In Turkey, Japan and the USA, Airalo and Saily list full prices within 50 cents of each other; in Spain, Airalo lists lower. With 15% off, Saily came in below Airalo on every 5 GB, 10 GB and 20 GB plan we compared. Airalo wins if you want a US plan with calls and texts, or a plan shorter than 30 days.
The catch: at full price Airalo is a little cheaper on several plans, and Saily’s plans are data only.
Airalo is one of the best-known travel eSIM brands. Saily comes from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. Both cover 200+ destinations, so this head-to-head looks at the numbers first, then at the extras that tip the choice.
Airalo vs Saily prices: 20 GB for 30 days
Prices from saily.com and airalo.com on 24 Oct 2026, in US dollars.
| Price: 20 GB, 30 days | Spain | Turkey | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | $22.99 | $22.99 | $36.99 |
| Saily with 15% off Best value | about $19.54 | about $19.54 | about $31.44 |
| Airalo | $20.00 | $22.50 | $36.50 |
The same holds for smaller plans. For 5 GB over 30 days, Airalo listed $9.00 (Spain), $10.00 (Turkey) and $13.50 (USA). Saily listed $9.99, $9.99 and $13.99, or about $8.49, $8.49 and $11.89 with 15% off. In Japan the two are a cent apart at 5, 10 and 20 GB: 5 GB is $11.00 on Airalo and $10.99 on Saily.
Shorter plans: Airalo’s edge
Saily’s plans are 1 GB for 7 days, then 3 GB to 20 GB for 30 days. Airalo also sells shorter validities, which can cost a little less for a quick trip. In Spain, Airalo’s 5 GB for 7 days was $8.00 and 3 GB for 7 days was $6.00. In Turkey, 3 GB for 7 days was $6.50. If your trip is short, check Airalo’s 7-day plans against Saily’s discounted 30-day price.
Calls and texts
Saily is data only. Its optional add-on gives you a US (+1) number with minute packages and SMS. Airalo sells some plans with calls and texts built in. In the USA, for example, 5 GB with 50 minutes and 50 SMS for 30 days was $19.00, and 10 GB with 100 minutes and 100 SMS was $30.00. If you need a number on a US trip, that’s simpler on Airalo. More in our best eSIM for calling guide.
The extras
| Feature | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Security tools | Virtual locations, ad blocker, web protection | Not listed |
| Topping up | Top up or auto top-up in the app | Top up; auto-renew when 10% of data is left |
| Plan sharing | Up to 4 more people (not Ultra or unlimited) | Not listed |
| Unlimited plans | Yes, priced by days in the app | Yes, e.g. 7 days in Spain for $23.50 |
| Support | 24/7 chat in the app, plus email | 24/7 multi-language support, including WhatsApp |
Saily’s tools are the main reason to choose it beyond price. Virtual locations route your traffic through another country, the ad blocker saves data on ad-heavy sites, and web protection blocks malware and phishing pages. For how auto top-up works, see Saily auto top-up explained.
Which should you pick?
- Best price on a 30-day plan: Saily with 15% off, in every country we checked.
- A 3 to 7-day trip: compare Airalo’s 7-day plans first.
- A US trip with calls and texts: Airalo’s data, minutes and SMS plans.
- Public Wi-Fi, hotels and privacy: Saily, for its security tools.
- A family on one plan: Saily’s plan sharing.
Weighing Nomad too? Our Saily vs Airalo vs Nomad comparison covers all three. Heading to Spain? See the Spain eSIM guide.
- Below Airalo on every 30-day plan we checked with 15% off
- Security tools built in
- 180 days to activate
- Plan sharing for up to 5 people
- Airalo is a little cheaper at full price in Spain
- No calls or texts without the add-on
- Fewer short-validity plans
FAQ
Is Airalo cheaper than Saily?
At full price, sometimes, usually by 50 cents or less, and by up to $2.99 in Spain. With 15% off, Saily was cheaper on every 5, 10 and 20 GB plan we compared in Spain, Turkey and the USA on 24 Oct 2026.
Does Airalo include calls and texts?
Some Airalo plans do. In the USA it sells data plans with minutes and SMS, such as 5 GB with 50 minutes and 50 SMS for 30 days at $19.00.
Does Saily have shorter plans than 30 days?
Saily’s 1 GB plan lasts 7 days, and its unlimited plans run from 5 to 30 days. Its other fixed-data plans last 30 days.
Can I top up both eSIMs?
Yes. Saily lets you top up or turn on auto top-up in the app. Airalo lets you top up and can auto-renew when 10% of your data is left.
20 GB for Spain is $22.99, about $19.54 with 15% off (saily.com, 24 Oct 2026).