eSIM price comparison: Holafly, Airalo, Nomad, Saily and VoaSim (how to compare properly)
Key facts
- Compare eSIMs by cost per day of travel, not by price per GB — and always add top-ups and card fees.
- VoaSim charges one price per duration for all 170 destinations, from USD 18.90 for 5 days to USD 106.90 for 60 days (USD 1.78/day).
- VoaSim data is truly unlimited: no cap, no throttling, no fair-use clause, but no hotspot either.
- A small GB package from Airalo, Nomad or Saily can be cheaper on a short, low-usage trip — check your real usage first.
- No island Caribbean coverage right now; Puerto Rico works on US networks, and cruises get signal at ports, not at sea.
See the exact price for your dates
Travel eSIM pricing is confusing on purpose. One brand sells you 3 GB, another sells you a day pass, another says "unlimited" and hides the rules in its terms. Put them side by side and the numbers stop matching.
This page shows how to compare properly in four steps, and where VoaSim lands with real figures. For daily updated numbers across brands, see the public eSIM Price Index.
The only metric that works: cost per day of travel
GB packages and day passes are not comparable until you translate both into the same unit. Take the total you actually pay and divide it by the number of days you will be abroad.
- Estimate your real usage. Maps, WhatsApp, email and some streaming burn data fast. If you guess too low on a per-GB plan, you top up mid-trip and the real price doubles.
- Add every cost. Package price plus any top-ups plus card conversion fees.
- Divide by trip days. Now you have one number per brand.
- Check the validity window. A 10 GB plan valid 7 days is useless for a 16-day trip.
With VoaSim there is nothing to estimate: data is unlimited, so the per-day figure is fixed before you leave. A 15-day plan is USD 42.90, or USD 2.86 a day. Run your own dates in the price simulator.
VoaSim price table per duration (same price, every destination)
VoaSim uses one price list for all 170 destinations, from Japan to Brazil. Europe is a single eSIM covering 39 countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway and Iceland. Today's table includes a 15% promo.
| 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 |
Trips of 1 to 4 days pay the 5-day package. Maximum 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets an extra 10% off. See all destinations at voasim.com/esim or the regional plan at /esim/europe/.
How the main brands price their eSIMs
Qualitative only — prices change weekly, so check each app and read the terms before buying.
- Airalo (Singapore): data packages sold by GB, in local, regional and global flavours, through its app. Good when you know your usage and it is low.
- Holafly (Spain): unlimited-style plans with usage conditions and tethering limits described in its terms.
- Nomad and Saily (Nord Security): GB-based bundles with set validity periods.
- Ubigi (Transatel/NTT), Maya Mobile, Yesim, GigSky, Alosim, Jetpac, Instabridge, Firsty, MobiMatter, Roamless: sold by GB or by day, usually app-first.
If your trip is three days and you only need maps, a small GB package from one of those brands may genuinely cost less than any unlimited plan. Be honest about your usage. A deeper breakdown lives at /compare/.
The hidden costs most comparisons miss
Headline price is not final price. Watch these four:
- Currency and card fees. A plan priced in euros charged to a US card can pick up a conversion spread. VoaSim bills in USD via Stripe, with no hidden fees and an invoice by email.
- Top-ups. Running out on day four means buying twice. That is where per-GB plans lose their price advantage.
- Speed rules. Some "unlimited" offers slow down after a threshold. VoaSim has no cap and no throttling.
- Tethering. Rules differ per brand. VoaSim does not allow hotspot: if you share the connection, the local carrier may block the line. Each traveler uses their own eSIM.
Carrier roaming (T-Mobile, AT&T Day Pass, Verizon TravelPass, EE, Vodafone, Three, Telstra, Rogers, Google Fi) is billed per day or bundled, usually with a daily allowance and reduced speed after it. Rates vary by country and plan — check your carrier app. More at /roaming/.
When another option beats VoaSim
Fair is fair. Choose something else if:
- You are going to the island Caribbean — Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao. VoaSim has no coverage there right now. Puerto Rico works on US networks.
- You need a local phone number for SMS codes or voice calls. VoaSim is data only; WhatsApp and app calls work over data, and your own number stays active on your physical SIM.
- You need hotspot for a laptop or a second person and do not want a second eSIM.
- You will use very little data on a short trip — a small GB package can be cheaper.
- Your phone has no eSIM support or is carrier-locked. Dial *#06#: if an EID appears, you are fine. VoaSim does not sell physical SIMs.
Cruise travelers: it works on land at ports, not at sea.
Buying, installing and the refund rule
Pay by international credit or debit card in USD. The QR code arrives by email within minutes, with a WhatsApp heads-up if you left a number at checkout.
Install before you fly, using the iPhone or Android guide in the guides section, and keep the eSIM line switched off until you land — days start counting at the first connection to a network at the destination. On Android, do not turn the eSIM's data on before the trip. Then disable roaming on your home carrier so nothing bills you twice.
Once there, the eSIM connects automatically to local networks on 4G and, where available, 5G. No signal? The free eSIM Rescue tool diagnoses any brand of eSIM. If your VoaSim eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund. Support is human, by chat or hola@voasim.com.
Why trust VoaSim?
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.