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- Airalo vs Holafly
eSIM provider facts
Airalo vs Holafly: the facts side by side
No ranking and no prices — just what each provider publishes about the things that matter for safety and privacy, with links to the source.
Both sell travel eSIMs that are ordinary mobile data connections. The differences that matter for safety are who runs them (Airalo: AirGSM Pte Ltd, Singapore; Holafly: Holafly Limited, Ireland), how traffic is routed (Holafly says it uses home-routed roaming and you may see a foreign IP; Airalo says some sites may restrict proxy-routed connections) and hotspot rules. Which suits you depends on your trip; check the exit country when you land.
Side by side
| Topic | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|
| Company | AirGSM Pte Ltd, registered in Singapore Source: Airalo | Holafly Limited, 2 Grand Canal Square, Dublin, Ireland (company number 745325) Source: Holafly |
| Calls and texts / phone number | “Data Only” plans do not include calls and texts Source: Airalo Help | Data-only: no temporary local phone number for SMS or calls Source: Holafly |
| Hotspot | Allowed if supported by your device and the network Source: Airalo Help | Depends on the destination; check your plan’s technical specs Source: Holafly |
| Routing and IP | Some apps or websites may restrict access if they detect a connection routed through a proxy server Source: Airalo Help | Uses home-routed roaming via international gateways; some partners assign IPs from their own infrastructure; your device may display a foreign IP Source: Holafly |
What this means for safety
- Content is protected the same way on both: HTTPS encrypts what you send, whichever eSIM carries it.
- Routing changes what sites see. A foreign or proxy IP can trigger extra checks at banks or streaming services. That is location, not a breach.
- Neither is a phone number for your bank. On data-only plans, SMS codes keep going to your home SIM, so keep it active with its own data roaming off.
- Hotspot rules differ by provider and plan; check before you rely on tethering a laptop.
Check either one when you land
- Set the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn on roaming for that line only.
- Turn WiFi off and run a mobile data check: exit country, DNS answers, certificates.
- If a bank questions the login, approve it from your home SIM’s SMS or app, or contact the provider about IP options.
SentryFi is not affiliated with any eSIM provider and earns nothing from them. No affiliate links. Facts below are quoted from the provider’s own website, linked as the source.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airalo or Holafly safer?
We don’t rank them. Both are ordinary mobile data connections, and HTTPS protects your content on either. The practical differences are routing (Holafly says it uses home-routed roaming; Airalo says some sites restrict proxy-routed traffic), phone number and hotspot rules — listed above with sources.
Which one shows a foreign IP?
Holafly says your device may display a foreign IP because it uses home-routed roaming and some partners assign IPs from their own infrastructure. Airalo says traffic may go through a roaming platform, and some sites may restrict access because of it. Check the exit country when you land.