Saily vs Airalo: which eSIM is better for traveling in 2026
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Imagine arriving at your travel destination and not being able to order an Uber or use maps to navigate. That sounds like added stress I wouldn’t want while traveling. That’s exactly why I rely on eSIMs during my trips.
Two of my favorite eSIMs are Saily and Airalo. Saily makes staying connected easy, affordable, and secure. That’s why it’s my go-to provider during most of my trips. On the other hand, Airalo has a broader international coverage. So, if I travel somewhere specific, like my favorite islands of the Azores or Madeira, I choose Airalo.
However, when it comes to Saily vs Airalo, how do you determine which is better overall? In this guide, I compare Saily and Airalo, highlight their strengths, and help you pick the better option for your travel needs.
Saily vs Airalo: overall comparison
Saily and Airalo make it easy to set up eSIMs for local or regional travel. Additionally, they both offer broad coverage worldwide and offer 5G connectivity. That said, there are some key differences between them. Take a look at the table below to see how they compare.
| Saily | Airalo | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🏅 Overall rank: | #1 | #2 |
| 💵 Price: | $1.79 (1GB for 7 days) - Region dependant | $3.50 (1GB for 3 days) - Region dependant |
| 🌍 Coverage: | 200+ destinations | 200+ destinations |
| 📶 Cellular networks: | 3G, 4G, 5G | 5G, 4G, 3G and LTE |
| 📱 Allow phone calls: | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Discover+ Global plan) |
| 🛜 Support mobile hotspots: | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| 🧰 Additional features | ✅ Yes (Additional features) | ❌ No |
| Customer Support: | 24/7 live chat, email, FAQs | Email and WhatsApp |
Our team of researchers thoroughly tests eSIM services using a clear and consistent process. We combine first-hand experience with expert analysis to evaluate features, performance, coverage, and pricing - so you can make confident decisions before your trip. Learn how we test eSIMs.
Saily vs Airalo: which is cheaper?
From my travels, I noticed that cost is often a bigger consideration than speed or coverage. Even small savings can add up when you're moving between countries frequently.
Here's a quick comparison of the basic plans from Airalo and Saily in some of the most popular travel spots:
| Local eSIMs plans for 7 days | Airalo | Saily |
| USA | $4.00 | $3.59 |
| Japan | $4.00 | $3.59 |
| UK | $4.00 | $4.04 |
| Italy | $4.00 | $3.59 |
| Mexico | $4.00 | $4.49 |
| France | $4.00 | $3.59 |
| Spain | $4.00 | $3.59 |
Based on the comparison table above, Saily offers some of the best eSIM plans at the most affordable prices. Although I only compared the 1GB/7 days plans, the same theme applies to the rest of their plans. Saily is the cheaper option across all the available plans.
Data plans
After reviewing both providers’ pricing, I found that Saily offers a more consistent setup across different countries and regions. In contrast, Airalo’s data plans can vary quite a bit depending on where you’re traveling, making things less predictable. I will explain this in detail below.
Saily is quite straightforward. You can buy a data plan according to the following parameters for any of the available countries:
- 1GB 7 days
- 3GB 30 days
- 5GB 30 days
- 10GB 30 days
- 20GB 30 days
- Unlimited GB for up to 30 days
Prices vary from country to country. The most affordable option for Saily is $2.69 (1GB/7 days) for Thailand. The most expensive option is $8.99 (1GB/7 days) for Cape Verde. Each country and region has a unique pricing structure.
Take a look at the list of all countries supported on Saily and the pricing for each.
Airalo, on the other hand, has a range of plans according to different countries and regions. For example: the local US plan goes up to 50GB for 30 days, while the regional European plan can go up to 100GB for 180 days.
Airalo also provides global eSIM solutions, offering you up to 20GB for 365 days. Like Saily, the price of Airalo data packages differs from one country to another, but Airalo has less variance in its pricing.
The lowest Airalo pricing is $4.00 (1GB/7 days) in the USA, Japan, Italy, and a few other countries. The most expensive one is currently in Zimbabwe, which is $19.00 (1GB/3 days).
To summarize the pricing section, I found that Saily generally offers more affordable plans than Airalo, especially for short-term travel.
Payment methods
In terms of payment methods, both platforms feature credit and debit cards and Google Pay. However, Airalo has a couple of additional options Saily doesn't offer, including AliPay, PayPal, Apple Pay, and the handy in-app reward currency known as AirMoney. The table below shows you the payment methods available for each provider.
| Payment methods | Airalo | Saily |
| Credit or debit cards | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| PayPal | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Apple Pay | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Google Pay | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Alipay | ✅ Yes (only via the mobile app) | ❌ No |
| AirMoney | ✅ Yes (Airalo in-app reward currency) | ❌ No |
Speed
Speed is another key factor to consider when choosing an eSIM provider. Your connection mostly depends on the local carrier and the type of network available in each country.
In my experience, both Saily and Airalo delivered fast, reliable speeds and supported 5G in many places. I didn’t run into slow loading times, buffering, or significant lag while using either. So, if you’re worried about speed, both providers should work well for your travel needs. That’s why they’re the leading eSIM providers in the market, after all.
Coverage (countries and regions)
Saily’s coverage extends to around 200 countries and regions. However, since it launched in spring 2024, I hope to see it expand in the near future.
Airalo also covers around 200 countries and regions, but it has one advantage over Saily – a calls and texts service. Since Saily offers only a US phone number for calls and texts and data-only plans for other countries, Airalo emerges as the winner in this category.
Saily vs Airalo: ease of use and additional features
I enjoyed using the Saily app as it’s easy to get around. Its clean and minimal layout made navigation seamless.
The setup experience took me only a few minutes, thanks to the app's clear, simple-to-follow instructions. I then tested it while traveling, and my experience with Saily’s app was nothing but smooth from start to finish. The speeds remained stable and solid, and I had no coverage issues visiting big cities.
Speaking of Airalo’s app, I found it similar to Saily. It even had a nearly identical bottom menu. Right from the app, I could also browse all plans offered by Airalo, which is a great perk for planning a multi-country trip.
eSIM installation through Airalo was easy. However, one drawback compared to Saily for me was its more cluttered design. Because of that, it took me a while to find specific settings and plan details. Other than that, the eSIM worked well. I was pleased with its speed and had no connection disruptions.
Comparing my experience with Saily and Airalo, I have to say I preferred Saily. The app was very simple, making eSIM installation straightforward. Also, the in-app instructions were very helpful, and I had the eSIM set up on my phone in a matter of minutes. Saily is a great choice for a quick, no-fuss setup.
Additional features
Saily’s feature list is continuously growing. It has great security features, and it keeps improving every time I use it. I’ve been using Saily since it was founded in 2024, and in a short time, it has grown significantly. The tools it offers are not just useful but also uncommon among other providers. Here are a few Saily features that stood out to me:
- Virtual location – this feature boosts your privacy and makes your activity more secure by rerouting your traffic through a different country
- Ad blocker – blocks most pop-ups and harmful ads to help you browse faster and save data
- Web protection – keeps your device safe from phishing and malware, while you enjoy more private browsing
- Mobile hotspot – allows you to share your data with other devices, including laptops and tablets
- Refer a Friend program – Saily has a referral program that awards users $5 in credit when someone signs up using your code, and gives the other person a $5 discount on their first purchase
In comparison, Airalo mainly offers basic tools. Here are the few tools I found worth mentioning:
- Call and text support – included in Global eSIM plans
- Referral rewards – every time your friend signs up using your referral code, you get $3.00 in Airmoney
- Dark mode – great for iPhone users who prefer a darker interface
- Offline mode – makes the setup instructions available even when there’s no internet connection
If you appreciate advanced features, Saily is a better choice. It offers useful and well-thought-out tools for travelers. Its rapid growth in the features department says a lot about the direction this provider is headed.
Customer support
Good customer support is important, especially when traveling and using an eSIM. The last thing you want is to get stuck without help if something goes wrong. When I compared Airalo and Saily's customer support, I found that both have excellent service and several ways to contact their teams.
Saily's support impressed me. While testing their 24/7 live chat, I got a response within one or two minutes. The person on the other end was friendly, knew their stuff, and quickly helped me solve my questions. Plus, I also found out that most things can be easily solved by using Saily's FAQ section inside the app since it has many clear guides and troubleshooting tips.
I also tried Airalo's chatbot inside the app. It responded fast and gave good suggestions for common problems. When I needed more help, the chatbot quickly connected me with a real agent, which made things easier. Additionally, I found that Airalo offers support via email and WhatsApp – it's always great to have many ways of contacting support.
But if I had to choose a winner, I'd go with Saily for customer support. Their team was easier to reach and responded much faster. Their live chat also felt more personal and helpful when I needed quick answers.
Video review
If you want to see a visual comparison, check out this video that highlights how Saily and Airalo stack up in terms of their features, pricing, and performance.
Airalo vs Saily: my final recommendation for 2026
After comparing the two eSIMs based on pricing, ease of use, and performance across multiple locations, Saily came out as a top pick suitable for most travelers. What made Saily stand out even more was its solid speeds in every country I tested and its reliable customer support.
Saily might be a better option for most travelers, but Airalo has its strengths as well. Compared to Saily, Airalo offers a broader selection of destinations and longer-term regional plans. So, if you’re planning to travel to Madeira, the Azores, or Scotland, or plan a longer trip, Airalo is a great alternative.
FAQ
Is Saily better than Airalo?
Saily is a newer provider on the market but it has already earned a place as a secure and affordable eSIM. It constantly betters its service by introducing new features, such as ad blocker and web protection. Also, it offers cheaper plans than Airalo, which makes it a great option for budget-conscious travelers.
Is Saily worth it?
Yes, Saily is one of the best eSIM providers in terms of paying for what you get, so it is worth it. It’s one of the cheapest platforms on the market, but it comes with some restrictions in coverage and features for now.
What are the disadvantages of Airalo?
Airalo is one of the best eSIM providers you can find. However, it is slightly more expensive than other platforms.
Can Airalo be trusted?
Airalo has been on the market for several years. As one of the world’s leading eSIM providers, all of your data is guaranteed to be safe with the platform.
Is Saily eSIM trustworthy?
Yes, Saily is a safe and reliable eSIM service. It's developed by Nord Security – the same team behind NordVPN. Additionally, it includes strong privacy features like ad blocking and the ability to change your virtual location.
