What is Airalo?
Airalo is one of the most popular providers of digital eSIMs worldwide. The concept is simple: you choose a data plan for your destination country or region, activate it on your phone – and you’re online instantly. No need to hunt down a local SIM card, deal with airport kiosks, or pay outrageous roaming fees.
Our Experience with Airalo
We’ve used Airalo ourselves for several years while traveling through Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America. The setup was consistently easy: open the app, choose a plan, scan the QR code – and go. Connection quality was generally good to excellent, depending on the country. For short trips, backpackers, or digital nomads on the move, Airalo is incredibly convenient.
What About Network Quality?
Airalo uses local mobile networks – just like a regular SIM card. In urban and tourist areas, coverage is usually excellent. In rural regions or areas with weak infrastructure, you may experience occasional drops or slower speeds.
Some users report limited signal in remote areas, but that’s not Airalo’s fault – it depends on the local carrier your eSIM connects to.
Pro tip: Before purchasing, check which local provider Airalo uses in your destination country. You’ll find this info in the app, and it helps set realistic expectations.
How Much Does Airalo Cost?
Prices vary by country and data volume. Here are a few sample rates (as of June 2025):
- Thailand: 5 GB for $8, 10 GB for $15
- USA: 3 GB for $13, 10 GB for $37
- Europe Regional Plan (39 countries): 5 GB for $20, 10 GB for $36
- Brazil: 1 GB for $9, 5 GB for $22
Depending on your destination, a local SIM may be cheaper for long stays – but Airalo wins on speed and simplicity.
Who Is Airalo Best For?
Airalo is ideal if you:
- are abroad for a short period (vacation, business trip)
- travel across several countries
- want to avoid the hassle of local SIMs or roaming packages
The regional and global eSIMs are especially useful if you’re on a multi-country trip or round-the-world journey.
What About Pangia Pass?
For long-term travelers or digital nomads, Pangia Pass is an interesting alternative. It offers a global eSIM with a flat monthly fee or lifetime plan and a Fair-Use data limit (25 GB/month).
You can learn more in our detailed Pangia Pass review.
Which Option Fits Your Travel Style?
- Digital nomads on extended trips (e.g. 3 months in South America): Airalo offers regional eSIMs, but frequent country changes mean buying multiple plans. Pangia Pass may be more cost-effective and seamless.
- Expats in a fixed location (e.g. Bali, Chiang Mai): Airalo works well for the first days. For long stays, a local SIM with unlimited data and a VPN is usually the better option.
- Restricted countries (e.g. China, Turkey, Oman): Airalo generally works, but government censorship may block certain apps or websites. Pangia Pass, according to our tests, worked fine in China, Hong Kong, and the UAE. Still, be prepared to use a VPN where needed.
Conclusion
Airalo is a fantastic choice if you’re traveling for a few days or weeks, want instant mobile internet, and don’t want to deal with roaming or SIM card shops. The app is user-friendly, the pricing fair, and coverage global. Just be sure to check the local carrier for your destination, especially for remote regions.
If you’re a full-time traveler or digital nomad, consider exploring alternatives like Pangia Pass – and maybe keep Airalo as a backup.
Transparency Note: We’ve used Airalo extensively over the past years and paid for all our plans ourselves. This review is based on personal experience – not a sponsored post.