If you’re a light user on a short European trip and you want zero mental maths — Holafly’s “unlimited” plans are genuinely convenient, and you should probably just buy one. But if you’re a long-haul trucker, a digital nomad or anyone who tethers a laptop, streams, uploads dashcam footage or stays in Europe for weeks at a time, the word “unlimited” hides two problems that will bite you: fair-use throttling and (usually) no tethering. For heavy, long-stay, Europe-focused use, a real big-data plan with a stated allowance — like Marco Polo Mobile eSIM at 320GB for €45 or 640GB for €65 over 56 days — gives you more usable data, lets you share to other devices, and costs far less per gigabyte. This article lays out exactly where each wins.
The core difference: “unlimited” vs a number you can count on
Holafly built its brand on simplicity. One plan, one country or region, “unlimited data” — no watching a counter. For a tourist who mostly uses maps, messaging and a bit of social media over a week, that’s a clean deal and there’s nothing wrong with it.
The catch is what “unlimited” means in practice. Holafly’s unlimited plans are governed by a fair-use policy: once you pass a daily threshold, your speeds get throttled, often hard enough that video and large uploads crawl. And critically for anyone with more than one device, tethering / hotspot is frequently disallowed or blocked on these plans. If your actual need is “run my phone and my laptop from one connection for a month,” unlimited-with-no-tethering is the wrong tool.
Marco Polo goes the other direction. Instead of a vague “unlimited,” you get a stated allowance that’s simply very large — and you’re allowed to tether it. On the 28-day European eSIM (37 countries, network via Orange France, includes a French number plus some calls and SMS):
- 25GB — €15
- 80GB — €25
- 160GB — €35
- 320GB — €45
- 400GB — €55
- 480GB — €65
And on the 56-day plans, for longer trips:
- 320GB — €55
- 640GB — €65
- 800GB — €75
At the top tiers that works out to roughly €0.09–€0.14 per GB — a figure no “unlimited” tourist plan comes close to once you account for throttling. There’s also a separate 36-country plan for people who want a smaller fixed bundle: 20GB €19, 50GB €29, 100GB €39, 200GB €49 (30 days), or 500GB over 90 days for €95.
Side-by-side comparison
| Provider | Data | Validity | Cost per GB | Tethering | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Polo | 25GB–800GB (stated, real) | 28 / 56 / 90 days | ~€0.09–€0.14/GB at top tiers | Yes — allowed | Heavy data, long stays, Europe, tethering |
| Holafly | “Unlimited” (fair-use throttled) | Typically day-count packages — check their current pricing | No per-GB value — throttles after daily cap | Usually no / restricted | Light users, short trips, phone-only, no counting |
Two genuinely different products. Holafly sells “don’t think about it” for a phone on a short trip. Marco Polo sells “a large, countable, shareable pile of data” for people whose month depends on connectivity.
Where Holafly actually wins
Let’s be fair, because there are real cases where Holafly is the better buy:
- You hate watching a data counter. If the idea of estimating your GB stresses you out and you’re a moderate user, “unlimited” removes that anxiety entirely.
- Short trips, single device. A long weekend or a one-week holiday where it’s just your phone — maps, WhatsApp, a few reels. You’ll likely never hit the throttle hard enough to care.
- Simplicity over value. You’re not trying to optimise cost-per-GB; you want one tap and done.
If that’s you, buy Holafly and don’t overthink it. The rest of this article is for people whose needs break the “unlimited” model.
Where Marco Polo pulls ahead
1. Tethering is allowed
This is the dividing line. Truckers run a tablet for navigation and a phone for calls. Nomads run a laptop for work. If your plan blocks hotspot, “unlimited” on one device is useless the moment you need a second screen online. Marco Polo includes Wi-Fi sharing by design — see our guide to the best eSIM for hotspot and tethering in Europe for why this matters more than most people expect.
2. Real throughput at scale
“Unlimited” throttled to a crawl after a daily cap is worse than 320GB of full-speed data you can spend however you like. If you upload footage, join video calls, or stream in the cab during a break, throttling kills the experience. A stated 320–800GB allowance means the data you paid for runs at normal speed until it’s gone.
3. Cost-per-GB that isn’t close
At €65 for 640GB over 56 days, Marco Polo is operating around €0.10/GB. No unlimited tourist plan delivers that value for a true heavy user — because the whole point of “unlimited” pricing is that most buyers never use much. If you *do* use a lot, you’re subsidising the light users. We rank this properly in cheapest eSIM per gigabyte in Europe.
4. Long validity for long stays
28, 56 and 90-day windows suit the way long-haul drivers and nomads actually live. You buy once and you’re covered for the trip, not topping up weekly. More on this in best long-validity eSIMs for Europe.
5. 37-country coverage plus a number
One eSIM across 37 European countries means no swapping as you cross borders, and you get a French number with some calls and SMS included — useful when a dispatcher or a client needs to actually ring you. See one eSIM for multi-country routes.
Pick by use case
Long-haul driver (weeks on the road, multiple devices)
Marco Polo, clearly. You need big data, tethering for your nav tablet, long validity and border-free coverage. A 56-day 320GB (€55) or 640GB (€65) plan carries a serious month-plus of driving, including streaming during rest periods. Holafly’s throttle and tethering limits make it a poor fit here. Our big-data Europe plans compared for long-haul drivers goes deeper.
Occasional / regional driver (short runs, mostly navigation)
You have a real choice. If you barely use data and never tether, Holafly’s simplicity is fine. If you ever share to a second device, Marco Polo’s 25GB (€15) or 80GB (€25) plan gives you headroom and tethering for less fuss over a month.
Digital nomad (laptop-first, long stay)
Marco Polo. Your work lives on a laptop, which means tethering, and laptop data burns fast — video calls, cloud sync, uploads. A throttled “unlimited” phone plan will frustrate you by day three. Pick 160–480GB on 28 days or step up to 56 days for a long stay. See best eSIM for digital nomads in Europe.
Short holiday, phone only
This is Holafly’s sweet spot — or a small Marco Polo bundle (20GB €19) if you’d rather have a number and tethering available just in case. For a genuinely light week, “unlimited” convenience is reasonable.
How to pick — and common mistakes
- Estimate your real monthly data honestly. Check your current usage. If you’re under ~15GB/month and single-device, unlimited-style plans are fine. Over that — or multi-device — go with a stated big-data plan.
- Don’t assume “unlimited” means tethering. It usually doesn’t. If you need a hotspot, confirm it’s allowed before you buy, and favour a plan that states tethering outright.
- Read the fair-use fine print. “Unlimited” almost always has a daily speed cap. That’s not a scandal — it’s the model — but know where the cliff is.
- Match validity to your trip. Buying a short package for a long trip means repurchasing mid-journey. Marco Polo’s 56 and 90-day options avoid that.
- Compare on cost-per-GB, not headline price. A cheap “unlimited” plan that throttles isn’t cheap if you can’t use the data at speed.
Rule of thumb: if you can name a GB number you need and you use more than one device, buy data by the gigabyte. “Unlimited” is for people who can’t or won’t count — and who stay under the cap.
Still weighing it against roaming? Our breakdown of eSIM vs roaming over a month on the road shows how fast carrier roaming adds up versus a flat big-data eSIM. And if you want the wider field, see best eSIM for Europe in 2026 and our Marco Polo vs Airalo comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holafly’s unlimited data really unlimited?
In the sense that you won’t run out, broadly yes — but it’s governed by a fair-use policy, so speeds are throttled once you pass a daily threshold. For light phone use you may never notice; for heavy streaming or uploads you will. Check Holafly’s current fair-use terms before buying.
Can I tether my laptop or tablet with each one?
With Marco Polo, yes — tethering and Wi-Fi sharing are included. With Holafly’s unlimited plans, tethering is usually restricted or blocked, so confirm on their site first. If running two devices from one plan matters to you, this is the deciding factor.
Which is cheaper for a heavy user?
Marco Polo, by a wide margin, once you actually use a lot of data. At the top tiers it’s roughly €0.09–€0.14/GB — for example 640GB for €65 over 56 days. “Unlimited” plans only look cheap for people who use little; heavy users effectively pay for data they can’t run at full speed.
Which should a trucker or nomad choose?
Marco Polo, in nearly all cases — big stated allowances, 37-country coverage, long 28/56/90-day validity, tethering allowed and a French number with some calls and SMS. Holafly suits light, single-device, short-trip users who value not thinking about data over getting the most for their money.
Bottom line: “unlimited” is a convenience product, not a value product. If your work or your month depends on connectivity across Europe — and especially if you tether — buy a real big-data plan. You can set one up at Marco Polo Mobile eSIM and have it delivered by e-mail in minutes.
