Airalo hotspot: can you share an Airalo eSIM's data?

Does an Airalo hotspot work?

It can. Airalo's help centre says tethering, which is what a personal hotspot does, works with your eSIM only if both your device and the network support it. It does not say which networks or plans allow it. So an Airalo hotspot is a "check, then try" feature rather than a promise. We read Airalo's tethering article on 8 October 2026. This is desk research, not a hotspot test on our own phone.

What is the catch with the APN?

If your eSIM needs an APN entered by hand, the hotspot needs the same one. Airalo tells you to look at your eSIM's installation page to see whether a manual APN is required. If one is, set it before you turn the hotspot on. Where to find it is covered on our Airalo APN settings page.

How do you set up an Airalo hotspot on an iPhone?

1. Go to Settings, then Personal Hotspot, and turn on Allow Others to Join.
2. If your eSIM requires a manual APN, go to Settings, then Cellular (or Mobile Data), and select your eSIM under the plans list.
3. Open Cellular Data Network (or Mobile Data Network).
4. In the Personal Hotspot APN field, enter the APN from your eSIM details, in lowercase and as one word.
5. Leave the Username and Password fields blank.

How do you set up an Airalo hotspot on Android?

Set the APN first. Then open Settings, go to Network & Internet, tap Hotspot & tethering, then Wi-Fi hotspot, and turn it on. Airalo's page is brief for Android, and names vary by make, so treat these as a guide.

Will a hotspot use up the data faster?

Airalo does not address that in its tethering article, but it explains how data works generally. The data in a plan covers the whole validity period, not a daily allowance, and anything connected through your hotspot draws from the same pot. Airalo says most plans show usage in the app, with low-data alerts at 25 percent and 10 percent remaining. On unlimited packages, it says speeds may slow on days you pass a usage threshold listed in the eSIM's additional information. It does not say whether tethering is counted differently. Because the validity period cannot be extended, a heavy hotspot user may want a top up or a larger plan.

Can you share the data with another phone another way?

Airalo mentions one case. If you move to a new device, an Airalo eSIM cannot be transferred, but you can keep using what is left on the old phone and share it by turning on a personal hotspot on that phone.

What Airalo does not say

The tethering article does not list restricted plans or countries, speed limits for hotspot use, or fees. If a hotspot is the reason you are buying an eSIM, ask support before you pay. See Airalo customer service. If it connects but nothing loads, try the Airalo eSIM not working checklist. For how plans work, see how an Airalo eSIM works, and our Airalo review and cheapest eSIM pages cover price.