Airalo and Maya Mobile are two providers of eSIM cards for international travel. Each of these eSIM card stores has differentiating characteristics.
In this comparison we will review all the important aspects to have the best coverage, flexibility in your data plans, customer service, ease in the purchase process, installation, use and guarantees for its users.
Before going into this comparison in detail, below we summarize the differences and similarities that we find in these two providers of eSIM cards for travel.
Summary
- Most Maya Mobile eSIM cards have a lower price compared to Airalo.
- Airalo has a global eSIM (covers 130 countries), Maya Mobile does not have this option.
- Maya Mobile offers plans with unlimited data on its eSIM, Airalo does not offer this option.
- Airalo has apps to manage and buy eSIMs, Maya Mobile only has the website.
- Maya Mobile offers more data plans (28 plans) than Airalo (5 plans) for most destinations.
- Customer service is similar between Airalo and Maya Mobile.
- Most Maya Mobile eSIM cards connect to the networks of two of the main mobile carriers in each country, in Airalo this happens only with some destinations.
- Airalo has calls on its global eSIMs (130 destinations), Maya Mobile does not offer this service.
- To activate Maya Mobile eSIMs, a date must be indicated. In the case of Airalo, in most destinations, the eSIM is automatically activated when connecting to the mobile network.
General information about Airalo
Airalo is a startup founded in 2019 in Singapore. It is a virtual store that provides prepaid eSIM cards for international travel.
This company has a website and Apps for Android and iPhone devices from which you can contract its services. Most of their eSIMs are provided by international mobile carriers. In some destinations it also resells eSIM cards from local carriers.
General information about Maya Mobile
Maya Mobile belongs to the American company Maya Virtual, Inc., which was founded in 2015. It provides connectivity to international travelers through its prepaid eSIM with data.
It offers various data plans for different types of travelers.
It has a website from where it is possible to buy an eSIM and receive support or help.
Coverage and performance
Both Airalo and Maya Mobile have coverage of their services in more than 200 destinations around the world.
The networks to which they connect are similar; in developed countries such as the US and the United Kingdom, among others, they have a connection to 5G networks . On the other hand, in developing destinations, such as Latin or African countries, Airalo and Maya Mobile offer Internet connection on 4G, LTE and 3G networks .
The difference is in some destinations where Maya Mobile connects to the networks of two carriers, while Airalo only connects to one local carriers.
Rating: Maya Mobile has better network coverage than Airalo because in some countries it connects to two of the best mobile carriers in the region.
Payment methods
When you buy in the Airalo store you will be able to pay through Visa, UnionPay, Mastercard and American Express credit and debit cards. You can also use PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Alipay from your App.
In the Maya Mobile store you can pay through PayPal, Mastercard, JCB, Visa, American Expres and Discover credit and debit cards.
Rating: Airalo has more payment methods than Maya Mobile.
Rates and prices
Depending on the type of user you are, Maya Mobile and Airalo have different data plans. Below we are going to compare the packages offered in important tourist destinations.
Europe
In the following table we compare Maya Mobile’s data plans versus Airalo’s for trips to Europe.
| Data plans | Airalo Price | Maya Mobile Price |
| 3 GB for 5 days | – | 6 USD |
| 5 GB for 5 days | – | 10 USD |
| 10 GB for 5 days | – | 17 USD |
| 20 GB for 5 days | – | 24 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days | – | 19 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days Standard | – | 29 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days Max | – | 39 USD |
| 1 GB for 7 days | 5 USD | – |
| 3 GB for 10 days | – | 7 USD |
| 5 GB for 10 days | – | 11 USD |
| 10 GB for 10 days | – | 19 USD |
| 20 GB for 10 days | – | 27 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days | – | 34 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days Standard | – | 47 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days Max | – | 59 USD |
| 3 GB for 15 days | – | 8 USD |
| 5 GB for 15 days | – | 12 USD |
| 10 GB for 15 days | – | 21 USD |
| 20 GB for 15 days | – | 29 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Lite | – | 48 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Standard | – | 66 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Max | – | 86 USD |
| 3 GB for 30 days | 13 USD | 9 USD |
| 5 GB for 30 days | 20 USD | 14 USD |
| 10 GB for 30 days | 37 USD | 23 USD |
| 20 GB for 30 days | – | 34 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Lite | – | 59 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Standard | – | 88 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Max | – | 119 USD |
| 50 GB for 90 days | 100 USD | – |
| 100 GB for 180 days | 185 USD | – |
Rating:
- Maya Mobile offers cheaper data plans than Airalo in Europe.
- Maya Mobile has more data plans than Airalo in Europe.
- Airalo has coverage in more European countries (39 countries) than Maya Mobile (30 countries, excluding Andorra, Gibraltar, Montenegro, Albania, Liechtenstein, Poland, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine).
- Maya Mobile offers packages with more data (Unlimited) than Airalo.
USA
In the table below we compare the data plans and prices of Airalo versus Maya Mobile for trips to the US.
| Data Plans | Airalo Price | Maya Mobile Price |
| 3 GB for 5 days | – | 8 USD |
| 5 GB for 5 days | – | 10 USD |
| 10 GB for 5 days | – | 17 USD |
| 20 GB for 5 days | – | 24 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days | – | 19 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days Standard | – | 29 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days Max | – | 39 USD |
| 1 GB for 7 days | 4.5 USD | – |
| 3 GB for 10 days | – | 9 USD |
| 5 GB for 10 days | – | 11 USD |
| 10 GB for 10 days | – | 19 USD |
| 20 GB for 10 days | – | 27 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days | – | 34 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days Standard | – | 47 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days Max | – | 59 USD |
| 2 GB for 15 days | 8 USD | – |
| 3 GB for 15 days | – | 10 USD |
| 5 GB for 15 days | – | 12 USD |
| 10 GB for 15 days | – | 19 USD |
| 20 GB for 15 days | – | 29 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Lite | – | 48 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Standard | – | 66 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Max | – | 86 USD |
| 3 GB for 30 days | 11 USD | 10 USD |
| 5 GB for 30 days | 16 USD | 13 USD |
| 10 GB for 30 days | 26 USD | 21 USD |
| 20 GB for 30 days | 42 USD | 29 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Lite | – | 59 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Standard | – | 88 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Max | – | 119 USD |
Rating:
- Maya Mobile has lower prices than Airalo for the same amount of data.
- Maya Mobile has more data plans than Airalo in the US.
- Maya Mobile offers more data (unlimited) in its packages than Airalo.
- Airalo has the lowest priced eSIM in the US.
- Both Airalo (T-Mobile, Verizon) and Maya Mobile (AT&T, T-Mobile) connect to the networks of two of the best mobile carriers in the US.
Japan
In the table below we compare Airalo and Maya Mobile data plans and prices for trips to Japan.
| Data Plans | Airalo Price | Maya Mobile Price |
| 3 GB for 5 days | – | 14 USD |
| 5 GB for 5 days | – | 18 USD |
| 10 GB for 5 days | – | 34 USD |
| 20 GB for 5 days | – | 55 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days | – | 29 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days Standard | – | 39 USD |
| Unlimited data for 5 days Max | – | 49 USD |
| 1 GB for 7 days | 4.5 USD | – |
| 3 GB for 10 days | – | 16 USD |
| 5 GB for 10 days | – | 19 USD |
| 10 GB for 10 days | – | 38 USD |
| 20 GB for 10 days | – | 59 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days | – | 56 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days Standard | – | 69 USD |
| Unlimited data for 10 days Max | – | 89 USD |
| 2 GB for 15 days | 6.5 USD | – |
| 3 GB for 15 days | – | 17 USD |
| 5 GB for 15 days | – | 21 USD |
| 10 GB for 15 days | – | 40 USD |
| 20 GB for 15 days | – | 64 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Lite | – | 89 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Standard | – | 119 USD |
| Unlimited data for 15 days Max | – | 149 USD |
| 3 GB for 30 days | 8.5 USD | 18 USD |
| 5 GB for 30 days | 11.5 USD | 22 USD |
| 10 GB for 30 days | 18 USD | 42 USD |
| 20 GB for 30 days | 26 USD | 67 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Lite | – | 129 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Standard | – | 169 USD |
| Unlimited data for 30 days Max | – | 219 USD |
| 50 GB for 90 days | 100 USD | – |
| 100 GB for 180 days | 185 USD | – |
Rating:
- Airalo has cheaper data plans than Maya Mobile for trips to Japan.
- Maya Mobile offers more data plans than Airalo for Japan.
- Maya Mobile packages include more data (unlimited) than Airalo.
- The Airalo eSIM connects to KDDI and Softbank, while the Maya Mobile eSIM connects only to KDDI.
Websites
The Airalo and Maya Mobile websites allow you to search for the eSIM and find out details of the data packages. They also have the option to purchase and recharge the eSIM.
In this section there is a difference in terms of language availability. Maya Mobile is in English, Airalo includes English and Spanish.
Installation and activation
The installation and activation methods are similar in Airalo and Maya Mobile, although Airalo offers more options in addition to scanning a QR code, this company allows you to install the eSIM from its iOS app or by manually entering the installation code from the smartphone settings.
Another difference is in the activation methods. In the case of Maya Mobile, you need to indicate the date on which you want to activate the eSIM. For their part, Airalo eSIMs are activated automatically after being installed and connected to an carrier’s mobile network. This functionality is not available in all destinations, in some, Airalo eSIMs require you to validate your identity in order to activate the eSIM.
Customer service and help center
Both companies have a Help Center with general information about the eSIM.
In case you want to contact Airalo or Maya Mobile to ask for help or make any queries, the process is similar.
Both Airalo and Maya Mobile have live chat customer service on their websites, initially supported by a bot and later led by an agent.
The speed of response and support depends on the time and season in which you travel. Maya Mobile has a positive rating for friendliness and efficiency, as does Airalo.
If you travel to areas far from cities, we recommend that you consult their customer service because you may have coverage problems, especially in jungle or desert areas.
Likewise, both companies will ask you for screenshots and your cooperation to help you solve problems you have with the eSIM cards and to offer you a refund if they cannot solve it.
Compatibility
Maya Mobile and Airalo have the same compatibility on mobile devices , they are compatible with all mobile phones that have the eSIM enabled and that are free to use on any mobile carrier. It is important to note that in some destinations the Airalo eSIM is not compatible. For example, Airalo’s South Korea eSIM is not compatible with Google Pixel smartphones.
Verdict
Both Maya Mobile and Airalo are good options for connecting to the internet abroad.
The differential points are in the lower prices offered by Maya Mobile compared to Airalo, in different destinations. With some exceptions.
In terms of ease of installation, Airalo has the advantage of being able to install the eSIM directly from the app on iPhones, which makes it a more convenient option.
Most Maya Mobile eSIM cards connect to the networks of two of the country’s main mobile carriers. In Airalo it happens only sometimes.
In case you need calls, Airalo has a global eSIM (130 countries), which includes this service. As for Maya Mobile, at the moment it does not offer eSIM with global coverage.
And in this way we conclude this comparison between Maya Mobile versus Airalo eSIMs. Which one have you already used?
Also, don’t miss our comparison of Airalo vs. MobiMatter.
