Our detailed Holafly review. Here's what we learned from testing Holafly in 4 countries.

Alongside Airalo, Holafly is probably the most famous eSIM seller available. With over a million customers to date, Holafly is known for its unlimited data packages, making it an attractive option if you have heavier data needs on your trip.

Our team here at Simsurf tested Holafly in four countries to learn more about how it works, what its strengths are, and where its limitations lie. What we learned might surprise you.

Stay tuned and happy surfing! 🏄

Holafly at a glance

If you're in a rush, here's all of the relevant info about Holafly condensed into a short section for your leisure. If you want to read deeper and find out about our experiences, the main article continues further down...

What impressed us about Holafly:

• Best customer support we've tested so far,
• Unlimited data (not always a plus, though),
• Affordable, especially for high data users,
• Smooth and intuitive website and app,
• We got through setup and activation in under 5 minutes.

We didn't impress us about Holafly:

• Limited clarity on throttling restrictions,
• Pricey for low data consumption,
• Tethering and hotspots aren’t supported widely,
• No talk or text.

What's it like to use Holafly?

I’ve got to say, Holafly really stands out as one of the top eSIM options out there. It offers solid service and great coverage, but it's unlimited packages aren't worth it for everyone. In this first section, we'll go over a few things you'll want to keep in mind before you decide to go with Holafly.

In a nutshell, here's what you get with Holafly:

1. a digital eSIM that's super easy to install,
2. unlimited data plans that last anywhere from 5 to 90 days,
3. decent 3G/4G/LTE speeds through local networks.

You can top up your plan right from the app, which is handy. Holafly doesn't give you any talk or text though (we previously tested this out in the E.U., but unfortunately this service was discontinued in 2024). However, depending on where you are, hot-spotting and data sharing might be available too (but not in all destinations).

To use Holafly, you’ll need to download their app. Tt works on both iOS and Android devices. From my experience, the app worked fine and was easy enough to navigate, though it didn’t really wow me either.

One thing I definitely did like: Holafly supports Apple Pay, so buying or recharging a plan was quick and hassle-free. But aside from that, the app was pretty average overall.

How strong is Holafly's connection?

Holafly connects you to local networks in the country you’re visiting, like AT&T in the U.S. or Rogers in Canada. In some places, such as Spain or Turkey, you can even switch between multiple networks to get the best signal, which is a big plus over traditional SIM cards tied to just one carrier. That said, if you’re mostly sticking to cities, coverage shouldn’t be an issue.

We analyzed how many telco networks Holafly works with on average and found that for most destinations, you get a choice between two (2) network providers. That's more than Airalo and aloSIM on average, so not bad.

As for speeds, Holafly generally offers stable 3G or 4G LTE connections, with 5G available in some locations. When we tested it in the U.K., we mostly stayed on 4G, but performance was consistent across the board (urban or rural) with download speeds hovering just above 7 MB/s.

This speed wasn't great, but it was also manageable for most ordinary travel purposes in the U.K. This stable connection is possibly due to the network speed being capped at this download speed.

Is Holafly really unlimited?

Yes, Holafly really does offer unlimited data. You won’t get completely cut off, even with heavy use. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

“Unlimited” means you'll always have internet access, but your speed might be reduced after hitting a certain usage threshold. Since Holafly relies on local carriers, the specifics vary by country, and unfortunately, Holafly doesn’t give much detail about where or when throttling might happen.

In our U.K. test, after using about 4.5 GB to download two movies, our speeds dropped from 7 MB/s to under 1 MB/s. Thankfully, by the end of the day, speeds bounced back. So while the throttling caught us off guard, the quick recovery was a pleasant surprise.

Your connection is via local networks

The best part about eSIMs is that they connect you directly to local networks, just like if you weren't a tourist at all!

As mentioned already, Holafly is no exception here...

For example, with an Holafly eSIM in Egypt, you get connection through Etisalat or Orange networks. In Sri Lanka, you'd be connected via Dialog. In cases where multiple networks are available (e.g., Egypt, but also many others), you'll be automatically connected to the fastest network (which is sometimes 5G), but you can manually switch networks in your settings too.

You can top up at any time

Lets say you buy an unlimited package for three days just to test it out. Then, after those three days are up, you find yourself without any data. With Holafly, that's no problem. As long as you've got the app and your original payment method saved, topping up your existing eSIM should take just seconds. You won't even need to install another eSIM—it's your original eSIM (already installed) that you're topping up, after all.

Customer support is top-notch

We tried contacting Holafly's customer support a few times during our travels, both just to test it out and sometimes to address real concerns.

Our team all agreed that Holafly's customer support is the best we've tested and a real strong point for the company. They are fast, friendly, and quick to resolve issues. Plus, as of 2025, they're all humans. For example, in Jonny's test, it took him less than a minute to be put in touch with a human being.

Besides live chat, Holafly also supports WhatsApp and email as contact channels, which some customers might find more appealing.

Is Holafly really as affordable as it says?

Holafly is definitely much cheaper than traditional roaming, but because it offers unlimited data, it’s usually pricier than physical SIM cards or most other prepaid eSIM options.

The cost depends on where you’re going and how long you need the plan—it's a one-time payment for unlimited data, and you can top up later through the app if needed.

That said, most travellers don’t actually use a ton of mobile data. If you're just checking maps, using social media, or making a few WhatsApp calls (and relying on hotel WiFi for streaming or big downloads), an unlimited plan might be more than you really need. Here's an overview of common data usage:

You can use Simsurf's data usage calculator to see which provider and plan is best suited for your usage needs.

You can also compare pricing of the top eSIMs for yourself in real time using Simsurf's free comparison tool:

Is Holafly legit? What are other customers saying?

Holafly is a legit and reliable option for staying connected abroad. Even though it's a relatively new company (founded in 2017), it offers eSIM access in over 155 countries and has served tens of thousands of users globally.

We also appreciated how easy it is to delete your account or request a refund or eSIM replacement if something goes wrong. Holafly are very generous with their refund policy, allowing you a full refund up to six months after purchase, even if you've activated your eSIM already. That kind of transparency gave us a lot of confidence in their service.

As for user feedback, the app scores fairly well—4.6 stars on the App Store and 4.5 on Google Play. It really stands out on Trustpilot, though, with a strong 4.5-star rating from over 55,000 reviews.