Best Airalo alternatives
for travel eSIMs in 2026
Airalo is one of the best-known global travel eSIM marketplaces, selling local, regional and global data packages through its website and apps. This page lists five alternatives with sourced details, then compares Horizon and Airalo feature by feature.
Horizon is our own eSIM store, so we are not a neutral judge here. We've kept this factual, linked every source, and noted where Airalo leads. Comparison table reviewed July 2026; alternatives list reviewed 6 August 2026.
Five Airalo alternatives worth comparing
There is no single best travel eSIM: the right one depends on your route, how much data you need and whether you want an app. These five are the alternatives we can document from public sources.
Horizon is our own eSIM store, so we are not a neutral judge of this list. Every entry links to the provider's own site — judge it with the sources given.
1. Horizon eSIM
Our own store. Country, regional and global plans with prices shown before checkout and guides for each destination. The website has 12 languages: English, Albanian, German, Turkish, French, Arabic, Polish, Spanish, Russian, Croatian, Italian and Simplified Chinese. Buy on the web or in the iOS and Android apps.
Official source: horizonesim.com2. Holafly
Sells country, regional and global plans, including unlimited-labelled ones, and states that calls and SMS are not possible on its eSIMs. Read the fair-use terms on any unlimited plan; see esim.holafly.com for current plans and prices.
Official source: esim.holafly.com3. Saily
A Nord Security product, bought and managed in the Saily app for iOS and Android. It sells country, regional and global data plans from 1 GB to unlimited, adds security features such as changing your virtual location and blocking ads, and sells a US phone number as a paid add-on.
Official source: saily.com4. Nomad
Sells local and regional eSIMs plus long-term Global-EX plans, with iOS and Android apps. See nomadesim.com for its current catalogue and prices.
Official source: nomadesim.com5. KudoSIM
A Balkans-focused store selling Kosovo, Albania, Germany, Turkey, Greece and USA plans alongside Europe and global bundles, through its website and its iOS and Android app. Its site is published in Albanian; see kudoesim.com for current prices.
Official source: kudoesim.comHorizon vs Airalo
| Feature | Horizon eSIM | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Plan model | Country, regional and global data plans; availability and coverage are package-specific. | Local, regional and global plans, with fixed-data and some unlimited-labelled offers; check each package. |
| Calls, texts and number | Travel-data plans; keeping a home line active requires compatible dual-SIM hardware and the right line settings. | Many packages are data-only, but some include calls and texts. |
| Activation and validity | Install before travel; validity does not start until the first connection to a supported network at the destination. | Most packages start at the first connection to a supported network; some start at installation. |
| Hotspot and fair use | Hotspot sharing is free on every Horizon plan. Horizon plans have no throttling. | Support depends on the device, network and APN; unlimited fair-use terms may set daily thresholds. |
| Refund conditions | We always refund the full amount you paid when you request it, whether your eSIM is unused, partly used or fully used. There is no time limit for requesting a refund. | Eligibility depends on activation, use, timing and required troubleshooting under Airalo’s terms. |
Checked against official Horizon and Airalo product pages on 3 August 2026. Prices, availability and terms can change. EUR and US-dollar prices are shown as published, without a hidden conversion; confirm the final checkout currency and total.
Horizon prices checked September 29, 2026; competitor prices observed August 15, 2026.
Plan examples, with the differences left visible.
Airalo and Horizon publish fixed-data options with matching 5 GB / 30-day examples for these routes, but prices are shown in different currencies and the Europe destination lists differ. Compare checkout totals without silently converting currencies.
Published price snapshot
Each cell records the plan and price shown on the provider’s official page on the review date. A row is comparable only to the extent described in the final column.
| Destination | Horizon eSIM | Airalo | What differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 5 GB · 30 days · €4.85Official price source | 5 GB · 30 days · US$13.50Official price source | The allowance and validity match; compare the published price and currency in each cell. |
| Turkey | 5 GB · 30 days · €2.06Official price source | 5 GB · 30 days · US$10.00Official price source | The allowance and validity match; compare the published price and currency in each cell. |
| Europe regional plan | 5 GB · 30 days · €3.72Official price source | 5 GB · 30 days · US$19.50Official price source | Allowance and validity match, but the regional destination lists are not identical. |
Destination-by-destination listing check
A status confirms that an official local or regional listing was visible on the review date. It does not rate signal quality or prove that every package includes the destination.
| Destination | Horizon eSIM | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Local listing foundVerify the official listing | Local listing foundVerify the official listing |
| Turkey | Local listing foundVerify the official listing | Local listing foundVerify the official listing |
| Albania | Local listing foundVerify the official listing | Local listing foundVerify the official listing |
| Kosovo | Local listing foundVerify the official listing | Local listing foundVerify the official listing |
| Europe regional plan | Regional listing foundVerify the official listing | Regional listing foundVerify the official listing |
How to read these prices
Currencies are left exactly as published; we do not perform a hidden EUR–USD conversion. Taxes, promotions, checkout currency, stock and plan terms can change. Open the source, select the same destination and review the final amount before paying.
All links lead to first-party provider pages. We record a dated listing, plan shape and availability state; we do not infer nationwide network quality from a product page.
A focused option for Balkans and Europe travel
Compare current plan prices
Match the same destination, data and validity on both sites. Horizon shows the available plan price before checkout.
Built for the Balkans
Compare plans and destination guidance for Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro and the wider region, including family-visit routes.
Guides, not just a catalogue
Destination pages combine available plan details, coverage checks, FAQs and practical travel guidance.
Airalo alternative FAQ
Which Airalo alternative should I choose?
It depends on the trip. For Balkans, Albanian-diaspora and Europe routes, compare Horizon and KudoSIM. For unlimited-labelled plans, look at Holafly and read its fair-use terms. For app-first travel with security extras, look at Saily. For per-gigabyte pricing on longer stays, look at Nomad. Compare the current total for your exact dates on each site.
Is Horizon a good Airalo alternative?
Horizon is one option for Balkans and Europe trips if destination guidance and support in all languages, 24/7, with guaranteed instant replies matter to you. Compare your exact route, plan terms, app needs and current total on both sites.
How do Horizon and Airalo prices compare?
Neither provider is always cheaper. Compare the current total for the same destination, data and validity, then review coverage and networks before choosing. Horizon plans have no throttling.
Does Horizon cover as many countries as Airalo?
The catalogues change independently. Horizon and Airalo each publish destination lists for the selected package. Check every stop and the exact plan coverage on both sites before buying.
Can I keep my phone number with a Horizon eSIM?
On a compatible, carrier-unlocked dual-SIM phone, you can usually leave the home SIM enabled for calls and texts and select the travel eSIM for data. Your home carrier may charge for roaming activity, and behavior depends on the model, settings and selected plan.
The price and destination examples were checked on official public product pages on 3 August 2026; each dated table links the page used. Horizon is our own store, while Airalo is an independent company whose name and trademarks belong to it. Verify the selected plan, currency and final price at checkout.
Visit airalo.comHorizon capabilities checked on 7 September 2026. Competitor facts retain their separate review dates.
Our original dataset compares Horizon’s 10 GB, 30-day country and regional plans. It includes the observation time, coverage, methodology and CSV download. It is not a market-wide price ranking.