Saily eSIM Review (2026): Pricing, Plans and Speed Tested

If you are an expat or digital nomad who needs reliable mobile data in every country you visit, Saily is the travel eSIM we recommend. Built by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, Saily delivers data plans in over 200 countries with plans starting from $2.99. You install it once and activate a new plan for each destination without swapping physical SIM cards.

We tested Saily across Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Hungary, and the UAE between March and September 2026. Connection was consistent, speeds reached 5G in major cities, and the app handled plan activation and top-ups without a single failure. This Saily eSIM review covers everything you need to know before you buy.

Saily is not the only travel eSIM worth considering. Holafly is a strong alternative if you want unlimited data instead of a fixed allowance. We cover both in this Saily eSIM review so you can pick the right option for your travel pattern.

Saily eSIM Pricing in 2026

Saily pricing depends on your destination, the amount of data and how long the plan lasts. Low-cost destinations such as Thailand start at US$2.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, while plans for the UK start at US$4.49 and plans for Canada at US$5.29. Every plan is a one-off purchase with no contract.

The table below shows the current Saily plans for Thailand, one of the most popular destinations for our readers. We checked these prices on the official Saily website in October 2026.

The unlimited plan gives you 5 GB per day at full speed, then continues at up to 1 Mbps for the rest of the day. That is enough for messaging and maps, but not for HD video once the daily allowance runs out.

For most expats on a short trip, the 3 GB or 5 GB plan offers the best value per gigabyte. If you stream video or tether a laptop every day, compare the 20 GB plan with the unlimited plan before you buy. Prices differ by country, so always check your destination in the Saily app.

Check Saily prices for your destination →

Saily Prices for Other Popular Destinations

Prices vary by country. These are the current plans for the destinations our readers ask about most, checked on the official Saily website on 22 October 2026.

Which Saily plan is the best value? A single-country plan is almost always cheaper than the Europe plan if you stay in one place. The Europe plan pays off when you cross borders, for example Spain, Portugal and France on one trip. For a month in the UK, the 10 GB plan at US$18.99 is the sweet spot for most people.

Are there extra fees? No. The price you see is the price you pay, with no contract and no activation fee. Auto top-up is optional, so nothing renews unless you switch it on.

Saily eSIM Review: What It Is and Why Expats Need It

Saily is a travel eSIM service developed by Nord Security, the parent company of NordVPN. An eSIM is a digital SIM card built into modern smartphones that allows you to activate a mobile data plan without inserting a physical card. You download the Saily app, purchase a plan for your destination, and your phone connects to a local carrier network within minutes.

For expats and digital nomads, Saily solves three persistent problems. First, it eliminates the need to find a local SIM vendor when you arrive in a new country. Second, it avoids the roaming charges that traditional carriers impose when you cross borders. Third, it keeps your existing phone number active on your primary SIM while Saily handles data on the eSIM slot.

The Nord Security backing matters in this Saily eSIM review more than any spec. The same infrastructure team that operates one of the largest VPN networks in the world manages Saily connectivity. The app includes built-in security features that no other travel eSIM offers, including an ad blocker, web protection, and a virtual location feature.

Saily eSIM Review: Coverage and Data Plans

Saily offers three types of plans. Local eSIMs provide data in a single country and are ideal for short trips or extended stays in one location. Regional eSIMs cover multiple countries under one plan, which is perfect for European road trips or Southeast Asian island hopping. Global eSIMs cover the widest range of destinations for travellers who cross continents frequently.

Local plans start from $2.99 for 1 GB over 7 days in low-cost destinations, scaling up to larger data allowances for longer periods. The exact prices for each plan size are in the Saily pricing table above. Unlimited plans are also available in select destinations with 5 GB per day at full speed, which is one of the most generous allowances in the travel eSIM market.

The Europe plan covers 35 countries including Turkey, which most competitors exclude. If you are an expat based in Western Europe who travels frequently within the continent, a single Saily Europe plan replaces the need to buy individual country plans for each border crossing.

How We Tested Saily

We purchased local plans for Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Hungary, and the UAE between March and September 2026. Each test included speed measurements at multiple times of day, streaming performance, video call quality, and hotspot tethering to a laptop.

In urban areas, Saily consistently delivered download speeds above 50 Mbps on 4G and above 150 Mbps where 5G was available. In rural areas of Portugal and Thailand, speeds dropped to 10 to 25 Mbps, which is still adequate for video calls, navigation, and web browsing. We experienced zero connection drops during active use across all five countries.

Plan activation was immediate in every test during our Saily eSIM review. After purchasing a plan in the app, the eSIM connected to a local carrier within 60 to 90 seconds. Top-ups for additional data worked instantly without disconnecting the active session. The experience was noticeably smoother than physical SIM purchases, which often require passport registration and vendor visits.

Saily eSIM Review: Security Features

Saily is the only travel eSIM that includes built-in security tools at no additional cost. The ad blocker reduces data consumption by blocking ads and trackers before they load, which Saily claims saves up to 28.6 percent of mobile data. On a capped data plan, this effectively extends your allowance by nearly a third.

Web protection warns you before visiting known malicious websites and blocks phishing attempts. This is particularly valuable when you are connected to unfamiliar networks in foreign countries. The virtual location feature masks your approximate location from websites and apps that track your position through your IP address.

These features do not replace a full VPN for activities like accessing geo-restricted banking or streaming services. For that, you still need a dedicated VPN like NordVPN. But for general browsing protection and data savings on a metered eSIM plan, the built-in tools add genuine value that competitors do not match.

Saily eSIM Review: Setting Up Step by Step

Step 1: Check eSIM Compatibility

Your phone must support eSIM technology. Most iPhones from iPhone XS onward and most Samsung Galaxy devices from the S20 onward support eSIM. Check your device settings under Cellular or Mobile Data for an option to add an eSIM or data plan. If the option exists, your device is compatible.

Step 2: Download the Saily App

Download Saily from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Create your account with an email address. The app is clean and minimal, with a clear interface that shows available plans organised by country and region.

Step 3: Purchase Your Plan

Select your destination country or region and choose a data plan that matches your stay duration and usage. Payment options include credit card, debit card, and select digital wallets. The plan is delivered instantly to the app after payment.

Step 4: Install and Activate

Follow the in-app instructions to install the eSIM profile on your device. This takes under two minutes. You can install the profile before you travel and activate it when you arrive, or install and activate simultaneously on landing. The app guides you through every screen with clear visual instructions.

Step 5: Connect and Use

Once activated, your phone connects to a local carrier network automatically. Your primary SIM continues to handle calls and texts while Saily handles all data traffic. You can monitor your remaining data allowance in the app and top up instantly if you need more.

Saily eSIM Review: Saily vs Holafly Comparison

Holafly is the best-known unlimited-data travel eSIM, with plans for more than 200 destinations. Where Saily sells fixed data allowances with integrated security features, every Holafly plan gives you unlimited data for a set number of days. Both are excellent options, but they serve different travellers.

Based on our Saily eSIM review, Saily is the cheaper choice for short trips and light to moderate data use, and it includes the security tools at no extra cost. Holafly is priced per day of unlimited data, so it costs more for light users but suits heavy users who stream, video call or work from their phone every day. If you never want to check a data counter, Holafly is the closer match.

For ease of use, Saily has the edge for frequent travellers. The single-profile eSIM means you download once and activate plans for different countries without installing a new profile each time. Holafly wins on support, with 24/7 live chat and WhatsApp help, but hotspot sharing is limited to roughly 500 MB to 1 GB per day on standard plans.

Check Holafly unlimited plans for your destination →

Saily eSIM Review: Limitations You Should Know

As noted throughout this Saily eSIM review, plans are data-only. You cannot make traditional phone calls or send SMS messages through Saily. Your primary SIM card continues to handle calls and texts, which means you need to keep your home carrier active or use VoIP apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Skype for voice communication. This is standard for travel eSIMs and not unique to Saily.

Customer support response times are adequate but not instant. In our Saily eSIM review testing, in-app chat responses arrived within 15 to 30 minutes during business hours. Email responses took 4 to 6 hours. Competitors like Holafly offer WhatsApp support with sub-5-minute response times. If instant support is your priority, factor this into your decision.

Not all phones support eSIM technology. Older devices and some budget Android phones lack eSIM capability. Carrier-locked phones may also block eSIM activation from third-party providers. Check your device compatibility before purchasing to avoid disappointment.

Pairing Saily With a VPN for Complete Protection

Our Saily eSIM review confirms that a travel eSIM gives you mobile data. A VPN gives you privacy, security, and access to geo-restricted services from home. Together, they cover every connectivity need an expat or digital nomad has while abroad.

Saily provides the data connection. NordVPN encrypts that connection and lets you access your home banking, streaming services, and government portals as if you were still in your home country. Since both products come from Nord Security, they are designed to work together seamlessly.

If you already have a NordVPN subscription, Saily occasionally offers bundle discounts for existing Nord Security customers. Check the Saily app for any active promotions linked to your NordVPN account.

Related Guides

• Best eSIM for Expats
• Holafly Review: Unlimited eSIM Data
• Best VPN for Digital Nomads
• Best VPN for Expats in Spain
• Best VPN for Expats in Thailand
• VPN for Online Banking While Traveling
• Airbnb WiFi Safety
• Public WiFi Safety Tips for Travelers

Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services we have personally tested and verified.