Airalo Review: eSIM for Travelers and Digital Nomads

This is my personal Airalo review. I use Airalo since 2021.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, remote worker, or frequent traveler, keeping your phone connected while on the go can be a challenge. In addition to finding a local SIM card, you may also have to deal with the hassle of managing multiple phone numbers. But what if there was an easier way? Luckily there is, and it’s called an eSIM. Airalo is one of the most popular and best travel eSIM providers in the world.

With Airalo, you can easily connect to a local network in over 190 countries without having to worry about juggling multiple SIM cards or phone numbers.

Buy Airalo online (better before the trip).

You need a phone that supports eSIM technology

Airalo Review

Let’s start from the very beginning.

1. What Is Airalo?

Airalo is an e-SIM provider that offers a convenient way for travelers and digital nomads to stay connected while on the go. Founded in 2018, the company offers a range of prepaid mobile plans that are designed to meet the specific needs of today’s globetrotters.

In three words, Airalo sells eSIMs.

1.1 What Is eSIM?

An eSIM (Embedded SIM) is a virtual SIM card.

It eliminates the need for a physical SIM card and provides travelers with added convenience and flexibility when staying connected while abroad. With an eSIM, you can switch between networks quickly and easily without having to change a SIM. You can buy another SIM for traveling and keep using your existing SIM.

With eSIM you don’t have to change your SIM (take out).

You just change “settings” on your phone.

The only downside — it works only if your phone supports it.

Here’s a list of phones that support eSIM technology.

With eSIM you can keep receiving calls and SMS to your existing number, and have another SIM abroad for internet. That’s what most people use eSIMs for – for cheap internet abroad.

1.2 How eSIMS Work?

Watch this video to learn how eSIMs work:

2. How to Get Started With Airalo?

Go online. Buy an Airalo eSIM. Press a few buttons. Done.

This is how easy nowadays you can get internet abroad. When I first tried it in 2021, I was amazed. I didn’t expect it to be that easy, but it is (more or less).

2.1 Buying an eSIM (Airalo) – Part 1

First of all, make sure that your phone supports eSIM.

If your phone supports eSIM, then follow these steps:

Go to the website airalo.com;
Create an account and buy yourself an eSIM (internet);
Choose a data plan that suits you the best.

All of this can be done online.

You choose a country you will be traveling to. Then you choose a data plan. And then you make a payment. There are smaller and bigger data plans. There are eSIMs for one country, and there are also eSIMs that can be used in multiple countries without changing anything. For example, there are eSIMs for Southeast Asia, that work in several countries of the region.

Top ups are done online as well.

Some eSIMs can’t be topped up.

2.2 Setting Up Your Phone – Part 2 (you have to be connected to WiFi to do it)

So, you bought an eSIM.

You have received it in your email.

Now follow the last 3 steps:

Connect this eSIM with your phone. To do this, scan a QR code in email and follow the steps; choose your old SIM as main SIM for calls and SMS, and the eSIM – for internet;
In phone settings activate data roaming for your eSIM;
If you are already abroad, start using the mobile internet on your phone. If you aren’t – you’ll be able to connect with this SIM once you arrive to the country.

3. Why I Love Airalo? (and eSIMS in general)

Here are 3 top reasons I love Airalo.

I can use two SIM cards at once. Airalo makes traveling a lot easier for me, as I can now use two SIM cards at once and keep receiving calls and texts on my old number. I, personally, use my “old number” for all the 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) messages.
I can be connected right from the moment of arrival. Once I have landed in a new country, I can start using internet on my phone. I don’t have to rely on airport WiFi. I don’t have to rely on the availability of SIM cards in the airport shop. I don’t have to wait for my new local SIM card to be activated. With Airalo internet works right away.
Super simple pricing. Mobile data plans abroad can be confusing. With Airalo, they are super simple.

4. Can You Make Calls With Airalo? (My Experience in Thailand and Other Countries)

Here’s the answer to this question from Airalo:

For most Airalo eSIMs, you will not be able to make phone calls or send SMS text messages, as our eSIM packs provide data only. Telephony services like Texts(SMS) and calls are not possible using a Data-only eSIM. However, you can use internet-based calls and messages.
Airalo.com > Help

Once I really needed to make a call in Thailand and I thought, maybe I can make a call with Airalo? I entered the phone number I wanted to call and on top of the same screen chose, that I am going to call from my Thailand eSIM (this is what I had named my Airalo in Thailand). There was such an option. And I made a call from Airalo. Turned out that I had enough credit to make that one local call.

That made me think of and do a couple more tests:

Can you receive SMS with Airalo? Turned out that you can. At least in some countries. I haven’t yet tested it in other countries, but in Thailand I used Airalo for a few services, where they didn’t accept my European mobile number. I could see my number in the details of my Airalo eSIM, both on the web and in the app. For example, in Laos in Malaysia I don’t see that.
Can you top-up Airalo like a normal SIM? Meaning – can you just go to the shop or top up online cheaper and / or have more options than Airalo gives you? Turned out that you can. Again, I haven’t yet see it working in different countries, only in Thailand. But in Thailand I could do it online, on the website of the mobile network provider. I just clicked on a link sent to me by the my mobile network provider company. I could see the company name and my mobile number in the details of my Airalo eSIM (on the web and in the app).

I just looked up my old Thailand eSIM. Turns out that it came with a 15 Baht call credit. That’s why I could make that call and use it for something else, not only for the internet. You can see this kind of information in the description section of an eSIM. Check that before you make a purchase.

Speaking of Thailand, now, I use DTAC e-SIM for Thailand.

I have used Airalo in Latvia, Spain, Italy, the US, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Austria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India, Bangladesh, and more.

4.1 Can You Receive Calls And SMS With Airalo?

It may work. You may have this option. In Thailand it worked for me.

But mostly you won’t be able to use Airalo for incoming calls and SMS. Well, most likely you will be receiving SMS from your mobile provider about the status of your SIM, and things like remaining data quota, but you won’t know the number, hence won’t be able to give it to others.

Frequently Asked Questions About Airalo

How Much Does Airalo Cost?

There is no one price, it varies from country to country.

Simply open their website or app, and look up the prices. If you are going to visit more than one country, definitely check out their multi-country eSIMs. It might be a lot cheaper to use a regional eSIM than buying a separate SIM for every country you are going to visit during a trip. Pay attention to validity periods.

How to Top Up Airalo eSIM?

You can do it from the app and web page.

And again – it’s super simple. You don’t have to look for rates and go through a list of million options. Airalo shows you all of the options in one place. You choose what suits you the best, and top up online. I love to use Apple Pay to pay for top ups.

In What Countries Does Airalo Work?

You can see the whole list on airalo.com.

What Phones Support eSIM?

Here are some popular phone models that support eSIM:

iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone SE 3 (2022), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
Google Pixel 3, Google Pixel 3 XL, Google Pixel 3a, Google Pixel 3a XL, Google Pixel 4, Google Pixel 4 XL, Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 5a, Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6a, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Google Pixel 7, Google Pixel 7 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S21+ Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S22+, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G , Samsung Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, Samsung Galaxy S23, Samsung Galaxy S23+, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra