Airalo is an online store that sells prepaid travel eSIMs: mobile data plans you download to your phone instead of swapping a physical SIM. As at November 2026, Airalo says it covers more than 200 countries and regions, and its site showed packages for Japan, Thailand and Malaysia starting from S$5.50. This Airalo eSIM review covers how it works, how the cost compares with roaming from a Singapore telco, and the limits to check first.
It suits travellers with a recent, unlocked phone who mainly need data. It suits people who need to make and receive calls on a local number less well.
What Airalo Is and How It Works
An eSIM is a digital SIM built into a phone. You add a plan by downloading it. Airalo sells three kinds of eSIM:
- Local: one country.
- Regional: several countries in a region.
- Global: many countries on one plan.
Each package gives a set amount of data, or unlimited data, for a set number of days. Airalo’s site shows a currency selector, and prices were displayed in Singapore dollars when we checked.
Airalo’s terms name the provider as AirGSM Pte. Ltd., a company registered in Singapore. The terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.
Airalo sells connectivity, not a financial product. MAS licensing and deposit insurance do not apply. The questions that matter are whether it works on your phone, what it costs per day, and what happens if it does not connect.
Setting Up: What Airalo Says
- Your phone must support eSIM and be network-unlocked. Airalo says its eSIMs will only work on such devices.
- Install before you fly. Installation needs a stable internet connection and usually takes a few minutes. Airalo says you can install whenever you like.
- Validity starts at activation. For most eSIMs, that is when the eSIM connects to a supported network at the destination.
- Top-ups. Airalo says that in many cases you can top up an existing eSIM instead of buying a new one. Top-up packages show where available.
Airalo also describes a newer setup in which you install once and later packages for any destination connect through the same eSIM.
Airalo eSIM Review: Cost Against Telco Roaming
The table uses each provider’s own page as at November 2026. Singtel is shown because its roaming page lists every plan. Other telcos publish theirs.
| Option for a 7-day trip to Japan | Stated price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo Japan eSIM, smallest package | From $5.50 | Check the package for data and days |
| Airalo Japan eSIM, unlimited data | Shown per package on Airalo’s Japan page | 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 or 30 days |
| Singtel ReadyRoam Asia | $18 | 6GB over 30 days, 19 destinations |
| Singtel Unlimited Data, single destination | $20 | 7 days, 1GB a day at high speed |
| Singtel DataRoam Unlimited Daily | From $19 a day | Unlimited data, charged daily |
We have not quoted Airalo’s unlimited package prices. The page we read did not state the currency clearly, so check the Japan page with Singapore dollars selected.
The maths
Illustration only. Take a traveller who uses about 1GB a day for maps, messaging and browsing.
- Singtel Unlimited Data for 7 days: $20, or about $2.86 a day.
- Singtel ReadyRoam Asia: $18 for 6GB, or about $2.57 a day if 6GB is enough.
- Daily roaming at $19 a day for 7 days: $133.
- An eSIM: divide the package price by the days you will use it, and check that the data allowance covers them.
The gap between a prepaid plan of either kind and daily roaming is far larger than the gap between an eSIM and a telco roaming pack. In Japan, the two prepaid routes can end up within a few dollars of each other.
The short version: A travel eSIM is usually cheapest for light users and for places where your telco’s packs are expensive. For nearby countries, a Singapore telco roaming pack can cost about the same and keeps your number working with no setup.
The Drawbacks
It only works on compatible, unlocked phones. Older handsets and some phones bought overseas do not support eSIM.
Setup is your job. If the eSIM is not installed properly before you land, you need Wi-Fi to fix it.
Check what “unlimited” means. Telcos commonly reduce speed after a daily or total allowance, and Singtel states this for its own unlimited packs. Read the package details for any fair usage terms.
Calls and texts are a separate question. Check each package’s details for whether it is data-only. Messages sent to your Singapore number still arrive on your Singapore line, which matters for bank one-time passwords.
Refund terms need reading. We could not read the conditions of Airalo’s Refund Policy, and the terms are governed by English law rather than Singapore law.
One more company to deal with. A roaming pack is billed by the telco you already use.
Who Airalo Does Not Suit
- Anyone with a phone that is not eSIM-compatible or is locked to a network.
- Travellers who need a local phone number for calls, such as for ride bookings or reservations in some countries.
- People who are not comfortable changing mobile settings while travelling.
- Short trips to Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand, where Singtel lists packs from $5 for 1GB.
Alternatives To Compare
- Singtel roaming packs: ReadyRoam and Unlimited Data plans, priced as above.
- StarHub DataTravel: StarHub’s roaming page shows a 10GB Asia-Pacific add-on at $15.
- A local SIM bought on arrival: often includes a local number, but takes time at the airport and may require passport registration.
We compare all three routes in the best eSIM for travel from Singapore. Airalo offers discount codes and credits from time to time. They change, so check its own page.
What To Do Next
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
- Estimate your daily data use from your phone’s settings, then price a package per day.
- Compare with your own telco’s roaming pack for the same country.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, and turn off data roaming on your Singapore line before you land.
- Pay in Singapore dollars and check the statement afterwards. Our guide on how to pay less on overseas spending explains card fees on overseas-processed payments.
- Add connectivity to the trip in your budget planner, alongside travel insurance.
