Understanding the eSIM Connection and Advantages Over Traditional SIM

Whether you live in Europe or travel here, stable Internet in all the EU countries at the same time is a great way to save costs. The eSIM provider Airalo offers a set of data plans, called Eurolink. This prepaid eSIM card covers the Internet connection in 42 European countries. Connect once and use the cell data from all providers in Europe. 

At the same time, there are certain limitations in speed, data, and duration. Read this Eurolink eSIM review to deeply analyze the eSIM plan and find alternative options. At the end, you’ll be able to select and activate the digital SIM connection for the European trip. 

Understanding the eSIM Connection and Advantages Over Traditional SIM

Understand eSIM as an online analogy of SIM cards you use in daily life. This technology connects your mobile device to the cell towers of the casino SIM providers. As a result, you receive the mobile Internet at the local price without paying for roaming. Compared to traditional SIM cards, this is a great opportunity to remain connected everywhere.

Traditional SIM cards	eSIM alternative
Use a plastic card in your smartphone’s slot.	Connect to the data plan digitally from your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or even smartwatches.
Activate only 1 or 2 data plans and numbers depending on the number of SIM slots in your device.	Utilize up to 20 data plans at the same time by switching them in the settings.
One tariff covers a single country. To connect anywhere else, pay roaming fees.	An eSIM tariff can cover one country, the region, or even the whole world.

eSIM has only two disadvantages. First, most services offer only mobile data without phone calls and SMS. Yet, you can buy these options separately. Secondly, not all devices are compatible with eSIM. Before considering this option, check out the list of compatible smartphones, tablets, and other devices. 

eSIM is Especially Beneficial in These European Countries

Overall, the roaming price is lowering. In 2017, 1 GB of data would cost you 7 EUR, while the same amount came at 2.5 EUR in 2022. Yet, it is still expensive – too expensive to use roaming as your main source of data. 

The Internet cost for foreigners is especially important in Portugal, Romania, and Germany. For 30 EUR, you get only 0.5–6 GB of mobile data. The speed is rarely better than 3G. 

Why Customers Choose Airalo’s Eurolink for European Trips?

Eurolink is one of the hundreds of prepaid data plans, offered by Airalo. This eSIM is suited for international travel and covers 42 European countries:

• Austria;
• Belgium;
• Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• Bulgaria;
• Croatia;
• Cyprus;
• Denmark;
• Estonia;
• France;
• Italy;
• Germany;
• Norway;
• Greece;
• England;
• Malta;
• Ukraine, etc.

Apart from Europe, the plan also includes Turkey as a popular tourist destination. According to Eurolink reviews, this is indeed a great opportunity to stay connected everywhere you travel. See how it works in detail. 

Choose from 8 Tariff Types

Eurolink comes in 8 variations that are different by the amount of the Internet and the number of days:

• 1 GB for 7 days at $5;
• 2 GB for 15 days at $9.50;
• 3 GB for 30 days at $13.00;
• 5 GB for 30 days at $20.00;
• 10 GB for 30 days at $37.00;
• 20 GB for 30 days at $49.00;
• 50 GB for 30 days at $100;
• 100 GB for 30 days at $185.

All tariffs are prepaid. You pay for the number of gigabytes, while unlimited Internet options are not available.

Enjoy the Internet and In-App Calls

Eurolink covers the mobile Internet in 42 countries without roaming. You pay the same price in each country, while Airlao automatically switches between cell data providers depending on your location.

Note that phone calls, a virtual number, and SMS are not available. In case you need calls, use messengers and social media: WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Instagram, Zoom, etc. 

Share the Connection with Others

Airalo doesn’t limit you to the hotspot volume. Turn to hotspot on and use the prepaid Internet on other smartphones, laptops, PCs, and so on in the form of Wi-Fi. Be attentive and set the Wi-Fi password, so no one else can connect to your device.

Be Ready for Different Connection Speed

Airalo uses data from Vodafone, O2, Orange, MTL, T-Mobile, Cosmote, Tele2, MTEL, and other providers across the countries. That’s why your speed is different depending on the location. Most countries on the list are marked as “5G”, while others are just “LTE”. See the reviews section to see the real situation with connection speed. 

Activate in the App or Through a QR Code

Before purchasing Eurolink or any other plan, ensure your device is compatible with the eSIM technology. If so, buy and pay for a plan online on Airalo’s website or in the application. You can activate the plan in several ways.

Direct installation	QR Code	Manual
Go to the Airalo application. Log in and find the purchased Eurolink tariff in your account. Choose the installation and follow the on-screen instructions. Once the plan is installed in your smartphone, turn the roaming on and switch to Airalo’s eSIM from your SIM card.	After the purchase, Airalo sends an activation QR code to your mailbox. Open the message on the PC or any other device. Scan the QR code with your camera. Use the device that will use Eurolink afterward. The installation will happen automatically.Find the new data plan in the “cell data” setting on your smartphone. Switch to it once you’re in the destination and turn the roaming on.	Together with the activation email, you receive manual instructions and details of your plan. Navigate to the cell data setting on your smartphone. Choose the “Add Plan” function (it may be called differently depending on your OS).Enter the plan’s details and confirm the installation. To activate the plan, choose Airalo’s eSIM instead of your main SIM card and turn the roaming on.

Eurolink Reading Reviews By Real Customers

The real situation is less positive, though. The overall rating of Airalo on Trustpilot is only 2.5, which is below average. Let’s see what people say about Eurolink specifically. 

The review topic	Reviews	Conclusion	Rating
Customer support		The support is helpful overall. If you experience any issues with connection, contact the manager and ask for assistance. Yet, sometimes answers take up to an hour, which may be crucial when you’re abroad.	4
Coverage		In some regions, Airalo sues foreign providers instead of local ones. For example, data in the UK is provided by the Polish cell company. This lowers the Internet speed	3
Connection in Particular countries		Great Internet in Spain, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Switzerland, and Malta. Poor conenction (lower than 3G) in the Hundary and Checz Republic. In the UK, the Internet often doesn’t work at all.	3
Installation and activation		Easy and fast.	5
Data management		Data management is available in the app, but it may track the GB incorrectly. You may run out of services before you are notified.	2
Top-ups		Easy account top-up once you run out of data	5

Despite all the advantages, slow speed and the lack of connection are unacceptable. If you’re ready to risk for a good price, you may try Airalo’s Eurolink and be the lucky one. Yet, know that the Internet in the UK and Eastern Europe within Eurolink eSIM plans is poor. 

Eurolink’s Pros and Cons

Advantages	Disadvantages
42 countries within one data plan;easy installation through the app;automatic activation once you arrive;easy top-ups through the application.	Connection in the UK and Eastern Europe is dissatisfactory;Sometimes, data is tracked incorrectly, and you spontaneously run out of GB;Slow customer support.

Alternative Options for European Coverage

Apart from Airalo, many more international eSIM providers offer European data plans. See the alternative options that cover the same countries with better speed and more features. 

Yesim “Europe + the UK”

Choose this provider if you prioritize unlimited Internet connection. The company has several regional plans and 4 global options. The “Europe and the UK” tariff is the most similar to Eurolink. 

The tariff comes in two forms – prepaid and unlimited connection. Within prepaid plans, the price per 1 GB varies from $1.10 to $3.96 per 1 GB, which is already cheaper than Eurolink. Unlimited data is even more beneficial. A day of unlimited connection and hotspot costs from $3.20 to $7.70 depending on the number of days.  Plus, all countries in the plan support 5G. The only exception is Serbia with an LTE speed. 

Holafly “Europe”

Holafly’s “Europe” tariff covers 40 European countries and Turkey. The company is focused on unlimited data, and you cannot buy prepaid plans at all. 

The key difference of Holafly from other providers is plan customization. Instead of pre-made options with 1, 5, 15, or 30 days, you can choose the number of days in a tariff with precision. Pick any number of days, and the daily cost will be lower with each added day. The maximum duration is 3 months (90 calendar days).

The provider, however, doesn’t specify the Internet speed in each country. It just says that the speed varies between 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G depending on your location. Note that hotspots will be limited to 1 GB a day. 

Saily “Europe eSIM”

Saily’s European tariff is extremely similar to Eurolink. All plans are prepaid and cost from $4.99 to $1.8 per 1 GB. Yet, the speed of Saily’s Internet is usually better. According to customer reviews, the provider offers 5G connections in almost all countries on the list.  Yet, Saily covers only 35 destinations, while Eurolink is available in 42. Compare both country lists to see if your destinations are here. 

Conclusion

If you’re interested in a stable Internet connection in European countries, Eurolink is a risky option. Some regions offer great speed and coverage, while others don’t work out at all. Plus, the customer support is quite slow, and you may be left without the Internet for several hours. Without a doubt, the option is budget-friendly, so decide depending on your priorities. 

If you need a more stable connection, consider alternative providers. Nomad, eSIM, Holafly, and Saily offer European regional plans and clever 30–50 countries within and outside the EU.  Note that Eurolink covers most countries compared to its alternatives. There are 42 countries within Eurolink, while other providers offer 35–40 options.