Feature comparison · 2026
eSIM Speed Comparison: What Actually Changes Your Speed
eSIM speed depends on which local carrier a provider routes through in each country, not on the provider brand itself. Two providers selling the same destination often ride the same local carrier, which is why their connections feel alike. This comparison breaks down carrier routing by destination, network type (5G versus 4G LTE), and throttling policies for all five providers. We publish no speed measurements of our own, because we do not run a test lab.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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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 HelloRoam, 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 (NTT docomo in Japan, SKTelecom in South Korea, O2 in the UK) reach more of the network 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.
Carrier routing
Provider-to-carrier routing: top 10 destinations
Which local carrier each provider connects to, and which network generations that carrier runs.
| Destination | Network | HelloRoam carrier | Airalo carrier | Holafly carrier | Saily carrier | Nomad carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 5G / 4G LTE | KDDI/au | NTT docomo | NTT docomo | KDDI/au | NTT docomo |
| South Korea | 5G | LG U+ | SKTelecom | LG U+ | LG U+ | SKTelecom |
| United Kingdom | 5G / 4G LTE | O2 | T-Mobile UK | 3 | T-Mobile UK | O2 |
| Germany | 5G | O2 | Vodafone | O2 | Vodafone | Vodafone |
| United States | 5G | AT&T | Verizon | AT&T | AT&T | Verizon |
| Australia | 5G | Optus | Optus | Optus | Optus | Optus |
| Thailand | 5G / 4G LTE | AIS | DTAC | True Move | DTAC | AIS |
| France | 5G | Orange | Orange | Orange | Orange | Orange |
| Spain | 5G | Orange | Movistar | Orange | Orange | Movistar |
| Mexico | 5G | AT&T | AT&T | AT&T | AT&T | AT&T |
Carrier assignments come from each provider's own documentation and can change. Real-world speed varies by location within the country, time of day, and distance from towers. Urban centers do best. Rural areas and peak hours do worst, on every provider alike.
5G vs 4G LTE
Where 5G eSIM makes a real difference
5G is much faster than 4G LTE inside a coverage zone. Coverage is still limited to urban areas in most destinations.
| Country | HelloRoam | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Yes (LG U+) | Yes (SKTelecom) | Yes (LG U+) | Yes (LG U+) | Yes (SKTelecom) |
| Japan | Yes (KDDI/au) | No (NTT docomo) | No (NTT docomo) | Yes (KDDI/au) | No (NTT docomo) |
| United States | Yes (AT&T) | Yes (Verizon) | Yes (AT&T) | Yes (AT&T) | Yes (Verizon) |
| United Kingdom | Yes (O2) | Yes (T-Mobile UK) | No (3) | Yes (T-Mobile UK) | Yes (O2) |
| Germany | Yes (O2) | Yes (Vodafone) | Yes (O2) | Yes (Vodafone) | Yes (Vodafone) |
| Thailand | Yes (AIS) | Yes (DTAC) | No (True Move) | Yes (DTAC) | Yes (AIS) |
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
- 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
HelloRoam sells fixed and unlimited plans. Airalo, Saily, and Nomad stop service when data runs out. Holafly throttles speed on unlimited plans.
| Provider | Plan type | Throttle trigger | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | Fixed and unlimited | Not published | Not published |
| Airalo | Fixed data | No throttling | Data stops at plan limit. Buy additional plan in app. |
| Holafly | Unlimited | Fair-use daily threshold (varies by country, typically 500 MB-2 GB/day) | Resets next day. No option to buy speed back. |
| Saily | Fixed data | No throttling | Data stops at plan limit. Buy additional plan in app. |
| Nomad | Fixed data | No throttling | Data stops at plan limit. Buy additional plan in app. |
What the throttle means in practice
Once Holafly throttles, basic text messaging still works. Web pages crawl. Google Maps stops updating in real time. Video calls do not work and streaming is not possible. For travelers who hit the fair-use threshold mid-day, the rest of that day is chat apps only. The throttle resets at the start of the next calendar day.
Network scores
Provider network scores using the 5-dimension methodology
The network dimension accounts for 20% of the overall provider score. Throttling policies are factored into consistency scoring.
| Provider | Networks | Throttling | Network score |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | 4G LTE and 5G where the local carrier offers it (204+ partnerships) | Not published | 4.3 |
| Airalo | 4G LTE + 5G in 30+ countries | None (data stops at limit) | 4.4 |
| Holafly | 4G LTE + 5G in select countries | Yes (unlimited plans, after fair-use) | 4.2 |
| Saily | 4G LTE + 5G in select countries | None (data stops at limit) | 4.4 |
| Nomad | 4G LTE (limited 5G) | None (data stops at limit) | 4.3 |
HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad are scored on the published Network Generation dimension. Airalo and Saily post 4.4/5. HelloRoam and Nomad post 4.3/5. Holafly posts 4.2/5 and is the only provider with a published unlimited-plan throttle. 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
- If maps lag, you are on a weak signal or a congested cell
- If messaging works but video calls stutter, you are on 3G or a throttled plan
- If HD video plays without buffering, the connection is healthy
- If nothing loads, check that the eSIM is set as the cellular data line
Test timing matters: Run tests at multiple times of day. Morning tests in popular tourist areas run much faster than evening tests in the same spots, because of 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 HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad.
eSIM App Comparison
Installation flow and data tracking features compared.
Support Quality Ranked
Support channels, hours, and refund policies for each provider.
Our Scoring Methodology
How the 5-dimension scoring system works and why Network Generation is weighted at 20%.
Best eSIM Guides
200 destination, device, and use-case guides with feature matrices and provider scores.
Cheapest eSIM Plans
Per-GB pricing ranked across all five providers for every destination.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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. HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad all connect through local carriers. The routing table below shows which local carrier each provider connects to, country by country. In South Korea, all five route through top-tier 5G carriers. In Thailand, they use similar carriers, so the connection is much the same whichever you buy. We publish no speed measurements, because we do not run speed tests.
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 sharply. It stays 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. It carries far more capacity per tower than 4G LTE, and the gap shows up most on large uploads and video calls. 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 get congested during peak hours, typically morning commute times, lunch, and evening. 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, a HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, or Nomad eSIM on a local 5G carrier typically delivers faster speeds than US carrier roaming agreements. T-Mobile's free international data on Magenta plans is throttled hard, and a travel eSIM on a local network avoids that.
Common eSIM Questions
eSIM Speed Comparison
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix with Speed 4.3/5. eSIM speed depends on the local carrier, not the eSIM provider. HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad route through local carriers per country. Airalo uses SoftBank in Japan, EE in the UK, T-Mobile in the US. Holafly uses NTT Docomo in Japan, EE in the UK. Networks: 4G LTE everywhere, 5G where the local carrier has deployed it.
eSIM vs Google Fi
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix. HelloRoam covers 186 countries from $3.50/GB and sells unlimited from $5. Travel eSIM providers offer data in 160 to 200-plus 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.
Read more →eSIM For Apple Watch
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5 in our comparison matrix for phone eSIM, but HelloRoam does not support Apple Watch. Apple Watch Series 3 and later support eSIM for cellular connectivity. HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, Saily, and Nomad 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.
Read more →