Provider comparison
HelloRoam vs Airalo: eSIM Prices Compared Across 185 and 200+ Destinations
HelloRoam is this site's top pick: its 7-day unlimited plan has the lowest median price of the five, $21.
Airalo covers 200+ destinations with regional multi-country bundles and Airmoney cashback rewards.
Feature by feature
HelloRoam vs Airalo: the numbers
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.9/10 (rank 1) | 6.1/10 (rank 4) |
| Destinations | 185 | 200+ |
| 5 GB plan, median a GB | $2.01/GB | $2.40/GB |
| 7-day unlimited, median | $21.50 | $27.00 |
| Full speed on that plan | 2 GB a day in 33 countries, 1 GB in 2 | 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4 |
| Best for | Best Overall | Regional Bundles |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, WhatsApp, email | Email + in-app chat |
| Support language | Replies in your own language | 12 languages |
| Guarantee | 180-day refund (unactivated) | 14-day refund |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 |
| HQ | Global | Singapore |
Market context
Where HelloRoam and Airalo sit among five providers
| Provider | Pricing model | 7-day unlimited | 5 GB plan, a GB | Destinations | Refund window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | Per gigabyte + unlimited | $21.50 | $2.01/GB | 185 | 180 days |
| Holafly | Per day, unlimited | $27.50 | No fixed plans (unlimited only) | 200+ | 180 days |
| Nomad | Per gigabyte | $25.00 | $2.30/GB | 200 | 30 days |
| Airalo | Per gigabyte | $27.00 | $2.40/GB | 200+ | 14 days |
| Saily | Per gigabyte | $26.99 | $2.60/GB | Not stated | 30 days |
HelloRoam and Holafly hold the longest refund windows at 180 days; Airalo's is 14. HelloRoam's support replies in your own language; Airalo's runs in 12 languages, Holafly's in 10, Nomad's in two and Saily's in one. Airalo lists 200+ destinations and Nomad 200, to HelloRoam's 185.
Destination pricing
HelloRoam vs Airalo: price comparison by country
Each provider's own 7-day unlimited plan in six popular destinations, read 30 Oct 2026.
| Country | HelloRoam | Airalo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $19.71 | $26.50 | HelloRoam |
| United Kingdom | $18.48 | $27.00 | HelloRoam |
| Thailand | $22.85 | $21.00 | Airalo |
| France | $21.50 | $23.50 | HelloRoam |
| Mexico | $20.76 | $23.50 | HelloRoam |
| Australia | $21.62 | $26.50 | HelloRoam |
HelloRoam's prices are from its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026; rivals' were read on their own sites on 30 Oct 2026. A rival's price is its cheapest unlimited plan lasting at least 7 days. Full-speed data a day differs: HelloRoam 2 GB a day in 33 countries, 1 GB in 2; Airalo 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4.
Trip Cost comparison · 40% of the score
HelloRoam vs Airalo: Trip Cost
HelloRoam10/10
HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $21.50 across the 35 countries where all five providers were read on 30 Oct 2026, the lowest of the five; Nomad is next at $25.00. HelloRoam had the cheapest 7-day unlimited plan of the five in 25 of those 35 countries. A rival was cheaper in 10, among them Thailand, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Egypt. HelloRoam's unlimited plans run at full speed for 2 GB a day in 33 countries, 1 GB in 2; Airalo's for 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4, Saily's for 5 GB a day in 25 countries, 3 GB in 10, and Holafly states no cap. Prices come from HelloRoam's live catalogue.
Airalo7.96/10
Airalo's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.00 across the 35 countries where all five providers were read on 30 Oct 2026, fourth of five, with full speed for 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4. HelloRoam's median is $21.50. On fixed data Airalo's 5 GB plan has a median of $2.40 a GB across 40 countries. Airmoney cashback returns 5-10% on repeat purchases.
Trip Cost winner: HelloRoam leads with 10/10 versus 7.96/10, worth 40% of the composite.
Refund Window comparison · 25% of the score
HelloRoam vs Airalo: Refund Window
HelloRoam10/10
HelloRoam refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days after purchase, tied with Holafly for the longest window of the five. Airalo publishes 14 days; Saily and Nomad publish 30. Requests go through 24/7 live chat, WhatsApp, or email. Activated plans follow standard non-refund terms.
Airalo0.78/10
Airalo refunds an unactivated eSIM for 14 days after purchase. That is the shortest window of the five, about a thirteenth of the 180 days HelloRoam and Holafly publish. Refunds run through in-app support and email. Once a plan is activated and any data is used, it is non-refundable.
Refund Window winner: HelloRoam leads with 10/10 versus 0.78/10, worth 25% of the composite.
Destination Coverage comparison · 20% of the score
HelloRoam vs Airalo: Destination Coverage
HelloRoam9.25/10
HelloRoam sells plans for 185 destinations, every one with a published local-operator list. That is 25 more than Holafly. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185, and Nomad publishes 200.
Airalo10/10
Airalo sells plans for 200+ destinations, level with Holafly's 200+, then Nomad at 200. Regional bundles cover Europe, Asia, and a 130-country global plan on a single eSIM. Airalo and Holafly are the two providers here that publish their lists as an open-ended 200-plus.
Destination Coverage winner: Airalo leads with 10/10 versus 9.25/10, worth 20% of the composite on 185 and 200+ destinations.
Support Channels comparison · 15% of the score
HelloRoam vs Airalo: Support Channels
HelloRoam10/10
HelloRoam publishes three channels, live chat, WhatsApp, and email, and publishes 24/7 hours. That is the strongest published mix of the five. We publish no response-time figure here or for any other provider, because none of them posts one on a page we can re-check.
Airalo5/10
Airalo publishes two support channels, email and in-app chat, and publishes no 24/7 hours. There is no WhatsApp line and no phone number. For a pre-departure activation problem that is enough; for a problem at 3am in a foreign airport, the published hours are not.
Support Channels winner: HelloRoam leads with 10/10 versus 5/10, worth 15% of the composite.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros and cons: HelloRoam vs Airalo
HelloRoam
Pros
- +Lowest 7-day unlimited median of the five: $21.50, against $25.00 on Nomad (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- +180-day refund window on unactivated eSIMs, tied for the longest here
- +Website and app in 63 languages; support replies in your own language
- +Checkout in 31+ currencies through Stripe, with Apple Pay and Google Pay on the website and in the app
- +Fixed-data and unlimited day plans
- +Live chat, WhatsApp, and email, published 24/7
Cons
- Unlimited plans slow after a daily full-speed allowance (2 GB a day in 33 countries, 1 GB in 2 of the 35 checked); Holafly states no cap
- A rival was cheaper for 7 days in 10 of 35 countries checked, including Thailand, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates
- 185 destinations against Airalo's 200+
- No cashback or loyalty program yet
Airalo
Pros
- +200+ destinations, level with Holafly's 200+
- +Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- +Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- +Instant QR code delivery
Cons
- 7-day unlimited median of $27.00 against HelloRoam's $21.50 (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- 14-day refund window, the shortest in this comparison
- No published 24/7 support hours
Who should choose what
Which traveler profile fits HelloRoam vs Airalo?
Which provider costs less depends on your data usage and trip length.
Budget Backpacker
Prefers lowest per-GB cost, under 3GB/day, multi-country trip.
Pick: HelloRoam
HelloRoam scores 10/10 on trip cost against 7.96/10, the lower median 7-day unlimited price on the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Business Traveler
Needs a reliable connection and reachable support. 3-5 day trips.
Pick: HelloRoam
HelloRoam publishes live chat, whatsapp, email around the clock, scoring 10/10 on support channels. A 3-day trip leaves no slack to wait on a ticket.
Family Vacation
Multiple devices, heavy video streaming, 1-2 weeks.
Pick: HelloRoam
HelloRoam scores 10/10 on trip cost, so a family buying four plans multiplies the smaller number four times.
Digital Nomad
Works remotely, 1+ month stays, 10GB+ monthly usage.
Pick: Airalo
Airalo scores 10/10 on destination coverage with 200+ destinations, against HelloRoam with 185 destinations. Someone changing country every month runs out of coverage before they run out of data.
Cancelled Trip
Plans change, flights get pulled, the eSIM was never activated.
Pick: HelloRoam
HelloRoam refunds an unactivated plan for 180 days against 14 on Airalo, scoring 10/10 on refund window.
Use case breakdown
HelloRoam vs Airalo: who wins each travel scenario
Named winner per scenario based on pricing, coverage, and support scores.
Business traveler
Reachable support and a refund if the trip is pulledHelloRoam publishes live chat, whatsapp, email with 24/7 hours, scoring 10/10. Airalo scores 5/10. On refunds, HelloRoam holds an unactivated plan for 180 days against 14 on Airalo.
Budget traveler
Lowest median 7-day unlimited price, checked 30 Oct 2026HelloRoam scores 10/10 on trip cost against 7.96/10. The benchmark week costs $21.50 on HelloRoam and $27.00 on Airalo. Difference for 7 days: $5.50.
Family vacation
Multi-device simplicity and a predictable totalHelloRoam scores 10/10 on trip cost, and a family multiplies that number by however many people travel. Four benchmark weeks cost $86.00 on HelloRoam against $108.00 on Airalo.
Digital nomad
Destinations covered on one account for month-to-month staysAiralo scores 10/10 with 200+ destinations, against HelloRoam with 185 destinations. Someone changing country every month runs out of coverage before they run out of data. Both providers support top-ups and plan extensions from their apps mid-trip.
Scores come from published provider data and the 30 Oct 2026 price check. Refund windows, coverage and support checked June 2026. Winner determination uses the published rubric scores.
Real-world cost analysis
HelloRoam vs Airalo: what you actually pay per trip type
3 GB to use across Europe
Light user: maps, messaging, social media. A 3 GB Europe plan, valid 30 days at HelloRoam, Nomad and Saily and 7 days at Airalo.
HelloRoam costs $1.01 less for this plan.
One week of unlimited data in Europe
Moderate user: navigation daily, video calls, some streaming. Each provider's cheapest Europe unlimited plan lasting at least 7 days.
HelloRoam costs $3.47 less for this plan.
Two weeks of unlimited data in Europe
Active user across several countries. Each provider's cheapest Europe unlimited plan lasting at least 15 days.
HelloRoam costs $3.16 less for this plan.
Europe regional plans from the 30 Oct 2026 price check: HelloRoam from its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026, rivals read on their own sites that day. Each provider's Europe plan covers its own country list.
Our verdict
Which should you choose: HelloRoam or Airalo?
HelloRoam verdict
HelloRoam places first on this site's rubric: the lowest 7-day unlimited median of the five at $21.50, a 180-day refund window, and the widest support channel mix. Its website and app run in 63 languages and checkout takes 31+ currencies with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185.
Airalo verdict
Airalo is the pick when the destination is the constraint: 200+ destinations and regional bundles. On this site's cost-weighted rubric it is held back by a 14-day refund window against the 180 days two rivals publish.
HelloRoam is the pick of the two on this site's rubric. On the 30 Oct 2026 price check its 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $21.50 across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, against $27.00 at Airalo, and it was the cheaper of the two in 26 of those 35 countries. On the 5 GB plan the median is $2.01 a GB against $2.40. Airalo's unlimited plans give more full-speed data, 3 GB a day in most countries against HelloRoam's 2 GB. HelloRoam runs its website and app in 63 languages, takes checkout in 31+ currencies with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and refunds an unactivated plan for 180 days against Airalo's 14. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185 and sells regional bundles, so pick Airalo when your destination is one HelloRoam does not stock.
Situational recommendations
Trip to a destination Airalo stocks and HelloRoam does not
Airalo sells plans for 200+ destinations against HelloRoam's 185. A plan you cannot buy is not a cheap plan, and this is the one dimension Airalo takes outright.
Trip booked months out that might still be cancelled
HelloRoam refunds an unactivated eSIM for 180 days. Airalo's window closes after 14. On a trip booked in January for July, an Airalo plan bought early is unrefundable long before departure.
Traveler who does not want to handle support in English
HelloRoam's website and app run in 63 languages, and its support replies in your own language. Airalo's support runs in 12.
Not sure about either? See all 5 providers ranked in our best eSIM for travel guide.
HelloRoam vs Airalo FAQ
Is HelloRoam or Airalo cheaper for travel eSIM?
On the 30 Oct 2026 price check, HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $21.50 across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, against $27.00 at Airalo. On the 5 GB plan, the median across 40 countries is $2.01/GB at HelloRoam and $2.40/GB at Airalo. Medians hide single countries, so the table below gives six of them. Light users (under 5GB per trip) pay less on a fixed plan; heavy users compare unlimited plans and their daily full-speed allowance.
Which costs less for a 7-day trip, HelloRoam or Airalo?
HelloRoam scores 10/10 on trip cost while Airalo scores 7.96/10. HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $21.50 across the 35 countries where all five providers were read on 30 Oct 2026, the lowest of the five; Nomad is next at $25. Airalo's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.00 across the 35 countries where all five providers were read on 30 Oct 2026, fourth of five, with full speed for 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4. Both figures are the median 7-day unlimited price across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, read 30 Oct 2026.
Which eSIM provider has a better refund policy?
HelloRoam refunds an unactivated plan for 180 days, scoring 10/10. Airalo refunds for 14 days, scoring 0.78/10. HelloRoam handles claims through 24/7 live chat, whatsapp, email; Airalo through email + in-app chat. Both follow standard industry terms once a plan is activated.
Can I use both HelloRoam and Airalo on the same phone?
Yes. Modern smartphones (iPhone XS and later, most Android phones from 2020 onward) support multiple eSIM profiles simultaneously. You can install both HelloRoam and Airalo before your trip, then switch between them in your phone's cellular settings. This is useful for comparing real-world speeds at your destination or using one provider as a backup if the other has weak coverage in a specific area.
Can I get support in my own language from HelloRoam or Airalo?
HelloRoam's support replies in your own language and publishes no language count. Airalo runs support in 12 languages. Support language carries no weight in this site's score, because HelloRoam publishes no count to compare. HelloRoam publishes 24/7 live chat, whatsapp, email; Airalo publishes email + in-app chat.
Which of HelloRoam and Airalo covers more destinations?
HelloRoam scores 9.25/10 on destination coverage with 185 destinations. Airalo scores 10/10 with 200+ destinations. HelloRoam sells plans for 185 destinations, every one with a published local-operator list. That is 25 more than Holafly. Airalo sells plans for 200+ destinations, level with Holafly's 200+, then Nomad at 200. Regional bundles cover Europe, Asia, and a 130-country global plan on a single eSIM.
How does this site rank HelloRoam against Airalo?
HelloRoam scores 9.9/10 overall and ranks 1 of 5 here. Airalo scores 6.1/10 and ranks 4 of 5. Those two composites come out of one weighting: Trip Cost 40%, Refund Window 25%, Destination Coverage 20%, and Support Channels 15%. The weights reflect what this site compares, which is what a trip costs against carrier roaming and what a buyer can recover if the trip falls through. Coverage is counted off each provider's own destination list: HelloRoam 185, Airalo 200+.
Is Airalo or HelloRoam cheaper for a week abroad?
HelloRoam, in most countries. Its 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $21.50 against $27.00 at Airalo across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, and it was the cheaper of the two in 26 of them (30 Oct 2026). Airalo's plan holds 3 GB a day at full speed in most of those countries, against 2 GB on HelloRoam's, so a heavy user gets more fast data from Airalo. Airalo also sells regional bundles that spread the cost across several countries.
Which has better coverage, Airalo or HelloRoam?
Airalo, at 200+ destinations against 185. HelloRoam publishes a local-operator list for every one of its 185 destinations, so within its catalogue the network choice is documented, but the destination list itself is shorter. Check both lists for your specific country before assuming either stocks it.
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The alternative
What carriers charge for roaming instead
See what your carrier charges per day for international roaming.
Sources
Data sources and verification
- Prices: the 30 Oct 2026 price check (HelloRoam's catalogue of 29 Oct 2026; rival sites read 30 Oct 2026). Pairing notes last checked 30 Oct 2026
- Destination counts from each provider's own published destination list
- Support channels, published hours, support languages (HelloRoam publishes no count; its support replies in your own language), and refund windows from each provider's own policy pages
- Scoring weights: Trip Cost 40%, Refund Window 25%, Destination Coverage 20%, and Support Channels 15%. Read the full scoring methodology
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