Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
1&1 (1und1) vs Airalo
Airalo
1&1 (1und1)
Higher score in this comparison
Where 1&1 (1und1) and Airalo differ
| Compare | 1&1 (1und1)ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | AiraloReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €9.99 | €4Lower |
| Countries covered | 33 | from 200 |
| Fair use policy | Roaming fair use: use must show ordinary residence in Germany, otherwise roaming surcharges apply; after the plan's high-speed volume is used up data continues unlimited at 64 kbit/s; Unlimited XL includes 61.2 GB/month in the EU, then 1.31 EUR/GB | Unlimited plans have no fixed data cap; after more than 3GB per day, speed is throttled to 1 Mbps for the rest of that day and the daily allowance resets every 24 hours from activation; personal, non-commercial use only, no reselling or machine-to-machine use |
| Seller type | Carrier | Marketplace |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Reference plan prices | Not confirmed | US 4.00 EUR; UK 4.00 EUR; Germany 4.00 EUR; Italy 4.00 EUR; Spain 4.00 EUR; Japan 4.00 EUR; Turkey 4.00 EUR; Egypt 5.00 EUR; Armenia 4.50 EUR |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Networks | 1&1 Mobilfunknetz (Open RAN), Telefonica Germany (national roaming) | Not confirmed |
| 10 GB in Europe | €9.99 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Unlimited data (Yes), Top-ups (Yes).
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Key differences
- 1&1 (1und1) scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Price from is lower at Airalo: €4 vs €9.99.
- Support channels: only 1&1 (1und1) offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at 1&1 (1und1): 1988 vs 2019.
- Region: only Airalo offers Local, Global.
- Features: only 1&1 (1und1) offers 5G, Carrier plan.
- Features: only Airalo offers Hotspot.
- Audience: only Airalo offers Long trip.
Our verdict on each
1&1 (1und1)
1und1 is a German mobile carrier, not a travel eSIM, so it suits readers who live in Germany and want a home plan that still works abroad. Its flat rate adds unlimited data, subject to a fair use policy, plus 5G and instant activation, and roaming spans 33 countries from €9.99.
Airalo
Airalo suits short trips and longer stays that want one shop for local, regional and global eSIMs, with unlimited plans, hotspot sharing and instant activation in the range. Coverage reaches from 200 countries, and entry plans start at €4 for a single destination or a whole region.
Score breakdown
| Area | 1&1 (1und1) | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0 | 9.3HigherEntry plans start at €4, under a site median of €5, with local, regional and global options across a broad destination list. |
| Offer | 9.1Flat rate bundles unlimited data, 5G and instant activation from €9.99, and top-ups are available. | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.2 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | 1&1 (1und1) | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 156 of 926 | 59 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 164 of 918 | 60 of 918 |
If neither fits
GlocalMe has price from at €1, against €9.99 for 1&1 (1und1) and €4 for Airalo.
GlocalMe reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | 1&1 (1und1) | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Regional | Local, Regional, GlobalCovers more |
| Features | Unlimited data, 5G, Instant activation, Carrier plan | Unlimited data, Hotspot, Instant activation |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Marketplace |
| Audience | Short trip | Short trip, Long tripCovers more |
| Legal entity | 1&1 Telecommunication SE | AirGSM Pte Ltd |
| Headquarters | Germany | Singapore |
| Founded | 1988Lower | 2019 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 1&1 (1und1) | Airalo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | €9.99above the median | €4below the median | €4.99 |
| Countries covered | 33lowest quarter | from 200highest quarter | 120 |
| 10 GB in Europe | €9.99below the median | Not confirmed | €12 |
Median across 492 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
1&1 (1und1)
Pros
- Unlimited data, 5G and instant activation sit in one flat rate from €9.99, and the fair use policy says what happens after the high-speed volume is used up.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so help comes from the carrier itself.
- Top-ups are available, and regional reach suits a short trip away from Germany.
Cons
- Roaming spans 33 countries, well short of Zwitchy at 200.
- The fair use policy requires an ordinary residence in Germany, so the roaming offer does not suit visitors without a German home.
- The €9.99 price sits above the site median of €5, and it is a carrier home plan rather than a travel eSIM.
Airalo
Pros
- Coverage of from 200 countries, with local, regional and global plans for multi-country trips
- Unlimited data plans, hotspot sharing and instant activation are all listed in unlimited data, hotspot and instant activation
- Top-ups are available, so data can be added mid-trip without buying a new eSIM
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line to call
- Airalo sells as a marketplace, so the network behind a plan and its terms depend on which seller you pick
- Unlimited plans follow a fair use policy for personal, non-commercial use only, with speed slowed after heavy daily use
Who each suits
1&1 (1und1)
Who it suits
- German residents taking short trips who want one plan at home and abroad.
- Travellers who want unlimited data with 5G and instant activation under a single contract.
- Readers who already buy from a German carrier and would rather add roaming than buy a travel pass.
Who should look elsewhere
- Visitors with no German residence, because the fair use policy ties roaming to an ordinary residence in Germany.
- Readers who need broad coverage, who will find more countries at Zwitchy with 200.
- Price-first shoppers, since eSIMGo.is starts at $0.99.
Airalo
Who it suits
- Travellers on a short trip buying a plan for a single destination
- Longer itineraries that need a regional or global plan across several countries
- People who want hotspot sharing and top-ups handled from one account
Who should look elsewhere
- eSIMGo.is, which starts at $0.99 and competes on entry price alone rather than on destination range
- SimToIsrael, priced at $25, for a plan aimed at a single market rather than from 200 destinations
- Zwitchy, which also covers 200 countries, if you want a second marketplace with the same reach to compare against
Current offers
1&1 (1und1)
Current offer
Free trial
Test everything for 30 days - satisfied or money back: 30 days
Cancel within the first 30 days without giving reasons; 1&1 refunds the one-time provisioning fee and the base fee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
1&1 All-Net-Flat S 10 GB introductory price: 9.99 EUR/month for 3 months
Entry price for the 10 GB tariff; from the 4th month 14.99 EUR/month
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Alt gegen Neu trade-in premium when ordering a new device with a 1&1 tariff: up to 800 EUR, at least 50 EUR
Depending on model and condition of the old device
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | 1&1 (1und1) | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
Questions about each
1&1 (1und1)
How much does a 1und1 roaming plan cost?+
Plans start at €9.99, and that price buys the home contract rather than a travel pass. The site median price across the brands listed is €5, so a reader comparing on price alone will find eSIMGo.is cheaper at $0.99.
How many countries does 1und1 roaming cover?+
Roaming spans 33 countries, which is far fewer than Zwitchy at 200. The plan is regional in scope, so a trip to a handful of nearby countries is the realistic use rather than a world tour.
Airalo
How much do Airalo eSIMs cost?+
Entry plans start at €4, under a site median of €5. Reference prices for the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and Turkey sit close to that figure, while Egypt and Armenia cost a little more.
Does Airalo sell unlimited data plans, and are they really unlimited?+
Unlimited data plans are part of the range, listed alongside hotspot sharing and instant activation. They run on a fair use policy for personal, non-commercial use only: there is no fixed data cap, but speed slows once heavy daily use is passed, and the allowance resets each day from activation.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Airalo
1&1 (1und1)