When comparing options to stay connected during your trip, the price and data allowance are only part of what you are buying when choosing the best travel eSIM.
Most people looking for travel eSIMs start with two questions: How much does it cost? And how much data do I get? If a plan fits the budget and offers enough gigabytes, we usually buy it and move on.
We treat travel connection like a basic utility; but an eSIM is not just a pipe for mobile data. Different providers include different features as standard with their plans, so when you buy an eSIM, you are actually comparing bundles of services. And those differences can matter once you are actually abroad.
Holafly’s benchmarking analysis, the Travel eSIM Value Index 2026 evaluated these different packages to find the best value for money eSIM. Instead of comparing network speeds, it checked which core travel features come included as standard across different providers, rather than asking users to pay an additional fee or not offering the feature at all.
The index evaluated eight features, including hotspot or tethering, top-ups, regional and global plans, VPN and emergency backup data.
The interesting finding is not which provider has the longest list of features; it is what happens when two providers offer the exact same number of them. To understand what travellers actually get, Holafly’s benchmark developed the Included Benefits Scoring across leading providers:
- Holafly (100/100): Includes 6 out of 8 core features. Standout differentiator: Complimentary emergency backup data (“Always On”).
- Saily (100/100): Includes 6 out of 8 core features. Standout differentiator: Built-in VPN included.
- Airalo (83.3/100): Includes 5 out of 8 core features.
As the ranking shows, Holafly and Saily tied for the highest score in the included benefits category. Both providers included six of the eight evaluated features. As a result, both received a category score of 100. Airalo included five of the eight features, earning a score of 83.3.
Because Holafly and Saily both offer exactly six features, they look identical on a simple scorecard, but they are not the same.
Both providers include unlimited data, hotspot/tethering, top-ups, regional plans, and global plans. The difference lies in the final included feature: while Saily includes a VPN, Holafly is the only provider offering complimentary emergency backup data, called “Always On”.
The Always On benefit is not about giving travellers more data to use throughout their trip; it is there as a backup when the main connection runs out, providing emergency internet access when a traveller needs to get back online.
That distinction is easy to miss when comparing plans from home: while a VPN is something you may actively choose to use, backup data is something you may never think about until you need it. But if your main connection stops working, the best eSIM for you might be the one that has a plan B available for basic things like checking a map, contacting someone or getting help.
That difference matters because the two plans are useful in different situations. Two travellers could buy eSIMs that each include six of the eight features evaluated in the report, but their experience could be very different depending on what they happen to need during their trip.
The next time you compare international travel eSIMs, do not just ask how much data you get or how much it costs; check what else comes with it. Two plans with the exact same amount of data can include very different things, and the best value eSIM for you is not necessarily the one with the most features, but the one that includes the tools you actually might need for your trip.
About the Travel eSIM Value Index 2026: the research was developed and published by Holafly, and it is based on official provider product information and documentation. It checked whether a feature is included as standard, requires an extra payment, or is not available.
