We’ve used both Sim Local and Airalo across 5 continents, running tests in identical conditions to see how they actually perform in real-world situations. After comparing speeds, pricing, coverage and features, we found clear differences worth knowing about.

Both cover 200+ destinations, but they take different approaches when it comes to speed, cost and what’s included. We’ll break down everything below so you can decide which one actually makes sense for your trip.

Quick things to note

• Speeds: Sim Local came out faster overall. In the countries where we tested both side by side, it delivered higher speeds in most places and averaged around 208 Mbps, compared to 151 Mbps on Airalo. In practice, that means Sim Local felt more consistently quick across destinations, not just fast in one standout country.

• Pricing: Neither eSIM is budget-friendly. Airalo’s starting prices look lower on the surface, but when comparing actual plans, Sim Local came out 10% to 61% cheaper after discounts in most destinations, often while including calls and SMS.

• Discounts matter: Sim Local offers 20% off for all users (new and existing), while Airalo’s discount ranges from 10 to 15%. Depending on which plan you choose, this can narrow or even close the price gap.

• What you get: Sim Local includes a free 500 MB trial, international phone numbers and calls/SMS on select plans. Airalo offers a slightly more polished app and Airmoney, a loyalty program that gives you credits back on every purchase.

Sim Local vs Airalo: Key facts

Here’s a quick snapshot of how Sim Local and Airalo stack up before we dive into the details:

Sim Local

Sim Local launched in 2011, originally selling physical SIM cards through airport kiosks before expanding into eSIMs. With over a decade in the travel connectivity space, they’ve built partnerships with top-tier networks in 200+ destinations.

Our verdict after testing them in 16 Countries:

Our rating: ⭐ 4.3/5 – Read our full Sim Local review

What others say:

• App Store: 4.8/5
• Play Store: 4.5/5
• Trustpilot: 4.5/5

Airalo

Airalo launched in 2019 in Singapore and has since grown to over 10 million users across 200+ destinations. They’re one of the most recognized names in the eSIM space.

Our verdict after testing them in 12 Countries:

Our rating: ⭐ 4/5 – Read our full Airalo review

What others say:

• App Store: 4.6/5
• Play Store: 4.5/5
• Trustpilot: 3.9/5

Sim Local vs Airalo: Speed and performance

We used both Sim Local and Airalo across multiple countries using Speedtest by Ookla on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPad Pro M2. We ran tests in different locations and at various times, keeping the highest speeds recorded.

The numbers

Averages (where we tested both):

• Sim Local: ~209 Mbps
• Airalo: ~151 Mbps

Peak speeds:

• Sim Local: 578 Mbps (Portugal)
• Airalo: 567 Mbps (France)

What this means

Sim Local won in 5 out of 7 head-to-head tests, often by a clear margin. Portugal and Belgium showed the biggest gaps, where Sim Local was several times faster in practice. The USA and UK also leaned in Sim Local’s favor.

The UAE was close, with both providers delivering very fast and stable speeds.

France and Colombia were the exceptions. Airalo was faster in both and in France it was among the fastest eSIMs we tested. In Colombia, Airalo came out around 37% faster, even though both providers appeared to be using Movistar, which is a good reminder that eSIM performance can still vary on the same underlying network.

Overall, Sim Local delivered more consistent high speeds across countries, while Airalo had a couple of strong stand-out results.

When speed actually matters

For basic travel tasks (Google Maps, Uber, WhatsApp, social media), both providers work fine. Even 25 Mbps handles these without issues.

The difference shows up with heavier use:

• Video calls: Faster speeds meant clearer video with fewer frozen moments. Calls worked on both, but Sim Local’s higher speeds made remote work and family calls noticeably smoother.

• Streaming: Netflix and YouTube ran on both, but faster speeds reduced buffering and improved quality. Not a dealbreaker, but the experience was better with Sim Local.

• Uploading files: Backing up photos or sending work documents was quicker with faster speeds. A day’s worth of photos at 50 Mbps vs 150 Mbps makes a real difference.

• Hotspot sharing: Faster speeds mean multiple devices can connect without slowing each other down.

Both providers stayed consistently connected throughout our testing without major drops or instability. The main difference was speed, not reliability.

For detailed performance in specific countries, check our Country Guides.

Beyond speed: stability

Speed tests capture a moment, but what about consistency? Both providers were generally reliable during our testing. We didn’t deal with constant drops or major instability issues with either one. When you had a connection, it stayed connected.

The main difference was simply how fast that connection was, not whether it worked at all.

Sim Local vs Airalo: Pricing and value

At first glance, Airalo looks cheaper. Their starting prices are lower across most plan types:

But when we compared actual plans across multiple destinations, Sim Local came out cheaper in most cases, often by significant margins. Plus, Sim Local frequently includes calls and SMS where Airalo offers data only.

Factor in that both providers offer promo codes and the picture changes even more.

• Sim Local promo code: 25% off on all plans for all users with code: EXPERT25

• Airalo promo code: 10% off on all plans for all users with code: AIRALOESIM10

Compare all plans

The table below shows pricing across all destinations and plan types. Filter by location, data amount, or validity to find what you need.

Important: Prices shown are before discounts.

What the data shows

After comparing many of plans, we found clear patterns. The examples below show final prices after discounts, so you can see what you’d actually pay:

1. Country plans

Country plans cover one destination. Here’s how pricing compares in 3 popular countries:

UK 🇬🇧

USA 🇺🇸

Japan 🇯🇵

2. Regional plans

Regional plans cover multiple countries in one area. Airalo offers more plan variety here with multiple data and validity options per region, while Sim Local typically has one or two choices. That said, what matters most is whether those options work for your trip and how they’re priced.

Europe 🏰

Asia ⛩️

Oceania 🦘

3. Global plans

Global plans work worldwide. The main difference isn’t just price, but also the validity period and how you plan to use them.

For a single month-long trip, Sim Local is 50% to 53% cheaper ($28 vs $56 to $59) and covers 15 more countries.

But Airalo’s year-long validity changes the math if you’re taking multiple short trips. The 20GB doesn’t replenish, but spread across several journeys throughout the year, you’re paying $0.15 to $0.16 per day versus Sim Local’s $0.90 per day for one month. If you travel frequently and won’t burn through 20GB quickly, Airalo’s higher upfront cost would make sense.

Airalo’s Airmoney Loyalty Program

Airalo gives you points back on every purchase:

• How it works: Earn 5% to 10% back per $1 spent (percentage increases with total spending across tiers)

• Redeeming: Use accumulated points to reduce future eSIM costs

• Example: Spend $500 over multiple trips, earn $25 to $50 back depending on your tier

If you buy eSIMs regularly, these points add up.

Note: Sim Local doesn’t have a loyalty program, just a flat 20% discount on everything for everyone.

One important difference

Sim Local’s 20% discount applies equally to all customers. Airalo’s discount drops from 15% (new users) to 10% (existing users). As a returning customer, the price gap widens and Airmoney points from a single purchase won’t immediately offset that difference.

Sim Local vs Airalo: Head to head comparison

Note: Scores are based on our multi-country testing, hands-on experience and performance benchmarks across several destinations.

The winner: Sim Local

After testing both providers across multiple countries, Sim Local is the clear choice for most travelers. Here’s why:

• Speed: In side by side tests, Sim Local was faster in 5 out of 7 countries and delivered higher speeds more consistently. It averaged around 209 Mbps compared to 151 Mbps on Airalo, with the biggest gaps in destinations like Portugal, Belgium and the USA, where the difference was noticeable in real use.

• Price: Despite lower starting prices, Airalo ended up more expensive in most comparisons. Sim Local came out 10% to 61% cheaper after discounts, often while including calls and SMS that Airalo charges extra for (or doesn’t offer).

• Discount structure: Sim Local gives everyone 20% off, new customers and returning customers alike. Airalo drops from 15% to 10% once you’re not new anymore, widening the price gap over time.

• Features: Sim Local includes things most eSIM providers don’t bother with: a free 500 MB trial (test before you buy), international phone numbers and calls/SMS on many plans. These aren’t gimmicks; they solve real travel problems.

• Coverage: Regional plans cover more countries at lower prices (43 vs 28 in Europe, 24 vs 18 in Asia, 10 vs 8 in Oceania).

Bottom line

Sim Local wins on the things that matter most: speed, price and features. The free trial alone removes all the risk, you can test their service before spending a dollar.

Both Sim Local and Airalo are reliable. You won’t have a bad experience with either, but if you’re planning a standard trip and want the best combination of performance, value and flexibility, Sim Local is the smarter choice.