If you're an Indian traveler trying to pick a travel eSIM, you've probably come across Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad. They dominate Google search results and have slick marketing. But which one actually works best for Indian travelers?
We tested all three across Thailand, Japan, France, and the UAE — and the results might surprise you.
TL;DR: Airalo wins on price and flexibility. Holafly's "unlimited" plans throttle heavily after 1–2GB. Nomad offers excellent 5G coverage in Asia. None of them offer INR pricing or UPI payments — which is where Trovio comes in.
The Big Problem: USD Pricing Hurts Indian Travelers
Before we compare features, let's talk about the hidden cost no one mentions: currency conversion.
All three providers charge in USD or EUR. When you pay from India:
- Your bank charges a 3.5% forex markup
- Add 18% GST on top of the markup
- Credit card processing fees add another 1–2%
On a $20 plan, you're effectively paying ₹300–₹400 extra without realising it.
Airalo: The Best All-Rounder
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers who want flexibility
Airalo operates on a marketplace model — they aggregate eSIM plans from local carriers worldwide. This means:
- Competitive pricing (often the cheapest per GB)
- Huge destination coverage (200+ countries)
- Mix of local + regional + global plans
Network Reliability
Airalo uses local carrier partnerships, so quality varies by destination. In Thailand, their AIS-backed plans delivered solid 4G. In Japan, Docomo-backed plans hit 60–80 Mbps consistently.
The Hotspot Situation
Most Airalo plans allow hotspot sharing — a major advantage over Holafly.
Pricing (approximate, in USD)
- Thailand 7-day 3GB:
$8 (₹670) - Japan 7-day 3GB:
$12 (₹1,000) - Europe 10-day 10GB:
$18 (₹1,510)
Indian-Specific Drawbacks
- USD-only billing (pay the forex tax)
- No UPI or NetBanking support
- No OTP/dual-SIM guidance for Indian users
- Customer support response times can be slow
Holafly: Great Marketing, Disappointing Reality
Best for: Travelers who do light browsing and don't care about speeds
Holafly built their brand around "unlimited data" — and it works brilliantly as a marketing claim. The reality is more complicated.
The Fair Usage Policy Problem
Holafly's unlimited plans throttle your connection after 1–2GB of high-speed usage (the exact limit varies by country, and they don't publish it prominently).
After throttling: speeds drop to 2G territory — unusable for maps, video calls, or anything beyond basic messaging.
This is the #1 complaint on Reddit, TrustPilot, and travel forums about Holafly. We confirmed it in our Thailand test: after about 1.5GB, speeds dropped from 35 Mbps to 0.8 Mbps.
The Hotspot Ban
Holafly explicitly bans hotspot/tethering on most of their unlimited plans. If you need to connect your laptop, Holafly won't work.
Pricing (approximate)
- Thailand unlimited 7-day:
$19 (₹1,590) - Japan unlimited 7-day:
$24 (₹2,010) - Europe unlimited 15-day:
$27 (₹2,260)
You're paying premium prices for data that gets throttled quickly and can't be shared.
Nomad: The 5G Specialist
Best for: Digital nomads and heavy data users in major cities
Nomad focuses on quality over quantity — they partner with premium 5G networks in each country. In our Tokyo test, Nomad hit 280 Mbps on 5G. That's exceptional.
Coverage Quality
Nomad shines in: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, major European cities. Their coverage in smaller cities or rural areas is less consistent.
Hotspot
Most Nomad plans allow hotspot sharing — a plus.
Pricing (approximate)
- Thailand 7-day 5GB:
$15 (₹1,250) - Japan 7-day 5GB:
$18 (₹1,510) - Europe 30-day 20GB:
$35 (₹2,930)
Indian-Specific Drawbacks
Same as others: USD billing, no UPI support.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Airalo | Holafly | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data type | Fixed GB | "Unlimited" (throttled) | Fixed GB |
| Hotspot | Yes (most plans) | No | Yes |
| 5G available | Some plans | No | Yes |
| INR pricing | No | No | No |
| UPI payment | No | No | No |
| Cheapest 1GB cost | ~₹220 | N/A | ~₹250 |
| Customer support | Chat (slow) | Chat | Email + Chat |
What Indian Travelers Actually Need
Here's what none of these providers solve for Indian users:
1. Bank OTP access while traveling Your Jio/Airtel number needs to stay active for banking apps, UPI transactions, and 2FA codes. Using a travel eSIM for data while keeping your Indian SIM for SMS is the smart dual-SIM setup — but none of these providers explain how to do this.
2. UPI and rupee payments Paying in USD means forex fees. An eSIM provider that charges in INR and accepts UPI (GPay, PhonePe, Paytm) saves you 5–7% per transaction.
3. Transparent data (no throttle surprises) Indian travelers on travel forums are vocal about getting throttled mid-trip. Fixed data plans with uncapped speeds are more reliable than "unlimited" with hidden limits.
Our Verdict for Indian Travelers
- Best overall: Airalo — most flexible, usually cheapest, allows hotspot
- Avoid for data-heavy use: Holafly — throttling ruins the value proposition
- Best for 5G in Asia: Nomad — if you need maximum speeds in Japan/Singapore
But if you want INR pricing, UPI payments, transparent data, and built-in guidance for keeping your Indian SIM active for OTPs — that's exactly what Trovio is building.
Join the Trovio waitlist and be first to know when we launch.
FAQ
Can I use hotspot/tethering with these eSIMs? Airalo and Nomad allow hotspot on most plans. Holafly explicitly bans it. Always check plan details before buying.
Do these eSIMs work with Indian iPhones? Yes. iPhone XS and newer support eSIM. Android support varies — check your model. iPhones bought in India (post-2022) support dual eSIM.
How do I keep my Jio/Airtel number active abroad? Put your Indian SIM in SIM slot 1 (for calls/SMS only, data off). Install your travel eSIM and use it as your primary data connection. This keeps OTP delivery working.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Airalo for India-specific routes? For Thailand and Southeast Asia, local SIMs at the airport are often cheaper but require a physical swap. For Europe and the US, Airalo's regional plans usually beat airport SIM prices.