Choosing between MerrSIM and Holafly for internet in Greece? Here is the honest comparison.
Price (10 GB / 30 days)
| Provider | 10 GB / 30 days | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MerrSIM | €8.49 | local 4G/5G, hotspot, EUR, Albanian support |
| Holafly | ≈ US$74.90/muaj | unlimited-only, fair-use throttling |
Holafly’s price is a USD reference from its site (2026); MerrSIM bills in EUR. Check the live price before buying.
Why MerrSIM
Holafly only sells pricey “unlimited” plans with throttling. MerrSIM’s 10 GB plan is enough and costs a fraction. Inter-island ferries have weak WiFi; an eSIM keeps you online for bookings and maps.
- Fixed price in EUR, no roaming surprises
- Hotspot included and Albanian support
- Instant QR activation
- No ID or passport registration
MerrSIM plans for Greece
| MerrSIM plan | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | €1.49 | 7 days |
| 5 GB | €5.49 | 30 days |
| 10 GB | €8.49 | 30 days |
| 20 GB | €13.99 | 30 days |
Ready for Greece? See plans at MerrSIM — Greece eSIM, from €1.49, instant QR activation, no physical SIM and no roaming.
How an eSIM works
An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone: there is no physical card to insert. You buy it online, get a QR code by email and scan it in your settings. Once installed, the profile lives on your phone and activates when you reach Greece, connecting automatically to a local partner network. You can keep your main SIM at the same time, so your number still gets calls and texts while the eSIM handles data.
Common mistakes to avoid
Three mistakes often spoil the start of a trip. First: buying the eSIM at the last minute at the airport, when you have no WiFi to install it — do it at home. Second: forgetting to switch on data roaming for the eSIM line, which makes it look like it is not working. Third: leaving mobile data on your home SIM, which racks up roaming charges. Check these three and your connection in Greece will be trouble-free.
How much data you really need
For normal use — maps, messaging, social media and the odd video — budget about 300–700 MB a day. A light traveller is fine with 3–5 GB for a week, while anyone doing video calls, streaming or laptop hotspot will want 10–20 GB. In Greece, download offline maps and use hotel WiFi for big downloads; that way a 10 GB plan comfortably lasts two weeks. If you run out, you buy a new plan in the app with no waiting.
No registration, no shop queue
Many EU countries require identity verification for local SIM cards, which means a queue, a shop and sometimes even a local address. A travel eSIM skips all of that: it is sold as an international data service, with no passport and no contract. You have it ready before you set off for Greece, so you land and are online immediately — no time wasted at the airport and no risk of surprise roaming bills.
Does your phone support eSIM?
Before you buy, check two things. First, the phone must be eSIM-compatible: iPhone XR/XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and many recent Motorola, Huawei and Oppo models. Second, it must be carrier-unlocked. You can verify by dialling *#06# — if an EID number appears, your phone supports eSIM. This saves you any surprises when you arrive in Greece.