Airalo vs Saily: prices are nearly identical, so what actually differs?
Airalo and Saily both sell travel eSIMs mainly by the gigabyte, through an app, in a large number of destinations. When we put their prices side by side for Japan, France and the USA on October 3, 2026, most matching plans were within one dollar of each other, and many within one cent. Price is rarely the deciding factor between these two. This page focuses on what differs: plan durations, how "unlimited" works, whether you can keep one eSIM across countries, hotspot terms, refunds and extra features. Saily is owned by Nord Security (the company behind NordVPN), which is worth knowing when you read comparisons published on its sister sites. We also sell travel eSIMs (TravelNet); our offer is kept to a separate section at the end.
Prices side by side (checked Oct 3, 2026, USD)
| Plan | Airalo Japan | Saily Japan | Airalo France | Saily France | Airalo USA | Saily USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $4.00 (3 days) | $3.99 (7 days) | $4.00 (3 days) | $3.99 (7 days) | $4.00 (3 days) | $3.99 (7 days) |
| 5 GB / 30 days | $11.00 | $10.99 | $11.00 | $10.99 | $13.50 | $13.99 |
| 10 GB / 30 days | $18.00 | $17.99 | $17.00 | $16.99 | $22.50 | $22.99 |
| 20 GB / 30 days | $25.00 | $24.99 | $23.00 | $22.99 | $36.50 | $36.99 |
| Unlimited | 15 days $48.00 | 15 days $48.99 | 30 days $59.00 | 30 days $59.99 | 15 days $46.00 | 15 days $45.99 |
Sources: airalo.com country pages (USD), saily.com country pages (USD; the France 30-day unlimited price is from the comparison table on Saily's France page). Read October 3, 2026. Prices change; check both before buying.
Features side by side
| Airalo | Saily | |
|---|---|---|
| Durations | 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 30 days depending on plan | Mostly 7 or 30 days for data plans; several durations for unlimited |
| Unlimited speed rule | 1 Mbps after 3 GB/day (Japan, France), after 5 GB/day (USA) | 1 Mbps after 5 GB/day (Japan, USA pages) |
| One eSIM for several countries | Separate eSIM per local package; regional and global eSIMs available | Saily says you can add new destinations to the same eSIM |
| Hotspot | Allowed; no tethering limit stated on unlimited plans | "Unlimited access with no restrictions" (France, USA pages) |
| Calls / number | Data-only on most plans; some USA plans include minutes and SMS | Data-only plans; a US phone number is offered as a separate feature |
| Extra features | None of this kind listed on the pages we read | Virtual location (115+), malicious-site blocker, ad blocker; 3% back in Saily credits |
| Activation | Starts when the eSIM connects to a network in the destination | Starts on arrival, or automatically 180 days after purchase |
| Refund (summary) | 14-day withdrawal before activation; refund or replacement if the service fails (Airalo terms) | Full refund within 30 days if not installed/activated, or if less than 1% of data was used, or if Saily's service failed (Saily support) |
| Networks, Japan | Softbank, KDDI | KDDI, SoftBank |
Criterion by criterion
Price. On the 15 matching plans we compared, the largest gap was $0.99 (Japan 15-day and France 30-day unlimited, both cheaper at Airalo). The other gaps were between 1 and 50 cents, sometimes in Airalo's favor, sometimes in Saily's. Promotions and credits change this more than list prices do.
Short trips. Airalo's smallest plans last 3 days; Saily's 1 GB plan lasts 7 days and its larger plans 30 days. For a long weekend, Airalo has more short options (for example 3 GB for 3 days in France at $7.00). For a two-week trip, Saily's 30-day plans leave room if your dates change.
Unlimited data. Both state a rule. Saily keeps full speed up to 5 GB a day; Airalo up to 3 GB a day in Japan and France, and 5 GB in the USA. After that, both drop to 1 Mbps.
Several countries. Saily lets you keep one eSIM and add destinations, which avoids re-installing. With Airalo, you install a new eSIM per local package, or buy a regional or global plan.
Hotspot. Both allow it. Saily's France and USA pages state no restrictions; Airalo states no tethering limit on unlimited plans.
Refunds. Saily's policy is easier to apply if you change plans: a full refund within 30 days if the eSIM was not installed or activated. Airalo's withdrawal window is 14 days before activation.
Extras. Saily includes privacy features (virtual location, ad and malicious-site blocking). These are useful if you want them, and irrelevant if you only need data.
Verdict by traveler
- Short trip (3–5 days): Airalo has more short plans.
- Trip of 1–4 weeks with uncertain dates: Saily's 30-day plans give margin at a similar price.
- Several countries in a row: Saily's single-eSIM approach is simpler; Airalo's regional plans are the equivalent if your countries fall in one region.
- Heavy daily use on unlimited: Saily's 5 GB/day full-speed threshold is higher than Airalo's 3 GB/day in Japan and France.
- You might cancel: Saily's 30-day refund for unused eSIMs is the more flexible policy.
- You want calls and SMS in the USA: Airalo has bundled USA plans; Saily offers a separate US number.
An alternative: TravelNet
TravelNet (this site) sells data-only travel eSIMs. For gigabyte plans, our prices on October 3, 2026 were lower on these three destinations, with shorter validity on small plans:
| Plan | Airalo | Saily | TravelNet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan, 20 GB / 30 days | $25.00 | $24.99 | $14.99 |
| France, 20 GB / 30 days | $23.00 | $22.99 | $11.99 |
| USA, 20 GB / 30 days | $36.50 | $36.99 | $23.99 |
| Japan, 10 GB | $17.50 (15 days) | $17.99 (30 days) | $7.99 (15 days) |
Our unlimited plans use lower daily thresholds (512 kbps after 1 GB a day for Standard, 2 Mbps after 2 GB for Plus; 256 kbps on both in Japan), we are 4G only in Japan, we do not offer one eSIM for several countries or privacy extras, and we refund in full if the eSIM is not activated (replacement first if it is faulty). Support runs 7 days a week with replies within 12 hours on average. See TravelNet plans →
FAQ
Is Airalo or Saily cheaper?
Their list prices were almost the same on October 3, 2026: for Japan, France and the USA, matching plans differed by $0.99 at most, and usually by one cent to 50 cents.
Is Airalo or Saily easier to use?
Both work through an app with a QR code or in-app installation. Saily lets you add new destinations to the same eSIM, so you install once; Airalo installs one eSIM per local package unless you choose a regional or global plan.
Does Saily have unlimited data?
Yes, in many destinations. On its Japan and USA pages, Saily's unlimited plan keeps full speed for 5 GB a day, then up to 1 Mbps.
Which is better for Japan?
Both use KDDI and SoftBank. Prices matched within a dollar. Saily's unlimited keeps full speed up to 5 GB a day, Airalo's up to 3 GB.
Can I get a refund?
Saily: full refund within 30 days if the eSIM wasn't installed or activated, or if less than 1% of data was used. Airalo: 14-day withdrawal before activation, and a refund or replacement if the service fails and can't be restored.
Do Airalo or Saily give a phone number?
Their data plans don't include one. Airalo sells some USA plans with minutes and SMS; Saily offers a US phone number as a separate feature.