Airalo sells fixed, prepaid data bundles: a set number of GB for a set number of days, and once either runs out, you buy another one. Firsty, an eSIM and mobile data provider, works differently, charging per GB as you go, or offering a flat daily unlimited rate you can pause anytime, and including a free ad supported tier that Airalo doesn't have at all.
This comparison looks specifically at Airalo's global Discover bundles, the plans that work across all 168 countries without picking a destination in advance. Airalo also sells country specific and regional bundles, which are priced and structured differently from the global tier and aren't covered here.
How Airalo's Global eSIM Plans Work
Airalo's Discover global bundles cover 168 countries. Based on Airalo's own published pricing, the global plans break down like this as of September 2026:
| Data | Airalo Discover | Airalo €/GB | Firsty Classic | Firsty €/GB | Difference |
| 1GB | €8.00 | €8.00/GB | €4.50 | €4.50/GB | Firsty is €3.50 cheaper |
| 3GB | €21.50 | €7.17/GB | €7.50 | €2.50/GB | Firsty is €14 cheaper |
| 5GB | €31.50 | €6.30/GB | €9.50 | €1.90/GB | Firsty is €22 cheaper |
| 20GB | €59.00 | €2.95/GB | €26.40 | €1.30/GB | Firsty is €32 cheaper |
Firsty Classic's per GB rate drops as low as €0.98/GB at higher data volumes, compared to Airalo's lowest rate of €2.95/GB at its largest 20GB bundle.
Each bundle is prepaid and fixed. Run out of data or hit the expiry date, whichever comes first, and you need to buy a new bundle. There is no free tier, no pay as you go top up within an existing bundle, and no unlimited option.
How Firsty's Plans Work Instead
Firsty is built around three tiers that work in a completely different way to fixed bundles.
Firsty Free costs nothing. You get data by watching ads, at basic speed, with access to essentials like email, messaging apps, and ride hailing services in North America, Europe, and APAC.
Firsty Classic starts at €4.50 for 1GB, however gets as cheap as €0.98 per GB, with packages ranging from 0.5GB up to 50GB. You choose exactly how much data you want at the time you need it, at the highest available speed, with no ads. Data valid for up to 30 days. Same price applies in every country.
Firsty Unlimited starts at €3.50 for one day, however gets as cheap as €2 per day for unlimited data at top speed, and you can pause it any time you are not travelling, so you are not paying for days you don't use it.
All three tiers include the option to top up for calling abroad to over 200 countries.
How Much Data Do You Actually Need?
Before picking a bundle size, it helps to know what your actual usage looks like. Google Maps navigation runs roughly 5 to 10MB per hour of active turn by turn use. Messaging apps like WhatsApp use well under 1MB for a full day of text conversations, though voice notes and video calls use noticeably more. Pulling up a digital boarding pass or hotel booking is usually under 1MB. A ride hailing app uses roughly 5 to 10MB per trip, mostly for the live map. Add it up, and a light traveller relying on maps, messaging, and the occasional ride booking typically uses somewhere between 50MB and 150MB a day, comfortably inside even Airalo's smallest 1GB bundle, and easily covered by a small Firsty Classic package if you'd rather buy exactly what you need instead of a fixed bundle sized for your trip.
Firsty vs Airalo: Plan Comparison
Prices current as of September 2026. Airalo sells 1GB for €8.00, 3GB for €21.50, 5GB for €31.50, and 20GB for €59.00. Firsty Classic sells 1GB for €4.50, which is €3.50 cheaper than Airalo at the same data amount.
| Features | Airalo (Discover, Global) | Firsty Classic | Firsty Unlimited | Firsty Free |
| Coverage | 168 countries | Same price, every country | Same price, every country | North America, Europe & APAC |
| Pricing model | Fixed bundles, buy again when used up | Pay per GB, from €0.98/GB | Flat daily rate, from €2/day | Free |
| Data range | 1GB to 20GB per bundle | 0.5GB to 50GB per package | Unlimited, 5GB at top speed, then 512kb/s | 360MB daily limit, speeds up to 1MB/s |
| Price per GB | €2.95/GB to €8.00/GB, depending on bundle size | €0.98/GB to €4.50/GB, depending on package size | Not applicable, unlimited | Free |
| Commitment | None, one time purchase per bundle | None, pay as you go | None, pause anytime | None |
| Tethering/hotspot | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Calls abroad | Yes, only on Data / Calls / Texts plans. | Top up available | Top up available | Top up available |
Firsty Classic's per GB rate ranges from €0.98 to €4.50 depending on package size, undercutting Airalo's range of €2.95 to €8.00 per GB at every comparable tier.
Which Should You Choose?
Fixed destination and duration, confident about data needs: Airalo
Unpredictable data needs, want to pay only for what you use: Firsty Classic
Frequent travel throughout the year, want to pause between trips: Firsty Unlimited
No budget for this trip, light needs only: Firsty Free
Why This Difference Matters
Airalo made prepaid travel data simple to buy from an app. But a fixed bundle is a guess made before you leave, if you buy too little you run out mid trip, and if you buy too much the leftover data is wasted once the bundle expires.
Firsty Classic charges €0.98 to €4.50 per GB depending on package size, with no bundle to guess in advance and no leftover data to write off. Firsty Free provides ad supported access at no cost, an option Airalo doesn't offer at all. Pricing across all three Firsty tiers is the same in every country, so the plan you pick doesn't depend on which country you're travelling to.
Ready to Compare for Yourself?
If you're planning a trip and trying to decide between a fixed Airalo bundle and a more flexible option, take a look at what Firsty offers. Explore the Free, Classic, and Unlimited plans and see which one actually matches how you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Airalo eSIM worth it? Airalo is worth it if you know your trip length and roughly how much data you'll need in advance, since its fixed bundles are simple and require no ongoing management. If your data needs are unpredictable, a pay per GB alternative like Firsty Classic usually works out more efficient.
What are the disadvantages of Airalo eSIM? Airalo's bundles are fixed, so you have to predict your data needs before you travel, and there's no pay as you go top up within an existing bundle. If you run out early or buy too much, there's no way to adjust mid bundle.
Is Airalo or Holafly better? Airalo suits shorter trips with fixed data needs, since it sells prepaid bundles rather than subscriptions. Holafly suits longer term or heavier data users through its unlimited monthly and yearly plans. Neither offers Firsty's pay per GB and country flexibility or free tier.
Does Airalo offer unlimited data plans? Airalo's global Discover bundles are all fixed size, not unlimited. Firsty Unlimited offers a genuinely unlimited option from €2 per day, which you can pause any time you're not using it.
Is Firsty cheaper than Airalo? It depends on usage. Airalo's fixed bundles can be cheaper for short, predictable trips, but Firsty's pay per GB pricing from €0.98/GB on Classic usually wins out if your data use varies from trip to trip.
How much data do I need for light travel use? A light traveller using maps, messaging, and the occasional ride hailing app typically uses 50 to 150MB a day. That fits well within Airalo's smallest 1GB bundle or a small Firsty Classic package bought at the time you need it.
