The invention of eSIMs makes life a lot easier as a traveler. They’re not a fool-proof cure-all for staying connected while you’re on the road, but they do the trick and the tech can only get better from here. I recently tried Holafly, and here’s what I can tell you about the customer service, pricing, pros and cons, and how it compares to Airalo and Saily.
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What an Holafly eSIM does
Basically, eSIMs work by — and please remember I am not a tech girlie — accessing the local data network without you needing to swap out the little chip in the side of your phone. But how, you say? That’s a question for someone else. I already feel like Wi-Fi is witchcraft. All I know is that I need it.
But it’s such a luxury to arrive in a new country and be able to just tap a few buttons in your phone settings to get miraculous access to the internet.
Holafly is the best eSIM that I’ve tried in terms of functionality and customer service. More on that below.
Why I tried an eSIM
Connecting to the internet when you first touchdown somewhere new is both essential and inconvenient. Maybe you forgot to screenshot the directions or address of your Airbnb, or perhaps booking an Uber is going to save you way more money than catching a taxi.
(At Auckland airport, I was once quoted $90 for a taxi. I looked on Uber and the same trip was $40. I know the app has its issues… but 50 bucks more?!)
My arrival process always looked a little something like this:
- Screenshotting my accom’s location and/or check-in instructions.
- Connecting to airport wifi (which was not always reliable) to get directions or call an Uber.
- Using the wifi at my accom to map my way to the nearest phone store for a physical SIM card.
- Assessing the different data packages (usually while navigating a language barrier).
- Struggling to math as I get used to the local currency.
- Fumbling around with that little pointy metal thing to swap out my old SIM card.
- Accessing that sweet, sweet internet.
With an eSIM, the process is now streamlined to this:
- Installing an eSIM before getting to a new country.
- Quickly connecting to airport wifi to change some phone settings and activate it.
- Gaining access to data before I’ve even left the airport.
Is Holafly legit?
Yes (I’ve tried it!) and it even has good reviews on Trustpilot. The company is headquartered in Dublin and the website has a cute little story about how the couple who founded it couldn’t access internet easily on vacation, and set out to make the world a better place.
Holafly pricing
So Holafly eSIMs aren’t particularly cheap, but the convenience factor and ability to access unlimited data make it worth it. It still might be cheaper than a local phone plan, depending on where you travel.
For example, here in New Zealand, I pay about $25 USD for my monthly phone plan with 10 GBs. By comparison, a 30-day eSIM for New Zealand with Holafly costs $75 USD — yikes! (Remember, it’s unlimited data, though.)
In the US, the average phone bill is apparently $140/month. (Can someone who lives there tell me if that’s true?!) So in that case, the $75 eSIM on Holafly seems pretty cheap!
Also, this isn’t the case for all locations, but some eSIMs on Holafly will let you hotspot to your computer. So it’s better bang for your buck if you’re a digital nomad.
Holafly customer service
As with all things these days, I had to navigate through a few automated questions, but I was ultimately passed over to a real human in under a minute.
My issue was pretty mild — I’d just noticed that while the eSIM seemed to be on and working fine, the Holafly app was still prompting me to activate it. I couldn’t see how much data I’d used (even though it’s unlimited) or when it was expiring, so I wanted to get that fixed. Really it was just a test so I could tell you about the customer service experience.
Get 5% off Holafly eSIMs with unlimited data!
Would I use Holafly again?
Holafly is definitely the best eSIM I’ve tried, so it’s my new go-to for short international trips. That said, when I’m in a situation where I can easily get a physical SIM, like the Canadian one I keep at my parents’ house, I’m going to do that instead.
The only major difference between an eSIM and a regular one is the ability to call. You’d think you don’t need it, but there are bound to be a couple occasions where you want to make a reservation over the phone or call a landline, and most eSIMs just doesn’t let you do that.
(However, ETravelSim offers texting and calling on most plans, and Jetpac just released a beta version of a calling feature in 50 countries.)
I wouldn’t use any eSIM as a long-term solution, but if you’re staying somewhere for up to, let’s say… 30 days, it’s a great option. If you’re settling into a new place for 3 months as a digital nomad or you’re on a year-long Working Holiday Visa, just get a local SIM.
Read more: Is an eSIM Useful for a Short-Term Trip?
Holafly vs. Airalo and Saily
These are the three eSIM providers I’ve tried, but the experiences were vastly different.
Important update: There are some unconfirmed privacy concerns with Airalo eSIMs. Grievances have been popping up on Reddit with users claiming their accounts were hacked. Many believe there was a data breach that Airalo has not made public. I have not personally experienced this, but it’s recommended to remove your card details from the app. Paying through Apple or Google Pay is more secure. Saily has several security features and Holafly remains a reputable brand with no security issues.
Overall functionality
Airalo seemed good at first and was super effective for a three-day trip to Qatar. But issues started to arise when I used it for a three-month trip to South Africa. It worked for the first month, then just kinda freaked out when I went to top-up another 30 days. The support team and I never found a solution, and they wouldn’t refund me. (Though I did get credit after some back and forth.)
My Saily eSIM didn’t work for about 8 hours when I first switched it on, but once it kicked in it was perfectly fine. The ad-blocker was a nice perk.
So far, I haven’t had any issues with the functionality of Holafly. The set up was super easy with step-by-step guides and images. It’s maybe a liiiiittle bit confusing the first time you do it because there are a few settings to adjust, but I promise it becomes clear. The more you use an eSIM — any eSIM — the most you’ll understand what the settings are for.
Customer service
Holafly and Saily’s customer service were both way more human than Airalo’s. They all technically had human support, but I felt Holafly actually spoke to me like a human rather than sending me long lists of dizzying, poorly-formatted instructions. Like, Holafly’s instructions were soooo much easier to read.
That said, I never had any major issues that I needed to troubleshoot with Holafly, and I never had to ask for a refund, so I can’t totally weigh in on what that process would look like. They do advertise a 6-month refund period where you can get your money back if you don’t end up needing to use the SIM card, so that’s a good sign!
Holyfly vs. Airalo instructions from customer service
Pricing
Saily and Airalo’s prices are about on par, while the major difference with Holafly is its unlimited data. Yes, it’s more expensive, but you get what you pay for. If you just want 1 GB, Saily is cheapest. But here’s how the pricing stacks up with more gigs:
- Saily: 30 days, 10 GB — $35
- Airalo: 30 days, 10 GB — $37
- Holafly: 30 days, unlimited GBs — $85
So it’s twice as expensive, but you’ll never have to worry about downloading, streaming, maps, etc.
I have no idea how to effectively estimate how many gigs I’m going to use/need on a trip. I got a 3 GB Airalo eSIM thinking I’d start small and top-up as needed. But I somehow managed to run through those 3 gigs in two days. To avoid that happening again, I paid for 20 GBs, and then only used 8 over three weeks. No idea how or why. Like I’m sure that’s totally on me, but I don’t want to worry about all that when I’m trying to enjoy my trip!
I also really hate being like, “Oh nooo, I can’t use Google Maps because it’ll drain my data.” So the fact that every Holafly option includes unlimited data I’m like, sign me tf up.
Read more: Is an Airalo eSIM Worth It? My Honest Review
Referral/points programs
Holafly has the Travel Club and offers 500 coins for every person you refer and gives them a 5% discount. (Hey, here’s my referral code so you get 5% off your first eSIM.) Holafly also has a cashback system where you’ll get Hola Coins back to use for a future purchase.
Saily uses a nice and simple 5-for-5. Refer a friend and they’ll get a $5 USD discount, and you’ll get $5 USD credit to use towards your next eSIM purchase. (My code is NAOMIO3998 for $5 off!)
Airalo will give you $3 USD of credit for every friend you refer, and gives them $3 off their first purchase, too. The credit is called “Airmoney” and you can put it towards your next purchase. There’s also a tiered system for Silver vs. Gold users, which just means you’ll get a higher percentage of Airmoney cashback once you’ve spent over $70 USD on eSIMs — overly complicated and unnecessary, if you ask me. (Get $3 off your first Airalo eSIM.)
If you’re trying an Airalo eSIM for the first time, you can get 15% off by using this link or NAOM15 in the promo box at checkout. And if you’re giving it another go, you can always use this link or NAOM10 at checkout for 10% off.
Holafly pros and cons
While the pros certainly outweigh the cons, here are some things to consider before you give Holafly a whirl. But look, it’s honestly pretty low risk, so I say go for it!
Pros
- You can activate it as soon as you arrive in a new country. Convenient af.
- Every plan comes with unlimited data. You really just pay for the number of days you need it rather than trying to predict how much data you’ll use.
- It’s easier to dodge scams. If you have an eSIM pre-organized, you won’t be desperate to buy the first real SIM you see. They’re often sold for more than they’re worth if you get one at the airport.
- You don’t need proof of address or a passport. Some countries have strict rules that make you ineligible for a local SIM without proof of address. And in some cases, you’ll need to present your passport to get a tourist SIM. Annoying.
- You don’t even need to remove your home SIM card. It’ll work once you adjust the settings to use the eSIM as the default, so you don’t have to faf about with the little chip.
- You get 5% off any eSIM in any destination if you use my code! And who doesn’t love a good discount?
Cons
- It only provides data, not a local phone number. This can be important if you need to set up 2FA with a phone number, or want to call a landline for any reason.
- Cell service isn’t quite as strong as with a local SIM. I found the cell reception pretty good overall, but when we were driving through a rural area of New Zealand, my partner had access to data in a few patches where I didn’t. Otherwise I had strong 5G pretty much the whole time.
- The most I can offer you is a 5% discount. However, it’s still a budget-friendly travel tool.
Have you tried Holafly? What was your experience like? Let me know in the comments!
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I bought 2 eSIMs for Asia and couldn’t get either to work despite nearly an hour of attempted fixes via customer service text messages. 3 weeks later I have been offered a 40% refund. Avoid.
At this moment didnt recomendet because i thing they scam me .I use them from 2023 y.The problem starts in 2024 i have 2 time problems in 365 days .All its was okay ! In 2025y i ask for help because one of my 4×90 days pack stoped work in first day of activation ! They give me another but olso after one day of use is stuck ! At this moment i use another operator and i dont have problems with him ! I wsit for halaoffer because they say we will fix this .At this moment didnt answer me what will do in this case .At this moment they didnt refuse my money dont give compensation ! The fist was 26.03 for refund ,they create the ticket on 02.04.May i will start the campains with my screenshots of my chats with them to show on the world and to try protect another customers. I have more 2×90 plans plus coupon 1×90 plus voucher 40e ! In my things at this moment they scam me with alot of money ! We will see it .Normaly i didnt recomendet more !18.04 i ask again what happend with my ticket refund and again is nothing .Will wait more time and after will start own campains vs them .
DENT is another good option for an eSIM that works in lots of countries. KeepGo is good too, but you need to pick a package for the county or region. DENT lets you choose your IP location in major parts of the world. This can be useful for some sensitive apps. Others use Hong Kong or Poland for some reason unknown to me.
Amazing tips, I’ll check those out!
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