Maya Mobile vs Airalo
Unlimited plans with fine print against metered plans without surprises. The word unlimited is doing a lot of work here.
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Maya Mobile
Unlimited plans with the fine print actually printed.
Airalo
The biggest eSIM store on earth, and it acts like it.
| Feature | Maya Mobile | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Price | $22 | $19.50 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Unlimited shoppers comparing fine print | First-time and frequent travelers |
| Category | Unlimited plans | Data bundles |
| Provider | Maya Mobile | Airalo |
| Visit Maya Mobile | Visit Airalo |
Our verdict
Airalo wins on predictability and Maya Mobile wins if you actually read the terms. Our reference pack is $22 at Maya against $19.50 at Airalo, so Maya is $2.50 more, and Airalo scores 4.6 against 4.1. Maya sells unlimited data plans, which sound better than metered ones and sometimes are.
The catch is the fair use policy: after a daily allowance the speed drops, often far enough that video stops working. Whether that is a good deal depends entirely on the number buried in the terms, and that number changes by destination. Airalo sells you a fixed number of gigabytes and then stops.
Less generous on paper, and much easier to reason about. The honest downside of Maya is that fine print, which is exactly the thing travellers do not read at the airport.
The honest downside of Airalo is that heavy users pay per gigabyte and a video heavy holiday adds up faster than an unlimited plan would. You will check the daily allowance for your destination before you buy: Maya, and you may come out ahead.
You want to know what you bought without reading three screens: Airalo.
“The strongest direct rival to Holafly in unlimited plans, often at lower prices, with US roots and solid North America coverage. The fair-use thresholds are published more clearly than most, which we appreciate.”Editorial team, on Maya Mobile
“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 unlimited data on an eSIM really unlimited?
Almost never. Unlimited plans carry a fair use policy: after a daily allowance the speed is throttled, often to a point where video and large downloads stop working. The allowance differs per destination and sits in the terms rather than on the product page, so check it before you buy.
Is Maya Mobile cheaper than Airalo?
No. Our reference pack is $22 at Maya against $19.50 at Airalo, so Maya is $2.50 more. Whether it works out cheaper depends on how much data you use: an unlimited plan can beat a metered one on a video heavy trip, provided the throttle threshold is generous.
Which is better for heavy data use?
Maya, if the fair use allowance for your destination is high enough. Airalo charges per gigabyte, so streaming on holiday adds up. The honest answer is that you cannot decide this without reading Maya's daily allowance for the country you are visiting, because that number is the whole product.