Landing in Chile without mobile data is not fun. You need Google Maps, Uber, WhatsApp, restaurant reviews, and maybe even boarding passes, all before you leave the airport.
That is why eSIMs have become the easiest way to stay connected while traveling in Chile. No local SIM cards, no language barriers, no waiting in line. Just install, activate, and you are online.
But which one is actually worth it?
I tested and compared the three most popular eSim Chile options for travelers in 2026: Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad. Below you will find the real differences in coverage, speed, price, and ease of use, especially for Santiago, Valparaiso, Patagonia, and smaller towns.
If you just want the short answer, here it is.
🏆 Winner: Airalo
(I like to cut to the chase). Read more below:
Coverage: 9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Speed: 8.5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price/value: 8/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of installation: 9/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PS. Use Code 'KJ2068' for $3 off if you're a first time Airalo user. Download the Airalo App here.Airalo uses one of the major Chilean networks and honestly it shows. In cities like Santiago, Valparaiso and Concepcion it stayed strong the entire time. Even when I travelled into smaller towns it kept working without any drama. Only in the real middle of nowhere spots like high mountain passes or the area around Termas Geometricas it dropped out. But that is normal for basically any provider in Chile. Overall it feels very reliable and definitely the most consistent in this comparison.
Holafly claims very strong nationwide coverage and in the big cities that is true. It works perfectly fine in places most travellers visit. The only thing is that in remote areas it can be a bit more hit or miss compared to Airalo. Nothing terrible, it just feels a bit less stable when you start pushing outside the usual tourist zones.
Nomad does a good job in major regions like Santiago, Valparaiso and the lakes region. For everyday travel it works totally fine. Once you start going into rural or scenic areas the signal can fluctuate a bit. Nomad is reliable enough for city travellers but if you are planning Patagonia or more isolated places it is not as strong as Airalo.
Airalo is fast in all the places you actually spend time as a traveler. In Santiago, Valparaiso and other cities it loads everything instantly. Streaming, maps, Instagram, whatever you want, it just works. In smaller towns the speed drops a bit but it still feels smooth. Only when you go far into the mountains does it slow down or disappear but that happens with every provider in Chile. Overall it feels strong and it did everything it was supposed to do, even YouTube videos.
Holafly also delivers good speed in Chile. In the big cities it feels quick and stable and it handles things like video calls without any trouble. It can be a little less consistent in more remote places though and sometimes the speed dips when you move around a lot. It is perfectly fine for everyday travel but not the fastest option in this comparison.
Nomad is fast where you need it to be. In popular travel areas it loads pages and apps quickly and it feels smooth for everyday use. When you start leaving the main towns it becomes a bit more unpredictable. Nothing dramatic but you notice small dips here and there. It is a solid option but does not beat Airalo in speed or consistency.
Airalo is very simple. You choose how much data you want and how long you will be in Chile and that is it. There are smaller packs if you mostly use WhatsApp and maps and bigger packs if you love YouTube and TikTok on the road. The nice thing is that you do not pay for unlimited data you never use. You just pick a size that matches your trip and if you need more you can top up inside the app in a few seconds. For most travelers it gives the best balance between price and flexibility.
Holafly is the opposite. Instead of choosing how many gigabytes you want you choose how many days you want unlimited data. That sounds amazing if you are a heavy user or if you hotspot a lot for your partner or laptop. The downside is that you often pay more than with a normal data bundle and you do not get much control over how efficient you are with your data. It is a good option if you hate thinking about usage and just want to scroll without watching the meter.
Nomad sits somewhere in between. Just like Airalo it works with data bundles and different durations so you can choose a very small pack for a short trip or a larger one for a longer stay. In many cases the prices are similar or slightly below Airalo but it depends on the exact offer. It is a good choice if you want a flexible bundle and you happen to see a nice deal in the app but in terms of pure value over time Airalo usually feels a bit more polished and easier to understand.
Airalo is very simple. You buy the plan, tap install and the app guides you through everything. It activates quickly and topping up takes only a few seconds. It feels straightforward even if you have never used an eSim before.
Holafly is also easy to set up. You get a QR code, scan it and you are online. It works fine but the app is a bit less smooth than Airalo and managing your plan feels a little more old school.
Nomad is clean and simple. The app walks you through the setup and activation without confusion. It is not quite as fast as Airalo when it comes to topping up but still very user friendly.
I highly recommend Airalo (get your eSim here). My personal experience was exactly what I needed and it will be perfect for most travelers who want speed, good coverage and a fair price.
Here I graded Airalo, Holafly and Nomad per category; coverage, internet speed, price / value and ease of use. The clear winner in my opinion is Airalo, which I highly recommend you use. You can download the app for free here: App Store - Airalo and set up the eSim within 5 minutes.
PS. Use Code 'KJ2068' for $3 off if you're a first time Airalo user. Download the Airalo App here.