Airalo hotspot: Activation, costs, limits, sharing, and what to do when it’s not working

Does Airalo eSIM support hotspots?

Yes, like many other eSIM services, including Saily, Airalo’s data plans support hotspot tethering. However, Airalo’s unlimited data plans do begin slowing down internet speeds once you use more than 3 GB of data per day, with the limiter resetting daily. The speed throttling is part of the eSIM service’s fair usage policy (FUP), with Airalo explaining that speeds are being limited to “keep the network running fairly for everyone,” capping internet speeds to 1 Mbps. The limit resets every 24 hours from the time you activate your eSIM.

In comparison, Saily’s unlimited data plans begin limiting speeds once you use 5 GB of data, or up to 3 GB in some countries like the United States, providing you with more flexibility daily. You could, of course, choose fixed-data plans, but it will be more expensive to do so. For instance, if you’re traveling to Europe and buy a European regional unlimited data plan, Airalo’s eSIM pricing means you’ll pay US$11.50 for 3 days. A Europe-wide 3 GB data plan for three days is US$10.00. If you do run out of data, you’ll have to pay more for fixed-data plans, but you’ll keep access to faster internet speeds.

Airalo hotspot overview

An Airalo hotspot uses the provider’s eSIM data to share internet with your other devices, like a laptop, or your friends and family. When you’re using a hotspot for your other devices, you’ll be able to avoid connecting to potentially insecure Wi-Fi networks, while tethering with your friends or family’s devices could save you money on your trip since your friends or family won’t have to pay for multiple eSIM plans. At the same time, you might run into the speed limiter faster with these options, which will significantly degrade your connectivity.

How much does an Airalo hotspot cost?

Airalo doesn’t charge additionally for hotspots. However, if you purchase a fixed-data plan, you can quickly run out of data, and you’ll have to top up or buy another plan. So, in reality, even though an Airalo hotspot does not cost money, you’ll still have to pay for data plans.

Here are some of Airalo’s eSIM plans’ prices:

*Prices valid as of July 1, 2026.

Even if you have an unlimited data plan, Airalo’s FUP dictates that if you use more than 3 GB of data in a 24-hour window, your internet speed will be throttled to a maximum of 1 Mbps. At those speeds, browsing the web is very slow, so be wary of your data usage!

What are the data limits of the Airalo hotspot?

Your hotspot data limits are dictated by the eSIM plan you purchase from Airalo, since the provider’s hotspots don’t have separate data allowances or limits. That is a contrast to, for example, Holafly’s hotspots, which are limited to sharing 1 GB of data per day on eSIM plans in specific countries.

Thus, if you purchase a 3 GB plan for your trip to Italy, 3 GB is what you’ll have to share or use on other devices. If you opt for an unlimited data plan, you’ll be limited to 3 GB of high-speed data per day, which will slow down to 1 Mbps after you use more than 3 GB of data.

Airalo hotspot reviews

While we’ve already covered almost everything technical about using a hotspot with an Airalo eSIM, what do its users think about the eSIM and its compatibility with hotspot tethering?

In a review posted on Trustpilot on June 24, 2026, an Airalo user commented that the eSIM was “great” when it was used as a hotspot for their laptop. Another person, who posted their review on June 11, praised the service for the app’s ease of use, adding that they used a regional unlimited data plan and even had “the freedom to run a hotspot for my iPad.” Another user, who shared their Airalo eSIM assessment on Trustpilot on June 9, noted that after buying a second eSIM on their trip, it didn’t initially work, and when they tried to share a hotspot to their son, “it didn’t work (the first [eSIM] was OK).”

Overall, users seem to be happy with the Airalo eSIM hotspot. However, while using the hotspot, you might encounter bumps in the road related to internet speed if you opt for the unlimited data plan due to throttling related to the FUP.

How to activate and share an Airalo hotspot

Activating and sharing a hotspot while using an Airalo eSIM is a straightforward process. First, though, make sure that your eSIM is active and that line is used for mobile data, or else you might face a hefty phone bill that could increase the cost of your trip substantially.

On an iPhone

To turn on a hotspot on an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open “Settings.”

2. Tap “Personal hotspot.”

3. Toggle “Allow others to join” on.

If you haven’t set up a hotspot before, make sure to secure your network with a safe password so that no unwanted connections are made to your hotspot. Another detail to note if you’re connecting to a personal hotspot with another iPhone — the device might automatically turn on low data mode to save data. To manually turn it off, do the following:

1. Open “Settings.”

2. Tap “Wi-Fi.”

3. Tap on the personal hotspot network that you’ve connected to.

4. Toggle “Low data mode.”

On Android

Hotspotting on an Android device is also a clear-cut process, but it does differ between phones built by different manufacturers. Here’s how you can turn on a hotspot on a Samsung:

1. Open “Settings.”

2. Tap “Connections.”

3. Tap “Mobile hotspot and tethering.”

4. Toggle “Mobile hotspot.”

On a Google Pixel phone, follow these steps:

1. Open “Settings.”

2. Tap “Network & internet.”

3. Tap “Hotspot & tethering.”

4. Tap “Wi-Fi hotspot.”

5. Toggle “Use Wi-Fi hotspot.”

On other Android phones, look for hotspot-related menu options under “Settings.” On most Android devices, you can also swipe down and activate your personal hotspot using the quick settings panel.

Other methods to share an Airalo hotspot

Beyond setting up a wireless hotspot with your phone acting as a Wi-Fi router, you can also tether data from your eSIM via Bluetooth or a USB cable. The benefits of using Bluetooth or a USB cable to set up a hotspot are, first, a Wi-Fi hotspot drains your phone’s battery much quicker, and second, the connections are much more secure since a Bluetooth or USB hotspot tether is limited to a single device.

Via Bluetooth

Establishing a Bluetooth hotspot tether with an Airalo eSIM will depend on your phone and the other device. In the case that you’re looking to share mobile data with your MacBook, you’ll have to connect your iPhone to your MacBook or any other laptop via Bluetooth and pair the two devices.

Following a successful Bluetooth connection on a MacBook, press “Connect to network” next to your iPhone in the Bluetooth menu. On a Windows laptop, connect it with your iPhone via Bluetooth, and then click on “Join a personal area network” inside Bluetooth settings.

On an Android phone, the process is identical since you have to pair your devices via Bluetooth and then establish a network connection.

Via USB cable

Another option to create a hotspot tether is to do it via a USB cable, which will also charge your phone, a win-win for you and your phone’s battery life. You’ll just have to plug your phone into the device that you want to share a connection with, such as a laptop or a personal computer (PC).

If you do that with an iPhone and connect it to another Apple device, the process is easy and is basically plug and play. You’ll need to press “Trust” when prompted whether you trust this device and perhaps enter a password when you plug your phone into an Apple-made laptop or PC.

It gets a bit confusing — and becomes a bit of a Catch-22 — if you’re looking to set up a USB hotspot with an iPhone on a Windows device because you’ll first need to download either Apple Devices or iTunes. Doing so is inherently difficult if you didn’t do so beforehand since you are, well, looking to connect the device to the internet. But once that’s done, your USB hotspot will be ready to go.

If you have an Android phone, you can stay connected with a USB hotspot by plugging in your phone and turning on USB tethering. However, note that Android phones cannot USB tether with Mac computers, so you might need to have a charger nearby if you’re going to hotspot for a long time.

What to do if the Airalo hotspot is not working

If you’re using an Airalo eSIM, and it’s not working, or the hotspot itself isn’t functional, try one of the following common fixes:

• 

  Toggle airplane mode on and off. If you’re activating your eSIM for the first time, you might have to be a bit patient since it can take time to connect to a local network, which will also affect your hotspot. If it takes too long, try toggling airplane mode on and off, forcing a network restart.

• 

  Check which SIM card is providing your device with data. If you’re traveling and have activated your Airalo eSIM beforehand, but your hotspot is not working, you might be routing your data through your home SIM and not the eSIM. Check your phone’s settings to determine whether the eSIM is actually providing you with mobile data.

• 

  Check whether your access point name (APN) settings are correct. Some Airalo eSIMs might need customization of the APN settings. The correct APN details will be provided during the eSIM’s installation process, or you can manually add the right APN via your phone’s cellular or mobile settings.

• 

  Check any data-saving or compatibility settings. On a Samsung, for example, if “Data saver” is on, then your mobile hotspot won’t work. To turn off “Data saver,” open “Settings,” tap “Connections,” and toggle off “Data saver.” On an iPhone, turning off “Maximize compatibility” under “Personal hotspot” could help older devices that don’t support 5G connections to connect to your Wi-Fi hotspot.

• 

  Confirm you have remaining data. Using the Airalo app or the app’s “Widget” on an iPhone, double-check whether you have data remaining on your eSIM plan, especially since a hotspot might drain even more data than you might expect.

If you’re still having trouble, contact the service’s customer support, which will guide you through any problems you might be facing with your eSIM, hotspot, or both.

So is Airalo hotspot tethering worth it?

While using an Airalo eSIM with a hotspot depends on your use case, the amount of data you’re planning to use, and the length of your trip, it’s definitely better than scouring for and connecting to public, potentially unsafe Wi-Fi networks. But like with anything in life, there are benefits and disadvantages when it comes to a hotspot with an Airalo eSIM.

Benefits of the Airalo hotspot

One of the main pros of using an Airalo eSIM hotspot is that you will be able to stay connected wherever you go, as long as you have an eSIM plan in hand. Other benefits include:

• 

  Ready internet access. Instead of searching for public Wi-Fi networks, which can have security vulnerabilities, you’ll always have readily available internet with an Airalo hotspot.

• 

  Multiple device usage. Even if you purchase a single mobile data plan, other devices, whether yours or your friends’ and family’s, will also have access to the internet.

• 

  No roaming charges. Traveling abroad and using an Airalo hotspot will mean that you’ll avoid roaming charges and will only have to pay for your eSIM data plan, making it easier to plan your travel budget.

Disadvantages of the Airalo hotspot

At the same time, using a hotspot does bring a disadvantage or two, including:

• 

  It degrades your phone’s battery. Connecting your device via a Wi-Fi hotspot will heat up and drain your battery more quickly, and if your phone undergoes an abnormal number of battery charging cycles, its longevity will degrade.

• 

  It drains your data more quickly. If you’re connecting your laptop to the internet via a hotspot or sharing the hotspot with several people, you might use up your eSIM’s data more quickly.

• 

  You’ll encounter lower internet speeds on an unlimited plan. While many eSIM providers have FUPs that introduce speed limits on unlimited data plans, Airalo begins throttling internet speeds if you use more than 3 GB of data per day, compared to Saily, for example, which provides up to 5 GB of fast-speed internet on an unlimited data plan or up to 3 GB in some countries.

• 

  No additional security against cyberthreats. While cybersecurity threats are limited when you’re using a Bluetooth or USB hotspot, a Wi-Fi hotspot does introduce security risks, especially if an eSIM like Airalo’s doesn’t have additional security features.

How does the Saily hotspot compare to the Airalo hotspot?

Saily and Airalo, both being among the more popular eSIM apps on the market, offer hotspot support without any limitations yet have unique features that set them apart from other eSIMs and their hotspots. A rundown of Saily and Airalo’s features that can affect hotspot usage:

Using a Saily hotspot for your own needs or to share with your friends and family seems more convenient. When using an unlimited data plan, in some countries, Saily offers more data before your internet speed becomes slower due to FUP-related limits and, irrespective of your plan of choice, provides complimentary security features like an ad blocker and web protection.

Before you download and use an eSIM app to use as a hotspot on your travels, consider how much data you’ll use, the security features included, and the data plans that are offered by the eSIM before you make your final decision.