Saily review: the NordVPN travel eSIM
Saily is a polished, well-rated eSIM from the NordVPN team, and its built-in security extras set it apart, but you pay a premium per gigabyte for them. It rates about 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot and covers 200-plus destinations. If you do not need the security bundle, a plain fixed-data plan is cheaper, so for most travelers we route to eSimania, with Jetpac as the one-install option across countries. Saily and eSimania prices verified August 13, 2026; the Jetpac figure dates from July 8, 2026. Speeds are carrier-dependent.
What Saily is
Saily is a data-only travel eSIM built by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. It launched in 2023 and covers 200-plus destinations. Its hook is that every plan comes with VPN-style security extras, an ad blocker, web protection and a virtual-location option, plus a clean app and fast setup.
Saily at a glance
Pros
- Built-in security: ad blocker, web protection, virtual location
- Clean, simple app with fast activation
- Reliable coverage in major European cities, 200-plus destinations
- Responsive 24/7 live chat, backed by Nord Security
- Optional US phone number add-on for calls and 2FA
Cons
- Higher per-gigabyte cost if you do not use the security features
- Data-only base plans, no calls or texts without the add-on
- Newer brand (2023) with less track record than Airalo
- Unlimited plans slow to 1 Mbps after about 5 GB per day
Best for: travelers who want built-in security and a polished app, and do not mind paying a little more per gigabyte.
Saily prices we checked
Captured August 13, 2026 from eSIMDB on two destinations, Japan and Europe. Saily prices vary by destination, so treat these as examples rather than a global price list. Prices change; confirm before buying. Speeds are carrier-dependent.
| Plan | Price (2026-08-13) |
|---|---|
| 1 GB / 7 days (Japan) | about $3.99 |
| 1 GB / 7 days (Europe, 34 countries) | about $4.99 |
| 5 GB / 30 days (Japan) | about $10.99 |
| 30-day plans | 3, 5, 10 and 20 GB options |
| Unlimited, 7 days (Japan) | about $28.99 |
| Unlimited | about 5 GB/day fast, then 1 Mbps |
What you are paying for
Where we route instead: eSimania
If the security extras are not the reason you are buying, a plain marketplace plan gives the same data for less. Here are the two we route readers to.
Our value pick instead: eSimania
Data-only eSIM marketplace, fixed-data plans
From about $2 / 1 GB
Saily is polished and well-backed, but if you do not need its built-in security extras you pay more per gigabyte than you have to. eSimania resells plans from many carriers, so 1 GB can be about $2 and single-country 5 GB around $9. Checked August 13, 2026; speeds are carrier-dependent.
Pros
- Cheaper per gigabyte than Saily for plain data use
- Coverage advertised in 190-plus countries, plans up to a year
- Instant QR activation
Cons
- No built-in VPN-style security features like Saily
- Data-only, no phone number or SMS
- Underlying network varies by plan; check your route
Best for: Travelers who just want cheap data and do not need the security bundle.
Multi-country pick: Jetpac eSIM
Data-only eSIM, single install covers multiple countries
To cover several countries on one install, Jetpac has plans in 200-plus destinations on a single eSIM and free airport lounge access on a flight delay of 60 minutes or more. Speeds are carrier-dependent. Prices checked August 15, 2026.
Pros
- Plans in 200-plus destinations on one eSIM
- Free airport lounge access on a 60-plus minute delay
- One install covers several countries
Cons
- Data-only, no calls or SMS
- Per-GB cost rises past the entry plan
Best for: Trips where one install has to cover several countries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saily legit?
Yes. Saily is made by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, and covers 200-plus destinations. It rates about 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot across tens of thousands of reviews. It launched in 2023, so it is newer than Airalo, but the NordVPN backing gives it solid institutional credibility.
What makes Saily different?
Every Saily eSIM bundles security features such as an ad blocker, web protection and the option to change your virtual location, reflecting its NordVPN roots. It also offers an optional US phone number add-on. If you value those extras they add real convenience; if not, you are paying a premium over a plain data eSIM.
How much does Saily cost?
Prices depend on the destination. On the two we checked in August 2026, 1 GB for 7 days ran about $3.99 in Japan and about $4.99 in Europe, with 30-day plans of 3, 5, 10 and 20 GB. Unlimited plans give about 5 GB of high-speed data per day, then drop to 1 Mbps. Per gigabyte it usually costs more than a marketplace plan.
Saily or Airalo: which is better?
Saily adds security extras and a clean app; Airalo has more destinations and a longer track record. Prices are similar and both are data-only. If you want the built-in security, Saily; if you want the widest coverage, Airalo; if you want the lowest price on plain data, a marketplace like eSimania usually wins.
We review Saily as a real product and quote its rating from Trustpilot. We do not link out to it; our only commercial links are to the picks we route to, marked as sponsored.
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