A bit of context
This review is based on my partner and I testing these eSIMs across Europe, in particular, Türkiye, Greece and North Macedonia. We both have Google Pixel phones and mostly used the data for Google maps, messaging and general searching. My partner also used some data streaming videos on our Flixbus ride into Greece.
Keep in mind that eSIM performance really depends on your destination and phone. This comparison is based on our personal experience, and yours might look a little different.
The plans we purchased:
Airalo: Eurolink 5GB 30 days
Saily: Europe 5GB 30 days
Setup
An important thing to remember is that you’ll need internet access to download your eSIM, so it’s good to organise this before you travel. We set ours up on the way to Sydney Airport since we still had our Aussie SIMs active and weren’t sure about the WiFi situation when we landed in Istanbul.
Both setup instructions were straightforward and user-friendly. Then once we arrived in Europe, we simply toggled to our eSIM in our network settings and they both connected immediately.
Both platforms allow you to install your eSIM on a different device than the one used for purchase. My partner and I did this with Airalo – I bought both eSIMs through the apps on my phone, then he installed his eSIM on his own device using a QR they provided.
One thing that is different between the two, is that Saily allows you to keep the same eSIM installed and simply add new plans for future trips – regardless of the country or region. With Airalo, you need to go through the full installation process every time you buy a new eSIM (though not for top-ups on existing ones). So if you travel regularly or are planning multiple trips, Saily’s reusable approach should save time and hassle.
Coverage
Both eSIMs worked well across Türkiye and Greece. We had consistent coverage in Istanbul and Athens, as well as in the more regional areas we visited like Cappadocia and Meteora in Greece. We didn’t experience any dead zones or connectivity issues.
The only issue we had was in North Macedonia and this was because it wasn’t covered by Saily. Initially, this seemed fine since we were only staying 3 days. My partner had the Airalo SIM and I figured I could just hotspot when needed.
That is until we found ourselves at Matka Canyon when my partner’s phone died (we still have no idea why) leaving us with no internet access. We’d missed our bus back to Skopje and couldn’t check when the next one was coming. After waiting close to two hours, we ended up getting in a sketchy ‘taxi’ to get back to the city. It all worked out fine, but it was definitely a stressful afternoon that could’ve been avoided if I’d had coverage too.
What networks do Saily and Airalo use?
Both Airalo and Saily rely on ‘local network providers’ for their coverage in each country – which is mostly what determines how good the service will be. In Türkiye and Greece, both eSIMs were using the same networks (Turk Telecom in Türkiye and Breeze in Greece) and because of this, the performance was pretty much the same.
One thing they do make hard is finding out the networks Airalo and Saily actually use within each country. For Airalo I was able to find a breakdown on the eSIM website, however because Saily goes through 1Global I was unable to find this information, but based on our experience it’s likely they also use the same other networks across Europe.
Countries Covered
Most European countries are covered by both services, but Airalo offers coverage in 7 more countries than Saily. I really recommend checking that each country you’re visiting is covered before buying. Here’s the breakdown:
| Country | Airalo Supported Countries | Saily Supported Countries |
| Albania | ✔ | ⛌ |
| Andorra | ✔ | ⛌ |
| Austria | ✔ | ✔ |
| Belarus | ⛌ | ⛌ |
| Belgium | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | ✔ | ⛌ |
| Bulgaria | ✔ | ✔ |
| Croatia | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cyprus | ✔ | ✔ |
| Czech Republic | ✔ | ✔ |
| Denmark | ✔ | ✔ |
| Estonia | ✔ | ✔ |
| Finland | ✔ | ✔ |
| France | ✔ | ✔ |
| Georgia | ✔ | ⛌ |
| Germany | ✔ | ✔ |
| Greece | ✔ | ✔ |
| Hungary | ✔ | ✔ |
| Iceland | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ireland | ✔ | ✔ |
| Italy | ✔ | ✔ |
| Latvia | ⛌ | ✔ |
| Liechtenstein | ⛌ | ✔ |
| Lithuania | ✔ | ✔ |
| Luxembourg | ✔ | ✔ |
| Malta | ✔ | ✔ |
| Moldova | ⛌ | ⛌ |
| Montenegro | ✔ | ⛌ |
| Netherlands | ✔ | ✔ |
| North Macedonia | ✔ | ⛌ |
| Norway | ✔ | ✔ |
| Poland | ✔ | ✔ |
| Portugal | ✔ | ✔ |
| Romania | ✔ | ✔ |
| Slovakia | ✔ | ✔ |
| Slovenia | ✔ | ✔ |
| Spain | ✔ | ✔ |
| Sweden | ✔ | ✔ |
| Switzerland | ✔ | ✔ |
| Türkiye | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ukraine | ✔ | ⛌ |
| United Kingdom | ✔ | ✔ |
Switching between countries
Unless your trip is only one European country I would recommend purchasing a regional European option that both Saily and Airalo offer. Using these means your phone will automatically switch to a different network each time you cross a border.
With Airalo there weren’t any issues switching – with Saily the switch between North Macadonia and Greece didn’t appear to be working but when I restarted my phone it was all good (this may have just been because my SIM wasn’t actually connected to a network in Macadonia).
Pricing and plans
eSIM Prices
When comparing both of the Europe 5GB 30-day plans, the prices were virtually identical, with Saily being $0.51 USD cheaper (Saily: $19.49 USD | Airalo: $20.00 USD)
Plan variety
Airalo offers a wider variety of plans than Saily, with different data amounts and durations, making it easier to find one that may better match your specific data usage and trip length. Here’s a comparison of their Europe plans:
Saily
| Data | Duration | Price (USD) |
| 1 GB | 7 days | $4.99 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $12.49 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $19.49 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $35.99 |
| 50 GB | 90 days | $95.99 |
| Unlimited | 10 days 15 days 20 days 25 days 30 days | $35.99 $49.99 $59.99 $65.99 $71.99 |
Airalo
| Data | Duration | Price (USD) |
| 1 GB | 7 days | $5.00 |
| 2 GB | 15 days | $9.50 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $13.00 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $20.00 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $37.00 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $49.00 |
| 50 GB | 90 days | $100.00 |
| 100 GB | 180 days | $185.00 |
| Unlimited | 10 days | $35.00 |
Ways to save money – Available discounts
My motto is to never pay full price if you don’t have to. Both Airalo and Saily offer discounts to help you save even more money on your eSIM and any eSIMs you buy in the future:
Loyalty Credits
Both providers offer cashback on purchases: Airalo gives 6% back as “Airmoney” while Saily offers 5% as “Saily Credits.”
During our trip, my partner bought a top-up and used the Airmoney earned from our initial purchase to get a discount. That second purchase then generated even more credits, creating a nice cycle of never-ending savings.
Referrals
Both companies run referral programs that are separate from their loyalty rewards. Airalo offers $3 USD off your first purchase, while Saily provides $5 USD off.
With these discounts our eSIMs only cost us $17.00 USD for Airalo and $14.49 USD for Saily.
If you’re planning to try either service for the first time, make sure to apply a referral code. You’re welcome to use mine if you need one:
Airalo referral code: CAITLI4936
Saily referral code: CAITLI9461
Bonus Features
Saily includes some security features with all their eSIMs that are worth mentioning.
Saily is owned by NordVPN, which means you get built-in ad blocking and VPN protection at no extra cost. This not only keeps your browsing secure but also saves data and speeds up page loading by stopping ads from downloading.
Note: These security features only work when you’re using cellular data through your eSIM – they don’t protect you when connected to WiFi.
If you’re unfamiliar with VPNs, they’re definitely worth considering for travel. It’s a tool that keeps your internet activity private and hides your real location. This is super helpful when you’re using public WiFi at cafes or airports, where hackers on the same network could potentially spy on your activity.
If you want protection while on WiFi (or if you go with Airalo instead), you’ll need to buy a separate VPN subscription. NordVPN has monthly plans, but I recommend Surfshark as it’s a cheaper option.
So, which eSIM is better, Airalo or Saily?
Honestly, I’d choose Saily again if it covers everywhere I’m traveling. If not, I’d go with Airalo for the peace of mind (so I don’t have to stress of being without data or needing to find local SIM cards in countries that aren’t covered).
Since I found the network coverage to be basically the same for both, it really comes down to the price. And with the signup discounts, Saily ends up being $2.51 cheaper than Airalo – not huge, but every saving matters when planning a trip.
Plus Saily has some nice perks. You don’t have to reinstall the eSIM every time you travel, which is super convenient – and the included VPN gives you extra security.
