Bottom line: Airalo is the eSIM store with the widest shelf: local, regional and global eSIMs for 200+ locations, with unlimited options and, in some countries, calls and texts. Its 24/7 support answers in several languages, including on WhatsApp. Two rules matter before you buy. An Airalo eSIM typically can’t be reinstalled once you remove it. And if you ask for a refund because you bought the wrong plan or your plans changed, it comes back as Airmoney, Airalo’s in-app credit, not as cash.
Best for: travelers going somewhere less common, people who want calls and texts inside a local plan where Airalo offers them, and anyone who wants help on WhatsApp.
Think twice if: you often delete and reinstall eSIMs, or you want refunds paid back to your card for any reason.
We pick no winner between travel eSIMs. How we review.
Updated 29 October 2026. This Airalo review rests on what Airalo publishes and what we could check that day: its homepage and its help center articles on reinstalling, refunds and Airmoney. Airalo says more than 30 million people have chosen it.
Airalo review at a glance
| What we checked | What Airalo publishes |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 200+ locations: local, regional and global eSIMs |
| Plans | Flexible packages, including unlimited data options |
| Calls and texts | Included in some eSIMs, depending on the destination |
| Reinstall | “eSIMs typically can’t be reinstalled” |
| Refunds | Requested in the app; wrong purchase or changed plans refund as Airmoney |
| Rewards | Airmoney: in-app credit earned on purchases |
| Support | 24/7, several languages, chat in the app or on WhatsApp |
What Airalo does well
The biggest shelf in the store
Airalo’s homepage promises “200+ locations”, split three ways. A local eSIM covers one country. A regional eSIM covers a group, such as Europe or Asia. A global eSIM covers many countries at once. Honestly, for an unusual destination this is the first place we’d look, because the odds are good it’s on the list.
Packages run from small data bundles to unlimited options. That range lets you match the plan to the trip instead of the other way round: a weekend in one city needs very little; three weeks of maps, rides and video calls needs a lot more.
Calls and texts, in some places
Most travel eSIMs are data only. Airalo is mostly data only too, but some of its eSIMs include call minutes and texts, depending on the destination. If you need to phone a hotel, a driver or a restaurant on a local number, check the destination page for a package with voice and text before you buy.
Help on WhatsApp, around the clock
Airalo’s homepage says it offers “24/7, multi-language support”, with chat in the app and on WhatsApp. That last part matters more than it sounds. When an eSIM won’t connect at the airport, the app you’d use to ask for help may be the thing that isn’t working. WhatsApp over hotel Wi-Fi is a practical way out.
Airmoney pays you back a little
Airalo runs a loyalty program built on Airmoney, an in-app currency. New members earn cashback on purchases, starting at 5%, with higher tiers earning more as you spend. Airmoney goes toward future eSIMs and top-ups. If you travel a few times a year, it adds up to a small discount over time.
An unused eSIM can go to someone else
Bought an eSIM you no longer need? As long as it hasn’t been installed, Airalo says it can be installed on any compatible device. That makes a spare eSIM a reasonable gift to a friend who’s traveling to the same place.
Local, regional or global: which Airalo eSIM to buy
This is the first decision in the app, and most people get it wrong in one of two ways: they buy a global eSIM for a single-country trip, or a local eSIM for a trip that crosses a border.
- One country, one trip: buy the local eSIM. It works in that country only, and it’s the simplest match for a city break or a beach week.
- Several countries in one region: buy the regional eSIM. A rail trip through Europe or a loop through Southeast Asia stays on one eSIM, with no second install at the border.
- Many regions, or a long trip: a global eSIM covers the widest spread of countries. It’s built for round-the-world routes and for people who fly a lot for work.
A simple rule of thumb: when your route touches only one country, don’t pay for coverage you won’t use. When it crosses even one border, check whether a regional plan covers the whole route before buying two local ones. And if you’ve already got an Airalo eSIM for the same coverage from a past trip, top it up with a new package instead of installing another.
Honestly, the destination list is the part of Airalo worth trusting most. With 200+ locations, the question is rarely “is my country covered?” and usually “which of the three types fits my route?”
Where Airalo falls short
Don’t delete an eSIM you still need
Airalo’s help center is direct: “eSIMs typically can’t be reinstalled.” If you remove one by mistake, the app may offer a “Deleted your eSIM?” option that checks whether recovery is possible for your plan. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. The lesson: when you want to pause an eSIM between trips, disable it instead of deleting it. Note that the validity period keeps running while it’s disabled.
Some refunds come back as credit
Refunds go through the app, from the package history. The reason you choose decides how you’re paid. For “Wrong purchase” or “Plans changed”, the refund comes back only as Airmoney. For “Installation issues” or “eSIM not working”, you can choose Airmoney or your original payment method, which Airalo says usually takes 7 to 10 business days. Expired or fully used eSIMs aren’t eligible.
In practice, that means a cancelled trip leaves you with store credit, not cash. Fine if you’ll travel again soon. Annoying if you won’t.
One eSIM per destination
Each Airalo eSIM is tied to its own package. Travel to three single-country destinations in a year and you’ll usually install more than one eSIM, unless a regional or global plan covers them. You can top up an existing eSIM with a new package for the same coverage, which helps for repeat trips.
Airalo or Saily?
Airalo and Saily are the two eSIMs we cover, and we don’t pick a winner, because the right one depends on the trip. Airalo is the stronger fit when your destination is unusual, when you want calls and texts inside a local plan, or when WhatsApp support matters to you. Saily is the stronger fit when you travel often and want one eSIM you can reinstall on a new phone, with an ad blocker on every plan. The full side-by-side is on Saily vs Airalo.
Three real travel situations, and how Airalo handles them
A trip to somewhere off the usual list. Central Asia, a small island nation, a long overland route. Airalo’s 200+ locations make it the obvious first search, and a regional or global eSIM can cover a route that crosses borders.
Your plans change a week before you fly. If you haven’t installed the eSIM, you can pass it to someone else who’s going. If you request a refund for “Plans changed”, expect Airmoney rather than a card refund, so think about whether you’ll use the credit.
The eSIM won’t connect when you land. Get on airport Wi-Fi and open WhatsApp. Airalo’s support answers there around the clock. If it turns out to be an installation problem, that’s also one of the refund reasons where you can choose your original payment method.
Before your first trip: a setup checklist
- Check your phone supports eSIM and isn’t locked to your home carrier.
- Buy the eSIM for the right place. A local eSIM works in that country only; a regional one covers the group listed.
- Install it at home, on Wi-Fi, a day or two before you fly.
- Don’t delete it after installing. Disable it if you need to pause it.
- Save Airalo’s WhatsApp support in your contacts before you leave.
When you land, switch your data line to the Airalo eSIM and turn on data roaming for it. Most people who think their eSIM is broken skip that step.
How we checked Airalo
We don’t claim tests we didn’t run. For this review we read Airalo’s homepage and its help center articles on reinstalling, refunds and Airmoney on 29 October 2026, and we quote them where it matters. Our five YouTube desks have published dozens of travel-eSIM videos built from Airalo’s and Saily’s own documentation, on the eSIM section and the videos page.
FAQ: Airalo questions
Is Airalo a good eSIM?
Yes, especially for less common destinations. It lists 200+ locations, offers unlimited options, and runs 24/7 support including WhatsApp. Read its reinstall and refund rules before you buy.
Can I reinstall an Airalo eSIM?
Usually not. Airalo says eSIMs typically can’t be reinstalled. If you delete one by mistake, the app may offer a recovery check, but it isn’t guaranteed.
How do Airalo refunds work?
You request them in the app. For a wrong purchase or changed plans, the refund is paid in Airmoney. For installation problems or an eSIM that doesn’t work, you can choose Airmoney or your original payment method.
What is Airmoney?
Airalo’s in-app currency. You earn it as cashback on purchases, starting at 5%, and spend it on future eSIMs and top-ups.
Does Airalo include calls and texts?
Some eSIMs do, depending on the destination. Most plans are data only, so check the package before you buy.
The verdict
Airalo is the travel eSIM to pick when coverage comes first: 200+ locations, unlimited options, calls and texts where it offers them, and support you can reach on WhatsApp at 3 a.m. Go in knowing its two rules, no reinstalls and Airmoney refunds for changed plans, and Airalo is easy to recommend for that traveler.