What is Holafly and how does its eSIM work?
Holafly is a travel eSIM company that sells prepaid data plans with an "unlimited data" model per destination and per day. It works the same as any eSIM: instead of a physical card, you install a digital profile on your cell phone that connects you to a local or regional network as soon as you land, without changing your usual number.
As described on its own site (esim.holafly.com), Holafly sells unlimited data plans by destination, with different durations in days. This is the brand's central promise: buy days of connection without worrying about how much you consume, within the limits of its fair use policy, which we'll discuss below, rather than buying gigabytes. The exact number of destinations and available durations should be checked on their website on the day you plan to purchase, as they are subject to change.
The eSIM technology itself is not exclusive to Holafly: dozens of providers use it, including PuraSIM. What differentiates each brand is the data model, price, exact coverage per country, and support when something goes wrong at the destination, not the underlying technology. If you've never used one, it's best to first understand what an eSIM is before comparing providers.
How to activate the Holafly eSIM, step by step
The activation process described by Holafly on its website has three stages: installing the profile before traveling, activating data upon arrival, and letting the phone connect automatically to the local network. In practice, it can be summarized as follows:
- Purchase: you choose your destination and duration, pay, and receive an email with installation instructions, a QR code, or a manual code.
- Installation: you scan the QR (or enter the manual code) from the phone where you will use the eSIM, while you have Wi-Fi or another active internet connection. This is done before the trip, not at the destination airport without a signal.
- Data activation: upon landing, you activate the eSIM's data line (some plans do this automatically, others require you to manually activate "data roaming" for that profile).
- Connection: the phone automatically connects to the local or regional network included in the plan.
This is the same scheme used by most travel eSIMs on the market. If it's your first time, the complete process—whether with Holafly, PuraSIM, or any other brand—is explained with screenshots in our guide on how to install an eSIM.
What happens if you activate Holafly before traveling?
Holafly expressly recommends installing the profile before the trip (you need Wi-Fi to do so) but keeping the eSIM turned off until landing, especially for regional plans, to avoid unexpected consumption or charges, according to their own documentation. The distinction is important: installing is not the same as activating.
Installing before the trip is safe and recommended: it only downloads the profile to the phone, does not consume data from the plan, and does not start counting days. Activating it too early can be a problem, especially for plans that count validity days from the first use: if you turn on the eSIM's data line while still in your home country, you run the risk of the day counter starting before the actual trip begins, or of connecting to the wrong network on regional plans that include several countries.
The practical recommendation, valid for Holafly and any eSIM with a daily plan: install it in advance, but do not activate data until you are in the destination country (or region).
Are Holafly's "unlimited" data truly unlimited?
Not entirely, and Holafly acknowledges this on its own FAQ page. The company clarifies that "unlimited" means there is no fixed gigabyte cap, but that speed may be reduced after heavy use, following the Fair Usage Policy applied by the local operators with whom it works.
In its FAQ section on unlimited plans, Holafly explains that some operators may reduce speed after reaching a high-speed limit due to their Fair Usage Policy (FUP), and that this slowdown is temporary. Source: esim.holafly.com, FAQ section. Verify the current text on their website before purchasing.
Holafly does not publish an exact gigabyte threshold on that page from which the reduction is activated; it only confirms that it exists, that it depends on the operator in each country, and that it is temporary. This is a reasonable nuance—almost all operators worldwide apply it to any "unlimited" plan, not just Holafly—but it's good to know before buying, thinking you'll have maximum speed without restriction throughout a long trip.
The practical difference between a plan with a fixed gigabyte limit and an "unlimited" plan with a fair use policy is this:
| Plan type | What happens when the cap is reached | Does the internet cut off? |
|---|---|---|
| Plan with fixed data limit (e.g., 5 GB) | Contracted gigabytes are exhausted | Yes, it stops connecting unless you buy an additional package |
| "Unlimited" plan with fair use policy (Holafly model) | Speed is reduced after heavy use during the day | It doesn't cut off, but it may browse slowly during that day |
Holafly also describes on its own support page a feature called "Always On," which provides a small emergency data package when a fixed-limit plan runs out, designed for checking maps or messaging while you buy a new plan from the app.
Can you share data (hotspot) with Holafly's eSIM?
Yes, in most plans, but with a condition that is not always obvious: the hotspot is not part of the "unlimited" data. Holafly explains in its support documentation: the connection sharing function is not unlimited, and each destination has its own gigabyte cap for what is shared with another device, apart from the main phone's consumption.
In other words, even if your plan says "unlimited data," if you activate the hotspot to share internet with a laptop or another person's phone, that shared use does have its own gigabyte limit and is depleted independently of the rest of the plan. Before relying on the hotspot to work from your laptop at your destination, it's advisable to check the details for that specific country, as the limit changes depending on where you travel.
Which cell phones are compatible with Holafly's eSIM?
eSIM compatibility depends on the phone model and whether it is unlocked (not carrier-locked), not on the data provider's brand: if your phone accepts eSIM, it accepts Holafly's, PuraSIM's, or any other company's that uses the same technology. Most iPhones from the XS onwards and a good portion of mid-to-high-end Samsung, Google Pixel, and some recent Motorola and Xiaomi phones support eSIM, but there are exceptions by region and carrier.
Since this raises genuine questions before buying any eSIM, we have a separate detailed guide with the list of compatible models and how to check yours in eSIM compatible phones.
What are the disadvantages of eSIM, in general and for Holafly?
Before comparing brands, it's worth being honest about the limitations of eSIM technology itself, which also apply to Holafly:
- You need internet to install it. Unlike a physical SIM that arrives ready, the eSIM profile is downloaded via Wi-Fi or data, so if you lose your phone or factory reset it without having installed it first, you cannot activate it without a connection.
- It's not always transferable. If you change phones after installing the eSIM, in most cases you need to request a new profile, not simply move a physical card from one device to another.
- It depends on the model's compatibility. Carrier-locked phones or older models often do not support eSIM.
- "Unlimited" comes with fine print. As we saw in the previous section, the fair use policy is real and can affect speed at the most inopportune moment, for example during a work video call.
- Hotspot is often limited separately, even with Holafly, as we've already seen.
None of these points are exclusive to Holafly: they are characteristics of how eSIM technology generally works. If you want the complete picture of pros and cons compared to the traditional physical SIM, we explain it in eSIM vs. physical SIM.
What support does Holafly offer if something goes wrong at your destination?
According to its own website (esim.holafly.com), Holafly offers support via chat and email, as well as an app to manage the plan. Phone support is not listed among the channels it publishes. It is advisable to check the contact address and current hours on their own website before traveling.
This is a reasonable point to consider when comparing any travel eSIM: if you have a connection problem at 3 AM in an airport, what matters is not how many countries the plan covers, but whether you'll be able to talk to someone immediately and in your language, regardless of the brand you choose.
How does the pricing of Holafly plans work?
Holafly does not charge per individual gigabyte, but rather for fixed-term plans of days with "unlimited" data included: you choose a destination, you choose how many days you will be there (for example, 5, 10, or 20 days), and the price increases with duration, not with your consumption. This is a different model from traditional roaming operators, who charge per megabyte or for fixed gigabyte packages.
We will not quote specific prices here: plans frequently change value depending on the destination, season, and promotions, and any number we put today may be outdated by the time you read this. If you want to compare real prices, the most reliable way is to check the plan for the exact destination you are interested in directly on each provider's website, on the same day you plan to purchase.
Holafly versus other eSIMs: an objective comparison
This table compares verifiable criteria, not opinions. Every piece of Holafly data comes from what the brand itself publishes on its official website and may change without notice: check there before deciding. PuraSIM data is what we publish on our own pages.
| Criterion | Holafly | PuraSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations covered | Check the current figure at esim.holafly.com | More than 200 destinations |
| Data model | "Unlimited" plans by day, with fair use policy | Varies depending on the destination plan (check each country's specifications) |
| Typical activation time | QR installation before travel and activation upon arrival; check their website for the activation period | Activation in approximately 1 minute, with up to 180 days from purchase to activate it |
| Hotspot / data sharing | Available in most plans, with its own GB cap depending on the destination | Check availability in each plan's specifications |
| Support channels | Chat and email (does not publish phone on its website) | 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp |
One point in Holafly's favor is that it documents its fair use policy on its own website: not all eSIM providers openly explain what happens when "unlimited" is no longer entirely so, and that's worth acknowledging. If your priority is a daily plan without counting gigabytes and you're not concerned if the speed drops on a given day due to high consumption, or if chat and email support are sufficient for you, it's a legitimate option. If you're interested in a wide 180-day window to activate without losing the purchase, or prefer WhatsApp support in addition to chat and email, these are the differences to look at more closely before deciding. To understand how the unlimited eSIM model compares in general to other travel data alternatives, we also have the comparison eSIM vs. roaming.
Which physical network you actually connect to
A travel eSIM is not a network of its own: it roams on local operators. Which ones you get decides your real coverage, and almost no provider publishes it. These are the networks a PuraSIM eSIM uses, taken from our own carrier agreements and checked on 2 September 2026.
| Destination | Networks you roam on | Technology | Top-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | NTT docomo · Rakuten Mobile · KDDI/au · SoftBank | 5G | Yes |
| United States | T-Mobile · AT&T | 5G | Yes |
| Spain | Orange · Movistar | 5G | Yes |
| United Kingdom | O2 · EE · 3 | 4G/5G | Yes |
| Thailand | TrueMove H · DTAC | 5G | Yes |
| Mexico | Telcel · AT&T | 5G | Yes |
| Greece | Wind · Vodafone | 5G | Yes |
| Turkey | Vodafone | 5G | Yes |
Two questions are worth asking about any travel eSIM, Holafly included. First, how many networks you get in your destination: where a plan runs on a single operator you have no fallback if that operator is weak where you are staying. Second, whether the plan can be topped up — if it cannot, running out of data means buying and installing a second eSIM mid-trip.
We publish this table because it is the part of the comparison you can check yourself: land, open your phone settings and read the operator name on screen. PuraSIM covers more than 200 destinations, and the network partners are listed on each destination page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to remove my physical SIM to install Holafly's eSIM?
No. According to Holafly's own documentation, installing and activating an eSIM does not change the number of your usual physical SIM: the eSIM works alongside your normal line, not in its place (source: esim.holafly.com).
Do I need Wi-Fi to install the eSIM before traveling?
Yes. eSIM profile installation requires an internet connection, so it's best to do it with Wi-Fi before leaving home, rather than waiting until you're at the destination airport without a signal.
What if my phone is not eSIM compatible?
You simply won't be able to install the digital profile, whether it's from Holafly or any other provider: compatibility depends on the phone model, not the eSIM brand. Check the list of compatible models before purchasing any plan.
Is the reduced speed due to the fair use policy permanent?
No, according to Holafly, it's temporary: it's a temporary reduction and speed returns to normal afterward (source: esim.holafly.com).
Does the hotspot count as part of Holafly's "unlimited" data?
Not exactly. The hotspot has its own gigabyte cap depending on the destination, separate from the rest of the plan, as Holafly explains in its support documentation.
What happens if a Holafly plan with a fixed limit runs out of data?
According to their website, the connection is cut off and you have to buy an additional package, unless the plan includes the "Always On" feature, which provides a small emergency data package for maps and messaging while you buy a new plan.
Are unused data lost when the Holafly plan ends?
Yes. According to its own support page, Holafly does not offer traditional renewal and unused data is lost when the plan expires.
Conclusion: when is each option suitable?
Holafly is an established brand with a clear model: "unlimited" plans by day, broad international coverage, and a fair use policy that, to its credit, it explains quite transparently on its own website. It's a reasonable option if you seek simplicity and aren't concerned if the speed drops on a given day due to high consumption, or if chat and email support are sufficient for you.
If what matters most to you is having leeway to activate without rush—up to 180 days from purchase—support also via WhatsApp in addition to chat and email, and coverage in over 200 destinations, these are the concrete differences where it's worth comparing before deciding, rather than a question of which brand "is better" in the abstract. You can review the available plans by destination in our international eSIM collection and compare the specific details for your country before purchasing either option. If you also want the complete picture of how to choose a travel eSIM step-by-step, we cover it in the definitive guide to eSIMs for travel.
