Airalo Discover+ eSIM Review (Tested in 19 Countries)

Previously, Airalo's global eSIM offering was called Discover Global (84 countries). In August 2023, it was renamed to Discover (data-only) and Discover+ (data, calls & text – all in 130 countries). As I tested the former Discover Global eSIM in 14 countries before the upgrade, you will see me referencing the old name here and then. I will try revisiting those countries and testing the new eSIM there, but it will take time. See what I am willing to do for you 😎.

Sometimes, you just want to travel the world… all of it 🌐.

Although that is often a dream for most, some can actually make it happen… like myself (but I am not bragging… or am I 😏).

And you certainly want to stay connected when doing so.

Although getting a local SIM card in each country you visit is the cheapest way to stay connected, it can be time-consuming.

That is because many countries have SIM card registration requirements.

Some countries only want to see your passport to confirm your identity, and you are out the door in minutes.

While other countries also demand fingerprints, proof of stay & a phone call to your place of visit.

Usually, these countries will store your information in a central database, which is a prime target to be hacked… which has happened before (such as in Australia and Indonesia in 2022).

The countries with excessive requirements also require more of your time to get a SIM card, as this process can often take up to an hour (especially in South Asia).

So what if you could avoid all of this and keep your details… well… personal?

Introducing Airalo's Discover Global eSIM.

Sorry, I meant the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM.

Adu… what is going on!?

Okay, until August 2023, Airalo's Global eSIM was called Discover Global.

From August 2023, it introduced the Discover and Discover+ eSIMs.

The upgraded eSIM can be used in 130 countries instead of 80+ (84 before it got replaced).

Moreover, 5G NR access is available in various countries, which used not to be the case.

Finally, you get a phone number with up to 200 minutes and 200 SMS with your eSIM (an Austrian +43 number).

Best of all… the prices did not increase at all!

Better yet, the most expensive eSIM (Discover+ 20 GB) can be used for an entire year instead of 180 days with the former Discover Global eSIM, which still costs 89 USD!

And if you do not care about calling or texting, you will pay up to 20 USD less with the Discover eSIM compared to the Discover+ eSIM.

So just to be clear, the Airalo Discover eSIM is a data-only eSIM (as the Airalo Discover Global eSIM used to be).

Whereas the Airalo Discover+ eSIM gives you a phone number to be used in all 130 supported countries (although you can be called from anywhere in the world) so that you can make calls (up to 200 minutes) and send texts (up to 200 SMS).

Until mid-August 2023, I used the former Airalo Discover Global eSIM, which is why it is referenced in various sections throughout this review.

In the United States (still mid-August), I used the Airalo Discover Global eSIM and the Airalo Discover+ eSIM in California.

And from the time I was in New Jersey and New York, I have been using the Airalo Discover+ eSIM exclusively.

If you still have the Airalo Discover Global eSIM installed on your phone, you can still use it. In fact, you can still top it up if you are out of data or the validity has expired. I have contacted Airalo to see how long this eSIM will be supported.

Since I am on a mission to save you as much money as possible when you are abroad (in terms of staying connected) by testing, reviewing & recommending the best SIM card and eSIM options, I thought it would be a great idea to try out the Airalo Discover+ eSIM in the countries I visit.

Not only that, but I compare the Airalo Discover+ eSIM to Airalo's country-specific eSIMs (which cover around 190 countries) + various other eSIM providers and the SIM cards, and eSIMs of the local mobile operators.

That way, I can tell you precisely whether the Airalo Discover+ eSIM is worth it for a particular country instead of just pushing it to you for higher affiliate commissions (as some other bloggers do without even testing the eSIM 🗿).

This will be an ongoing review because I need time to extensively assess all SIM cards and eSIMs I test in each country, so I encourage you to come back every now and then to see if I have covered the country you are visiting soon.

Let's get started, shall we?

If you wonder why I only extensively test Airalo's global eSIM and not those of other eSIM providers, it is because they are either (super) expensive, do not have proper coverage, have speed restrictions, or have not-so-clearly-disclosed fair-use policies, making them impractical for true globetrotters like myself (Airalo is not giving me its Discover+ eSIM for free, unfortunately 🫠). But once I eventually find such an eSIM, you can read about it on the site, of course!

Original publication: 30th of December 2022. Last updated: 28th of September 2023.

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Table of Contents

Which Phones are Compatible with Airalo eSIMs?

Before discussing the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you must know whether your phone can even support Airalo's eSIMs.

Sure, your phone may support eSIM, but the local mobile operator and travel eSIM provider, like Airalo, first needs to certify a phone before the users can use their products.

With that out of the way, let's talk more about the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM!

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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How Much Does the Airalo Discover(+) Global eSIM Cost?

You can get the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM for as little as 9 USD for 1 GB of data (7 days) and up to 89 USD for 20 GB (180 365 days). The eSIM can be used in 130 countries with 12 options.

Regardless of the currency used in your country, Airalo will always charge you in USD (US Dollar).

Moreover, regardless of which Airalo Discover(+) eSIM you choose, you can always top it up for the same amount of data and prices as listed above.

For example, suppose you buy the 5 GB Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (60 days, costing 35/50 USD) but realize you need more data (or minutes/SMS).

You can top it up with the 3 GB (+30 minutes and 30 SMS) top-up (30 days, costing 24/36 USD) or the 10 GB (+100 minutes and 100 SMS) top-up (180 days, costing 59/79 USD).

Many eSIM providers out there do not allow you to top up or extend the validity of your eSIM, so it is cool that Airalo allows you to do so.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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In Which Countries Can the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM Be Used?

The Airalo Discover(+) eSIM can be used in 130 countries on all continents (Africa, all of the Americas, Asia, Europe & Oceania).

Below is a complete overview of countries the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM works in:

In most cases, getting a regional eSIM (like the Airalo Asialink eSIM for Asia or the Airalo Eurolink eSIM for Europe) is more affordable than getting the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM if you plan on visiting two or more countries in the same region.

However, if you plan on visiting two or more countries on multiple continents, then the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM will be more convenient and affordable.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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My Airalo Discover Discover+ and Discover Global eSIM Experiences

I have used, and will be using, the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM worldwide, aiming to use it in all the countries it can be used in.

And I stopped using the Airalo Discover Global eSIM as of mid-August 2023, even though I still have valid ones (yes, I have multiple, lmao).

But as you can expect, achieving this goal will take me a while if I want to get meaningful data to analyze for you.

Luckily, it gives me (another) reason to travel the world 😎.

Before we continue, I do want to let you know how travel eSIM providers like Airalo work.

It is impossible for Airalo, or any other mobile operator, to operate in every country (and do not trust any company saying otherwise), so they set up roaming agreements.

And do not get worried by the word roaming yet – roaming can be expensive, but roaming with Airalo or many other travel eSIM providers, will not result in a 5000 USD roaming bill.

What Airalo does, and basically all (actual) mobile operators do, is partner up with a local mobile operator so that their customers can still stay connected abroad.

In the case of the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, it uses the networks of more than 84 local mobile operators.

Some of these networks are good, but some of them suck.

What is worse is that you often have a not up to par performance on their network.

That is because you are roaming on the local networks instead of being a native customer.

But that does not mean you will have (incredibly) slow speeds – just slower than native customers.

I cannot give an average percentage because it really depends on the roaming agreement Airalo has made… that is why I have to test the eSIM everywhere!

While I will extensively test the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM in each city and country I visit, I will not analyze it in-depth in this review.

Not because I do not want to, but otherwise this review will be excessively long after reviewing it in more than 15 countries.

So I will give you a “brief” analysis, which is still elaborate (lol), of the eSIM's performance per country and will link to the in-depth country-specific review, like my Airalo Discover Global experience in New Zealand.

That way, this review loads fast on your end, and you can have a quick overview of which countries the eSIM works well and which ones it does not.

But you can click the links below to jump to the country you are interested in – or read about them all!

• Australia **
• Canada *
• Czech Republic *
• Egypt (visiting in November)
• Germany *
• Hong Kong *
• Indonesia
• Israel (visiting in November)
• Italy *
• Japan *
• Morocco (visiting in December)
• Netherlands **
• New Zealand *
• Qatar (visiting in November)
• Saudi Arabia (visiting in November)
• Singapore *
• South Korea *
• Spain *
• Switzerland *
• Taiwan
• Thailand *
• Turkey (visiting in November)
• United Kingdom *
• United States (Discover Global & Discover+ results)
• Vietnam

* old Discover Global eSIM results only
** old Discover Global eSIM results only, but Discover+ eSIM results are on their way (and will be written about early 2024)

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Australia Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used the eSIM in four cities in Australia: Brisbane (Queensland), Canberra (Australia Capital Territory), Melbourne (Victoria) & Sydney (New South Wales).

And I will use the Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Melbourne again and in Perth (Western Australia) from late September until November). Results are coming in December or January (2024).

In Australia, the Airalo Discover Global eSIM uses the Telstra network, which on paper had the best 4G/LTE coverage experience and 5G NR reach.

In terms of speed, Telstra had the best download speed, with a median download speed of 81.57 Mbps, ahead of Optus (75.27 Mbps) and Vodafone Australia (59.15 Mbps).

Anyway, taking all 81 speed tests I did in Australia into account, I had an average overall download speed of 17.92 Mbps and a median download speed of 12.12 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

And that was… terribly slow 😔. The global median was 33.94 Mbps in November 2022, so the Airalo Discover Global eSIM was not even close.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 13.62 Mbps and a median upload speed of 12.08 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Australia.

That was… decent. The global median was 9.34 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

One thing that was surprising is that the Airalo Discover Global eSIM was stuck at 3G was more often than I would like it to be (especially when Telstra itself was rocking it on 4G/LTE or even 5G NR).

The Airalo Yes! Go! eSIM used the Optus network instead and performed significantly better than the Airalo Discover Global eSIM (240%+ faster).

But neither could use 5G NR network on their respective networks, which you can do if you get a SIM card from them directly at (even at Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne & Sydney airports + others I have yet to visit).

In Australia, I do not recommend the Airalo Discover Global eSIM (for Australia alone) and recommend the Airalo Yes! Go! eSIM instead (if sticking with Airalo or reputable travel eSIMs only).

For a more in-depth analysis of the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Australia, including a city-by-city breakdown, read my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Australia review (coming soon).

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Canada Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Toronto, where I could access one of the four nationwide mobile networks (Bell Mobility).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access two nationwide mobile networks (Telus and Bell Mobility – both with 5G NR access) and a regional network (SaskTel in Saskatchewan).

Taking all 32 speed tests I did in Canada into account, I had an average overall download speed of 100.71 Mbps and a median download speed of 108.82 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did exceptionally well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 13.89 Mbps and a median upload speed of 11.26 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the Czech Republic.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the Czech Republic Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Prague, where I could access one of the three Czech mobile networks (O2 Germany).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access all three Czech mobile networks (T-Mobile Czech Republic, O2 Czech Republic & Vodafone Czech Republic – all with 5G NR access).

Taking all 15 speed tests I did in the Czech Republic into account (removed one because it had no reception at one location), I had an average overall download speed of 32.95 Mbps and a median download speed of 18.68 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did fairly well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 11.94 Mbps and a median upload speed of 10.38 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the Czech Republic.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Germany Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Berlin, where I could access one of the three German mobile networks (O2 Germany).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access all three German mobile networks (Telekom Germany, O2 Germany & Vodafone Germany – all with 5G NR access).

Taking all 28 speed tests I did in Germany into account (removed one because it had no reception at one location), I had an average overall download speed of 54.63 Mbps and a median download speed of 45.58 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 13.58 Mbps and a median upload speed of 11.14 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Germany.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Hong Kong Experiences + Speed Test Results

As Hong Kong does not really have cities (in the sense of the Government of Hong Kong not using them for administrative purposes and only as geographical limits), I could not visit multiple ones.

For review purposes, I try to visit at least two cities when I try our local SIM cards and travel eSIMs like the Airalo Asialink eSIM.

Not because I have too… but because I want to 🗿.

Anyway, in Hong Kong, the Airalo Asialink eSIM uses the CSL Mobile network, which on paper had excellent 4G/LTE and the best 5G NR availability (together with China Mobile Hong Kong).

But the Asialink eSIM could not use CSL Mobile's 5G NR network yet (neither could prepaid customers when I was in Hong Kong), so I will not refer to that network anymore.

In terms of speed, CSL Mobile has the second-slowest download speed, with a median download speed of 45.96 Mbps, ahead of 3 Hong Kong (Three – 32.52 Mbps) but behind SmarTone Hong Kong (48.14 Mbps) and China Mobile Hong Kong (66.11 Mbps).

Anyway, taking all 56 speed tests I did in Hong Kong into account, I had an average overall download speed of 39.05 Mbps and a median download speed of 30.82 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

And that was… decent. The global median was 36.74 Mbps in December 2022, so the Airalo Discover Global eSIM did alright.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 13.34 Mbps and a median upload speed of 10.68 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Hong Kong.

That was… decent again. The global median was 9.66 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

One thing that was interesting and unusual is that all Airalo eSIMs covering Hong Kong (Hkmobile eSIM for Hong Kong alone, the Asialink eSIM for Hong Kong and 13 other Asian countries & the Airalo Discover Global eSIM covering 84+ countries worldwide, including Hong Kong), all of them used the CSL Mobile network.

Normally, there is some network variation between the local, regional & global eSIMs… but not in Hong Kong.

Anyway, the Airalo Discover Global eSIM was slightly faster than the Airalo Hkmobile eSIM and the Airalo Asialink eSIM (37.01 Mbps and 33.16 Mbps, respectively).

However, this difference is too insignificant to call the Airalo Discover Global eSIM a winner.

The same can be said about the average upload speeds – the local one has an average speed of 18.55 Mbps, followed by the regional one with 18.26 Mbps & the global one with 13.34 Mbps).

In Hong Kong, I do recommend the Airalo Discover Global eSIM (although not for Hong Kong alone) and recommend the Airalo Hkmobile and Airalo Asialink eSIMs as well (if sticking with Airalo, although I had a good experience with the Simify Hong Kong eSIM too).

For a more in-depth analysis of the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Hong Kong, including a neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown, read my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Hong Kong review (coming soon).

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Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Indonesia Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Bali and Jakarta, where I could access two of the four Indonesian mobile networks (Telkomsel and Tri (3) Indonesia – both with 5G NR access).

Well, that is on paper only, because I had no 5G NR access with the eSIM at all.

Apparently, 5G NR is barely available – not even in Jakarta, even though the Indonesian mobile operators advertise that they have “superior” 5G NR networks… sleazy.

Taking all 51 speed tests I did in Indonesia into account (removed two because the eSIM had no reception at two locations), I had an average overall download speed of 33.15 Mbps and a median download speed of 25.63 Mbps with the Airalo Discover+ eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover+ eSIM did okay.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 16.78 Mbps and a median upload speed of 11.61 Mbps with the Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Indonesia.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Italy Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Milan, where I could access one of the four Italian mobile networks (TIM Italy).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access all four Italian mobile networks (Wind Tre – 5G, TIM Italy – 5G, Vodafone Italy – 5G & Iliad).

Taking all 24 speed tests I did in Italy into account, I had an average overall download speed of 94.97 Mbps and a median download speed of 80.98 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did incredibly well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 17.35 Mbps and a median upload speed of 13.09 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Italy.

And that was… good. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Japan Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the Kansai region (mostly Osaka, but also Kobe, Kyoto & Nara), where I could access one of the four mobile networks (SoftBank).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access two Japanese mobile networks (NTT DoCoMo and SoftBank – both with 5G NR access).

Taking all 53 speed tests I did in Japan into account, I had an average overall download speed of 10.05 Mbps and a median download speed of 4.88 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did terribly.

In fact, it was the worst-performing travel eSIM I tested in Japan… 🥲.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 7.32 Mbps and a median upload speed of 6.01 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Japan.

And that was… okay. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the Netherlands Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Amsterdam and Breda, where I could access one of the three Dutch mobile networks (Vodafone Netherlands).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access all three Dutch mobile networks Odido (formerly T-Mobile Netherlands), KPN – 5G & Vodafone Netherlands – 5G).

Taking all 27 speed tests I did in the Netherlands into account (removed one because it had no reception at one location), I had an average overall download speed of 45.38 Mbps and a median download speed of 29.25 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did alright.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 20.43 Mbps and a median upload speed of 18.38 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the Netherlands.

And that was… good The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in New Zealand Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used the eSIM in three cities in New Zealand: Auckland, Lower Hutt/Hutt City & Wellington.

In New Zealand, the Airalo Discover Global eSIM uses the One NZ (formerly Vodafone) network, which on paper had the worst 4G/LTE availability (an availability score of 98.2%. Behind 2degrees (98.7%) and Spark (99.2%)).

In terms of speed, One NZ had the second-best download speed, with a median download speed of 62.97 Mbps, ahead of Spark (59.51 Mbps) but behind 2degrees (63.81 Mbps).

As you can see, the margin between those numbers is minimal, so you cannot make a solid conclusion based on them.

But there is one more note… for some reason, the Airalo Discover Global eSIM would randomly disconnect from the network at times.

And I am talking about disconnecting while in Auckland and Wellington CBD – not in some remote area.

And I found this odd because it only happened with the Airalo eSIMs (even the Nzcom one) – not with the One NZ SIM card itself, the Holafly New Zealand eSIM, or the Orange Holiday World travel SIM card.

And before going to New Zealand, I used the Airalo Discover Global eSIM extensively in Australia (literally the same eSIM because I still had plenty of data left, which I used in New Zealand and will use in Hong Kong, Singapore & Thailand too).

Luckily, turning on airplane mode and off again re-established the connection… but this should not have been needed anyway.

But I wanted you to be aware of this… perhaps I was unlucky in New Zealand?

Anyway, taking all 37 speed tests I did in New Zealand into account, I had an average overall download speed of 35.35 Mbps and a median download speed of 26.37 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

And that was… decent. The global median was 36.74 Mbps in December 2022, so the Airalo Discover Global eSIM did alright.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 4.37 Mbps and a median upload speed of 4.34 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in New Zealand.

That… was slow 😔. The global median was 9.66 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

The Airalo Nzcom eSIM also used the One NZ network and performed slightly better than the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

But neither could use One NZ's 5G NR network, which you can do if you get a SIM card (no eSIM yet) from it directly (or you can even pre-order a One NZ SIM card and get it delivered to your home before going to New Zealand from SimCorner!).

In New Zealand, I do recommend the Airalo Discover Global eSIM (although not for New Zealand alone) and recommend the Airalo Nzcom eSIM as well (if sticking with Airalo, although I had a good experience with the Nomad New Zealand eSIM too).

For a more in-depth analysis of the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in New Zealand, including a city-by-city breakdown, read my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in New Zealand review.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover+ eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Singapore Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM throughout Singapore, where I could access one of the three Singaporean mobile networks (Singtel).

This is also the (only) available network with the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (and still no 5G NR access, unfortunately).

Taking all 20 speed tests I did in Singapore into account, I had an average overall download speed of 59.63 Mbps and a median download speed of 23.35 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did alright.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 8.13 Mbps and a median upload speed of 3.45 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Singapore.

And that was… poor. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in South Korea Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Busan and Seoul, where I could access one of the three South Korean mobile networks (SK Telecom).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access two South Korean mobile networks (SK Telecom and KT South Korea – both with 5G NR access).

Taking all 42 speed tests I did in South Korea into account (removed one because it had no reception at one location), I had an average overall download speed of 33.67 Mbps and a median download speed of 43.31 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did alright.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 11.05 Mbps and a median upload speed of 9.18 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in South Korea.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Spain Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Málaga, where I could access one of the four Spanish mobile networks (Vodafone Spain).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access all four Spanish mobile networks (Movistar Spain – 5G, Orange Spain – 5G, Vodafone Spain – 5G & Yoigo).

Taking all 16 speed tests I did in Spain into account, I had an average overall download speed of 47.78 Mbps and a median download speed of 46.62 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 14.19 Mbps and a median upload speed of 10.97 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Spain.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Switzerland Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM mostly in Zürich, where I could access one of the three Swiss mobile networks (Sunrise Switzerland).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access two Swiss mobile networks (Swisscom and Sunrise Switzerland – both with 5G NR access).

Taking all 25 speed tests I did in Switzerland into account, I had an average overall download speed of 63.56 Mbps and a median download speed of 54.71 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did very well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 20.37 Mbps and a median upload speed of 17.31 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Switzerland.

And that was… great. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Taiwan Experiences + 5G Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Tainan and Taipei, where I could access three of the five Taiwanese mobile networks (Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile & T Star Taiwan – all with 5G NR access).

Although when I was in Taiwan, T Star Taiwan was not an option/would not connect to it.

Moreover, I could only use 5G NR during the first two days of my trip – the eSIM refused to connect to 5G NR the remaining days (even when I switched between Chunghwa Telecom (which I recommend) or Taiwan Mobile).

Taking all 28 speed tests I did in Taiwan into account, I had an average overall download speed of 60.11 Mbps and a median download speed of 64.56 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did incredibly well.

Surprisingly, the Airalo Taiwan eSIM (Xie Xie) and Asialink eSIMs performed significantly better in the country (average download speeds of 113.39 Mbps and 202.36 Mbps, respectively).

And both were restricted to 4G/LTE (because those eSIMs are powered by Singtel from Singapore, while Airalo's Discover(+) eSIMs are powered by eSIM Go/Drei Austria).

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 17.95 Mbps and a median upload speed of 16.93 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Taiwan.

And that was… good. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Thailand Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Bangkok, Koh Pha Ngan (island) & Koh Samui, where I could access one of the three Thai mobile networks (AIS Thailand).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access all three Thai mobile networks (AIS Thailand – 5G, TrueMove H – 5G & Dtac Thailand).

Yes, the screenshot mentions four networks, but you do not want to be on the NT (TOT) network… trust me.

Taking all 76 speed tests I did in Thailand into account, I had an average overall download speed of 44.03 Mbps and a median download speed of 39 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did alright.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 14.97 Mbps and a median upload speed of 15.86 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Thailand

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the United Kingdom Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in London, where I could access one of the four British mobile networks (Vodafone UK).

With the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, you can access all four British mobile networks (O2 UK – 5G, EE UK, Vodafone UK – 5G & Three (3) – 5G).

Taking all 20 speed tests I did in the United Kingdom into account, I had an average overall download speed of 44.19 Mbps and a median download speed of 22.64 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 11.44 Mbps and a median upload speed of 9.39 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in the United Kingdom.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover Global eSIM & Discover+ eSIM in the United States Experiences + 5G Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover Global eSIM in California, where I could access one of the Big Three American mobile networks (AT&T).

Whereas I used the the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM in California, New Jersey & New York, you can access two American mobile networks (T-Mobile US – 5G and AT&T).

Taking all 16 speed tests I did in Spain into account, I had an average overall download speed of 47.78 Mbps and a median download speed of 46.62 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 14.19 Mbps and a median upload speed of 10.97 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Spain.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Vietnam Experiences + Speed Test Results

I used my Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Ho Chi Minh City, where I could access one of the four Vietnamese mobile networks (Vienamobile).

Unfortunately, that is Vietnam's worst mobile network… one I would not recommend at all 😔.

Taking all 16 speed tests I did in Spain into account, I had an average overall download speed of 47.78 Mbps and a median download speed of 46.62 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM.

Compared to the global median in August 2023 (43.20 Mbps), the Discover Global eSIM did well.

When looking at upload speeds, I had an average upload speed of 14.19 Mbps and a median upload speed of 10.97 Mbps with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM in Spain.

And that was… decent. The global median was 10.23 Mbps.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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My Overall Experience with the Airalo Discover Global eSIM – Is It Any Good?

I would recommend the Airalo Discover Global eSIM, and it would be one of my top recommendations for anyone wanting to buy a global travel eSIM. But only if you visit more than two countries on more than two continents. Otherwise, you will be better off with country-specific or regional Airalo eSIMs.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

A handful of country-specific Airalo eSIMs are restricted to 3G while the Airalo Discover Global eSIM can use 4G/LTE.

Like in Belarus, where the Airalo Norach Telecom eSIM uses 3G on the A1 Belarus network, while the Airalo Discover Global eSIM uses 4G/LTE on the same network.

Not only that, but the data allowance of some country-specific Airalo eSIMs is meager.

For Iraq, you have the Airalo Babel Mobile eSIM, with 1 GB for 7 days, costing 9.50 USD.

If you want more data, let's say 5 GB, you need to buy the Airalo Babel Mobile eSIM and buy four 1 GB top-ups, costing 47.50 USD in total (5 * 9.50 USD).

If you get the Airalo Discover Global eSIM instead, you will only spend 35 EUR for the same data allowance (and it would be valid for 30 days instead of (multiple) 7 days).

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

However, this is (luckily) not always the case because Airalo's country-specific eSIMs are often the cheapest in the industry.

Let's say you are visiting Italy, Portugal, Spain & the United Kingdom and will use 5 GB of data in each country.

Airalo has the Mamma Mia, Fofo Mobil/MEO Ready to Enjoy Portugal, Guay Mobile & Uki Mobile eSIMs for those countries, respectively.

A 5 GB eSIM for each country would cost 14.50 USD, 17 USD, 11.50 USD & 15 USD, totaling 58 USD, while the Airalo Discover Global eSIM would cost 59 USD.

But if you plan on visiting multiple European countries, you would be better off with the Airalo Eurolink eSIM that can be used in 35+ European countries, including the ones for this example.

And Airalo has various regional eSIMs that are relatively affordable, which are:

• Asialink for Asia (10+ countries) – check my Asialink review (ongoing)
• Eurolink for Europe (35+ countries) – check my Eurolink review (11 countries)
• Latamlink for Latin America (15+ countries)
• Menalink for the Middle East and North Africa (15 countries)

Airalo also has the Hello Africa eSIM for Africa (20+ countries) and the Island Hopper eSIM for the Caribbean (20+ countries).

But the latter two are not of good value right now.

Moreover, the Airalo Discover Global eSIM barely covers Africa and the Caribbean, so it would not be a good alternative either.

Anyway, the Airalo Discover Global eSIM is a relatively affordable and convenient international travel eSIM for those visiting multiple countries on various continents in a 180-day timespan.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

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Other Travel eSIM Reviews

As mentioned earlier, I also test out various other country-specific or regional travel eSIMs, but only a handful.

And that is because there are so many eSIM resellers out there that prioritize profits over service.

There is no point in my trying or recommending (read: selling) those eSIM providers if they offer the same service at a 50% markup because they can.

I want you to save money on data costs while having a great network experience, not just fill my and their pockets.

In most cases, I pay out of pocket for the eSIMs I test (especially Airalo's), let alone the local SIM cards.

And trust me, I get many requests and offers to recommend and sell eSIMs from rather suspicious companies.

One such company offered me a commission rate of 50%… but then I realized they copied and pasted Airalo's privacy policy without changing “Airalo” throughout the text 🗿.

And they also claimed that they had more than one million happy customers, even though they launched in September of 2022 (and they emailed me in November 2022).

So yeah, I am picky with my recommendations, but that does not mean the companies I do not write about are bad.

I mainly focus on Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, SimCorner, Simify, SimOptions & Ubigi because I am in close contact with them, and they take my suggestions for improvement seriously.

For example, Airalo added the Menalink eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa, Latamlink eSIM for Latin America & and improved the Asia regional eSIM upon (my) request (although I am sure I was not the only one who suggested these eSIMs).

Nomad added the Nordics eSIM and dropped the prices for many of its Asia eSIMs as suggested.

Holafly started covering way more Caribbean and Oceanian countries than before at reasonable prices.

And that is not just good for me, but also for you (especially when I can drop discount codes 😏).

However, eSIMs offered by BNESIM, Flexiroam, Keepgo, KnowRoaming & Truphone are supposedly good too.

Nevertheless, I am already spending a lot of time and money testing the selection I am working with right now + the SIM cards and eSIMs of the local mobile operators in each country – I am already walking around with four phones when testing, which is more than enough 😜.

But be sure to check out my eSIM review page to read reviews of other eSIMs I have tested in the countries I visit.