Esim70 vs Holafly: Unlimited Data or Per-GB Plans?

Last updated: 5 June 2026 · ~7 minute read

Holafly is all about unlimited data that’s their whole pitch. Instead of selling you a set number of gigabytes, they sell you days of unlimited use. If you’re the kind of traveler who’s always streaming, video calling, or relying on maps, this can make sense. But for most people who just check email, use a few apps, and message friends, you’ll probably end up paying more than you need to.

Esim70 takes a different route: you get clear, per GB pricing, so you only pay for what you actually use.

TL;DR

Go with Esim70 if you want pricing that actually matches your usage, like the idea of only paying for the data you need (not a one size fits all daily rate), and appreciate having 24/7 customer support.

Choose Holafly if you’re a power user with lots of streaming, tethering your laptop, or constant video calls especially on a short trip where their daily flat rate might save you money compared to paying per GB. Or, if you just don’t want to ever worry about data limits, Holafly’s unlimited approach can give you peace of mind.

At the end of the day, it comes down to which pricing style fits the way you travel. Both are reputable providers it’s just about choosing the model that makes sense for you.

Quick comparison

Prices are approximate and move frequently (and vary by trip length), check the live price for your exact dates on each site.

The pricing philosophy gap

Holafly sells you time. You pay a flat daily rate for unlimited data. So, whether you use just 100MB or go wild with 50GB, your trip costs the same. Shorter plans are pricier per day, while longer stays get you a better daily rate (for example, Holafly’s 30-day Europe plan is about $74.90). Their pitch is ultimate simplicity: don’t stress about usage just use your phone as much as you want.

Esim70 sells you data. You pick exactly how much data you want (1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB+), and how long you need it for (3, 7, 15, or 30 days). You only pay for what you’ll actually use, so if you’re a lighter traveler, you’re not subsidizing a massive unlimited bucket you’ll never touch. For context, a 7-day, 5GB Europe plan usually falls in the $10–15 range. Esim70’s pitch is all about fit: you pay for what you need, nothing more.

So, which model is better for you? It depends on how you travel:

Light user (just checking email, messaging, the occasional map): You’ll use about 1–2GB for a week. Esim70 is the clear winner , then you’ll pay just $5–10, while Holafly’s unlimited plan (at ~$35) is way more than you need.

Average user (scrolling social media, uploading some photos, the odd video): Around 3–5GB for 7 days. Esim70 still comes out ahead on price. Heavy user (lots of video calls, streaming, using your phone as a hotspot): 10GB or more. Now the math is closer on a short, data heavy trip, Holafly’s unlimited plan might actually save you money.

Using your phone as a full on hotspot (Wi-Fi router for work): Here’s the catch Holafly’s unlimited plans actually cap hotspot usage at 500MB–1GB per day. So, while you can tether, you can’t rely on it for all day work calls or endless video streaming.

Esim70 is likely the better deal for most travelers, unless you know you’ll be burning through huge amounts of data every day.

The tethering gotcha

This is probably the most overlooked detail about Holafly. Their unlimited daily plans actually limit hotspot use to 500MB–1GB per day, depending on where you are. So, on a 7day Europe plan, you’re capped at about 7GB total for tethering, which is fine for the occasional hotspot, but not nearly enough if you’re planning to work from your laptop all day or need to hop on regular Zoom calls. (Their monthly global unlimited plan does offer truly unlimited hotspot, but it comes at a much higher price.)

With Esim70, tethering is included by default and there’s no separate daily cap, the full amount of data you buy can be used as a hotspot. So, if you’re getting an eSIM mainly to share your connection with a laptop or tablet for hours at a time, this is a big deal.

Always double check Holafly’s specific plan details for hotspot limits before you buy it’s in the fine print, but easy to miss.

Coverage

Both Holafly and Esim70 cover all the major travel destinations. Holafly, founded in Murcia, Spain back in 2017 and now based in Dublin, has built especially strong network depth across Latin America and Spanish-speaking countries. They’ve served over 15 million travelers in 200+ destinations.

There’s one important regulatory quirk to know: Turkey now blocks access to foreign eSIM provider apps and websites from inside the country, and India has made things tougher too. This isn’t just a Holafly thing it affects all global eSIM brands, including Airalo and others. So here’s the practical rule: always buy and install your eSIM before you arrive. Once you land, your eSIM will work fine, but you might not be able to buy or download it after arrival. Both Holafly and Esim70 offer plans for Turkey and India; just don’t wait until you’re already in the country to set them up.

Esim70, meanwhile, covers 150+ countries with strong network depth in Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Gulf. They also provide detailed activation guidance for each destination including pre-arrival install reminders for places like Turkey and India.

Both are great for most travelers. Holafly has a slight edge if you’re heading to Latin America, while Esim70 wins on regional plan flexibility (offering more granular options like Balkans or CIS, where Holafly tends to bundle regions more broadly). For Turkey and India, just remember to buy and install your eSIM before you go whichever provider you choose.

Activation and setup

Both Holafly and Esim70 work almost identically on the technical side. You get a QR code, spend 2–3 minutes installing, then scan and activate. Both support iPhones and modern Android phones with eSIM compatibility.

The good news when it comes to activation timing. Holafly’s plan only starts counting days when your phone first connects to a local network, not when you install the eSIM profile. So you can set everything up at home before your trip, and your days won’t start ticking down until you actually land and turn on data roaming with Holafly.

Esim70 handles this the same way also like install ahead of time, activate when you arrive. So there’s really no difference between the two. Both are safe to set up in advance. (Earlier versions of this comparison might have said Holafly counted from install, but Holafly has confirmed the day count only begins with your first connection on arrival.)

Customer support

Both Holafly and Esim70 offer 24/7 support. Holafly has been around since 2017 and is known for being quick to respond via chat, with a big, experienced support team. Esim70’s support is available around the clock by email and gets good reviews, but their team is smaller.

For most questions or issues, you’ll be well taken care of with either provider. If you run into a rare or tricky problem, Holafly’s longer track record and bigger team might give them a slight edge in troubleshooting the more unusual cases.

Mobile apps

Esim70’s app is newer but solid, with a 4.3★ rating on Google Play from over 100 reviews and 10,000+ downloads.

Holafly’s app has been around longer and has a much bigger user base and they’ve served over 15 million travelers, also the user experience generally gets good marks.

For most people, app polish isn’t a dealbreaker. Both apps let you manage your plans, top up your data, and reach support right from your phone.

When to choose Esim70 over Holafly

• If you’re a light or average data user, Esim70 will almost always work out cheaper for your trip.
• You need tethering or hotspot for working on your laptop or sharing your connection then Esim70 lets you use your full plan data for this, without daily caps.
• You like to install your eSIM before you travel and don’t want your plan’s validity to start counting down until you actually arrive. Both Esim70 and Holafly support this.
• You want regional plans with more specific bundles like the Balkans, CIS, and other smaller regions that give you flexibility beyond just broad continental coverage.
• You prefer transparent pricing, with the per-day cost clearly displayed on every plan card.

When to choose Holafly over Esim70

• You’re a genuinely heavy data user on a short trip by streaming for hours each day, making lots of video calls, and using tons of data. In this case, an unlimited plan like Holafly’s might actually save you money.
• You’re traveling to Latin America, where Holafly has especially strong network coverage.
• You really don’t want to think about data usage by just paying a flat daily rate means you never have to worry about running out.
• You’re confident you won’t need tethering or hotspot on the plan you’re choosing.

The honest math

Let's run the numbers for a representative 7-day Europe trip with 5GB of usage:

• Esim70: ~$10-15 for a 7-day Europe regional plan with 5GB
• Holafly: a flat daily unlimited rate over 7 days (check the live total for your dates)

If you use a light to average amount of data (say, 1–5GB over a week), paying per-GB almost always works out much cheaper than a 7-day unlimited plan often about half the price, since you’re not paying for a giant data bucket you’ll never touch. The difference gets smaller as your usage increases; for Holafly’s unlimited plan to actually save you money, you’d need to burn through a lot of data in a week, which just isn’t the case for most travelers. (Prices do change, so it’s always smart to check both sides for your exact dates.)

The only time unlimited really comes out ahead is if you’re a truly heavy data user and even then, only if you don’t need to rely on tethering.

Verdict

For most travelers, Esim70 delivers better value than Holafly. With per GB pricing, you only pay for what you actually use, so light and average users aren’t overpaying for data they’ll never touch. Plus, Esim70’s unlimited tethering is a real advantage if you need to share your connection with a laptop or tablet unlike Holafly’s 500MB–1GB daily hotspot limit.

Both providers offer 24/7 support and activate when you arrive, so your main decision comes down to which pricing model fits you best and whether you need lots of hotspot data.

Holafly is still a smart pick if you’re a truly heavy data user on a short trip and the unlimited daily rate works out in your favor but always double check the tethering policy on your plan before you buy. That’s where many Holafly customers get caught out.

Compare prices for your trip on Esim70 pricing is shown upfront, per day cost on every plan card.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get unlimited data on Esim70?

Esim70 doesn’t offer true unlimited plans. Instead, you choose a data bucket like 20GB or more which is more than enough for most travel needs. Unless you’re a true power user, one of their largest plans will feel pretty much unlimited.

Does Holafly really restrict tethering?

Yes, most Holafly daily plans let you tether, but they cap hotspot use at 500MB to 1GB per day. That’s fine for occasionally sharing your connection, but it’s limiting if you plan to work on your laptop a lot. Only Holafly’s monthly global unlimited plan ($64.90/month) offers unlimited hotspot. Esim70, on the other hand, allows full use of your data for tethering no daily cap.

What if I run out of data on Esim70?

You can easily top up from the website before your plan expires. The top up works with your existing eSIM profile, so you don’t have to reinstall anything.

Which is better for a long backpacking trip?

If you’re traveling for a month or more and use a moderate amount of data, Esim70’s larger plans are almost always cheaper than Holafly’s daily rates. Holafly only comes out ahead if you’re using lots of data every single day on a short trip.

Do both work with iPhone and Android?

Yes, they both support iPhones from the XS model onwards, and most flagship Android phones released since 2020. Compatibility isn’t an issue with either provider.