What Makes Airalo Stand Out?
If you've spent any time in travel or digital nomad communities, you've probably come across Airalo already. It's one of those brands that just keeps showing up, on Instagram, on Reddit, on TikTok, recommended by other travellers at hostels. I'd seen the name everywhere for a while before actually testing it myself, and as someone who has tested a lot of eSIMs by now, it felt like a gap I needed to fill.
And the recognition makes sense. Airalo launched in 2019 as the world's first eSIM store, and it has the scale to back up the reputation: coverage in 200+ destinations, over 20 million users, and an app rated 4.7 on iOS and 4.6 on Android. It doesn’t matter if you're heading to one country or hopping across several, the chances are Airalo has a plan for it.
A few things that set it apart from the other providers I've tested:
- One of the widest coverage networks on the market
- Both country-specific, regional and global plans, good for multi-destination trips
- Earn Airmoney loyalty credit on every purchase, which builds up over time
- Top-up, auto-renewal and unlimited data options so you never run out mid-trip
Performance and Speed: What to Expect
I ran speed tests on an iPhone 15 Pro using Speedtest.net in Portugal and Denmark. Next to the price, the speed results and connectivity are what most users will base their decision on. In my personal test, both locations showed 5G connectivity. However, the actual speed results differed quite a bit.
Ericeira, Portugal (Coastal Town 40 minutes from Lisbon)
Ericeira is a smaller coastal town, not a major city, so speeds were more modest:
- Morning, at a cafe: ~30 Mbps
- Afternoon, in my apartment: ~60 Mbps
Airalo Speedtest Ericeira PortugalFor most travel use, browsing, maps, messaging, video calls, these speeds are more than enough. Streaming and hotspotting would also work, though you wouldn't be getting the fastest speeds.
Copenhagen, Denmark (City Centre)
City performance was a different story:
Airalo Speedtest Copenhagen DenmarkThat's genuinely fast. Comfortably usable for video calls, larger file transfers, or hotspotting a laptop.
The overall picture: Airalo performs well as a 5G provider, particularly in cities. Speeds in smaller towns and rural areas will naturally vary, and connectivity can be inconsistent in some countries. That's common across eSIM providers and not specific to Airalo. Overall, the connection was stable at all times and fast enough for my everyday use of WhatsApp, Facetime, Spotify and social media.
Setup and Activation: How Easy Is It?
I installed Airalo twice across my two test trips, and both times it worked without any issues, just with slightly different timings.
The first time, it was almost instant. I scanned the QR code that came through by email, my phone walked me through the steps by itself, and it was done within seconds. No friction at all.
The second time took a bit longer, roughly two minutes for the activation to complete. Nothing went wrong, it just needed a little more time. So if yours takes a minute or two, don't panic. That seems to be normal depending on the destination.
Either way, it's one of the easiest eSIM setups I've done.
💡 Tip: before you install, take a minute to remove any inactive eSIM profiles from your phone and rename the new one straight after. If you travel a lot and stack multiple profiles, this saves you from confusion later.
Pricing: Is Airalo Competitive?
Airalo offers two types of plan: Standard (data-limited) and Unlimited. The prices below are based on my testing in Portugal.
Standard Plans
Pricing is in line with other major eSIM providers. Not the cheapest option out there, but definitely competitive for the coverage you get.
3 days
7 days
15 days
30 days
| Duration |
Data |
Price |
| 3 days | 3 GB | €5.50 |
| 7 days | 10 GB | €9.00 |
| 15 days | 20 GB | €16.50 |
| 30 days | 20 GB | €17.00 |
Portugal Airalo prices as of mid May 2026. Prices vary by country, so always check the current rates for your destination in the Airalo app before purchasing.
Every Airalo purchase or friend referral earns a small amount of Airmoney credit. If you travel frequently and use Airalo across multiple trips, it adds up and can take a bit off future purchases. A nice loyalty benefit that builds over time.
Unlimited Plans
Airalo also offers unlimited plans, which are worth considering for longer trips. Pricing is reasonable at a glance, but there's one thing worth knowing before you go for the unlimited tier.
| Duration |
Price |
| 3 days | €10.50 |
| 7 days | €24.00 |
| 30 days | €61.00 |
Portugal Airalo prices as of mid May 2026. Prices vary by country, so always check the current rates for your destination in the Airalo app before purchasing.
What "Unlimited" Actually Means
Airalo's unlimited plans cap full-speed data at 3 GB per day. After that, speeds drop to 1 Mbps until the next day. This is a common practice among eSIM providers and worth knowing before you buy.
I want to be honest about this, because it matters if you're working remotely. A 3 GB daily cap at full speed is on the average to lower end compared to the market. To give you some context based on what's available for Portugal:
- At €61 for 30 days, Airalo's unlimited plan is priced similarly to providers that offer either a higher 5 GB daily cap or no cap at all.
- Providers with a similar 3 GB daily cap are available from around €48 for 30 days.
- There are options without any daily speed cap from around €69.
- In practice, most eSIM providers apply some form of fair usage policy on unlimited plans, even if it's not always clearly displayed.
For casual travellers checking maps, messaging, and browsing, 3 GB per day is unlikely to be a problem. For digital nomads and remote workers who rely on mobile data for hotspotting a laptop or running video calls throughout the day, it's worth thinking carefully about which plan actually fits your usage. A standard 20 GB plan might give you better value than the unlimited tier, depending on how you work.
Is Airalo Legit?
Yes. Airalo is a legitimate, well-established provider. Founded in 2019, it now serves over 20 million users globally and comes up consistently as one of the most recommended eSIM platforms in travel communities.
On Trustpilot, it holds a 4.0 star rating across 25,783 reviews. The most consistent praise is around ease of installation, reasonable pricing, and reliability across countries. The main criticisms are occasional slow speeds or connectivity issues in certain regions, and some users have reported difficulty identifying eSIMs within the app.
One thing that stood out to me: Airalo is notably responsive to negative Trustpilot reviews. Most complaints get a reply within 24 hours with an offer to resolve the issue. That level of responsiveness is a good sign.
Support starts with an AI agent, which works well for quick questions. For more complex issues, it's worth knowing that you can expect a few back and forths with AI before reaching a human.
What I Liked and What to Watch Out For
What I liked:
- Coverage in 200+ destinations, one of the widest on the market
- Fast, easy activation, full setup in under 2 minutes
- Strong 5G performance in cities (up to 206 Mbps in Copenhagen)
- Airmoney credit builds up across purchases, good for frequent travellers
- Good app store ratings: 4.7 iOS / 4.6 Android
- Regional and global plans available, flexible for multi-country trips
What to watch out for:
- Unlimited plan caps full-speed data at 3 GB per day, after that speed reduces. This is common practice across providers
- At €61/30 days, the Portugal unlimited plan is not the best value at this price point
- Speed and connectivity vary more in rural areas and smaller towns
Overall: Is Airalo Worth It?
For most travellers, yes. Airalo is reliable, has excellent coverage, and the setup is one of the easiest I've tested. The Airmoney credit is a genuine perk if you travel regularly, and the range of plans across 200+ countries makes it one of the most versatile options out there. If you're travelling as a backpacker, on a holiday or a short work trip, I can definitely recommend Airalo as a solid choice.
If you're a digital nomad or remote worker, my recommendation comes with a note: choose your plan carefully. The 3 GB daily speed cap on the unlimited plan is something to factor in if you rely on consistent, high-speed data throughout the day. Depending on your usage, a 20 GB standard plan might actually serve you better.
That said, for multi-country trips across Europe or anywhere in Airalo's coverage map, it's one of the easiest and most dependable ways to stay connected.
