Simify vs. Holafly: Which eSIM Provider Is the Best in 2026?

Simify is an Australian company based in Sydney, founded in 2019 under the name SimsDirect. It initially sold physical SIM cards to Australian travelers heading abroad. In 2022, the transition to eSIM led to its rebranding as Simify. Today, Simify covers 150 destinations with fixed-data plans (5 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB, unlimited with a cap) for durations ranging from 7 to 90 days, partnering with major local carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, SoftBank, NTT Docomo).

Holafly offers a simple plan: you choose the number of days (from 1 to 90), and data is unlimited for the entire period. For a standard subscription, Holafly Plans offers 10 GB for $39.90/month, 25 GB for $49.90/month, or unlimited data for $64.90/month.

Simify covers 150 destinations, sometimes combining multiple local carriers into a single plan. No eSIMs per city, no monthly subscription. The brand focuses on simplicity: one plan = one destination = one price. Its specialty: coverage in rural and non-touristy areas, where it stands out for its signal stability.

Simify offers "unlimited" plans in about ten destinations. The catch: the usage limit is more restrictive than Holafly's. In Japan, for example, on the SoftBank network, speeds slow down after 1.5 GB of full-speed data per day. That's well below Holafly's limit.

Holafly imposes a data-sharing limit of approximately 500 MB per day on standard unlimited plans. Once that limit is reached, data sharing is suspended until the next day. For phone use only, this has no impact. For a laptop connected to a video conference, 500 MB can be used up in 30 minutes.

Simify support is available via email, chat, and FAQs, but only during Australian business hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sydney time). In practical terms, if you’re traveling in Europe or the Americas, Simify support is offline when you have a problem. Time difference with France: 10 a.m. in Sydney = 1 a.m. in Paris. 5 p.m. in Sydney = 8 a.m. in Paris. This means that for a European traveler, Simify support is available for about 7 hours a day—often while you’re asleep.

Simify offers an iOS and Android app that stores your QR codes, plan details, and troubleshooting guides. The app is functional, but less polished than the industry leaders (Holafly, Airalo). Some users on the app stores have reported occasional bugs with data usage notifications.

Holafly accepts payments in euros, U.S. dollars, standard credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. There is no built-in installment payment option. Cryptocurrency is not accepted either.

Simify has an edge for two specific user groups: Australian or New Zealand travelers who appreciate being able to pay in AUD and use Afterpay, and backpackers in rural areas (West Africa, parts of Asia outside major cities) where Simify’s signal stability stands out. For these two groups, the price difference and payment experience more than make up for any other shortcomings.