Holafly eSIM Review + Discount Code – Is It Worth It for Travel (2026)?

As a frequent solo female traveller, one thing I always buy without fail for my trips is an eSIM.

Having fast and reliable internet access is essential. Not only for navigating and booking things on the road, but also for my safety. 

On my recent two-month trip around the Balkans, I decided to test out Holafly’s eSIM packages. 

Holafly offer eSIMs in over 200 destinations around the globe (including more than 15 Regional eSIMs and 1 Global eSIM with coverage in over 110 countries).

They also offer unlimited data in most of these destinations, which means that you don’t have to worry about how much you’re using. 

After testing their eSIMs in 9 Balkan destinations, here is my honest Holafly eSIM review with a special Holafly discount code for my readers. 

Firstly, what is an eSIM?

If you’ve never heard of an eSIM before. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. 

An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a digital/virtual SIM card that is embedded in your device.

It sets up a profile on your phone that allows you to connect to mobile network providers without a physical card.

It works exactly like a traditional SIM card, but saves you lots of time and hassle. You simply set it up online before your holiday. 

That means there’s no queuing for SIMs at the airport or having to fiddle with opening your phone. 

As soon as you land in your destination, you’re online and ready to go. 

Why I always buy an eSIM for travel

Years ago, I used to rely on hotel WiFi and café hopping to stay connected. I would download offline maps and screenshot information.

But these days, I rely on having access to fast and reliable internet at all times. 

My mobile network in the UK has ridiculous roaming fees, and it would cost me a small fortune to use my phone abroad with their plans.

But, for a small cost, an eSIM allows me to stay connected on the road, which gives me added peace of mind.

It means I can stay in touch with family members, have access to taxi services, book things last minute and find my way around without stress.

As a solo female traveller, I honestly feel an eSIM is essential for travelling these days and is a real lifesaver. I could never go back!

For the last few years (even before this sponsored post), I have used Holafly for my eSIMs as they offer the best connectivity, support service and prices.

Who are Holafly? 

Holafly is a company that likes to keep travellers connected on the road. So far, they have sold over 10+ million eSIMs, and it’s easy to see why. 

Their simple setup, competitive pricing and 24/7 human support service make them the most recommended international provider (4.5/5 on Trustpilot).

What I love about them is that most of their eSIMs offer unlimited data with no hidden costs, so I don’t have to worry about how much I use! 

I’ve streamed videos, played games, used social media and booked things on platforms with ease and without limits.

Which destinations does Holafly cover? 

Holafly currently offers eSIMs for over 200 destinations with unlimited data.

This includes more than 15 Regional eSIMs such as Balkans, Asia, Africa, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America, and more.

They also have a Global eSIM that covers more than 110 destinations around the world.

For my trip to the Balkans, I had to use a few plans, including the Global Plan, North Macedonia and Kosovo. 

But it’s super simple to find a destination that Holafly cover using their search engine. 

Just make sure to check the coverage and your phone compatibility before you buy.

How much does a Holafly eSIM cost? 

The pricing completely depends on the region/destination you’re travelling to and the number of days you’ll need.

Prices start from just £3.79 per day, and prices go down with more days to your package; it is almost the same price as your morning cup of coffee! 

For my Balkans trip, my unlimited data cost an average of £8 per day. But I think this is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

For digital nomads and long-term backpackers, they do have monthly subscription plans, called Holafly Plans. 

You can subscribe with prices starting from $49.90 per month, and if you use my code ‘THIRDEYETRAVELLER’, you get 10% off for 12 months on Holafly Plans.

How does it work?

It couldn’t be simpler to purchase a Holafly eSIM, which can be done on their website or app.

I find the website a little easier to navigate (I am a millennial after all).

Simply search for the destination you’re travelling to on their website and the number of days you’re travelling.

If you’re buying a regional plan, always check which countries it covers. 

For example, Holafly do have a ‘Balkans’ plan, but it only covers 6 countries. 

Hence, I needed the Global plan to ensure I was covered for all the countries I was visiting. 

Once you’re happy, add your eSIM to your basket and then check out and pay. 

The installation process

Once you’ve purchased your eSIM or plan, you’ll receive an email instantly from Holafly with a purchase confirmation.

Then, you’ll be sent a further email when your eSIM is ready to install.

The easiest way is by scanning the QR code they provide you, but you can also install it manually.

You then follow the easy step-by-step instructions on your phone to install your eSIM onto your device. 

They recommend doing the install a few days before your trip with a strong WiFi connection. 

I always find I need a reminder each time, and luckily, Holafly have amazing visual instructions to help you. 

Just remember to only activate your installed eSIM when you finally reach your destination. 

Human support service

One of the things that sets Holafly apart is its incredible support team, who are on hand to help.

They don’t have bots with frustrating automated messages, but real people that you can contact 24/7 via WhatsApp if you have any problems.

I’ve used their support service a few times now, and they have always been super fast to respond.

Once an agent gets in touch, I find that my problems are usually sorted in a few minutes (as it’s usually user error, haha). 

Is it really unlimited data?

Technically, yes, but here’s the deal. Holafly partners with many mobile network providers to provide you with internet access through your eSIM.

However, some providers have a ‘fair usage policy’ to maintain network quality for all users.

This means that if you’re using too much data, the operator may temporarily “throttle” speeds. So, it will still work, but just not as fast. 

My complete Holafly eSIM review

For my recent trip around the Balkans, Holafly kindly sponsored my data for the trip, which was a total of 49 days. 

As before, although they do have a Balkans regional plan, it didn’t cover the 9 countries I was going to visit. 

So, I used a mix of their Global plan, Kosovo plan and North Macedonia plan at an average of £8 per day.

I have used Holafly in the past for many of my trips and always find their eSIMs easy to install and pain-free. 

I’ve even bought their eSIMs while travelling or after I’ve arrived at a destination, and had no issues with the installation. 

In destinations like Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia, I found the network providers to be fast and reliable.

I did find it a little patchy in Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo. But their support team were easy to contact and helped with these issues. 

Throughout my trip, I visited many islands, national parks and mountain regions, which I thought would have slow/no network service. 

However, I was pleasantly surprised at the coverage in these remote areas and felt assured that I could still keep connected on the road.

All in all, I found my Holafly eSIM a straightforward and reliable service that I would recommend to my family, friends and readers. 

The Pros and Cons of Using an eSIM

Although an eSIM is a great option for travel, nothing is completely perfect. Here are the pros and cons of using an eSIM;

Pros:

• An eSIM is easy to install and ready to use straight away
• You get to keep your original SIM card in your phone
• It’s cheaper than using your own data with roaming charges
• You don’t need to visit a shop or open your phone like a physical card
• It reduces plastic usage 
• You can still get texts by using data switching

Cons:

• You don’t get a personal phone number, which can make it hard to make/receive calls and texts
• It can be more expensive than a local SIM card 
• Your phone or software may not be compatible with an eSIM (always check before you buy)

In conclusion, is a Holafly eSIM worth buying? 

Yes, I think that Holafly is worth it for travel. It’s a small price to pay each day to stay connected on the road.

As a solo female traveller, I take my safety very seriously and having access to the internet is now a non-negotiable for me these days.

I’ve used Holafly a dozen or so times in the last few years and always found their service to be excellent. Plus, I get unlimited data with no hidden fees.

It’s fast to purchase, easy to install, reliable, and you have great human support should you need it. 

Don’t think twice about purchasing an eSIM with Holafly for your next adventure! 

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