Saily vs. Holafly: Which eSIM app should you choose in 2025?

Saily vs. Holafly: An overall comparison

Saily and Holafly are both eSIM services, allowing travelers to stave off high roaming charges and the inconvenience of searching for a local SIM card. Each of the two companies takes a unique approach to pricing, plan flexibility, and including extra features in their apps. Here’s a quick overview to compare where each eSIM service shines and falls behind.

This data was taken from each eSIM service provider’s website on March 17, 2025.

*As of March 17, 2025, Saily’s US$1.99 price applies to the 1 GB plan for Bulgaria, the Czech Republic (Czechia), and Mayotte only. 

**As of March 17, 2025, Saily offers unlimited data plans for Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States only. 

The most noteworthy difference between Holafly and Saily’s pricing scheme and plan availability is that Holafly almost exclusively offers unlimited data plans (except for Holafly Connect, a monthly subscription with 10 GB and 25 GB options). The benefit of unlimited data is that you won’t have to monitor your data usage or hold yourself back — you won’t have to worry about going over and having to top up. However, this “pay per day” system also makes it so that you may be paying for data you won’t actually use — especially if you’re not planning on extensively streaming videos or music. If you’re unsure about how to estimate your data usage, check out our article on how much data you will need for your trip.  

It’s worth mentioning, however, that “unlimited data” can be a slightly misleading term. You may experience severe slowdowns during peak usage hours or after you’ve used a certain amount of data due to the fair usage policy (FUP). That being said, slowdowns are not decided by Holafly or Saily, nor is the FUP exclusive to their services — local network providers reserve the right to enact the FUP, with some destinations having stricter policies than others. Notably, Saily outlines the kinds of speed and slowdowns to expect with its unlimited data plans, while Holafly’s website does not include an explicit numerical breakdown — it just says that slowdowns may occur if necessary.  

Saily takes a “pay for what you need” approach, offering a variety of plans available over various periods of time. This model offers more flexibility, especially for travelers on a tight budget. Saily also takes the cake with its convenient one-time eSIM installation feature — you can simply buy plans for a single Saily eSIM through the app, whereas you’ll have to install an eSIM for each new destination when using Holafly. Saily also allows you to share your hotspot unlimitedly, while Holafly only allows you to share up to 1 GB of your data with a hotspot. And of course, the Saily eSIM app comes with built-in security features that add an extra layer of online privacy while you browse. 

Both Saily and Holafly offer data-only eSIMs, which means that no matter which app you choose, you’ll keep your own phone number and have to use VoIP apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Viber to reach people via message or call. 

If you’re planning on streaming long videos or video chatting all day, Holafly’s eSIM service may be a good option. But for the average traveler using data to find local restaurants on Google Maps, hail a taxi service, or upload Instagram stories, Saily is more budget friendly and offers greater flexibility. 

Which offers better data plans? Holafly vs. Saily

Holafly and Saily present unique approaches to data plan offerings, but they both offer local, regional, and global plans. In fact, Holafly’s approach is quite different from many competing eSIM services because the company almost exclusively offers unlimited data plans that you pay for per day. Saily offers flexible plans ranging from 1 GB to unlimited data and availability over 7 to 365 days, taking an “only pay for what you need” approach. 

Both eSIM apps offer plans in 200+ destinations. However, some crucial differences exist between Saily and Holafly’s plan offerings and although each service boasts similar numbers of destinations, Holafly includes city-specific and US state-specific plans as part of its available destinations, including Azores, Bali, Bangkok, Barcelona, Berlin, California, Hawaii, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Madeira, Madrid, Medellin, Miami, Milan, Osaka, Paris, Phuket, San Francisco, Seoul, Sydney, and Tokyo. All of these destinations are covered by Saily’s eSIM data plans for each associated country.

It’s also worth pointing out that if you purchase a plan for a single city, you’ll have less flexibility to use your data if you spontaneously decide to explore more of the country or region. 

However, Holafly does offer destinations that are not currently covered by Saily, including: 

• The Aaland Islands.

• China + Hong Kong + Macau (one package for these destinations).

• Iran.

• Maldives.

• Nepal.

• Palestine.

• Russia.

• St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Similarly, Saily currently offers a number of destinations that Holafly does not, including:

• Afghanistan.

• American Samoa.

• Cape Verde.

• Lesotho.

• Nauru.

• The Northern Mariana Islands.

• Samoa.

• San Marino.

• Sint Maarten (Dutch).

• Solomon Islands.

• South Sudan.

• Togo.

• Zimbabwe.

Overall, it may first appear that Holafly offers wider coverage by offering city-specific and US state-specific plans. However, Saily's country plans also cover these locations, since they encompass entire countries. Saily also covers more destinations excluded by Holafly’s eSIM offerings. As such, Saily currently offers a broader range of destinations than Holafly. 

With local data plans out of the way, let’s take a look at each eSIM service’s regional and global plan offerings. 

Holafly vs. Saily: A comparison of regional and global plans

Both Holafly and Saily offer regional data packages for Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean Islands. Saily combines Asia with Oceania in one package, while Holafly only offers an Asia plan. Both companies offer coverage in the Middle East as well, but Saily also includes North Africa into the regional package.  

As you can see, Saily offers wider coverage with its Africa, Asia and Oceania, Middle East and North Africa, and, especially, its Caribbean Islands plan. Holafly includes more destination offerings in their Europe, North America, and Latin America plans. 

However, some of these discrepancies are explained by which regions certain destinations are lumped into. For instance, Holafly’s North America plan includes Mexico, while Mexico is included in Saily’s Latin America plan. Conversely, Egypt is part of Holafly’s Africa plan, while the country falls under Saily’s Middle East and North Africa plan. 

Both companies offer the same number of destinations in their global plans. However, the available destinations are quite different:

Destinations covered by both Saily and Holafly’s Global plans: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. 

Destinations exclusively covered by Saily’s Global plan: Barbados, Bermuda, Ecuador, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Honduras, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Montserrat, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Reunion, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Samoa, San Marino, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

Destinations exclusively covered by Holafly’s Global plan: Algeria, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Liberia, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, Yemen, and Zambia. 

Which one is cheaper: Saily or Holafly?

A one-to-one comparison between Saily and Holafly’s eSIM services isn’t particularly straightforward because of Holafly’s unique pricing model. Determining which plans are cheaper depends on two factors — how much data you plan on using and how long your trip is. Saily offers multiple different plans (starting at 1 GB) over various lengths of time. Holafly’s plans come with unlimited data and instead, you only choose the number of days. If you know you won’t need a lot of data, Saily will almost certainly be the cheaper option because Holafly’s cheapest plans start at US$6.90 per day. However, Saily may also offer a better bargain for longer trips. The best way to analyze prices between Holafly and Saily’s data plans is by comparing the number of available days for the plan. 

These prices were taken from each eSIM service provider’s website on March 17, 2025.

As you can see, opting for Saily’s unlimited data plan for Spain is a much greater bargain than paying for 15 days of unlimited data with Holafly. For just US$49.99, Saily gets you 15 days of unlimited data — you’ll have to pay US$103.50 with Holafly’s service. 

Both companies offer seasonal deals and promotions, too! Take advantage of the Saily coupon code for even more savings. 

Is Holafly or Saily more trustworthy?

Both Holafly and Saily have commendable online reputations and are recommended by trusted travel service providers, tech reviewers, and influencers.  

Saily was created by the reputable Nord Security — the company behind leading VPN service provider NordVPN. In late 2024, Saily also became Lonely Planet’s #1 recommended eSIM app, garnered praise from PCMag, scored a high review from TechRadar, and won a Global Recognition Award. Though the company is relatively new to the eSIM app market, it has made enormous strides since its introduction. 

Holafly was launched in 2018 by a pair of passionate travelers and has remained one of the top choices for globetrotters looking for reliable internet access. 

Both companies offer 24/7 live chat support and other methods of reaching customer support like a Help Center and FAQs. Holafly has a WhatsApp number that you can contact directly. 

When it comes to data security and privacy measures, Saily goes the extra mile. The app includes security features that allow you to reroute your connection and keep your IP address private, block malicious sites, reduce online trackers, and thwart annoying ads. 

Both eSIM services are trusted and endorsed by folks in the travel and tech spheres, so the choice between Saily and Holafly comes down to what you value most. If you want a service backed by one of the biggest names in the cybersecurity industry that prioritizes online privacy and security, Saily should be your pick. If you’d prefer a service that’s been around for longer, Holafly may be right for you. 

Which one offers better network speed? 

When it comes to network speed, you won’t see much of a difference between Saily vs. Holafly. Saily offers 3G, 4G, LTE, and 5G speeds, and Holafly’s website states that it offers 4G and 5G speeds. The caveat here is that just because network speed can go up to 5G doesn’t mean that’s the speed you’ll get. Ultimately, it’ll depend on the destination’s infrastructure and local network providers.

Holafly vs. Saily: Which one has better reviews?

Both eSIM apps have received thousands of reviews across the App Store, the Google Play Store, and TrustPilot with many reviews highlighting both companies’ strong customer support and quick response times. Saily’s combined rating on the App Store and Google Play Store is quite a bit higher than Holafly’s:

• Saily’s combined rating across the App Store and Google Play Store: 4.7 ⭐ (57,000+ reviews)

• Holafly’s combined rating across the App Store and Google Play Store: 4.0 ⭐ (32,000+ reviews)

However, Holafly’s TrustPilot score — which is displayed on the company’s website, is much stronger than Saily’s:

• Holafly’s TrustPilot rating: 4.6 ⭐(52,200+ reviews)

• Saily’s TrustPilot rating: 4.0 ⭐(2,300+ reviews)

Some reviews for both Saily and Holafly report trouble with plan activation or eSIM installation, but customer support representatives from each respective company have promptly replied to all of these reviews and offered a solution. It’s safe to say that both Holafly and Saily have strong customer support teams. 

Additional features

Since Saily was created by the same cybersecurity company behind NordVPN, the app includes unique security features — namely, virtual location, ad blocker, and web protection. Not only do these features add an extra layer of online privacy for users, but they actually help keep your data usage down. Yep, you read that right. For instance, ads take data to load — enabling the ad blocker feature prevents annoying ads and won’t use that little bit of extra data. It’s a win-win. 

It’s also worth mentioning that Holafly offers a monthly subscription service called Holafly Connect, where travelers are given the option to pay a monthly fee for either 10 GB (US$39.90), 25 GB (US$49.90), or an unlimited data plan (US$64.90) with global coverage. 

Saily vs. Holafly: The final verdict

Both Saily and Holafly have distinct benefits, but Saily stands out as the better choice for travelers looking for affordable mobile data plans. Saily offers more flexibility with a “pay for what you need” pricing model, which can start for as low as US$1.99 for 1 GB over 7 days. Saily also offers wider coverage than Holafly, most notably when it comes to the Caribbean islands. Lastly, Saily has integrated unique security features into its app, like the ability to keep your virtual location private, block ads, and get more protection against malicious sites and online trackers. These combined reasons make Saily’s overall value higher than Holafly’s eSIM service. 

That being said, Holafly is still a standout eSIM service and offers some perks that Saily currently doesn’t, like unlimited data plans for all its available destinations. The downside, however, is that travelers only have this “pay per day” option for unlimited data, so they may be paying for data they will not use and subsequently overspend. 

All in all, if you’re looking for Holafly alternatives, Saily offers great coverage, flexible plans, competitive pricing, and standout security features. 

This article was written on March 17, 2025. Prices, plans, and coupon codes from both Saily and Holafly are subject to change over time.