If you don’t want to go without mobile internet while travelling, an eSIM is the simplest solution. I tested airalo in the US myself and am sharing my personal experiences here, along with step-by-step instructions for activation and helpful tips for your next trip.
This is a real-life report because I used it for a long period of time on both the east and west coasts.
My conclusion in advance: Airalo is quick to set up and works reliably – but there are a few things you should keep in mind! I’ll show you what they are here.
By the way: I also have a brand new eSIM USA comparison, in which I compare the most well-known providers.
What is airalo and how does an eSIM work?
airalo is one of the best-known providers of digital SIM cards, so-called eSIMs. But what is an eSIM actually?
At home, you probably have a single mobile phone plan that you use for making phone calls and for mobile internet. However, these tariffs are often not particularly attractive abroad – either there are no good offers or they are simply much too expensive.
This is exactly where Airalo’s eSIM comes into play: Airalo makes it easy for you to get affordable data plans for your travel destination, for example for the USA, Canada, Europe or Asia. This means you can get online as soon as you land – perfect for Google Maps, WhatsApp messages and calls, YouTube, Netflix and Facebook, Instagram and more.
At home
For example, you use
- Telekom, O2 etc. for making phone calls and
- for surfing and WhatsApp
And both together in one tariff. When travelling, it’s different:
When travelling
you need
- Telekom, O2 etc. for making phone calls, but:
- with an eSIM, you do not use the data volume of your mobile provider,
- but the Airalo data plan, which is often significantly cheaper and more flexible.
Important to know: the Airalo eSIM is only for mobile data, so it cannot be used for making phone calls or writing SMS. Nevertheless, you can still be reached normally on your regular number – for example via WhatsApp, iMessage or Facetime.
My tip
When you arrive at your destination, the first thing you should do is activate the airalo eSIM for mobile data. From that moment on, you will no longer be using your previous provider. This is important because otherwise you may incur double costs because your previous provider also charges for mobile data abroad.
It’s quick and easy to set up because you can prepare everything in advance, and then you only have to activate two things on your phone while you’re on holiday. You can see exactly how it works in my step-by-step guide to setting up airalo eSIM.
Airalo eSIM in the USA: My practical test
So how exactly did I test the eSIM? Last summer, I went on a sensational road trip through the USA(you can find more about it on YouTube!). We started in New York City, then Denver, the Rocky Mountains, Arches National Park, Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, Palm Springs, Los Angeles and San Diego were on the itinerary.
During the whole time, I had three different (self-paid) eSIM and SIM cards in three different smartphones. During the whole trip, we used Google Maps, WhatsApp, YouTube, Spotify and Co. and surfed the internet a lot.
But how did airalo fare compared to other eSIM providers? Was the data volume sufficient and how did the setup go compared to Holafly? I’ll tell you in the next section:
My airalo eSIM experience
As you can see from my route, it was a mix of metropolises and also areas. What is my conclusion? I can really recommend the airalo eSIM for the USA! Because if I didn’t have reception, it wasn’t because of the eSIM – there simply wasn’t any (for example in the Grand Canyon)! Here our three smartphones with the Holafly eSIM and the classic SIM card were searching for a network.
That was positive
- I can recommend them to you just as much as the Holafly eSIM – because the reception was really good and we never had any disconnections.
- The price-performance ratio is great.
- Setting up went smoothly.
What you should definitely bear in mind
- The data volume is limited – there is no flat rate as with the Holafly eSIM.
But: The limited data volume (from 1 GB to 20 GB) is not a problem if you already know approximately how much data you will use, you are primarily on a city trip and have Wi-Fi in your hotel, for example.
You will also receive regular updates by email about your usage so far, so you won’t be left without data suddenly and unexpectedly. It looks like this:
My tip: in my eSIM comparison, I have indicated how many GB you can expect depending on your mobile phone and app usage.
Activating Airalo eSIM: Here’s how to do it step by step
Installing Airalo eSIM is extremely easy. You have two options. Either directly from your order confirmation via the Airalo app or via a QR code, which you will receive as an attachment after purchase along with instructions.
Step 1: Install the app
After you have installed the airalo app (it’s free), open the confirmation email on the smartphone you want to use on holiday and click on the “Install eSIM” button.
Step 2: Add eSIM
You will now see your eSIM in the app, but it is not yet activated. Tap on “Show instructions”, then on “INSTALL eSIM” (visible in grey at the bottom of the second screen) and then on “Allow”. The eSIM will now connect to your phone.
Step 3: airalo practically installs itself
Next, the airalo eSIM adds itself as a mobile phone tariff. You don’t have to do anything else, just be patient (it took me 2 minutes and then the information “Mobile configuration complete” appears.
Now tap on “Done” and the app will show the new status of your airalo eSIM in green: it has been successfully installed.
Very important: the tariff is only added, but not yet activated. You only activate it when you have arrived at your destination.
Extra tip: Give your SIM and the new eSIM a suitable name.
Why? So you can easily identify them later. Simply go to your settings, tap on “Mobile” and you will see both cards. Tap on the eSIM and rename it (I have named it “airalo” for lack of creativity). That’s it!
Step 4: Once you arrive at your destination
Once you arrive in the US, simply activate data roaming on your smartphone and select the airalo data plan you set up earlier. Done!
You can buy the airalo eSIM here.
activate airalo eSIM via QR code
Installing via the QR code is just as easy – but I recommend doing it directly via the airalo app. That way, you can always see your current usage!
When should you activate the airalo eSIM?
You can prepare everything in advance as shown in my instructions (up to step 3). However, you should only do the last step – activation – when you have arrived at your travel destination. From that point on, the eSIM is valid for as long as you have booked it!
Questions about airalo?
Are you still unsure or do you have questions? Feel free to contact me at steffen@loving-newyork.com!
airalo vs Holafly: Which is better?
Both Airalo and Holafly are among the most popular eSIM providers for travellers. That’s why I had them with me on my trip to the US. But there are a few key differences:
What is my conclusion?
If you know exactly how much data you need and are watching the price, airalo is the better choice.
You can buy the airalo eSIM here.
If you don’t want to worry about data limits and always want to be on the safe side, then Holafly is better. In my experience, you do use up quite a bit of data, especially on longer trips or with intensive use.
