Holafly review: what you get for the price, and when it is worth it
Holafly sells data-only eSIMs with unlimited data in 200+ destinations, according to its website. This review looks at what that means in practice: the price for each trip length, what "unlimited" covers, how much you can share with a laptop or a travel companion, and what happens if the eSIM does not work. Every price and policy below was read on Holafly's own pages on October 3, 2026, and may have changed since. We sell travel eSIMs too (TravelNet), so we have kept our own offer to a short section at the end and out of the comparison.
Holafly at a glance (checked Oct 3, 2026)
| Holafly | |
|---|---|
| Type of plan | Data-only, unlimited, sold by number of days |
| Price (Japan, France, USA) | 3 days $11.90 · 5 days $20.50 · 7 days $27.50 · 10 days $36.50 · 15 days $50.50 · 30 days $73.90 |
| Hotspot / tethering | 1 GB of shareable data per day (a 7-day plan = 7 GB to share) |
| Speed policy | "Fair Usage Policy" may reduce speed temporarily, "for no more than one (1) day" |
| Networks (examples) | Japan: KDDI / Softbank · France: Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free · USA: AT&T, T-Mobile |
| 5G | Yes, "where available" |
| Phone number | No (calls and messages through apps such as WhatsApp) |
| Refund | Request window up to 6 months for withdrawal, incompatible device or connection issues (per Holafly) |
| Support | 24/7 by chat, email and WhatsApp (per Holafly) |
| Coverage | 200+ destinations (per Holafly) |
Source: esim.holafly.com/esim-japan/, /esim-france/, /esim-usa/, read on October 3, 2026. The same price grid appeared for all three destinations.
What we looked at
Price. Holafly charges by the day, not by the gigabyte. On the three destinations we checked, prices go from $11.90 for 3 days to $73.90 for 30 days, which is about $3.97 a day on a short trip and $2.46 a day on a month. If you only use maps and messaging, a gigabyte-based plan from another provider will usually cost less; if you stream, video-call or work online every day, the fixed price is easier to budget.
What "unlimited" means. Holafly does not publish a daily gigabyte threshold on its country pages. It says operators may apply a fair usage policy that slows the connection for up to one day. This is different from providers that state a figure (for example "1 Mbps after 3 GB a day"). The practical effect depends on the local network and how much you use.
Hotspot. You can share 1 GB per day from your phone. That covers a laptop for email and documents, but not a day of video calls from a laptop. If you plan to work from your computer on mobile data, check this limit before buying.
Phone number. There is none. You keep your usual number on your physical SIM (roaming charges from your home operator may apply if you use it for calls or SMS), and use internet-based apps for calls.
Setup and app. Holafly delivers a QR code and has an app. Like any eSIM, your phone must be eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked.
Refund and support. Holafly states a refund window of up to 6 months for specific cases (service withdrawal, incompatible device, connection problems) and 24/7 support by chat, email and WhatsApp. Before buying, read recent customer reviews on Trustpilot and Reddit for your destination.
Pros and cons (factual)
Pros
- One price per trip length, no data counting.
- Day-by-day durations from 3 to 30 days on the destinations checked.
- 5G where available, several local networks in some countries.
- Support channels open 24/7 (per Holafly).
Cons
- Hotspot limited to 1 GB a day.
- No phone number.
- Costs more than gigabyte plans for light users.
- No published daily threshold for the fair usage policy.
Who Holafly suits
- Heavy phone users on short or medium trips who want to stop checking their data: social media, streaming, video calls on the phone itself.
- Travelers who prefer a fixed budget over choosing a data size.
It suits less well:
- Light users (maps, messages, a few searches): a 3–5 GB plan elsewhere usually costs a fraction of the price.
- Remote workers on a laptop: the 1 GB/day hotspot limit is the constraint to check.
- Travelers who need a local number for calls or SMS.
An alternative: TravelNet
TravelNet (this site) also sells data-only travel eSIMs, including two unlimited tiers. For Japan, France and the USA, our prices on October 3, 2026 were:
| Trip length | Holafly | TravelNet Unlimited Standard | TravelNet Unlimited Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days, Japan | $27.50 | $4.99 | $7.99 |
| 7 days, France | $27.50 | $6.49 | $12.49 |
| 7 days, USA | $27.50 | $12.99 | $25.49 |
| 30 days, USA | $73.90 | $38.99 | $77.49 |
The difference is the speed rule: Unlimited Standard slows to 512 kbps after 1 GB a day, Unlimited Plus slows to 2 Mbps after 2 GB a day (in Japan, both slow to 256 kbps). Holafly does not publish a daily threshold. In Japan, TravelNet runs on 4G only. Support is 7 days a week with replies within 12 hours on average, not 24/7, and a refund is issued in full if the eSIM is not activated (replacement first if faulty). On a 30-day USA trip, Unlimited Plus costs more than Holafly. See TravelNet plans →
FAQ
Is Holafly really unlimited?
Holafly does not cap data in gigabytes. Its pages say operators may apply a fair usage policy that reduces speed temporarily, for no more than one day. It does not publish the usage level that triggers it.
Can I use Holafly as a hotspot?
Yes, up to 1 GB of shared data per day. A 7-day plan includes 7 GB of shareable data in total.
Does Holafly give you a phone number?
No. Holafly eSIMs are data-only. You can call and message through apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Telegram.
How much does Holafly cost?
For Japan, France and the USA on October 3, 2026: $11.90 for 3 days, $27.50 for 7 days, $50.50 for 15 days and $73.90 for 30 days. Prices can vary by destination and change over time.
Can I get a refund from Holafly?
Holafly says you can request a refund within up to 6 months for service withdrawal, an incompatible device or connection issues, processed in 3 to 5 business days. Conditions apply; read its terms before buying.
Is Holafly legit?
Holafly is an established eSIM company operating since 2017 and selling in 200+ destinations. For first-hand experiences, read recent customer reviews on Trustpilot and Reddit for your destination.