Provider comparison
eSIM Prices Compared: Airalo at $2.40/GB, Saily at $2.60/GB
Airalo covers 200+ destinations with regional multi-country bundles and Airmoney cashback rewards.
Saily is backed by NordVPN's parent company Nord Security.
Feature by feature
Airalo vs Saily: the numbers
| Feature | Airalo | Saily |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 6.1/10 (rank 4) | 6/10 (rank 5) |
| Destinations | 200+ | Not stated |
| 5 GB plan, median a GB | $2.40/GB | $2.60/GB |
| 7-day unlimited, median | $27.00 | $26.99 |
| Full speed on that plan | 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4 | 5 GB a day in 25 countries, 3 GB in 10 |
| Best for | Regional Bundles | Best Privacy |
| Support | Email + in-app chat | Email only |
| Support language | 12 languages | 1 language |
| Guarantee | 14-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Founded | 2019 | 2023 |
| HQ | Singapore | Vilnius, Lithuania |
Market context
Five providers cover this market, not two
| Provider | Pricing model | 7-day unlimited | 5 GB plan, a GB | Destinations | Refund window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoam | Per gigabyte + unlimited | $21.50 | $2.01/GB | 185 | 180 days |
| Holafly | Per day, unlimited | $27.50 | No fixed plans (unlimited only) | 200+ | 180 days |
| Nomad | Per gigabyte | $25.00 | $2.30/GB | 200 | 30 days |
| Airalo | Per gigabyte | $27.00 | $2.40/GB | 200+ | 14 days |
| Saily | Per gigabyte | $26.99 | $2.60/GB | Not stated | 30 days |
HelloRoam and Holafly hold the longest refund windows at 180 days; Airalo's is 14. HelloRoam's support replies in your own language; Airalo's runs in 12 languages, Holafly's in 10, Nomad's in two and Saily's in one. Airalo lists 200+ destinations and Nomad 200, to HelloRoam's 185.
Destination pricing
Airalo vs Saily: price comparison by country
Each provider's own 7-day unlimited plan in six popular destinations, read 30 Oct 2026.
| Country | Airalo | Saily | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $26.50 | $26.99 | Airalo |
| United Kingdom | $27.00 | $26.99 | Saily |
| Thailand | $21.00 | $20.99 | Saily |
| France | $23.50 | $23.99 | Airalo |
| Mexico | $23.50 | $24.99 | Airalo |
| Australia | $26.50 | $26.99 | Airalo |
Prices were read on each provider's own site on 30 Oct 2026. A rival's price is its cheapest unlimited plan lasting at least 7 days. Full-speed data a day differs: Airalo 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4; Saily 5 GB a day in 25 countries, 3 GB in 10.
Trip Cost comparison · 40% of the score
Airalo vs Saily: Trip Cost
Airalo7.96/10
Airalo's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.00 across the 35 countries where all five providers were read on 30 Oct 2026, fourth of five, with full speed for 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4. HelloRoam's median is $21.50. On fixed data Airalo's 5 GB plan has a median of $2.40 a GB across 40 countries. Airmoney cashback returns 5-10% on repeat purchases.
Saily7.97/10
Saily's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $26.99 across the 35 countries checked 30 Oct 2026, third of five, with full speed for 5 GB a day in 25 countries, 3 GB in 10. HelloRoam's median is $21.50. The bundled VPN is worth about $13 a month as a standalone NordVPN subscription, which a traveler already paying for one should net off.
Trip Cost winner: Saily leads with 7.97/10 versus 7.96/10, worth 40% of the composite.
Refund Window comparison · 25% of the score
Airalo vs Saily: Refund Window
Airalo0.78/10
Airalo refunds an unactivated eSIM for 14 days after purchase. That is the shortest window of the five, about a thirteenth of the 180 days HelloRoam and Holafly publish. Refunds run through in-app support and email. Once a plan is activated and any data is used, it is non-refundable.
Saily1.67/10
Saily refunds an unactivated plan for 30 days, matching Nomad and a sixth of the 180 days HelloRoam and Holafly publish. Refunds go through email. Nord Security's corporate backing is a reasonable signal that a claim gets paid, but the window is still 30 days.
Refund Window winner: Saily leads with 1.67/10 versus 0.78/10, worth 25% of the composite.
Destination Coverage comparison · 20% of the score
Airalo vs Saily: Destination Coverage
Airalo10/10
Airalo sells plans for 200+ destinations, level with Holafly's 200+, then Nomad at 200. Regional bundles cover Europe, Asia, and a 130-country global plan on a single eSIM. Airalo and Holafly are the two providers here that publish their lists as an open-ended 200-plus.
Saily10/10
This site states no destination count for Saily: the figure on file is not confirmed on Saily's own site, so its coverage score carries that caveat. Coverage is solid across Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia. Saily is the one provider here whose built-in VPN matters in markets that block VoIP at the network level.
Destination Coverage winner: Airalo and Saily score equally at 10/10 for destination coverage, worth 20% of the composite.
Support Channels comparison · 15% of the score
Airalo vs Saily: Support Channels
Airalo5/10
Airalo publishes two support channels, email and in-app chat, and publishes no 24/7 hours. There is no WhatsApp line and no phone number. For a pre-departure activation problem that is enough; for a problem at 3am in a foreign airport, the published hours are not.
Saily2.5/10
Saily publishes one channel, email, and no 24/7 hours. There is no live chat, no WhatsApp, and no phone line. Self-service activation covers most eSIM-ready devices, so the channel gap only bites when something goes wrong mid-trip.
Support Channels winner: Airalo leads with 5/10 versus 2.5/10, worth 15% of the composite.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros and cons: Airalo vs Saily
Airalo
Pros
- +200+ destinations, level with Holafly's 200+
- +Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- +Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- +Instant QR code delivery
Cons
- 7-day unlimited median of $27.00 against HelloRoam's $21.50 (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- 14-day refund window, the shortest in this comparison
- No published 24/7 support hours
Saily
Pros
- +Backed by NordVPN parent company (Nord Security)
- +Integrated VPN protection on every plan
- +Clean, privacy-focused app
- +Bundled VPN is worth about $13/month as a standalone subscription
Cons
- Support runs in one language
- Email-only support with no live chat, WhatsApp, or 24/7 hours
- 30-day refund window against the 180 days two rivals publish
- 5 GB plan median of $2.60 a GB across 40 countries checked 30 Oct 2026
Who should choose what
Which traveler profile fits Airalo vs Saily?
Which provider costs less depends on your data usage and trip length.
Budget Backpacker
Prefers lowest per-GB cost, under 3GB/day, multi-country trip.
Pick: Saily
Saily scores 7.97/10 on trip cost against 7.96/10, the lower median 7-day unlimited price on the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Business Traveler
Needs a reliable connection and reachable support. 3-5 day trips.
Pick: Airalo
Airalo publishes email, in-app chat, scoring 5/10 on support channels. A 3-day trip leaves no slack to wait on a ticket.
Family Vacation
Multiple devices, heavy video streaming, 1-2 weeks.
Pick: Saily
Saily scores 7.97/10 on trip cost, so a family buying four plans multiplies the smaller number four times.
Digital Nomad
Works remotely, 1+ month stays, 10GB+ monthly usage.
Pick: Airalo
Airalo scores 10/10 on destination coverage with 200+ destinations, against Saily (count not stated). Someone changing country every month runs out of coverage before they run out of data.
Cancelled Trip
Plans change, flights get pulled, the eSIM was never activated.
Pick: Saily
Saily refunds an unactivated plan for 30 days against 14 on Airalo, scoring 1.67/10 on refund window.
Use case breakdown
Airalo vs Saily: who wins each travel scenario
Named winner per scenario based on pricing, coverage, and support scores.
Budget traveler
Lowest median 7-day unlimited price, checked 30 Oct 2026Saily scores 7.97/10 on trip cost against 7.96/10. The benchmark week costs $26.99 on Saily and $27.00 on Airalo. Difference for 7 days: $0.01.
Business traveler
Reachable support and a refund if the trip is pulledAiralo publishes email, in-app chat without published 24/7 hours, scoring 5/10. Saily scores 2.5/10. On refunds, Saily holds an unactivated plan for 30 days against 14 on Airalo.
Digital nomad
Destinations covered on one account for month-to-month staysAiralo scores 10/10 with 200+ destinations, against Saily (count not stated). Someone changing country every month runs out of coverage before they run out of data. Both providers support top-ups and plan extensions from their apps mid-trip.
Family vacation
Multi-device simplicity and a predictable totalSaily scores 7.97/10 on trip cost, and a family multiplies that number by however many people travel. Four benchmark weeks cost $107.96 on Saily against $108.00 on Airalo.
Scores come from published provider data and the 30 Oct 2026 price check. Refund windows, coverage and support checked June 2026. Winner determination uses the published rubric scores.
Real-world cost analysis
Airalo vs Saily: what you actually pay per trip type
3 GB to use across Europe
Light user: maps, messaging, social media. A 3 GB Europe plan, valid 30 days at HelloRoam, Nomad and Saily and 7 days at Airalo.
Airalo costs $1.49 less for this plan.
One week of unlimited data in Europe
Moderate user: navigation daily, video calls, some streaming. Each provider's cheapest Europe unlimited plan lasting at least 7 days.
Saily costs $0.01 less for this plan.
Two weeks of unlimited data in Europe
Active user across several countries. Each provider's cheapest Europe unlimited plan lasting at least 15 days.
Airalo costs $0.99 less for this plan.
Europe regional plans from the 30 Oct 2026 price check, read on each provider's own site. Each provider's Europe plan covers its own country list.
Our verdict
Which should you choose: Airalo or Saily?
Airalo verdict
Airalo is the pick when the destination is the constraint: 200+ destinations and regional bundles. On this site's cost-weighted rubric it is held back by a 14-day refund window against the 180 days two rivals publish.
Saily verdict
Choose Saily if you want NordVPN-grade encryption on the same eSIM. On this site's cost-weighted rubric, a 30-day refund window and email-only support hold it back more than the bundled VPN earns back.
Airalo wins on global coverage, at 200+ destinations, and on feature depth. Saily wins for travelers who want VPN protection built into their plan. For Europe, Japan, the US and Southeast Asian capitals, Saily's VPN adds real value: it protects traffic on hotel Wi-Fi, airport networks and public hotspots without a separate app. Airalo's Airmoney cashback returned 5-10% per purchase in June 2026, which adds up over several trips. Saily's 30-day refund policy beats Airalo's 14-day window. On price the two sit close: Airalo's 5 GB plan had a median of $2.40 a GB on 30 Oct 2026 against $2.60 at Saily, though Saily cost less in 25 of 40 countries, each time by one cent. The 7-day unlimited medians are $26.99 at Saily and $27.00 at Airalo.
Situational recommendations
Solo travel through Central America
Airalo's Americas regional bundle covered 20+ countries with one plan in June 2026, and this site states no Saily destination count, so check Saily's list stop by stop.
Business trip handling sensitive client data
Saily's integrated NordVPN-grade protection encrypts all traffic automatically on untrusted networks. No need to remember to toggle a separate VPN app while traveling.
Weekend city break in Europe
Saily's 5 GB plan cost $10.99 in France on 30 Oct 2026 against Airalo's $11.00, so price is level, and VPN protection on city public Wi-Fi is the bonus.
Not sure about either? See all 5 providers ranked in our best eSIM for travel guide.
Airalo vs Saily FAQ
Is Airalo or Saily cheaper for travel eSIM?
On the 30 Oct 2026 price check, Airalo's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.00 across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, against $26.99 at Saily. On the 5 GB plan, the median across 40 countries is $2.40/GB at Airalo and $2.60/GB at Saily. Medians hide single countries, so the table below gives six of them. Light users (under 5GB per trip) pay less on a fixed plan; heavy users compare unlimited plans and their daily full-speed allowance.
Which costs less for a 7-day trip, Airalo or Saily?
Airalo scores 7.96/10 on trip cost while Saily scores 7.97/10. Airalo's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $27.00 across the 35 countries where all five providers were read on 30 Oct 2026, fourth of five, with full speed for 3 GB a day in 31 countries, 5 GB in 4. Saily's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $26.99 across the 35 countries checked 30 Oct 2026, third of five, with full speed for 5 GB a day in 25 countries, 3 GB in 10. Both figures are the median 7-day unlimited price across the 35 countries where all five providers were priced, read 30 Oct 2026.
Which eSIM provider has a better refund policy?
Airalo refunds an unactivated plan for 14 days, scoring 0.78/10. Saily refunds for 30 days, scoring 1.67/10. Airalo handles claims through email + in-app chat; Saily through email only. Both follow standard industry terms once a plan is activated.
Can I use both Airalo and Saily on the same phone?
Yes. Modern smartphones (iPhone XS and later, most Android phones from 2020 onward) support multiple eSIM profiles simultaneously. You can install both Airalo and Saily before your trip, then switch between them in your phone's cellular settings. This is useful for comparing real-world speeds at your destination or using one provider as a backup if the other has weak coverage in a specific area.
Can I get support in my own language from Airalo or Saily?
Airalo runs support in 12 languages. Saily runs support in 1 language. Support language carries no weight in this site's score, because HelloRoam publishes no count to compare. Airalo publishes email + in-app chat; Saily publishes email only.
Which of Airalo and Saily covers more destinations?
Airalo scores 10/10 on destination coverage with 200+ destinations. Saily scores 10/10 (count not stated). Airalo sells plans for 200+ destinations, level with Holafly's 200+, then Nomad at 200. Regional bundles cover Europe, Asia, and a 130-country global plan on a single eSIM. This site states no destination count for Saily: the figure on file is not confirmed on Saily's own site, so its coverage score carries that caveat. Coverage is solid across Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
How does this site rank Airalo against Saily?
Airalo scores 6.1/10 overall and ranks 4 of 5 here. Saily scores 6/10 and ranks 5 of 5. Those two composites come out of one weighting: Trip Cost 40%, Refund Window 25%, Destination Coverage 20%, and Support Channels 15%. The weights reflect what this site compares, which is what a trip costs against carrier roaming and what a buyer can recover if the trip falls through. Coverage is counted off each provider's own destination list: Airalo 200+, Saily Not stated.
Is Saily cheaper than Airalo?
Not on the median. On the 30 Oct 2026 check, Airalo's 5 GB plan worked out at $2.40 a GB against $2.60 at Saily. Cell by cell it is closer: Saily cost less in 25 of 40 countries, each time by one cent, and Airalo cost less in the other 15, by more. On 7-day unlimited plans Saily cost less in 20 of 35 countries, with medians of $26.99 and $27.00. Airalo's Airmoney cashback also cuts its price for repeat buyers (June 2026).
Does Saily's VPN slow down mobile data speeds?
VPN overhead on Saily adds little noticeable delay in well-connected cities. For video calls and streaming, the difference is undetectable. In countries with restricted internet access, the VPN may improve speeds by routing around local throttling.
Which provider covers more African countries, Airalo or Saily?
Airalo listed 40+ African destinations in June 2026. This site states no Saily destination count, so check Saily's own list before you buy for an African trip.
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Sources
Data sources and verification
- Prices: the 30 Oct 2026 price check (HelloRoam's catalogue of 29 Oct 2026; rival sites read 30 Oct 2026). Pairing notes last checked 30 Oct 2026 for prices, June 2026 for everything else
- Destination counts from each provider's own published destination list
- Support channels, published hours, support languages (HelloRoam publishes no count; its support replies in your own language), and refund windows from each provider's own policy pages
- Scoring weights: Trip Cost 40%, Refund Window 25%, Destination Coverage 20%, and Support Channels 15%. Read the full scoring methodology
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