Used an Airalo Regional eSIM while travelling in Southeast Asia in November, 2002 and again in February, 2023. I plan on using it again in August when I'm back in that area. It works flawlessly! (equipment: Pixel 6a and, in August, Pixel 7a)
Random question, I’m debating on using my pixel 7 or old iPhone 12 while traveling. I know that with iOS you can send messages to other iOS devices easy! Would you know if by having internet on my pixel the messages will go through since they now have that new RCS built into the google messages. Thanks in advance
I just arrived from an Asian trip visiting S. Korea, Japan and the Philippines and used airalo the whole time. I’m not tech-savvy and I did ask someone to help me do the first parts of the set-up. I finished the set-up during my time on the immigration line of the first country I visited. I didn’t have any problems when using it. As soon as the plane landed in a new country and turned off Airplane Mode, the network was available. Best decision to use eSIM. Will use it again the next time I travel.
@@TechThatDoesntByte I only used it for navigation and data search so I wasn’t really using it where it needed speed. But for the purposes for which I used it, the speed was pretty good. And the local networks used by airalo were all good telcos.
We used Airalo recently on our 11 day cruise in the Southern Caribbean. We couldn't get a signal on the ship, but got it while at each port except Costa Rica. (we the Global 5gb and it said no service from Costa Rica.) The set up was easy and the service was good.
I don't know if the ships have some sort of cell booster on them but I would imagine it's very difficult for any phone service to provide coverage out on the ocean.
I recently went to HongKong and the Philippines. I installed Airalo prior to my trip. My sister went to Taipei and nephew in S. Korea, both did not have any issue and stayed connected! Everything worked like normal except for the fact where you have to FORWARD your regular phone calls to google voice. Of course, your speed will depend on the network you're in. I definitely recommend getting this for most trips outside the US!
I used a Data package in USA like you. It worked for 1 day then stopped. I’m tech savvy and e- mailed them thru the App for support twice . It said they were busy. I never received any help so in my opinion customer support is non - existence. I also could not keep track of my data use like my e- SIM card said I should be able to on the App . Not true. The e - sim listed never changed its data use info. I was really testing it for a future trip to Europe. I would not use It again. I will be looking at other e-sim carriers in the future.
At 62, I just installed Airalo for our trip to USA this week from Canada. I had trouble with the set-up. My son with a masters in software engineering assisted and noted some steps were missing in the instructions. If not hi-tech savvy, installation assistance likely will be required.
I used it when Orlando Florida recently, overall it was fine but it kept connecting to LTE instead of 5G. Also I couldn’t use iMessage with it unless I was on wifi, but WhatsApp was fine, that was my only issue.
Hi, thanks for the comprehensive review. I was wondering about a comment your sister made about not being able to use WhatsApp with Airalo. Is there a setting on Airalo or WhatsApp that I need to have set up so that I can use WhatsApp while abroad? Thanks!
Hi JG. Thanks for the comment! It was an issue she had with Airalo rather than Whats App. I spoke to her again and the reason why she had a hard time using WhatsApp with Airalo is because of the intermittent connection issue. I'm not sure how she set up the Airalo eSIM on her phone as it could be an APN issue or just the location had spotty coverage. I recommend that you install eSIM on your phone before you travel to your destination. Here is the article about changing the APN settings. www.airalo.com/help/getting-started-with-airalo/how-do-i-change-my-apn-settings
I have used Airalo for a trip to luxembourg. It worked pretty well. Only thing i suggest, especially if you buy a small package (say, 1 GB) DO NOT run speedtest, as every speedtest takes up to 100 MB!!!! Moreoever, it uses webbing which is one of the best 3rd party mobile network provider as it always connects to the best provider. About your sister, to me it sounded more of a mobile network issue rather than airalo issue because I don't think, by personal experience, they give you a lower quality of service than their own subscribers.
Thanks for the comment! I have noticed it takes a lot of data to run a speedtest. I also suspected that it was a network issue that my sister encountered.
I used the Aerolo eSIM in Europe for a month (September 2023) . I used it in an iPhone 12 pro max. I found that I needed to turn off 5g because it was just eating up the data. The only other issue was that once its activated it stops you from using other sims/eSIMs as back up. This was a nuisance because i often had to switch eSIMs Positives… I purchased the Europe package and used it in Germany, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. It worked well other than as mentioned above. The service was good and very convenient wherever I went. My travel companion bought local sims in each country. It worked out cheaper but was very inconvenient and regretted not going the eSIM such as the Aerolo route as I did
@@melmel4943 i use an ATT e-sim in the USA and needed to receive occasional text message. (The ATT e-sim only allowed me to receive text messages, nothing else thus the need for the aerolo,e-sim)) So about once a day I had to turn off the aerolo to check for text messages, then turn it back on. Hope,this makes sense!
Hi. You may get roaming charges on your main phone line(if you are using a phone with dual sim capabilities). It depends on the carrier that you are using on your main line. The Airalo esim shouldn't get charged with roaming rates. You might have to turn on data roaming on the Airalo esim in order for the data to work.
Hi Colin. Thanks for the comment! You are able to use the hotspot feature as long as the network and your device supports it. Some network might not allow you to enable the hotspot feature. Unfortunately, Airalo does not indicate if the network supports tethering. You have to try it once you have arrived to your destination.
Can you tell me whether you can still access your banking apps when u switch the sim over to esim for overseas travel? Sometimes banks sent a sms for 2 their authentication. I would love more data while travelling but it does sound complicated for someone like me who just use tech but can't navigate or fix anything.
Hi KC. Unfortunately you won't be able to receive SMS text messages ( bank authentication sms codes). Airalo does not assign a phone number to you as it only offers you a data plan with no voice or sms texting capabilities.
Hey there, I'm a bit confused. 2:46 so I'm going to Thailand, I'd like to use my imessages and facetime, if I switch data to airlao sim, imessage and facetime will go through it, right? If I keep my primary sim on, then I will pay for any SMS message that will come to my phone which isn't good. How to set it up properly? If I switch off my primary sim totally, then what about imessage and facetime settings from 2:46?
Hi Howie. Thank you for the comment! You will want to keep your primary line on in order to use imessage & facetime. I also recommend that you turn on Wi-Fi calling. This will allow you to receive phone calls and sms text over a data connection. You should also disable data roaming and international calling(if your carrier supports it) on your primary carrier. You might have to contact your primary carrier on disabling international calling. I made another video on how to use Wi-Fi calling while traveling. Please feel free to take a look at the video. th-cam.com/video/wZbO9ukyQhw/w-d-xo.html
Hello. I live in US. If I visit Philippines, I wouldnt be able to register sim cards bec I dont have Philippine ID. If I download Airalo before leaving US, will I have data in Philippines without the need to register? Can I continue to buy additional data while I'm in Philippines? Thanks
Hello. Thanks for the comment! I believe you can buy an eSIM for the Philippines and install it on your phone before you leave the US. You will just turn on the Airalo eSIM once you have landed. You shouldn't need ID but it depends on the country. Take a look at the 'Additional information/show more' section on Airalo's website when you select the eSIM package for the Philippines. I think its best to contact their support team in order to get a better answer.
should I just completely turn off my cellular data for my local sim when i purchase the esim. this will prevent me from accruing unwanted charges correct?
Hi Michael. It is best to turn off cellular data roaming on your local sim in order to prevent roaming charges from your local sim. I would also check if you can disable international calls to block incoming calls on your local sim while abroad. Depending on your carrier you might be able to do it by logging into your carrier's account management site.
Hi Vivian. I would recommend that you look for an alternative if you need something to make traditional phone calls. Airalo does not assign a phone number to you when you activate one of their eSIM packages. It's meant to be used for people who only needs mobile data for the internet.
Hi busco234. Thanks for the comment. A phone should already be activated if it's already connected to your main carrier. You can use Airalo alongside with your main carrier as long as your phone is unlocked. However, you should not consider using Airalo as your main carrier. Airalo is not a carrier. They do not assign a phone number and they only sell data only packages for traveler's. It's not mean't to replace your main carrier.
Hi Joan. It might not be possible. Airalo uses the cell network of your destination country. If the cell network has issues with cruise ships then it's most likely Airalo won't work either.
We bought it on our recent 11 day south caribbean cruise. No service while at sea, however, we go the Global 5gb and at each port we got good service. The only one not included was Costa Rica. You still need to get thee ship's wifi while at sea.
you dont necessarily have to. It will automatically fill in however if it doesnt then thats when you manually have to type it in. I have purchased the global e sim and checked
Can I choose the 2gb/15 day plan if I just want to use it for 5 days? It's a better value than the 1gb/7 day option. There isn't a catch like a daily data limit right?
Hi Charles. You can choose the 2gb/15 day plan and use it for only 5 days. It will automatically expire on day 15. From my testing there was no daily data limit when I was testing on the 1gb/7 day plan. On Airalo's website or on the app you can look at the additional information section when you select your network. They'll list it if there are any limitations. Which network and country are you considering to use from Airalo?
You mentioned that this does not include voice or SMS. When traveling abroad with my family, how can I contact them when we are not together? Another words, I'd like to call or text them.
Hi Richard. Thanks for the comment. You can use voip apps such as Whatsapp, Google Voice, FB Messenger, FaceTime Audio, etc... Those apps just need a data connection. Depending on the phone you are using you maybe able to use Wifi calling as a way to receive sms from your main phone number. Although the set up can be difficult at first. I made another video about using this feature. th-cam.com/video/wZbO9ukyQhw/w-d-xo.html
Airalo is not reliable. Left me stranded abroad with no service immediately after topping up. Don’t expect support and a refund was out of the question. This is definitely a use at your own risk service.
I am now in the Philippines and would like to contact mt bank but I have the authentication code text sent by my bank. My cell phone doesn't work here, can I buy airalo after already being in Philippines from the USA and will my US phone number work? Thanks
Hello. You shouldn't have to unless you want to add some sort of travel pass that is offered by your current phone carrier. You can use Airalo without needing to contact your current carrier.
Used an Airalo Regional eSIM while travelling in Southeast Asia in November, 2002 and again in February, 2023. I plan on using it again in August when I'm back in that area. It works flawlessly! (equipment: Pixel 6a and, in August, Pixel 7a)
Random question, I’m debating on using my pixel 7 or old iPhone 12 while traveling. I know that with iOS you can send messages to other iOS devices easy! Would you know if by having internet on my pixel the messages will go through since they now have that new RCS built into the google messages. Thanks in advance
I just arrived from an Asian trip visiting S. Korea, Japan and the Philippines and used airalo the whole time. I’m not tech-savvy and I did ask someone to help me do the first parts of the set-up. I finished the set-up during my time on the immigration line of the first country I visited. I didn’t have any problems when using it. As soon as the plane landed in a new country and turned off Airplane Mode, the network was available. Best decision to use eSIM. Will use it again the next time I travel.
Hi Ria. Thanks for comment. How were the data speeds? Did you notice any slowness?
@@TechThatDoesntByte I only used it for navigation and data search so I wasn’t really using it where it needed speed. But for the purposes for which I used it, the speed was pretty good. And the local networks used by airalo were all good telcos.
We used Airalo recently on our 11 day cruise in the Southern Caribbean. We couldn't get a signal on the ship, but got it while at each port except Costa Rica. (we the Global 5gb and it said no service from Costa Rica.) The set up was easy and the service was good.
I don't know if the ships have some sort of cell booster on them but I would imagine it's very difficult for any phone service to provide coverage out on the ocean.
To use the ship app I put my phone in airplane mode, then turn on wifi. What do you have to do to activate Airalo at ports?
I recently went to HongKong and the Philippines. I installed Airalo prior to my trip. My sister went to Taipei and nephew in S. Korea, both did not have any issue and stayed connected! Everything worked like normal except for the fact where you have to FORWARD your regular phone calls to google voice. Of course, your speed will depend on the network you're in. I definitely recommend getting this for most trips outside the US!
I used a Data package in USA like you. It worked for 1 day then stopped. I’m tech savvy and e- mailed them thru the App for support twice . It said they were busy. I never received any help so in my opinion customer support is non - existence. I also could not keep track of my data use like my e- SIM card said I should be able to on the App . Not true. The e - sim listed never changed its data use info. I was really testing it for a future trip to Europe. I would not use It again. I will be looking at other e-sim carriers in the future.
I just used it in South Korea and Cambodia and it worked without a hitch
I am going to be using Airalo in the Mediterranean in a few weeks. We will use Google Voice for calls using wifi when we can.
At 62, I just installed Airalo for our trip to USA this week from Canada. I had trouble with the set-up. My son with a masters in software engineering assisted and noted some steps were missing in the instructions. If not hi-tech savvy, installation assistance likely will be required.
I find it complicated and I'm reasonably good at tech. I showed that it was activated but couldn't access data. Rather use my Glocalme.
I used it when Orlando Florida recently, overall it was fine but it kept connecting to LTE instead of 5G. Also I couldn’t use iMessage with it unless I was on wifi, but WhatsApp was fine, that was my only issue.
Hi, thanks for the comprehensive review. I was wondering about a comment your sister made about not being able to use WhatsApp with Airalo. Is there a setting on Airalo or WhatsApp that I need to have set up so that I can use WhatsApp while abroad? Thanks!
Hi JG. Thanks for the comment! It was an issue she had with Airalo rather than Whats App. I spoke to her again and the reason why she had a hard time using WhatsApp with Airalo is because of the intermittent connection issue. I'm not sure how she set up the Airalo eSIM on her phone as it could be an APN issue or just the location had spotty coverage. I recommend that you install eSIM on your phone before you travel to your destination. Here is the article about changing the APN settings.
www.airalo.com/help/getting-started-with-airalo/how-do-i-change-my-apn-settings
Never mind, found it!
I have used Airalo for a trip to luxembourg. It worked pretty well. Only thing i suggest, especially if you buy a small package (say, 1 GB) DO NOT run speedtest, as every speedtest takes up to 100 MB!!!! Moreoever, it uses webbing which is one of the best 3rd party mobile network provider as it always connects to the best provider.
About your sister, to me it sounded more of a mobile network issue rather than airalo issue because I don't think, by personal experience, they give you a lower quality of service than their own subscribers.
Thanks for the comment! I have noticed it takes a lot of data to run a speedtest. I also suspected that it was a network issue that my sister encountered.
I used the Aerolo eSIM in Europe for a month (September 2023) . I used it in an iPhone 12 pro max.
I found that I needed to turn off 5g because it was just eating up the data.
The only other issue was that once its activated it stops you from using other sims/eSIMs as back up. This was a nuisance because i often had to switch eSIMs
Positives… I purchased the Europe package and used it in Germany, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. It worked well other than as mentioned above. The service was good and very convenient wherever I went. My travel companion bought local sims in each country. It worked out cheaper but was very inconvenient and regretted not going the eSIM such as the Aerolo route as I did
Why did you use different esims?
@@melmel4943 i use an ATT e-sim in the USA and needed to receive occasional text message. (The ATT e-sim only allowed me to receive text messages, nothing else thus the need for the aerolo,e-sim)) So about once a day I had to turn off the aerolo to check for text messages, then turn it back on. Hope,this makes sense!
I think you said something about having your phone roam? I thought if you have your phone on roam, wouldn’t that charge you international rates?
Hi. You may get roaming charges on your main phone line(if you are using a phone with dual sim capabilities). It depends on the carrier that you are using on your main line. The Airalo esim shouldn't get charged with roaming rates. You might have to turn on data roaming on the Airalo esim in order for the data to work.
Can you hotspot Airalo so 2 phones can have data? Sorry didn't finish watching before asking. It was mentioned in video
Hi Colin. Thanks for the comment! You are able to use the hotspot feature as long as the network and your device supports it. Some network might not allow you to enable the hotspot feature. Unfortunately, Airalo does not indicate if the network supports tethering. You have to try it once you have arrived to your destination.
Can you tell me whether you can still access your banking apps when u switch the sim over to esim for overseas travel? Sometimes banks sent a sms for 2 their authentication. I would love more data while travelling but it does sound complicated for someone like me who just use tech but can't navigate or fix anything.
Hi KC. Unfortunately you won't be able to receive SMS text messages ( bank authentication sms codes). Airalo does not assign a phone number to you as it only offers you a data plan with no voice or sms texting capabilities.
Nope many banking and some credit card companies require a USA phone number ( Not a Wi-Fi # ) for SMS Messages verifications.
But you can receive iMessage?
Hey there, I'm a bit confused. 2:46 so I'm going to Thailand, I'd like to use my imessages and facetime, if I switch data to airlao sim, imessage and facetime will go through it, right? If I keep my primary sim on, then I will pay for any SMS message that will come to my phone which isn't good. How to set it up properly? If I switch off my primary sim totally, then what about imessage and facetime settings from 2:46?
Hi Howie. Thank you for the comment! You will want to keep your primary line on in order to use imessage & facetime. I also recommend that you turn on Wi-Fi calling. This will allow you to receive phone calls and sms text over a data connection. You should also disable data roaming and international calling(if your carrier supports it) on your primary carrier. You might have to contact your primary carrier on disabling international calling. I made another video on how to use Wi-Fi calling while traveling. Please feel free to take a look at the video. th-cam.com/video/wZbO9ukyQhw/w-d-xo.html
Hello. I live in US. If I visit Philippines, I wouldnt be able to register sim cards bec I dont have Philippine ID. If I download Airalo before leaving US, will I have data in Philippines without the need to register? Can I continue to buy additional data while I'm in Philippines? Thanks
Hello. Thanks for the comment! I believe you can buy an eSIM for the Philippines and install it on your phone before you leave the US. You will just turn on the Airalo eSIM once you have landed. You shouldn't need ID but it depends on the country. Take a look at the 'Additional information/show more' section on Airalo's website when you select the eSIM package for the Philippines. I think its best to contact their support team in order to get a better answer.
Hi, I tried using your link for the discount and didn't work as I was signing up as a new user.
Hi Julia. Did the discount count work for? I saw your other comment that you found it in the description and wanted to make sure it worked. Thanks!
I agree that the tutorial was unnecessarily confusing and vague.
should I just completely turn off my cellular data for my local sim when i purchase the esim. this will prevent me from accruing unwanted charges correct?
Hi Michael. It is best to turn off cellular data roaming on your local sim in order to prevent roaming charges from your local sim. I would also check if you can disable international calls to block incoming calls on your local sim while abroad. Depending on your carrier you might be able to do it by logging into your carrier's account management site.
Would you recommend it for someone who only wants to make phone calls and doesn’t need data for internet?
Hi Vivian. I would recommend that you look for an alternative if you need something to make traditional phone calls. Airalo does not assign a phone number to you when you activate one of their eSIM packages. It's meant to be used for people who only needs mobile data for the internet.
Does the phone needs to have activated can i use this app for my carrier
Hi busco234. Thanks for the comment. A phone should already be activated if it's already connected to your main carrier. You can use Airalo alongside with your main carrier as long as your phone is unlocked. However, you should not consider using Airalo as your main carrier. Airalo is not a carrier. They do not assign a phone number and they only sell data only packages for traveler's. It's not mean't to replace your main carrier.
Can Airalo give service while on a cruise?
Hi Joan. It might not be possible. Airalo uses the cell network of your destination country. If the cell network has issues with cruise ships then it's most likely Airalo won't work either.
We bought it on our recent 11 day south caribbean cruise. No service while at sea, however, we go the Global 5gb and at each port we got good service. The only one not included was Costa Rica. You still need to get thee ship's wifi while at sea.
Well they could have made the installation easier like not having to enter the apn
you dont necessarily have to. It will automatically fill in however if it doesnt then thats when you manually have to type it in. I have purchased the global e sim and checked
How do you know which apn to use for each country?
I only had to change the apn once during set-up and during use in different countries, it automatically changes it to the proper one.
Can I transfer esim between a two iPhones after installed?
Hi Michal. Unfortunately you won't be able to transfer the eSIM to another iphone. It can only be installed on one device.
When I install Airalo, do I get a new phone number?
Hi SSF. Airalo does not assign a phone number to you when you use one of their eSIM plans.
Can I choose the 2gb/15 day plan if I just want to use it for 5 days? It's a better value than the 1gb/7 day option. There isn't a catch like a daily data limit right?
Hi Charles. You can choose the 2gb/15 day plan and use it for only 5 days. It will automatically expire on day 15. From my testing there was no daily data limit when I was testing on the 1gb/7 day plan. On Airalo's website or on the app you can look at the additional information section when you select your network. They'll list it if there are any limitations. Which network and country are you considering to use from Airalo?
@@TechThatDoesntByte Thank you, that's exactly what I needed to know!
Is it better to dowload it before leaving?
@@carolegirard9821 Yes. I did it at the airport before our flight.
You mentioned that this does not include voice or SMS. When traveling abroad with my family, how can I contact them when we are not together? Another words, I'd like to call or text them.
Hi Richard. Thanks for the comment. You can use voip apps such as Whatsapp, Google Voice, FB Messenger, FaceTime Audio, etc... Those apps just need a data connection. Depending on the phone you are using you maybe able to use Wifi calling as a way to receive sms from your main phone number. Although the set up can be difficult at first. I made another video about using this feature. th-cam.com/video/wZbO9ukyQhw/w-d-xo.html
Airalo is not reliable. Left me stranded abroad with no service immediately after topping up. Don’t expect support and a refund was out of the question. This is definitely a use at your own risk service.
I am now in the Philippines and would like to contact mt bank but I have the authentication code text sent by my bank. My cell phone doesn't work here, can I buy airalo after already being in Philippines from the USA and will my US phone number work? Thanks
Do yo have call your current phone company and tell them that you are traveling abroad?
Hello. You shouldn't have to unless you want to add some sort of travel pass that is offered by your current phone carrier. You can use Airalo without needing to contact your current carrier.