Prices from Saily's and Airalo's own websites, in US dollars, checked on 9 and 10 October 2026. Visitors in Europe may see euro prices, which differ.
The short answer: pick Airalo if you want the widest choice of destinations, a Europe plan that covers 41 countries, a year to start your plan and calls and texts on some plans. Pick Saily if you want a built-in ad blocker and virtual location, an unlimited plan that stays at full speed for 5 GB a day on every plan, and a full refund for 30 days while the eSIM is unused. On fixed-data plans for Japan, Thailand and the US, the two cost almost the same.
Both are big, well-rated travel eSIM brands that sell data-only plans through an app. We reviewed each in full (Saily review, Airalo review); this page puts them side by side.
Saily vs Airalo at a glance
| Saily | Airalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Japan, 5 GB for 30 days | $10.99 | $11.00 |
| Europe, 10 GB for 30 days | $35.99 (35 countries) | $31.00 (41 countries) |
| Thailand, 5 GB for 30 days | $7.99 | $8.00 |
| United States, 5 GB for 30 days | $13.99 | $13.50 |
| Japan unlimited | 5 days $18.99, 30 days $71.99 | 7 days $26.50, 30 days $69.00 |
| Unlimited full speed | 5 GB a day, then up to 1 Mbps | 3 GB a day (Japan, global) or 5 GB a day (Europe, Thailand, US), then 1 Mbps |
| Global plan | 121 countries, 1 GB for 7 days $8.99 | 168 countries, 1 GB for 7 days $8.50 |
| Time to start the plan | within 30 days of purchase | within a year of purchase |
| Refund while unused | full refund within 30 days | withdrawal within 14 days, before activation |
| Rewards | about 3% back in Saily credits | 5 to 10% back in Airmoney |
| Extras | ad blocker, web protection, virtual location | "+" plans with calls and texts |
| App ratings | 4.7 App Store, 4.5 Google Play | 4.6 App Store, 4.6 Google Play |
Prices
On single-country fixed plans the difference is a few cents. Saily's Japan 5 GB plan for 30 days is $10.99 and Airalo's is $11.00. Thailand is $7.99 against $8.00. For the United States, Airalo is 49 cents cheaper at $13.50 for 5 GB.
Europe is where they part. Airalo's 10 GB for 30 days is $31.00 and Saily's is $35.99, so Airalo is about $5 cheaper and covers six more countries. The global plans are close too: 1 GB for 7 days is $8.50 at Airalo and $8.99 at Saily.
Both give some money back for the next trip. Saily credits about 3% of each purchase; Airalo's Airmoney is 5 to 10% depending on how much you have spent, it can expire and it cannot pay for auto-renewals.
Data and unlimited caps
Neither brand's unlimited plan is unlimited at full speed. Saily gives 5 GB a day at full speed on every unlimited plan, then up to 1 Mbps until the day resets. Airalo states the limit on each plan: on Japan and the global plan, speed drops to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day; on Europe, Thailand and the US, after 5 GB a day.
For Japan, that makes Saily the more generous unlimited plan at a similar monthly price: $71.99 for 30 days against Airalo's $69.00, with 5 GB a day instead of 3. For a short stay Saily also starts lower, at $18.99 for 5 days, while Airalo's shortest Japan unlimited plan we compared was $26.50 for 7 days. 1 Mbps is enough for maps and messages but slow for video. If you want to know which kind of plan fits your trip, see fixed, daily or unlimited.
Coverage and networks
Airalo lists plans for more than 200 countries and regions. Its Eurolink Europe plan covers 41 countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway and Iceland, and its Discover global plan covers 168 countries. Airalo names its partner networks on each country plan: SoftBank and KDDI in Japan, True and AIS in Thailand, T-Mobile and Verizon in the US.
Saily's Europe plan covers 35 countries and also includes the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Turkey. Its global plan covers 121 countries, so travelers on a long multi-continent route should check their stops against the list before buying.
App and extras
Both apps are easy to use and well rated: Saily scores 4.7 on the App Store and 4.5 on Google Play, Airalo 4.6 on both, when we checked. Both let you top up data in the app and use your phone as a hotspot.
Saily's extras come from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN: an ad blocker, web protection against known dangerous sites and a virtual location that lets you browse as if from another country, all running over your Saily data. It also sells an optional US +1 number from $0.99 a month.
Airalo's extras are about calls: its Discover+ global plans add a US +1 number with minutes and texts, and its US Change+ plan adds minutes and texts. It takes cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay (not in every country), and Alipay in the app.
Refunds and support
Both offer live chat around the clock. The refund rules differ:
- Saily: a full refund within 30 days of purchase if you have not installed the eSIM or activated the plan. After activation, refunds are case by case, for example for a quality problem on Saily's side or when almost none of the data was used. You must activate a plan within 30 days of buying it.
- Airalo: you can withdraw within 14 days, but only until the eSIM is activated. If the service fails and Airalo cannot fix it within 10 days, you get a replacement or a refund of the unused part. If you bought the wrong plan or your plans changed, the refund is Airmoney credit, not money back to your card. You have a year from purchase to start a plan.
If you buy well ahead of a trip, Airalo's one-year window is more forgiving. If you may cancel, Saily's 30-day cash refund is the safer one.
Which to choose
- Travelers from the UK heading to Europe: Airalo is cheaper for 10 GB and covers more countries, including Norway and Iceland. Both include Switzerland and Turkey.
- US travelers going to Japan: prices are level for 5 GB. For heavy use, Saily's unlimited plan keeps full speed for 5 GB a day against Airalo's 3 GB.
- Australians on a round-the-world trip: Airalo's 168-country global plan reaches more places than Saily's 121.
- Privacy-minded travelers on public Wi-Fi and hotel networks: Saily's ad blocker, web protection and virtual location save running a separate app.
- People who need a number for calls and texts: Airalo's "+" plans include them; Saily sells a US number as an add-on.
- People who book far ahead: Airalo gives a year to start a plan; Saily gives 30 days.
A third option
eSIM Lounge sells fixed, daily and unlimited data plans, priced in US dollars. On 10 October 2026 our Japan unlimited plan was $13.99 for 5 days and $17.99 for 7 days, with full speed for the first 5 GB each day. Our Europe plan of 1.5 GB a day for 30 days was $26.99 across 30 countries, including the UK and Switzerland but not Turkey.
FAQ
Is Saily cheaper than Airalo?
Not by much. In October 2026, 5 GB for 30 days in Japan cost $10.99 with Saily and $11.00 with Airalo, while 10 GB for 30 days in Europe cost $35.99 with Saily and $31.00 with Airalo.
Which has better unlimited data, Saily or Airalo?
Saily gives 5 GB a day at full speed on all its unlimited plans, then up to 1 Mbps. Airalo slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day on Japan and global plans and after 5 GB a day on Europe, Thailand and US plans.
Does Saily or Airalo cover more countries?
Airalo does. Its Europe plan covers 41 countries and its global plan 168, against 35 and 121 for Saily, as of October 2026.
Which has the better refund policy?
Saily refunds in full within 30 days if the eSIM was not installed or activated. Airalo allows withdrawal within 14 days before activation, and refunds a change of plans in Airmoney credit rather than cash.
Is Saily made by NordVPN?
Yes. Saily is made by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, which is why its app includes an ad blocker, web protection and a virtual location.
Do Saily and Airalo give you a phone number?
Their standard plans are data only. Airalo's Discover+ plans include a US +1 number with minutes and texts, and Saily sells a US +1 number as an add-on from $0.99 a month.
Facts and prices checked on 9 and 10 October 2026.