Airhub review

Diverse, customizable, and popular eSIM provider with expansive coverage

Airhub landing page
(Image: © Airhub)

TechRadar Verdict

Airhub’s collection of plans is one of the most expansive and diverse in the eSIM market. Many of them offer unlimited data, voice calling, or text messaging features depending on the region you’re in. It’s also quite affordable and the support team is very helpful.

Pros

  • +

    Wide variety of local and global plans to choose from

  • +

    30-day money-back guarantee on every purchase

  • +

    Cost-effective deals in partnership with local networks

Cons

  • -

    Occasional issues with single sign-on functionality

  • -

    Lack of easy access to data usage information

  • -

    Few reviews mention mixed customer support response

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Airhub is an eSIM provider that offers mobile data plans in over 190 countries and regions worldwide. Founded in 2020, Airhub has served over 500,000 users to date. It offers a diverse selection of local, regional, and global data plans — some with unlimited data. 

With an average rating of 4.5 across different app stores, Airhub is one of the few eSIM providers with voice calling and text messaging features across several regions. You get an international number which you can use to keep in touch with people even when you don’t have access to data.

Airhub is reliable and cost-effective, although a few reviews mention minor drawbacks with its first-time activation process and single sign-on functionality. These issues are easy to resolve, however, as the support team is quite responsive.

Airhub: Plans and pricing

Airhub offers competitively priced eSIM plans starting at as low as $3 for a seven-day validity period. Many plans offer international numbers with voice and text facilities along with data. Here are some popular examples: 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
RegionData AmountValidityPrice
Global25 GB30 days$39.90
United States15 GB30 days$11.90
United Kingdom100 GB30 days$21.00
Japan10 GB30 days$9.50
UAE5 GB30 days$8.00

While some regions like Latin America may have limited coverage, Airhub's plan variety and affordable rates still make them an attractive option for international travelers. 

Airhub: Features

Airhub stands out among eSIM providers for its feature-rich offerings, thanks to strategic partnerships with reputed telecom providers like AT&T and O2:

Network Switching

Airhub's innovative network-switching feature ensures you always have the strongest signal available, regardless of your location. This sets it apart from competitors like Airalo, whose plans are tied to a single network per country, often leading to unreliable connections in remote areas.

Voucher Program

If you’re a small retailer or mobile shop, you can take advantage of the Voucher Program to become one of Airhub’s licensed distribution partners. It’s a great way for small businesses to diversify their revenue streams without physically shipping SIM cards to customers. 

Plan Variety

Airhub offers up to 15 plan varieties per country, often including local voice minutes, text messaging, and international phone numbers. This flexibility allows users to choose a plan that precisely fits their travel needs and budget, unlike the limiting plans offered by many other competitors.

Airhub: Installation

Airhub installation

(Image credit: Airhub)

Getting started is easy. Just visit the Airhub website and purchase an eSIM plan. Buying a plan is as simple as choosing your destination, data package, and validity period. 

Once you've completed your purchase, Airhub sends you an activation code with instructions to activate the eSIM on your device. The process rarely takes longer than two minutes. You can choose to activate your eSIM immediately or keep it installed without activating it until your travel dates.

If you have questions about specific plans, the onboarding process, or your device’s compatibility, Airhub’s customer service team is there to answer any questions round the clock.  

Airhub: Coverage and speed

Airhub's coverage spans over 190 countries and regions worldwide, offering reliable connectivity to travelers. The company partners with local networks to design cost-effective plans, ensuring better regional coverage and pricing compared to some competitors. 

However, Airhub's coverage in Latin America is limited, with fewer plan options and several unsupported countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia. 

In terms of data speeds, Airhub generally provides 4G LTE coverage, with some plans offering 5G in select countries like Thailand. While most users report reliable connections and fast speeds, a few reviews mention occasional inconsistencies or throttling issues.

Compared to other eSIM providers, Airhub stands out for its wide variety of plans tailored to specific regions, often including voice minutes and text messaging. While competitors like Airalo boast broader global coverage, Airhub's regional focus allows for more competitive pricing and plan flexibility in the areas it serves.

Airhub: Support

Airhub support

(Image credit: Airhub)

Airhub offers several customer support channels, including live chat and email. However, user reviews mention that response times across these channels can be inconsistent.

Some users report positive experiences, praising the quick turnaround time and helpful support staff. On the other hand, others have expressed frustration about late replies, changing support representatives, and unresolved issues.

There’s also a detailed FAQ for users to look for solutions to common problems. Some of these contain step-by-step instructions to diagnose and resolve even technical errors. But if you need a professional, email and chat are the only options because this provider does not offer phone support.

Airhub: Final verdict

Out of all the eSIM providers we have reviewed, Airhub is the one with the biggest plan variety. They range from region to global, short-term to long-term. It’s also one of the few eSIM companies offering voice minutes and international numbers.

However, Airhub's inconsistent customer support and limited coverage in some regions could be a drawback for some users. Still, we feel that it’s a solid choice whose benefits outweigh the disadvantages in the end.

Airhub: FAQs

How do I activate my eSIM on AirHub?

Airhub has a straightforward onboarding process with clear instructions to guide you through everything. To install and activate the eSIM, follow these steps:

1. Purchase an eSIM data plan from the Airhub website or app. Select your destination, choose a plan, and complete the checkout process. You will receive an email with a QR code and installation instructions.

2. On your phone, go to Settings > Cellular/Mobile Data. Make sure the Airhub eSIM is turned on.

3. Set the Airhub eSIM to be used for Cellular Data and turn on Data Roaming.

4. Scan the QR code provided in the email to install the eSIM profile. Alternatively, you can enter the activation code manually in your phone's cellular settings.

5. Once installed, the eSIM may show "Activating" for some time, especially if you are not yet in the destination country. This is normal and the activation will complete once you are in the coverage area.

6. You can manage your eSIM by logging into the Airhub app. From there you can check data usage, top up, or make changes to your plan.

What is the convenience fee for Airhub?

Airhub charges a convenience fee of 3.5% on the purchase price of each transaction, which is usually a small amount of $1-2 charged by their payment processing partner. 

Where is AirHub eSIM based?

Airhub is owned and managed by Gighub Inc., a company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. However, Airhub offers eSIM plans for travelers around the globe. 

Ritoban Mukherjee

Ritoban Mukherjee is a freelance journalist from West Bengal, India. His work has been published on Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Creative Bloq, IT Pro Portal, Gizmodo, Medium, and Mental Floss. Ritoban is also a member of the National Association of Science Writers.