Airalo
Budget travelers on short trips who want the widest plan selection and per-GB value across 200+ countries
Score Comparison
Pricing & Features
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Airalo
Budget travelers on short trips who want the widest plan selection and per-GB value across 200+ countries
Airalo is the Amazon of travel eSIMs — the largest marketplace with unmatched plan variety across 200+ countries. Its per-GB pricing is hard to beat for light-to-moderate data users, and the Discover+ plan uniquely adds calls and SMS. The lack of unlimited data and inconsistent customer support keep it from perfection, but for flexibility and value, Airalo remains the market leader.
Strengths
- Largest eSIM marketplace with 200+ countries and massive plan variety (local, regional, global)
- Affordable pricing starting at ~$3.50/1GB with the cheapest per-GB rates for small data packs
- Intuitive app with loyalty rewards program (Airmoney) and easy setup process
- Global Discover+ plan uniquely supports calls and SMS alongside data
Limitations
- No unlimited data plans — data cuts off abruptly when depleted
- Customer support over-reliant on AI chatbots with a stingy refund policy (Trustpilot 3.7/5)
- Initial connectivity can take up to 30 minutes in new destinations
When to Choose Yesim
Tech-savvy travelers who want built-in VPN, virtual phone numbers, and flexible pay-as-you-go credits
Yesim is a Swiss-based provider with a polished app and unique features including a built-in VPN (iOS only) and city-specific plans. The pay-as-you-go credit system with no expiry suits irregular travelers well. Premium pricing and slow customer support hold it back from the top tier, but for feature-rich travel eSIM users, Yesim delivers solid value.
Strengths
- Built-in free VPN for iOS users and virtual phone number option for dual-line use
- Beautiful, intuitive app with unique city-specific plans for popular destinations
- Pay-as-you-go "Pay & Fly" credit system with no-expiry balance and strong loyalty program (YCoins)
- Accepts cryptocurrency payments and offers competitive pricing in select destinations
Limitations
- Slow customer support response times compared to competitors
- Premium pricing ranked #26/38 with higher per-GB costs than Airalo in most destinations
- VPN feature only available on iOS; auto-refill enabled by default on YCoin top-ups
