Airalo vs Saily
The market leader against the challenger from the NordVPN stable. The products look similar. The prices usually are not.
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Airalo
The biggest eSIM store on earth, and it acts like it.
Saily
Nord Security’s eSIM: sharp prices with security baked in.
| Feature | Airalo | Saily |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.6 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Price | $19.50 | $19.49 |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | First-time and frequent travelers | Value hunters who want polish |
| Category | Data bundles | Data bundles |
| Provider | Airalo | Nord Security |
| Visit Airalo | Visit Saily |
Our verdict
Saily wins on value. In our spot checks its packs price at or below Airalo for the same destinations, and every plan includes an ad blocker, web protection, and virtual location, extras Airalo simply does not have. Airalo answers with the larger catalog, more exotic destinations, and the longer track record at scale.
If your destination is covered by both, Saily gives you more for less. If you travel far off the main routes or want the most battle-tested option, Airalo remains the safe default.
“The default choice for a reason. More countries than anyone, a mature app, and fair prices. Not always the absolute cheapest per gigabyte, but the combination of coverage, reliability, and ease keeps it on top of our shortlist.”Editorial team, on Airalo
“The challenger built by the NordVPN team. Usually a notch cheaper than Airalo, with an ad blocker and web protection included. The catalog is younger and slightly smaller, but the value per gigabyte is the best among the big names, and the 30-day data plan is the sweet spot for a normal trip.”Editorial team, on Saily
Frequently asked questions
Is Saily better than Airalo?
For most trips, yes. Saily prices at or below Airalo in our spot checks and includes an ad blocker, web protection, and a virtual location option that Airalo does not offer at all. Airalo remains the better pick if your destination sits off the main routes, since its catalogue is larger, or if you simply want the provider with the longest track record at scale.
Which is cheaper, Airalo or Saily?
Saily, though barely at list price. On the same reference plan, 5 GB for 30 days in Europe, our June 2026 check put Saily at about $19.49 and Airalo at about $19.50 in US dollars. The real gap comes from the code SHORTLIST10, which takes 10 percent off Saily, so around $17.50. Both are one-off purchases, not subscriptions.
Do I lose anything by switching from Airalo to Saily?
Mainly breadth of coverage. Both list packs in more than 200 destinations, but Saily's catalogue is younger and slightly smaller, so confirm your country exists there before you switch. Everything else carries over. Both install as a second line, both leave your own number and WhatsApp untouched, and you buy per trip rather than signing up for anything.
What does Saily include that Airalo does not?
An ad blocker, web protection, and the option to set a virtual location, on every plan. That comes from Nord Security, the NordVPN company that built Saily. Airalo sells data and nothing else. Whether the extras matter depends on you. If you already run a VPN they are duplicates, and Airalo's wider catalogue and loyalty discounts may serve you better.