Home Β· Compare providers Β· Airalo vs Saily
Airalo vs Saily eSIM (2026)
By LTE.app Editorial Β· Updated June 2026
Side-by-side
| Airalo | Saily | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2024 |
| Countries | 200+ | 150+ |
| Starts at | $4.50 | $3.99 |
| Popular plan | 5 GB Β· $16.00 | 5 GB Β· $15.00 |
| Unlimited plans | No | No |
| Hotspot / tethering | Plan-dependent | Plan-dependent |
| Phone number included | No | No |
Pricing approximated from each provider's public pricing page. Always verify current rates for your specific destination before purchase. Last reviewed: June 2026.
Strengths and weaknesses
Airalo
The largest eSIM marketplace by country count and brand recognition.
Strengths
- Brand recognition β the most-cited eSIM brand on travel YouTube
- Largest country catalog (200+) and broadest regional plans
- Frequent first-time-customer discount codes
Weaknesses
- No unlimited plans on most destinations
- Hotspot/tethering is plan-dependent and not always documented up front
- Per-GB cost on smaller plans is high vs raw carrier wholesale
Saily
NordVPN's eSIM brand, bundled with security features.
Strengths
- Backed by Nord Security (large established brand)
- Bundled adblocker / web-protection features in some plans
- Aggressive entry-level pricing on small plans
Weaknesses
- Newer service β less ground-truth reliability data
- Smaller country catalog than incumbents
- Add-on security features overlap with anything you already run
Which one is right for your trip?
Pick Airalo ifβ¦
Travelers who want the best-known brand and don't mind paying ~25% more per GB.
Pick Saily ifβ¦
NordVPN/Nord Security users who want everything in one ecosystem.
Which is cheaper β Airalo or Saily?
Saily has the cheaper entry-level plan, starting at $3.99. Pricing varies by destination and plan size; the table on this page reflects each provider's entry-level and most-popular plans as published on their own pricing pages. Always check current rates for your specific destination.
Does Airalo or Saily have unlimited data?
Airalo: No unlimited tier. Saily: No unlimited tier. Most travelers using 3β8 GB per week pay significantly less on capped plans than equivalent unlimited offerings.
Does Airalo or Saily support hotspot/tethering?
Airalo: Plan-dependent. Saily: Plan-dependent. Hotspot support is a hard requirement if you want to share data with a laptop or travel companion β verify on the specific plan page before purchase.
How many countries does each provider cover?
Airalo covers approximately 200 countries. Saily covers approximately 150 countries. Country counts shift over time and include destinations that may have only a single regional plan; check the provider's destination list for the specific country you need.
Will my phone work with both Airalo and Saily?
Both providers deliver eSIMs as QR codes that work on any eSIM-capable phone β iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, and most modern Samsung Galaxy devices. You can store both providers' eSIMs on the same phone simultaneously and switch between them in Settings without removing anything.