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What “Unlimited” eSIM Plans Actually Allow (2026)

“Unlimited” on a travel eSIM is usually a daily high-speed allowance, then a slower speed, not uncapped 5G. Official Airalo policy is 3 GB per 24 hours, then 1 Mbps, resetting from the time you activated the eSIM. Official Saily policy is 5 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, then about 1 Mbps. Official Holafly language describes operator fair-use slowdowns, generally lasting no more than one day, without a daily gigabyte figure. Read the live plan details before you buy. This is not a speed test.

By PickedTravel Editorial TeamLast updated Pricing checked Nov 10, 2026

How this page was made: this is a research-based comparison built from official pricing pages, plan or policy wording, and product documentation. We haven’t tested these products or policies ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.

Quick answer

“Unlimited” on a travel eSIM is usually a daily high-speed allowance, then a slower speed, not uncapped 5G. Official Airalo policy is 3 GB per 24 hours, then 1 Mbps, resetting from the time you activated the eSIM. Official Saily policy is 5 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, then about 1 Mbps.

Last updated Pricing checked Nov 10, 2026

We compared official fair-use and unlimited-plan pages from Airalo, Saily and Holafly, all fetched November 10, 2026. We have not measured speeds on these networks, and we do not invent scores. Where a brand publishes a daily gigabyte threshold, we quote it. Where it does not, we say so. Confirm the threshold on the exact plan you are buying; Airalo’s official policy says a different threshold will be set out in the package details if one applies.

For Europe plan prices, see Holafly vs Saily and Airalo vs Holafly. For the regional set, see best eSIM for Europe.

Official “unlimited” rules, side by side

Official unlimited-plan fair-use language (fetched November 10, 2026). Speeds are the brands’ written figures, not measurements we made.
AiraloSailyHolafly
What “unlimited” means, as writtenOfficial Fair Use Policy: packages “don’t have a fixed total data cap.” After you use more than 3 GB in a day, speed is slowed to 1 Mbps for the rest of that day, then restored when the daily allowance resets.Official unlimited FAQ: 5 GB of high-speed data in a 24-hour period, then unlimited data at 1 Mbps until the period resets. The help center says the daily high-speed allowance then drops to “about 1 Mbps.”Official unlimited FAQ (updated September 11, 2026): “unlimited” means there is no fixed data cap, but some local operators may temporarily reduce speed under a fair-use policy, particularly during congestion. Holafly says that reduction generally lasts no more than one day. The FAQ does not state a daily high-speed gigabyte figure.
When the day resetsOfficial policy: a “day” is each 24-hour period that begins when you activate the eSIM and resets every 24 hours from that activation time, as specified in your package details. The default high-speed threshold is 3 GB; a different threshold, if any, “will be clearly set out in the package details before you buy.”Official help center: for most destinations the daily high-speed allowance resets at midnight in the eSIM’s local time. For destinations that cover more than one time zone, including regional and global plans, the reset may be at a fixed time that is not local midnight. Saily says it sends a notification at 80% of the daily allowance that shows the exact reset time in UTC.Official FAQ: original speed is restored “the following day” after a fair-use slowdown. It does not define the clock the way Airalo (activation time) or Saily (local midnight or a fixed UTC time) do.
Hotspot / tetheringOfficial policy: you may use the device as a personal hotspot, with “no limit on tethering or the number of devices you connect.” Tethering still counts toward the daily 3 GB high-speed threshold. Reselling or commercially sharing the connection is not permitted.Official Europe and unlimited pages: hotspot sharing is “unlimited.” The help center separately says you cannot share unlimited plans with other people in the Saily app — that is in-app plan sharing, not necessarily phone tethering. We keep those two official statements separate.Official unlimited FAQ: hotspot “is not unlimited,” and you should check the Technical Specs for the destination. Holafly’s official Europe page (fetched the same day) allows 1 GB of shareable data per day.
Other official limitsPersonal, non-commercial use. Airalo may suspend, restrict or stop a connection if total use “exceeds what a person could reasonably consume through ordinary personal use.” Local networks may also apply traffic management during busy periods, separate from the 3 GB threshold, and Airalo “makes no warranty as to connection speed, quality or availability.”To get full speed again before the daily reset, the help center says you can buy a regular (non-unlimited) plan for the same destination. Fixed-data plans are a single total for the whole validity period, not a daily amount.Official FAQ: Holafly says some speed reductions are applied by the local operator, “not a restriction applied by Holafly.” That is Holafly’s wording. Always check the destination page.

The practical difference is how specific the written rule is. Airalo and Saily publish a daily high-speed gigabyte figure and a 1 Mbps cap. Saily’s official daily allowance is higher (5 GB vs 3 GB). Holafly’s official unlimited FAQ does not publish a daily gigabyte cap and describes operator-side slowdowns that generally last no more than one day. None of these pages promises uncapped high-speed data.

How to read a plan page without getting tripped up

Look for three facts, in writing, before you pay: the daily or per-period high-speed amount, the slowed speed after that amount, and how the clock resets. Airalo resets from activation time. Saily often resets at local midnight, except on multi-zone or regional plans, where the reset may be a fixed UTC time. Holafly points to “the following day.” If a page only says “unlimited” and “fair use,” treat the missing number as missing, not as “no limit.”

Hotspot rules are a second trap. Airalo officially allows tethering with no device-count cap, and counts that use toward the 3 GB daily threshold. Saily’s Europe page says hotspot sharing is unlimited, while its help center says you cannot share unlimited plans with other people in the Saily app. Holafly officially says hotspot is not unlimited; its Europe plan writes a 1 GB-per-day shareable cap. Those are different products of the word “share.”

Who should skip this guide

  • Readers choosing a specific Europe plan and price. Use Holafly vs Saily, Airalo vs Holafly, or Airalo vs Saily.
  • People comparing a travel eSIM with a U.S. carrier day pass. See eSIM vs international roaming.
  • Anyone who needs a guaranteed uncapped high-speed plan. All three official fair-use pages describe slowdowns.
  • Shoppers waiting for a “best eSIM for travel” ranking. That page stays later in the queue, after more head-to-head vs articles.

Frequently asked questions

Is an unlimited travel eSIM really unlimited?
Not as uncapped high-speed data, on the official pages we fetched. Airalo slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB in a 24-hour period. Saily slows to about 1 Mbps after 5 GB in a 24-hour period. Holafly says some operators may temporarily reduce speed under a fair-use policy, generally for no more than one day, without stating a daily gigabyte cap in that FAQ.
When does my high-speed data come back?
Airalo: every 24 hours, counted from the time you activated the eSIM. Saily: usually midnight in the eSIM’s local time; on regional or multi-zone plans, at a fixed time that may not be local midnight, with a notification at 80% of the daily allowance. Holafly: “the following day,” as written in the official unlimited FAQ.
Can I use a hotspot on an unlimited plan?
Airalo officially allows personal hotspot use with no limit on the number of devices, and counts that traffic toward the daily 3 GB high-speed threshold. Saily’s official Europe and unlimited pages say hotspot sharing is unlimited. Holafly’s official unlimited FAQ says hotspot is not unlimited; its Europe page allows 1 GB of shareable data per day.
Does Saily give more high-speed data than Airalo?
On the official policies we fetched, yes: 5 GB per 24 hours versus 3 GB per 24 hours, then about 1 Mbps in both cases. That is a written allowance, not a speed test, and it does not by itself say which plan is cheaper or faster in a given country.
Can the provider cut me off anyway?
Airalo’s official policy says it may suspend, restrict or stop a connection if total use exceeds what a person could reasonably consume through ordinary personal use, and that local networks may slow traffic during busy periods separate from the 3 GB threshold. Always read the live policy and the package details for the plan you buy.

Sources

Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 10, 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.

  1. Airalo: Unlimited Data Plans Fair Use Policy — 3 GB/day then 1 Mbps; activation-time reset; hotspot and personal-use rules (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (airalo.com)
  2. Saily: An eSIM with unlimited data — 5 GB/day then 1 Mbps (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (saily.com)
  3. Saily Help Center: How Saily data plans work — daily high-speed allowance then about 1 Mbps; regional reset timing (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (support.saily.com)
  4. Holafly: “Does Holafly offer eSIMs with unlimited data?” FAQ — operator fair use, generally no more than one day; non-unlimited hotspot (updated Sep 11, 2026; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (esim.holafly.com)
  5. Holafly: eSIM Europe official page — 1 GB/day hotspot cap used here as the destination-level hotspot figure (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (esim.holafly.com)
comparison

Holafly vs Saily eSIM (2026)

These are not the same kind of “unlimited” plan. Official Holafly Europe prices on November 10, 2026 ran from $11.90 for 3 days to $76.50 for 30 days, with a 6-month refund window, Always On 1 GB backup, 1 GB of hotspot data per day, and 33 destinations. Official Saily Europe pages listed a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99, 35 countries, a written 5 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule, and unlimited hotspot sharing. We compared those written terms, not a speed test.

comparison

Airalo vs Holafly eSIM (2026)

For a 7-day Europe trip, official list prices were almost the same on November 10, 2026: Airalo $27, Holafly $27.50. The useful split is policy, not a dollar or two. Airalo’s written fair-use rule is 3 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, then 1 Mbps, with no tethering cap in that policy. Holafly’s Europe plan lists 1 GB of hotspot data per day, a 6-month refund window, and operator fair-use slowdowns generally lasting no more than one day.

comparison

Airalo vs Saily eSIM (2026)

On official pages fetched November 10, 2026, Airalo’s 7-day Europe unlimited plan listed at $27, with a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule and 41 countries. Saily’s Europe page listed a 1 GB / 7-day fixed plan at $4.99 and a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99, covering 35 countries. Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ says regional unlimited plans get 5 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, then 1 Mbps — a higher daily allowance than Airalo’s default 3 GB, if that FAQ figure is the one on the plan you buy.

best of

The Best eSIM for a Europe Trip

If you want a clearly priced 7-day unlimited plan, Airalo listed $27 for 41 countries on November 10, 2026, with a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule. Holafly’s 7-day Europe plan listed at $27.50, with a 6-month refund window and a 1 GB-per-day hotspot cap. If you can use a fixed allowance, Saily’s 1 GB / 7-day plan was $4.99, and Nomad’s 20 GB / 30-day plan was $29.

guide

eSIM vs International Roaming: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile

On official pages fetched November 10, 2026, a 7-day Airalo Europe unlimited eSIM listed at $27 and Holafly’s 7-day Europe plan at $27.50. Verizon TravelPass and AT&T International Day Pass both list $12 per line per day in most destinations — $84 if you start seven 24-hour sessions — plus taxes and fees on Verizon. T-Mobile customers on a qualifying plan may already have 5 GB or 15 GB of high-speed data abroad, then 256 kbps, with calls at $0.50 a minute.

comparison

Saily vs Nomad Europe eSIM (2026)

On official Europe pages fetched November 10, 2026, Saily listed 1 GB / 7 days at $4.99, 10 GB / 30 days at $35.99, and a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99, with 35 countries, a 180-day activation window, and a written 5 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps unlimited rule. Nomad listed 1 GB / 7 days at $7, 10 GB / 30 days at $25, and 20 GB / 30 days at $29, with a 35- or 36-destination option (the 36-country list includes Turkey), a 60-day activation window, and a 30-day unused-refund policy that calls unlimited plans non-refundable. Nomad’s unlimited section did not include prices in our fetch.

comparison

Airalo vs Ubigi Europe Unlimited eSIM (2026)

On official pages fetched November 10, 2026, Airalo’s Europe unlimited plans ran from $11.50 for 3 days to $71.00 for 30 days, covering 41 countries, with a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule. Ubigi’s official one-off Europe unlimited 30-day plan was $62, with 60 GB of full-speed data then 2 Mbps, stated data sharing, Smartstart activation on arrival, and expiry if the plan is not activated within six months. The eSIM is described as reusable in 200+ destinations and as a data-only service.

guide

Best eSIM for Travel (2026): A Choice Guide, Not a Scorecard

There is no single “best” travel eSIM on the official pages we fetched November 10, 2026, and we have not speed-tested these networks. For a one-week Europe trip, Airalo’s official 7-day unlimited plan was $27 and Holafly’s was $27.50. For light data, Saily’s official 1 GB / 7-day plan was $4.99. For a mid-size 10 or 20 GB / 30-day plan, Nomad listed $25 and $29. For a 30-day unlimited plan, Ubigi listed $62 and Airalo listed $71, with very different fair-use rules. Use the head-to-head pages for the full tables. This is not a ranked award.