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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Airalo offer unlimited data eSIM for Portugal?
Airalo does not provide a truly unlimited data eSIM for Portugal. The plans titled “Unlimited” give only 3GB of high‑speed data per day, after which the speed drops to a throttled 1000kbps; the plans are valid for 3 to 30 days and are priced between $10 and $69 USD depending on duration.
If you need more data without a daily cap, Airalo offers fixed‑amount plans that may better suit heavy‑usage travelers. For example, the 100GB plan for 180 days costs $185 USD, and the 50GB plan for 30 days is priced at $35 USD. These plans provide a larger data allowance and do not impose a daily data limit, though they do not grant endless data use.
Does Airalo offer Portugal eSIM with phone number and SMS?
Airalo does not provide an eSIM for Portugal that includes a phone number or SMS capability. Travelers can only purchase data‑only plans, which allow internet access but do not support traditional voice calls or SMS. To make voice or text calls, users can rely on the data connection through popular VoIP applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage. These services work fully over the data line and are suitable for communication while traveling.
How many data plans does Airalo offer for Portugal?
Airalo offers 18 single‑country eSIMs for Portugal and 58 multi‑country eSIMs that include Portugal. Both types of plans provide a fixed data allowance ranging from 1 GB up to 100 GB, with prices between roughly US $4 and US $185. Validity periods span from 3 days to 365 days, and some plans apply a reduced speed limit of 1000 kbps.
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