RoamMore vs Airalo vs Holafly: an honest comparison

RoamMore wrote this page, so read it with that in mind. We are a small New Zealand company run from Auckland, and Airalo and Holafly are much bigger brands than we are. To keep the comparison fair, everything we say about them comes from their own websites, read on 18 September 2026, and every rival price links to the page it came from. Where one of them is the better choice, we say so plainly. If anything here is wrong or out of date, email [email protected] and we will fix it.

The three side by side

Holafly sells no 10GB plan for these places, so its column shows the nearest thing it does sell, unlimited data for 30 days. That is a different product, not a like for like price.

The Europe row is not like for like either. Airalo's Europe plan covers 41 countries. On 18 September 2026 our cheapest 10GB Europe plan covered fewer and left out France and Turkey, and our widest Europe plans cost more than Airalo's. Check the country list on the Europe page before you buy.

A few of our small trial plans start on install and say so, as do some Airalo packages. Holafly's monthly subscriptions start on purchase, and the Unlimited one lists unlimited hotspot.

Airalo asks you to claim a refund within 30 days of the problem. Holafly also refunds in full for an incompatible or locked phone, and in full or in part for connection problems reported to support. Other cases may carry an administrative fee of US$3.50.

When Airalo is the better choice

Choose Airalo if you want help at any hour. It offers live chat around the clock, on its website and in its app, in several languages. Its app can also install the eSIM directly, with no QR code to scan. We reply in New Zealand hours, so overnight in Auckland Airalo's chat is open and we are asleep.

Airalo sells in New Zealand dollars, one of 16 currencies it supports, and takes PayPal, Google Pay and, where available, Apple Pay. We charge in US dollars only, so your bank does the conversion.

If you need calls and texts, Airalo has packages that include them in some countries. In the United States, 10GB with 100 minutes and 100 texts for 30 days is US$30. Airalo also says its Discover+ global eSIM comes with a United States phone number. We sell data only.

For a month of heavy use, Airalo's unlimited packages are better value than ours. Japan for 30 days is US$69, with 3GB a day at full speed and no tethering limit. Endless at the same 3GB a day costs US$166.40. If 1GB a day covers you, Endless is US$55.40 for the month, so compare allowance to allowance, not the word unlimited.

When Holafly is the better choice

Choose Holafly if you do not want to count gigabytes. Almost all of its plans are unlimited data for the number of days you pick, from 1 to 90 on most destinations. A week in Japan is US$27.50 and 15 days is US$50.50. Holafly gives no daily figure after which you slow down. It says the local network may reduce speed after heavy use, for no more than a day. Our daily plans slow down after a set amount each day.

Holafly also gives you the longest time to change your mind: up to six months to ask, with a full refund if the eSIM has not been activated. Ours is 30 days.

Like us, Holafly needs no app. A QR code and a manual code arrive by email. Holafly also answers at any hour, by live chat, WhatsApp and email.

For a month of heavy use Holafly also costs less than ours. Japan for 30 days is US$73.90, against US$106.40 for Endless at 2GB a day. At 1GB a day Endless costs less, US$55.40, but Holafly gives no daily amount to compare it with.

When RoamMore is the better choice

Choose RoamMore if you know how much data you need and want to pay for just that. On 18 September 2026 our list price for 10GB and 30 days was lower than Airalo's in the four countries in the table, and Holafly sold no such plan. Prices move, so check the table.

No app is needed: the eSIM installs from a QR code or the link on your order page, where top ups also live. Hotspot works, and each plan shows where its internet exits. The plan finder on our homepage quotes the cheapest plan in our catalogue that covers your whole trip.

A real person replies by email or WhatsApp, usually the same day and always within 24 hours. A Frequent Roamer stamp card takes money off a later eSIM.

The honest limits: we are small and new, with far fewer reviews than the big brands. We have no app and no 24 hour live chat, and we charge in US dollars only.

How the prices were checked

We read every Airalo and Holafly price on 18 September 2026, on the provider's own store page for that destination. Airalo shows New Zealand dollars to visitors from New Zealand, so we set its currency to US dollars to match our prices. Holafly's figures come from the price table on each destination page, also in US dollars.

These are list prices. We did not enter either checkout, so promo codes, loyalty credits and anything added at payment are not included.

RoamMore prices on this page are not typed by hand. They come from our live catalogue and change when it does. Each rival price links to the store page it came from, so you can see today's price yourself, which may have moved.

The same plan shape does not mean the same networks or speeds, and regional plans cover different countries. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].

What none of the three does

None of the data plans in the table includes calls or texts. You call and message through apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. RoamMore eSIMs and Holafly trip eSIMs come with no phone number. The exceptions are separate products: Airalo's packages with calls and texts, and Holafly's monthly Unlimited subscription, which includes a US, UK or Canada number for incoming texts and internet (VoIP) calls. If you need a local number, a local SIM is the better tool.

All three connect you through local carriers' networks, so coverage and speed depend on those networks where you are standing, whichever brand you buy. Our guide to remote areas covers a backup plan.

And none offers unlimited data at full speed with no conditions. We slow down after the daily amount, Airalo after 3GB a day by default, and Holafly when the local network decides use has been heavy.

Prices for popular trips

• Japanfrom US$3.60
• Australiafrom US$3.60
• United Statesfrom US$3.80
• United Kingdomfrom US$3.30

Cheapest plan with 1GB or more, in US dollars from our catalogue, updated 27 Sep 2026.