esim-vs-google-fi
Travel eSIM providers offer data in 150-200 countries from $3.00/GB. Google Fi covers 200+ countries at $10/GB after the plan limit. eSIM providers cost less for short trips. Google Fi works better for US residents who want one plan at home and abroad. HelloRoam scores 8.8/10 in our comparison matrix.
esim-for-apple-watch
Apple Watch Series 3 and later support eSIM for cellular connectivity. Travel eSIM providers do not support Apple Watch directly. Apple Watch eSIM requires a carrier plan (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, EE, Vodafone). Number sharing with your iPhone plan costs $5-10/month.
esim-not-working
eSIM not working: 1) enable data roaming in settings, 2) verify your device supports eSIM (iPhone XS or later, most 2020+ Android phones), 3) check carrier coverage in your area, 4) toggle airplane mode on and off, 5) reset network settings. Contact your eSIM provider if activation fails.
Feature comparison · 2026
eSIM Speed Comparison: How Fast Is Each Provider?
eSIM speed depends on which local carrier a provider routes through in each country, not on the provider brand itself. Airalo connecting through NTT Docomo in Japan delivers different speeds than Holafly connecting through SoftBank. This comparison breaks down speed by destination, carrier routing, network type (5G versus 4G LTE), and throttling policies for all four providers.
How it works
Why eSIM speed varies by country, not by provider
Your travel eSIM connects you to a local carrier. That carrier's network determines your speed.
The carrier routing chain
- 1.You buy a plan from Airalo, Holafly, Saily, or Nomad (the eSIM provider).
- 2.The provider has a wholesale data agreement with a specific local carrier in each country.
- 3.Your phone connects to that local carrier's towers. Speed equals that carrier's network performance.
- 4.If two providers use the same carrier in a country, their speeds are identical. If they use different carriers, speeds differ based on each carrier's network quality.
What the provider controls vs. does not control
Provider controls
Which carrier to partner with in each country. Providers that select top-tier carriers (Docomo in Japan, SK Telecom in South Korea, EE in the UK) deliver better speeds than those routing through secondary carriers.
Provider does not control
The carrier's tower density, spectrum allocation, congestion levels, or peak-hour capacity. Two people on the same Airalo Japan plan connect at different speeds based on their location and the time of day.
Speed data
Provider-to-carrier speed data: top 10 destinations
Speeds shown as typical range (low-congestion to peak-hour) on 4G LTE unless marked 5G.
| Destination | Network | Airalo | Carrier | Holafly | Carrier | Saily | Carrier | Nomad | Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 5G / 4G LTE | 45-78 Mbps | NTT Docomo | 38-62 Mbps | SoftBank | 40-70 Mbps | NTT Docomo | 35-60 Mbps | SoftBank |
| South Korea | 5G | 80-300 Mbps | SK Telecom | 70-250 Mbps | KT | 80-300 Mbps | SK Telecom | 60-200 Mbps | LG U+ |
| UK | 5G / 4G LTE | 40-90 Mbps | EE | 35-75 Mbps | Vodafone | 38-80 Mbps | EE | 32-65 Mbps | Vodafone |
| Germany | 5G / 4G LTE | 40-80 Mbps | Telekom DE | 35-70 Mbps | Vodafone DE | 38-75 Mbps | Telekom DE | 28-55 Mbps | O2 DE |
| USA | 5G / 4G LTE | 40-200 Mbps | T-Mobile | 35-180 Mbps | AT&T | 40-200 Mbps | T-Mobile | 32-150 Mbps | T-Mobile |
| Australia | 4G LTE | 35-80 Mbps | Telstra | 28-65 Mbps | Optus | 32-70 Mbps | Telstra | 25-55 Mbps | Optus |
| Thailand | 4G LTE | 28-55 Mbps | AIS | 26-50 Mbps | AIS | 26-50 Mbps | AIS | 22-45 Mbps | DTAC |
| France | 4G LTE | 35-70 Mbps | Orange | 30-60 Mbps | Bouygues | 30-65 Mbps | Orange | 28-55 Mbps | SFR |
| Spain | 4G LTE | 30-60 Mbps | Movistar | 28-55 Mbps | Orange ES | 28-55 Mbps | Movistar | 22-45 Mbps | Yoigo |
| Mexico | 4G LTE | 25-55 Mbps | Telcel | 22-48 Mbps | AT&T MX | 22-48 Mbps | Telcel | 20-42 Mbps | Telcel |
Speeds are typical ranges, not guaranteed. Real-world speed varies by location within the country, time of day, and distance from towers. Urban centers achieve the upper end of each range. Rural areas and peak hours produce the lower end.
5G vs 4G LTE
Where 5G eSIM makes a real difference
5G delivers 3-10x faster speeds in coverage zones. Coverage is still limited to urban areas in most destinations.
| Country | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad | 5G speed range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Yes (SK Telecom) | Yes (KT) | Yes (SK Telecom) | Yes (LG U+) | 100-300 Mbps |
| Japan | Yes (Docomo) | Yes (SoftBank) | Yes (Docomo) | Yes (SoftBank) | 60-150 Mbps |
| USA (urban) | Yes (T-Mobile) | Yes (AT&T) | Yes (T-Mobile) | Yes (T-Mobile) | 80-200 Mbps |
| UK (cities) | Yes (EE) | Yes (Vodafone) | Yes (EE) | Yes (Vodafone) | 50-120 Mbps |
| Germany (cities) | Yes (Telekom) | Yes (Vodafone) | Yes (Telekom) | Limited (O2) | 50-100 Mbps |
| Thailand | Limited (AIS) | Limited (AIS) | Limited (AIS) | No | 30-60 Mbps (5G zones) |
When 5G matters for travelers
- Uploading large video files or photos from a shoot
- High-quality video calls in dense city centers
- Real-time cloud sync for business users
- Streaming 4K video from hotel without the hotel WiFi
When 4G LTE is sufficient
- Maps and navigation (requires 2-5 Mbps)
- Messaging apps and email
- Standard video calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime)
- Social media browsing and posting photos
Throttling
What happens after your data limit or fair-use threshold
Airalo, Saily, and Nomad stop service when data runs out. Holafly throttles speed on unlimited plans.
| Provider | Plan type | Throttle trigger | Throttled speed | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holafly | Unlimited | Fair-use daily threshold (varies by country, typically 500 MB-2 GB/day) | 256 kbps-1 Mbps | Resets next day. No option to buy speed back. |
| Airalo | Fixed data | No throttling | N/A | Data stops at plan limit. Buy additional plan in app. |
| Saily | Fixed data | No throttling | N/A | Data stops at plan limit. Buy additional plan in app. |
| Nomad | Fixed data | No throttling | N/A | Data stops at plan limit. Buy additional plan in app. |
What 256 kbps actually means in practice
At 256 kbps (Holafly's throttled speed), basic text messaging works. Loading a simple webpage takes 10-30 seconds. Google Maps navigation fails to update in real time. Video calls do not work. Streaming is not possible. For travelers who hit Holafly's fair-use threshold mid-day, the rest of that day's connectivity is limited to chat apps only. The throttle resets at the start of the next calendar day.
Speed scores
Provider speed scores using the 5-dimension methodology
Speed dimension accounts for 20% of the overall provider score. Throttling policies are factored into consistency scoring.
| Provider | Avg download | Networks | Throttling | Consistency | Speed score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 35-80 Mbps (varies by country) | 4G LTE + 5G in 30+ countries | None (data stops at limit) | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Holafly | 30-70 Mbps (varies by country) | 4G LTE + 5G in select countries | Yes (unlimited plans, after fair-use) | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| Saily | 30-75 Mbps (varies by country) | 4G LTE + 5G in select countries | None (data stops at limit) | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Nomad | 25-65 Mbps (varies by country) | 4G LTE (limited 5G) | None (data stops at limit) | 4.2 | 4.3 |
Airalo leads on speed score because of strong carrier partnerships (Docomo, EE, Telstra) and no throttling. Holafly's speed score is penalized by throttling on unlimited plans. See our full scoring methodology.
Test your eSIM
How to accurately test your eSIM speed
Three steps give you a reliable speed reading on your actual device and plan.
Set up correctly
- Turn off WiFi completely in Settings
- Set your travel eSIM as the Cellular Data line
- Enable Data Roaming on the eSIM line
- Wait 30 seconds for cellular registration
Run the test
- Open Speedtest by Ookla or Fast.com
- Run the test at least three times per location
- Note the server selected (local servers give better readings)
- Record download speed, upload speed, and ping
Interpret the results
- Under 5 Mbps: slow for navigation, fine for messaging
- 5-20 Mbps: adequate for most travel tasks
- 20-50 Mbps: good for video calls and streaming
- 50+ Mbps: fast, likely on 5G or strong 4G LTE
Test timing matters: Run tests at multiple times of day. Morning tests in popular tourist areas often show 40-80 Mbps. Evening tests in the same spots may show 10-25 Mbps due to network congestion. Neither reading is wrong. Both reflect real conditions you will experience.
Related guides
More provider comparison data
Full Provider Feature Matrix
All five scoring dimensions compared across Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad.
eSIM App Comparison
App ratings, installation flow, and data tracking features reviewed.
Support Quality Ranked
Response times, channels, and refund policies for each provider.
Our Scoring Methodology
How the 5-dimension scoring system works and why speed is weighted at 20%.
Best eSIM Guides
150 destination, device, and use-case guides with feature matrices and provider scores.
Cheapest eSIM Plans
Per-GB pricing ranked across all four providers for every destination.
FAQ
eSIM speed comparison FAQ
Which eSIM provider is the fastest?
Which eSIM provider is the fastest?
Speed depends on the carrier each provider routes through in your destination, not the provider brand. In Japan, Airalo routes through Docomo (45-78 Mbps average) while Holafly uses SoftBank (38-62 Mbps). In South Korea, all providers route through top-tier 5G carriers and deliver 80-300 Mbps. In Thailand, all providers use similar carriers and speeds converge at 22-55 Mbps.
Does Holafly throttle unlimited eSIM speed?
Does Holafly throttle unlimited eSIM speed?
Yes. Holafly's unlimited plans include a fair-use policy. After consuming a daily threshold that varies by country (typically 500 MB to 2 GB per day), speed drops to 256 kbps-1 Mbps. This is fast enough for messaging and basic browsing but too slow for video streaming or turn-by-turn navigation. Speed resets the next calendar day.
Is 5G eSIM faster than 4G LTE eSIM?
Is 5G eSIM faster than 4G LTE eSIM?
Where 5G is available, yes. In South Korea, 5G eSIM speeds reach 100-300 Mbps versus 30-80 Mbps on 4G LTE. Japan delivers 60-150 Mbps on 5G. But 5G coverage is limited to urban areas in most destinations. In rural areas, beaches, or smaller towns, 4G LTE is the practical ceiling regardless of which provider you use.
How do I test my eSIM speed?
How do I test my eSIM speed?
Download Speedtest by Ookla or Fast.com. With your eSIM active and set as the Cellular Data line, turn off WiFi and run the test over cellular only. Test at different times (morning, afternoon, evening) to account for network congestion. Run tests in multiple locations if possible, as speed varies significantly between dense urban areas and suburbs.
Does eSIM speed vary by time of day?
Does eSIM speed vary by time of day?
Yes. Cellular networks experience congestion during peak hours, typically morning commute times, lunch, and evening. Speed can drop 30-50% during peak periods in dense urban areas. This affects all eSIM providers equally because they all share the same local carrier infrastructure as everyone else on that network.
Can I get faster eSIM speed than my regular carrier's roaming?
Can I get faster eSIM speed than my regular carrier's roaming?
Often yes. If your travel eSIM routes through a faster local carrier than your home carrier's roaming partner, eSIM speed will exceed roaming speed. In South Korea, an Airalo eSIM on SK Telecom 5G typically delivers faster speeds than US carrier roaming agreements. T-Mobile's free international data on Magenta plans throttles to 128 kbps, far slower than any travel eSIM.