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Details
- Price $4.50 for the lowest plan at airalo.com
Use code ALEXKWA for 10% off all plans. Valid till end of 2024.
Overview
I have a to-do list every time I travel – buy flight tickets, book hotels, find a gym, make a list of restaurants, and get a data plan.
Since I got my iPhone 14 Pro Max, I’ve always preferred eSim. I usually just get one from Shopee. They are cheap and you can set it up before you reach your destination, avoiding any extra work at the airport looking for the sim card counter.
Now, while these marketplace eSims are usually cheap, there are some downsides
- No assurance of quality
Some of these cards won’t work in more rural parts even though they advertise it would. - Too many choices
Shopee’s interface sucks and you’ll have to sieve through a lot of information with uncertainty. - Manual installation
They usually send you a dodgy-looking email with a QR code, which is difficult to set up just on your mobile since you can’t scan it.
Airalo seems to be the answer that overcomes these. I managed to test them on a trip to Taipei and Hong Kong recently, and this was how it went.
Interface
Unlike most eSims providers, Airalo comes in the form of an app where you can find, buy, and apply the eSims.
Plans are easier to sieve through
As expected, this dramatically makes it easier to find the plan as the list is curated in a clean layout. There aren’t any complicated plans like those marketplace eSim that don’t need your loyalty. Misleading ones can say unlimited data but it slows down after a certain data limit.
Airalo plans are simple, each coming with a configuration of data amount and period. These two factors are the only ones you need to consider.
Prices tend to be slightly more expensive. The app only supports 4 currencies which can result in exchange fees for cards in other currencies.
Plans are exclusive to third-party providers.
The eSims plans that you find on Airalo are unique to third-party eSim providers but you won’t be able to get it from the telco itself.
For example, the Xie Xie plan for Taiwan is not available directly from Chunghwa, which only offers unlimited data plans.
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Airalo is slightly more expensive compared to alternatives.
However, you can find the same plan from Chunghwa at Airalo alternatives. For example, NomadSim offers 1GB for 7 days for $4, cheaper by $0.50 compared to Airalo.
Of course, there could be differences in support and user-friendliness, but if price is the only factor you are looking at, you might want to do a comparison before purchasing.
Usage
Identity verification is required.
When setting up Airalo, you’ll need to go through identity verification. This is similar to those airport counters that scan your passport.
I’ve found the process in Airalo painless. They use a well-known provider called Trulio and it can be done in minutes.
eSims from marketplaces do not have this requirement or they just don’t give a fuck about compliance, so you might want to go for them if you are concerned with privacy or have some shady intentions.
Setup is simpler, but not much so from the rest
Installing can be done directly from the app, unlike most third-party eSims that require you to scan a QR code. Scanning QR codes might sound simple, but if you only have your mobile with you, you gotta have the QR code on a separate screen to scan it.
Older versions of iOS allow you to select the QR code image from your photo library but it seems like this isn't available anymore. Instead, you are supposed to go to your photo library and read the QR code from there. Many eSim issuers do not include a manual way to install the eSims as well.
I find the Airalo way much more foolproof and can be completed with a click.
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I found a 100 year old company that would create these heirloom quality canisters for me. They are handmade and will keep your tea leaves, coffee beans or anything that you need dry for years to come.
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It's nice to be able to monitor usage.
My favorite thing about Airalo is that you can monitor the usage to avoid using it all up before the end of your trip. Most eSims require guesswork that might either mean you finish it too early and have to get a top-up or use too little and let data to go waste.
It is easy to pick plans but they might be limited.
Airalo sells plans from renowned providers in each region, so there probably aren’t any better choices.
Since the plans offer a fixed amount of data for a fixed period, some might find it limiting if you need something in between. This isn't an exclusive Airalo problem, but just something we have to deal with short of customizable plans.
Data stability is dependent on the telecom company.
Since all these plans are sourced from telecommunications companies, the data stability and speed are highly dependent on them. If you get slow or choppy data, Airalo cannot fix this as they are a third-party provider and have no control on the quality of data.
In my 3 weeks traveling in Taiwan and Hong Kong, I didn't have any issues with the data.
Conclusion
Similar to how robo-advisors provide an easy interface for investing, Airalo provides an easy way to find, purchase, and set up eSims. It takes away the need to compare eSims available online and any reliability worries given that it is a trusted brand.
It might not be the cheapest per gigabyte data you are paying for, it would certainly be the easiest if you value your time.
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