Airalo is the established market leader, while Saily is the newer challenger backed by NordVPN. Both offer metered data plans at competitive prices. Here is how they stack up against each other.
Updated March 2026
Generally the cheapest option on the market. Plans start from around £4.50. Excellent per-GB value, especially on larger plans.
Competitive pricing, often close to Airalo. Plans typically start from £5-7. Good value but rarely the absolute cheapest.
Standard privacy practices. No special security features beyond basic encryption.
Built by NordVPN, a leader in digital privacy. Strong privacy focus throughout the product. Good choice for security-conscious travellers.
Available in 200+ countries. The widest coverage of any eSIM provider, including many niche destinations.
Available in around 150 countries. Good coverage for popular destinations but fewer options for rare locations.
Mature, feature-rich app. Comprehensive plan management, data tracking, and easy top-ups.
Modern, clean app design. Newer and slicker interface, but with fewer features than Airalo. Very easy for first-time eSIM users.
Founded in 2019 with millions of eSIMs sold. Well-established with a large user base and extensive reviews.
Launched in 2023. Newer to the market but backed by the experienced NordVPN team. Smaller review base.
Wide range of plan sizes (1 GB to 20 GB) with various validity periods. Local, regional and global plans available.
More streamlined selection. Fewer plan options per country but the available plans cover most needs.
| Destination | Airalo | Saily |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (14 days) | £4.50 (3 GB) | £7.99 (5 GB) |
| USA (14 days) | £5.00 (3 GB) | £7.49 (5 GB) |
| Europe (14 days) | £9.00 (3 GB) | £12.49 (5 GB) |
| Thailand (14 days) | £4.50 (3 GB) | £6.49 (5 GB) |
Airalo is the safer choice for most travellers. It has been around longer, covers more countries, and usually offers the cheapest prices. However, Saily is a strong alternative for privacy-conscious travellers who value the NordVPN pedigree. If you care about digital security and want a modern app experience, Saily is well worth considering. For everyone else, Airalo is hard to beat.