Search for a travel eSIM and three names come up every time: Airalo, Holafly, and Travelren. All three work. All three make different trade-offs. And every one of them tells you they’re the cheapest and fastest, which they obviously can’t all be.
This is an honest comparison for New Zealand travellers: real prices in NZD, which carriers each brand routes through in the countries you’re actually flying to, and when each one is genuinely the right pick. We’ll lean on Opensignal’s public data rather than marketing claims, and we’ll list our own prices beside the competition so you can choose for yourself.
Travelren keeps the spreadsheet that compares our margins to competitors. Our team would rather tell you Airalo or Holafly fits your trip better than oversell you on us, because the cost of you buying the wrong eSIM and not coming back outweighs today’s sale.
The quick answer, before you scroll
Short version: a week in Tokyo using about 5GB costs roughly NZ$13 with Travelren, NZ$14 with Airalo, or NZ$60 with Holafly for ten days of unlimited. A week in Bangkok: around NZ$10 with Travelren, NZ$11 with Airalo, NZ$36 with Holafly. A week in the USA: roughly NZ$15 with Travelren, NZ$19 with Airalo, NZ$60 with Holafly.
Travelren and Airalo are close to price parity on most destinations. Holafly runs 3 to 4 times more expensive because they sell unlimited only. The durable differences are in data structure, support quality, and trip fit — not the headline price.
Price comparison at a glance
| Destination | Travelren | Airalo | Holafly (10-day unlimited) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia — 3GB / 30 days | NZ$9 | NZ$10 | NZ$45 |
| Japan — 3GB / 30 days | NZ$13 | NZ$14 | NZ$60 |
| Thailand — 3GB / 30 days | NZ$10 | NZ$11 | NZ$36 |
| USA — 3GB / 30 days | NZ$15 | NZ$19 | NZ$60 |
| Europe regional — 5GB / 30 days, 25+ countries | NZ$27 | NZ$23 | NZ$57 |
Prices in NZD, retail (no first-buyer discounts). USD converted at 1.67. Last verified April 2026.
How we actually compared them
We pulled current retail pricing on each provider in April 2026 — around 3GB over 30 days, or the unlimited equivalent for Holafly. USD converted to NZD at 1.67. Prices are retail, not first-buyer-discount prices, because those expire and you can’t count on them for your next trip.
Carrier routing is from Airalo’s network disclosures, Holafly’s plan pages, and our own supplier confirmations. Network speed data comes from Opensignal country reports — free, independent, industry benchmark for measured (not advertised) speeds.
Australia: the trans-Tasman trip
Australia is the most common outbound destination for Kiwi travellers. Here’s how the three brands compare for a short trans-Tasman trip.
Australia — 3GB over 30 days
- Travelren: approximately NZ$9, routes on Telstra or Optus
- Airalo “Yes”: approximately NZ$10, routes on Telstra and Optus
- Holafly: 10 days unlimited at roughly NZ$45
Spark’s 14-day Roaming Pack is NZ$30 and covers Australia — for a 2-week trip across the ditch, Spark roaming is price-competitive with eSIMs because it works out to about NZ$2.14 per day and keeps your home number live. One NZ charges NZ$10 per day for Australia roaming, which is categorically worse than any eSIM for any trip longer than a weekend.
Telstra leads Opensignal’s Australia rankings on 5G availability. Both Travelren and Airalo route Telstra or Optus primary. Network experience on a week in Sydney or Melbourne is effectively identical.
The honest recommendation: Spark customers on the Roaming Pack can stay on their home plan for Australia trips up to 14 days — simpler and price-competitive. One NZ customers save meaningful money by switching to an eSIM for any trip over two days. Travelren and Airalo are interchangeable on price and carriers.
Japan: the big bucket list trip
Japan is the second biggest destination for Kiwi travellers after Australia, and the trip where eSIM economics genuinely matter.
Japan — 3GB over 30 days
- Travelren: NZ$13, routes on SoftBank and KDDI 5G
- Airalo “Moshi Moshi”: approximately NZ$14, routes on SoftBank and KDDI
- Holafly: no 3GB plan, 10 days unlimited at around NZ$60
Opensignal’s April 2025 Japan Mobile Network Experience report gave NTT Docomo the 5G download speed award at 168 Mbps, with SoftBank winning 5G availability. In Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto you’ll pull above 100 Mbps on either — the practical difference is invisible. The gap matters for rural Hokkaido or the Japan Alps, where Docomo’s deeper network wins. No consumer eSIM routes on Docomo-primary, so that limitation applies to all three.
Spark’s Roaming Pack covers Japan too — NZ$30 for 2GB over 14 days, or NZ$2.14 per day equivalent. For a 2-week Japan trip, Spark roaming costs NZ$30 and gets you a modest data allowance. Travelren at NZ$13 gets you 3GB for 30 days. The eSIM is roughly 60% cheaper and gives you more data. One NZ at NZ$10 per day is categorically worse for any Japan trip longer than a weekend.
The honest recommendation: for any Japan trip longer than four days, skip roaming entirely. Travelren and Airalo are price-parity. Holafly’s 10-day unlimited at NZ$60 is only sensible if you’re hitting very heavy daily data use.
USA: where the savings pull clear
The United States is where eSIMs become an obvious financial win. Spark’s Roaming Pack covers the US but NZ$30 for 2GB over 14 days is tight for an actual US trip. One NZ at NZ$10 per day adds up fast.
USA — 3GB over 30 days
- Travelren: NZ$15, routes on T-Mobile and Verizon 5G
- Airalo “Change”: approximately NZ$19, routes on T-Mobile and Verizon
- Holafly: 10 days unlimited at approximately NZ$60
T-Mobile is primary on both Travelren and Airalo’s US plans. Opensignal’s US reports have consistently placed T-Mobile first for 5G availability and rural reach, with Verizon edging ahead on peak urban speeds. For the standard NZ-to-US itinerary (LA, Vegas, San Francisco, a national park) T-Mobile primary is a genuine plus.
The honest recommendation: for any US trip, skip roaming. Spark Roaming Pack’s 2GB ceiling runs out fast when you’re streaming on flights, uploading photos, and using Uber. Travelren is about 20% cheaper than Airalo on US plans — meaningful if you’re doing a two-week trip with multiple top-ups.
Thailand: the cheapest destination
Thailand is cheap across every eSIM provider. It’s also Spark-friendly for short trips — NZ$30 for the 14-day Roaming Pack covers it.
Thailand — 3GB over 30 days
- Travelren: NZ$10, routes on AIS 5G
- Airalo “Vapor”: approximately NZ$11, routes on AIS and True Corp
- Holafly: 10 days unlimited at approximately NZ$36
AIS dominates Opensignal’s Thailand rankings for 5G availability and rural reach. Both Travelren and Airalo route AIS-primary. Network experience is effectively identical.
The honest recommendation: for a week or more in Thailand, an eSIM is significantly cheaper than Spark’s Roaming Pack and gives you more data. For a weekend trip to Bangkok, Spark’s pack is close enough to be worth not bothering with an install. Travelren and Airalo are indistinguishable for Thailand trips.
Europe: where regional plans matter
Most Kiwi trips to Europe cover multiple countries — UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany. A country-specific eSIM is usually the wrong choice.
Europe regional — 5GB over 30 days, 25+ country coverage
- Travelren regional: approximately NZ$27
- Airalo “Eurolink”: approximately NZ$23, category leader for multi-country Europe
- Holafly regional Europe: 10 days unlimited at roughly NZ$57
The honest recommendation: Airalo’s Eurolink is the strongest regional option for multi-country Europe — honestly better than what Travelren offers. For a UK-only trip, Travelren is competitive at around NZ$15 for 3GB. For anything beyond the UK, switch to Eurolink.
What matters beyond the headline price
Prices change. A NZ$3 advantage today can flip in a month. The durable differences between the three brands are structural.
Fixed data vs unlimited
Travelren and Airalo sell fixed-data plans. Buy 3GB, 10GB, or 20GB and that’s your budget — top up or finish on WiFi if you run out. Holafly sells unlimited only: pay more upfront, stop thinking about data. For remote workers, content creators, and anyone using Google Maps all day while also video-calling home, Holafly removes a small but real source of trip anxiety.
Worth knowing: Holafly’s “unlimited” throttles above 90GB per month and caps hotspot at 500MB per day. Read the fine print before assuming it means tethering a laptop for a week of remote work.
Customer support
Hard to benchmark fairly from inside one of the brands, so here’s forum consensus: Holafly’s 24/7 WhatsApp support is the strongest for real-time issues. Airalo runs in-app chat with variable response times depending on time zone. Travelren responds via email — we’re based in Sydney, two hours ahead of NZ, so most support emails get a same-day reply during NZ business hours. For urgent activation issues Holafly wins. For most questions any of them are fine.
When the primary network drops
None of the three lets you manually switch carriers inside a plan — your phone picks the strongest signal from partner networks automatically. If the primary has an outage locally, all three fail the same way. Keeping your home SIM active as a secondary line is the real insurance, not the eSIM brand you choose.
A clear recommendation matrix for Kiwis
- Weekend trip to Australia: Spark Roaming Pack at NZ$30 for 14 days is simpler than installing an eSIM. One NZ customers should switch to eSIM.
- First travel eSIM, Japan or Thailand: Travelren or Airalo. Flip a coin — prices are within a dollar.
- US trip longer than a week: Travelren. About 20% cheaper than Airalo and T-Mobile primary.
- Multi-country Europe trip: Airalo Eurolink. Category leader, honestly better than our regional offering.
- Month-long trip, heavy data use, hate topping up: Holafly. The only brand that makes unlimited practical.
- Digital nomad staying longer than three weeks in one country: physical local SIM on arrival. Cheapest per GB, costs time.
What we’re not trying to change your mind about
If you’ve used Airalo three times and their app is muscle memory, a NZ$2 difference isn’t worth the switching cost. If Holafly let you down, trust that. If Travelren is new to you, try us on a short trip before committing to a big one. That’s the sensible play.
What we do want you to do: pick one, install before you fly, and verify it works at home rather than fighting airport WiFi. All three brands support installation days or weeks before activation. Don’t leave it to the jetway.
Before anything: confirm your phone supports eSIM
Every comparison assumes your phone can run an eSIM. Most iPhones from the XS onwards, every recent Google Pixel, and most flagship Samsung Galaxy devices work. The main exception is iPhones bought in mainland China, which lack the eSIM hardware even when the model number matches an NZ unit. If you’re unsure, our device check tool confirms in 30 seconds. Works for every eSIM brand, not just ours.
Frequently asked questions
Is Travelren cheaper than Airalo for Kiwi travellers?
On most destinations Travelren and Airalo are within a dollar or two of each other in NZD. The exception is the USA, where Travelren is about 20% cheaper at retail. Airalo’s Eurolink regional plan is slightly cheaper than Travelren’s for multi-country Europe trips. For Japan, Thailand, and Australia the prices are close enough that interface preference matters more than the headline.
Should I use Spark Roaming Pack or buy a travel eSIM?
Spark’s Roaming Pack at NZ$30 for 14 days and 2GB is genuinely competitive for short trans-Tasman trips and weekend visits to Asia. For trips longer than two weeks, anywhere with heavy data use (streaming, uploading photos, Uber), or to the USA, an eSIM gives you significantly more data for similar money. One NZ customers paying NZ$10/day for roaming should switch to an eSIM for almost any trip over two days.
Will an Airalo, Holafly, or Travelren eSIM work on my iPhone bought in NZ?
Yes. Every iPhone from XS (2018) onwards sold in New Zealand supports eSIM. The exception is iPhones originally bought in mainland China, which lack the eSIM hardware even when the model number matches. Our device check tool confirms in 30 seconds — works for any eSIM brand, not just ours.
Can I keep my NZ number active while using a travel eSIM?
Yes — that’s the whole point of dual-SIM phones. Keep your NZ SIM active for calls and SMS (banks, two-factor auth, family contact) and route data through the travel eSIM. Turn data roaming off on the NZ line in Settings before you fly so you don’t accidentally rack up charges from your home carrier.
What happens if my eSIM data runs out mid-trip?
Top up from inside the brand’s app — usually under a minute, the new allowance activates immediately. Travelren, Airalo, and Holafly all support in-app top-ups. The trade-off with fixed-data plans is you have to remember to do it; Holafly’s unlimited skips this entirely but costs 3–4x more upfront.
The final take
Travel eSIMs have matured fast. Five years ago the honest advice was “figure it out on arrival.” Today Travelren, Airalo, and Holafly all ship products that work reliably from the jet bridge onward. The real question is which one fits your specific trip.
For most Kiwi travellers on most trips, Travelren and Airalo are close to indistinguishable. Holafly is the premium option: pay more, worry less. Physical local SIMs remain the cheapest per GB for long stays. And for short trans-Tasman or Pacific trips, Spark’s Roaming Pack can be simpler and comparable on price.
Whichever you pick, install at home, keep your home SIM active as a secondary line, and check your phone supports eSIM before assuming it does. That’s 90% of what matters.
Last updated: April 2026. Prices verified against each provider’s public pages at time of writing. Carrier information sourced from Opensignal country reports and provider network disclosures. We update this article quarterly as prices and carrier routing change.