Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Short Answer
Saily is the eSIM to check first if you want Nord Security's privacy pedigree at a competitive price. It won't blow you away with the widest country list or the lowest prices, but you get 5GB pricing within about a dollar of Airalo, unlimited plans in most destinations, a privacy-respecting app, and solid 4G/LTE across 150+ countries. The trade-off is maturity — Saily launched in 2023, so the carrier network is still expanding and 5G support is limited. For most travelers buying a straightforward data plan, that gap won't matter.
What Is Saily?
Saily is owned by Nord Security, the Lithuanian company behind NordVPN and Surfshark — two of the biggest consumer VPN services in the world. Nord Security was founded in 2012 and serves millions of paying customers across its VPN products. Saily launched in 2023 as their entry into the eSIM market, leveraging the same infrastructure and privacy expertise that powers those products.
When I was researching eSIM providers to build AvailSim, Saily immediately caught my attention because of that Nord Security connection. It means Saily isn't some random startup trying to figure out mobile data on the fly — the team already knows how to build secure infrastructure, handle user privacy, and ship consumer apps at scale.
The product itself is straightforward: capped data plans across 150+ countries, activated via QR code, managed through a clean iOS or Android app. 1GB plans cost $3.99 in most countries we track (as little as $1.99 in Austria and the Czech Republic), and at 5GB Saily's pricing is usually within about a dollar of Airalo's. Saily also sells unlimited plans in most destinations.
Saily Plans & Pricing
Saily's pricing is competitive, though rarely the cheapest. 1GB plans cost $3.99 in most countries we track, and the per-GB cost drops as you move to larger plans. For a trip to France, Spain, Italy, or Germany, expect to pay $9.99–12.99 for 5GB or $15.99–20.99 for 10GB (30-day plans). That's within about a dollar of Airalo at 5GB, and up to $2 more at 10GB.
Current local plan prices below (verified September 2026). The 1GB plans are valid for 7 days; the 5GB and 10GB prices are for 30-day plans. Prices vary by destination and change over time — check AvailSim's live comparison for current rates.
| Destination | 1 GB (7 days) | 5 GB (30 days) | 10 GB (30 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | $3.99 | $10.99 | $17.99 |
| France | $3.99 | $10.99 | $16.99 |
| Thailand | $2.99 | $7.99 | $10.99 |
| Mexico | $4.99 | $14.99 | $23.99 |
| Australia | $3.99 | $10.99 | $17.99 |
Be realistic about value: Saily is priced to match the big names, not to undercut the whole market. At 5GB it lands in the top three cheapest options in only 3 of the 61 countries we track, and at 10GB and 20GB it's usually mid-pack. Nomad, for example, is cheaper than Saily at 10GB in 52 of 60 countries. You pick Saily for the Nord backing and the clean app, with pricing that stays close to Airalo's.
Coverage & Network Quality
Saily covers 150+ countries, which puts it behind Airalo (200+) but ahead of Holafly (60+). The major tourist destinations are all covered — Western Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Americas. Where you might run into gaps is in less-traveled regions like Central Asia, parts of Africa, and smaller Pacific islands.
Network quality runs on 4G/LTE in most markets, with some 5G availability in countries where carriers have rolled it out broadly. Based on user reports across European and Asian destinations, speeds are consistent — typically 20-60 Mbps on 4G, which is more than enough for maps, messaging, streaming, and video calls. Saily partners with established local carriers, so you're not getting routed through obscure networks.
Like most eSIM providers, Saily offers data-only plans. No phone number, no traditional calls or SMS. You'll use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or other VoIP apps for voice communication — standard across the industry and rarely an issue for travelers who are already messaging-app dependent.
App & Setup Experience
The Saily app is clean and functional on both iOS and Android. The purchase-to-activation flow takes about 2-3 minutes: pick your destination, choose a plan, pay, scan the QR code, and you're online. The interface is uncluttered — it does what you need without trying to upsell you on extras or bury you in menus.
Privacy is where Saily's Nord Security DNA shows up most clearly. The company applies the same privacy-first principles that drive NordVPN: minimal data collection, transparent privacy policies, and secure payment processing. For travelers concerned about handing over personal data and payment details to a random eSIM provider they found online, Saily's corporate backing provides genuine reassurance.
Buy before you travel, on solid Wi-Fi
Open the Saily app (iOS or Android), pick your destination, choose a plan (5GB is where Saily's pricing is most competitive), and pay. Do this at home, not at the airport — the purchase-to-activation flow takes 2-3 minutes but you want a stable connection for it.
Scan the QR code to install the eSIM
Saily emails and displays a QR code after purchase. On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code. On Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM. Installation takes under a minute.
Keep your home SIM active for calls and texts
Saily is data-only — no phone number attached. Set your home SIM as default for calls/SMS and let Saily handle data. Both lines run simultaneously on any modern dual-SIM phone.
Switch data to Saily when you land, and watch the low-data alerts
At your destination, switch your active data line to Saily in Settings. The app shows exactly how much data you've used and sends alerts before you run out, so you can top up in the app before your connection cuts off.
New to eSIMs? Our step-by-step eSIM setup guide covers every phone model in detail.
Saily vs Alternatives
Here's how Saily stacks up against the main alternatives for a trip to France at the 5 GB tier. Saily, Airalo, and Nomad land within $2 of each other, with Nomad the cheapest here; the key differentiator against Airalo is coverage breadth and app ecosystem maturity, not cost.
| Provider | Data | 5 GB France | Countries | Top-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | Capped + unlimited | $10.99 (30 days) | 150+ | Yes |
| Airalo | Capped + unlimited | $10.00 (7 days) | 200+ | Yes |
| Nomad | Capped + unlimited | $9.00 (30 days) | 180+ | Yes |
| Holafly | Unlimited only | $27.50 (7-day unlimited) | 60+ | No |
Want live prices across every provider and data tier for your specific destination? See AvailSim's Europe comparison or the full Saily provider page.
Who Should Buy Saily
Buy Saily if you're…
- Buying around 5GB for a popular destination — where Saily's pricing is most competitive
- Privacy-conscious and want a provider backed by an established tech company
- A first-time eSIM user who wants a simple, no-upsell app experience
- Budget-focused and comparing prices against Airalo for the same trip
- Fine relying on WhatsApp/FaceTime for calls, since Saily is data-only
Consider alternatives if you're…
- A heavy streamer or hotspot user who'll use 15+ GB in a week — compare Saily's unlimited plans with Airalo's and Nomad's, which are usually up to $2 cheaper for 7 days
- Heading somewhere unusual — Airalo's 200+ countries covers more ground
- Someone who wants 24/7 instant support — Holafly is better here
- A frequent traveler who wants the most mature app ecosystem — Airalo has the edge
Pros & Cons
What we like
- Backed by Nord Security (NordVPN, Surfshark) — real infrastructure and privacy pedigree, not a random startup
- Competitive 5GB pricing — usually within about a dollar of Airalo for the same destination
- Clean, uncluttered app — no upsells, clear real-time data tracking, low-data alerts before you run out
- Top-up available mid-trip without reinstalling the eSIM
- Privacy-first approach: minimal data collection, GDPR compliance, secure payment processing
- 150+ countries covers essentially every popular travel destination
What to weigh
- Rarely the cheapest option — at 5GB and above it usually sits mid-pack among the providers we track
- Fewer countries than Airalo (150+ vs 200+) — unusual destinations may not be covered
- Younger company (launched 2023) — carrier partner network still expanding, 5G support limited
- Support is competent but not exceptional — 30 minutes to a few hours, not 24/7 instant chat
The Verdict
Saily is the eSIM I'd point privacy-conscious travelers to first — the Nord Security backing is a legitimate differentiator in an industry where new providers appear and disappear regularly. Combine that trust factor with pricing that tracks Airalo's closely and a genuinely clean app, and Saily earns a spot at the top of the comparison list for most popular destinations.
The trade-off is maturity: Saily launched in 2023, so the carrier network is still expanding and support doesn't quite match established players yet. If you're heading somewhere unusual or want the deepest app ecosystem, Airalo is still worth a look. But for a straightforward trip to a popular destination, Saily is a strong, trustworthy default.
See how Saily compares for your destination
Live prices from Saily, Airalo, Nomad, Holafly, and more — filtered by data tier and country.
Compare eSIM Plansarrow_forward