About Airalo
Airalo is an eSIM marketplace that sells prepaid mobile data packages for more than 200 countries and regions, aimed at travelers who want internet abroad without roaming charges or a physical SIM swap. The company was founded in 2019 and is operated by AirGSM Pte. Ltd., registered in Singapore. You buy a data package for your destination on the website or in the Airalo app, then install the eSIM through a QR code or directly in the app; delivery is instant after payment. Packages come in three forms: local (one country), regional (for example a Europe-wide package), and global. Prices are listed in 13 currencies including euros, so European buyers can check out in EUR without conversion surprises. Data-only packages are the standard offer; some destinations also have packages with calls and texts. Airalo reported more than 20 million users as of July 2025 and raised a $220 million Series C round (about €200 million) the same month, which valued the company above $1 billion.
Pros of using Airalo
- Coverage of more than 200 countries and regions, with local, regional, and global data packages
- Instant delivery: the eSIM installs via QR code or the Airalo app right after checkout
- European-friendly payment options: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Checkout in EUR and 12 other display currencies
- Top-ups can be bought in the app without installing a new eSIM
Cons of using Airalo
- Recurring Trustpilot complaints about eSIMs that fail to connect on arrival, with support replies taking 24 to 48 hours
- Refunds are often offered as Airmoney store credit instead of cash back to the original payment method
- Unlimited packages are throttled under a fair-use policy, reportedly to 1 Mbps after 3 GB in a day
- Reseller data can be deprioritized on local networks, so speeds are often lower than a local SIM
- Per-gigabyte pricing is usually higher than a local prepaid SIM for stays of several weeks or longer
