Top 3 eSIMs Reviewed for Canada Travel: Find Your Best Fit

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Written by Isabella Torres
May 27, 2024 7-min read

When you’re packing up for Canada, having the right eSIM in your phone is a big deal—it’s like having a trusty map that always keeps you connected. 

In this review, I’m gonna take you through what Airalo, iRoamly, and Holafly have to offer. We’ll look at their data plans, how much they cost, and how good they are at keeping you online. Let’s see which one is the best eSIM for you.

What Should You Look At When Picking a Travel eSIM Brand?

Types of Data Packages:

You’ll have three types to choose from: daily plans, total plans, and unlimited plans. Each has its own characteristics: a daily plan will have a limited amount of data available each day for use. A total plan will have a range of data available to users over a period of days. Lastly, an unlimited plan will not have any restraint on how much data can be used during the plan validity period.

iRoamly Canada Esim Package Types

Cost:

Money matters, right? Choosing according to your needs, it's crucial to take into account all three aspects: price, data, and days. To get an idea about the different ranges in which each plan lies, you need to know that a total plan is usually the cheapest option available on the market currently, and an unlimited plan would be the costlier option. A detailed comparison between the three main competitors and the various packages they offer is a good way to ensure which is the right option for you and avoid spending too much cash. We will do this later.

Coverage (Operator):

Staying connected at all times ensures a sense of security. A network that works well in both urban and rural areas is a great advantage. The three main networks that provide this in Canada are Rogers, Bell, and TELUS. I would recommend checking the network provider's plan page to ensure you don’t get stranded anywhere in the country with no service.

Hotspot Share:

These days, people rarely carry one gadget and have multiple ones that need to be connected to the internet. If you're one of them, make sure you choose an eSIM that provides hotspot connectivity because not all eSIM providers offer this service.

Customer Service:

There is nothing worse than tech troubles on a trip. So I look for eSIMs that let me get help fast—like with a chatbot or WhatsApp.

Top 3 Canada Travel eSIM Brands I Recommend

Airalo:

Unlike the other two brands, Airalo only offers total data plans in Canada. It uses the three best local providers, Rogers, Bell, and Telus coverage would not be an issue. To ensure top-notch service, they have an online chatbot, which can be used suppose you have any questions or concerns after-sale.

Airalo Homepage

iRoamly:

iRoamly offers all three types of data packages: daily, Total, and Unlimited. To go along with this, they provide two of the best network providers in Canada: Bell and TELUS. 24/7 customer service with various channels, including an Online chatbot, WhatsApp, Email, and INS, makes iRoamly a complete package.

iRoamly Homepage

Holafly:

Holafly only offers unlimited data in Canada. But watch out—their hotspot only lets you use 500 MB a day. Their customer service is through Rogers, so you’re in good hands.

Holafly Homepage

Canada Travel eSIM Package Comparisons

Feature

Airalo

iRoamly

Holafly

Types of Data Packages

Total Type

Unlimited / Daily / Total Type

Unlimited

Data Range

1/2/3/5/10/20 GB

0.5/1/5/10/20/Unlimited GB

Only Unlimited

Validity Period (days)

7/15/30

1/3/5/7/10/15/20/30

5/7/10/15/20

Speed

5G/LTE

4G

3G/4G/LTE

Hotspot/ Tethering

Yes

Yes

500mb per day

Operator

Rogers/Bell/Telus

Bell / Telus

AT&T

Customer Service

Online Chatbot

Online Chatbot / WhatsApp/ Email / INS

Rogers Communications Canada Inc

Airalo / iRoamly / Holafly Canada travel eSIM price comparison

Airalo

iRoamly

Holafly

7 Days

Total: 1 GB, $6.00

Unlimited,  $29.00

Total: 5 GB, $15.00

Total: 10GB, $25.00

Daily: 1GB, $14.00

Unlimited,  $34.00

15 Days

Total: 2 GB, $11.00

Unlimited,  $62.00

Total: 5 GB, $16.00

Total: 10 GB, $28.00

Daily: 1GB, $31.00

Unlimited,  $47.00

30 Days

Total: 5 GB, $18.00

Total: 10GB, $35.00

Total: 20 GB, $49.00

Unlimited,  $99.00

Total: 5 GB, $17.00

Total: 10 GB, $29.00

Daily: 1GB, $61.00

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Summary

For light data users

If you’re not planning to share photos or use social media, then Airalo might be the option for you. Airalo has only a Total data plan with three options for days and low data allowance. You should be careful, though, as a lightweight package like 1 or 2GB may be used up sooner than you think.

Airalo Canada  Esim Plans

For Heavy Data user:

For those who like staying on the web for long hours and are heavy data users, iRoamly’s Canada travel eSIM is best. It gives you a lot of freedom to choose a plan for light or heavy data usage. For example, the daily 1GB package for 7 days is the cheapest option they offer, or you can pay for unlimited data lasting for 30 days. Moreover, Even the total plans they offer are cheaper compared to the number of GBs Airalo offers for the same package.

iRoamly Canada  Esim Plans

For for short-term travelers with heavy data usage:

Holafly can be a suitable option for heavy data travelers not planning to stay for long in Canada, as the maximum plan they offer is for 20 days. As discussed earlier, the downside lies in the hotspot service's 500MB daily limit, which means it can only provide limited Internet time for other devices.

Holafly Canada  Esim Plans

FAQ

Can I use my eSIM outside Canada?
No. It’s only available in Canada.
If you plan to go outside Canada and keep using your eSim, choose a regional plan, which has multiple countries from the same region. Or you can go for a global plan which has 148+ countries covered.  

Is my gadget eSIM-ready?

Most new phones and tablets these days have an option for eSIMs. But to make sure you can check the eSIM compatible list to make sure, or contacting your manufacturer might help as well.

Does the eSIM let me call or text?
No, eSIMs usually are only used for data. All three brands discussed in this article don’t support calls or texts but there are alternative social apps such as WhatsApp or FaceTime to make calls or send text messages.

How do I know how many GBs to get?

Knowing your data usage is crucial for determining the appropriate GB plan to buy. Some actions use more data than others such as streaming movies or playing games online can use a lot of data. You can use an iRroamly travel data calculator to get an estimate of how much data you will need for your trip if you can not get an idea on your own.

Who are the big network players in Canada?

  • Rogers: Big network, reliable coverage.

  • Bell: Good coverage, especially in cities.

  • Telus: Great service, strong network.