Where Airalo eSIM Works Best and Worst — Country Rankings 2026
Airalo claims 200+ country coverage, but real-world quality varies massively. In some places you get 5G at 200 Mbps, in others "No Service" right in the capital. Here's where to buy Airalo without hesitation and where to consider alternatives or a local SIM instead.
Top Countries Where Airalo Excels
These are countries with Airalo's direct carrier contracts and consistently high user ratings.
| Country | Carrier | Average speed | 5 GB price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Turkcell + Vodafone | 30–100 Mbps | $11 |
| USA | T-Mobile / AT&T | 50–200 Mbps | $16 |
| Japan | Softbank / KDDI | 50–150 Mbps | $14 |
| South Korea | KT / SK Telecom | 80–250 Mbps | $11 |
| Thailand | AIS | 30–80 Mbps | $13 |
| Singapore | Singtel | 100–300 Mbps | $13 |
| UAE | Etisalat / du | 40–100 Mbps | $9.50 |
| Germany | Vodafone / Telekom | 50–150 Mbps | $16 |
| United Kingdom | EE / Vodafone | 40–120 Mbps | $13 |
| Georgia | Magti | 20–60 Mbps | $7.50 |
Common thread: developed mobile infrastructure, competitive carrier markets, and Airalo holding direct deals with top operators.
Countries Where Airalo Is OK
Network mostly works but expect issues: slow initial connect, rush-hour drops, patchy coverage outside major cities.
- Indonesia — solid in Bali and Jakarta, weak on smaller islands
- Vietnam — fine in Ho Chi Minh, weaker in Hanoi
- Malaysia — stable in Kuala Lumpur, sags in the provinces
- Brazil — fine in major cities, poor in rural areas
- Mexico — good in Mexico City and Cancun, weak in Yucatan interior
- Morocco — OK in Casablanca and Marrakech, poor in mountain regions
- India — works but speeds are average (10–30 Mbps)
Problem Regions — Where Airalo Is Best Avoided
Either poor coverage from Airalo's MVNO partners, local carriers that don't play well with foreign eSIMs, or genuinely weak mobile infrastructure.
| Country | Issues |
|---|---|
| Egypt | "No service" early on, Cairo outages, weak coverage at resorts |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires works, provinces struggle |
| Cuba | Airalo eSIM is essentially useless — need local Cubacel |
| Iran | Service officially doesn't work |
| Nigeria | Network unstable, frequent drops |
| Ethiopia | 3G only, low speeds |
| Bolivia | Coverage only in the capital |
| Venezuela | Outdated network, minimal speeds |
| North Korea | Zero coverage |
Regional Plans — Country or Region?
Sometimes a single-country eSIM is cheaper, sometimes the Eurolink/Asialink regional plan wins.
Buy a country plan if:
- One country for 2+ weeks
- That country is on the top list (Turkey, Japan, US)
- You need large data volumes (10+ GB)
Buy a regional plan if:
- Route through 2–4 European or Asian countries
- You don't want to buy more eSIMs on the road
- Trip is short (3–10 days)
Prices — Hard Numbers
Package prices across countries (USD, May 2026, 5 GB / 30 days):
| Country / plan | Price | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey (Turk eSIM) | $11 | $2.20 |
| Japan (Moshi Moshi) | $14 | $2.80 |
| USA (Change) | $16 | $3.20 |
| UAE (Cooee) | $9.50 | $1.90 |
| Georgia (Magti GeoCell) | $7.50 | $1.50 |
| Europe Eurolink | $16 | $3.20 |
| Asia Asialink | $19 | $3.80 |
| Discover+ Global | $20 | $4.00 |
Cheapest destinations: Georgia and UAE. Most expensive: the global Discover+ plan.
Who Should Pick What
Traveling to a developed country (Japan, USA, Korea, Singapore, UAE) — buy Airalo, no hesitation.
Traveling to Turkey, Thailand, Georgia — Airalo is great and very affordable.
Multi-country European trip — Eurolink covers 39 countries for 30 days.
Africa or small LATAM nations — consider Holafly or a local SIM at the airport.
Iran, Cuba, or North Korea — Airalo won't help; you need other solutions.
Where to Buy
Marix sells Airalo eSIM with regional payment options. We can advise on the right plan for your route — and if the destination is on the "problem list," we'll tell you honestly and suggest alternatives.
Buy Airalo eSIM via Marix: /airalo