Airalo vs Saily eSIM (2026)
On official pages fetched November 10, 2026, Airalo’s 7-day Europe unlimited plan listed at $27, with a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule and 41 countries. Saily’s Europe page listed a 1 GB / 7-day fixed plan at $4.99 and a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99, covering 35 countries. Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ says regional unlimited plans get 5 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, then 1 Mbps — a higher daily allowance than Airalo’s default 3 GB, if that FAQ figure is the one on the plan you buy.
How this page was made: this is a research-based comparison built from official pricing pages, plan or policy wording, and product documentation. We haven’t tested these products or policies ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Choose Airalo’s 7-day Europe unlimited plan ($27) if you want the official 41-country list and a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule. Choose Saily if you want a cheap fixed plan (1 GB / 7 days at $4.99) or the 5 GB-then-1 Mbps unlimited rule on Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ, with 35 countries and a 180-day activation window.
Last updated Pricing checked Nov 10, 2026
Check Airalo pricing (opens in a new tab)Check Saily pricing (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Airalo | Saily | |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day official price we can cite | Unlimited 7-day plan: $27.00 USD | Fixed 1 GB / 7 days: $4.99 USD. The Europe page also listed a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99. Saily’s unlimited-data page says Europe unlimited plans (7–30 days) start from $28.99 — we did not get a clearly labeled 7-day unlimited price on the Europe product page itself. |
| Other official prices fetched | 3 days $11.50; 5 days $19.50; 10 days $35.00; 15 days $49.00; 30 days $71.00 (unlimited tiers) | Fixed: 3 GB / 30 days $12.49; 5 GB / 30 days $19.49; 10 GB / 30 days $35.99; 50 GB / 90 days $95.99. The Europe page also says plans start from $3.99. |
| Destinations | 41 countries and networks | 35 countries |
| What “unlimited” means, as written | No fixed total cap. Default rule: after more than 3 GB in a 24-hour period from activation, speed is limited to 1 Mbps until the next reset, unless the package lists a different threshold. | Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ: 5 GB of high-speed data in a 24-hour period, then unlimited data at 1 Mbps, for country and regional unlimited plans. Saily’s help article describes a daily high-speed allowance then about 1 Mbps, but does not name the GB figure on that page — confirm the allowance on the plan you buy. |
| Hotspot / tethering | Fair-use policy: personal hotspot allowed, with no limit on tethering or the number of devices. Commercial resale is not allowed. | Europe page and unlimited-data page: “Unlimited” hotspot sharing. The help article adds that you cannot share unlimited plans with other people in the Saily app — that is app sharing, not the same as a phone hotspot. |
We compared official Europe regional pages from Airalo and Saily, Airalo’s unlimited fair-use policy, Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ and plan-help article, and Apple’s eSIM setup page, all fetched November 10, 2026. We have not run speed tests, and we do not invent scores. This is not personalized advice. Confirm the live checkout page, the destination list, and that your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible before you buy.
For Airalo versus Holafly, see our Airalo vs Holafly comparison. For carrier day passes, see eSIM vs international roaming.
Airalo vs Saily: side-by-side
| Airalo Europe | Saily Europe | |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day official price we can cite | Unlimited 7-day plan: $27.00 USD | Fixed 1 GB / 7 days: $4.99 USD. The Europe page also listed a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99. Saily’s unlimited-data page says Europe unlimited plans (7–30 days) start from $28.99 — we did not get a clearly labeled 7-day unlimited price on the Europe product page itself. |
| Other official prices fetched | 3 days $11.50; 5 days $19.50; 10 days $35.00; 15 days $49.00; 30 days $71.00 (unlimited tiers) | Fixed: 3 GB / 30 days $12.49; 5 GB / 30 days $19.49; 10 GB / 30 days $35.99; 50 GB / 90 days $95.99. The Europe page also says plans start from $3.99. |
| Destinations | 41 countries and networks | 35 countries |
| What “unlimited” means, as written | No fixed total cap. Default rule: after more than 3 GB in a 24-hour period from activation, speed is limited to 1 Mbps until the next reset, unless the package lists a different threshold. | Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ: 5 GB of high-speed data in a 24-hour period, then unlimited data at 1 Mbps, for country and regional unlimited plans. Saily’s help article describes a daily high-speed allowance then about 1 Mbps, but does not name the GB figure on that page — confirm the allowance on the plan you buy. |
| Hotspot / tethering | Fair-use policy: personal hotspot allowed, with no limit on tethering or the number of devices. Commercial resale is not allowed. | Europe page and unlimited-data page: “Unlimited” hotspot sharing. The help article adds that you cannot share unlimited plans with other people in the Saily app — that is app sharing, not the same as a phone hotspot. |
| Activation window | The Europe page says you can install in advance and connect when you arrive in coverage. It does not, in the text we captured, publish a day-count like Saily’s 180-day window. | All plans have a 180-day activation period; if unused, the plan activates automatically at the end of that window (the page’s example: buy today, unused until May 10, 2027, then it activates automatically). |
| Voice and SMS | The Europe page is sold as a data package. It does not, in the captured text, promise a local phone number. | The Europe page disagrees with itself: Technical details say SMS and calls are available with a Saily phone number / minutes plan, while a FAQ on the same page says Saily “currently offers data-only eSIM plans” and you will not get a local number. Confirm the plan type in checkout. |
| Phone requirements | Compatibility check linked from the Europe page. Apple: iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, or later. | “Works with all eSIM-compatible devices.” A FAQ cites examples including iPhone 11 or later, and notes devices bought in mainland China may not support eSIM. Same Apple baseline applies for iPhone XS and later. |
What are the pros and cons?
Airalo: pros
- A clearly priced 7-day unlimited Europe plan at $27, cheaper than Saily’s clearly priced 15-day unlimited at $49.99
- Official Europe list is longer (41 countries and networks vs 35)
- A written 3 GB-then-1 Mbps daily fair-use rule, plus no tethering cap in that policy
Airalo: cons
- The default daily high-speed cap (3 GB) is tighter than the 5 GB figure on Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ
- No cheap 1 GB fixed plan on the Europe page we fetched — unlimited starts at $11.50 for 3 days
- We did not fetch an Airalo refund-policy page for this comparison
- We have not speed-tested Airalo
Saily: pros
- A clearly priced light-data option: 1 GB / 7 days at $4.99, plus other fixed tiers
- Unlimited-data FAQ states 5 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours on country and regional unlimited plans, then 1 Mbps
- A written 180-day activation window, unlimited hotspot language on the product page, and built-in security features listed on the Europe page
Saily: cons
- Shorter official Europe list (35 vs 41)
- The Europe page and the unlimited-data FAQ do not give one clearly labeled 7-day unlimited price; $28.99 is a “starting from” figure
- The Europe page disagrees with itself on whether plans include a local number
- The help article does not repeat the 5 GB figure — confirm the allowance at checkout. We have not speed-tested Saily
Which should you choose: Airalo or Saily?
These two official Europe catalogs are built for different shopping trips. If you want a 7-day unlimited regional plan with a clearly published price, Airalo listed $27 on November 10, 2026, for 41 countries, with a written 3 GB-then-1 Mbps fair-use rule. If you only need a little data, Saily’s 1 GB / 7-day plan at $4.99 is the cheaper official option we fetched. If you want an unlimited plan and care about the daily high-speed allowance, Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ states 5 GB then 1 Mbps for regional plans — higher than Airalo’s default 3 GB — but confirm that figure on the Europe plan you actually buy, because Saily’s help article describes the same structure without naming the GB amount. Saily covers 35 countries and gives you 180 days to activate. We have not tested either network.
Choose Airalo if…
- You want a clearly priced 7-day Europe unlimited plan ($27) and the official 41-country list
- A written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps rule is enough, and you may want to tether under Airalo’s “no tethering cap” language
Choose Saily if…
- You want a cheap fixed plan, such as 1 GB for 7 days at $4.99
- You want the 5 GB-then-1 Mbps unlimited rule as stated on Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ, a 180-day activation window, or the listed security features
The daily high-speed numbers are not published the same way
Airalo’s official unlimited policy is specific: a default 3 GB high-speed threshold per 24-hour period starting at activation, then 1 Mbps, unless a package lists a different number. Saily’s unlimited-data FAQ is also specific, and more generous on its face: 5 GB of high-speed data in 24 hours, then 1 Mbps, for country and regional unlimited plans. Saily’s separate help article on how plans work describes “a high-speed allowance” each day, then about 1 Mbps, and does not state 5 GB on that page. We are not going to treat the FAQ figure as confirmed for every Europe SKU until you see it on the plan details you buy.
Who should skip this?
- Travelers whose phone is locked or not eSIM-capable. Apple’s official eSIM page covers iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, or later. Confirm Android on the vendor’s list.
- People who need a local number for traditional calls and SMS. Airalo’s Europe page is sold as a data package. Saily’s Europe page is internally inconsistent on this point — check the exact plan.
- Readers comparing Airalo with Holafly or Nomad. Use the dedicated Airalo vs Holafly and Airalo vs Nomad pages, or the Europe best-of.
- Anyone looking for a speed-test winner. We have not tested these networks, and we do not invent scores.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper for a week in Europe?
Does Saily really give 5 GB of high-speed data per day on unlimited plans?
Can I use a hotspot?
How long do I have to start a Saily plan?
Will this work on my iPhone?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 10, 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Airalo: Europe eSIMs official page — 7-day unlimited $27, 41 countries (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (airalo.com)
- Airalo: Unlimited Data Plans Fair Use Policy — 3 GB/day then 1 Mbps (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (airalo.com)
- Saily: eSIM for Europe official page — fixed and 15-day unlimited prices, 35 countries, 180-day activation (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (saily.com)
- Saily: An eSIM with unlimited data — 5 GB then 1 Mbps FAQ and Europe unlimited starting from $28.99 (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (saily.com)
- Saily Help Center: How Saily data plans work — daily high-speed allowance then about 1 Mbps (fetched Nov 10, 2026) (support.saily.com)
- Apple Support: Set up eSIM on iPhone — iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later (published Oct 22, 2026; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (support.apple.com)
Related
What “Unlimited” eSIM Plans Actually Allow (2026)
“Unlimited” on a travel eSIM is usually a daily high-speed allowance, then a slower speed, not uncapped 5G. Official Airalo policy is 3 GB per 24 hours, then 1 Mbps, resetting from the time you activated the eSIM. Official Saily policy is 5 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, then about 1 Mbps. Official Holafly language describes operator fair-use slowdowns, generally lasting no more than one day, without a daily gigabyte figure. Read the live plan details before you buy. This is not a speed test.
comparisonHolafly vs Saily eSIM (2026)
These are not the same kind of “unlimited” plan. Official Holafly Europe prices on November 10, 2026 ran from $11.90 for 3 days to $76.50 for 30 days, with a 6-month refund window, Always On 1 GB backup, 1 GB of hotspot data per day, and 33 destinations. Official Saily Europe pages listed a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99, 35 countries, a written 5 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule, and unlimited hotspot sharing. We compared those written terms, not a speed test.
comparisonAiralo vs Holafly eSIM (2026)
For a 7-day Europe trip, official list prices were almost the same on November 10, 2026: Airalo $27, Holafly $27.50. The useful split is policy, not a dollar or two. Airalo’s written fair-use rule is 3 GB of high-speed data per 24 hours, then 1 Mbps, with no tethering cap in that policy. Holafly’s Europe plan lists 1 GB of hotspot data per day, a 6-month refund window, and operator fair-use slowdowns generally lasting no more than one day.
comparisonAiralo vs Nomad eSIM (2026)
Airalo’s official 7-day Europe unlimited plan listed at $27 on November 10, 2026, for 41 countries, with a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule. Nomad’s official Europe page listed fixed-data plans, including 1 GB / 7 days at $7 and 20 GB / 30 days at $29, on a table shown with a 36-destination label that includes Turkey. Nomad supports tethering on most plans and offers a 30-day refund window for unused, unactivated plans — and lists unlimited plans as non-refundable.
best ofThe Best eSIM for a Europe Trip
If you want a clearly priced 7-day unlimited plan, Airalo listed $27 for 41 countries on November 10, 2026, with a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule. Holafly’s 7-day Europe plan listed at $27.50, with a 6-month refund window and a 1 GB-per-day hotspot cap. If you can use a fixed allowance, Saily’s 1 GB / 7-day plan was $4.99, and Nomad’s 20 GB / 30-day plan was $29.
guideeSIM vs International Roaming: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile
On official pages fetched November 10, 2026, a 7-day Airalo Europe unlimited eSIM listed at $27 and Holafly’s 7-day Europe plan at $27.50. Verizon TravelPass and AT&T International Day Pass both list $12 per line per day in most destinations — $84 if you start seven 24-hour sessions — plus taxes and fees on Verizon. T-Mobile customers on a qualifying plan may already have 5 GB or 15 GB of high-speed data abroad, then 256 kbps, with calls at $0.50 a minute.
comparisonSaily vs Nomad Europe eSIM (2026)
On official Europe pages fetched November 10, 2026, Saily listed 1 GB / 7 days at $4.99, 10 GB / 30 days at $35.99, and a 15-day unlimited plan at $49.99, with 35 countries, a 180-day activation window, and a written 5 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps unlimited rule. Nomad listed 1 GB / 7 days at $7, 10 GB / 30 days at $25, and 20 GB / 30 days at $29, with a 35- or 36-destination option (the 36-country list includes Turkey), a 60-day activation window, and a 30-day unused-refund policy that calls unlimited plans non-refundable. Nomad’s unlimited section did not include prices in our fetch.
comparisonAiralo vs Ubigi Europe Unlimited eSIM (2026)
On official pages fetched November 10, 2026, Airalo’s Europe unlimited plans ran from $11.50 for 3 days to $71.00 for 30 days, covering 41 countries, with a written 3 GB-per-day then 1 Mbps fair-use rule. Ubigi’s official one-off Europe unlimited 30-day plan was $62, with 60 GB of full-speed data then 2 Mbps, stated data sharing, Smartstart activation on arrival, and expiry if the plan is not activated within six months. The eSIM is described as reusable in 200+ destinations and as a data-only service.
guideBest eSIM for Travel (2026): A Choice Guide, Not a Scorecard
There is no single “best” travel eSIM on the official pages we fetched November 10, 2026, and we have not speed-tested these networks. For a one-week Europe trip, Airalo’s official 7-day unlimited plan was $27 and Holafly’s was $27.50. For light data, Saily’s official 1 GB / 7-day plan was $4.99. For a mid-size 10 or 20 GB / 30-day plan, Nomad listed $25 and $29. For a 30-day unlimited plan, Ubigi listed $62 and Airalo listed $71, with very different fair-use rules. Use the head-to-head pages for the full tables. This is not a ranked award.