Saily is the travel eSIM built by the company behind NordVPN, and it arrived in a market that already had two entrenched leaders. This saily esim review looks at whether it has earned a place alongside Airalo and Holafly: how the per-GB pricing compares, how broad the coverage is, whether the security extras are useful or marketing, what speeds look like, and which type of nomad should choose it.
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Saily eSIM Review: Quick Verdict
Rating: 4 / 5. Saily is a strong pay-per-GB eSIM with competitive pricing, a very clean app, and a few genuinely useful security features borrowed from NordVPN. It is a credible alternative to Airalo for most destinations. It has fewer local plans than Airalo, the unlimited-style options are limited, and the security features only matter if you would not otherwise run a VPN.
Pros
- Competitive per-GB pricing, often slightly under Airalo on popular destinations
- Clean, fast app with one-tap top-ups and plan switching
- Built-in ad blocker, web protection and a virtual location option on the app
- Tethering allowed
- Backed by a large, established company with real support
Cons
- Fewer countries and regional plans than Airalo
- Data-only, no phone number on any plan
- Security features overlap with a full VPN if you already have one
- Newer service, so fewer long-term reliability reports
What Is Saily?
Saily is a travel eSIM app from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN and NordPass. You buy data plans for a country or region, install the eSIM through the app, and top up as you go. It launched to compete directly with Airalo on price and with Holafly on simplicity, and its differentiator is the security layer: an ad blocker, malware and phishing protection, and a virtual location feature that routes traffic as if you were in another country.
Plans and Pricing
Saily sells data in blocks, typically 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB and 20 GB, valid for 7 to 30 days, plus some larger and longer options on popular routes. Per-GB pricing on Thailand, Mexico, Portugal and Japan tends to sit a little below Airalo’s, and regional plans for Europe and Asia are priced competitively. Promotions are frequent for new users.
| Destination type | Typical Saily price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single country, 5 GB, 30 days | Roughly $10 to $18 | Often slightly under Airalo |
| Regional Europe, 10 GB, 30 days | Roughly $20 to $30 | Covers 30+ countries |
| Global, 10 GB, 30 days | Roughly $35 to $50 | Useful for multi-continent trips |
Coverage and Speed
Saily covers around 190 destinations through local partner networks, and reported speeds are on par with Airalo, meaning 4G or 5G in cities and decent coverage elsewhere. The limitation is depth: Airalo often offers several plan tiers and carrier options per country, while Saily offers fewer. In the popular nomad destinations this does not matter. In less-visited countries, check availability before you fly.
The Security Features
This is the part of any saily esim review that decides whether it is different or just another eSIM. The app includes an ad and tracker blocker, web protection that blocks known malicious sites, and a virtual location feature that changes your apparent country for the eSIM’s traffic. These are real and they work.
Whether they matter depends on your setup. If you already run a VPN on your phone, as we recommend in our best VPN for digital nomads guide, they are redundant. If you do not, they are a meaningful upgrade on public Wi-Fi and hotel networks, and they are included at no extra cost. The virtual location feature is not a substitute for a full VPN on your laptop.
Setup and Everyday Use
Install the app, pick a destination, buy a plan, and the eSIM installs in a couple of taps. There is no QR code juggling. The app shows remaining data clearly, top-ups are one tap, and you can hold multiple plans for upcoming countries and switch between them. Owner reports rate the app above both Airalo’s and Holafly’s for polish. Support is via in-app chat and email, backed by Nord’s large support operation.
Tethering is allowed, which makes Saily a good option for nomads who use the phone as a laptop backup, and a clear advantage over Holafly’s unlimited plans. See our Holafly review for why that matters.
Saily vs the Alternatives
Airalo has more countries, more plan options and a longer track record. Saily is a little cheaper on many popular routes and has the better app.
Holafly is unlimited but expensive per day and restricts tethering. Saily is the better choice for moderate users and laptop workers.
Nomad is similar in model and price to Saily with a slightly different country mix.
Our Airalo vs Holafly comparison and best eSIM for digital nomads guide place all four side by side.
Is Saily Worth It?
Yes, for moderate data users who want a well-designed per-GB eSIM with tethering allowed, especially if you do not already run a VPN on your phone. It is a legitimate Airalo alternative and sometimes the cheaper one. If you need a plan for an unusual destination or want the deepest catalog, Airalo remains the safer pick. If you use 30 GB or more a month on your phone, Holafly’s unlimited plans may still cost less.
See the latest Saily eSIM plansSaily eSIM Review: FAQ
Who owns Saily? Saily is made by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN and NordPass.
Does Saily allow hotspot and tethering? Yes. You can share your Saily data with a laptop or tablet.
Is Saily cheaper than Airalo? On many popular destinations it is slightly cheaper per GB, though prices change and promotions affect both. Compare the specific plan.
Does Saily include a VPN? It includes an ad blocker, web protection and a virtual location feature for the eSIM’s traffic on your phone. It is not a full VPN and does not cover your laptop.
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Also read: Airalo vs Holafly | Holafly Review | Best eSIM for Nomads | Best VPN for Nomads
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