Holafly First-Hand Review: Is This eSIM Actually Good?

Holafly is often called one of the top eSIM providers, offering coverage in over 210 destinations around the world. Their unlimited data plans in 155 of these locations have made them a popular choice for digital nomads and international travelers, especially in places like Europe and the US.

We decided to try Holafly ourselves to see if it’s really as good as people say. Here’s our first-hand experience with this eSIM provider and whether this eSIM is actually worth it.

How We Tested Our Holafly eSIMs & Our Experience With eSIMs

We regularly test a ton of eSIMs during our digital nomad travels and we've written in the past about Holafly thoroughly on our site. We have personally tested them across Europe, the UK, the US, Japan, and China.

But for this specific review, we will be reporting about our experience across 7 different countries. We always try to analyze the ins and outs of each eSIM, including their features, data plans, real-world speeds, pricing, and more. So, if you're wondering whether Holafly is as reliable as it says it is, stick around for the full review.

Holafly eSIM Offering: Plan Options and Country Coverage

Holafly offers eSIM plans designed for every kind of adventure—be it a deep dive into one country or a multi-stop tour across continents. Here's the breakdown of what they offer:

Wide range of local and regional eSIM data plans

Based on the country you are planning to visit, Holafly offers two eSIM package types local eSIMs and regional eSIM data plans.

Local eSIMs are great for straightforward, country-specific connectivity and you can choose among an impressive 177+ countries.

If your travel plans are a bit more ambitious, and you are looking for several countries in one trip, regional eSIM data plans are another option they offer. These plans are the go-to for travelers planning on roaming across regions like Europe, Asia, or the Americas.

Stating the obvious here, but FYI: if your trip includes traveling to both Europe and Asia, for instance, then you'll have to purchase two different regional plans.

For our trips, we wanted to test Holafly eSIM plans in as many locations as possible, so we went for the local eSIM plans for Spain, Malaysia, Mexico, Turkey, Thailand, Greece, and Morocco.

Most of their eSIM plans are unlimited

One of the top perks of Holafly's local and regional data plans is that most of them are completely unlimited. This is quite something as it gives you the freedom to use maps, look up recommendations, or stay in touch without worrying about running out of data. That's something we really appreciate about Holafly.

Just a heads up, though: during our tests, we discovered that there are some fair usage policies in place. This means that while you do get unlimited data, using it excessively might lead to a temporary slowdown. So, if you notice a dip in your internet speed, it might be because you've hit that high usage threshold for the day.

But there's good news: in our experience, throttling only lasts a few hours before lifting. Still, this is something to keep in mind if you work while traveling like us or if you require constant large downloads as part of your job.

You can select the exact number of days for data plans

Another thing we like about Holafly and worth noting is that you can select the exact number of days you will need your eSIM for. This is something we haven't seen in many other competitors.

Based on our experience, the price per-GB price tends to drop significantly based on the number of days you select. So, our top recommendation here is to buy in bulk to be more cost-effective with your eSIM purchases.

If you know you'll be traveling or staying in a place for an extended period, it will definitely pay off to get a larger data package with a longer validity.

How Much Do Holafly eSIMs Cost?

Let's talk numbers. Based on our experience, most of their plans start from $5,90 and $7,90 and you can expect to roughly pay around $74,90 for a month of unlimited data.

To give you a few real-world examples, below is a quick snapshot of the pricing from the eSIM plans we purchased for our trips:

• Spain eSIM: $74,90 for 30 days of unlimited data
• Malaysia eSIM: $50,90 for 15 days of unlimited data
• Mexico eSIM: $106,90 for 60 days of unlimited data
• Turkey eSIM: $84,90 for 40 days of unlimited data
• Thailand eSIM: $74,90 for 30 days of unlimited data
• Greece eSIM: $36,90 for 10 days of unlimited data
• Morocco eSIM: $74,90 for 30 days of unlimited data

The Holafly eSIM prices above might seem higher at first glance compared to other eSIM providers. And they might actually be, in all fairness. But if you are a heavy-data user like us, the unlimited data allowance is worth every penny as it will save you from those dreaded data-capped plans many eSIM providers include (and therefore, those inevitable top-up costs which definitely add up in our opinion).

How Does Holafly Work? A Step-by-Step Guide

We’ve tried and tested loads of eSIM providers, but to be honest, Holafly is generally one of our favorites. Setting up their eSIM is simple, and you can quickly connect to your data in no time.

Here's a quick step-by-step snapshot of how to set up your Holafly eSIM if you are in a rush:

If you are instead new to Holafly and haven't installed it before, this is a more detailed description of Holafly's eSIM installation and activation process:

1. Choose an eSIM plan

Go to Holafly's website (or download their mobile app if you prefer), and choose among their local or regional eSIM as well as the number of days you'll need data for.

2. Purchase your data plan

Once you've made your pick, enter your payment information, hit confirm, and a confirmation email will be on its way to you with the next steps.

3. Install and activate the eSIM

Holafly will send you a QR code or manual setup with details sent via email, and for us, QR codes are the way to go for both speed and ease.

All it takes is going to "Mobile Data" settings, choosing "Add Data Plan", a quick scan of the QR code and the eSIM profile will start downloading instantly.

4. Select Holafly eSIM as the main data source

All that's left to do is select Holafly as the main data source within the mobile data settings, and the eSIM will be immediately active.

Will Holafly eSIMs Work With My Phone?

If you're wondering whether your phone will play nice with Holafly, good question. Holafly eSIMs are pretty flexible and compatible with many smartphones, but not every single one.

To save you the headache of compatibility issues, Holafly has a list of compatible devices on their site. A quick check there can tell you if you’re good to go. We used an iPhone 13 Pro and an iPhone 14 Pro and they were both supported.

If you need more information, check out our guide on how to use Holafly eSIM on both Android and iPhone and troubleshoot any issues with Holafly eSIMs.

Holafly Real-World Performance

We took Holafly for a spin through 7 countries, keen to see if its real-world performance and speed could actually keep up with our nomadic lifestyle. The results are pretty interesting, see for yourself:

Holafly Hands-on Review: Top Features and Areas of Improvements

A truly extensive country coverage

The last thing you want is to purchase an eSIM that promises great coverage, only to discover you’re not connected at all. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case with Holafly. We can confirm their global coverage is legit—from Barcelona to Kuala Lumpur, we always had great coverage during our travels.

We decided to go for their local eSIM plans as we tend to explore many places in different regions, but if you're exploring multiple countries within the same region, regional packages are actually the way to go if you want to purchase individual eSIMs every time.

Unlimited data for bottomless connectivity

This feature seals the deal for us. It’s simply too good to pass up. Gone were the days of downloading Netflix movies before long bus rides: we streamed Inventing Anna as we traveled from Kuala Lumpur to Georgetown and the connection was very smooth.

We also had no problems video-calling our families and were able to work remotely just fine, even when we were exploring Cappadocia in Turkey or grabbing our dose of vitamin D in Puerto Escondido in Mexico.

Although the connection was impeccable in both Greece and Malaysia, we must say that the packages were slightly overpriced for the number of days we used them. If you are actually planning a short trip, there are probably cheaper options out there, unless you are a heavy-data user and you think a few gigabytes won't be enough for you.

You can share your hotspot but with limitations

Another thing we thought Holafly could do better is the data sharing via hotspot and tethering. Although they recently introduced this option (not all the eSIM providers do), this is limited to 500MB a day.

We were not sure why they put this cap on hotspot data sharing but we really hope they will remove this limitation in the future.

Quick and easy setup

The ease with which we could get our eSIMs up and running—often minutes after landing—has been nothing short of exceptional. The QR code activation worked wonders, and it instantly connected us without needing a second device to scan the QR code (we used an iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro which both have an updated version of iOS that supports this feature). The app was user-friendly, fast, and incredibly convenient to use.

On the rare occasions we needed assistance, like that evening in Morocco when we couldn’t log in to our account, Holafly’s support team went above and beyond. They were not only helpful but also empathetic, responding promptly and always finding solutions.

Holafly Pros and Cons

Every rose has its thorn, and while Holafly eSIMs have been mostly roses for us, it's only fair to address both sides. The features we mentioned above really did it for us, but, just like everything, it isn't perfect, and improvements can be made down the line.

To get a full overview of their service, here's a list of pros and cons we observed during our testing:

Is Holafly a Good eSIM? Our Final Thoughts

Holafly eSIM proved to be reliable and the connection was pretty fast and stable in most places we tested it. There are some areas where Holafly could do better, like removing the cap for daily hotspot data sharing and perhaps introducing cheaper plans for those purchasing their eSIM for just a few days.

But for many travelers, those cons won't be a huge priority.

Unlimited data plans, straightforward installation, and great customer support are all way more important for a good eSIM. So, if you are on the hunt for reliable and unlimited data access, we can confidently recommend Holafly as a top choice for international travel. If you are instead looking for an affordable short-term eSIM and heavy data consumption is not as important for you, you might want to look elsewhere.

Are There Any eSIM Alternatives to Holafly?

Holafly is not the only player in the space and there are many interesting eSIM providers that you think Holafly is not what you are currently looking for. Here are the top alternatives and how Holafly stacks up against them:

Airalo

With Airalo's unmatched extensive network, you get a promise of connectivity in over 200+ countries, making it a heavyweight in the world of eSIM providers. Their app is user-friendly, streamlining the buying and activation process beautifully while keeping prices very affordable. But Holafly defends itself with its unlimited data plans on most plans, giving them an interesting edge over Airalo.

Nomad

Nomad is well known for its clean user experience and incredibly affordable single-country plans. With coverage in 112+ countries and growing, they're definitely in the race. Holafly, on the other hand, offers a broader range of data plans as well as unlimited data which Nomad doesn't necessarily offer.

Alosim

Alosim may be newer to the scene, but they’re making waves with their affordable prepaid eSIM plans and their complimentary number for international calls. Yet, when it came to value for the unlimited data seekers among us, Holafly wins out in affordability and practicality.

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Written by Irene Lidia Wang

UX Designer and digital nomad. After struggling with feelings of not belonging due to her Italian-Chinese heritage, she co-founded Freaking Nomads to offer a space for people seeking their own paths.

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