Holafly overview. Everything you need to know about its eSIM and data offers abroad.

Introduction

Holafly eSIM is one of the leading providers of data eSIMs on the market, offering unlimited data in more than 160 countries worldwide. If you're planning a trip abroad and don't want to stress about the amount of data consumed, a virtual SIM card from Holafly might be the ideal solution.

In this review, we'll focus on real-world experiences with Holafly eSIM - we'll go through the entire process from purchase through installation to everyday use and speed tests. You'll discover whether this service is suitable for your specific travel needs.

For a quick comparison of all available eSIMs for your destination, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, where you can filter by required data size, validity period, and specific country - even multiple countries at once.

Purchase process

Holafly's purchase process is somewhat oddly complicated and can cause confusion:

• The page prominently offers Google Pay as a payment option
• After selecting Google Pay, however, the system only uses the information for the billing address
• Subsequently, you still need to manually enter your credit card number
• Holafly stores card details without explicit consent, which may raise security concerns

Interestingly, immediately after purchase, Holafly sends you a WhatsApp message to the phone number used when creating your account. Some users may appreciate this as quick communication, but it can also feel unnecessary and slightly intrusive, especially when you already receive the same information by email and see it on the confirmation page.

To compare different eSIM providers and find the best option for your trip, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool, which will save you both time and money.

Application

The Holafly app has mixed reviews and several problematic aspects:

• Surprisingly low rating: 3.6 stars from 6,000 reviews despite 1,000,000 downloads
• The app size is relatively large - 47 megabytes
• The app functions primarily as a sales channel, not as an eSIM management tool

When opening the app, you immediately see available data plans without being prompted to log in. To log in (if you've already purchased an eSIM), you need to manually navigate to the Profile section and scroll down to find the login option. This flow is unintuitive and may confuse existing customers.

To log in, you enter the email address you used when purchasing the eSIM. Holafly then sends you a confirmation email to verify your login.

One major positive is that after your eSIM expires, the app stops working - it doesn't contain any special tunneling that would allow access to purchase additional days. You must use Wi-Fi or someone else's hotspot to recharge.

If you're looking for alternatives with a better app, you can use our eSIM comparison tool, which will help you find providers with a better user experience.

eSIM installation

eSIM installation is one of Holafly's strongest features:

• Installation is exceptionally easy directly through the app
• No need to manually scan a QR code
• Just click the "Install" button in the app, which automatically launches the eSIM setup wizard

After installation, the eSIM starts working immediately - it successfully connects to the mobile network, utilizing a 5G signal without requiring any additional setup. This seamless activation is a significant advantage compared to some competing solutions.

If you use an iPhone or Samsung, you might be interested in our detailed guides on how to add an eSIM to iPhone or how to add an eSIM to Samsung. To verify your device's compatibility, you can check our list of phones with eSIM support.

To find the best eSIM for your specific device and destination, use our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com.

Customer support

Holafly's customer support offers several interesting aspects:

• When opening the support chat, profile pictures (avatars) of helpdesk employees are displayed
• Interestingly, two images are of the same person, probably due to the page layout designed for three profiles
• The avatars contain photographs of young women, likely intended to create a friendly first impression

A positive aspect is that you can choose your preferred language for communication, which is convenient, but Polish and English are not available. After answering a few simple questions through the chatbot, you're quickly connected to a real human operator who provides useful information.

If you're having trouble with your eSIM or looking for alternative providers with better support in Polish, check out our eSIM comparison tool or read our article eSIM | Frequently Asked Questions.

Connection speed test

Holafly offers "unlimited" data packages, but our tests revealed certain speed limitations:

• Download speed: ~30 Mbps
• Upload speed: ~30 Mbps

These speeds appear to be limited, given that with direct visibility to a transmitter and the local provider Sunrise with 5G signal, speeds would typically reach around 700 Mbps. Despite the limitation, the 30/30 Mbps speed is still very usable for activities such as streaming and video calls.

After transferring approximately 6 GB during one day, the speed remained consistent around 30-40 Mbps. However, it's important to note that Holafly reserves the right to further limit or reduce speeds after 4.5 GB/day according to their "fair use" policies, so this experience may vary in different countries.

For a better understanding of the differences in mobile technologies, check out our articles on 4G vs. LTE or 4G vs. 5G. If you need to determine how much data you'll need on your trip, read our guides on what 2 GB of data is enough for, what 5 GB of data is enough for, or what 10 GB of data is enough for.

To find the optimal data plan for your needs, use our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com.

Prices

Holafly's pricing policy is focused on unlimited data packages, which affects their price structure:

• Prices range from $19 for 5 days to $107 for 60 days depending on the destination
• For travelers with high data consumption, these unlimited packages represent good value
• For users who need only a small amount of data (e.g., for navigation and occasional social media use), these packages are less cost-effective

Holafly offers competitive prices compared to traditional ways of accessing the internet abroad, such as roaming. However, due to unlimited data, it tends to be somewhat more expensive compared to physical SIM cards and other eSIM providers that offer limited data packages.

To get the best price, we always recommend comparing offers from different providers using our eSIM comparison tool, which will help you find the cheapest option for your destination and required data volume.

If you're traveling to specific destinations, you can also use our specialized guides such as eSIM USA, eSIM United Kingdom, eSIM Turkey, or eSIM Thailand.

Customer feedback

Holafly boasts good ratings on various platforms:

• App Store: 3.5 stars from approximately 150 reviews
• Google Play: 4.6 stars from approximately 1,000 reviews
• Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 stars from approximately 35,000 reviews

Customers most frequently appreciate:

• "Internet works without surprises"
• "5G everywhere I went"
• "Instructions are very specific and easy to understand"
• "I'll never fly without it again"

Among the most common negative experiences are:

• Problems with VPN connections at limited speeds
• Very weak connection in some places
• Missing coverage in some smaller towns
• Initial setup problems and various errors during use

To find the most reliable eSIM for your specific destination, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, which allows you to compare different providers based on reviews and user experiences.

Result (summary)

Holafly eSIM is a solid choice for travelers looking for unlimited data without worrying about consumption. The main advantages include:

• Truly unlimited data in more than 160 countries worldwide
• Extremely easy eSIM installation through the app without needing to scan a QR code
• Immediate functionality after installation without additional setup
• Fast and helpful customer support, though without Polish localization

On the other hand, Holafly has several disadvantages:

• Complicated purchase process with confusing use of Google Pay
• Storage of payment card details without explicit consent
• Low transparency regarding FUP limits (approximately 4.5 GB/day)
• Limited connection speed of approximately 30 Mbps
• Higher prices for users who need only a small amount of data

Holafly is an ideal choice for:

• Travelers who don't want to worry about the amount of data consumed
• Digital nomads working remotely (video calls, VPN, etc.)
• Users looking for an alternative to Google Fi for medium-term uninterrupted internet connection abroad
• Those who don't mind paying a slightly higher fee for convenience

If you plan to use only a small amount of data on your vacation (e.g., for low-data applications like Google Maps, WhatsApp, or Spotify) and will use hotel Wi-Fi for more demanding tasks, we recommend considering more affordable packages with limited data from other providers.

To find the best eSIM for your specific needs, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, which allows you to filter offers by required data size, validity period, and destination - even multiple countries at once.

If you're preparing for a trip and want to learn more about connectivity options abroad, read our comprehensive guide eSIM for travel or check out the comparison Airalo VS Holafly for a better understanding of the differences between the two most popular eSIM providers.

Overview of Holafly data plans by country