I just returned from a trip to Thailand where I used the Airalo Electronic Travel SIM CardI thought I would write this review to help others decide if this is a good option for them.
What is Airalo?
Airalo is an electronic SIM card for travel. Unlike a physical SIM card, an eSim can be installed on your phone using an app. Most newer smartphones are compatible with eSim. If you have an iPhone, you can see this list From apple To check if your phone works with Airalo, I use an iPhone 12 which is already many years old and supports eSims.
Is Airalo legit?
Yes! I have used the app and it has worked perfectly. I haven’t heard any horror stories from people. The eSims are totally legitimate and are compatible with my most recent smartphones. Most network providers now offer travel eSims that can be purchased directly through Airalo.
How does Airalo work?
Basically, Airalo sells eSims from various phone networks around the world. So, instead of using your Australian SIM for roaming, which depending on your plan can be very expensive, you can buy a cheap local eSim.
All plans are prepaid, so you get a set amount of data for a set period of time. The plan I purchased through Airalo gave me unlimited data in Thailand for $30. It had a 15-day expiration date, which was more than enough for my week-long trip.
Regional and Global eSims
If you are traveling through multiple countries and regions, it is also possible to purchase regional and global SIM cards that work in all countries. These are a bit more expensive. If you are only going to one country, I recommend purchasing an eSim specific to that country. Even if you are transiting through another country, I have found that you can always use the airport wifi and not get much benefit from an eSim.
Installing an Airalo eSim
Although I am a fairly tech-savvy person, I don’t think any special technical skills are needed to install Airalo. The app guided me very well through the process.
My only advice: install the eSim when you are in the country you are traveling to. To do this, you will need to have access to Wi-Fi. When I traveled to Thailand, I had a stopover in Singapore and decided to install my travel SIM card at the Singapore airport because they had Wi-Fi there. However, the eSim was not activated until I was in Thailand, so there was a period where I was worried that it would not work. That is why I recommend waiting until you arrive in your destination country to install the eSim. But remember that you will need access to Wi-Fi to complete the process.
Installing an eSim will not overwrite an existing SIM card or phone plan. My iPhone can use two SIM cards at the same time. I simply deactivate my regular SIM card while traveling and use the Airalo SIM card. This can all be done in Settings. Once I return to Australia, I simply delete the travel SIM card and my phone is back to normal.
Airalo Support
One thing I can’t offer advice on is Airalo support. As my SIM installation went perfectly, I didn’t need to contact support. They say they offer 24/7 support.
Is Airalo worth it?
This question really depends on your local mobile plan. My current plan in Australia does not include roaming data. I can pay a daily fee to get 1GB of roaming data for travel. I have found this to be more than enough for using maps and checking emails etc, and have used it in the past. If you want to use Instagram and TikTok etc when you are on public transport or in waiting locations, a travel SIM card will give you that extra bit of data.
Airalo is also a great option if you have a mobile provider that doesn’t offer roaming or charges very high roaming fees. Depending on the country, an Airalo travel SIM card costs just a few dollars and is worth it for the peace of mind of knowing you can use maps, send messages, etc.
It’s also worth using Airalo instead of buying a physical travel SIM card. I’ve done this in the past and was always worried about losing my current SIM card when changing it. While you can buy travel SIM cards at the airport, they’re not cheaper! Most airport providers charge a huge markup because they know tourists will pay for it. I’ve found Airalo’s prices to be really good.