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Airalo remains one of the most recognizable travel eSIM providers, but it is not automatically the cheapest or most suitable option for every trip.
Ethan Brooks
Updated Aug 5, 2026
11 min read

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In our six-country comparison, Roafly had the lowest complete basket for standardized 10GB plans. Ubigi was cheapest in the United States and Italy, Roamless had the lowest Mexico price, and Holafly remained the most clearly unlimited-focused alternative. The right choice therefore depends on whether you prioritize fixed-data pricing, unlimited use, hotspot allowance, PAYG flexibility or access to named local networks.
| Category | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Lowest complete 10GB basket | Roafly |
| Lowest US and Italy price | Ubigi |
| Lowest Japan price | Roafly |
| Lowest Thailand price | Roafly and Nomad |
| Lowest Mexico price | Roamless |
| Best unlimited-focused option | Holafly |
| Best PAYG and no-expiry option | Roamless |
| Best security tools | Saily |
| Best for a mix of fixed and daily plans | Nomad |
| Best for travel-related extras | Jetpac |
| Best-known broad marketplace | Airalo |
There is no single winner in every category. Roafly led the complete standardized basket, but only by $0.60 over Roamless and $2.90 over Ubigi. That makes the feature differences important.
| Provider | Main product model | Hotspot approach | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roafly | Fixed data | Full purchased allowance | Travelers wanting straightforward fixed-data plans |
| Holafly | Unlimited-led | Usually 1GB per day on checked plans | Heavy users who prefer day-based unlimited plans |
| Saily | Fixed and unlimited | Uses available plan data | Travelers interested in added security tools |
| Nomad | Fixed, daily and unlimited | Supported | Travelers comparing several plan structures |
| Roamless | Fixed plans and PAYG | Unlimited hotspot | Light or irregular multi-country use |
| Ubigi | Fixed, monthly and annual | Supported | Travelers wanting reusable or recurring plans |
| Jetpac | Fixed and unlimited | No separate restriction identified in checked plan details | Travelers who value travel-related extras |
| Airalo | Fixed and unlimited | Plan-dependent | Travelers who value a familiar, broad marketplace |
The primary benchmark was a direct 10GB plan valid for approximately 30 days in six destinations:
United States
Italy
Japan
Thailand
Mexico
Australia
We used public USD list prices without referral codes, first-user offers, coupons or temporary discounts. We did not combine smaller packages to create an artificial 10GB price.
Where a provider did not offer a directly comparable 10GB plan, the row was left incomplete. Unlimited and PAYG products were assessed separately because they are not equivalent to a fixed 10GB allowance.
We also checked named local networks, hotspot rules, top-up availability and relevant fair-use restrictions. Multiple listed networks were treated as additional network choice, not proof of stronger coverage, faster speeds or automatic switching.
| Provider | US | Italy | Japan | Thailand | Mexico | Australia | Six-country total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | $22.50 | $19.00 | $18.00 | $11.00 | $23.50 | $18.00 | $112.00 |
| Roafly | $16.90 | $13.90 | $14.90 | $10.00 | $24.90 | $16.00 | $96.60 |
| Saily | $22.99 | $20.99 | $17.99 | $10.99 | $24.99 | $17.99 | $115.94 |
| Nomad | $20.00 | $18.50 | $16.00 | $10.00 | $22.00 | $19.00 | $105.50 |
| Roamless | $17.95 | $18.95 | $14.95 | $10.95 | $16.45 | $17.95 | $97.20 |
| Ubigi | $14.00 | $12.00 | $16.50 | $12.00 | $29.00 | $16.00 | $99.50 |
| Jetpac | $30.00 | Not comparable | $23.00 | $11.50 | $24.99 | Not comparable | Incomplete |
| Holafly | Unlimited model | Unlimited model | Unlimited model | Unlimited model | Unlimited model | Unlimited model | Not comparable |
Roafly produced the lowest complete basket at $96.60. Roamless was close behind at $97.20, while Ubigi reached $99.50.
The country-level results were more mixed:
Ubigi was cheapest in the United States and Italy.
Roafly was cheapest in Japan.
Roafly and Nomad tied in Thailand.
Roamless was cheapest in Mexico.
Roafly and Ubigi tied in Australia.
Airalo’s Mexico plan also included 100 minutes and 100 SMS in addition to 10GB of data. It was therefore usable in the price table, but not perfectly equivalent to the data-only plans.
Jetpac displayed promotional prices in some destinations. We used the regular public list price rather than the reduced promotional amount, following the same rule applied to every provider.
The lowest standardized price is objective, but value depends on what the plan includes.
Mexico is a useful example. Roamless had the lowest 10GB price at $16.45 and listed Movistar. Roafly cost $24.90 and listed AT&T and Telcel. Nomad listed AT&T and Movistar, while Ubigi listed Altán Redes, Movistar and Telcel.
That does not make the more expensive options automatically better. However, travelers who value more disclosed network choice may consider the additional cost worthwhile. Multiple listed networks can create more choice or fallback potential, but they do not guarantee automatic switching or stronger reception everywhere.
Travelers researching a Roafly plan for this destination can also review eSIM Mexico.
A similar distinction appeared in Thailand. Roafly and Nomad both cost $10. Roafly listed AIS and DTAC, while Nomad disclosed True, AIS and dtac in its plan information. Nomad therefore showed more named network choice at the same price, though seamless switching was not confirmed.
In the United States, Roafly listed Verizon and AT&T. This may be relevant to travelers who prefer plans with named network disclosures, but it should not be interpreted as a universal coverage advantage.
Holafly is the clearest alternative for travelers who want a day-based unlimited plan rather than a fixed allowance.
| Destination | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $25.50 | $46.90 | $68.90 |
| Italy | $23.90 | $44.50 | $64.50 |
| Japan | $27.50 | $50.50 | $73.90 |
| Thailand | $27.50 | $50.50 | $73.90 |
| Mexico | $23.90 | $43.90 | $64.90 |
| Australia | $27.50 | $50.50 | $73.90 |
The checked Holafly destination plans allowed 1GB of hotspot use per day. They referred generally to fair-use controls but did not consistently provide a numerical high-speed threshold.
Airalo and Jetpac also sold unlimited plans in several benchmark countries. Airalo generally applied a daily high-speed allowance before reducing speed. Jetpac stated that its checked unlimited plans included 3GB at standard network speed every 24 hours, followed by speeds of up to 1Mbps until the daily reset.
Because the thresholds, hotspot rules and speed reductions differ, the lowest unlimited sticker price should not be treated as a universal unlimited-data winner.
Roamless offers a separate PAYG model with a balance that does not expire and can be reused across supported countries.
At the checked rate of approximately $2.45 per GB:
| Usage | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| 1GB | $2.45 |
| 3GB | $7.35 |
| 5GB | $12.25 |
| 10GB | $24.50 |
PAYG is most attractive for light, irregular or multi-country use. For a full 10GB in one country, Roamless’s fixed plans were generally cheaper than paying per GB.

Best for: Straightforward fixed-data pricing and full-allowance hotspot use.
Roafly offered the lowest complete six-country basket and the lowest Japan price. Its fixed-data plans are data-only, support top-ups and allow the full purchased allowance to be used through hotspot without a separate hotspot quota.
It does not offer unlimited plans. Public customer reviews frequently mention helpful and responsive support, although individual experiences may vary.

Best for: Travelers who want unlimited data priced by trip duration.
Holafly avoids the need to estimate a fixed data allowance. It is especially relevant for travelers who expect heavier daily use.
The main limitations are its 1GB-per-day hotspot allowance on the checked plans and the lack of a consistently stated numerical high-speed threshold.

Best for: Travelers who value security and privacy-related tools.
Saily combines standard travel data plans with features such as web protection, ad blocking and virtual location tools.
Its prices were not the lowest in the complete basket, and the checked destination pages generally did not identify local network partners by name.

Best for: Travelers who want to compare fixed, daily and unlimited-style options.
Nomad tied for the lowest Thailand price and remained competitive in Japan and Mexico. Its product range makes it suitable for travelers whose usage does not fit one plan type.
Plan rules can vary, particularly for daily or unlimited products, so high-speed thresholds and reduced-speed conditions should be checked carefully.

Best for: PAYG use, occasional travel and reusable global balance.
Roamless was the cheapest provider in Mexico and came within $0.60 of Roafly’s complete basket. Its no-expiry PAYG balance is useful for travelers who move between countries or use small amounts of data unpredictably.
For heavier use in one destination, its fixed plans are normally more economical than its PAYG rate.

Best for: Low fixed-data prices in selected markets and reusable plans.
Ubigi was cheapest in the United States and Italy and tied with Roafly in Australia. It also offers one-time, monthly and annual plan structures.
Its Mexico price was the highest among the complete fixed-data baskets, and one Thailand page displayed inconsistent prices between different sections.

Best for: Travelers interested in bundled travel-related benefits.
Jetpac combines fixed and unlimited plans with extras such as SmartDelay and access to selected essential applications.
It could not complete the standardized basket because directly comparable 10GB plans were unavailable in Italy and Australia. Several checked prices were also displayed alongside temporary discounts, so its regular list prices were used.
Airalo may remain the better option when it offers a specific regional package, a voice-and-SMS plan or a product structure not matched by the alternatives.
Its Mexico plan, for example, included calls and SMS as well as data. Travelers who need those services may find it more useful than a cheaper data-only alternative.
Airalo may also suit users who already have its app installed, understand its top-up process or want to manage several destination types through one established marketplace. A lower competing price does not automatically justify switching when the product itself is different.
There is no single cheapest alternative in every country. Ubigi was cheapest in the United States and Italy, Roafly in Japan, Roafly and Nomad in Thailand, and Roamless in Mexico. Roafly had the lowest complete six-country basket.
Holafly is the most clearly unlimited-focused provider in this comparison. Airalo and Jetpac also offer unlimited plans, but their high-speed allowances and speed-reduction rules differ.
Roafly allows the full purchased fixed-data allowance to be used through hotspot without a separate hotspot quota. Roamless also supports unrestricted hotspot use on its checked PAYG model. Holafly limited hotspot use to 1GB per day on the checked plans.
Roamless was cheaper than Airalo in all six standardized 10GB comparisons. Its PAYG model is also useful for low usage, though its fixed plans are usually better value at around 10GB.
Not necessarily. More listed networks can provide additional choice or fallback potential, but they do not prove automatic switching, stronger signal everywhere, faster speeds or higher network priority.
Roafly eSIM was the strongest all-round fixed-data option in this six-country basket, with the lowest complete total of $96.60, full-allowance hotspot use and top-up support.
It was not the cheapest in every destination. Ubigi led in the United States and Italy, Roamless was substantially cheaper in Mexico, and Nomad matched Roafly in Thailand. Holafly remained the more natural choice for unlimited-focused travelers, while Roamless had the clearest PAYG advantage.
The best Airalo alternative therefore depends on the trip. Compare the exact destination, data allowance, validity, hotspot rule and disclosed local networks rather than choosing a provider based only on its lowest advertised starting price.
This comparison is published by Roafly and includes Roafly. We apply the same criteria to every provider. Prices and features were checked on August 5, 2026.