Airalo or Sim Local for the United Kingdom?
2 brands checked on 27/10/2026 · published by Mocom SAS (Sirocco)
Brands compared: Sirocco, Airalo, Holafly, Orange Travel, Instabridge, Roamless, aloSIM, Kolet, Sim Local, Eskimo, eSIM.me and Jetpac
As of 27/10/2026, out of 12 trips compared in the United Kingdom: Airalo ranked higher on 11, Sim Local on 1; average gap 91%.
Airalo
Ranked higher on 11 of the 12 trips compared★ 4.6 · 47,735 reviewsOfficial website › Airalo (new tab)Sim Local
Ranked higher on 1 of the 12 trips compared★ 4.8 · 420 reviewsBadges for the 7 days, 5 GB trip, worked out among the 12 brands we compare, as on the destination page.
The verdict, by type of trip
- Short stay3 days, 5 GBAiralo€11.50 for 5 GB against €25.50 for 20 GB with Sim Local (48% more per GB)
- One week7 days, 5 GBAiralo€11.50 for 5 GB against €25.50 for 20 GB with Sim Local (48% more per GB)
- Unlimited7 days, unlimitedAiraloThe only one offering this trip (€25.00); Sim Local: no unlimited plan long enough
- Family of 44 travellers, 7 days, 5 GB eachAiralo€46.00 for 5 GB each against €102.00 for 20 GB each with Sim Local (48% more per GB)
A written rule, the same for every pair: for each type of trip, the better ranked of the two on price per GB (for unlimited, on price), at the prices we checked. Nothing is picked by hand; customer ratings don't count.
Prices, trip by trip
For each trip, each brand's cheapest plan that covers the duration and the data. In green, the better ranked of the two: price per GB, not counting GB beyond one and a half times the data requested (for unlimited, price). "+x%", how much more the other one costs, per GB when the data differs.
| Trip | Airalo | Sim Local |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | ||
| 1 GB, 3 days | €4.001 GBthat's €1.33/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €8.50/day325% more expensive per GB |
| 5 GB, 3 days | €11.505 GBthat's €3.83/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €8.50/day48% more expensive per GB |
| 10 GB, 3 days | €17.0010 GBthat's €5.67/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €8.50/day50% more expensive per GB |
| Unlimited, 3 days | €11.00that's €3.67/day | no unlimited plan long enough |
| 7 days | ||
| 1 GB, 7 days | €8.50that's €1.21/dayRanked higher | €25.50that's €3.64/day200% more expensive |
| 5 GB, 7 days | €11.505 GBthat's €1.64/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €3.64/day48% more expensive per GB |
| 10 GB, 7 days | €17.0010 GBthat's €2.43/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €3.64/day50% more expensive per GB |
| Unlimited, 7 days | €25.00that's €3.57/day | no unlimited plan long enough |
| 15 days | ||
| 1 GB, 15 days | €11.50that's €0.77/dayRanked higher | €25.50that's €1.70/day122% more expensive |
| 5 GB, 15 days | €11.505 GBthat's €0.77/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €1.70/day48% more expensive per GB |
| 10 GB, 15 days | €17.0010 GBthat's €1.13/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €1.70/day50% more expensive per GB |
| Unlimited, 15 days | €44.50that's €2.97/day | no unlimited plan long enough |
| 30 days | ||
| 1 GB, 30 days | €12.00that's €0.40/dayRanked higher | €25.50that's €0.85/day113% more expensive |
| 5 GB, 30 days | €12.005 GBthat's €0.40/dayRanked higher | €25.5020 GBthat's €0.85/day42% more expensive per GB |
| 10 GB, 30 days | €17.5010 GBthat's €0.58/day3% more expensive per GB | €25.5020 GBthat's €0.85/dayRanked higher |
| Unlimited, 30 days | €63.50that's €2.12/day | no unlimited plan long enough |
12 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Compared on price per GB: for each trip, each brand's cheapest plan that covers the duration and the data, at the public price we checked, divided by its GB (at most one and a half times the data requested); for unlimited, the price. Average gap: the mean, over the trips compared, of the difference between the two brands relative to the better ranked one.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 12 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Customer ratings
App Store United Kingdom, checked on 27/10/2026. Ratings don't count in the verdict.
- Airalo★ 4.6 · 47,735 reviews
- Sim Local★ 4.8 · 420 reviews
Going further
- Every brand we compare for the United Kingdom: the full ranking ›
- Airalo or Sim Local, all destinations ›
- Other head-to-heads for the United Kingdom: Sirocco vs Airalo · Sirocco vs Sim Local · Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Orange Travel · Airalo vs Instabridge · Airalo vs Roamless · Airalo vs aloSIM · Airalo vs Kolet · Airalo vs Eskimo · Airalo vs eSIM.me · Airalo vs Jetpac · Orange Travel vs Sim Local · Instabridge vs Sim Local · Roamless vs Sim Local · aloSIM vs Sim Local · Kolet vs Sim Local · Sim Local vs Eskimo · Sim Local vs eSIM.me · Sim Local vs Jetpac
A page per destination is only published if both brands have a price for at least 4 of the 16 trips, and if the better ranked one changes with the trip or the average gap reaches 5%. Otherwise they are still compared in the destination's ranking. Methodology