eSIM comparison: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, Maya, GigSky and more vs VoaSim
VoaSim team · Updated 2026-09-25
Straight answer: An eSIM comparison comes down to four things: how data is sold (by GB or unlimited), the real price per day, coverage for your route, and the fine print on speed caps and tethering. VoaSim sells truly unlimited data with one price per duration for every destination: 5 days USD 18.90, 7 days USD 23.90, 30 days USD 61.90, 60 days USD 106.90 (USD 1.78/day).
Key facts
Compare eSIMs on four points: GB vs unlimited, real price per day, coverage for your exact route, and the fine print on caps and tethering.
VoaSim charges one price per duration for all 170 destinations: USD 18.90 for 5 days up to USD 106.90 for 60 days (USD 1.78/day).
GB bundles can be cheaper for light users on short trips; unlimited is the safer pick for streaming, navigation and remote work.
Days start counting at the first connection abroad, so install the QR code at home and keep the eSIM line off until you land.
VoaSim has no coverage in the island Caribbean, and on cruises it works in port, not at sea.
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There are dozens of travel eSIM brands now, and most comparison pages just list logos. This hub does something simpler: it explains the criteria that actually change your trip, then points you to the one-on-one comparisons for the brand you are considering.
Read the criteria first. Once you know whether you need a GB bundle or unlimited data, the choice usually makes itself.
The five criteria that decide an eSIM comparison
Ignore marketing copy and check these in order:
How data is sold. By GB (Airalo, Nomad, Ubigi, GigSky, Alosim, Maya and most apps) or unlimited by day (VoaSim, Holafly). GB plans are cheaper for light use; unlimited removes the math.
Real price per day. Divide the total by the days you will actually be abroad, not by the validity window.
Coverage for your route. A regional plan that skips one country on your itinerary is a bad deal. VoaSim covers 170 destinations, and the Europe plan covers 50 countries with one eSIM.
The fine print. Speed caps after X GB, "fair use" clauses, tethering limits. Read the terms, not the headline.
Support and refunds. If the eSIM will not connect, who answers, and do you get your money back?
Start at the price simulator to get your VoaSim number, then compare it against the app quote from the other brand.
GB bundles vs unlimited: which one fits you
There is no universal winner here. Be honest about your usage.
GB bundles are better if you mostly use hotel Wi-Fi, check maps and messages, and travel 4 to 7 days. A small package from an app sold by GB can cost less than any unlimited plan, and you can top up if you run short.
Unlimited is better if you stream, navigate all day, upload photos and video, work remotely, or travel with unpredictable usage. Running out of data in a foreign city at 9 pm costs more than the few dollars you saved.
VoaSim's unlimited is literal: no data cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. Other "unlimited" plans describe usage conditions and tethering limits in their terms — Holafly does this openly, so read the page before you buy. See the best-of picks if you want a shortlist by trip type.
VoaSim price table: one price for every destination
Most eSIM brands price by country: Japan costs one thing, Brazil another, a global plan another. VoaSim charges the same price for all 170 destinations, so the comparison is only about duration.
Duration
Price
Per day
5 days
USD 18.90
USD 3.78
7 days
USD 23.90
USD 3.41
10 days
USD 30.90
USD 3.09
15 days
USD 42.90
USD 2.86
30 days
USD 61.90
USD 2.06
60 days
USD 106.90
USD 1.78
Prices include today's 15% promo. Trips of 1 to 4 days pay the 5-day package, the maximum is 90 days per eSIM, and a second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off. Payment is by international card in USD through Stripe, with an invoice by email.
eSIM vs carrier roaming vs local SIM
A fair comparison includes the options that are not eSIM apps.
Travel eSIM
Carrier roaming
Local SIM
Setup
QR by email, install at home
Enable in the carrier app before you fly
Shop at destination, passport ID in many countries
Your number
Stays active on your physical SIM
Stays active
Comes out of the phone
Cost model
Flat per duration
Per day of use or bundled, rates vary by country
Local prepaid, varies
Roaming from T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, EE, Vodafone, Three, Telstra, Rogers or Google Fi can be the simplest choice on a two-day hop — check the current rate in your carrier app, since it changes by country and plan. A local SIM can win on a long stay in one country. For everything in between, see roaming vs eSIM.
What to check before you buy any eSIM
Same checklist regardless of brand:
Phone compatibility. iPhone XR or newer, Galaxy S20 or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, and most phones from 2020 on. Dial *#06# — if an EID appears, you have eSIM. Carrier-locked phones must be unlocked.
When the clock starts. With VoaSim, days count from the first connection at the destination, so install at home and keep the eSIM line off until you land.
Voice and number. VoaSim is data only — no phone number, no traditional calls. WhatsApp, app calls and maps run over data on your own number.
Tethering. Do not assume it. It depends on the plan; ask support before you rely on it.
Blind spots. VoaSim has no coverage in the island Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao). Puerto Rico works on US networks. On cruises, it works in port, not at sea.
If any eSIM refuses to connect, the free eSIM Rescue tool diagnoses it, whatever the brand.
How to use this hub
Below this page you will find head-to-head comparisons for the brands travelers ask about most: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Saily, Ubigi, Maya Mobile, GigSky, Yesim, Alosim, Jetpac, Instabridge, Firsty, Truphone, MobiMatter and Roamless, plus carrier roaming pages.
Each one follows the same structure: how the other brand sells data, where it is genuinely stronger, where VoaSim is stronger, and a price-per-day read for a typical trip. We never quote a competitor's prices or ratings here — those change weekly, so check the official site or app for the live number, then compare it with your VoaSim simulation.
If you want destination detail instead of brand detail, go to the destination index. If you want to know who you are buying from, the trust page covers the company, support and the refund guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.
Registered company with an invoice on every purchase, USD payment via Stripe with no hidden fees, human support and a guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.
Takes 1 minute. No account. Today's discount shows instantly.
FAQ
Which travel eSIM is cheapest?
It depends on usage. For light use on a short trip, a small GB bundle from an app like Airalo or Nomad is often cheapest. For heavy or unpredictable use, flat unlimited wins: VoaSim goes from USD 18.90 for 5 days down to USD 1.78 per day on the 60-day plan.
Is unlimited eSIM data really unlimited?
Not always. Many plans marketed as unlimited include speed caps or fair-use conditions in their terms, so read them. VoaSim's unlimited has no data cap, no throttling and no hidden fair-use clause, and it is the same price for all 170 destinations.
Does a travel eSIM replace my phone number?
No. Your physical SIM and number stay in the phone and keep working. VoaSim is data only, so there is no new number and no traditional voice calls, but WhatsApp, app calls and maps work normally over data. Just turn off your home carrier's data roaming.
When do the days on a VoaSim eSIM start counting?
At the first connection to a network at your destination, not at purchase. Install the QR code at home, then leave the eSIM line switched off until you land. On Android, do not turn on the eSIM's data before the trip.
Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot for a laptop?
Do not count on it. Tethering depends on the plan, and several brands restrict it in their terms. If your trip depends on sharing data with a laptop or tablet, message VoaSim support at hola@voasim.com or on chat before you buy.
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Most phones from 2020 on do: iPhone XR or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer. The universal test is to dial *#06# — if an EID number appears, the phone supports eSIM. Carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first.
Where does VoaSim not work?
There is no coverage in the island Caribbean right now, including the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba and Curaçao. Puerto Rico works on US networks. On cruises, the eSIM connects on land at ports, not out at sea.
