Airalo

What Airalo does

Airalo is a Singapore-headquartered digital marketplace for prepaid travel eSIMs, founded in 2019 as the world's first eSIM store. The company sells destination-specific, regional, and global mobile data plans to international travelers across 200+ countries and territories through a fully self-serve platform comprising its consumer website (airalo.com) and native iOS and Android applications. As of the most recent disclosure, Airalo serves over 30 million users, offers 24/7 customer support in 53 languages, and positions itself as a cost-effective alternative to carrier roaming, citing savings of up to 90% versus traditional roaming on 7-day trips. Plans start at approximately $4.00 USD for local single-country coverage (e.g., US, Japan, Italy, UK, France, Spain, Mexico), $4.00–$5.00 USD for regional plans, and $8.50 USD for the global Discover plan, with unlimited tiers offering 3 GB/day of high-speed data on most destinations.

The underlying technology stack integrates multiple telecom infrastructure partners: Compax provides the BSS/OSS backend for plan management, usage tracking, and custom pricing across 200+ destinations; Valid supplies the Remote SIM Provisioning (SM-DP+) platform and Quality of Service intelligence for real-time network monitoring; and Thales' secure eSIM technology is integrated for instant connectivity and automatic local network selection. Airalo monetizes primarily through prepaid usage-based plan sales, supplemented by an in-app loyalty currency (Airmoney) and a corporate offering (Airalo for Business) with decentralized billing. Go-to-market is product-led growth: a digital-first, consumer-facing self-serve funnel augmented by content marketing, app store optimization, global out-of-home advertising, referral programs, and a B2B2C partners/reseller/API platform. Cathay Pacific and Golden Route West Japan tourism initiatives represent named distribution partnerships. Airalo is venture-backed (Series C of $220M in July 2025, unicorn status at $1B+ valuation, led by CVC with Peak XV and Antler Elevate) and operates as a remote-first global organization of 101–250 employees.

Name

Airalo

Legal name

Airalo

Website

https://airalo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Airalo is a Singapore-based eSIM marketplace selling prepaid mobile data plans to international travelers across 200+ destinations via a self-serve web and mobile app platform, serving 30+ million users with usage-based pricing and a corporate travel tier.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel eSIM / Mobile Connectivity Services

NAICS

Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services (51712)

SIC

Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)

akta.pro primary industry

SIM/eSIM, Mobile Connectivity & Student Tech Setup (EDAIANAG)

Keywords

• Travel eSIM services
• Mobile data plans
• International roaming solutions
• Digital SIM connectivity
• Global travel data

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Prepaid eSIM Data Plans: Airalo generates revenue by selling prepaid eSIM data plans to travelers. Users select destination-specific, regional, or global plans with specific data amounts or unlimited options, paying a fixed one-time fee upfront. Plans are time-bound (3–30+ days) and can be topped up. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Airmoney Loyalty and Referral Program: Airalo's in-app currency (Airmoney) can be earned through purchases, top-ups, and referrals, and redeemed toward future eSIM purchases, creating a loyalty loop and driving repeat transactions.
3. Airalo for Business (Corporate eSIM): Corporate solution enabling employees to purchase eSIMs for business trips with decentralized billing features, allowing direct in-app purchase using corporate or personal cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Airalo operates the world's first and largest eSIM store, selling prepaid digital mobile data plans to international travelers across 200+ destinations. Customers purchase, install, and manage eSIMs through Airalo's website or iOS/Android apps without needing a physical SIM card. Plans are sold as local (single-country), regional (multi-country), and global variants, with both fixed-data and unlimited tiers, plus Data/Calls/Texts packages that include local phone numbers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Airalo for Business: Corporate solution platform with decentralized billing features allowing employees to purchase eSIMs for business trips

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% savings vs. traditional carrier roaming on 7-day trips
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Stink StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2026Stink Studios partnered with Airalo to develop the global 'Connection Means The World' out-of-home advertising campaign, featuring typographic artwork by nine local artists representing their home cities (Tokyo, Paris, London, New York, Mexico City, Bangkok, Marrakech, Madrid, Rome).
• CompaxcoreTechnology or Integration · 23 April 2026Compax, a BSS/OSS software provider for telecommunications, extended its partnership with Airalo for another five years (2026). The Compax backend platform enables Airalo to manage data plans across more than 200 destinations, track usage in real-time, and set custom pricing independently for its 20 million users.
• Melon Mobile (Melon Digital)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2026Melon Digital, a South African MVNO platform-as-a-service provider, partnered with Airalo to enable international visitors to South Africa to access mobile services without physical SIM cards or roaming plans. Melon Mobile (the first MVNO on the Melon Digital platform with over 100,000 local subscribers) is now live with Airalo's eSIM service in South Africa, utilizing MTN's network infrastructure. Expected to increase monthly traffic by 20%.
• ThalescoreTechnology or Integration · 4 March 2026Thales' secure eSIM technology has been integrated into Airalo's global platform, improving instant connectivity for over 20 million travelers in more than 200 destinations. The integration allows travelers to activate high-quality local networks easily, reducing manual setup and reliance on Wi-Fi.
• Cathay (Cathay Pacific)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 February 2026Airalo partnered with Cathay (premium travel lifestyle brand) on February 24, 2026, allowing Cathay Pacific travelers to purchase eSIMs at preferential rates while earning 100 Asia Miles per purchase. The collaboration targets the growing travel eSIM market projected to grow 500% between 2023 and 2028.
• ValidcoreTechnology or Integration · 5 February 2026Valid, a global leader in Trusted Connectivity and eSIM technologies, announced a strategic collaboration with Airalo to enhance customer experience using Valid's Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) platform and Quality of Service (QoS) intelligence solution. Valid's SM-DP+ platform enables Airalo to securely manage eSIM profiles across over 200 destinations, while the QoS solution provides real-time monitoring of network performance (data throughput, latency, carrier benchmarking).
• Golden Route to West JapanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 December 2025Airalo partnered with the Golden Route to West Japan (a tourism initiative by Fukuoka City) to offer 10–15% off Airalo eSIM products for international travelers visiting western Japan (Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki). This is Airalo's first partnership with a regional tourism initiative in Japan.
• Fukuoka City (Golden Route West Japan)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 December 2025Golden Route to WEST JAPAN, a tourism initiative by Fukuoka City, partnered with Airalo to launch an exclusive travel connectivity campaign offering 10–15% off Airalo's eSIM products for international travelers visiting western Japan. The partnership aims to remove communication barriers and enhance connectivity for travelers along the Golden Route.
• Various Local Network ProviderscoreTechnology or Integration · 26 October 2025Airalo partners with local network providers in each destination to deliver connectivity. Examples include: EE (UK), Wind Tre (Italy), T-Mobile (US), Orange (France), NOS (Portugal), Softbank (Japan), Movistar (Mexico), China Unicom (China), Nova (Greece), MTN (South Africa), Bell (Canada), Turk Telekom (Turkey).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• BNESIM: BNESIM is an eSIM marketplace selling prepaid mobile data plans for international travelers across many countries. Directly comparable consumer-facing product offering to Airalo.
• Holafly: Holafly is a direct head-to-head eSIM competitor focused on international travelers, offering unlimited and fixed data plans across 200+ destinations with a similar self-serve consumer model. It is the closest functional substitute to Airalo in the travel eSIM category.
• Flexiroam: Flexiroam is a publicly listed Malaysian eSIM/data roaming provider selling prepaid travel data plans globally, including to consumer and enterprise travelers. Its product scope and channel mix are highly comparable to Airalo's.
• Ubigi (by Transatel): Ubigi is Transatel's consumer eSIM brand providing mobile data for international travelers across many countries, often bundled with car makers and OEMs. Same fundamental resale-of-carrier-data model for travelers.
• GigSky: GigSky sells prepaid eSIM data plans for international travelers across 190+ countries via its own app. Overlaps Airalo directly on product, customer (travelers), and distribution (self-serve app).
• Truphone: Truphone provides global mobile connectivity via eSIM for both consumer travelers and enterprise IoT/connectivity use cases. Comparable technology stack and cross-border data resale model.

Emerging players

• Airhub: Airhub sells prepaid eSIM data plans for travelers across many destinations via a self-serve app. Smaller and less established than Airalo, but directly comparable in product and target customer.
• Saily: Saily is a newer eSIM-for-traveler product launched by Nord Security, competing for the same international-traveler audience with similar prepaid plans. Smaller scale than Airalo but targeting the same niche with strong brand backing.
• aloSIM: aloSIM is an emerging eSIM provider for travelers offering prepaid plans across numerous destinations. Smaller scale than Airalo but competes in the same consumer travel eSIM category.

Broad incumbents

• Google Fi Wireless: Google Fi is a US-focused wireless service that resells underlying carrier networks (T-Mobile/US Cellular) and offers international roaming on US subscribers' plans. It competes indirectly with Airalo for US outbound travelers but operates as a primary carrier, not a travel-only marketplace.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/airalocom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPL_PzFyZLgMOWOLIpNlkMw
• Facebookfacebook.com/airalocom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airalocom
• Instagraminstagram.com/airalo
• TikToktiktok.com/@airalocom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors20 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airalo