Airalo vs Saily eSIM 2025: Complete comparison of data eSIM providers

Introduction

When traveling abroad, a data eSIM is one of the most convenient ways to stay online without high roaming charges. There are many providers on the market, but Airalo and Saily are among the most popular choices. In this comparison, we'll help you decide which virtual SIM card better suits your needs.

Airalo is an established provider with coverage in 211 countries, while Saily is a relatively new player in the market (founded in March 2024), created under the wings of NordVPN and offering coverage in 180 countries. Both providers have their strengths and weaknesses, which we'll present in detail.

If you want to quickly compare all available eSIMs for your destination, use our eSIM comparison tool, where you can filter by required data size, validity, and country – even multiple countries at once.

Key Differences Between Airalo and Saily

• Airalo offers wider coverage (211 countries compared to 180 with Saily).
• Airalo allows purchases without requiring app installation.
• Airalo provides immediate functionality after installation without needing to restart.
• Saily offers better customer support with faster responses.
• Airalo has higher prices than Saily for comparable packages.
• Saily requires app installation to obtain the eSIM after purchase.
• Neither provider allows buying more data without Wi-Fi after using up your package.
• Airalo has lower ratings on Trustpilot (2.6/5) than Saily (4.1/5).

Coverage and Offerings

Airalo

Airalo offers one of the widest coverages on the market with eSIMs available in 211 countries worldwide. Their offerings include:

• Local eSIMs for individual countries
• Regional eSIMs for continents or groups of countries
• Global eSIMs valid in more than 100 countries at once

This wide range makes Airalo a universal choice for almost any destination. If you're traveling to more exotic countries or planning to visit multiple destinations, Airalo has a better chance of covering all your needs.

Saily

Saily offers coverage in 180 countries, which is still an impressive number, even though slightly behind Airalo. Their offerings include:

• Local eSIMs - valid in one country, ideal for stays longer than 7 days
• Regional eSIMs - valid in all countries of a given region (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, etc.)
• Global eSIMs - valid in 105 countries worldwide

Although Saily covers fewer countries than Airalo, their offering is still broad enough for most regular travelers. Additionally, thanks to the connection with NordVPN, Saily also offers some added features, such as integrated VPN or ad blocking to save data.

Verdict: Coverage and Offerings

Winner: Airalo – With coverage in 211 countries compared to 180 with Saily, Airalo has a slight advantage, especially for travelers to more remote destinations. However, if you're traveling to more common tourist locations, the difference in coverage probably won't play a significant role in your decision.

For specific destinations, we always recommend checking availability and prices with both providers using our eSIM comparison tool, which will help you find the best solution for your trip.

Purchase Process

Airalo

Purchasing an eSIM from Airalo is relatively straightforward and doesn't require downloading an app. You can log in directly on the website and use Google login or other methods, which is very convenient.

However, the purchase process contains several unnecessary steps:

• You need to confirm your phone's compatibility with eSIM
• You go through several pages with a tutorial explaining the entire eSIM process

These steps may be useful for beginners, but for more experienced users, they seem redundant. The advantage is that Airalo offers the option to share your eSIM QR code, which can be handy if you're buying an eSIM for someone else.

Saily

Saily's website is very clear and easy to navigate, which corresponds to the company's technological background. The purchasing process is designed with an emphasis on simplicity and speed:

• Option to log in using Google and Apple accounts
• Google Pay support for quick payments
• Clear selection of countries and data packages
• Clear information about coverage and conditions

During our testing, however, we encountered two problematic aspects:

• Under the login form, it's stated in fine print that the company will send you marketing messages, with unsubscribing only possible via email. This approach is problematic in terms of GDPR and personal data protection.
• After completing the purchase, it's necessary to download the Saily app to get the eSIM, as the QR code or activation details are not sent by email. This can be impractical if you prefer installation without needing another app.

Verdict: Purchase Process

Winner: Airalo – Despite unnecessary steps in the purchase process, Airalo has the advantage of not requiring app installation to obtain the eSIM. You can buy and activate the eSIM using only a web browser, which is advantageous especially when traveling with limited internet access or limited phone storage.

App and User Experience

Airalo

The Airalo app has over 5 million downloads and a rating of 4.3 stars based on 75,000 reviews, which speaks to its popularity. Our experiences with the app:

• The app size exceeds 50 MB, which is quite large
• Logging into the app is very easy thanks to Google login
• The overall user interface is intuitive and clear

The app offers a good overview of your active eSIMs, remaining data, and top-up options. The disadvantage is that after using up your data, the app stops working - it doesn't have "zero-rating," which would allow access to purchase more data without Wi-Fi.

Saily

The Saily app is one of the strongest aspects of this service. The app design follows the clean and clear style of the website and offers an intuitive interface that even less tech-savvy users can handle.

Main advantages of the Saily app:

• Clean, modern design with intuitive navigation
• Clear display of purchased eSIMs and their data usage
• Automatic data top-up feature when reaching the limit
• Integrated VPN thanks to connection with NordVPN
• Ad blocking and web protection to save data
• Option to set virtual location using VPN

Just like with Airalo, the Saily app has the disadvantage that after using up your data, it stops working and doesn't support "zero-rating," meaning access to the app without active data.

Verdict: App and User Experience

Winner: Saily – The Saily app offers a more modern design and more added features, such as integrated VPN, ad blocking, and automatic data top-up option. These features provide a better overall user experience, even though both apps suffer from the same problem with non-functionality after using up data.

eSIM Installation

Airalo

Installing an eSIM from Airalo is relatively straightforward but has its specifics:

• For installation, you need to use a screenshot of the page with the QR code, as there's no button for direct download/installation.
• After installing the eSIM, data starts working immediately - no need to select a network or restart your phone.

This immediate functionality is a big advantage over some competing solutions and makes first use easier, especially if you've just arrived in a new country and need to quickly get connected.

Saily

The process of installing an eSIM from Saily is among the smoothest we've ever tested. The entire process takes place directly in the app and is designed to be as simple as possible even for users without technical knowledge.

eSIM installation happens in a few simple steps:

1. Select your purchased data plan in the app
2. Click the button to install the eSIM
3. The app guides you through the entire installation process
4. At the end of installation, you get a reminder to turn on data roaming

It's important to mention that although the app installs the eSIM very smoothly, it doesn't turn it on automatically. To complete activation, you need to go to your phone settings, turn on the newly installed eSIM, and set which SIM card will be used for data.

Verdict: eSIM Installation

Tie – Both providers offer a well-designed eSIM installation process. Airalo has the advantage of immediate functionality after installation without needing a restart, while Saily offers a smoother installation process directly from the app with useful reminders. The choice depends on your preferences - whether you prefer immediate functionality (Airalo) or a more assisted process (Saily).

If you use an iPhone or Samsung and need more detailed instructions on installing an eSIM, check out our guides on how to add an eSIM to iPhone or how to add an eSIM to Samsung. To check your phone's compatibility with eSIM technology, visit our list of phones with eSIM support.

Customer Support

Airalo

Airalo's customer support offers several contact methods, but our experiences were mixed. When testing the support, we found the following:

• Airalo uses a chatbot as the first line of support, which tries to solve primarily installation problems
• Even when we stated that the eSIM was already installed, the chatbot insisted on going through basic installation steps
• After rejecting automated responses, we were placed in a queue for a live operator
• The waiting time to connect with an operator after going through the chatbot was 5 minutes
• When our turn came, the support tried to help us, but the whole process was lengthy

Saily

Customer support is one of the areas where Saily truly excels. The support system is very well thought out and efficient, which is key especially when traveling, when you need quick solutions to potential problems.

Saily's customer support offers a multi-level approach:

1. Help center with frequently asked questions and solutions
2. Chatbot that tries to solve common problems
3. Human support that takes over communication if the chatbot can't help

During our testing, we were very satisfied with the speed and quality of responses. Human support responded quickly, asked for necessary screenshots, and provided useful advice. Communication took place in a neutral, respectful tone, and we had no objections to the help provided.

Verdict: Customer Support

Winner: Saily – Saily's customer support is significantly better than Airalo's. Faster responses, more efficient problem solving, and an overall more professional approach make Saily the clear winner in this category. When you're traveling and encounter a connection problem, fast and efficient support is invaluable.

Connection Speed

Airalo

Our speed tests of Airalo in Switzerland with direct visibility to a transmitter showed:

• Download speed: 40 Mbps to 150 Mbps
• Upload speed: consistently around 40 Mbps

Airalo doesn't apply any artificial speed restrictions on 4G, which is positive. Speed primarily depends on the quality of the local network and coverage in the given location.

An interesting finding was that Airalo doesn't limit data exactly at 1 GB, but up to 1.4 GB. However, it's not clear whether this is intentional or just a technical delay in terminating the connection.

Saily

For testing the connection speed of Saily eSIM, we used a 5G network with good signal and direct visibility to a transmitter. The results were solid, but not fully utilizing the potential of the 5G network.

Measured values:

• Download speed: 174 Mbps
• Upload speed: 70 Mbps

These values are definitely sufficient for regular internet use, including streaming high-definition video, video calls, or downloading larger files. However, compared to the full potential of a 5G network, these speeds are still limited.

An important finding was that data was precisely terminated after reaching the limit (in our case 1 GB and 7 MB). There's no reserve or gradual speed reduction - the connection simply turns off.

Verdict: Connection Speed

Winner: Saily – Although Saily doesn't utilize the full potential of the 5G network, the measured speeds were higher than with Airalo. However, it should be noted that we tested Airalo on a 4G network and Saily on a 5G network, so the difference may be partly due to network technology. For regular use, both solutions are fast enough.

For a better understanding of differences in mobile technologies, check out our articles on 4G vs. LTE or 4G vs. 5G. If you need to estimate how much data you'll need on your trip, read our guides on 2 GB of data - what it's enough for, 5 GB of data - what it's enough for, or 10 GB of data - what it's enough for.

Prices and Value

Airalo

Airalo's pricing policy is one of its weaker points:

• The tested 1 GB data package cost $4.50
• That's more than four times the price compared to, for example, eSIM4travel

Airalo is among the more expensive eSIM providers on the market, especially if you're looking for basic data packages. The higher price isn't always justified by added value or better services.

Saily

Saily offers competitive prices for its data packages, which are often more advantageous than many other eSIM providers, especially in Asian countries. The pricing policy is transparent and offers good value for money.

Price examples (as of November 2024):

• USA: 1 GB / 7 days for $3.59
• United Kingdom: 1 GB / 7 days for $4.49
• Japan: 1 GB / 7 days for $3.99
• Global eSIM: 1 GB / 7 days for $8.99

Unlike some competitors like Airalo, Saily doesn't have a loyalty program, but offers a referral program - for each successful referral, you get a $3 credit for new eSIMs.

Verdict: Prices and Value

Winner: Saily – Saily offers better prices for comparable data packages and adds some additional features like VPN and ad blocking. Airalo is generally more expensive, although in some countries the differences may be minimal. For a specific destination, we always recommend comparing current offers from both providers.

To get the best price, we always recommend comparing offers from different providers using our eSIM comparison tool, which will help you find the cheapest option for your destination.

Customer Feedback

Airalo

According to reviews in app stores, Airalo has very good ratings:

• iOS: 4.6 stars based on 61,000 reviews
• Android: 4.5 stars based on 72,000 reviews
• Trustpilot: only 2.6/5 stars

Interesting is the significant difference between ratings in app stores and on Trustpilot, suggesting that not all customers are satisfied. Dissatisfied customers often mention connection problems or sudden outages, which may be caused more by the quality of the local network than by Airalo itself.

Saily

Saily has excellent ratings in app stores:

• Google Play Store: 4.8 out of 5 stars from approximately 17,000 reviews
• Apple App Store: 4.6 out of 5 stars from approximately 2,000 reviews
• Trustpilot: 4.1 out of 5 stars from more than 1,000 reviews

Unlike Airalo, Saily has consistently good ratings across all platforms. Positive feedback often mentions the intuitive app, quick eSIM installation, and excellent customer service.

Negative feedback mostly concerns the need to download the app to get the eSIM after purchase or connection problems in some locations.

Verdict: Customer Feedback

Winner: Saily – Saily has consistently better ratings across all platforms, especially on Trustpilot, where the difference is most significant (4.1 vs. 2.6). This suggests higher overall customer satisfaction with Saily's services.

Which Provider is Better?

After thoroughly comparing Airalo and Saily in various categories, we can summarize their strengths and weaknesses:

Airalo excels in:

• Wider coverage (211 countries compared to 180 with Saily)
• Purchase option without needing to install an app
• Immediate functionality after installation without needing to restart

Saily excels in:

• Better customer support with faster responses
• More modern app with added features (VPN, ad blocking)
• More advantageous prices for comparable packages
• Better customer ratings

Overall Verdict

Winner: Saily – Although Saily is a relatively new player in the market, it outperforms Airalo in several key areas, such as customer support, prices, and overall customer satisfaction. Airalo does have wider coverage and a simpler purchase process, but these advantages don't outweigh Saily's strengths.

For whom is Airalo a better choice?

Airalo is a better choice for:

• Travelers to more remote destinations that Saily doesn't cover
• Users who don't want to install another app
• Those who need immediate functionality after installation without additional steps
• Travelers who prefer an established provider with a long history

For whom is Saily a better choice?

Saily is a better choice for:

• Users who appreciate quality customer support
• Those looking for better prices for comparable data packages
• Travelers who appreciate added features like VPN and ad blocking
• Users who prefer a modern and intuitive app

To find the best eSIM for your specific needs, we recommend using our eSIM comparison tool on vefru.com, which allows you to filter offers by required data size, validity, and destination. This way, you can easily compare not only Airalo and Saily but also other eSIM providers and find the best solution for your trip.

If you're planning a trip and want to learn more about connectivity options abroad, read our comprehensive guide on eSIM for travel or check out frequently asked questions and answers about eSIM.