Firsty vs Airalo
Free-with-ads against the market standard. Is zero euros ever good enough abroad?
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Firsty
Free global data, slow but real. Upgrade when you need speed.
Airalo
The biggest eSIM store on earth, and it acts like it.
| Feature | Firsty | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Price | Free | $19.50 |
| Free plan | No | |
| Best for | Everyone, as a backup | First-time and frequent travelers |
| Category | Free & pay-as-you-go | Data bundles |
| Provider | Firsty | Airalo |
| Visit Firsty | Visit Airalo |
Our verdict
They solve different problems, and the smart answer is both. Firsty’s free tier delivers slow but real data in most of the world, which makes it the perfect permanent backup. Install it once and you will never land truly offline again. For actual trips, Airalo’s bundles deliver the speed that maps, photos, and calls want.
Light users on short city breaks can genuinely survive on Firsty alone, upgrading to its fast day passes when needed. For everyone else, Firsty is the safety net and Airalo is the workhorse.
“The Dutch disruptor giving away free data. The ad-supported free tier delivers slow but genuinely usable connectivity in most of the world, and fast day passes cost a few euros. As a backup eSIM that lives on every phone, it is a no-brainer.”Editorial team, on Firsty
“The default choice for a reason. More countries than anyone, a mature app, and fair prices. Not always the absolute cheapest per gigabyte, but the combination of coverage, reliability, and ease keeps it on top of our shortlist.”Editorial team, on Airalo
Frequently asked questions
Is Firsty's free data good enough to replace Airalo?
For light users on short city breaks, sometimes. For most trips, no. Firsty's free tier is ad-supported and deliberately slow, which is fine for messages and maps but frustrating for photos, video calls, and navigation all day. The better answer is both. Keep Firsty installed permanently so you never land offline, and buy an Airalo pack for the trip itself.
What does Firsty cost compared to Airalo?
Firsty's basic tier costs nothing, and its fast day passes ran about $2 to $4 a day depending on region when we checked in June 2026. Airalo's 5 GB, 30-day Europe bundle was about $19.50 in US dollars. So a full week of Firsty fast passes can cost as much as an Airalo bundle. The free tier is where Firsty's value really sits.
Why would I install a second eSIM I do not plan to use?
Because paid eSIMs occasionally fail to activate, and an airport is a bad place to find that out. Firsty costs nothing to keep on the phone, works in most of the world, and gives you enough data to reach support, open a booking, or order a taxi. Treat it as the spare tyre, not the car.