Atli costs less on the matched USA, Turkey and Japan plans checked for this comparison. Airalo has the broader Europe bundle, a 170-country global plan and options that include a phone number, calls and texts. The better choice depends on the countries in your itinerary and whether you want to buy through a chat or manage plans in a separate account.
Atli vs Airalo at a glance
| Atli | Airalo | |
|---|---|---|
| How you buy | Directly in WhatsApp or Telegram; chat-based workflow | Website or app; account required |
| Local coverage | 200+ destinations | 200+ destinations |
| US entry plan | 1 GB / 7 days, $3.99 | 1 GB / 7 days, $4.00 |
| US 10 GB plan | 10 GB / 30 days, $15.99 | 10 GB / 30 days, $22.50 |
| Europe regional plan | 34 countries | 41 countries |
| Global option | Global fixed-data and unlimited plans | Discover covers 170 countries, with validity up to 365 days |
| Calls and SMS | Data-only; primary SIM handles calls and texts | Many plans are data-only; selected plans include calls and SMS |
| Hotspot | Supported, with no separate hotspot fee | Supported when the device and network allow it |
| Buying another plan | Added automatically to the same Atli eSIM | Top-up or renewal where available; otherwise buy another eSIM |
Price comparison
These are public prices in US dollars, checked on August 31, 2026. Each row compares the same destination, data allowance and validity period.
| Plan | Atli | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| USA 1 GB / 7 days | $3.99 | $4.00 |
| USA 10 GB / 30 days | $15.99 | $22.50 |
| USA 20 GB / 30 days | $29.99 | $36.50 |
| USA unlimited / 15 days | $39.99 | $46.00 |
| Turkey 5 GB / 30 days | $6.99 | $10.00 |
| Turkey 10 GB / 30 days | $11.99 | $15.50 |
| Japan 10 GB / 30 days | $16.99 | $18.00 |
| Japan unlimited / 7 days | $21.99 | $27.00 |
Atli is cheaper on every row. The difference is one cent on the smallest US plan, but $6.51 on 10 GB and $6.51 again on 20 GB. In Turkey, Atli’s 5 GB plan is $3.01 less. Japan is closer for fixed data, while the seven-day unlimited plan differs by $5.01.
Unlimited does not mean the same thing on every eSIM. Airalo’s current US unlimited plan reduces speed to 1 Mbps after 3 GB of use in a day. Ask about the fair-use terms for the exact Atli plan offered in the chat before choosing unlimited. If you know roughly how much you use, a fixed allowance is easier to compare. The guide to how much data you need for a trip can help with that estimate.
Airalo prices above come from its official USA, Turkey and Japan plan pages. Prices can change, so compare the final checkout total rather than relying on an old review or search snippet.
Regional and global plans
Airalo has the stronger Europe offer when breadth matters. Its Eurolink plan covers 41 countries, while Atli’s Europe plan covers 34. At 10 GB for 30 days, Airalo charges $31 and Atli charges $32.99. At 20 GB, the result reverses: Atli costs $36.99 and Airalo costs $48, but the country lists are still different.
Check every country before buying either regional plan. A cheaper bundle is useless if one stop is missing. The regional eSIM guide explains when one regional plan is preferable to separate local plans.
Airalo’s Discover plan covers 170 countries and offers packages lasting up to 365 days. Discover+ adds a US-based phone number with calls and texts. That is a clear advantage for a long, multi-continent trip or for someone who specifically needs cellular voice and SMS from the travel eSIM. Atli also offers global data plans, designed for travelers who use internet calling apps or keep their primary SIM active for calls and texts.
Buying, installing and using the eSIM
Airalo uses the familiar online-store model. You create an account, choose a plan on the website or app, then install it by direct installation, QR code or manual entry. Purchased plans sit under My eSIMs. Some Airalo eSIMs support top-ups or automatic renewal, though availability depends on the plan.
Atli handles purchase, delivery and support through WhatsApp and Telegram rather than a separate app or dedicated account.
Install either eSIM before you travel, while you have reliable WiFi. First check that the phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. When you arrive at your destination, turn on the travel eSIM and select it for mobile data.
With Atli, keep the eSIM profile after the trip. The profile does not expire. When you buy another plan, it is added to that same eSIM automatically. The data plan has an expiry date; the Atli eSIM does not.
Calls, texts and hotspot use
Atli is data-only. On a dual-SIM phone, you can keep your primary SIM active for calls and texts while Atli handles mobile data. Turn off data roaming on your primary SIM to avoid unintended roaming data charges. If your carrier supports roaming, verification texts can still arrive on your primary SIM. Messaging and VoIP apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and FaceTime work over the Atli data connection.
Most Airalo plans are also data-only. Airalo marks plans that include voice and SMS as “Data, Voice & Text,” and Discover+ includes a US-based number. Read the exact plan details before paying because the presence of calls and texts cannot be assumed across Airalo’s range.
Both services allow hotspot use when the phone and visited network support it. Atli does not charge a separate hotspot fee. Sharing data with a laptop or another phone can drain an allowance quickly, so use a larger fixed plan if tethering is part of the trip. See the travel eSIM hotspot guide for the setup.
Rewards and referrals
Airalo’s loyalty programme returns 5% to 10% of eligible purchases as Airmoney, depending on membership tier. Airmoney can expire. Its expiry is extended by 12 months when you make a purchase or receive additional Airmoney. Airalo’s referral programme gives a new customer $3 off and gives the referrer $3 in Airmoney after a qualifying purchase.
Atli gives 30 credits for every $1 spent. Once the balance reaches 2,000 credits, credits are applied automatically in $1 increments to eligible orders of at least $6. Credits expire after 12 months. With a referral, the new customer gets 10% off a first eSIM order of $6 or more, and the referrer receives 2,000 credits after the qualifying purchase. Discounts do not stack.
Airalo has the higher reward rate. Atli’s system has no membership tiers, though its $6 minimum and 2,000-credit threshold matter if you buy infrequently.
Which one should you choose?
Choose Atli when its country list covers the trip and the lower price matters more than a large app-based store of plans. It is also the simpler purchase if you already use WhatsApp or Telegram and want support in the same conversation.
Airalo is a better fit when one plan needs to cover countries missing from Atli’s regional bundle, when you want a 365-day global package, or when the travel eSIM itself must provide calls and SMS. Its app also suits people who prefer to keep several eSIM purchases in one dashboard.
For a single-country holiday in the USA, Turkey or Japan, compare the exact allowance first. On the matched plans above, Atli is cheaper. For a multi-country trip, compare the coverage list before the price.
Prices and plan details checked against Airalo and Atli sources, August 2026.
