Airalo Alternatives: 4 Real Providers Compared

Airalo is one of the best-known names in the eSIM space — 2,879 plans across 191 destinations, priced from $4.00 up to $99.00 — but it's rarely the cheapest option for a given trip, and it isn't the only real choice. If you're already comparing Airalo against something else, or just want to see what else is out there before you buy, here's how four genuine alternatives actually stack up, using real current pricing rather than marketing claims.

Airalo at a glance

Founded in 2019 and based in Singapore, Airalo covers 163 real destinations with a mix of fixed-data and unlimited plans, plus regional and global options for multi-country trips. It supports 16 real checkout currencies, accepts card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Alipay, and offers 24/7 in-app chat support. Refunds are self-service through the app for a wrong purchase, a change of plans, or a genuinely non-working eSIM. Some destinations legally require identity verification (eKYC) before you can buy — Airalo shows "Verify Your Identity" instead of "Buy" when that applies. Its unlimited plans default to a 3GB-per-day full-speed allowance before throttling to 1 Mbps.

None of that is a weakness — it's a genuinely solid, well-run operation. But "well-known" and "cheapest for your specific trip" aren't the same thing, which is exactly why comparing real numbers is worth the five minutes it takes.

Four real alternatives to Airalo

Ubigi

Ubigi is the one alternative on this list that does something Airalo doesn't: genuine recurring monthly and annual data plans, not just single-trip eSIMs. If you visit the same country repeatedly, or want a data buffer that doesn't expire on a fixed trip timeline, nothing else here offers that. It's also the most complete provider we track on trust-card facts — refund, validity, fair-use, top-up, currency, support, payment, and KYC policies are all real and confirmed, not just partially documented. 1,103 plans across 198 destinations, from $2.00 to $390.00. Real discount code active:

Ubigi -10% ESIMKART10 First payment only

10% off for new customers on first purchase

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See the direct Airalo vs. Ubigi comparison for a full head-to-head on a specific destination.

Maya Mobile

Maya sells unlimited-only, at one flat rate that's identical no matter which of its 174 destinations you're in — $9.99 for 3 days up to $49.99 for 30 days, everywhere. If your trip crosses multiple countries, that "one eSIM, one price" model removes the need to buy a separate plan per stop, something Airalo's per-country pricing doesn't do. Real discount code active:

Maya Mobile -10% ESIMKART10

10% off.

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See the direct Airalo vs. Maya Mobile comparison for exact numbers on your destination.

Saily

Saily (built by the team behind NordVPN) mixes fixed-data tiers with a duration-flexible unlimited plan — you pick exactly how many days of unlimited you want rather than choosing from a small fixed set of lengths, which Airalo also offers but with fewer duration steps in most destinations. 1,173 plans across 200 destinations, from $1.99 to $159.99. Real discount code active:

Saily -10% ESIMKART

10% off.

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See the direct Airalo vs. Saily comparison for a side-by-side on real numbers.

Nomad eSIM

Nomad is a US-based alternative with a genuinely large catalog — 1,273 plans across 204 destinations, from $2.00 to $120.00 — and its pricing is often dynamic, with real sale pricing on specific plans that changes over time, so it's worth checking current numbers rather than assuming last month's price still applies. Real discount code active:

Nomad eSIM -15% ESIMKART15

15% off, single-use per customer. Excludes plans under $5, sale plans, add-on data, unlimited plans, and the Thailand 50GB plan.

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See the direct Airalo vs. Nomad eSIM comparison for a full breakdown.

How to actually pick between them

• Coverage: does the alternative cover your specific destination, and how many providers does it compete with there? Check the country-specific plan list rather than the provider's own country count, which includes places you're not going.
• Pricing model: fixed-data plans are usually cheaper for predictable, moderate use; unlimited is worth the premium only if you'll actually use enough data to justify it — see our data usage guide if you're not sure which camp you're in.
• Multi-country trips: a flat-rate global plan (Maya Mobile) or a real regional bundle can beat buying a separate eSIM per country, but only if your itinerary actually needs that breadth.
• Recurring visits: if you're back in the same country more than once a year, Ubigi's annual plans are worth pricing against buying a fresh eSIM every trip.
• KYC requirements: a handful of destinations legally require ID verification regardless of provider — this isn't something to hold against any one of them, it's a destination-level requirement.

The honest answer

There isn't a single "best Airalo alternative" — it depends on whether you need broad brand recognition (stick with Airalo), the cheapest flat-rate unlimited (Maya Mobile), genuine recurring plans (Ubigi), duration-flexible unlimited (Saily), or dynamic sale pricing worth checking regularly (Nomad eSIM). All four compete with Airalo on real coverage, not just price, which is why comparing your specific destination's numbers — not a generic country count — is the only way to actually decide.

For the full, live list of every provider we track — not just the four compared here — see our complete provider directory. And if you're new to eSIMs entirely, our beginner's guide to how eSIMs work covers the basics before you compare anyone.