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An in-depth review of the Airalo eSIM – the easy, affordable way to get online when you travel!
Let’s face it, internet access is a must-have when we travel these days. Not just for posting beach selfies and keeping in touch with friends and family, but also for navigating a new destination (maps, translation, Google/Apple pay, etc). For solo female travellers like me, it’s also vital for safety features like ride-hailing apps and location-sharing.
eSIMs are the easiest way to get online without facing high roaming charges from your carrier. I use them on every trip, and Airalo is one of my favourite companies. They’re reliable, easy-to-use, and are often the lowest-priced option.
Airalo offers eSIMs for over 200 destinations. They also offer regional plans if you’re travelling through multiple countries in one trip, and a Global Plan which covers 166 destinations. I was already a big fan of the brand and have genuinely been a paying customer for years, so when they approached me about working together, it seemed like the perfect fit! Here’s my review…
DISCOUNT CODE: Get 10% when you use my referral code EMILYLUXTON.
Disclaimer: This review was written in collaboration with Airalo, but I’ve already been using Airalo eSIMs for years as a paying customer. I thoroughly tested their Spain eSIM and the Airalo app myself for this article.
What is an eSIM and How Does it Work?
An eSIM (“embedded SIM”) is essentially a digital SIM card which can be installed directly onto your phone, either alongside or instead of a physical SIM card. You can purchase a data plan for the country/countries you’re visiting and install it on your phone. It saves a lot of time, complication, and faff!
eSIMs are the perfect option for solo female travellers like me, as you can get online as soon as you arrive at your destination, meaning you can use maps and ride-hailing apps, make WhatsApp calls, and even use location sharing if you’re concerned about safety.
Pros and Cons of Using eSIM
PROS
- Much cheaper than using your own data abroad.
- Save time, money, and hassle.
- Can be used alongside your existing SIM (so you’ll still get texts on your normal number, handy for things like bank alerts).
- Order online and set up yourself – no need to visit a shop when you arrive at your destination.
- Get online as soon as you arrive.
CONS
- Can be more expensive than buying a local SIM card.
- You won’t get a local phone number.
- You can’t make calls or texts from most eSIMs (but Airalo offer some plans which include these).
- Not all phones are eSIM compatible (Luckily, Airalo’s app makes it clear if your device is compatible BEFORE you purchase).
How I Tested the Airalo eSIM
I’ve been using Airalo eSIMs for years and all over the world, including in Thailand, India, Egypt, and the USA. They’re usually the most affordable option, and I’ve always been happy with the service, so they’ve become my go-to!
For this review, I purchased a 7-day Spain eSIM with 5GB of data and tested it out during my recent cruise. I was able to test it while we were in port and whenever I was on land. I ran speed tests and used my data pretty heavily: using Google Maps to explore, paying with Google Pay, uploading Instagram stories, and more.
Airalo eSIM Review
Purchase & Setup Experience
I’ve tried a lot of eSIM companies over the years, and I’ve always found Airalo’s website the easiest to use. It’s so user-friendly: there’s a search bar at the top of the page, so you just start typing the name of your destination to bring it up.
The page I needed (Spain) brought up a list of package options. You can choose between fixed data packages (eg 3GB for 3 days) or unlimited data for a set period. I selected 5GB for 7 days at £7, which would be more than enough for my trip and was a great price.
eSIMS can be tricky to install if you’ve never done it before, but Airalo make it easy. I highly recommend you download their app, as you can install the eSIM directly from the app. It took less than a minute and was mostly automated, with simple instructions! I forgot to set mine up before we left home*, but it’s so easy to install that I was able to do it while walking around our first Spanish city.
*Top Tip: I’d always recommend you download and install before you travel, so you’re ready to go as soon as you arrive!
If you don’t want to use the app, they’ll also send you a QR code when your order is complete. Simply scan that with the phone you want to use your eSIM on, and it will install automatically. Couldn’t be easier!
Testing the eSIM: Real World Performance
I tested the 7-day 5GB Spain eSIM while I was on a cruise in Spain last week, and I was very happy. I’ve never had an issue with Airalo before, and this time didn’t disappoint.
The eSIM ran off the Movistar network, which is the largest of Spain’s four main mobile network providers, known for having the best overall coverage and fastest download & upload speeds (source).
Google’s built-in speed test found a download speed of 25 Mbps, which is more than enough for normal internet usage, and even streaming 4K video. To be honest, I don’t understand the technical stuff much, so I’m more interested in “real-world” experience and how it performs for a “normal”, non-techy user like me!
The whole time I was in Spain, I had good coverage (even when we were still on the ship, just offshore). Google Maps, WhatsApp, and internet searches all worked fine, and my Instagram stories uploaded quickly (including videos). It felt exactly the same as using my phone at home.
The app was easy to use and showed at-a-glance how much of my package I had remaining. You can also top up through the app (not available on all eSIMs), and it’s a great way to keep an eye on your usage to stay on budget.
Are Airalo’s Prices Good?
YES! Using an Airalo eSIM is likely to work out much cheaper than your own carrier’s roaming charges, which are often £5 or more per day. And Airalo’s prices are usually the most competitive out of all the eSIM companies I’ve tried.
I pulled a few random examples into the table below, comparing Airalo’s prices with two of their main competitors:
| Airalo | Competitor 1* | Competitor 2 | |
| UK 5GB, 30 days | £10 | £10 | £13.99 |
| Spain 5GB, 7 days | £7 | £7.50 | £7.99 |
| Thailand 20GB, 30 days | £8.50 | £8.50 | £8.99 |
| Mexico 20GB, 30 days | £24 | £34.50 | £26.99 |
| USA 5GB, 7 days | £10 | £10.50 | £8.99 |
| USA Unlimited, 30 days | £53 | £54 | Unlimited not offered – £100 GB is £79.99 |
| Europe Unlimited, 15 days | £37.50 42 countries | £37.50 35 countries | Unlimited not offered – £100 GB is £60.99 |
*Competitor 1’s site is only in USD, prices converted at the exchange rate as of 4/3/26.
For smaller data packages across shorter periods (5 or 7 days), there’s usually very little price difference. But for longer trips, the differences add up fast. I’ve found Airalo are often the cheapest in Asian countries and on short trips within Europe, and they were the most affordable option I could find for Mexico. However, it can really depend on how much data you need and how long you’re travelling for, so if price is the most important factor, then I highly recommend shopping around before you settle on the best eSIM for you.
Extra savings: With Airalo, you also get 5% of each purchase amount back to your account in “Airmoney”, which can be used against future purchases. So over time, it can work out even more cost-effective to use Airalo on every trip!
Quick Summary and Final Thoughts
In my experience, Airalo’s eSIMs have always been reliably good, with data speeds fast enough to use my phone exactly as I would at home. They have competitive prices and are often the most affordable option, and their eSIMs are so easy to setup and use.
Getting connected instantly, as soon as I arrive at a new destination, gives me real peace of mind as a solo female traveller. I can use maps and ride-hailing apps straight away, so I’m not reliant on local taxis, and being able to use WhatsApp and location sharing is really important for safety as a solo traveller.
Here’s a quick summary of what I love about Airalo eSIMs:
- Wide choice of data plans for total flexibility and freedom. You can buy exactly what you need, from 1GB right through to unlimited data plans.
- Prices are generally better or the same as other major eSIM providers.
- For some destinations (like the USA) and larger data packages, this may not be the case.
- Fast, reliable coverage – I was surprised to find I still had signal while we were a fair distance out to sea on my Spanish cruise!
- User-friendly website and app. Airalo’s website is by far the easiest to use of all the eSIM sites I’ve tried. You can install eSIMs and track usage directly from the app.
- Very easy to install (which isn’t always the case with some eSIMs).
CLICK HERE to search all destinations on Airalo and see how much an eSIM would cost for your next trip.
DISCOUNT CODE: Get 10% with my referral code EMILYLUXTON.
I hope you found this review of the Airalo eSIM helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
