App Comparison · 2026
eSIM App Comparison: Every Feature That Matters for Travelers
HelloRoam ranks first: its app runs in 63 languages, checks out in 31 currencies, sells fixed and unlimited plans, and opens 24/7 chat. Airalo adds in-app top-up and regional bundles covering 130 destinations. Holafly also runs 24/7 chat. Saily is the only app with a built-in VPN.
Feature matrix
13 features compared across all 5 apps
| Feature | HelloRoam |
|---|---|
| Plan discovery by country | Yes, by destination |
| Regional bundle plans | Yes (11 regional plans, 1 global) |
| Live data balance | Yes, usage tracking |
| In-app top-up | New plan purchase |
| QR code backup storage | Not published |
| Offline eSIM access | Not published |
| Built-in VPN | No |
| In-app live chat support | 24/7 |
| Plan sharing / multi-device | Not published |
| App languages | 63 |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay checkout | Yes, site and app |
| Plan types | Fixed and unlimited |
Features checked June 2026. App features update with version releases. Check provider app release notes for recent changes. “Not published” means the provider does not state that feature on its own pages, so we leave the cell open rather than score it as a no.
By trip length
A different app fits at 7, 14 and 30 days
For a 7-day trip, our top pick leads. Its 7-day unlimited plan in Japan, with 2 GB a day at full speed, costs $19.71 in the app, against $25.00 at Nomad (prices checked 30 Oct 2026). Saily's app puts the VPN switch on the plan screen.
For 14 days, the top pick installs the eSIM inside the app with no emailed QR code, and its 14-day Japan unlimited plan costs $35.84. Airalo's app shows GB remaining and an hourly burn rate.
For 30 days, the top pick's unlimited plan runs at full speed for 2 GB a day in most destinations, and Holafly states no daily cap. Holafly's hotspot sharing stops at 1 GB per day. A rival was cheaper at 30 days in 29 of the 41 destinations checked on 30 Oct 2026, so compare per country.
Which platform fits each length. At 7 days price decides, and our top pick was the cheapest of five in 28 of the 41 destinations checked. At 14 days, the unlimited tier decides, with a refund window of 180 days at our top pick and Holafly. At 30 days, the per-country price and the refund window decide.
HelloRoam and Holafly both list a 180-day refund window on an unactivated eSIM, against 14 days at Airalo. Saily and Nomad each refund within 30 days.
Searches for Airhub, Kolet, Transatel, Trifa, Yesim or Instabridge land on this page too. None of those brands is in this site's data set, so this page gives them no price, rating or rank. The five apps above are the ones this site holds published figures for.
Key differentiator
Top-up mechanics: why Airalo leads
Running out of data mid-trip is the most common eSIM emergency. How many steps it takes to add more data determines how long you are without a connection. Airalo's in-app top-up is the only one of the five that needs no new profile and no support ticket. Open the app, tap your plan, select a top-up size, confirm payment, and the additional data is live. No new QR code to scan. No support ticket to file. No waiting.
Holafly unlimited plans do not have a traditional top-up because data is unlimited. If you want to extend your plan by additional days, you contact support via the in-app chat. The agent adds days to your active plan, and the extension applies immediately.
Saily and Nomad both require purchasing a new plan when the current one expires or runs out. This means going through the full checkout flow: select country, select plan, confirm payment, receive new QR code or direct install prompt.
Regional plans
Airalo and HelloRoam sell multi-country bundles
Travelers crossing three or more borders gain the most from regional bundles. Airalo's regional bundles, such as Eurolink, Asialink and Discover Global, reach up to 130 destinations on one eSIM. A single plan covers the whole circuit without a purchase at every border.
HelloRoam sells 11 regional plans and a global plan. Its Europe plan covers 33 countries on one eSIM, from $3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days (catalogue, spot-checked 30 Oct 2026). Airalo's Eurolink cost $31 for 10 GB over 30 days (read 30 Oct 2026).
Holafly, Saily and Nomad have no equivalent regional bundle in this site's data. Multi-country travelers on those platforms buy and install a separate plan per country. That is manageable for two countries but becomes cumbersome across five or six.
Full comparison
All 5 eSIM providers
| Provider | Matrix score | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamTop Pick | 9.9 / 10 | from $0.29/GB (50 GB for 7 days in Thailand) |
 SailyBuilt-In VPN | 3.1 / 10 | from $0.80/GB (20 GB for 30 days in Austria) |
 Airalo130-Destination Regional Plan | 4.8 / 10 | from $0.55/GB (50 GB for 30 days in Thailand) |
 NomadFixed Plans | 4.5 / 10 | from $0.34/GB (50 GB for 10 days in Thailand) |
 HolaflyUnlimited Daily | 6.0 / 10 | from $3.90 for 1 day (Japan, read 30 Oct 2026) |
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FAQ
eSIM app questions
Q1Which eSIM app has the best interface for first-time users?
Airalo has the most straightforward interface for new users. The home screen shows a country search bar and top destinations immediately. Purchasing a plan takes four taps. The eSIM installs with a single button after purchase. Holafly is the second easiest, with a trip-length selector that simplifies the decision to two inputs: destination and days.
Q2Can I see my remaining data balance in the eSIM app?
Airalo shows live data balance in the app dashboard. Holafly shows plan expiry date and unlimited status. Saily displays remaining data with a usage bar. Nomad shows plan duration remaining. HelloRoam tracks data usage in its app. None of the apps update balance in real time on iOS; the figure refreshes periodically. For a real-time check, use your phone's Settings > Cellular > plan to see usage from the OS level.
Q3Do eSIM apps work offline?
Partially. All five apps require internet to purchase a new plan and install it. After installation, the eSIM QR code backup is stored in the app and accessible offline. Your installed eSIM plan activates without the app running. Once the eSIM is installed, the app is only needed for purchases, top-ups, and support.
Q4Is there an eSIM app that auto-renews my plan?
Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad all require a manual purchase to extend a plan, and none of them publish an auto-renew setting. Airalo takes the fewest taps, inside the app with no profile to reinstall, but it is manual. Set a calendar reminder 3 days before your plan expires. This is intentional: automatic renewal would charge your card without consent in a travel context.
Q5Which eSIM app has the best plan discovery?
Airalo has the most comprehensive plan discovery with filters for country, data size, validity, and price. The regional bundle section (Eurolink, Asialink) is prominent. Holafly's discovery is simpler: search a country, select days. Saily mirrors Airalo's structure. Nomad groups plans by region with clear per-GB pricing.
Q6Can I manage eSIMs from multiple providers in one app?
No. Each provider's app only manages plans purchased through that provider. Your phone's Settings app manages all installed eSIM profiles regardless of provider. You can switch between an Airalo eSIM and a Holafly eSIM in Settings without opening either app. Think of each provider app as a store; Settings is the manager.
Find the right eSIM plan
Browse plans by destination and compare all 5 providers side by side.