Best eSIM guide · 2026
Best HelloRoam vs Airalo eSIM Providers (2026): Feature Matrix
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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The comparison
HelloRoam vs Airalo eSIM providers compared
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rubric score (0-5) | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.6 | from $3.50/GB |
 AiraloWidest coverage catalogue | 4.5 | $4.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Network Generation 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
HelloRoam vs Airalo spec-by-spec breakdown
Every rubric dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating (0-5, our rubric) | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Countries | 186+ | 200+ | 160+ | 200+ | 200+ |
| Starting Price | from $3.50/GB | $4.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $3.50 | $4.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Singapore | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Live chat + WhatsApp + email | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only |
| Guarantee | 180-day refund | 14-day refund | 180-day refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Breadth score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Pricing Tiers score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Network Generation score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| App Features score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Support Channels score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.64 | 4.45 | 4.35 | 4.20 | 4.15 |
Score breakdown
HelloRoam vs Airalo provider scores
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, each weighted at 20 percent.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing and which network generations that carrier publishes
Installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability and refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
HelloRoam -- Highest Composite Score
HelloRoam scores 4.64/5 on our rubric overall, with App 5.0 and Support 5.0 on an iOS and Android app, live chat plus WhatsApp, and a 180-day refund. It wins Pricing against Airalo, 4.4/5 on the rubric to 4.1/5, with a fixed floor of $3.50/GB against Airalo's $4.50/GB, and also carries an unlimited tier from $5 that Airalo only offers in select markets. HelloRoam's 204+ carrier partnerships and 63-language checkout serve a narrower 186-country footprint against Airalo's 200+.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 186 countries with 204+ carrier partnerships for reliable local routing
- Fixed plans from $3.50/GB across popular destinations
- Unlimited plans from $5 for short stays, scaling by duration
- iOS and Android app with in-app top-up, add-destination, and usage alerts
- Live chat, WhatsApp, and email support, including real-time channels
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- 186 countries, behind Airalo's 200+ catalogue
Airalo -- Widest Coverage Catalogue
Airalo leads this matchup on Coverage (4.9 vs. 4.5) and Speed (4.4 vs. 4.3). Its 200+ country footprint and regional bundles cover multi-country trips HelloRoam does not track as a single eSIM. The trade-off is price and the composite: Airalo's $4.50/GB floor runs above HelloRoam's $3.50/GB, and Airalo's 4.45/5 on the rubric composite sits behind HelloRoam's 4.64/5.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Automatic in-app install with real-time data tracking and hourly runtime estimates
- Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- Established brand since 2019 with proven reliability
Cons
- Per-GB pricing higher than budget alternatives
- Unlimited plans available in select markets only, not all 200+ destinations
- No live chat or WhatsApp channel: support runs on email and in-app messaging
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Daily Rate
Outside the direct HelloRoam-Airalo matchup, Holafly's $2.99/day unlimited rate outperforms both on the dimension where a daily data ceiling matters more than a per-GB floor. Its 4.65/5 on this scorecard Support score sits behind HelloRoam's 5.0. Its 160-country footprint sits below both Airalo's 200+ and HelloRoam's 186.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 160+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 180-day refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support alongside email
Cons
- Speeds reduce after the daily fair use threshold on most plans
- Hotspot tethering limited to 1 GB/day on select destinations
- Not cost-effective for light data users (under 3 GB/trip)
- Fewer countries than Airalo
Saily -- Best for Privacy
Saily's bundled NordVPN plan is a spec neither Airalo nor HelloRoam tracks in this matrix. Its 4.5/5 App score trails HelloRoam's 5.0 and Airalo's 4.7, while its $3.99/GB rate sits between HelloRoam's $3.50/GB and Airalo's $4.50/GB floor.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Backed by NordVPN parent company Nord Security with proven privacy infrastructure
- Integrated VPN protection included on every plan at no extra cost
- Clean, privacy-focused app with VPN toggle inside the eSIM interface
- 200 countries with strong European coverage
- 30-day refund policy
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat or WhatsApp for urgent help
- Fixed data plans only; no unlimited daily tier
- 200 countries, just behind Airalo's 200-plus
Nomad -- Best Budget Per-GB Rate
Nomad's $3.00/GB rate undercuts both Airalo and HelloRoam, backed by the highest Pricing score in the full five-provider matrix at 4.8/5 on this scorecard. Its 200-country footprint trails Airalo's 200-plus and runs ahead of HelloRoam's 186.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Competitive pricing starting from $3.00/GB in Southeast Asia
- Simple, fast checkout with no account required in many cases
- Lowest per-GB rates for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan
- Plans start at a low entry price for short trips
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat, WhatsApp, or phone channel
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 200 countries, behind only Airalo among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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FAQ
HelloRoam vs Airalo eSIM questions, answered
Which eSIM has better coverage, HelloRoam or Airalo?
Which eSIM has better coverage, HelloRoam or Airalo?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5. Airalo tracks 200+ countries against HelloRoam's 186 in this matrix, and its Coverage score of 4.9/5 leads HelloRoam's 4.5/5. Airalo's regional bundles, including Eurolink's 39 countries and Discover Global's 130 countries, also cover multi-country trips as a single eSIM, a spec HelloRoam does not track.
Is HelloRoam cheaper than Airalo?
Is HelloRoam cheaper than Airalo?
Yes, on the tracked per-GB floor. HelloRoam starts at $3.50/GB against Airalo's $4.50/GB, and HelloRoam's 4.4/5 Pricing score beats Airalo's 4.1/5 in this matrix. HelloRoam also lists an unlimited tier from $5, while Airalo's unlimited option is limited to select markets.
Does HelloRoam or Airalo have a better-scoring app?
Does HelloRoam or Airalo have a better-scoring app?
HelloRoam leads App at 5.0/5 in our comparison matrix against Airalo's 4.7/5, with an iOS and Android app, in-app top-up, and 24/7 in-app chat. Airalo's app adds real-time data tracking and hourly runtime estimates, and QR delivery still works from HelloRoam's web checkout.
Compare all 5 providers for HelloRoam vs Airalo
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.