Airalo Review: Is This eSIM Worth It for Your Next Trip?

I’m Mexican, I live in Paris, and I spend a lot of time going back and forth between Europe and Mexico. So staying connected abroad is not a theoretical question for me. Airalo is the eSIM name most travelers have heard of, and here is my honest take on it: how it works, what it costs, the fine print, and how it performs in Mexico, the country I know best.

How Airalo works

Airalo doesn’t own any towers. It sells eSIM data plans that connect to local carriers in each country, through its own app. You buy the plan at home, install it on your phone in a couple of minutes, and switch it on when you land. Your home SIM stays in the phone, so you keep your number for texts and two-factor codes while Airalo handles the data.

Airalo has been around since 2019 and covers more than 200 countries and regions. If an eSIM fails because of a technical problem on Airalo’s side, you can ask for a refund within 30 days. Problems caused by an incompatible phone don’t qualify, so check your device first.

Plan types: local, regional and global

Inside each type, you’ll usually find three kinds of packages: fixed data (for example, 10 GB for 15 days), unlimited data, and in some countries, data with a small bundle of minutes and texts. Most travelers only need fixed data, since WhatsApp, FaceTime and Google Meet work over data.

See Airalo’s plans for your destination.

Unlimited data: read this before you pay for it

“Unlimited” sounds perfect, but here is how it works. According to Airalo’s fair use policy, once you use 3 GB in a day, your speed drops to 1 Mbps for the rest of that day, and it resets 24 hours after activation. Some packages list a different threshold, so check the details before you buy.

At 1 Mbps, maps and messages still work. Video calls and uploading stories get painful. For most trips, a fixed plan with enough data is cheaper. Unlimited makes sense if you work online every day or use your phone as a hotspot for a laptop, which the policy allows with no device limit.

Features worth knowing

• Top-ups: when you run low, you add data in the app. You don’t need a new eSIM.
• Auto-renew: you can set a package to renew automatically when you have 10% of your data left.
• Airmoney: you earn credit on purchases and referrals that you can use on future eSIMs.
• Hotspot: allowed, so you can share data with a laptop or a travel partner.
• Multiple eSIMs: you can keep several Airalo eSIMs installed and switch between them when you change countries.

The tip that matters most: check the network

This is what most reviews skip. Airalo’s coverage in a country is only as good as the local network it connects to. On every package page, Airalo lists the network or networks the plan uses. Before you buy, look that name up for your destination. Is it the country’s main carrier or a smaller one? In big cities it rarely matters. On road trips, islands and mountain areas, it changes everything.

Mexico is a perfect example.

Airalo in Mexico: what you need to know

Which network does Airalo use in Mexico?

Airalo’s Mexico eSIM switches between two networks depending on availability and speed: Movistar (4G) and AT&T (5G). Here’s the local detail: Movistar in Mexico no longer runs its own towers. It runs on AT&T’s network (in Spanish) through a long-term agreement. So, in practice, Airalo in Mexico gives you AT&T Mexico’s coverage, which has strong coverage.

What it does not give you is Telcel, the carrier most Mexicans use. According to Opensignal’s latest Mexico report, Telcel scored 8.8 out of 10 for coverage experience, while AT&T scored 4.7. Telcel also led on download speed (46.0 Mbps vs 27.2 Mbps).

Airalo Mexico prices (October 2026)

Where it works well and where it struggles

In Mexico City, Cancún or Oaxaca City, you probably won’t notice any difference between Airalo and a local SIM. It’s a different story off the main roads. When I’m home in Michoacán, driving from Morelia to the lake towns and up into the hills, Telcel is the network that keeps working.

If your trip goes rural, you have two options: buy a physical Telcel SIM at any OXXO convenience store once you land, or choose an eSIM that already connects to Telcel. Ubigi does, and I compare both in my Airalo vs Ubigi comparison for Mexico.

How to install Airalo before you fly

First, check that your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM. Most iPhones from the XS onward and most recent Samsung and Pixel models do, and you can confirm yours on Airalo’s compatibility list.

1. At home

   Buy your plan

   Download the Airalo app, search your destination or region and pick the package that fits your trip. Use NEWTOAIRALO15 at checkout if it’s your first eSIM.

2. At home, on wifi

   Install the eSIM

   Use the in-app install button or scan the QR code. Give the new line a name, like the country, so you don’t mix it up with your home SIM.

3. Before boarding

   Leave it off

   Keep the line switched off until you land, so your validity doesn’t start early.

4. When you land

   Turn it on

   Switch the new line on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line. Turn data off on your home SIM to avoid roaming charges.

5. During the trip

   Top up if needed

   Running low? Add data in the app. You don’t need a new eSIM.

Who should buy Airalo

Airalo is a good fit if:

• You want data the moment you land, with no store visit and no language barrier.
• Your trip covers several countries in one region and you want a single plan.
• You mostly stay in cities, resorts and the classic tourist routes, like on a first trip to Mexico.

Look at other options if:

• Your destination’s Airalo plan doesn’t use the main local carrier and you’re heading somewhere remote.
• You need a local phone number for calls.
• You want one eSIM for a laptop or tablet too, which some providers handle better.

Frequently asked questions

Is Airalo legit?

Yes. Airalo has sold eSIMs since 2019, covers more than 200 countries and regions, and offers refunds within 30 days when an eSIM fails because of a technical issue on its side.

Does Airalo give you a phone number?

Most Airalo plans are data only. Some countries have packages with minutes and texts. For calls, most travelers use WhatsApp or FaceTime over data and keep their home SIM active for texts.

Is Airalo’s unlimited plan really unlimited?

Data doesn’t run out, but after 3 GB in a day your speed drops to 1 Mbps until the daily reset, unless the package lists a different threshold.

Does Airalo work in Mexico?

Yes. In Mexico, Airalo connects to Movistar (4G) and AT&T (5G), which in practice means AT&T Mexico’s coverage. It works well in cities and tourist areas and is weaker in rural regions, where Telcel is stronger.

Can I use Airalo as a hotspot?

Yes. Airalo allows tethering, including on its unlimited plans.

So, is Airalo worth it?

For most trips, yes. It’s one of the simplest ways to land with working data, and the app makes multi-country travel easy. Just take one minute before you buy to check which network your plan uses. In Mexico, that means knowing it isn’t Telcel and planning around it if you leave the tourist route.

Heading to Mexico? Start with the best time to visit Mexico, then sort out your data