Airalo vs Holafly: Which Is Better?
As of September 2026, Airalo sells fixed-data Thailand eSIMs from $4.00 to $159.00 on the dtac network, while Holafly sells unlimited-data plans priced $1.55 to $3.90 per day with no published daily cap. Airalo suits short, budget-conscious trips; Holafly suits longer stays where tracking data usage is inconvenient. Both install before departure and activate on arrival in Thailand.
How Do Airalo and Holafly Compare for a Thailand eSIM?
| wDYCaSP3iOXaXKVe7vy3 | GKaH7BJVNAdoFQvpMfHa | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan style | Fixed data caps from 1 GB to 100 GB, plus separate unlimited plans | Unlimited data on every plan, no fixed-cap option |
| Price range | USD 4.00 to USD 159.00 across 19 plans | USD 1.55 to USD 3.90 per day across 1 to 90 day plans |
| 50 GB / 10-day price | USD 9.90, includes 100 minutes of calls | Not offered; nearest equivalent is a 10-day unlimited plan |
| 30-day unlimited price | USD 34.95 | Not published as a flat figure; priced per day within the USD 1.55 to 3.90 range |
| Network partner in Thailand | dtac (True Corp) | Not publicly named; described as 4G/5G via local networks |
| Unlimited plan speed cap | Full speed to 3 GB per day, then throttled to about 1 Mbps | No daily throttle published on Holafly's own plan pages |
| Data sharing / backup data | Not advertised on Thailand plans | 1 GB per day shareable, plus 1 GB backup data per month |
| Parent company founded | 2019 (Airalo) | 2017 (Holafly) |
How Much Does an Airalo eSIM Cost in Thailand?
Airalo lists 19 single-country Thailand plans with prices from $4.00 to $159.00 and data caps from 1 GB to 100 GB, according to plan data aggregated by eSIM DB. A representative fixed plan is the dtac 50 GB package, valid for 10 days and priced at $9.90 on Airalo's official Thailand eSIM page. That plan also includes 100 minutes of calls and a local +66 number, which is unusual among fixed-data eSIM plans.
Airalo also sells unlimited-data options on the same dtac network: a 15-day unlimited plan at $19.95 and a 30-day unlimited plan at $34.95, both listed on Airalo's official site. These unlimited plans run at full speed for the first 3 GB used each day, after which the connection is reduced to roughly 1 Mbps, per a 2026 pricing comparison from Travelsim Asia. Travelers who need more than 100 GB can buy add-on packages such as a 100 GB, 180-day plan for $89.00.
How Much Does a Holafly eSIM Cost in Thailand?
Holafly's Thailand eSIM is unlimited on every plan, with no fixed-data version offered. As of October 29, 2025, Holafly's own site listed per-day prices ranging from $1.55 to $3.90, with the rate falling as the selected validity period gets longer, and travelers can pick any duration from 1 to 90 days. Every plan includes 24/7 customer support.
A 2026 third-party pricing comparison from Travelsim Asia put Holafly's short-trip rates at $3.97 per day for a 3-day plan and $3.93 per day for a 7-day plan, flagging Holafly as one of the pricier options for short Thailand trips. Holafly also bundles 1 GB of backup data per month at no extra cost and lets users share 1 GB per day with another device or traveler, both listed on its official Thailand eSIM page.
Which Mobile Networks Do Airalo and Holafly Use in Thailand?
Airalo's Thailand plan pages list dtac, part of True Corp, as the network for its dtac-branded eSIMs. Thailand's mobile market is effectively a duopoly between AIS and True Corp, which together control over 95% of subscribers, and AIS was named the fastest network in the country in the 2025 Speedtest awards, ahead of both True and dtac.
Holafly does not name a specific Thailand carrier on its own product pages, describing coverage only as 4G and 5G access through local networks. Holafly's site notes that coverage can be limited or unstable in Khao Sok National Park, on mountain routes in northern Thailand, on the Similan Islands, and in Tarutao National Marine Park.
How Do I Set Up an Airalo or Holafly eSIM Before Landing in Thailand?
Buy and install before you fly
Buy the eSIM through the Airalo or Holafly app or website before departure, using a WiFi or mobile connection at home. Both providers let you scan the QR code and install the eSIM profile in advance, even while you are outside Thailand and outside the eSIM's coverage area.
Check the validity start rule
On Airalo, the plan's validity period starts as soon as the eSIM is installed on the device, even if that happens before you enter Thailand's coverage area, according to Airalo's own plan terms. Confirm each provider's start-of-validity rule before installing, since an early install can burn through days on some plan types.
Activate on arrival
After landing in Thailand, turn on the eSIM's data line in your phone's settings and enable data roaming for that line, since the Thai eSIM registers as a roaming line even though you are physically in the country. Set the Thai eSIM as the default data line so apps use it instead of your home SIM.
Confirm network registration
Give the phone one to two minutes to register on a local network such as AIS, dtac, or True before testing a webpage or map app. Keep your home SIM active in the other slot so calls and SMS on your original number still arrive normally.
Which One Should I Pick for a Trip to Thailand?
For a short trip of a week or less with light data needs such as maps and messaging, Airalo's $9.90 fixed 50 GB plan or its 15-day unlimited plan at $19.95 covers most tourist itineraries at a lower fixed cost than Holafly's $3.90-per-day top rate. For a longer stay, such as a month teaching or working remotely, Airalo's $34.95 30-day unlimited plan is a known fixed cost, while Holafly's per-day rate drops the longer the plan runs, which can make it competitive over 60 or 90 days despite starting at a higher daily rate.
Travelers who want a local phone number and the ability to receive calls should lean toward Airalo's dtac 50 GB plan, since it is the only option between the two that bundles a +66 number with data. Those who most want to avoid tracking data usage, especially for video calls or heavy social media use, are better served by Holafly's unlimited-every-day model.
Are There Other Thailand eSIM Options Besides Airalo and Holafly?
Airalo and Holafly are not the only Thailand eSIM sellers. A 2026 Travelsim Asia comparison lists Nomad's 10-day unlimited plan at $16.00 on sale as the best unlimited value it tracked, and puts Saily at $19.99 for a comparable tier, both undercutting Holafly's per-day unlimited pricing on short trips. Travelers should check current prices directly with each provider before buying, since eSIM pricing changes frequently.
How is this ranking computed?
- Price for short trips (up to 10 days): 30%
- Price/value for long stays (30+ days): 25%
- Network coverage and speed in Thailand: 25%
- Company scale and support track record: 20%
Official sources
- https://www.airalo.com/thailand-esim
- https://www.airalo.com/thailand-esim/dtac-thailand-10days-50gb-pooling
- https://esimdb.com/thailand/airalo
- https://esim.holafly.com/esim-thailand/
- https://esim.holafly.com/reviews/dtac-esim-thailand/
- https://esim.holafly.com/about-us/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airalo
- https://betakit.com/canadian-co-founded-esim-provider-airalo-hits-unicorn-status-with-220-million-usd-series-c-round/
- https://www.airalo.com/about-us/about-airalo
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holafly
- https://travelsimasia.com/blogs/thailand-guides/thailand-esim-prices-2026
- https://esim.holafly.com/esim-bangkok-city/
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