Insider Holafly eSIM Review – Stay Connected in 2025

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All in, we found HolaFly to be one of the most reliable eSim providers we tried with strong networks coverage and connectivity. They cover a lot of countries and offer some good packages.

The Broke Backpacker team set out to conquer Europe armed with Holafly’s 90-day unlimited data plan for Europe. We roamed through London, Amsterdam, and Berlin while putting this nifty invention to the test. And let me tell you, folks, it did not disappoint. 

From touchdown to takeoff, we were logged in and ready to roll. And here’s the kicker: It now offers a phone number that includes 60 minutes of calls to/from any European phone number – one of the latest AND GREATEST features introduced by Holafly.

Here’s everything you should know before getting Holafly eSIM.

Plan Options and Pricing

The eSim Europe plans start at $19 offering unlimited data with 60-minute calls for 5 days and go right up to the $99 package for 90 days.

Well, Holafly may seem a bit steep for budget backpackers out there. But it’s considered worth the cost for their convenience and reliability.

Hit the button to get the Holafly eSIM Europe package. You can save a few of your hard-earned bucks and bag yourself an exclusive discount by using the unique code THEBROKEBACKPACKER.

Country Coverage

Our good ol’ Mother Earth comprises 195 countries, a fact that you might have stumbled upon during some geography class… Anyway, Holafly offers eSIM packages tailored for connectivity across +160, including 32 European countries.

Hold your breath and let’s do the count: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

You will not experience any service interruption when crossing borders within the countries your regional plan covers – making it particularly convenient for travelers visiting different destinations within a single region. Obviously, you’ll need a different package once you leave the covered area.

Phone Number With Up to 60-minute of Calling Credit

Holafly offers an Austrian phone number (+43) and grants you up to 60-minute calls across European countries EXCLUDING Iceland, Norway, the UK, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Turkey. This is particularly convenient when you’re keeping up with local contacts, making reservations, or staying connected with loved ones back home.

Is Holafly Actually Unlimited?

Holafly’s got you covered with unlimited data plans spanning across Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, all neatly packaged with a set number of days.

Meanwhile, other countries like the Caribbean have data packages with a fixed amount for a specific duration. However, there are some limitations to consider.

According to Holafly’s customer service, operators might enforce a Fair Usage Policy. This means that if your usage exceeds 90GB in a month, the operator might temporarily and intentionally throttle your speed to ensure fair internet usage and allow all users to enjoy optimal connection. Easy guys, that’s for a fair game!

Can I Use My Phone With Holafly?

Be very careful, I paid 69 USD for 30 days in Asia, then found out Holafly eSim is not compatible with my iPhone 8. Not me, but someone from TrustPiot wishing they could Ctrl+Z their life, ugh!

Unfortunately, not all phones are eSim compatible. For a phone to work with eSIM, it needs to have a small piece of microchip hardware installed which older models don’t have.

Whilst all current-generation phones are manufactured to be eSim ready, older (but still popular) models are not, so make sure to verify eSIM compatibility before you make any payment.

The following devices are eSIM-ready

You’re gonna look for your phone anyway right? Lol.

The Future of the SIM Card is HERE!

A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic – booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM!

Jetpac eSIMs work just like an app: you download it, pick your plan, and BOOM! You’re connected the minute you land. It’s that easy.

Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and ditch the plastic.

Grab an eSIM!

Step #1 Check phone compatibility and select your data plan.

If you’ve just learned how to use emojis and are wondering how an eSim works? Good news, it’s straightforward to get set up. You can simply head to their website or download the HolaFly app and navigate to your desired destination. If HolaFly covers the destination (and they do cover most ‘popular’ destinations) all of the relevant information such as price, data amount, and expiry periods is clearly set out. Then, choose the local or regional data plan that suits you best.

Step #2 Follow the payment process

Step #3 Open your inbox and scan the QR code

Upon confirming your purchase, an email with a QR code will be sent to you. Go to the ‘Mobile Data’ settings, select ‘Add Data Plan’, and simply scan the QR code (You can also just type a code if you can’t scan the QR code).

Step #4 Set up and activate your eSIM

Choose Holafly as the main data source within the mobile data settings, and the eSIM will be immediately active. It will show in your phone settings as toggled off. As soon as you land just toggle the eSIM to on; your service will be activated, connecting you to some local provider. Select it as preferred to make calls and data.

Whilst you can and should buy and download the package before you land, it is best NOT to activate the package until you arrive to prevent the data period from starting before you need it. With this in mind, it is wise to carry a printed, paper copy of the QR code in case you need to scan it again.

If you wanna give Holafly a try on your next trip, you can profit from a discount via this link using our discount code THEBROKEBACKPACKER.

So, is Holafly reliable? Well, It’s an excellent choice for those seeking more than just the standard “Unlimited” data promise.

Obviously, the appeal of an eSIM and the convenience of catching that network signal immediately upon touchdown is IRRESISTIBLE. A lot of us will pay for that, I know.

However, it’s important to understand that Holafly is not a mobile provider. It partners with local companies and rents bandwidth from them. Network quality experienced by users can be influenced by the performance and capacity of these local providers with which Holafly has agreements.

If you still need a bit more info, have a good at our guide to eSIMs here.

Digital Experience

Holafly’s website and app offer the most intuitive interface with a fluid digital process that will quickly get you connected. You can literally start using your eSIM within just 10 to 15 minutes.

The customer support team is incredibly responsive and patient, especially when you’re navigating different time zones – other eSIM providers we have used do not offer this and instead invite customers to open a support ticket and wait.

Shout out to my buddy Hector who was super patient as I shared screenshots of what I was looking at, and gave me detailed instructions with pictures to get it right.

I did the research (you can trust me on that!) and pretty much every destination I looked at offered a range of different eSIM packages (+160 countries remember?) Basically, each one you choose will come down to how ravenous your data appetite is, and how long you intend to stay in your destination.

However, there is a rather big ‘however’ coming up….

While many customers reported satisfactory experiences with Holafly eSIM (including me!), there are concerns raised regarding speed fluctuations and the hotspot/tethering restriction.

Network Speed

As soon as you land on the plan page, Holafly keeps it real with you about potential speed reduction: “The eSIM includes unlimited data for the contracted time. However, please note that the carrier may reserve the right to apply a Fair Usage Policy”

If your data usage exceeds 90GB in a month, the operator might temporarily slow down your speeds might temporarily to ensure fair internet usage and allow all users to enjoy optimal connection.

The restriction is typically removed within 24 hours. But it’s important to understand that in the context of prepaid mobile data using a cellular network, “unlimited data” is never really unlimited nor constantly high (or normal) speed.

While this label may appear attractive from a marketing standpoint, personally, I believe promoting data plans with specific GB limits is just more convenient for users.

Tethering/Hotspot

Holafly eSIM doesn’t let you share your internet via tethering/hotspot, which sucks if you’re relying on this feature. It’s especially convenient for individuals who rely on consistent access to emails, navigation, and other online services during their travels. If tethering/hotspot is a must-have for you, your best bet would be to go for a regular SIM card instead.

These points aren’t deal-breakers, they’re guiding lights to help you make an informed decision. We still rate HolaFly’s eSim service very highly. Look at the breakdown below!

I’ve now tried quite a few different eSim providers and packages in my time. While the concept is the same across the market, there are a number of key differences.

For example, when compared to the eSim range offered by OneSim, HolaFly offers a much wider variety of different European destination packages whereas OneSim offers a “Europe Package” which is slightly more expensive than HolaFly’s.

Then we have Nomad. Their European packages are quite affordable but I was often unable to actually connect to the internet which defeated the object entirely.

In short, HolaFly performs pretty well against most other eSim providers, and its recent inclusion of phone numbers and calling credit adds further intrigue.

As more young pros ditch their desktops for mobile, the competition to cater to our need for global connectivity is heating up among companies.

It’s smart to shop around, especially when it comes to eSIM plans. Right now, Holafly’s leading the pack, but there are some other big players and up-and-comers ready to shake things up. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Jetpac

Jetpac is long established as our personal favorite provider of travel sim cards and eSIMs. As well as offering excellent, well-priced data packages in over 190+ countries, they also offer a global sim package, a number of different regional sim packages.

While they don’t offer local phone numbers, you can still make and receive calls via WhatsApp, Signal, Skype or whatever using the general data allowances that come as part of their eSim packages.

We have tried a LOT of different sim companies and after a thorough review of JetPac it is our top pick on account of their excellent coverage, fair prices and easy-to-use app. Of course, if they did offer local numbers that would be even better.

Nomad

Nomad were actually the very first eSim provider that I ever used back in 2022. Since then, there star has truly ascended and they are now one of the very absolute best eSim sellers and operators in the Seven Kingdoms. 

What we really love, is that they offer a free trial package of 50MB for pretty much every destination you could want so it’s like a little ‘try before you buy’. They also do a number of different regional sims and a pretty god global sim package too.

Holafly eSIM is a trustworthy choice for fast and stable connectivity. When you visit their site, you’ll feel genuinely guided towards making a purchase. No tricks, just genuine quality.

Aside from the global coverage, fantastic customer service, and overall stable connectivity, they’re always evolving, which makes it a reliable companion you can actually count on.

However, it’s not perfect for managing your entire digital life during long trips. Speed issues and the lack of tethering features can be bothersome. Yet, its ‘unlimited’ design helps cover some of these gaps, but I guess, it’s important for you to balance your priorities before making any choice.

If you wanna give it a try, use this link and discount code THEBROKEBACKPACKER at checkout.

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