Best Firsty Alternatives in 2026

Firsty made a name for itself with a simple promise: free mobile data, funded by adverts. For many travellers it works well. But the free tier is designed for essential use, eligibility rules decide who sees it, and every session starts with an advert. If that model does not fit the way you use data, you have options. This guide compares the strongest Firsty alternatives in 2026 across free, survey-powered and prepaid models. Every claim about another provider on this page comes from that provider's own website or help centre, checked on 12 June 2026.

What is Firsty?

Firsty is a mobile data app built around one global eSIM. It describes itself as "the first free mobile network" (firsty.app, accessed 12 June 2026).

Its free tier, Firsty Free, gives you basic mobile data after you watch a short advert. Its paid plans, named Comfort+ and First Class, are sold as daily or monthly options for people who need more speed and more data than the free tier allows.

Firsty deserves credit for proving that ad-funded mobile data works at scale. The reasons people look elsewhere are usually about fit, not failure.

Why do people look for a Firsty alternative?

Five practical reasons come up again and again:

1. Ad sessions. Free access is unlocked in blocks after watching adverts, so you return to the app to stay connected.
2. Essential-use speeds. Firsty states that free data runs between 256 Kbps and 1 Mbps depending on location, which suits messaging and maps rather than heavy browsing (firsty.app help, accessed 12 June 2026).
3. A daily cap. Firsty Free includes up to 300 MB of data every 24 hours. Once you reach it, new ad sessions stop until the next day.
4. Eligibility rules. The free tier may not appear at all, depending on the country of your phone number, your current location and your device. If this is your situation, read our guide to why Firsty Free may not be showing.
5. A different funding model. Some people would rather unlock their data once and spend it freely than watch an advert before each session.

None of these make Firsty a bad product. They define who it is for, and who should consider an alternative.

How does Firsty Free work?

According to Firsty's own help centre (accessed 12 June 2026):

• Watching one short advert connects you for 30 minutes.
• Adverts can be stacked back to back, up to 12 in a row, for several hours of access at a time.
• Free data is capped at up to 300 MB every 24 hours.
• Speeds vary between 256 Kbps and 1 Mbps depending on location.
• Firsty recommends the free tier for messaging, maps, email and basic browsing.
• Availability depends on your registered phone number's country, your current location and an eSIM-compatible device.

If you want the full breakdown of eligibility rules and fixes, see why Firsty Free may not be showing.

What are the best Firsty alternatives in 2026?

Moontel, for free mobile data without ad sessions

Moontel takes a different route to free data. Instead of watching an advert before each session, you unlock free mobile data by completing matching surveys in the Moontel app, then spend that data whenever you need it. There is no advert standing between you and a connection, and no credit card required. Future releases may add more ways to unlock mobile data.

The other structural difference is permanence. Moontel is an eSIM that never expires: you install it once and keep it as your second line, at home in the UK and across 218 supported countries and destinations. That makes it useful between trips too, as a backup eSIM for weak Wi-Fi, network outages or end-of-month data gaps.

Moontel is available through the web app. Create your account and complete an eligible survey. Once the completion is confirmed, your permanent eSIM will be ready to install and the installation option will appear.

Best for: people who want free mobile data without watching adverts, and a second eSIM that stays useful after the trip ends.

Nomad, for prepaid packs per trip

Nomad is a travel eSIM provider covering 200 plus destinations. You buy a plan for a country or region, install the eSIM, and connect on arrival, with add-ons available if you run out (nomadesim.com, accessed 12 June 2026). New users could redeem a free 1 GB trial eSIM at the time of checking.

Best for: travellers who prefer paying upfront for a known amount of data on a specific trip.

GigSky, for cruises and Visa cardholder perks

GigSky sells travel eSIM plans in 175 plus countries, with plans starting from 3.99 US dollars and a distinctive range of cruise, ferry and inflight options. At the time of checking, eligible Visa cardholders could claim up to 3 GB of complimentary data (gigsky.com, accessed 12 June 2026).

Best for: cruise passengers, frequent flyers and travellers who hold an eligible Visa card.

Roamless, for pay-as-you-go credits that do not expire

Roamless is a connectivity app offering mobile data, phone numbers, calls and SMS in 200 plus destinations. You top up Roamless Credits and pay only for what you use, and Roamless states that credits never expire, so leftover balance carries to your next trip (roamless.com, accessed 12 June 2026). Its homepage does not advertise a free data allowance.

Best for: occasional travellers who want to pay per megabyte without expiry pressure.

Airalo, for the widest prepaid marketplace

Airalo is the best known eSIM marketplace, with local, regional and global packs for 200 plus locations. Packs are prepaid with a validity period that starts at activation; the pack ends when the period closes or the data runs out, whichever comes first (airalo.com, accessed 12 June 2026).

Best for: one-off trips where a cheap local pack for a single destination is enough.

Firsty alternatives compared

All provider claims below are taken from each provider's official website or help centre, accessed 12 June 2026.

Who should choose Moontel?

Choose Moontel if these three things matter to you:

• Free data without adverts before each session. You complete matching surveys when it suits you, and the data you unlock is yours to spend.
• A second eSIM you keep. No buying and deleting profiles per trip. Moontel installs once and stays, which is what makes it work as everyday backup, not just travel kit.
• No credit card required. There is no payment method to add and nothing to auto-renew. Level 01 starts free.

Be equally clear about who Moontel is not for. If you need a large volume of high-speed data the moment you land, with zero effort, a prepaid pack from Nomad, Airalo or GigSky is the more direct tool. Moontel data is unlocked through surveys inside the web app.

If your goal is specifically free data with no payment details, see our guide to getting a free eSIM with no credit card.