Compare 4 top-rated eSIM providers as alternatives to Airalo. Find better pricing, features, and coverage.
Airalo has built a solid reputation with 1260 plans across 178 countries, but a 4.0 rating and competitive pricing from newer players mean it's worth exploring what else is out there in 2025. We've compared four strong alternatives—Saily, UBIGI, Roamless, and simOptions—that offer compelling advantages, from Roamless's budget-friendly rates to simOptions's higher user satisfaction scores. Depending on your destination and priorities, one of these providers might actually suit your travel needs better than the market leader.
Airalo dominates the eSIM market with 1,260 plans covering 178 countries, which makes it the go-to choice for travelers hopping between multiple destinations or heading somewhere obscure. But that massive catalog doesn't always translate to the best value. At $2.45 per GB on average, Airalo sits somewhere in the middle of the pack, and its 4.0 TrustPilot rating suggests there's room for improvement in customer experience. It remains a solid default option for travelers who prioritize coverage breadth and the peace of mind that comes from using the most established name in the space.
Roamless emerges as the cheapest alternative in this comparison, making it worth serious consideration for budget-conscious travelers. While specific pricing data isn't provided here, the designation as "cheapest" matters when every dollar counts on a long trip. The trade-off typically comes down to plan selection and country coverage—you're probably looking at a smaller catalog than Airalo's 1,260 plans. For travelers visiting popular destinations where Roamless operates, the savings can be substantial enough to overlook a less extensive network.
Plan flexibility becomes crucial when you're comparing these services. Airalo's 1,260 plans across 178 countries means you'll almost certainly find coverage for your destination, whether you're visiting Bhutan or Belarus. UBIGI and Saily fall somewhere in the middle of the coverage spectrum, offering respectable networks without quite matching Airalo's encyclopedic reach. The sheer volume of Airalo's plans also means more granular options—varying data amounts, different validity periods, and regional packages that can cover an entire continent.
simOptions holds the highest customer rating among these alternatives, which signals something important about execution. High ratings in the eSIM space usually reflect a combination of reliable connectivity, an intuitive app interface, and responsive customer support when things go wrong. When you're troubleshooting a data connection in a foreign country, those factors matter more than a fraction of a cent per megabyte. The rating advantage suggests simOptions has nailed the aspects of service that frustrated travelers actually care about, even if it doesn't beat Airalo on raw plan count or country coverage.
For most travelers, the decision breaks down like this: stick with Airalo when visiting multiple countries or less-common destinations where its 178-country coverage and massive plan selection shine. Choose Roamless when you're visiting a major destination it serves and want to minimize costs. Consider simOptions when you value customer experience and reliability over having endless options, particularly for important trips where connectivity matters most.
Saily delivers 195 countries of coverage—17 more than Airalo—while maintaining the same $0.53 average cost per day and matching its 4.0 TrustPilot rating. For travelers who need reliable connectivity across a wider range of destinations without paying a premium, that broader footprint makes a real difference. The pricing structure stays competitive across both short trips and extended travel, meaning you won't sacrifice affordability for the extra geographic reach.
The expanded country list proves especially valuable for multi-country itineraries or trips to less-traveled regions where Airalo's network may not extend. Backpackers island-hopping through the Pacific or business travelers covering multiple African markets will appreciate the additional options without needing to juggle multiple eSIM providers. Airalo does counter with 816 plans versus Saily's 444 more plans, which translates to more granular data-package choices in popular destinations—useful when you want precise control over budget and data limits in a single country.
Saily works best for travelers prioritizing geographic flexibility and straightforward pricing across diverse regions. Choose it when your route includes secondary destinations or you value having one provider that covers more ground. Stick with Airalo when you're visiting major tourist hubs and want maximum plan variety to fine-tune your data allowance, or when you prefer a provider with slightly longer market presence in specific high-traffic countries.
UBIGI stands out as a compelling alternative to Airalo for travelers who need broader geographic reach and don't mind spending slightly more for it. With coverage spanning 200 countries—22 more than Airalo's 178—UBIGI opens up connectivity in destinations that Airalo simply doesn't serve. The service also edges ahead with a 4.1 TrustPilot rating compared to Airalo's 4.0, suggesting consistently positive user experiences. The trade-off comes in daily cost: UBIGI runs $0.20 more expensive per day than Airalo, which adds up on longer trips but remains competitive for short visits.
Where UBIGI truly shines is for travelers hopping between lesser-covered regions or planning multi-country itineraries that include off-the-beaten-path destinations. Those extra 22 countries can make the difference between staying connected in a remote island nation or scrambling for local SIM cards at the airport. The provider's 923 plans offer plenty of flexibility across different data needs and trip lengths, though Airalo's larger catalog of 1,260 plans gives it an edge for travelers who want maximum choice in specific popular destinations. Budget-conscious travelers sticking to well-trodden routes in Europe or Southeast Asia may find Airalo's lower daily rate more attractive, especially on trips lasting two weeks or more.
Choose UBIGI when:
Roamless stands out as a compelling alternative to Airalo, particularly for travelers who value breadth of choice and geographic reach. With 4,367 plans across 194 countries, Roamless offers significantly more options than Airalo's 1,260 plans spanning 178 destinations. That's 16 more countries and nearly three times the plan variety, giving travelers more flexibility to find exactly the right data package for their specific destination and duration. Pricing remains competitive between the two providers, so the decision rarely comes down to cost alone.
The real advantage of Roamless becomes clear for travelers visiting less common destinations or those who want multiple plan tiers to choose from in a single country. Someone heading to emerging markets in Africa or Central Asia will often find Roamless covers spots that Airalo doesn't, while frequent travelers appreciate having more data allowance options without needing to top up mid-trip. The trade-off? Airalo's 4.0 TrustPilot rating edges out Roamless's 3.5, suggesting some users experience smoother activation or better customer support with the more established provider. Travelers prioritizing rock-solid reliability and proven user satisfaction might still lean toward Airalo, especially for high-stakes business trips.
Roamless makes the most sense for digital nomads, long-term travelers, and anyone visiting multiple countries where that extended coverage pays off. Airalo remains the safer bet for first-time eSIM users who want the reassurance of higher ratings and a more streamlined experience, particularly in popular tourist destinations where both providers overlap.
simOptions delivers broader geographic reach than Airalo—covering 199 countries compared to Airalo's 178—while maintaining nearly identical pricing at $0.50 per day. The provider's 4.3 TrustPilot rating edges past Airalo's 4.0, suggesting consistently positive customer experiences. With 1,111 plans available across its extensive network, simOptions offers travelers genuine flexibility without the premium pricing sometimes associated with larger eSIM brands.
The expanded country coverage makes simOptions particularly valuable for travelers heading to less common destinations or planning multi-country trips that venture beyond major tourist hubs. Budget-conscious travelers appreciate the marginally lower daily cost, which adds up over longer journeys—a two-week trip saves roughly $0.40 compared to Airalo, and a month abroad saves close to $1.50. Airalo does maintain a slight edge in total plan variety with 1,260 options, which can matter for travelers who need highly specific data allowances or durations in well-established markets like Western Europe or Southeast Asia.
Choose simOptions when:
Airalo remains the better fit for travelers who prioritize having the absolute widest selection of plans in popular destinations or who value brand recognition when troubleshooting connectivity issues abroad.
After comparing Airalo with four leading alternatives in 2025, the landscape is clear: each provider excels in a different area, and most travelers will find a better fit by looking beyond Airalo's familiar name. Roamless consistently delivers the lowest prices without sacrificing coverage, making it the go-to for budget-conscious users. simOptions earns the highest user ratings for reliability and customer support, while Saily and UBIGI round out the field with strong regional coverage and flexible data rollover options.
Your priorities should drive your choice:
Switching from Airalo to one of these four alternatives isn't about chasing a marginal upgrade—it's about matching your real needs to a provider built around them. Pick Roamless for savings, simOptions for peace of mind, or explore Saily and UBIGI for specialized features. Each delivers what Airalo promises, just with sharper focus on what actually matters to you.
