Three names that come up again and again in the travel eSIM cosmos: Airalo (global, Singapore-based), Holafly (Spanish, unlimited specialist) and Simbye (younger, German focus). At first glance all three do the same thing — digital SIM cards for abroad. Under the hood there are clear differences in pricing, data limits, hotspot policy and support quality. Here's the decision aid, without the marketing filter.
Key data at a glance
| Feature | Airalo | Holafly | Simbye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 (Singapore) | 2018 (Spain) | 2022 (UK) |
| Country coverage | 200+ individually + regional | 170+ individually + unlimited | 80+ countries, strong in EU/Asia |
| Price example Thailand 5 GB / 15 days | approx. €8.50 | from €36 (7 days unlimited) | approx. €7.49 |
| Price example USA 10 GB / 30 days | approx. €22 | from €47 (15 days unlimited) | approx. €19.99 |
| Unlimited available | No (always data-capped) | Yes, with fair-use throttling | No |
| Hotspot / tethering | Yes, no extra limit | Yes, but usually 500 MB/day limit | Yes, no extra limit |
| Top-up on running eSIM | Yes, via app (seamless) | On capped plans yes; unlimited needs new plan | Yes, via app or account area |
| Own phone number | No (data-only eSIM) | On selected plans | No |
| Native app |  iOS 4.61 ★ ·  Android 4.35 ★ | iOS 4.66 ★ · Android 4.57 ★ | iOS 4.56 ★ · Android (new, 10.000+ installs) |
| Support languages | DE, EN + 8 others | DE, EN, ES | DE, EN |
| Support channel | In-app chat, email | 24/7 chat (AI + human) | Email + social media |
| Billing currency | USD (EUR converted) | EUR direct | EUR direct |
| Payment options | Credit card, PayPal, Apple/Google Pay | Credit card, PayPal, SEPA | Credit card, PayPal, SEPA, Klarna |
| German invoice (VAT) | USD only, VAT not itemised | Yes, with German VAT | Yes, with German VAT |
Airalo
- iOS
- Android
Holafly
- iOS
- Android
Simbye
- iOS
- Android
- not enough ratings yet
Airalo: broadest coverage, mature app
Airalo is probably the best-known face of the travel eSIM world — founded in 2019 in Singapore, now with over 20 million activated eSIMs and a country portfolio that covers even the most exotic destinations (Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Tuvalu). The Airalo app is the UX flagship of the industry: clean, live usage display, top-up with one click. Once you've managed eSIMs with it, you notice that other providers still have catching up to do.
Pros
- Over 200 countries individually + regional packs (Asia-30, Europe-39, Global-124)
- Most mature mobile app in the industry (iOS 4.7 ★ · Android 4.6 ★, 10M+ downloads)
- App in 53 languages, German support
- Top-up without a new eSIM — runs on the same profile ID
- Hotspot without extra limit, shares the data pool
- Support in 10+ languages, 24/7 in-app chat
- Transparent data caps (no hidden throttling)
- Prices often cheaper than local airport SIMs
Cons
- Prices in USD — with weak EUR exchange rate more expensive than advertised
- German VAT not itemised separately (problematic for business travellers)
- No genuine unlimited — heavy use needs multiple top-ups
- Niche countries sometimes have only 1–2 plan options, little choice
- No own phone number — data-only eSIM (calls only via WhatsApp/etc.)
Holafly: surf without limit, but with a catch
Holafly has built a reputation as the unlimited provider in the travel eSIM market. Few others advertise "unlimited data" so prominently. The catch hides in the small print: depending on destination there are fair-use rules that reduce speed after a daily threshold. For moderate users no problem; for power users (HD streaming, hotspot operation) it can be sobering.
Pros
- Genuine unlimited plans without data cap (e.g. Japan, South Korea, USA)
- Very good network partners — stable 4G/5G coverage in most countries
- Native app (iOS + Android, around 4.5 ★) with built-in 24/7 chat support
- Generous refund policy (Trustpilot score solid)
- German VAT invoice for business travellers
- Plans by travel days (1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90) — very flexible
- Bookable directly in German, no exchange-rate surprises
Cons
- In many countries fair-use throttling after 500 MB–1 GB per day
- Hotspot often throttled separately to 500 MB/day
- No top-up on unlimited plans (plan expires = new plan with new QR)
- Significantly more expensive than the competition for short trips (7 days unlimited Japan ~€27)
- Critical reviews of the AI chat support (escalation to a human sometimes tedious)
- Some countries have hidden daily-rollover mechanics (credit expires)
Simbye: cheap and transparent — but smaller
Simbye is the youngest of the three names, but with a clear focus: fair prices for standard destinations (EU, Turkey, Southeast Asia, USA), transparent data caps without "unlimited" tricks, German invoice with VAT. The selection is smaller than Airalo's, but direct provider deals often win on price. Since 2024 also with its own mobile app (iOS + Android, 100,000+ downloads, website rating 4.9 ★) — one-tap installation without QR scan, top-up directly in the app.
Pros
- Usually the cheapest price per GB at standard destinations (EU, Asia, USA)
- Fully German-language interface, German VAT invoice
- Native app since 2024 (iOS + Android, 4.9 ★, one-tap install without QR)
- Transparent data caps — no hidden throttling
- SEPA + Klarna available (more convenient for German customers)
- Hotspot without extra limit, counts from main pool
- Fast delivery — QR code by email within minutes
- Top-up via app or web shop possible
- 5 % cashback on every order via the app
Cons
- Only ~190 countries — niche destinations (Central Asia, Africa) sometimes not represented
- No unlimited plans — for heavy use either many top-ups or a different provider
- Younger company — smaller support, occasionally longer response times
- No regional packs for niche regions (only EU/Asia/Americas basics)
Which provider for which trip?
| Trip type | Top recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 weeks Thailand/Bali/Mallorca, moderate use | Simbye | Best € per GB, German invoice, no fair-use surprises. |
| Multiple countries in Southeast Asia (backpacker) | Airalo Asialink | Regional pack covers 20+ countries with one eSIM, no SIM swaps needed. |
| Digital nomad / daily HD streaming | Holafly Unlimited | Genuine unlimited (country-dependent). 30-day plans ~€47-70. |
| Short USA trip (7 days) | Simbye or Airalo | 5–10 GB are plenty. Simbye cheaper, Airalo more app-comfortable. |
| Niche destination (Uzbekistan, Namibia, Madagascar) | Airalo | Only one of the three reliably available there. |
| China trip without VPN hassle | Simbye or Airalo | Roaming routing bypasses the Great Firewall. Both work. Holafly China pack also, but more expensive. |
| Family, one eSIM for all (hotspot) | Simbye or Airalo | Hotspot without extra limit. Holafly hotspot usually throttled to 500 MB/day. |
| EU holiday | None — use your home SIM | EU roaming regulation: home SIM usable without surcharge. Travel eSIM only sensible if your plan includes less than 1 GB. |
Common limits of all three
None of the three providers is perfect. Here are the weaknesses they all share — and how to work around them:
1. No own home phone number: you keep your main SIM for calls/SMS, the travel eSIM only handles data. WhatsApp, Signal, FaceTime work over data without issue. If you need a local phone number (local business contacts, restaurant reservations), additionally buy a physical prepaid SIM at the destination or use services like Skype, Google Voice or a virtual number.
2. No support in the destination country if there's no network: with network problems at the destination and no internet you can't reach chat support. Solution: note support contact info before departure, secure offline access to the order confirmation.
3. No guarantee of a specific network: all three use "best available network" routing. If at your specific hotel one network is weak, you can't switch to another. In problem regions (remote islands, mountain areas) it's sometimes worth additionally getting a local prepaid SIM on site.
Common questions about the comparison
Which provider is the cheapest overall?
Depends on how much data you need. Simbye is almost always cheapest for small packs (3–5 GB) in Europe and Southeast Asia — partly thanks to partner discounts and direct provider deals. Airalo is often unrivalled for niche countries (Central Asia, Africa) because it has the broadest country portfolio. Holafly only pays off for genuine heavy use (daily HD streaming, lots of video calls) — but then significantly.
Is Holafly really 'unlimited'?
Sort of. Holafly markets many plans as unlimited but has fair-use limits: depending on destination, speed gets reduced after a daily threshold (often 500 MB–1 GB). In practice that's still enough for messaging and maps but no more Netflix. Country-by-country details in our fair-use guide. Genuine unlimited plans without throttling do exist (Asia packs), but not everywhere.
Which provider allows hotspot / tethering?
Airalo and Simbye: hotspot is allowed on virtually all plans — no separate limit, runs from the same data pool. Holafly: on unlimited plans hotspot is often throttled to 500 MB per day, even when the main allowance is unlimited. That's one of the bigger surprises with Holafly — if you want to keep your laptop online via tethering, Airalo or Simbye are the better pick.
Can I top up data (top-up)?
Airalo: yes, top-up packs directly in the app. The same eSIM stays, no new QR code needed. Simbye: yes, via the account in the shop. Holafly: unlimited plans don't need a top-up (unlimited data, but limited days); on data-capped plans yes, but more expensive than alternatives. Rule of thumb: a top-up is usually 20–30 % more expensive than buying a larger pack right away.
Where is app quality the best?
All three now have native apps for iOS and Android. Airalo has the most mature one (iOS 4.7 ★, Android 4.6 ★, 10+ million downloads) — all the features, live usage display, seamless top-up. Holafly has built-in 24/7 chat support directly in the app and Trustpilot reviews around 4.5 ★. Simbye launched its own app in 2024 (iOS + Android, 4.9 ★ per the website, 100,000+ downloads): one-tap installation without a QR scan, top-up directly in the app, 5 % cashback on orders. For tech-savvy users the web shop is still enough; app users now have a real option too.
Which provider works in China without a VPN?
All three — that's one of the main advantages of travel eSIMs in China. Because the eSIM data is routed via the foreign home provider (e.g. a Hong Kong or Malaysia base), you automatically bypass the Great Firewall. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram & co. work. Caveat: only with roaming eSIMs, not local Chinese SIMs. Details: eSIM in China.
Are there provider-specific pros/cons for families or couples?
Yes. Families benefit from the hotspot setup — one eSIM for all devices. For that: Simbye or Airalo with a large data volume (20+ GB). Holafly is worse here due to hotspot throttling. Couples with different usage profiles often do better with two separate eSIMs than with one shared — because each can use their preferred services without compromise.
What happens if my plan expires during the trip?
The eSIM stops the data connection. Nothing is automatically renewed (no subscription trap!). Top-up: with Airalo and Simbye you can buy a top-up via app/shop and the eSIM reactivates within minutes. With Holafly you have to book a new plan — there's no top-up system like Airalo's.
Which provider does the esim-urlaub.de team recommend for themselves?
Honestly: for EU trips you don't need a travel eSIM at all — your home SIM works without surcharge thanks to EU roaming. For shorter Asia trips (1–2 weeks, moderate use) we reach for Simbye. For round-the-world trips with changing destinations, Airalo (broadest coverage). For permanent streamers abroad, Holafly. No provider is universally the best — it depends on the trip type.
