A travel eSIM like Saily replaces your carrier’s roaming: you buy data for where you’re going, and roaming on the Saily line doesn’t add charges from your home provider. Plans start at $3.99 for 1 GB in places like Spain, Japan and the USA.
The catch: you must switch off your own SIM’s data abroad, or your home carrier can still charge you roaming.
Roaming charges are what your carrier adds when you use data outside your plan’s coverage. A roaming eSIM sidesteps that by giving you a separate data line priced for your destination.
How Saily avoids roaming fees
Saily is a prepaid data eSIM. You install it next to your normal SIM, and when you arrive the plan activates on a local network. The Saily line needs data roaming switched on, but that roaming uses your Saily plan. It doesn’t add charges from your primary SIM provider. The charges only come back if your own SIM starts using data.
Settings that stop carrier roaming
Do these before you leave your home coverage area:
- Enable airplane mode until you’re ready to use Saily, so your phone doesn’t connect to any network.
- Disable your personal SIM (iPhone: Settings → Mobile Service → your SIM → Turn On This Line off; Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager).
- Turn off mobile data switching, so the phone can’t fall back to your home SIM.
- Remove a physical home SIM if you don’t need it on the trip.
Then check your Saily usage in the app and your carrier bill for anything unexpected. To keep your eSIM installed but off between trips, see how to turn off an eSIM.
What Saily data costs
| Destination | 1 GB, 7 days | 5 GB, 30 days |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $2.99 | $7.99 |
| Spain Our pick | $3.99 | $9.99 |
| Japan | $3.99 | $10.99 |
| UK | $4.49 | $12.99 |
| USA | $3.99 | $13.99 |
Saily also sells unlimited plans in many countries, from 5 to 30 days. After each day’s high-speed allowance, speed drops to about 1 Mbps until midnight local time.
One plan for several countries
Regional plans bundle countries into one data plan. Europe covers 35 countries from $4.99, Asia and Oceania 22 countries from $4.99, North America 3 countries from $5.99, and the Global plan 121 countries from $8.99. Each regional plan covers only the countries on its list, so check yours before you buy.
Can you still get calls on your own number?
Yes, if your phone supports Dual SIM. Your home SIM can stay on for incoming calls while Saily carries the data, but your carrier may charge roaming for the calls. Ask it about fees before you travel. Saily plans themselves are data only; an optional US phone number add-on covers calls and SMS.
How to get started
- Buy a plan for your destination on saily.com or in the Saily app.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and turn on data roaming for the Saily line.
- On arrival, switch off your home SIM’s data. The plan activates automatically.
Weighing an eSIM against a local SIM card? Read Saily eSIM vs physical SIM.
- No roaming charges on the Saily line
- Plans from $3.99 for 1 GB in many countries
- Regional and Global plans
- Keep your number for calls with Dual SIM
- Your home SIM must be off for data
- Data only unless you add the US number
FAQ
Is a roaming eSIM cheaper than my carrier’s roaming?
It depends on your carrier. Compare its daily or weekly roaming price with Saily’s plan for your destination, such as $9.99 for 5 GB in Spain (saily.com, 24 Oct 2026).
Why does Saily need data roaming turned on?
The Saily line needs data roaming on to connect abroad. Saily says roaming on its eSIM uses your Saily plan and doesn’t add charges from your primary SIM provider.
Will my home carrier still charge me?
Only if your own SIM uses data or you take calls on it. Turn off its data and mobile data switching before you leave.
Plans from $3.99 for 1 GB, checked on saily.com on 24 Oct 2026.