Courses
Cloudwards Video Courses New

Cloudwards.net may earn a small commission from some purchases made through our site. However, any earnings do not affect how we review services. Learn more about our editorial integrity and research process.

Saily eSIM Review

The data-only eSIM provider Saily promises affordable plans and a user-friendly experience for international travelers, but does it deliver when put to the test? Read our Saily eSIM review to find out.

Kit Copson
By Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)
— Last Updated: 2025-01-28T21:20:42+00:00
Key Takeaways: What Is Saily eSIM & Is It Good to Use?
  • Owned by Nord Security, Saily is a global eSIM service for travelers. It’s a very new eSIM provider that was launched in 2024. 
  • Saily’s eSIM service covers more than 190 countries and offers a variety of data-only plans that are paid for in advance. 
  • We think Saily is a user-friendly, affordable solution to get mobile data for international travel. 

Top Use Cases for Saily eSIM

  • Flexibility: Unlike traditional SIM cards,eSIMs enable devices to handle multiple data plans, allowing users to switch between plans as desired. 
  • Physical SIM alternative: Saily eSIM offers an alternative to purchasing a physical, local SIM card for data if you travel abroad. 
  • Enhanced security: Security is another consideration when you travel. In addition to providing various security and privacy features, Saily eSIMs can’t be physically removed. This reduces the risk of certain scams.  

In a world where more and more people are on the move, travel eSIM providers are opening up convenient and affordable roaming experiences for globetrotters. We experimented with one of the most well-known international eSIM providers and put together this Saily eSIM review to help you decide if it’s a worthy travel companion. 

eSIMs (embedded SIMs) like Saily are especially handy for travelers who want to use a plan in their destination country or region without having to insert a local SIM. If you’re considering Saily for this purpose, we recommend reading this review first to get all the information you need to make an informed decision. 

What Is Saily eSIM & Who Is It For?

Saily is an eSIM service provider offering data-only package subscriptions for people who travel. You can choose from a global plan, regional plans or those tailored to specific countries, and plans are prepaid based on how long you need to use your data. Plan lengths vary by country or region but range from seven to 365 days. 

  • Release date: 2024
  • Owner: Nord Security 
  • Operating systems: iOS & Android 
  • Platforms: RecentiPhones, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Huawei, Motorola & more 
  • Notable features: Data-only plans for over 190 countries 
  • Pricing: Varies by region, country and plan 

The Cloudwards Expert Opinion

Cloudwards Expert Opinion

Kit Copson is a Cloudwards expert in entertainment, travel and eSIM technology.

Based on my experience with the app, Saily is very intuitive and user-friendly with extensive coverage, making it a good choice for those who want a convenient data plan for traveling abroad. However, if you need a travel plan that covers calling and texting, too, you’ll need to pick a different provider because Saily’s plans are data-only.

Saily eSIM Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Easy to use 
  • Affordable pricing
  • Covers over 190 locations
  • Security & privacy features 
  • Responsive live chat support

Cons:

  • No unlimited data plans 
  • Some plans are valid only for 7 days
  • Data-only with no SMS or phone calls

How Does Saily eSIM Work? 

Saily offers prepaid phone data plans for various countries and regions, so you can get a mobile internet connection and use messaging services like WhatsApp while abroad. 

Using an eSIM means you don’t have to physically switch SIM cards when you touch down at your new destination. They also save you money on otherwise hefty roaming fees imposed by your usual carrier. 

Security & Privacy Features

90 % – Excellent

Saily is a very simple app with a tidy, user-friendly interface. However, it also has some standout security and privacy features to shout about, including the following: 

  • Virtual location: When this feature is enabled, your traffic is filtered through a server in a different location. This gives the impression that you’re connecting elsewhere, which is ideal for enhancing your privacy. 
  • Ad blocker: The ad blocker is great at swerving ads that could potentially contain malware. This works only for domain ads, though, not website-hosted ads. 
  • Web protection: This feature is designed to help reduce the risk of phishing and malware attacks. 

Saily’s security features are powered by NordVPN, which is also owned by Nord Security. Learn more about NordVPN in our NordVPN review and see our top VPN recommendations in our best VPN roundup.

Saily eSim Overview

Features
Payment methods
OS
Device support
Global 105
Regional 35
Country 190
Ad-blocker
Virtual location
Web protection

User-Friendliness & Hands-On Testing

95 % – Excellent

We tested out the Saily app and found it to be incredibly user-friendly. Each step was guided and easy to follow, so even complete beginners should have no trouble getting up and running. 

How to Install Saily eSIM

You can install Saily on your phone and sign up for a plan very efficiently. The entire process took us only a few minutes. First, check that your phone is eSIM-friendly (see our guide on this further down), then follow these steps:

  1. Download Saily

    Go to the Apple app store (iOS) or Google Play store (Android) and download the Saily app.

    saily download
  2. Purchase a Plan

    In the app, tap “log in,” then select “explore plans” and choose a plan that fits your needs (by country or region). Tap “continue.”

    saily plans
  3. Click “Install eSIM”

    Once you complete your payment, tap “install eSIM” in the Saily app. Go to the next section to learn how to activate your eSIM.

    install saily

How to Activate Saily eSIM

Saily plans activate by default when you get to your destination, but there are a few steps to complete after the initial installation (see above) to ensure this happens. Once you’ve tapped “install eSIM,” simply follow the prompts. 

We went through this process on an iPhone. The layout and wording might look slightly different on an Android, but it will be very similar. You can find the Android steps on Saily’s FAQ page

  1. Allow the Activation

    When you see the activation prompt, tap “allow.”

    activate saily
  2. Start the Activation

    When you see the “activate eSIM” screen, tap “continue.” 

    activate saily 1global
  3. Complete the Process

    It may take a few moments for your eSIM to activate. Tap “done” when prompted.

    activate saily done
  4. Name Your Plans

    After activation, you’ll be prompted to assign a name to each plan to help you distinguish between them. As you continue, make sure you select your Saily plan’s name for “cellular/mobile data” and your regular SIM for the “default.” Toggle off “allow cellular data switching.” You can also access these options in the “cellular” settings if you missed the prompt.

    cellular plan labels
  5. Finish Up

    After following all the prompts, you should see the following screen. Tap “close.” Select the “activate” tab on the plan in the app before you travel. You can add more data at any time. Finally, go to the next step to set up your roaming preferences.

    esim installed
  6. Enable Saily & Data Roaming 

    In the “cellular” settings, tap the plan’s name and toggle on “turn on this line” and “data roaming.” Your plan will activate automatically when you get to your destination. If you experience any problems, go to the “instructions” in the top-right corner of the Saily app or select “help” to contact an agent.

    saily enable data roaming

Saily eSIM Mobile Compatibility

Like other eSIMs, Saily is compatible with a wide range of modern phones. These include iPhone 11 and above, iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, Samsung Galaxy 20 and above (including various Note, Fold and Flip models), a range of Google Pixel models and many more. 

Bear in mind that there are exceptions in certain countries. For example, most iPhone models purchased in China don’t support eSIMs even though they’re supported in most locations. 

To check if your mobile device is eSIM-compatible, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the “cellular” settings: 
    • iPhone: Go to “settings,” then select “cellular.” 
    • Android: Go to “settings,” tap “connections” and select “SIM card manager.” 
  2. Look for an eSIM option: 
    • iPhone: In the “cellular” settings (iPhone), look for a tab that says “add eSIM.” 
    • Android: Look for the “add eSIM” option in the “SIM card manager.”

Please note that most Android models will follow the above process, but some have slightly different steps. If you see the option to add an eSIM, your phone is eSIM-compatible.

Saily eSIM Pricing: How Much Does Saily eSIM Cost?

85 % – Very Good

Saily eSIM plans start as low as $2.99 for seven days and 1GB of data and go up to $36.99 for 30 days and 20GB of data. Saily’s pricing is based on the country or region you intend to visit, with plans for some countries — like Thailand — being the most affordable.

Some other eSIM providers are cheaper than Saily, but it’s still pretty affordable. Let’s take a closer look at Saily’s pricing structure using some of the covered countries as examples. 

saily data plans
Saily eSIM plans are priced differently based on the country or region. 

At the time of writing, many countries’ plans come with extra free data as follows: 5GB (+2GB free), 10GB & 20GB (+5GB free). 

Country1GB (7 days)3GB (30 days)5GB (30 days)10GB (30 days)20GB (30 days)
USA$3.99$8.99$13.99$22.99$36.99
Thailand$2.99$4.99$6.99$8.99$17.99
Turkey$3.99$6.99$9.99$15.99$22.99
UK$4.49$8.99$12.99$19.99$31.99
UAE$3.99$7.99$10.99$17.99$30.99
Malaysia$3.99$8.99$12.99$21.99$35.99

Global and Regional Pricing

In addition to plans that work in one country, Saily has packages covering various countries across different regions. For example, the European plan covers 35 countries. Like with the options for individual countries, the number of GB and validity periods vary by plan

The prices in the table represent the cheapest possible plan for each region. We’ve also included the maximum validity periods and the highest number of GB you can get — these are on the most expensive plans.

RegionPricing FromNumber of CountriesLongest Validity PeriodHighest GB Available
Global$8.99105365 days20GB
Europe$4.9935180 days100GB
Asia$4.9919180 days100GB
North America$5.99230 days10GB
Middle East & North Africa$13.991930 days3GB
Latin America$13.991230 days5GB
Africa$26.49287 days1GB
Caribbean Islands$14.49177 days1GB

Pricing Plan Breakdown

While most locations come with several plan options, as shown in the table above, some regions — such as American Samoa — offer only seven-day plans. Others, like Belize, provide up to 3GB of data only. 

If you need a validity period longer than seven days, opting for a plan with more GB works out cheaper overall than going for the 1GB plan. Saily also offers business plans. You can learn about business pricing by contacting Saily for a quote. 

Payment Methods

The payment methods that Saily accepts are as follows:

Saily eSIM Speed and Coverage

85 % – Very Good

Since Saily’s data is linked to local providers, its speed will depend on where you are. As a rule, you can get 5G — or at least 4G coverage, if your device supports this — but you might be limited to 3G with some carriers. 

As for coverage, Saily currently covers more than 190 countries. This is fewer than some competitors, like Holafly and Airalo (check out our Airalo review), but Saily isn’t far behind and is still growing. On that note, we’ll reiterate that Saily is a data-only provider and doesn’t include calls or texts in its plans, but it says it’s working to develop phone number support. 

Saily eSIM Customer Support

95 % – Excellent

Saily’s customer support options include 24/7 live chat, which is available via the Saily app, a “submit a request” option for browsers, and a help center with informational guides. These cover things like eSIM installation, coverage, payment questions, troubleshooting tips and more. 

Live Chat Support Speed & Quality 

saily livechat
We can’t fault Saily’s live chat support as we
received a fast and helpful response.

We were very impressed by Saily’s in-app live chat support. We received a response to our query within seconds, and the agent was friendly and helpful. This is perfect if you find yourself experiencing difficulties when you land in a new country and need immediate help. We also like that the chat doesn’t disappear so you can refer back to it later if necessary. 

Saily eSIM vs Other eSIM Services

Airalo and Holafly are two of Saily’s biggest competitors. Both services have been around longer than Saily, so they have broader coverage and, in Airalo’s case, more plan options (see below). As for Holafly, it boasts unlimited data, something that Saily doesn’t offer. 

That said, the new service Saily seems to be working on its coverage — it started out with over 150 countries and now covers more than 190. Additionally, Saily is cheaper than Airalo and Holafly. 

Saily eSIM vs Airalo

In addition to data-only plans, Airalo offers voice, text and data plans, which are ideal for those who want to make calls and send SMS messages when abroad. Saily doesn’t have this feature yet but mentions on its website that it is “working on it.” 

As we mentioned above, Saily is a little cheaper than Airalo, so it might be a better choice for travelers on a budget who want data only. In addition, Saily comes with some nifty security and privacy features. 

Community Feedback: Saily eSIM Reviews on Reddit & Social Media

Reddit reviews for Saily are largely positive in nature, with praise for its speed, ease of use and connection consistency. 

Some users say they experienced connection dips in certain locations, especially in remote areas. One user mentions that customer support “response times were a bit slow,” but the general consensus is that Saily is reliable and performs well in most areas. 

The Verdict: Is Saily eSIM Good?

To sum up, we think Saily eSIM is an excellent service, especially for travelers on a budget who just need data. There’s a lot to like, including its pricing, user-friendliness, security features and helpful customer support.

On the other hand, Saily isn’t a good choice for people who want a plan covering calls and texts while abroad as it has data-only plans at the moment. It also lacks unlimited data plans. 

Are you going to take Saily with you on your next adventure? Why did you choose Saily over other eSIM providers? We’d love to hear about it in the comments. Thanks for reading.

FAQ: Saily eSIM App

  • Yes, we think Saily is a great eSIM service because it’s user-friendly and not too pricey, and it comes with useful security features.

  • Yes. Saily is a legitimate company owned by Nord Security, and it has received plenty of mostly positive reviews.

  • Saily provides data plans for globetrotters. If your device is eSIM-compatible, you can simply purchase a plan via the app, install it and activate it.

  • Yes, the U.S. is one of the countries that Saily covers.

↑ Top