Finding reliable mobile data while travelling used to mean hunting for local SIM cards, dealing with language barriers, and wasting time at airport kiosks.
Today, most travellers simply download an eSIM before they leave.
Two of the biggest names in the travel eSIM space are Airalo and Holafly. Both promise easy setup, global coverage, and affordable data plans, but they take very different approaches.
If you’re trying to decide which is best for your next trip, here’s what we’ve learned from researching and using travel eSIMs while travelling through Latin America as a family.
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If you’re simply looking for the best travel eSIM, here’s our short answer:
🏆 Best value for money: Airalo
🏆 Best for unlimited data: Holafly
🏆 Best for long-term travel: Airalo
🏆 Best for heavy data users: Holafly
🏆 Our recommendation: Airalo for most travellers.
We generally prefer Airalo because it’s usually cheaper, offers more flexible plans, and works well for long-term travellers moving between countries. Holafly is worth considering if you know you’ll use a lot of data and don’t want to worry about limits.
Airalo vs Holafly at a Glance
| Feature | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Excellent | Good |
| Unlimited data | No | Yes |
| Country coverage | Excellent | Excellent |
| Regional plans | Excellent | Good |
| Long-term travel | Excellent | Good |
| Ease of setup | Excellent | Excellent |
| Family travel value | Excellent | Good |
What Is Airalo?
Airalo is one of the largest travel eSIM marketplaces in the world.
Instead of focusing on unlimited data, Airalo offers prepaid plans with specific data allowances.
For example, you might buy:
5GB for 30 days
10GB for 30 days
Regional South America plans
Global travel plans
The biggest advantage is flexibility.
If you’re travelling slowly through multiple countries, Airalo often works out significantly cheaper than buying unlimited plans everywhere you go.
What Is Holafly?
Holafly approaches things differently.
Its biggest selling point is unlimited data.
For many travellers, that’s incredibly appealing.
You don’t need to monitor usage, ration data, or worry about running out halfway through a trip.
For shorter holidays, particularly if you’re heavily reliant on Google Maps, social media, video calls, or streaming, Holafly can provide peace of mind.
The trade-off is usually price.
Unlimited convenience almost always comes at a premium.
Which eSIM Is Cheaper?
For most trips, Airalo wins.
If you’re comfortable knowing roughly how much data you’ll use, Airalo plans are often significantly cheaper than Holafly’s unlimited offerings.
This is particularly true for:
Long-term travellers
Backpackers
Families sharing accommodation WiFi
Slow travellers spending weeks or months abroad
Holafly’s pricing becomes more attractive when you’re travelling for shorter periods and expect to use large amounts of mobile data.
Also Read: Airalo Vs Nomad
Is Holafly Really Unlimited?
This is one of the most searched questions online.
Technically, yes.
However, travellers should always read the fair usage policy carefully.
Like most providers advertising unlimited data, speeds may be reduced after certain thresholds depending on the network partner and destination.
For most holidaymakers this isn’t a major issue.
For remote workers or people relying heavily on hotspot usage, it’s worth understanding the limitations before buying.
Which eSIM Is Better for Latin America?
This is where we’ve spent most of our recent travels.
In countries such as Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, we’ve generally found flexibility more important than unlimited data.
You’re often connected to accommodation WiFi, cafés, coworking spaces, and restaurants.
Because of that, paying extra for unlimited mobile data isn’t always necessary.
For families and long-term travellers, Airalo’s regional plans often make more sense financially.
Which eSIM Is Better for Families?
For family travel, we usually recommend Airalo.
Not because it’s necessarily better technology, but because it’s often better value.
Most families aren’t streaming Netflix on mobile data all day.
They’re using:
Maps
WhatsApp
Booking confirmations
Translation apps
Ride-share apps
For that type of usage, Airalo’s plans are usually more than sufficient.
The savings can then go towards activities, accommodation, or transport.
How Does a Travel eSIM Work?
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM card that allows you to activate mobile data without swapping physical SIM cards.
After purchasing a plan:
Install the eSIM.
Activate it.
Connect when you arrive.
The entire process usually takes only a few minutes.
This is one of the main reasons eSIMs have become so popular among international travellers.
Airalo vs Holafly: Our Verdict
Both Airalo and Holafly are reputable travel eSIM providers.
If your priority is unlimited data and simplicity, Holafly is a strong option.
If your priority is value, flexibility, and long-term travel, we’d choose Airalo.
For most family travellers, slow travellers, and people moving between multiple countries, Airalo offers the better balance of cost and convenience.
That’s why it’s the option we’d generally book first.
The best eSIM isn’t necessarily the one with the most data.
It’s the one that gives you reliable connectivity without paying for more than you actually need.
