Long gone are the days when going abroad meant being incommunicado. And thanks to the rise of eSIMs, I no longer need to stockpile physical SIM cards from each country I visit in my wallet.
I can stay connected on the go without removing my physical SIM (meaning I still have a working UK phone number) – because it can now all be done electronically.
For the past few years, I have been using Airalo. However, I was getting increasingly frustrated with the slow network connections when arriving at new destinations and constantly running out of data when I needed it most.
So, I was lured in by Holafly’s unlimited data plans. I have since been using it in Mexico, whilst on the move, and as a hotspot in my apartment (when my WiFi decides to conk out on me). And I can now safely say that I am a Holafly convert.
In this extensive Holafly review, I’ll share my reasons for switching from Airalo, my experience setting up Holafly’s eSIM, the network coverage, internet speeds, and pricing, and go into detail about their different offerings, including their new rolling global eSIM.
TL;DR
Setting up my Holafly eSIM was super simple, and it connected to a local network within seconds, unlike my previous Airalo eSIM. Most of their destination plans offer unlimited data with flexible plan lengths, which means I never have to worry about it running out. The internet speeds can vary throughout the day, but it is always enough for me to use Google Maps, WhatsApp, and my hotspot for video calls. I am looking forward to using their global eSIM data plan, which is the perfect solution for country hopping!
Pros
- Unlimited data plans in 200+ destinations
- Easy setup options including QR code
- 4G/LTE/5G available in most areas
- Loyalty points scheme for discounts
- 15+ regional plans
Cons
- Pricey if you don’t want unlimited data
- Unlimited data is throttled
- Limited daily hotspot usage depending on location
What is Holafly?
Holafly is an eSIM card company selling digital SIMs for smartphones that allow you to stay connected during your travels abroad. They offer unlimited data plans in 200+ destinations worldwide with flexible options on the length of days and greater offers the longer you purchase your data.
Holafly is one of a few eSIM companies, but what sets them apart is that they offer unlimited data and global monthly plans that act similarly to your normal phone contract but with easy cancellation.
How does Holafly work?
Holafly works by adding an embedded (digital) SIM device into your phone, without the need for a physical SIM. You don’t need to remove your existing SIM card, but you should first check if your phone is compatible – here is an up-to-date list of compatible devices. Most modern smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and Google will be fine.
- Buy an eSIM for your destination: Go to Holafly’s website, select the country or region you’re travelling to, and choose a data plan. You can also purchase their global eSIM which is perfect if you plan on moving countries often.
- Receive your eSIM via email and/or WhatsApp: Once you purchase, Holafly will send you a QR code via the communication methods you provided when signing up.
- Install the eSIM: Upon scanning the QR code, you will be sent to your phone settings to continue uploading your eSIM. If this doesn’t work you will need to install it manually, but don’t worry, Holafly will provide easy instructions on how to do this.
- Start using mobile data: Your eSIM connects to local networks, letting you use data like a local SIM – without roaming charges or needing a physical SIM swap. Make sure to turn on data roaming for your Holafly SIM, and to select it as your primary SIM for internet data.
Why I switched from Airalo
Before discovering Holafly, I used the eSIMs from Airalo in both Asia and Latin America. However, I decided to switch to Holafly for the following reasons:
- The initial set-up of an Airalo eSIM in each destination was always clunky and it would struggle to connect to a network for the first 30 minutes.
- Airalo doesn’t offer many unlimited data plans which meant I was always having to top up my eSIMs.
- My Airalo eSIMs would only connect to a few specific networks in each destination, which meant I wasn’t able to switch networks automatically in areas with low service.
Holafly, on the other hand, offers unlimited data plans, a Global eSIM plan for country hopping, and network switching. So I decided to give them a go!
My experience with Holafly
Having used Holafly for a few months (and continuing to do so as I travel through Latin America), and comparing it back to back with my experience using Airalo, I can now share my honest experience with using their unlimited data plans. I will include details about device compatibility, the eSIM setup, network coverage, internet speeds, and pricing.
Device compatibility
I have an iPhone 15 Pro which is compatible with all eSIMs. In fact, most iPhones from the iPhone XR up are eSIM compatible, with a few exceptions (see here). Therefore setting up with Holafly was a breeze for me.
Device compatibility isn’t dependent on the company but rather on your phone. So, if your phone is set up for eSIMs then you will be able to use it across all eSIM companies. You will also need to make sure your phone is unlocked to be able to use eSIMs.
What I like about Holafly is their simple guide to device compatibility (follow the link below). Plus, they have a ‘Check compatibility’ tool on each eSIM page for you to easily find out about your exact device.
Ease of setting up
I found Holafly’s eSIM easy to set up on my phone. Not only do they provide thorough instructions on their website and in your purchase email, but they also send a QR code to your WhatsApp (which you will need to open on another device to scan).
By scanning the QR code on your mobile you will be sent directly to your mobile network settings where you follow the onscreen instructions to download the eSIM to your phone. It is super simple and the onscreen instructions guide you through with ease.
I managed to get it up and running within a matter of minutes. I did this before arriving at my destination and it began working straight away.
Whereas, with Airalo, I always had to go into the manual network selection for the eSIM and pick a specific network for it to work, often taking about 20-30 minutes to work.
Network coverage
So far, my network coverage with Holafly has been solid. Unlike Airalo, I can leave the network selection on automatic, so it changes over to other networks where necessary.
This means I often have LTE, as well as 4G and 5G in some areas. I am currently in Mexico City, which is surrounded by mountains, but still get pretty solid network coverage across the city.
Once I try out their global eSIM, I will provide more details on my network coverage from country to country.
Internet speeds
Overall, I have experienced decent enough internet speeds on their Mexico eSIM. For example, I can take video calls on my laptop when using the personal hotspot, and sometimes it is more reliable than the WiFi in my apartments when travelling.
I do find in some areas it can be a little slow at times, but ultimately, I have found it to be quicker than Airalo.
It is always enough to use WhatsApp, do video calls, send emails, and post on Instagram. At its fastest, it can stream videos on Netflix. But the unlimited data does get throttled each day, after a certain amount of usage. But I am unsure how much that is.
Data plans
What I love most about Holafly is just how flexible their data plans are. There is no need to choose from a selection of days and data, instead, you search for your destination (including most countries worldwide with regional plans available also) and pick the number of days you need unlimited data for.
Pricing
My first impression of Holafly was that it is more expensive than Airalo, but when I looked at how often I was topping up my Airalo eSIM, I realised I was spending a lot more each month than what I would by just buying unlimited data from Holafly.
If you also require more than a few gigs of data, then you’ll certainly save money with Holafly!
Moreover, if you are travelling long-term or permanently, like myself, you can save a lot of money buying eSIMs for 30 days+.
Here is an overview of their pricing:
Pricing for Destination eSIMs
The price is pretty consistent across all countries and regions. Some countries can be slightly more expensive so it is worth checking out their destinations here.
| Region | Data | 30 days | 60 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Unlimited | $74.90 ($2.50/day) | $106.90 ($1.78/day) |
| Mexico | Unlimited | $74.90 ($2.50/day) | $106.90 ($1.78/day) |
| Europe | Unlimited | $74.90 ($2.50/day) | $106.90 ($1.78/day) |
| UK | Unlimited | $74.90 ($2.50/day) | $106.90 ($1.78/day) |
| Asia | Unlimited | $74.90 ($2.50/day) | $106.90 ($1.78/day) |
| Kenya | Unlimited | $126.90 ($4.23/day) | Not available |
My Holafly review verdict
Overall, I am really happy that I switched to Holafly from Airalo. Most of all, I now have peace of mind that I am always going to have the data I need wherever I am – thanks to their unlimited data plans.
I love the flexibility of their offering, which means you can buy data for a short trip without paying for unnecessary extra days (like you do with Airalo). But you can also purchase for larger quantities of time and save yourself a fair bit of money.
Personally, the internet speeds and network coverage are perfect for what I need. I can use Google Maps on the go, send videos and images via Whatsapp, and take video calls on my laptop using my hotspot. There have been a few times where I have experienced slower speeds, but typically this has been in bad weather conditions and in more remote locations.
I am looking forward to testing out their global eSIM plan as I move around countries within Latin America – watch this space for updates!
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