Airalo Review: Honest Take After 3 Years and 10+ Countries
Tested Airalo since 2022 across Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, Costa Rica, and more. Mostly reliable, but the UK was a total failure. Verdict: Buy It on Sale.
- Verdict: 🛍 Buy It on Sale
- Best For: Travelers visiting countries where local SIMs are inconvenient to source on arrival
- The Dealbreaker: If the eSIM fails, the default refund is store credit. You have to explicitly ask for your card back
- Usage Duration: Tested since 2022 across 10+ countries including Switzerland, Korea, Japan, and Costa Rica
- Top Competitor: Yesim (currently testing)
I have used Airalo since 2022 across Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, and Costa Rica. Setup takes under 5 minutes and works in 200+ countries. If you travel frequently outside the EU and want connectivity before you land, it is worth having.
Why I Tested the Airalo eSIM
I started using Airalo in 2022 after one too many airport SIM card queues. Picking up a local SIM on arrival sounds simple until you are jet-lagged, carrying luggage, and staring at a queue of 40 people at the airport kiosk. An eSIM you install before boarding sounded like the obvious fix. Pocket WiFi is another option worth considering, but that is a separate comparison for another post.
Since then I have used it in Switzerland 🇨🇭, South Korea 🇰🇷, Japan 🇯🇵, and Costa Rica 🇨🇷, and it connected within minutes of landing every time. The UK was a different story, and I will get to that.
Pros and Cons of Using Airalo
- ✅ Install before you board. Download the eSIM at home, activate on landing. No queue, no kiosk, no roaming surprises.
- ✅ Works across 200+ countries. Consistent experience in Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, and Costa Rica across 3+ years of use.
- ✅ Setup takes under 5 minutes. QR code scan, toggle on, done. No physical SIM swap needed.
- ❌ Refunds default to store credit. You have to ask for your card back. When my UK plans failed, Airalo's first offer was Airmoney store credit. I pushed back and requested a refund to my original payment method. They approved it. But if you accept the default, that money stays locked in the platform.
- ❌ Customer support is bot-first and slows during peak seasons. Expect automated responses before reaching a human. Response times slow down during summer and holidays when their user base spikes. Useful for basic troubleshooting, not for resolving a failed connection mid-trip.
- ❌ Prices have increased significantly. Plans cost noticeably more in 2026 than when Airalo launched. Worth comparing per-country pricing before buying.
How It Actually Works
Setting Up Airalo: How Long It Actually Takes
The setup process takes under 5 minutes on a compatible device. Download the Airalo app, purchase a plan for your destination, and scan the QR code to install the eSIM. Enable data roaming before you land. That is the step most people miss.
- Time to set up: Under 5 minutes
- Ease of use: 🟢 Effortless, once data roaming is toggled on
- Key observation: Install the eSIM before you leave home, not at the airport. You need a stable Wi-Fi connection to download it.
Coverage in Practice: What 10+ Countries Taught Me
Airalo connected within minutes of landing in every destination I tested, except one.
Where it worked:
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland — 3GB/30 days, $8
- 🇯🇵 Japan — 10GB/30 days, $7.20 after promo
- 🇰🇷 Korea — Unlimited/10 days, €30.50
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica — connected without issues
Speeds were fast enough for Google Maps, WhatsApp calls, and video calls throughout. Prices above reflect what I paid in 2023 and 2024. As of early 2026, plans start from around $4 for 1GB. Budget competitors like Roamify now start from $3, so Airalo is more of a premium pick — you are paying for the larger country catalogue.
The UK exception:
I bought two 3GB plans in September 2024 ($10 + $2.81 after credits). Both showed as active. Neither connected.
A few things worth knowing from that support case:
- Their first offer was Airmoney store credit, not a card refund
- I pushed back and requested my money back to the original payment method
- They approved it
If you accept the default offer, that money stays locked in the platform. Ask for your card back.
What to Do If Your Airalo eSIM Fails
Work through these steps in order:
- Toggle data roaming off, wait 10 seconds, toggle back on
- Check APN settings match the ones in your Airalo confirmation email
- Restart your phone with the eSIM active
- If still no connection: contact Airalo support via the app with screenshots showing the eSIM is active and the data counter is at zero
- If support cannot resolve it: buy a local SIM. In most countries this costs under €10 and takes 15 minutes
Airalo vs. Yesim: How They Compare on Price and Coverage
Airalo's main advantage is country coverage: 200+ destinations, with unlimited data plans available for most of them. The unlimited plans include a fair usage policy: speeds drop to 1Mbps after 3GB in a 24-hour period, then reset at midnight. For casual browsing and maps that is rarely an issue, but power users and remote workers should factor this in. Where Yesim may have an edge: pricing in specific corridors. Worth comparing both before buying for your destination.
Where Yesim may have an edge: pricing in specific corridors. Worth comparing both before buying for your destination.
I am currently testing Yesim on a few upcoming trips. I will update this post with a proper comparison once I have used it enough.
Airalo eSIM: Install before you fly. ~$10–23 for 7 days (varies by country). No refund if it fails.
Local SIM: Buy on arrival. Often under €5 in Asia/Latin America. Reliable but requires finding a kiosk.
Pocket WiFi: Rent online, pick up at airport. Shareable with a group. Heavier to carry, must return it.
Who This Is NOT For
Not every traveler needs an eSIM. Airalo solves a specific problem. If that problem is not yours, save your money.
- 🇪🇺 If you are traveling within the EU and already have an EU SIM, your roaming is included at no extra cost. No eSIM needed.
- 📶 If you need guaranteed connectivity for remote work or emergencies, a single eSIM with no refund guarantee is a risk. Consider a pocket WiFi rental as a backup.
- 👥 If you are traveling in a group and happy to share one connection, a pocket WiFi rental might be cheaper per person. Just keep in mind everyone needs to stay within range of the device.
- 📱 If your phone does not support eSIM or is carrier-locked, Airalo will not work at all. Check your device compatibility on Airalo's site before purchasing.
- 💰 If you are visiting a country where airport SIMs cost under €5, buying a local SIM on arrival is cheaper and more reliable. Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America fall into this category.
FAQs
Is Airalo worth it in 2026?
Yes, if you travel frequently to countries outside the EU. Setup is fast, coverage spans 200+ destinations, and unlimited plans are available. The main risk: if the eSIM fails in your destination, getting a refund is not guaranteed.
Does Airalo work in all countries?
It covers 200+ countries, but coverage quality varies by destination. It worked flawlessly for me in Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, and Costa Rica. It failed completely in the UK. Check recent user reviews for your specific destination before buying.
Is Airalo cheaper than buying a local SIM?
It depends on the country. In Southeast Asia or Latin America, airport SIMs often cost under €5 and come with generous data. For countries where SIMs are harder to source on arrival, Airalo saves time and stress, but prices have gone up in 2026, so compare before you buy.
Final Verdict: Is Airalo Worth It?
For 2026, Airalo is a mid-tier choice for travelers who want hassle-free connectivity on arrival.
I will keep using it for destinations where local SIMs are hard to source, but I am actively testing alternatives. After 3 years and 10+ countries, it earned that spot, but the UK failure and the lack of a reliable refund process mean I cannot fully vouch for it anymore.
If you value convenience and wide country coverage over the cheapest possible price, it is a solid option. Just go in knowing that if something goes wrong, you are mostly on your own.
Currently testing: Yesim. I will update this post once I have a proper comparison.
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