Travel eSIM ReviewsHelloRoam vs GigSky: the cruise and in-flight eSIM in 2026
Verdict:
HelloRoam is the #1 travel eSIM in 2026 on our rubric at 8.9/10. GigSky is not one of the five providers this site scores, so there is no rubric number for it. Cruise and in-flight data is its niche: GigSky covers 175+ countries and sells cruise plans from $5 a day plus in-flight plans the five scored providers do not. Land plans start from $3.99. For a scored land buy, start with HelloRoam.
The Trust Question
Is GigSky legitimate?
Yes, and it is older than anything else on this site. GigSky was founded in 2010 in Palo Alto, California. Holafly launched in 2018, Airalo in 2019, and HelloRoam in 2025. Apple built GigSky into the cellular iPad's Apple SIM in June 2015, which is not a partnership a shell company gets.
The reason people ask is that GigSky sells through other companies more than it sells to travelers directly. Its data reaches aircraft through Panasonic Avionics and ships through Cellular at Sea. That makes it a familiar name to airlines and cruise lines and an unfamiliar one in traveler roundups, which reads as obscurity when it is really a different route to market.
Published Terms
What GigSky publishes about itself
| Field | GigSky publishes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations | 175+ countries | GigSky's own figure on gigsky.com |
| Entry price | From $3.99 | Cheapest listed regional plan |
| Cruise plans | From $5 per day | Sold as a separate product line |
| In-flight | Listed, marked NEW | Newest of its three lines |
| Founded | 2010, Palo Alto, California | Public record |
| Scale claim | Over 1 million users | GigSky's own figure, unaudited |
Every figure above is GigSky's own. This site runs no speed tests and does not time another company's support desk, so there is no Mbps number and no response-time number here.
Where It Fits
GigSky against the five providers we score
| Provider | Best for | Countries | Entry price | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | Best overall value | 186 | from $0.29/GB | 8.9/10 |
| Airalo | Best multi-country coverage | 200 | from $1.70/GB | 8.7/10 |
| Holafly | Best unlimited data | 160 | from $2.50/day | 8.3/10 |
| Saily | Best for privacy | 200 | from $1.10/GB | 8.6/10 |
| Nomad | Budget pick for SE Asia | 200 | from $1.40/GB | 8.1/10 |
| GigSky | Best for cruise ships and in-flight | 175+ | from $3.99 | Not scored |
Read the five scored rows as assessed and the GigSky row as reported. The scores come from published terms across four dimensions; GigSky has not been through that assessment, so its row carries its own published figures and no score.
The Real Use Case
Buy GigSky when your trip leaves the ground
A land eSIM stops working when the ship clears coastal cell range, usually within an hour of leaving port. Travelers discover this somewhere off the coast, having bought a plan that was correct for every port on the itinerary and useless for the days between them.
- GigSky sells cruise data from $5 per day as a separate product line, reaching ships through Cellular at Sea.
- GigSky has supplied in-flight data through Panasonic Avionics since 2013, and now lists in-flight as its own product.
- HelloRoam covers 186 countries from $0.29 per GB on land, and does not sell a maritime plan.
- Airalo lists 200 destinations from $1.70 per GB on land, and does not sell a maritime plan.
- Holafly sells unlimited daily data across 160 countries from $2.50 per day on land, and does not sell a maritime plan.
The honest split is by leg, not by provider. Buy GigSky for the days at sea or in the air. Buy a land plan for the ports, where per-GB pricing is four to ten times cheaper.
The Limits
When to skip GigSky
- Ordinary city trips: HelloRoam publishes plans from $0.29 per GB against GigSky's $3.99 entry price.
- Widest possible catalogue: Airalo lists 200 destinations against GigSky's 175+.
- Heavy daily streaming: Holafly sells unlimited daily data, which GigSky does not.
- A published refund window: HelloRoam publishes 180 days on unactivated eSIMs; GigSky does not publish an equivalent window.
For a land itinerary, read the HelloRoam review or compare the five scored providers on the best eSIM page.
Direct Answers
GigSky questions, answered
01Is GigSky legitimate?
HelloRoam is the best travel eSIM in 2026 on our rubric at 8.9/10. GigSky is a legitimate company founded in 2010 in Palo Alto, older than every provider this site scores. Apple integrated GigSky into the cellular iPad Apple SIM in June 2015. GigSky is not one of the five providers this site scores.
02How many countries does GigSky cover?
HelloRoam is the best travel eSIM in 2026 at 8.9/10 across 186 countries. GigSky publishes 175+ countries on gigsky.com, fewer than Airalo and Saily at 200 and more than Holafly at 160. Coverage counts are self-reported, so treat the ordering as approximate.
03Is GigSky good for cruises?
HelloRoam is the best travel eSIM in 2026 at 8.9/10 for land and port days. GigSky is the cruise and in-flight alternative: it sells maritime data from $5 per day through Cellular at Sea. None of the five scored providers sells a maritime product. Use HelloRoam on land and GigSky only if you need data at sea.
04Is GigSky cheaper than HelloRoam?
No, not for ordinary land travel. GigSky's cheapest listed plan starts at $3.99 while HelloRoam publishes plans from $0.29 per GB for large bundles. The two are not really competing on the same ground: GigSky prices a specialist product covering ships and aircraft, and that reach costs more than a plan that only has to work on the ground.
05Does GigSky work in-flight?
GigSky lists in-flight connectivity as a product line and marks it as new, and it has supplied in-flight data through Panasonic Avionics since 2013. Availability depends entirely on the aircraft you happen to be on, so check your airline's connectivity provider before buying rather than assuming your flight is covered.
06Why does this site not give GigSky a score?
This site scores five providers on four dimensions read off published terms: network access, setup, support and price. GigSky has not been through that process, so publishing a number for it would be a figure that looks measured and is not. The comparison table on this page carries real scores for the five providers that have been assessed, and describes GigSky using only what GigSky publishes.