Travel Intelligence · eSIM Review 2026
By Richard J. · written from ValenciaScored 71/100Verified 5 October 2026
Kolet is a legitimate Paris eSIM company, Kolet SAS, founded in 2024 and a certified B Corp since January 2026, and it scores 71 out of 100 on our published rubric: cheaper than Airalo for 10 GB in Europe ($27.99) and Japan ($22.99), generous on unlimited data at 5 GB a day at full speed, and able to turn leftover data into credit, held back by networks its plan pages did not show our reader and the absence of a published security audit. Below are the score criterion by criterion, who owns Kolet, what it costs in five markets, how its unlimited plans and Koins work, the free airline offer, where it falls short and the alternatives to compare.
Verified 5 October 2026 · Kolet plan pages, help centre and legal notice · B Lab directory · Airalo and the September table as published in our eSIM comparison
Kolet is worth it for Europe and Japan, for heavy daily data and for frequent travellers who want leftover data kept as credit; it scores 71 out of 100, ten points below Airalo (81) and level with Yesim (71). Its two strongest criteria are unlimited terms and price; its weakest are network transparency and security, both of which depend on what Kolet publishes rather than on the service it sells.
| Criterion | Kolet's score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 13 of 20 | $73.97 across Europe ($27.99), Japan ($22.99) and the USA ($22.99): below Airalo ($78.50) and Saily ($76.97), above Nomad eSIM ($64), Yesim ($55.20) and Ubigi ($45.50) |
| Plan choice | 17 of 20 | Local plans in more than 190 destinations, regional and global plans valid up to 365 days, unlimited in 65 countries and territories; unlimited only in the app and not in Kenya |
| Unlimited terms | 14 of 15 | 5 GB a day, then 1 Mbps, a 24-hour reset and no added hotspot restriction, all published; level with Ubigi, the highest in the September table |
| Network transparency | 8 of 15 | An Available networks panel on the Spain and Kenya plan pages whose operator names did not load for our reader; no panel on the Japan page; the full list sits in the app |
| Review evidence | 10 of 15 | Trustpilot 4.7 from about 2,150 reviews: a high score on a thin base next to Airalo's 42,099 and Holafly's 110,554 |
| Security and ownership | 9 of 15 | Kolet SAS, Paris, under EU data-protection law, with named founders and investors; no published security audit, and B Corp is not a security certification |
| Total | 71 of 100 | Level with Yesim; ten points below Airalo; eighteen below Ubigi |
In the September table Ubigi scores 89, Airalo 81, Nomad eSIM 79, Saily 77, Yesim 71, Holafly 66 and aloSIM 61, so Kolet's 71 would sit level with Yesim in joint fifth place of eight. Kolet was assessed on 5 October 2026, after that edition was published, and joins the table at the next one. The criterion that holds it back most is network transparency: Airalo scores 14 there by naming its operator in all four test markets, and Kolet 8. The full head-to-head is Kolet vs Airalo 2026.
Yes: Kolet is Kolet SAS, a company registered in Paris under number 981 094 261, founded in 2024 by four entrepreneurs, funded by a €5 million seed round and an €8.6 million Series A, and certified as a B Corp in January 2026. Each fact links to the source it was read from.
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Kolet SAS, simplified joint stock company, Paris trade register 981 094 261 | Kolet legal notice |
| Registered office | 6 rue d'Armaille, 75017 Paris, France | Kolet legal notice |
| Founders | Eduardo Ronzano, Anne-Carole Cöen, Mehdi Chraibi and Jérémy Gotteland, 2024 | B Lab directory |
| Funding | €5 million seed (2024) and €8.6 million Series A (June 2025); more than 300,000 travellers in its first year | Series A report, June 2025 |
| Certification | Certified B Corp since January 2026, B Impact score 99.7 against a median of 50.9 | B Lab directory |
| Distribution | Air France, KLM, Kiwi.com, Exoticca and Wego integrate Kolet, per the Series A report; Air India, Vietnam Airlines and Turbopass offers are listed in its help centre | Kolet travel partners |
| Reviews | Trustpilot 4.7 from about 2,150 reviews, read 1 October 2026 | Trustpilot; the app is on the App Store and Google Play |
| Support | Kolet says human agents answer around the clock, in under a minute; a digital assistant, Koko, answers first | Kolet plan pages |
Two cautions for anyone researching Kolet. The most visible Kolet review in search on 1 October 2026 was published by Holafly, which sells competing unlimited eSIMs, recommends its own plans as the alternative and still says Kolet has no unlimited data. And Kolet's B Corp certification assesses governance, workers, community, environment and customers; it says nothing about the security of the eSIM platform, which is why it does not lift Kolet's security score.
Kolet's 10 GB, 30-day plan costs $27.99 for Europe, $22.99 for Japan, $22.99 for the USA, $15.49 for Spain and $45.99 for Kenya, and the smallest plans start at $3.99 for 1 GB. Prices were read on Kolet's own plan pages on 5 October 2026, in US dollars; every plan below is valid for 30 days and starts when it first connects at the destination.
| Destination | 1 GB | 3 GB | 5 GB | 10 GB | 20 GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe, 45 countries | $4.99 | $11.99 | $18.99 | $27.99 | $44.49 |
| Japan | $3.99 | $8.99 | $14.49 | $22.99 | $34.49 |
| USA | $3.99 | $11.49 | $16.99 | $22.99 | $34.49 |
| Spain | $3.99 | $7.49 | $9.99 | $15.49 | $19.99 |
| Kenya | $7.49 | $18.99 | $28.99 | $45.99 | $68.49 |
Kolet's global plan runs longer: 5 GB for 60 days at $32.49, 10 GB for 180 days at $54.49 and 20 GB for 365 days at $82.99, which suits several trips a year on one eSIM. Kolet's homepage gives new users 10 per cent off with the code KOLET10, and Flying Blue members can pay with Miles. Two pricing notes: a single-country plan such as Spain is about half the price of the 45-country Europe plan for the same 10 GB, and Kenya costs roughly double Japan or the USA. Kolet's plans do not renew automatically. For the wider price picture, see how much an eSIM costs.
Yes: Kolet's unlimited plans give 5 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the allowance resets 24 hours after first use, in 65 countries and territories plus four regional passes, bought only in the Kolet app. The terms are set out in Kolet's unlimited plans article. The 5 GB daily allowance matches the most generous we have scored, Saily's in Japan and the USA, and beats Airalo's 3 GB, Saily's 3 GB in Europe and Nomad eSIM's 2 GB.
The details that decide whether it suits a trip. The pass starts on first data use, not on purchase, and extra days bought for the same destination extend it. Kolet adds no hotspot restriction, so a laptop can share the connection within the daily 5 GB. Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa are not on the list, so a safari still needs a fixed plan. Unlimited days cannot be shared with another user or converted into Koins. And if you hold both an unlimited pass and a standard plan for the same place, the unlimited pass is used first. At 1 Mbps, maps, messaging and music keep working and video does not.
Koins are Kolet's in-app credit: leftover data on a standard plan converts into Koins for the next plan or for calls from the app, and whole gigabytes can be sent to another Kolet user. Both features are explained in Kolet's help centre, and both have a rule worth knowing before using them.
| Feature | How it works | The rule to know |
|---|---|---|
| Convert unused data | Leftover data on a standard plan becomes Koins, spent on a later plan or on international calls from the app | Converting cancels the plan, so do it once the trip is over |
| Send data | From an active standard plan with at least 1 GB left, in whole gigabytes, to the recipient's email | Instant and cannot be reversed |
| Top up | Adding data carries the unused balance of the current plan forward | Unlimited passes extend by days instead |
| Calls | International calls from the Kolet app, paid in Koins, without a phone number | Data-only plans: the eSIM has no number of its own |
| Hotspot | Allowed on all devices | On an iPad, set the APN to internet to make Personal Hotspot appear |
Kolet also says WhatsApp, Gmail and Instagram work on its eSIM in China without a VPN; test that on arrival rather than relying on it. For using two eSIMs side by side, see multiple eSIMs on one phone.
The free Kolet eSIM from an airline or a city pass is a two-day trial on an eSIM you can keep. Kolet's partner offer, as sold with Turbopass city passes, is 1 GB valid for two days from first use, and Air France, KLM and Kiwi.com distribute Kolet to their passengers. Install it on Wi-Fi before the flight, confirm the phone is eSIM compatible, and top up the same eSIM for the rest of the trip. Flying Blue members earn up to 10 Miles per euro spent on Kolet plans if the account is linked before buying.
Buy Kolet for Europe, Japan or a single European country, for heavy daily data on an unlimited pass, and for repeat travel on one eSIM; look elsewhere for a Kenyan safari, for a phone number, or if you want the network and an audit published before you pay. The fit by traveller:
| Traveller | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two weeks in Europe | Good | $27.99 for 10 GB across 45 countries, $3.01 less than Airalo's Eurolink |
| Japan on a fixed plan | Good | $22.99 for 10 GB against Airalo's $25; check the network in the app |
| Heavy daily data, Europe, Japan or the USA | Good | 5 GB a day at full speed on an unlimited pass, with hotspot |
| Several trips a year | Good | One eSIM to top up, leftover data kept as Koins, a global plan valid up to 365 days |
| Air France or KLM traveller | Good | Free trial data through the airline, Flying Blue Miles on paid plans |
| Couple sharing data | Good | Send whole gigabytes to a partner's Kolet eSIM, or share by hotspot |
| Safari in Kenya | Weak | 10 GB costs $45.99 and there is no unlimited pass; Airalo names Safaricom |
| Needs a phone number | Weak | Data-only; Saily and Yesim sell numbers |
| Wants the network and an audit before buying | Weak | Operator names sit in the app; no published security audit |
Kolet loses most of its points on what it does not publish: the operator names on its plan pages, and an audit of its security. On network transparency it scores 8 of 15 because the Available networks panel on its Spain and Kenya pages did not load for our reader and its Japan page has none; Airalo, which names its operator in all four test markets, scores 14. On security it scores 9 of 15 because no audit is published; Airalo holds a SOC 2 Type II attestation and scores 13. The rest are trade-offs rather than faults: unlimited passes are sold only in the app and not in Kenya, Kenya's fixed plans are expensive, the review base of about 2,150 is thin next to the largest providers, and Koins conversion and data transfers cannot be undone. Kolet's displayed prices also move between readings, so check the plan page on the day. Scores change only on new evidence read at source, in either direction.
The alternatives to Kolet on our rubric are Ubigi (89) on price and unlimited data, Airalo (81) on breadth and named networks, Saily (77) on security features and a US number, and Yesim (71) on the cheapest European bundle and virtual numbers. Figures are from our September comparison.
| Provider | Score /100 | Where it beats Kolet | Where Kolet beats it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubigi | 89 | Lowest combined 10 GB price (Europe $15, Japan $16.50, USA $14); 60 GB at full speed per 30-day unlimited plan; KDDI and NTT Docomo in Japan | Leftover data kept as credit; data sent to a companion; airline partnerships |
| Airalo | 81 | More destinations, operators named in Japan, Spain, the USA and Kenya, SOC 2 Type II, 42,099 Trustpilot reviews | Europe and Japan prices; 5 GB a day on unlimited against 3 GB |
| Saily | 77 | Built-in ad blocking and web protection from Nord Security; a US number for $0.99 a month | Cheaper in Europe ($27.99 against $35.99); 5 GB a day on unlimited in Europe against Saily's 3 GB |
| Yesim | 71 | Europe 10 GB from $19.20; virtual UK, US, Dutch and Canadian numbers | Published unlimited threshold, where Yesim publishes none; leftover data kept as credit |
All seven scored providers, with prices, networks and unlimited terms side by side, are in the best travel eSIM comparison; the buyer's guide walks through the same choice in plain steps.
Kolet raised its Series A in 2025, became a B Corp in January 2026, launched unlimited plans in 2026 and was scored on our rubric on 5 October 2026. June 2025: €8.6 million Series A, a year after a €5 million seed round, with Air France, KLM, Kiwi.com, Exoticca and Wego already distributing it. January 2026: certified B Corp with a B Impact score of 99.7. 2026: unlimited plans at 5 GB a day at full speed, sold in the app in 65 countries and territories. 5 October 2026: assessed on the rubric of our September eSIM comparison at 71 out of 100.
Yes. Kolet is operated by Kolet SAS, a French company registered in Paris under number 981 094 261, founded in 2024 by Eduardo Ronzano, Anne-Carole Cöen, Mehdi Chraibi and Jérémy Gotteland. It has been a certified B Corp since January 2026, raised an €8.6 million Series A in June 2025, sells data in more than 190 destinations and is rated 4.7 on Trustpilot from about 2,150 reviews. Air France, KLM and Kiwi.com distribute it to their customers.
For Europe and Japan, yes. Kolet scores 71 out of 100 on our published rubric, level with Yesim and ten points below Airalo: it is cheaper than Airalo for 10 GB in Europe ($27.99 against $31) and Japan ($22.99 against $25), its unlimited plans give 5 GB a day at full speed, leftover data becomes credit, and data can be sent to a companion. It is weaker for a Kenyan safari, where 10 GB costs $45.99 and there is no unlimited plan, for travellers who want the network named before buying, and for anyone who needs a published security audit.
Kolet SAS, a French simplified joint stock company registered in Paris under number 981 094 261, with its office at 6 rue d'Armaille, 75017 Paris. It was founded in 2024 by Eduardo Ronzano, Anne-Carole Cöen, Mehdi Chraibi and Jérémy Gotteland, raised a €5 million seed round in 2024 and an €8.6 million Series A in June 2025, and has been a certified B Corp since January 2026.
Kolet's 10 GB, 30-day plans cost $27.99 for Europe (45 countries), $22.99 for Japan, $22.99 for the USA, $15.49 for Spain and $45.99 for Kenya, read on its plan pages on 5 October 2026. The smallest plans start at $3.99 for 1 GB in Japan, the USA and Spain. Its global plan costs $54.49 for 10 GB over 180 days. New users get 10 per cent off with the code KOLET10, according to Kolet's homepage.
Yes, since 2026. Kolet's unlimited plans give 5 GB a day at full speed, then 1 Mbps until the allowance resets 24 hours after first use, with no added hotspot restriction. They are sold in 65 countries and territories, including Japan, the USA, Spain and the UK, plus regional passes for Europe, the EU and UK, North America and Oceania, and only through the Kolet app. Kenya is not on the list. Reviews written before the launch, including Holafly's, still say Kolet has no unlimited plans.
Koins are Kolet's in-app credit. Leftover data on a standard plan can be converted into Koins, which pay for the next data plan or for international calls made from the Kolet app. Converting cancels the plan it came from, so it belongs at the end of a trip, and data on unlimited plans cannot be converted because the allowance resets every day.
Kolet supplies free trial data through travel partners, typically 1 GB valid for two days from first use, as sold with Turbopass city passes; an App Store reviewer flying KLM describes receiving the same 1 GB offer. The eSIM installed for the free data stays on the phone and can be topped up with a paid Kolet plan, and Flying Blue members can earn up to 10 Miles per euro spent on Kolet plans or pay with Miles.
Yes. Kolet allows hotspot sharing on its plans and adds no hotspot restriction of its own on its unlimited plans, according to its help centre; on an unlimited plan, devices sharing the connection draw on the same 5 GB daily allowance. On an iPad the Personal Hotspot option appears only after the APN is set to internet in the cellular settings.
No. Kolet plans are data-only and come without a local phone number, so keep your home SIM active for calls and banking codes. Kolet's app can place international calls paid in Koins, its in-app credit. A traveller who needs a number to receive texts should look at Saily, which sells a US number for $0.99 a month, or Yesim, which sells virtual UK, US, Dutch and Canadian numbers.
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Richard J. · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 5 October 2026 · facts verified 5 October 2026
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