Airalo eSIM plans and prices
Airalo sells fixed amounts of data that last 7 to 30 days, and "unlimited" plans sold by the day. Here are its prices for Europe, Japan and China, three trips where it is often compared.
| Plan | Europe | Japan | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 GB, 7 days | $11.00 | $8.00 | $10.50 |
| 5 GB, 30 days | $19.50 | $11.00 | $15.50 |
| 10 GB, 15 days | Not offered | $17.50 | $25.50 |
| 10 GB, 30 days | $31.00 | $18.00 | $26.50 |
| 20 GB, 30 days | $48.00 | $25.00 | $40.00 |
| "Unlimited", 7 days | $27.00 | $26.50 | $27.00 |
| "Unlimited", 10 days | $35.00 | $34.50 | $35.00 |
| "Unlimited", 15 days | $49.00 | $48.00 | $49.00 |
Prices checked Nov 9, 2026, in US dollars. "Unlimited" plans run at full speed for a set amount each day, then at 1 Mbps. The price on Airalo's site when you buy is the one that counts.
From 10 days to two weeks of maps and messages, 10 GB is the size to buy. For a heavier trip, the data calculator gives you a size.
Get Airalo for EuropeWhat you actually get with Airalo
Speed limits, refunds, China and the countries on the Europe plan: the details that decide whether Airalo fits your trip.
What you actually get with Airalo speed, hotspot, refunds
- Full speed per day
- All your gigabytes on fixed plans. On "unlimited", 5 GB a day in Europe and 3 GB in Japan, then 1 Mbps until the next day
- Hotspot
- Not stated by Airalo
- Europe plan
- 41 countries, the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Serbia, Albania, Iceland and Norway included
- China
- Airalo says Google, WhatsApp and social media work on its China eSIM without a VPN. Hotel Wi-Fi is still filtered
- Connection appears from
- In Japan, a Singapore address reported by users. One user saw a US address there
- If your trip changes
- Airmoney, Airalo's in-app credit, not cash. A faulty eSIM is refunded in Airmoney or to your card in 7 to 10 business days.
- Running low
- Top up the same eSIM in the app, no new install
From Airalo's plan pages and help center, and user reviews on esimdb, Nov 9, 2026.
Airalo Europe eSIM review: Eurolink in 41 countries
This is where Airalo is hard to beat. Eurolink keeps one plan running from London to Istanbul, with no new install at each border.
Eurolink lists 41 countries. Saily's Europe plan lists 34 to 35 and leaves Turkey out, and Holafly's covers 33, without Turkey or the Balkans outside the EU. If your route crosses into Albania, Serbia or Turkey, Airalo is the one plan that follows you all the way.
On price, 10 GB, 30 days costs $31.00. For a heavy user, 10 days of "unlimited" cost $35.00, at full speed for 5 GB every day.
Saily, Holafly and Airalo compared country by country on the best eSIM for Europe page.
Get Airalo EurolinkAiralo for one country: when Ubigi costs less
For a trip to a single country, Airalo's local plans work well but often cost more. The same 10 GB for 30 days, side by side.
| Country | Airalo | Ubigi |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $19.00 | $12.00 |
| France | $17.00 | $10.00 |
| United Kingdom | $19.00 | $11.00 |
| Japan | $18.00 | $16.50 |
So for Rome and Florence, or a week in London, Ubigi is the better buy (the Ubigi review has its plans). Airalo comes back as soon as the trip adds a second country.
Airalo in China: Google and WhatsApp without a VPN
China blocks Google, WhatsApp and Instagram on local connections. Airalo's China eSIM is one of the few that says on its own help pages that they work, with no VPN to install.
That is why Airalo is the pick for China, even though Ubigi's 10 GB costs about $17.00. Ubigi's own blog says both that you need a VPN and that you don't. 10 GB, 15 days costs $25.50 on China Unicom. The promise covers the eSIM's data only, so hotel and café Wi-Fi stay filtered.
Install it at home, before you fly to Beijing or Shanghai. Once there, Google won't load on Chinese Wi-Fi.
Get Airalo for ChinaAiralo in Japan: the Singapore address
In Japan, Airalo rides on SoftBank, but several users report that their traffic comes out in Singapore. Maps and messages don't care, and ChatGPT is offered in Singapore.
The country websites and apps think you are in.
Airalo reported by several users
You are inOsaka
NetworkSoftBank
The internet sees you inSingapore
What changesChatGPT still worksIt is offered in Singapore
Ubigi reported by users
You are inOsaka
NetworkDocomo or KDDI
The internet sees you inJapan
What changesNothingApps behave as they do for anyone in Japan
Unlimited plans in Japan also slow down sooner, after 3 GB a day instead of 5 in Europe. For a short stay, Airalo's 1 GB, 3 days at $4.00 is the cheapest way in. For a longer trip, Ubigi is my pick, with a Japanese address and Docomo and KDDI coverage. More on the best eSIM for Japan page.
What are the downsides of Airalo?
Four. Refunds matter most.
Refunds in Airmoney
If you change plans or buy the wrong eSIM, Airalo pays you back in Airmoney, to spend in its own store. Only a faulty eSIM can go back to your card.
Pricier in a single country
In Italy, France and the UK, Ubigi's 10 GB for 30 days costs several dollars less.
Hotspot not stated
Airalo doesn't say whether you can share data with a laptop. If you'll work from a laptop, Nomad's plans allow it.
Mostly data only
Most plans come without a phone number. Your US line stays on for calls and bank codes.
Airalo vs Ubigi
Ubigi is the provider most likely to undercut Airalo, country by country. Airalo wins back on multi-country trips and on China.
10 GB in Italy
$18.0010 GB, 15 days
$12.00Wins10 GB, 30 days
Ubigi, by $6.00
10 GB in Japan
$17.5010 GB, 15 days
$16.50Wins10 GB, 30 days
Ubigi, a little cheaper and a Japanese address
Google and WhatsApp in China
Stated by AiraloWinsno VPN needed
UnclearUbigi's pages disagree
Airalo, the one that says it plainly
Airalo against Saily, trip by trip: Saily vs Airalo.
Airalo review questions
Is Airalo legitimate?
Yes. Airalo sells travel eSIMs for 200+ places and counts over 30 million customers. You buy a data plan in its app or on its site, install the eSIM, and keep your US number for calls and texts.
Is airalo eSIM trustworthy?
For the plan itself, yes: it installs from the app and connects on local networks. The catch is the refund, paid in Airmoney, Airalo's store credit, unless the eSIM was faulty.
Should I install Airalo eSIM before travel?
Yes, at home on Wi-Fi. Airalo lets you install it whenever you like, so it connects as soon as you land. Then set it as your data line and turn on Data Roaming for that line only.
Does eSIM give you a phone number?
Not on most Airalo plans, which are data only. Your US number stays on for calls and texts, and WhatsApp or FaceTime calls run over the eSIM's data.