Beaver vs Airalo · Updated July 2026

Airalo alternative: same networks, roughly half the bill.

Airalo is the biggest travel eSIM brand. Beaver is the small one that connects to the same local carriers and charges less. Here are the real numbers, dated, including where Airalo still wins.

The short version

Airalo is the biggest name in travel eSIMs, with plans in 200+ countries. Beaver is a small indie app that connects to the same local carriers in each country and charges less for the data — usually 2–3× less on country plans. If you want the lowest price per GB on the same networks, Beaver wins. If you want the biggest catalogue and brand, Airalo is a fine product — you just pay more for it.

Neither eSIM gives you a better signal than the other: in Japan you're on the same local networks either way. Price is the real difference.

Price check: 1GB country plan

The fairest apples-to-apples test — 1GB of data on a single-country plan, five popular destinations. Prices in USD, retrieved 2026-07-24 from each provider's public site. Note Airalo's entry plans run 3 days; Beaver's run 7.

1GB plan🦫 Beaver eSIMAiralo
🇯🇵 Japan$1.40 (7 days)$4.00 (3 days)
🇰🇷 South Korea$1.40 (7 days)$4.00 (3 days)
🇹🇭 Thailand$1.40 (7 days)$4.00 (3 days)
🇺🇸 USA$1.66 (7 days)$4.00 (3 days)
🇪🇺 Europe (regional)$1.24 (7 days, 35 areas)$5.00 (3 days, Eurolink)

Beaver prices are live retail from our catalogue. Airalo prices are USD list prices on airalo.com, retrieved 2026-07-24 — check their site for current rates.

Price check: 10GB / 30-day plan

10GB · 30 days🦫 Beaver eSIMAiralo
🇯🇵 Japan$9.40$18.00
🇰🇷 South Korea$9.40$19.00
🇹🇭 Thailand$9.40$11.00
🇺🇸 USA$12.08$22.50
🇪🇺 Europe (regional)$11.34$31.00

Honest scorecard

🦫 Where Beaver wins

  • Price, consistently. Every 1GB and 10GB matchup above is cheaper on Beaver — Europe 10GB is $11.34 vs $31.00.
  • Longer validity on entry plans — Beaver 1GB plans run 7 days vs Airalo's 3-day entry plans.
  • From $0.99 — small starter packs for a layover or an arrival day.
  • Destination tips built in — arrival checklists and local carrier notes for 35 destinations, on the eSIM screen.

Where Airalo wins

  • Catalogue breadth — plans in 200+ countries and regions, plus global multi-region plans. Beaver's app covers 193 countries but curates 35 destination guides.
  • Thailand heavy-data deal — Airalo's dtac 50GB/10-day plan at $9.90 is a genuinely great per-GB price that beats anything in Beaver's Thailand lineup for heavy users.
  • Refund window — Airalo offers a 14-day right of withdrawal on unactivated eSIMs and 30 days for technical-issue claims; Beaver's window is 7 days for unused eSIMs.
  • Unlimited plans — Airalo also sells unlimited daily plans; Beaver focuses on per-GB and day-pass plans with fair-use throttling.

Feature for feature

🦫 BeaverAiralo
ActivationBuy in app, QR install, online in about 60 secondsBuy in app, QR install
Cheapest planFrom $0.99From $4.00 (1GB/3d country plans)
Refund policy7 days, unused eSIMs14-day withdrawal (unactivated); 30 days for technical issues
Data top-upBuy another pack in seconds (no in-place top-up)In-app top-ups on most plans
Account requiredApple sign-in, or buy on web by cardAccount required
Coverage193 countries in-app, 35 curated guides200+ countries and regions

Check prices for your destination

Japan eSIM · Korea eSIM · Thailand eSIM · Europe eSIM · USA eSIM · Full 3-way comparison · All 35 destinations →

Frequently asked

Is Beaver eSIM a good Airalo alternative?
If your priority is price on single-country plans, yes — Beaver rides the same local carriers and its 1GB plans cost $1.24–$1.66 versus Airalo's $4.00–$5.00 (prices retrieved 2026-07-24). If you need one plan spanning dozens of countries, or a destination Beaver doesn't cover, Airalo's bigger catalogue is the safer pick.
Does Airalo have better coverage or speed than Beaver?
No — in any given country both connect to the same major local networks (in Japan: NTT Docomo / SoftBank / KDDI-side networks depending on the plan). A pricier eSIM doesn't buy a better signal; the towers are shared.
Why is Beaver cheaper than Airalo?
Beaver is a lean indie operation with no TV ads, airport billboards or big marketing team. The wholesale data cost is similar for everyone; Beaver just adds less on top.
Where is Airalo actually the better buy?
Three honest cases: destinations Beaver doesn't sell, Airalo's occasional standout local deals (like the Thailand dtac 50GB/10-day at $9.90, retrieved 2026-07-24), and if you value a longer refund window — Airalo allows 14-day withdrawal on unactivated eSIMs versus Beaver's 7 days.

Prices retrieved 2026-07-24. Competitor prices change often — always check their current rates.

Get Beaver eSIM — from $0.99