consisting of over 200 destinations.
Why use an eSIM?
Simply put, eSIM is the most convenient way to connect to the internet when traveling. For starters, you’ll avoid the hassle of purchasing a physical SIM when you arrive at your destination country. In case your trip covers multiple countries, you can also buy a regional plan that covers several countries to ensure truly uninterrupted online access.
Since you can activate an eSIM remotely, you also get to connect to the internet as soon as you land — invaluable, especially if you rely on services like Google Maps.
If you care about your carbon footprint, you’ll also sleep easier by opting for an eSIM. Because it’s a purely digital solution, there’s no waste involved — perfect if you want to stay green.
Pros and cons of Holafly eSIM
Holafly stands out with its unlimited data plans, offering a liberating experience for travelers who don’t want to worry about running out of data. The download speeds are generally good, and the connection is reliable. However, occasional hiccups and dead zones can occur, especially in remote areas, as Holafly depends on local cellular carriers like most eSIM providers.
Holafly is also super easy to set up (it can be done in under five minutes), even for users who aren’t tech-savvy. This extends to the general ease of use. Holafly’s app is sleek and easy to navigate, as every action can be done with just a few swipes and taps.
Holafly is generally amazing, but we must mention a few negative things.
Let’s start with the fact that this service only offers unlimited plans. Yes, unlimited data is an advantage, but the fact that ALL plans are unlimited makes Holafly lose flexibility. In other words, users who don’t require too many gigabytes will find it hard to justify the noticeably higher price compared to some competitors.
Plus, while the plan you get is technically unlimited, it doesn’t spare you from data throttling. Unfortunately, the majority of local cellular providers keep users in check by throttling their speed when they hit a certain threshold. Since Holafly relies on these companies, you’ll eventually have to contend with a slower connection.
Another annoying limit you’ll have to deal with is the one on tethering or hotspots. Although you can share your data with other devices (or other users), the amount is limited to 1GB per day.
+ Pros
- 200+ destinations
- Unlimited data
- Flexible plan durations
- Easy to use
- Supports voice calls
- 24/7 customer support
– Cons
- Pricier than most competitors
- Possible data throttling
- Tethering data limits
- Unlimited data only
Holafly's eSIM plans and pricing
Holafly provides a multitude of data plans to cater to different needs. All plans are unlimited, but you can at least fully customize their duration — from as little as one day to as many as 90 days (or more in some regions).
Coverage by country and region
If your trip is limited to a single destination, a country plan will suffice. Thankfully, for those traveling across multiple countries (or the entire world), there are nifty regional plans that ensure uninterrupted coverage across borders and a global plan that includes all the destinations in the Holafly network.
Pricing
Just as with other eSIM providers, the prices of data plans will vary between regions and countries. As Holafly allows you to choose the exact duration of the plan, we’ll limit ourselves to covering the pricing for 5-day, 7-day, 15-day, 30-day, and 90-day plans only.
Since there are also too many regions and countries to choose from, we’ll keep it simple by covering two popular regions: North America and Europe. In addition to a breakdown of the rates for global plans, you’ll also see below the prices for two country plans: the United States and Turkey.
Here’s how much you can expect to pay for this service:
- Global plan
- 5 days – $37.90
- 7 days – $45.90
- 15 days – $97.90
- 30 days – $162.90
- 90 days – $353.90
- North American plan
- 5 days – $31.90
- 7 days – $39.90
- 15 days – $61.90
- 30 days – $98.90
- 90 days – $234.90
- European plan
- 5 days – $20.90
- 7 days – $29.90
- 15 days – $50.90
- 30 days – $74.90
- 90 days – $139.90
- United States
- 5 days – $20.90
- 7 days – $29.90
- 15 days – $50.90
- 30 days – $74.90
- 90 days – $139.90
- Turkey
- 5 days – $20.90
- 7 days – $29.90
- 15 days – $50.90
- 30 days – $74.90
- 90 days – $139.90
Device compatibility with Holafly eSIM
To use Holafly, your phone needs to support eSIM technology. Most new models have this capability, including iPhones (11 series and up), as well as newer Apple devices like iPads, and Samsung Galaxy (A50, S20 and up). Google Pixel users are not excluded either, since Google Pixel 3a and newer models all support eSIMs.
But what about less popular manufacturers?
No problem — newer phones from Xiaomi, Huawei, and Vivo also come with eSIM support.
To be on the safe side, either look for an eSIM option in your mobile data settings or google your exact model online. That way, you can avoid any unpleasant situations.
How to set up and activate Holafly's eSIM
After checking if your device is compatible, you can set up and activate Holafly’s eSIM. Whatever the level of your experience with technology is, this process is straightforward and takes less than five minutes. The instructions provided by Holafly are super simple and will effortlessly guide you through the process.
In short, you can purchase a plan directly in two ways: through the website or the app. After completing the checkout process (Holafly supports various credit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and PayPal), you’ll receive a QR code via email.
Open the QR code on another device and scan it with your camera or take a screenshot and use Google Lens.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the setup — that’s pretty much it!
User experience and performance
It’s no surprise Holafly is one of the most popular providers out there — the majority of users have had overwhelmingly positive experiences. Many user reviews mention impressive connections that can easily be used for streaming content, making video calls, and general social media usage.
Still, it’s important to stay realistic about the overall performance. As we mentioned previously, eSIM providers rely on local carriers, which means that you may experience download speed drops in remote areas or urban areas during busy hours.
Moreover, some local carriers may also throttle your connection speed if they determine you’re using too much data.
Customer support and service quality
When needed, Holafly delivers excellent customer support. The company offers 24/7 assistance in multiple languages, which you can reach through communication channels such as live chat, email, and even WhatsApp if you cherish convenience.
If you’re a DIY kind of person, you can also troubleshoot common issues by visiting the FAQ section of Holafly’s website.
Refund policy and guarantees
Holafly is pretty generous with its refund policy. If your trip is canceled or you change your mind about the service at any point, you can receive a full refund within six months of the purchase. Naturally, this applies if you haven’t activated or used the service.
But what if you activated your eSIM and used it for a while before realizing it’s not meeting your expectations?
In that case, you can receive a partial refund where the amount will depend on how much data you used. Either way, these guarantees are a testament to how much Holafly is committed to customer satisfaction.
Comparing Holafly with other eSIM providers
At first glance, eSIM providers seem similar, and while Holafly stands out as a top option, its edge could partly stem from its strong marketing and industry experience. That said, while Holafly exudes quality, it might not suit every traveler.
Let’s start with aloSIM, another eSIM provider that also supports traditional voice calls. The biggest advantage of Holafly is that it offers unlimited data. The only problem is that unlimited data is pricey in this situation. Say you need an eSIM in Europe for 30 days. With Holafly, you’ll have to part with $74.90.
It doesn’t seem much until you compare it with aloSIM, where you have more options for a tailored plan. Plus, a 30-day 10GB plan will run you just $37. This is enough for general browsing and you can also top up your eSIM with more data if you determine you’ll need more “gas”.
For most users, aloSIM is a much better deal, particularly for shorter trips — more info in our aloSIM review, if you're interested.
If you don’t require phone calls and can contend with a data-only eSIM, you have plenty of other affordable providers to choose from — Nomad being one of them.
Nomad is a data-only service aimed at budget-conscious travelers. A 20GB 30-day plan costs just $35, which is a lot cheaper than both Holafly and aloSIM. As a bonus, Nomad comes with exciting perks you can read all about in our dedicated Nomad review.
Next up is Airalo. It offers plenty of extra goodies, flexibility, and is only priced on average around $1 more than Nomad. If you want to see what this provider brings to the table, sift through our Airalo review.
You can also go with Saily, a new entrant into the eSIM game that’s already creating a massive buzz. A 30-day 10GB plan costs $35.99 — not as wallet-friendly as Nomad but much more cost-effective for short trips and more casual users than Holafly. Sounds good? Make sure to check out our comprehensive Saily review.
If getting data without busting the bank is your main priority, then Jetpac is your best bet. Much cheaper than Nomad and Holafly, you can purchase 20GB of data for just $22. In fact, it’s so cheap that a 40GB 30-day European plan is priced at $39.
Holafly is the better choice for demanding users with voice call support, unlimited data, and excellent customer service. Jetpac, while cheaper, often comes with inconsistent support — a trade-off for its low cost.
Summary — A reliable eSIM with unlimited data
Although Holafly is pricey and comes with a few drawbacks like limited tethering, it’s impossible to deny that it may be the most “serious” option on the eSIM market.
With a network consisting of over 200 locations, unlimited data plans, and excellent customer support, Holafly is a solid choice (if not the best) in case you plan on doing bandwidth-intensive tasks when traveling.
Its reputation alone (combined with the fact you’ll never run out of data) is enough to provide you with peace of mind, which is something that’s worth the extra few dollars when adventuring in a foreign place.
Holafly FAQ
How do I know if my phone is compatible with Holafly’s eSIM?
To make sure your phone is compatible with Holafly’s eSIM, google your exact model. Alternatively, you can check if you have the eSIM option in your phone’s mobile data settings.
Can I share my unlimited data plan with other devices?
While you can share your plan with others by firing up a hotspot, tethering data is capped at 500MB or 1GB per day, depending on your plan.
How quickly can I get connected after purchasing Holafly’s eSIM?
You can get connected almost immediately after purchasing Holafly’s eSIM by simply scanning the QR code you receive via email. It's that easy!
What if I have issues with my eSIM while traveling?
If you run into problems while traveling, reach out to Holafly's 24/7 responsive, knowledgeable, and multilingual customer support.
What is Holafly’s refund policy?
Holafly provides a full refund for unused products within 14 days of purchase, and you can also get a full refund within six months if the eSIM hasn't been activated.
This Holafly review was last updated on January 14, 2025.
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