Remember the days when landing in a new country meant frantically searching for a SIM card shop at the airport? Or worse, coming home to a massive roaming bill that made you regret every Google Maps search? Those days are pretty much over, thanks to companies like Holafly that are changing how we stay connected while traveling.
If you’ve been researching ways to get the internet abroad, you’ve probably come across Holafly. But what exactly is it, and more importantly, is it worth your money? Let’s break it all down in plain English.
What is Holafly Anyway?
Holafly is an eSIM provider that launched back in 2017 from Dublin, Ireland. The whole idea came from the founders having a terrible time staying connected during their vacation. Sound familiar? They figured millions of travelers were dealing with the same headache, so they created a digital solution.
Here’s the simple version: instead of buying physical SIM cards in every country you visit, Holafly sends you a digital SIM (called an eSIM) straight to your email. You scan a QR code, install it on your phone, and boom – you’ve got internet the moment you land. No store hunting, no language barriers, no tiny plastic cards to lose.
The company now covers over 200 destinations worldwide and has helped more than 10 million travelers stay connected. That’s a lot of people who didn’t have to deal with airport SIM card kiosks.
How Does an eSIM Actually Work?
If you’re scratching your head about what an eSIM is, don’t worry – it’s actually pretty straightforward.
An eSIM is basically a SIM card that’s already built into your phone. Instead of physically inserting a plastic chip, you download the carrier profile digitally. Think of it like downloading an app, except it’s for your phone’s cellular service.
Most newer smartphones have this technology built in. iPhones from the XR onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixels from the 3rd generation up – they all support it. If your phone is from the last few years and wasn’t super budget-friendly, chances are it has eSIM capability.
The cool part? You can have multiple eSIMs stored on your phone at once. So you can keep your regular number active for calls while using your travel eSIM for data. No more choosing between staying reachable and having affordable internet.
Where Can You Use a Holafly?
Pretty much everywhere you’d actually want to travel. Holafly covers:
Europe: They’ve got a regional plan that works across 40+ countries. One eSIM for your entire European adventure, whether you’re hopping from Paris to Rome to Barcelona.
Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina – you name it.
Asia: Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, and tons more.
Middle East & Africa: UAE, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, and other major destinations.
They partner with local carriers in each country, so you’re not using some sketchy network. In the US, for example, you connect to AT&T. In Europe, you get Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile – the same networks locals use.
The Unlimited Data Thing – Is It Real?
This is Holafly’s biggest selling point, and honestly, it’s pretty great. Most of their plans come with unlimited data, which sounds too good to be true. But here’s the reality:
For normal travel stuff – and I mean really going hard on Google Maps, uploading vacation photos, video calling home, streaming music – you genuinely have unlimited access. No counting gigabytes, no “do I have enough data left?” anxiety.
There is a Fair Usage Policy though. If you somehow manage to use over 90GB in a month (which is absolutely massive), they might slow you down temporarily. But let’s be real – unless you’re downloading entire Netflix series in 4K or running a YouTube channel from your phone, you won’t hit that limit.
Most travelers use maybe 5-10GB even when they think they’re being heavy users. So yeah, for practical purposes, it’s unlimited.
Setting Up Your Holafly eSIM
The setup is surprisingly easy, even if you’re not great with tech.
Before You Leave:
Buy your plan on their website. Pick your destination and how many days you need – they’ve got options from 1 day all the way to 90 days. You’ll get an email instantly with a QR code.
Here’s the important part: install it while you’re still at home with WiFi. Go to your phone settings, find the option to add a cellular plan (it’s slightly different on iPhone vs Android), and scan that QR code. Your phone will ask you to name it something – I usually just call mine “Travel.”
Don’t activate it yet! Just install it and leave it turned off until you actually arrive at your destination.
When You Arrive:
Turn on your Holafly eSIM in your phone settings and enable data roaming. I know, I know – we’ve been trained our whole lives NOT to turn on data roaming. But trust me, it’s fine because you’re using your prepaid plan, not your regular carrier.
Your phone should connect to a local network within like 30 seconds. Test it by opening a browser or checking if WhatsApp works. That’s it – you’re connected.
What You Actually Get with Holafly
Keep Your WhatsApp Number: This was a big concern for me initially, but your WhatsApp stays exactly the same. All your chats, your number, your contacts – nothing changes. You can keep messaging and calling everyone like normal.
No Phone Calls or SMS: Holafly is data-only. You don’t get a local phone number, and you can’t make regular phone calls or send text messages. But honestly, when was the last time you actually sent an SMS? Everything works through WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype, or whatever app you prefer.
Hotspot Sharing: Most Holafly plans let you share your connection with other devices. Usually around 500MB per day, which is enough to help out a travel buddy or connect your laptop quickly.
24/7 Support: If something goes wrong, you can reach their support team anytime through chat or email. Reviews consistently mention their support team is actually helpful, not just copy-pasting generic responses.
How Much Does It Cost?
Prices vary by destination, but here’s the general idea: the longer your plan, the cheaper it gets per day.
A week-long plan might cost you around $30-40, which works out to about $5 per day. A month could be $60-80, so roughly $2-3 per day.
Compare that to international roaming from your regular carrier, which is usually $10-15 per day with way less data. Or buying airport SIM cards that are overpriced and inconvenient. Holafly’s pricing is pretty competitive when you factor in the unlimited data and zero hassle.
How Does It Actually Perform?
In cities and popular tourist areas, Holafly works great. You’ll get 4G or 5G speeds that feel just like being at home. I’m talking fast enough to video call, stream videos, upload photos instantly – all that stuff.
In remote areas – think national parks, mountains, countryside – coverage can be spotty. But that’s not really Holafly’s fault. It’s just how local networks are in those places. Even locals struggle with coverage in the middle of nowhere.
One thing I really appreciate is that if you’re using a regional plan and cross borders, everything just keeps working automatically. No manual switching, no setup required. Your phone detects the new country and connects to local networks on its own.
Holafly vs Other Options
Holafly vs Airalo: Airalo is probably Holafly’s biggest competitor. The main difference? Airalo sells fixed data amounts (like 3GB or 5GB) usually at cheaper prices, while Holafly focuses on unlimited data. If you barely use data, Airalo might save you money. If you want to use your phone freely, Holafly is better.
Holafly vs Local SIM Cards: Sure, local SIMs can be cheaper if you’re staying somewhere for months. But you have to find a shop, deal with language barriers, swap out your physical SIM (and risk losing it), and spend time setting everything up. Most people find the convenience of Holafly worth paying a bit extra.
Who Should Use Holafly?
Holafly makes the most sense if you:
- Use your phone a lot while traveling (navigation, photos, video calls, working remotely)
- Visit multiple countries on one trip
- Don’t want to think about data limits
- Value convenience over saving every last dollar
- Have a newer smartphone that supports eSIM
It’s probably not the best choice if you barely use data and only need occasional maps, or if you’re staying in one place for many months and can justify the hassle of getting a local SIM.
Real Talk: Any Downsides?
Nothing’s perfect, right? Here are the honest limitations:
You can’t make regular phone calls or get a local number. For most travelers using WhatsApp and similar apps, this doesn’t matter. But if you need to call hotels or restaurants that don’t use messaging apps, you’ll have to figure out alternatives.
Remote areas have weak coverage, but again, that’s true everywhere. Even the fanciest local SIM won’t help you in the middle of a desert.
Your phone needs to be unlocked and eSIM-compatible. Most recent phones are fine, but older models won’t work.
My Honest Take
After using Holafly on several trips, I think it’s genuinely one of the best travel investments you can make. The peace of mind knowing you’ll have internet the second you land, without hunting for SIM cards or worrying about data limits, is worth the cost.
Is it the absolute cheapest option? No, probably not. But when you factor in the time saved, the stress avoided, and the unlimited data, it’s competitively priced and super convenient.
The setup is easy enough that even my tech-phobic friends managed it without issues. The service actually works as advertised. And when I had a question, their support team responded quickly with helpful answers.
For anyone traveling internationally more than once a year, having Holafly as your go-to connectivity solution just makes sense. No more data anxiety, no more airport SIM card hunts, no more bill shock when you get home.
Quick Tips for Using Holafly
Install everything at home before you leave. Don’t wait until you’re tired at the airport.
Screenshot your QR code and email it to yourself as backup. You’ll need it if you have to reinstall.
Test your connection immediately when you land so you can contact support if needed.
Keep your regular SIM active for important calls, but use Holafly for all internet stuff.
Don’t stress about data usage – that’s the whole point of unlimited.
Final Thoughts
Holafly has figured out how to make international travel connectivity simple and stress-free. Their unlimited data plans, extensive coverage, and straightforward setup eliminate the traditional headaches of staying connected abroad. While it might not be the rock-bottom cheapest option for ultra-light data users, for most travelers, the convenience and reliability make it absolutely worth considering for your next international trip.
