Saily vs Airalo
Saily and Airalo are two of the biggest names on the eSIM market, but does one have an edge over the other? Find out in this Saily vs Airalo showdown.
Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Editor, Writer)
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz (Fact-checking editor)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: Saily vs Airalo
- The main difference between Saily and Airalo is that Saily offers faster customer support and special features to help protect your privacy (ad blocker, virtual location and web protection). You can also get a monthly subscription if you travel often.
- Meanwhile, Airalo has broader regional and global coverage and offers a phone number with some plans, so it’s the better choice for people who want to make calls and texts the traditional way.
- Many of Saily’s and Airalo’s plans are similarly priced, but Saily’s starting prices are typically a tad cheaper.
Facts & Expert Analysis: Airalo vs Saily
- Choosing a provider: eSIM providers are all very similar, so you have to pay attention to each one’s unique features and plan types to determine which one is best for you. For example, not all eSIMs come with security features like Saily’s or a phone number like with Airalo.
- Do you need a phone number just for travel? You don’t necessarily need a phone number for travel. If you use apps like WhatsApp, you can use your eSIM’s data to contact people back home instead of buying a plan with a phone number.
- Unlimited plans: Many eSIMs — Saily and Airalo included — offer unlimited data plans, but bear in mind that there’s typically a cap on the amount of high-speed data you get per day. You can still use data once you’ve hit the cap, but it will be slower.
In the six years it’s been on the market, Airalo has become one of the most popular eSIM brands. Nevertheless, in the ever-growing eSIM industry, competitors are springing up left, right and center. Saily, launched in 2024, is one of them. In this Saily vs Airalo comparison, I’ll put the two services head to head and declare a winner.
For specifics on how Airalo and Saily stack up, read on. Alternatively, to learn more about my top eSIM picks, click over to my roundup of the best eSIMs for international travel.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Saily Is the Winner
Cloudwards’ Choice: Saily Is the Winner
Saily, owned by security service Nord Security, takes gold thanks to its one-of-a-kind security and privacy features, and its efficient customer support team. The service is especially ideal for beginners given that you can try it out for free and get help quickly via the live chat box. However, its regional coverage isn’t as broad as Airalo’s.
Which Is Better: Saily vs Airalo?
Saily may be my top choice — and it certainly comes with the most perks — but that doesn’t mean it’ll suit everyone’s needs. For example, if you want to make calls and send texts, or if you plan to visit more countries in some regions, you might want to opt for Airalo instead. Let’s break it down further.
Who Is Saily For?
- Travelers who want extra security: Saily comes with a set of unique security and privacy features designed to protect you from malicious sites and avoid ads.
- Beginner eSIM users: Saily’s support team often responds within seconds via live chat, making it a great choice for beginners who need help.
- Travelers with light data needs on a budget: In some locations, including Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, Saily’s pricing starts from just $1.99 for 1GB. This makes it a cheap option for travelers with light data needs.
Who Is Airalo For?
- Those who need a phone number: If you want to make phone calls and texts, some Airalo plans come with a dedicated number.
- People who need broader coverage: Airalo has several large regional plans, including a 42-country Europe plan and a 137-country global plan. It’s especially ideal for Oceania travelers, with its Oceania plan covering eight countries compared to two with Saily (via the Asia + Oceania plan).
Our Detailed Comparison Methodology
When testing eSIMs like Airalo and Saily, I first look at how easy it is to purchase and install a plan and navigate the app. I also consider the customer support options available — some providers have live chat, while others have only “submit a request” forms — and how long it takes to get a response when I reach out.
I explore factors like pricing, free trials and coverage to determine whether one of the providers offers better value for money, and I hunt for any special extra features that make a service stand out and increase its value.
Airalo vs Saily: Comparison at a Glance
| Feature: |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing from | $1.99 (1GB) | $4.50 (1GB) |
| Free trial | ||
| Destinations | 200+ countries & regions | 200+ countries & regions |
| Unlimited plans | Yes, some destinations | Yes, some destinations |
| Business plans | ||
| Phone number | * | ** |
| Supported speeds | LTE, 3G, 4G, 5G (where available — varies depending on location & network availability) | LTE, 4G, 5G (where available — varies depending on location & network availability) |
| Mobile hotspot support | ||
| Support options | Chat bot, live chat, FAQ & troubleshooting guides | Chat bot, live chat, FAQ & troubleshooting guides |
**You can also make calls with VoIP apps
Saily vs Airalo: Extra Features
Saily is definitely the most feature-rich of the two services. For one, it offers security features that Airalo doesn’t, including a virtual location changer and an ad blocker.
The virtual location changer is a privacy feature that makes it look like you’re using the internet in a different location from where you actually are, helping to keep your data private while you’re browsing and streaming. For example, if you’re in Canada but connect to the U.S., it will look like your traffic is coming from the U.S.
The ad blocker comes in handy to help prevent irritating interruptions — plus, ads can suck up your mobile data faster. Saily also comes with a web protection feature. When enabled, it blocks links that could result in a malware infection or phishing incident.
However, one feature Airalo has that Saily doesn’t is call and text functionality. This is available on a few plans, including the U.S. plan, the U.K. plan and the global plan. You get a phone number for the period your Airalo plan is active, and a certain number of minutes and texts depending on the package you choose.
The table below summarizes how Saily and Airalo stack up in terms of features.
| Feature: | | |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | ** | |
| Virtual location | ||
| Ad blocker | ||
| Web protection | ||
| VPN | * |
**On some plans
Saily and Airalo Pricing & Plans
Saily generally has cheaper starting prices. Though there isn’t a huge difference in pricing, some Saily plans — like for Bulgaria — start from as little as $1.99. Meanwhile, Airalo plans typically start from $4.50.
Note that while some Airalo plans are more expensive for 1GB, some higher-GB plans work out to be cheaper. For example, a 20GB Thailand plan with Airalo costs $18, while the same plan with Saily costs $19.99 despite Saily’s starting price being lower.
The table below highlights some data-only fixed local and regional plan pricing ranges to give you an idea.
| Region: | | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. | From $3.99 (1GB) to $36.99 (20GB) | Data-only: From $4.50 (1GB) to $37 (20GB) Data, calls & texts: From $7 (1GB) to $49 (20GB) |
| Japan | From $3.99 (1GB) to $24.99 (20GB) | From $4.50 (1GB) to $25 (20GB) |
| Thailand | From $2.99 (1GB) to $19.99 (20GB) | From $4.50 (1GB) to $18 (20GB) |
| France | From $3.99 (1GB) to $31.99 (20GB) | From $4.50 (1GB) to $23.50 (20GB) |
| Europe | From $4.99 (1GB) to $95.99 (50GB) — 35 countries | From $5 (1GB) to $185 (100GB) — 42 countries |
| Asia | From $4.99 (1GB) to $179.99 (100GB) — 19 countries (including Oceania) | From $5 (1GB) to $185 (100GB) — 18 countries (excluding Oceania) |
| Global | From $8.99 (1GB) to $66.99 (20GB) — 113 countries | Data-only: From $9 (1GB) to $66 (20GB) — 137 countries Data, calls & texts: From $15 (1GB) to $89 (20GB) |
Business Plans
Both Saily and Airalo provide business plans designed for jetsetting employees who need to stay connected abroad. Since every company is different, you have to fill in a form on Saily’s or Airalo’s website to get a quote for your business plan, providing information like the number of employees and any specific needs your company has.
Saily Ultra Plan (Subscription)
Saily’s latest addition is Saily Ultra, a monthly subscription service that costs $59.99 per month and helps Saily stand out from the crowd. With Saily Ultra, you enjoy the following features:
- Data limit: You get 30GB of high-speed data each month, covering 113 countries. When you use up your 30GB, you still have unlimited data but at 1 Mbps.
- Security features: All of Saily’s security extras — ad blocker, virtual location and web protection — are included, along with other Nord Security products. These include NordVPN, NordPass (password manager), NordLocker (file storage tool) and Incogni (data removal tool).
- Priority customer support: The 24/7 support team treats your help requests as a priority.
- 8% cashback: You get a small percentage in cashback on many Saily plans. At the time of writing, many plans come with 3% in Saily credits. With Saily Ultra, however, you get 8% cashback in the form of Saily credits to use for future purchases.
In addition to the above features, travel perks include airport lounge access, fast-track airport security and priority check-in queuing at select airports for subscribers. Saily Ultra automatically renews each month, but you can cancel your subscription whenever you want.
Airalo and Saily User-Friendliness
chat box were more readily visible for new users.
There isn’t much difference between Saily and Airalo in terms of user-friendliness. Both apps are easy to navigate, with simple, clean aesthetics. Each service makes it straightforward to buy plans, reach out to support and manage your eSIM plans.
the store to the customer support chat box.
One aspect of Airalo’s app that I like is that its live chat help box is clearly shown, whereas Saily’s is somewhat hidden away in “help,” then “troubleshooting.” Saily’s isn’t hard to find, but it could take first-time users a bit more time to track it down compared to in Airalo’s app.
Airalo vs Saily: Location Coverage
Though both services cover more than 200 destinations (including local, global and regional plans covering multiple countries), Airalo has broader regional plan coverage in most cases.
It gets a bit more complicated with the Africa and the Middle East & North Africa plans. Each provider distributes countries differently, and there can be overlap. For example, Saily includes Algeria on both plans, while Airalo includes it only on the Africa plan.
The best provider for you will depend on how many places you plan on visiting in a particular region. The side-by-side comparison below shows how many countries are covered in each region:
| Region: | | |
|---|---|---|
| Global | 113 | 137 |
| Europe | 35 | 42 |
| Asia | 19 (including Oceania) | 18 (not including Oceania) |
| Oceania | 2 included on the Asia plan (see above) | 8 |
| Caribbean | 29 | 26 |
| Latin America | 12 | 17 |
| Africa | 34 | 36 |
| Middle East & North Africa | 19 | 13 |
| North America | 2 | 3 |
Saily vs Airalo: Mobile Compatibility
Both Saily and Airalo are compatible with a wide range of modern iPhones and Androids. You can check Saily’s full compatibility list and Airalo’s compatibility list, but some of the most well-known compatible brands include the following:
| iPhone 11* iPhone XS iPhone XR iPhone SE 2 | Samsung Galaxy** Google Pixel, Huawei, Xiaomi, Sony, Nokia, Sharp, Nuu, Oppo, Motorola, Rakuten, Surface, Honor, Fairphone, OnePlus, Hammer, Vivo, T-Mobile, TCL |
**Supports nearly all Samsung Galaxy models
The services are also compatible with some smartwatches, laptops and tablets. Note that if you have an older phone, it might not support eSIM technology. In addition, some models sold in certain countries, like iPhones sold in China, don’t come with eSIM support.
Saily vs Airalo: Speed Comparison
I used Saily and Airalo in a city, with a strong 5G connection in both cases. However, speed is dependent on where you are and whether the network is experiencing congestion. For instance, being somewhere remote can impact speed, as can using data at peak times when many people are using the same network.
Both Saily and Airalo support up to 5G speeds in several locations if network conditions are favorable, but Airalo is more up front about the networks it partners with and the speeds those networks support. For example, if you click on the Airalo U.S. plan, then “buy now” and “network,” you’ll see that T-Mobile and Verizon are the partners and that both support 5G.
As for Saily, the plan pages merely state “3G/4G/LTE/5G, depending on local network providers,” but there is no indication of who the network providers are or whether those networks support higher speeds. If you want to know which network providers Saily partners with in your target destination, you have to ask a support agent via live chat in the app.
Airalo vs Saily: Customer Support
Saily beats Airalo hands down when it comes to customer support speed. I’ve been in touch with both services on multiple occasions, and Saily’s support agents have responded lightning fast each time, typically within a few seconds. The team is always helpful and friendly, and they give clear answers to queries.
In my experience, Airalo is more hit-or-miss in this area. I’ve received helpful human responses within five minutes, but there have also been occasions where it’s taken around 20 minutes. The agents are always pleasant and helpful, though, so Airalo earns points in that regard.
| Support: | | |
|---|---|---|
| Chatbot | ||
| Live chat | ||
| Submit a request | ||
| Phone support | ||
| FAQ help pages | ||
| User forum | ||
| Blog |
The Verdict: Why We Think Saily Is the Better eSIM Provider
Airalo is a reliable eSIM service, but Saily has an edge, with special security features you can’t find elsewhere and speedy customer support. That said, if you want more coverage globally or in Europe, Oceania, Asia, Latin America or North America, opt for Airalo.
Has our comparison helped you choose between Saily and Airalo? Which eSIM services have you used before, and how did it go? Feel free to share your experience in the comments, and thanks for stopping by.
Saily and Airalo Competitors: Other eSIM Providers to Consider
Saily and Airalo might be two of the biggest names in the industry, but they still have plenty of competitors to see off, all of which have something different to offer.
FAQ: Airalo vs Saily eSIM
Airalo is one of my favorite eSIM services, but I consider Saily to be the best.
Saily is better than Airalo. Its customer support is outstanding, and it comes with security and privacy features that other eSIM services don’t offer. It also sets itself apart with a feature- and perk-packed monthly subscription service.
Yes, Saily eSIM is trustworthy. The established privacy and security solution company Nord Security owns Saily.