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I live in Portugal and travel frequently, so using an eSIM provider seemed like the logical choice. Among the many options available, I chose Airalo for its competitive packages. Initially, the service worked as advertised for about a month, but since then, I’ve faced nothing but persistent and infuriating issues.
It appears that national networks have blocked Airalo from connecting, rendering the service practically useless. Unfortunately, Airalo’s support has been utterly unhelpful. Despite countless support tickets, messages, and screenshots, there has been no resolution.
What’s worse, Airalo refuses to provide a refund, instead forcing customers to accept Airalo credit. This so-called “credit” is completely worthless to me since their service does not work.
This has been a massive waste of time and productivity, especially since I rely heavily on mobile data for my work. The lack of accountability and support from Airalo is both frustrating and unacceptable.
I strongly advise anyone considering Airalo to avoid them at all costs and look for more reliable alternatives. Do not waste your money or your time.
If I've listened to the previous review, should have gone with their competitor ETxxx instead. Landed in Europe, activated it, connecting flight arrived in Funchal, connected got no data allowances. Took online chat 48 hours to resolve. Then found out the included voice minutes did not work, still repair in progress. The only good thing is online chat is available everyday including Sat & Sun.
terrible - waste of time and got no service for two days - had to abort wasting more time and look for an alternative even though I got Global one for 30 days
The esim activated, but the data didn't work thereafter. I tried to contact their customer support multiple times thereafter and they didn't get back to me. Completely useless. Possibly even a scam.
Fast 5G speeds in Madeira, Portugal (and the airport in Lisbon). Only downside is you can't check data usage — though with 30GBs for our seven-day trip we didn't really need to.
Currently, there are over 100 travel eSIM brands offering service in Portugal, with a substantial selection of over 3900 prepaid data plans available. This wide variety of options makes it easy for travelers to find an eSIM that suits their specific data needs and travel duration.
Several providers offer unlimited data eSIM plans for Portugal, including Firsty, Yoho Mobile, Airhub, Billion Connect, Roamify, Truely, Yesim, and ETravelSim. It’s important to note that most of these plans may experience speed throttling, and some have speed limits (such as 256kbps with Firsty or 5Mbps with Yoho Mobile). Prices for these plans generally range from approximately $0.00 to $44.72 USD depending on the validity period and provider.
Portugal's mobile network infrastructure is primarily supported by the following major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs):
MEO: Operated by Altice Portugal, MEO offers extensive nationwide coverage and a wide range of mobile services.
NOS: As part of NOS Comunicações, NOS provides comprehensive mobile services, including voice and data, across Portugal.
Vodafone Portugal: A subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc, Vodafone Portugal delivers robust mobile services with significant market presence.
Digi: A recent entrant into the Portuguese market, Digi is expanding its network and services following its acquisition of Nowo Communications in 2024.
In addition to these MNOs, Portugal hosts several Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). MVNOs provide mobile services by leasing access from major carriers. Notable examples include Lycamobile, which operates on MEO's network and offers prepaid SIM cards with international calling plans, and Moche, a brand targeting youth customers with services on the MEO network. It's important to note that most travel eSIMs rely on MNO infrastructure rather than MVNOs.
Summarized by Gen AI. Last updated: