What is the Best Travel eSIM in Europe?

Are you planning a trip to Europe and want to know the best travel eSIM to use? Don’t worry anymore—this article will provide you with adequate information to enable you to make the right decision.  

eSIM has come to stay and may soon totally replace the physical SIM we currently have. Phone companies such as Apple and Samsung are among the companies leading this innovation, as most of their productions now come ready to run eSIM.  

There are already many communication companies offering eSIM, and the numbers are expected to continue to grow as more phone companies offer the feature and more people switch to eSIM. When you travel, eSIM offers a level of comfort and flexibility as you don’t need to switch SIM cards as with physical SIMs. With an eSIM, you can retain your physical SIM and don’t need to go for any physical verification, as everything is done online.  

In this article, I will discuss two eSIMs because no matter the type of traveler you are, one of them will best serve you.  

What Travelers Expect from an eSIM Differs

The needs of travelers differ depending on their type of user. Some travelers only want to be able to access the internet occasionally, as they are not heavy internet users. They just use the internet to check for information or briefly chat with friends and family.  

On the other hand, there are travelers who are heavy data users. These people usually make a living through the internet or always want to be in the know about what is happening in the social media world. They upload pictures and videos on the go, documenting every moment of their trip.  

So, remember your type of user as you read this article. It will help you choose between Alralo and Holafly correctly.  

Alralo

Best for Light Data Users

Alralo has solidified itself as a worthy consideration among travelers to Europe. Alralo is an eSIM service provider company that has succeeded in making the process of getting an eSIM easy whenever people travel. Their sleek and user-friendly app allows you to easily get a lot done, such as purchasing and activating an eSIM with only a few clicks.  

Like some of its competitors, you are not required to scan a QR code or paste a manual activation code into your settings. The app’s easy operation is very helpful, as it drastically reduces the chances of making a mistake while setting up your SIM.  

Alralo prices are competitive for low and medium data plans. For example, their weekly 1 to 2 gigabyte plan costs between $5 and $10. Alralo data plans support data sharing, which is very helpful if you plan to use your data across multiple devices.  

The downside to Alralo currently is its not-so-good customer service. Although customer service is claimed to always be available, their response time isn’t the best. Also, some countries don’t have a variety of data plans.  

If you are a heavy data user, Alralo can become super expensive when you buy 1 or 2 gigabytes daily for seven days, unlike what you get with our next provider. 

Also Read: 10 Digital Skills That Can Increase Your Job Opportunities Abroad 

Key Things to Know About Alralo

• Sleek user, friendly interface both on the app and website
• Affordable data rates
• Covers many countries  
• Instant activation
• 24/7 customer support service
• You can purchase your eSIM from anywhere in the world using their platform with a few clicks
• Data sharing is supported  
• It doesn’t offer unlimited data plans

Holafly

Best for Heavy Data Users

Are you a heavy data user? If you engage in many data-intensive activities, such as hosting a meeting or podcast and sharing and uploading videos on platforms like YouTube, then your best option is Holafly. Holafly, just like Alralo, has made themselves the favorite amongst nearby data users because of their service, such as their 7-day unlimited plan that costs about $34.

As a heavy data user, you don’t want to run out of data and be cut off when attending to something serious, such as having a video business meeting on Zoom or Google Meet. The Holafly unlimited plan eliminates the possibility of finding yourself in such a situation and the need to constantly monitor your data usage, like when using daily plans.  

Holafly also offers good customer support service. But that doesn’t mean there is no downside, as nothing is perfect. One obvious downside is that currently, they don’t support data sharing on their unlimited plans. This is a big slap on the face for those who would like to use their data across multiple devices. It means you are stuck with one device.  

Key Things to Know About Holafly

• Unlimited data plans
• No roaming charges  
• Easy installation  
• You can check your phone’s eSIM compatibility on their platform  
• 24/7 customer support service  
• User-friendly interface
• Data sharing is currently not allowed

Tips for Using eSIMs

• Buy your eSIM ahead of time if you intend to travel soon so you don’t forget and then get stranded when you get to your destination. (Remember to read the company’s terms.)  
• Wait till the day of your departure or once you get to your destination to activate your eSIM.  
• Ensure that your phone is eSIM compatible before making a purchase.  

Note: you need a stable Wi-Fi connection to install and activate your eSIM.  

Also Read: 5 Travel Software & Tools You Should Have and Why

Conclusion 

Alralo and Holafly are great providers of eSIMs, and they efficiently serve their respective customers. They have their strengths and weaknesses over each other, such as the competitive prices and broad coverage of Alralo, the unlimited plan, and the good customer support service of Holafly. Therefore, you must know whether you are a light or heavy user and then choose wisely.  

You will hardly need to contact the customer care of the two companies because they have a clean, step-by-step process for getting anything done on their apps and websites. However, when contacting them, ensure that you have the screenshots of the issue handy. They would need them to diagnose the issue and get it resolved faster.