Is the Saily eSIM a good choice for staying connected while travelling? Does it offer strong network coverage? We’re here to help you answer those and other key questions about this mobile data service from Nord Security. To do that, we’ve thoroughly tested Saily. We share our experience and insights from other users who have tried it during their trips. You’ll learn about its data plans, travel performance, and how easy it is to set up.
We also explain how the purchase went and how their customer support team performed. But that’s not all. To help you make a fully informed decision, we also compare it to other popular eSIMs like Holafly and SimOptions. Join us in this review to see whether Saily is the right option for your next trip.
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Which Saily eSIM Are We Reviewing?
The Saily eSIM we’re reviewing here is a fairly new service. It officially launched in early 2024. Saily aims to go one step further by offering travellers a secure, stable alternative to physical SIM cards.
According to its terms of service, Saily’s eSIM is provided by 1Global, a UK-based company founded in 2022 that replaced Truphone.
1Global also distributes eSIMs through partnerships with brands like Nomad eSIM, Airalo, and Revolut eSIM.
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How Does the Saily eSIM Work?
eSIMs are a digital alternative to physical SIM cards. They let you access mobile data without swapping chips or relying on local carriers. Saily’s eSIM is designed with travellers in mind and installs via a profile directly on your device.
It works using a global roaming system. What does this mean? In simple terms, Saily doesn’t provide its own network. It connects to major local carriers in each country. This means coverage can vary depending on the destination. However, their website claims it always uses 4G or 5G networks. You can use it in dozens of countries, though signal quality depends on your specific location.
There’s no real difficulty using it. The steps to install and activate it are quick and easy. You can buy it through their website or via the app, available for iOS and Android. However, to install the eSIM, you must download their app.
Once you purchase a plan, it will appear in the app. Just follow the guided steps to activate it. Your device will detect the digital profile and automatically connect to the local network in your destination.
Our Opinion on Saily’s Data Plans
When reviewing Saily’s global data plans, we found the offering quite competitive overall. You can choose from various data volumes and durations, such as 7-day or 30-day plans.
They’re designed to suit different types of travellers. Some plans work well for those who need only occasional access. Others are ideal for users who need larger data packages for video calls or streaming.
Let’s look at the available plans. Since pricing varies by destination, we’ll use the United States plans as an example:
- 1 GB for 7 days – Ideal for travellers who only need basic connectivity. Price: $3.99
- 3 GB for 30 days – A mid-range option for those who need longer connectivity. Price: $8.99
- 5 GB for 30 days – Designed for users with higher data consumption. Price: $13.99
- 10 GB or 20 GB for 30 days – For users who need constant connection. Price: $22.99 or $36.99.
We can say that Saily’s offering is quite competitive. However, it has some differences compared to other options in terms of validity, price, and coverage. The biggest drawback we found when comparing its plans to others is the lack of an unlimited data plan.
Our Experience with Purchase and Installation
As you can see, their plans are decent. But what about buying them? Is the process easy for people who aren’t tech-savvy? Having tested it, we can say the purchase process is straightforward. You can buy through the website, but you’ll need to install the official app afterwards. Simply choose the country or region where you want to use the service and pick the plan that suits you best.
We chose a 5 GB package valid for 30 days in Thailand.
After selecting the plan and completing payment (via credit card or PayPal), the app gave us the option to install the eSIM.
The process is very similar to other services we have used before:
- When you click install, it redirects you to the phone’s settings.
- You just follow the steps shown.
- Then, return to the app and get a notification confirming the eSIM has installed.
It took us less than 10 minutes. However, before starting, the company’s website warned that installation time depends on the device type. It might take you longer.
Opinion During Use: Coverage, Speed, and Stability
During our trip around Thailand, we moved around a lot to explore the country fully. This gave us a good chance to test coverage, speed, and connection stability.
As mentioned, the eSIM automatically connects to major local operators’ networks.
We didn’t have any coverage issues.
In cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the connection was stable and fast. We could use messaging apps, maps, and social media without problems. However, when we visited rural areas and the islands of Koh Tao and Koh Lanta, we noticed some signal fluctuations. At times, the connection dropped from 4G to 3G, causing speeds to slow down a little.
We also ran some Speedtest checks. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, download speeds ranged between 30 and 80 Mbps. On southern beaches like Phuket and Krabi, speeds were more variable, especially in busy areas such as airports and stations.
Is It Worth It in Terms of Performance? In conclusion, the overall stability was acceptable. We didn’t experience unexpected disconnections, nor did we need to restart our phones to regain signal. That said, while Saily’s eSIM performs well in major tourist cities, it might not be the best choice for remote areas if you need a stable connection.
Guarantees and Support for Unexpected Issues
When buying any travel service, it’s important to know what happens if something goes wrong with the eSIM while you’re abroad. As we said, we had no issues, so we can’t fully judge their customer support for problems. However, we can share the research we did before purchasing the eSIM.
First, one thing we didn’t like is that, despite promising easy use, they don’t offer a clear refund policy if the eSIM doesn’t work on your device. Their website states that it is your responsibility to check compatibility before buying. If your device isn’t compatible, they won’t give you a refund.
From other reviews, we found that if you have installation issues and contact support, they resend the QR code or reassign new profiles.
One downside is that they don’t offer live chat on their website. This means you cannot get help without registering first. Reviews also mention that response times can take up to two hours. It’s not the fastest customer service on the market.
Is the Saily eSIM Worth It?
With all this in mind, is it worth choosing Saily? Overall, we think it’s an interesting option, but with some caveats.
It works well in urban areas, and speeds are quite decent. The installation and purchase processes are both straightforward.
Plus, their plans are flexible and competitively priced.
On the other hand, there are areas that could improve. For example, the lack of immediate support and an unclear refund policy could be better. We also found the app not very user-friendly, and you must download it to install the eSIM. There’s also a lack of information before buying.
You won’t know which network you’ll connect to until you arrive at your destination. Because of its low price, it could be from providers with more limited coverage.
Overall, we conclude that Saily is an affordable alternative if you want a decent travel solution. But is it better than other options? Let’s compare it to finish the review – that’s the best way to get the full picture.
Comparison with Other Travel eSIMs
During our trip, it was hard not to compare Saily’s eSIM with others we had used before. So, we have to mention them in this review too. It will help you decide by seeing how coverage and features stack up against some of the most popular digital SIMs on the market. Here’s what we noticed:
Saily vs Holafly
Both offer eSIMs for many destinations, with Holafly covering a few more. Activating them is also easy. That said, we noticed some important differences:
- Coverage and Stability: While Holafly stands out by offering unlimited data in many countries, Saily only has plans up to 30 GB. Having unlimited data is a big advantage. It lets you browse without worry about usage or needing to buy a new plan if you miscalculate your needs.
- Ease of Use: Holafly offers a much more intuitive interface and real-time support in Spanish. Saily does not.
- Price and Flexibility: Although Saily’s plans can be cheaper in some countries, Holafly balances this with unlimited data rates and no unexpected costs.
Which Is Better? Overall, we preferred Holafly. The experience is smoother, and unlimited data is a huge advantage over Saily’s plans. Also, even though we had no issues this time, knowing you can contact 24/7 support in Spanish offers great peace of mind.
SimOptions vs Saily
Both offer eSIMs for multiple countries and allow easy purchase and activation of the digital SIM. The main difference we found is the variety of operators. SimOptions works with several companies and offers plans from different providers in each destination, while Saily offers less variety.
Which Would We Choose? It depends. If you want the option to choose between different operators, SimOptions is a more complete choice. Saily can be a good alternative if you prefer something simpler and more straightforward.
Saily vs Maya Mobile
Finally, we also found differences compared to Maya Mobile, another well-known eSIM option. There were quite a few, for example:
- Connection Quality: Maya Mobile often offers 5G coverage where available. This makes the connection faster and more stable. With Saily, connection quality depends more on local operator agreements and doesn’t always guarantee the best speed.
- Flexibility: Maya Mobile lets you choose between limited or unlimited data plans in some countries. Saily offers far fewer options.
Which Would We Choose? From our point of view, Maya Mobile provides better stability and more control over your eSIM.
In short, Saily is a practical eSIM for those looking for a simple and affordable option.
However, in terms of coverage, ease of use, and customer service, we believe there are better choices on the market. For example, Holafly and Maya Mobile offer superior features.
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