VoaSim vs Airalo: truly unlimited vs by-GB packages
Key facts
- VoaSim is truly unlimited — no cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use rule — while Airalo's unlimited plans run 3 GB/day at high speed by default, then around 1 Mbps.
- VoaSim sets the price by destination and trip length: from USD 16.90 for 5 days up to USD 112.90 for 60 days (USD 1.88/day).
- Airalo is the better pick for light users who need only a few GB, for anyone who needs hotspot, and for island Caribbean trips VoaSim does not cover.
- VoaSim days start at the first connection abroad, payment is in USD via Stripe with an emailed invoice, and there is a 100% refund if the eSIM cannot be made to connect.
- The free eSIM Rescue tool at voasim.com/sos/ diagnoses a no-signal eSIM from any brand, Airalo included.
See the exact price for your dates
This is a comparison of two business models, not a lab speed test. VoaSim and Airalo both deliver a travel eSIM by QR code, both connect to local networks, and both skip the airport SIM shop. The difference is what happens after you use a lot of data.
Below you'll find how each one is structured, a decision checklist, VoaSim's full price table, and an honest note on when Airalo is the better pick for you.
How the two models work
Airalo (Singapore) is a marketplace-style eSIM store. Most of its catalog is sold by GB: you pick a bucket of data and a validity window. It also lists "unlimited" plans that, by default, include 3 GB/day of high-speed data and then drop to around 1 Mbps for the rest of the 24-hour period; tethering counts toward the same cap. Allowances can vary by package, so the plan page is the source of truth. Check the current terms at airalo.com.
VoaSim runs one product: a data-only travel eSIM with truly unlimited data — no data cap, no speed throttling, no hidden fair-use policy. There is nothing to top up and no GB counter to watch. Coverage reaches 160+ destinations on every continent, with automatic connection to local networks on 4G and, where available, 5G. The Europe plan covers 39 countries with one eSIM, including Switzerland, the UK, Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
VoaSim prices: by destination and trip length
VoaSim does not price by country or by GB. You choose your destination and how many days you travel, and that's the price. Today's table already includes the 15% promo.
| Duration | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | USD 16.90 | USD 3.38 |
| 7 days | USD 23.90 | USD 3.41 |
| 10 days | USD 30.90 | USD 3.09 |
| 15 days | USD 42.90 | USD 2.86 |
| 20 days | USD 51.90 | USD 2.60 |
| 25 days | USD 53.90 | USD 2.36 |
| 30 days | USD 62.90 | USD 2.10 |
| 60 days | USD 112.90 | USD 1.88 |
Trips of 1-4 days pay the 5-day package. Maximum is 90 days per eSIM. A second eSIM in the same order gets an extra 10% off. Run your dates in the price simulator to see the exact total.
Side-by-side checklist
Use this to decide in two minutes. Always confirm the other brand's current rules on its own site before buying.
| Item | VoaSim | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Data model | Truly unlimited, no cap, no throttling | By GB; "unlimited" with 3 GB/day high speed by default, then ~1 Mbps |
| Pricing logic | Price by destination and trip length | Varies by country/region and data bucket |
| Phone number | Data only (WhatsApp and app calls work over data) | Data only on most plans |
| Hotspot | Not allowed | Allowed, counts toward the daily cap |
| Delivery | QR code by email in minutes | QR code in app/email |
| Support | Human support, chat and hola@voasim.com | In-app support |
Our open, daily price tracking of unlimited eSIMs lives in the eSIM Price Index, with the method published.
When Airalo is the better pick
Be honest with your own usage. If you are a light user — maps, messages, a few emails, Wi-Fi at the hotel — a small by-GB package can cost less than any unlimited plan. Airalo's catalog makes that easy, and leftover validity is simple to understand.
Airalo is also the better call if you need hotspot. VoaSim does not allow tethering: if you share the connection, the local carrier may block the line. With VoaSim, each traveler uses their own eSIM, and two or more eSIMs in the same order get an extra 10% off.
Finally, Airalo covers island Caribbean destinations where VoaSim currently has no coverage — Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao. Puerto Rico does work with VoaSim, since it runs on US networks. If your trip is to one of those islands, buy elsewhere and come back for the next one.
When VoaSim is the better pick
Choose VoaSim when running out of data would ruin the trip. Heavy map use, video calls home, uploading photos, streaming on long train rides, working remotely, or a group where one person burns through data in two days — that's where "no cap, no throttling" pays for itself. You never check a counter and you never top up.
Other practical reasons:
- Payment: international credit or debit card in USD via Stripe, no hidden fees, invoice by email.
- Delivery: QR code by email within minutes, with step-by-step install guides for iPhone and Android. Install before you fly.
- Validity: days start counting at the first connection at the destination, not at purchase.
- Guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, 100% refund. See how we handle that.
- Free help for anyone: the eSIM Rescue tool diagnoses an eSIM of any brand with no signal — including Airalo's.
Compatibility and setup, identical for both
eSIM rules are the same whoever you buy from. You need a compatible, unlocked phone: iPhone XR or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer, and most phones released from 2020 on. Universal check: dial *#06# — if an EID appears, your phone supports eSIM. Carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first. VoaSim does not sell physical SIM cards.
Install the eSIM at home, then keep that line switched off until you land (on Android, do not turn on the eSIM's data before the trip). Your physical SIM and your number stay in the phone, so WhatsApp keeps working on your own number — just turn off your home carrier's data roaming to avoid surprise charges. If you were weighing carrier roaming instead, read the roaming comparison and check your plan's current rate in your carrier app. One more limit worth knowing: on cruises, a travel eSIM works on land at ports, not at sea.
Why trust VoaSim?
Registered company with an invoice on every purchase, USD payment via Stripe with no hidden fees, 24/7 human support and a guarantee: if the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get 100% back.