Airalo eSIM top up: how to add data and when you cannot

Can you top up an Airalo eSIM?

Sometimes. An Airalo eSIM top up only works on rechargeable eSIMs, and Airalo says you should check the Additional information tab before you buy to see whether yours is one. Its help centre gives no list of which products qualify. We read the pages on 8 October 2026, and this is desk research, not an account we topped up ourselves.

How do you do an Airalo eSIM top up?

The steps for an Airalo eSIM top up are short:

1. Log in to your Airalo account.
2. Open My eSIMs.
3. Tap Top up on the eSIM you want to add to.
4. Choose the top-up package.

The Top up option only appears for rechargeable eSIMs. Airalo's data-and-validity article also points to My eSIMs and TOP UP as the route when you run out before the period ends.

What if the Airalo eSIM top up button is missing?

If there is no Top up button, or it does nothing, Airalo says the eSIM is either not rechargeable or its network carrier has changed. In either case you have to buy a new eSIM instead. If a top-up does not switch on by itself, restart the phone. If that fails, turn airplane mode on and off to restore the connection.

Airalo has a separate article for a top-up or eSIM that has not arrived. Delivery is normally immediate. If it is delayed, the app shows a message that it is on its way, which Airalo says usually clears in a few minutes and rarely takes up to an hour. If nothing is delivered within 70 minutes of purchase, Airalo says the order is refunded automatically.

Can an Airalo eSIM renew by itself?

Airalo also offers renewals on many eSIMs. A renewal tops up automatically when your data runs low. Check My eSIMs, then Details: if renewals are offered, you will see a section with a toggle.

• Each renewal matches the original package. A 1 GB, 7-day plan renews as 1 GB for 7 days.
• Airalo buys the renewal when 10 percent of the data is left, and it activates once the data runs out.
• You must be actively using the eSIM. You cannot turn renewals on if the data is used up or the validity period has ended.
• If validity ends first, the package does not renew and renewals switch off.
• A saved payment method is required. Airmoney and some other methods cannot be used.
• If a renewal payment fails, nothing renews and you are not charged.

How much does a top-up cost and how long does it last?

Airalo's top-up article does not say. It does not list top-up prices, the validity of a top-up package or any data limits on one, and sends those questions to support. We will not guess at figures here. Airalo also says a plan's validity period cannot be extended, which is why a top-up is the route when data runs short. For plan prices on the standard packages, see our Airalo review.

Should you do an Airalo eSIM top up or buy a new one?

Choose an Airalo eSIM top up if the button is there and you are still on the same trip. Buy a new eSIM if it is not rechargeable. Because Airalo does not publish top-up prices, compare a fresh plan against what the top-up screen shows before you pay, using our cheapest eSIM page. To understand when your validity clock starts, read how an Airalo eSIM works. For a fault after topping up, try the Airalo eSIM not working checklist, and for a wrong purchase see Airalo refund.