Exploring Airalo’s Eurolink eSIM in Spain: A Comprehensive Review

In March, I embarked on an extensive journey, traversing Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Italy, Malta, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia within a span of just one month.

Why, you ask? Well, the primary motivation was my perpetual fascination with SIM cards – yes, I'm what you might call a SIM card enthusiast. However, this journey was also an ideal opportunity to explore the realm of (new) travel eSIMs, with a particular focus on Airalo's Eurolink eSIM.

Among Europe's travel eSIMs, the Eurolink eSIM from Airalo stands out as the most popular, and Airalo itself holds the title of the most sought-after travel eSIM provider. In addition to putting four Spanish local SIM cards (Movistar Spain, Orange Spain, Vodafone Spain, and Yoigo) through their paces, I conducted tests on the Airalo Eurolink eSIM, the Nomad Europe eSIM, and the SimCorner Europe travel SIM card. All in pursuit of identifying the optimal choice for Spain.

This review encapsulates the findings of my comprehensive testing and analysis

Identifying Phones Compatible with Airalo eSIMs

Before delving into the details of utilizing the Airalo Eurolink eSIM in Spain, it is essential to determine the compatibility of your phone with Airalo's eSIMs.

While your device might boast eSIM support, it is imperative to note that the phone must undergo certification by the local mobile operator and travel eSIM provider, such as Airalo, before users can fully utilize their products.

What's the Price of the Airalo Eurolink eSIM for Spain?

The Airalo Eurolink eSIM for Spain comes at various price points, offering flexibility to suit your data needs. Here's a breakdown of the pricing options:

1. Europe/Eurolink 1 GB eSIM for 7 days: Priced at 5 USD.
2. Europe/Eurolink 3 GB eSIM for 30 days: Available for 13 USD.
3. Europe/Eurolink 5 GB eSIM for 30 days: Priced at 20 USD.
4. Europe/Eurolink 10 GB eSIM for 30 days: Offered at 37 USD.
5. Europe/Eurolink 50 GB eSIM for 90 days: Available for 100 USD.
6. Europe/Eurolink 100 GB eSIM for 180 days: Priced at 185 USD.

It's important to note that regardless of your local currency, Airalo charges in USD (US Dollar). If your credit/debit card imposes foreign exchange fees, consider obtaining a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card. Wise offers significantly lower fees compared to traditional banks and credit card companies, and they are transparent about their charges. Many travelers have saved substantial amounts in foreign exchange fees by using Wise for their transactions.

What sets Airalo apart is its flexibility. You can always top up your Airalo Eurolink eSIM with the same data and prices mentioned above. For instance, if you initially purchase the 5 GB Airalo Eurolink eSIM for 30 days (costing 20 USD) but find yourself needing more data, you can easily top it up with a 3 GB add-on (30 days, costing 13 USD) or even the 100 GB option (180 days, costing 185 USD).

This flexibility to top up or extend the validity of your eSIM sets Airalo apart from many other eSIM providers that lack such options, making it a convenient choice for travelers.Furthermore, Airalo allows users to top up their eSIMs with additional data at the same rates mentioned above. For instance, if you initially purchase the 5 GB Eurolink eSIM (30 days, costing 20 USD) and find the need for more data, you can easily top it up with the 3 GB option (30 days, costing 13 USD) or the 100 GB option (180 days, costing 185 USD). This flexibility sets Airalo apart from other eSIM providers that may not offer such options for topping up or extending validity.

In Which Countries is the Airalo Eurolink eSIM Supported?

The Airalo Eurolink eSIM offers extensive coverage, allowing you to stay connected not only in Spain but also in over 35 other European countries. This comprehensive list includes all nations within the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area, the Balkans, and additional European countries, such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Here's a comprehensive overview of the countries where the Airalo Eurolink eSIM is supported:

1. Albania
2. Andorra
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Bulgaria
6. Croatia
7. Cyprus
8. Czech Republic
9. Denmark
10. Estonia
11. Finland
12. France
13. Germany
14. Gibraltar
15. Greece
16. Hungary
17. Iceland
18. Ireland
19. Italy
20. Norway

By choosing the Eurolink eSIM, you can enjoy significant cost savings by bypassing the need for separate SIM cards in each country you visit. On average, this can save you approximately 10.78 USD per country within Europe. Additionally, the Eurolink eSIM offers the added advantage of providing access to 5G NR networks at no extra cost.

So, if your travel plans involve exploring multiple European countries either before or after your visit to Spain, opting for the Airalo Eurolink eSIM not only offers convenience but also substantial cost savings.

For those venturing beyond Europe, consider the Airalo Global Discover eSIM, which extends coverage to more than 84 countries, including Spain, offering seamless connectivity during your international travels.

My Experience with the Airalo Eurolink eSIM in Spain

During my one-month trip to Europe, which included Spain and ten other countries (Portugal, Italy, Andorra, Malta, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia), I had the opportunity to use my Airalo Eurolink eSIM. Additionally, I plan to continue using it in various other countries in 2023.

Before delving into my experience, it's essential to understand how travel eSIM providers like Airalo operate. These providers cannot offer coverage in every country, so they establish roaming agreements with local mobile operators. It's worth noting that roaming with Airalo, and many other travel eSIM providers, won't lead to exorbitant roaming bills.

In Spain, the Airalo Eurolink eSIM utilizes the Orange Spain network for 5G NR, along with Vodafone Spain and Yoigo networks. On the other hand, the Airalo Spain Guay Mobile eSIM operates on the Movistar Spain network but is limited to 4G/LTE.

One standout feature of the Airalo Eurolink eSIM is its 5G NR capability on the Orange Spain network. This sets it apart from most travel eSIM providers that primarily offer 4G/LTE or even 3G in some countries. If you desire 5G NR connectivity over 4G/LTE, the Airalo Eurolink eSIM is the way to go.

Now, let's focus on my network experience with the Airalo Eurolink eSIM while I was in Spain. During my time there, the eSIM primarily used the Vodafone Spain network, with no access to the other two networks or 5G NR capabilities.

To assess the performance, I also purchased a Vodafone Spain SIM card and tested it alongside the Airalo Eurolink eSIM. Vodafone Spain allowed prepaid customers like me to access its 5G NR network, which was not possible with the Airalo Eurolink eSIM.

This situation presented an excellent opportunity to evaluate Vodafone Spain's 4G/LTE network performance while roaming. In addition to Vodafone Spain, I also tried other Spanish SIM cards from Movistar Spain, Orange Spain, and Yoigo in Barcelona and Madrid.

For this section, I will concentrate on the Vodafone Spain network since my Airalo Eurolink eSIM was primarily on it at that time. However, you can find information about the performance of Orange Spain and Yoigo networks in their respective reviews.

Regarding 4G/LTE availability, Vodafone Spain had the highest percentage at 89.1%, surpassing Movistar Spain (87.9%), Orange Spain (87.7%), and Yoigo (82.4%), as reported by Opensignal.

In terms of the 4G/LTE coverage experience (rated on a 10-point scale), Vodafone Spain scored 9.2, surpassing Yoigo (6.9) but lagging behind Movistar Spain and Orange Spain, both with a score of 9.5.

However, when it came to 5G NR, Vodafone Spain lagged behind with a 5G NR availability rate of 4.1%, trailing Orange Spain (9.6%), Movistar Spain (9.9%), and even Yoigo (10.6%).

In the 5G NR reach category, Vodafone Spain again fell short, with a reach score of 1.9, trailing Orange Spain (2.9), Movistar Spain (3.1), and Yoigo (3.3).

Overall, while the Airalo Eurolink eSIM provided connectivity through Vodafone Spain, it's important to consider your specific network needs, especially if you prioritize 5G NR access, which was more readily available through other providers during my experience in Spain.

My Comprehensive Review of the Airalo Eurolink eSIM in Spain

Having used the Airalo Eurolink eSIM in Spain and other European countries, I would confidently recommend it, especially for those planning to explore multiple European nations. While it performed well in Spain, it's worth noting that if your sole destination is Spain, the Airalo Guay Mobile eSIM might be a more cost-effective option.

The unique selling point of the Eurolink eSIM is its versatility, allowing usage in over 35 European countries. However, the premium you pay for this broader coverage might make the Guay Mobile eSIM more economical if your travel is limited to Spain alone.

A notable advantage of the Eurolink eSIM is its ability to utilize 5G NR on the Orange Spain network. This feature, absent in the Guay Mobile eSIM, provides fast and reliable 5G NR speeds, a noteworthy benefit in Spain

During my time in Spain, the Airalo Eurolink eSIM primarily operated on the Vodafone Spain network at 4G/LTE speeds. Despite not having access to the other networks, the performance was commendable. However, it's crucial to consider your network preferences, especially if 5G NR access is a priority.

Installing the Airalo Eurolink eSIM, and other Airalo eSIMs, is a straightforward process, making it user-friendly. The Eurolink eSIM boasts the most generous data allowances among Europe eSIMs, offering options ranging from 1 GB to 100 GB.

In terms of network speeds, the Airalo Eurolink eSIM in Spain provided satisfactory results. Over 11 speed tests, the average download speed was 68.28 Mbps, with a median speed of 57.57 Mbps. Upload speeds averaged at 10.85 Mbps, with a median of 9.20 Mbps. While the speeds were generally fast for typical data activities and video streaming, it's important to note variations across different countries.

Given that Vodafone Spain already offered free 5G NR access to prepaid customers, I did not anticipate significant performance differences with the Airalo Eurolink eSIM. However, performance can vary, as seen in countries like Austria where some providers throttle prepaid speeds. Fortunately, this was not an issue in Spain, except for upload speeds with the Airalo Eurolink eSIM being notably slower than Vodafone Spain.

In conclusion, the Airalo Eurolink eSIM provides a seamless browsing experience in Spain, leveraging extensive 4G/LTE and 5G NR networks, affordable data plans, and generally fast download speeds. If your travel spans multiple European countries, the Eurolink eSIM is a wise choice, offering both convenience and savings.