Want to learn more about Airalo eSIM for your next travel adventures?
In this Airalo eSIM review, we’ll give you more information about Airalo eSIM plans so that you can see if it’s a suitable option for you.
Long-term travelers and digital nomads have to find ways to find a local and regional SIM when they travel. Sometimes, it’s pretty easy.
But some other times, it can get challenging.
When your phone only supports one SIM card, you have to choose, or worst, you must start swapping SIM cards to use your banking app. Ew. Been there, done that.
This is where Airalo comes in. Imagine if you could have an eSIM instead.
You could top up anywhere, anytime, without finding a kiosk at the airport or swapping your SIM card. An Airalo eSIM can make your life easy!
In this post, I’ll give you more details on eSIMs and how Airalo can help you find affordable eSIM plans around the world.
There’s a catch – eSIM isn’t supported for all phones yet – so keep reading to learn more about it.
❔What Is An eSIM?
Much like how email is a physical item transformed into an electronic one, the eSIM achieves the same thing.
Gone are the days of needing to collect many different SIM cards from all over the world.
Now all you need to do is either scan the QR code or manually enter the details given to you once you have purchased your International eSIM with Airalo.
The “e” in eSIM stands for embedded, which is what makes this piece of technology so convenient.
No more fumbling with those tiny pieces of plastic or getting lost in translation as you try to communicate to connect your phone to the Internet.
With an International eSIM, you can store your SIM card collection in one place.
This also doesn’t limit your device’s capabilities to have a physical SIM card too, so you still keep your service with your chosen home network.
❔ What Devices Support Airalo eSIM?
As stated previously, an eSIM is already built into phones, so you don’t need to install anything new into your device.
The downside to this is that while eSIMs are now implemented into new devices, they are unable to service older phone models for the time being.
Phones are not the only thing that can take advantage of the eSIM for travel.
Tablets and laptop computers are also being built with an eSIM chip installed, which will make it really easy to work from anywhere and will add to the freedom that this lifestyle offers!
Some of the compatible devices include all the latest iPhone models, 3rd gen iPads, and Google Pixel.
You can see the whole list of devices that support the eSIM on the Airalo website, which also gets updated frequently as new devices come out.
Another thing to note when trying to figure out if your device is compatible or not is where you have purchased it.
Different countries often have different makes of the same device due to restrictions of that country.
❔ What Is Airalo?
Airalo is an eSIM store for travelers.
They support eSIMs in over 200 countries and regions all over the world and have made it easy for you to access data plans no matter where you are.
The creators of this first-ever eSIM store are travelers, so they understand the struggles of staying connected while in a foreign land.
They strive to connect their customers with the best local rates and options so that you can find a package that is perfect for your needs.
If you haven’t arrived at your new destination yet, just got off the plane, or are there already and need a better data plan, you can log into your Airalo profile to purchase an eSIM plan that will start working immediately.
❔ How Does Airalo Work?
Now that you know what Airalo is, let’s see how Airalo eSIMs work.
Airalo is an eSIM store for all your eSIM potential needs. Think of local, regional, and global plans.
Airalo’s website is easy to understand and navigate.
You can buy an Airalo eSIM plan in just a few minutes by following the steps below:
- Go to Airalo.
- Create an account on Airalo.
- Download the app or use the desktop version.
- Choose your destination and preferred plan.
- Pay (get 10% off on your first purchase with my referral code: ABB10)
- Install your eSIM by scanning the QR code.
- Activate your Airalo eSIM.
✅ What Are The Benefits Of Using Airalo eSIM?
We all need to take care of three main things as soon as we get off the plane.
Get through and survive the typically long immigration queues, exchange or withdraw money, and purchase and connect a travel SIM.
One of the best things about having an account with Airalo and using their eSIM is the convenience.
Airalo takes away all the stress of buying a SIM card when arriving at your destination country.
You can even opt for a regional or global plan. I love the global plan, and it’s the one I use.
With an Airalo eSIM, you can connect to the local network as soon as the pilot turns that seatbelt sign off. No more hoping and struggling to connect to the airport’s free wifi.
You can also store multiple eSIMs in your Airalo account and effortlessly change between them using the Airalo App.
They speak your language! Although it doesn’t happen often, there could easily be a miscommunication between you and the person setting up your SIM.
If you have ever had your data stop working for no reason, you will understand what I mean by this.
Lastly, they reward you. Airalo has its own currency called Airmoney.
You earn credit whenever you purchase a new eSIM for travel, top up your eSIM, or participate in promotional offers.
This credit can be used when purchasing your next International eSIM with Airalo. You can get 10% off your first purchase using my Airalo referral code: ABB10.
🗒️ My Experience With Airalo eSIM
I currently have the Pixel 7, which is compatible with eSIM and works with Airalo.
Whenever I visited my home country (Canada), I couldn’t get data anywhere, so I was happy to try their eSIM card for Canada. This is where I tried Airalo for the very first time.
It was pretty easy to install.
Here are the steps I needed to follow to install and activate my Airalo eSIM on my Google Pixel:
- Go to Settings.
- Go to SIMS.
- Click on Add more.
- Click on Add a number using eSIM.
- Scan the QR code.
- Activate the eSIM.
- Choose which SIM card to use for data.
Once I arrived in Canada, I removed airplane mode and restarted my phone, which worked fine.
It was easy to set up, and I’ve been using Airalo everywhere ever since.
In fact, I’ve been using it for several months now, and I don’t see the point of using a standard SIM card when I’m traveling anymore.
Although, in some countries, you’ll also need to set up an APN.
However, this can be a bit more complicated, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
Thankfully, Airalo was very helpful when I had trouble figuring it out on my own. Their customer service was fast and efficient.
In fact, in the past, they replied to me within 7 minutes. Crazy!
🏷️ Airalo Promo Code
Get 10% off your first Airalo purchase using my referral code: ABB10.
❔ Is Airalo Legit?
Airalo is a legitimate and safe eSIM provider. I’ve been using Airalo for several months without any issues. The website is legitimate, and the customer service is fast and efficient.
When I had issues with the European eSIM card, the team from customer service helped me fix the issue.
So, if you’re wondering if Airalo is legit – yes, it is. If you’re also hesitating because you’re asking yourself, “is Airalo good?” – it’s great!
So – no need to worry too much! Airalo is a safe, legitimate, and reliable eSIM provider!
Does Airalo work? Yes, it does. However, before purchasing an eSIM card on Airalo, you should ensure your mobile phone supports eSIM.
Airalo is legit and is not a scam. I’ve been using it for a few years now, and I’m happy with their eSIMs.
❔ What To Do If Airalo Is Not Working?
If you’re having issues with Airalo when entering a new country, you can always contact customer support to find out how to fix your problem.
It happened to me a couple of times.
Each time, they replied to me very fast!
In short, here are the steps they recommend:
- In your device settings, your eSIM is active under Mobile Networks
- Mobile data is turned on for this eSIM
- Data Roaming is On
- A new APN is added and saved as: globaldata (You can leave the other fields blank)
- The newly created and saved APN is selected
- You are manually connected to the supported network provider in your carrier settings
- You did not remove your eSIM from your device
Now, I did have issues with the APN in the past, but also with the supported network.
If the APN is saved properly, I recommend testing the other network providers.
Alternatively, go to your Airalo account, go to My eSIMs > Select the eSIM > Install Now, and scroll down to see the APN and the supported networks.
For example, in Latvia, the network automatically chosen wasn’t supported by Airalo, so I had to switch it up.
We hope the above steps will help you understand the potential issues with your eSIM cards.
Overall, if you’re wondering if Airalo is reliable – it is! You just need to be patient if you are having issues.
The steps mentioned above are going to help you face any potential issues.
🗺️ Airalo Destinations
One of the things I like about Airalo is that you can select different packages depending on the country or region chosen.
Here’s an example of the packages offered in Europe.
Whether you travel for one week, a month, or longer, you have multiple options, and more importantly, it’s affordable.
There is no need to head to the airport kiosk after a long flight; you can skip that step and call an Uber driver.
🗺️ Airalo Discover Global
Airalo offers Discover Global eSIM.
The Global eSIM covers 130 countries.
While the Discover Global eSIM is slightly more expensive, it is a great option to stay connected everywhere.
I’ve used Airalo Discover Global eSIM in North America, Europe, and Asia.
It’s been incredible because I don’t need to purchase a new eSIM every time I travel.
❔ Can You Make Calls With Airalo?
Yes, you can make calls with Airalo using an application like Messenger, Skype, or WhatsApp.
You won’t be able to call directly from your phone otherwise.
When choosing a plan on Airalo, you can look at the Plan Type to confirm if the plan is for data only.
Sometimes, you’ll find plans that include texts and voice, like the global eSIM.
❔ Does My Phone Need To Be Unlocked To Use Airalo?
Yes. Your phone needs to support eSIM and be unlocked to use Airalo.
Fortunately, most phones are unlocked nowadays.
❔ Does eSIM Drain The Battery?
No. But, when uploading and setting up your eSIM, it will use your battery like it would if you tried to connect to a new Wi-Fi network.
Since using eSIM, I haven’t noticed any changes in my phone’s battery life. The eSIM will not consume more battery than a standard SIM card.
📱 Best Airalo Alternatives
Want to compare the eSIM plans with the best Airalo alternatives?
I think Airalo is the best eSIM store, but if you’re curious, you can compare it with other providers like Holafly, Nomad, Yoho Mobile, BNESIM, Ubigi, and more.
Go to SIMPACKERS to easily compare the best eSIM plans for your destination.
Keep reading to explore the differences between Airalo and its two main competitors.
⚖️Airalo Vs Holafly
If you’re hesitating between Airalo and Holafly, you can read our Holafly review. I’ve tried both Airalo and Holafly, and both worked well.
You can compare the pricing and networks used to find the best for the countries you plan on visiting.
Both are great products, but Holafly is more expensive than Airalo.
Want to compare both options? Read our comparison between Airalo and Holafly to learn more about the main differences between the two.
That said, if I had to pick between Airalo or Holafly, I’d pick Airalo.
In fact, I’m still using Airalo, and I didn’t feel the need to change to Holafly even though I tested both.
⚖️Airalo Vs Nomad
If you’re hesitating between Airalo and Nomad, we recommend using Airalo.
Nomad has great options, too, and it works fine, but we think Airalo offers better support, more options, and more long-term plans.
That said, Nomad offers some of the cheapest plans for some destinations. So, it is worth comparing both if needed.
To learn more, read our comparison: Airalo vs Nomad.
Another thing to consider is that on Nomad, you only get plans for up to 30 days, which might not work for everyone, especially if you travel long-term.
Read our complete Nomad review to learn more.
💡 Final Thoughts On Airalo eSim Review
Finally, if your mobile device supports eSIM cards, I recommend using them.
You’ll get 10% off on your first purchase if you use my referral code: ABB10.
It’s convenient, easy to use, and affordable. It makes traveling better and easier.
That said, as a nomad, having an Airalo eSIM makes my traveling lifestyle better.
Is Airalo good? Yes! I love using Airalo eSIMs during my travels.
Are you traveling soon? Make sure to get your Revolut travel card before your next trip!
