Airalo vs Holafly vs Europe Number: What Does €40 Actually Get You?

The Same Budget, Very Different Results

Three of the most popular Europe eSIM providers — Airalo, Holafly, and Europe Number — all market themselves to the same traveller. But put around €40 in front of each of them and you get dramatically different things back. Airalo gives you 20GB of data and nothing else. Holafly’s unlimited plan at €40 only covers about half a month. Europe Number hands you 60GB of data, unlimited calls, unlimited SMS, and a real French phone number that works across 39 countries — for the same money. Here’s exactly how the comparison breaks down.

TL;DR — The Short Version

At around €40, Europe Number’s 60GB plan with unlimited calls and SMS and a real French phone number is the standout choice. Airalo’s nearest plan costs €45 — €5 more — for just 20GB and no phone number. Holafly’s unlimited plan doesn’t even cover a full month at this price point; their 30-day Europe plan runs approximately €69. If you want a europe esim with number that actually makes sense on price, Europe Number is hard to argue with.

Airalo — 20GB for 30 Days, Around €45

Airalo’s Eurolink plan is a reliable data-only eSIM covering 42 European countries. For a month of coverage, the closest plan to the €40 mark is 20GB for 30 days, which runs approximately €45. There’s no native plan sitting exactly at €40 — the 10GB / 30-day plan costs around €33 if you want to spend less, but at €45 the 20GB plan is the practical choice for a full month of travel.

The app is well-built, activation is quick, and Airalo has a solid reputation for consistent network quality across Europe. For a moderate traveller — maps, messaging, the odd video call — 20GB over 30 days is workable.

The ceiling is clear though: Airalo is purely data. No phone number, no inbound calls, no SMS. And compared to Europe Number’s 60GB at the same price bracket, you’re getting a third of the data for slightly more money. For travellers who just need connectivity and nothing else, Airalo works. For anyone who needs calls or texts, or who uses more than 20GB in a month, it falls short — and it costs more to get there.

Holafly — Unlimited Data, But Only Half a Month at €40

Holafly is the best-known name in unlimited eSIMs for Europe, and it’s a genuinely useful product for the right traveller. But the pricing structure creates a problem when you put it against the €40 benchmark. A full 30-day unlimited Europe plan from Holafly costs approximately €69. At around €40, you’re looking at roughly 15 days of coverage — half a month.

For a short trip or a holiday that’s genuinely 15 days or under, Holafly’s unlimited plan can make sense. You don’t have to think about data limits, and for streaming-heavy users or remote workers, removing that anxiety is worth something. But once you’re past two weeks, the monthly cost becomes significantly higher than the alternatives.

There’s also the fair use question. Holafly markets its plans as unlimited, but network operators apply fair use policies in practice. Independent testing in 2026 consistently shows speed throttling after approximately 3–5 GB of high-speed usage per day — at which point speeds can drop to 256–1,024 Kbps. That’s fast enough for basic browsing and messaging, but not for video calls or streaming. Hotspot tethering is also capped at 500 MB per day. The “unlimited” label is technically accurate, but the experience has real-world limits that aren’t always clear upfront.

Holafly is also data only. Like Airalo, it provides no europe esim phone number — no inbound calls, no SMS capability. For travellers whose needs extend beyond data, it doesn’t cover everything.

Europe Number — 60GB, Calls, SMS, and a Real Number for ~€40

Europe Number’s 60GB plan is where this comparison stops being close. For approximately €40 over 30 days, you get 60GB of data — three times what Airalo offers for €5 more — plus unlimited calls, unlimited SMS, and a genuine French phone number valid across 39 European countries and the UK. The number is included in the price. There’s no extra fee for the calling capability, no separate line rental, and no data cap on the calls.

The French number activates immediately alongside your existing SIM after a quick QR code scan. You can share it with contacts, use it on WhatsApp, give it to a landlord or car hire desk, receive booking confirmation codes by SMS, and authenticate any app that requires a local number. This covers an enormous range of real travel situations that data-only eSIMs simply cannot handle.

Short-term rental platforms send entry codes by SMS. Rideshare apps contact you on a local number. European banking two-factor authentication requires a local phone for verification. Car hire desks want a contact number for emergencies. With a europe esim with number from Europe Number, all of these work exactly as they would with a local SIM — without queuing at a phone shop or dealing with physical SIM paperwork.

At €40 for a full month, 60GB, and complete call and SMS functionality, Europe Number sets a benchmark that neither Airalo nor Holafly comes close to at this price point. For frequent European travellers, digital nomads, or anyone staying longer than a week or two, the europe esim from Europe Number is the obvious choice.

So Which One Should You Choose?

If you have a specific short trip under two weeks and want simple unlimited data without thinking about gigabytes, Holafly’s shorter plans can work — but be aware of the fair use throttling and the absence of a phone number. If you’re committed to Airalo’s ecosystem and already use it for multi-region travel, the 20GB / 30-day plan at €45 is a reasonable data option for Europe.

But if you’re travelling to Europe for a month — or close to it — and want the most connectivity for your money, the decision is straightforward. Europe Number gives you three times more data than Airalo at a lower price, a full 30 days compared to Holafly’s ~15 days at the same budget, and adds calls and SMS and a real European number on top. For anyone who has spent time in Europe and found themselves unable to receive a confirmation code or verify an app registration, that number is worth more than it might seem at first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does €40 get you from Airalo for Europe?

The closest Airalo option to €40 is the Eurolink 20GB / 30-day plan at approximately €45. It covers 42 European countries and is data only — no phone number, no calls, no SMS. If you want to spend closer to €33, the 10GB / 30-day plan is the next step down.

What does €40 get you from Holafly for Europe?

At around €40, Holafly can cover approximately 15 days of unlimited data — not a full month. Their 30-day unlimited Europe plan costs approximately €69. All plans are data only, and fair use throttling can reduce speeds after heavy daily usage.

What does €40 get you from Europe Number?

A full 30 days of coverage with 60GB of data, unlimited calls, unlimited SMS, and a real French phone number valid across 39 European countries and the UK. At approximately €40, it’s the most complete and best-value option in this comparison.

Does Holafly really offer unlimited data in Europe?

The unlimited label is technically accurate, but fair use policies applied by local network operators can reduce speeds to 256–1,024 Kbps after approximately 3–5 GB of high-speed daily usage. Hotspot tethering is capped at 500 MB per day. For light to moderate use it’s rarely an issue; for remote workers or heavy streamers it can be.

Why do I need a European phone number as a traveller?

Short-term rental platforms, rideshare apps, European banking two-factor authentication, car hire desks, and local service registrations all commonly require a local SMS-capable number. A data-only eSIM from Airalo or Holafly cannot handle any of these — a Europe Number eSIM can.

Which Europe eSIM offers the best value for a month-long trip?

Europe Number’s 60GB / 30-day plan at approximately €40 is the strongest value for a full month in Europe. It offers three times the data of Airalo’s nearest plan at a lower price, a full month of coverage compared to Holafly’s ~15 days at the same budget, and includes calls, SMS, and a real phone number that neither competitor provides.

Pricing disclaimer: All prices are approximate and based on publicly available information at the time of writing. eSIM pricing changes regularly and may vary by region, currency, and any active promotions. Always verify current pricing directly with each provider before purchasing. This article is intended as a general comparison to help travellers understand the differences between eSIM types — it is not a guarantee of specific prices or plan availability.