Saily vs. Sim Local: Overall comparison
Saily and Sim Local are fairly similar eSIM providers, offering connectivity in top tourist destinations around the world. Both services offer mobile data as well as voice and SMS plans in select destinations — but they also have some differences:
* Data and features valid as of August 18, 2026.
** Exemplary single-country plan for Spain. Prices valid as of August 18, 2026.
Looking closer at this side-by-side Saily vs. Sim Local comparison, three differences matter most. First, Sim Local does offer higher FUP-related limits (up to 10 GB) with its unlimited data plans. But this higher limit comes at an extra cost — in Spain, Sim Local’s seven-day unlimited data plan with 5 GB of high-speed data per day is US$27.50, while an unlimited data plan with 10 GB of high-speed data per day is US$34.25. In comparison, Saily offers a seven-day unlimited data plan with a daily limit of 5 GB of high-speed data for US$22.99.
Second, Saily has its security features, including an ad blocker, virtual location, and web protection — all of which keep your data safer while you travel. The security features are available to all users, regardless of their plan. Saily also offers a monthly subscription service — the Saily Ultra plan. In addition to mobile data, Saily Ultra users get access to other travel-related benefits like fast-track services and free lounge access at select airports.
Which offers better plans: Sim Local vs. Saily?
Both Saily and Sim Local have single-country, regional, and Global eSIM plans. In addition, both eSIM services have unlimited data plans for users who need a lot of data, like business travelers attending several meetings per day.
Comparison of single-country plans
For data-only plans for a single country like Spain, both Saily and Sim Local offer eSIM plans with 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, and an unlimited amount of mobile data. The difference in price is negligible, with Sim Local coming out cheaper by less than US$0.50 on most plans. The unlimited data plans are where the two providers differ the most:
* Exemplary unlimited data plan for Spain.
** Prices valid as of August 18, 2026.
Sim Local has one advantage when it comes to unlimited data plans — its high-speed data daily limits are higher. But so is the price, with users paying US$3.25 more to get access to 10 GB of daily high-speed data. On the other hand, Saily’s single-country unlimited data plans offer more flexibility — you can choose the length of the plan and potentially save money. For example, instead of buying two 15-day plans from Sim Local for US$98 (US$49 each) with a 5 GB high-speed data daily limit, you can buy a 30-day unlimited data plan from Saily for US$63.99, saving more than US$30.
Comparison of regional plans
Saily and Sim Local have region-specific data plans as well. Here’s how their European data plans compare:
* Prices valid as of August 18, 2026.
* * Sim Local also offers 20 GB, 100 GB, 200 GB, and 500 GB eSIM plans, some of which also include voice and SMS message allowances if the service is provided by Orange and sold by Sim Local. The plans were not included in the table for fair comparison purposes.
** Plans shorter or longer than 30 days are available from both eSIM services.
Regional plans are where the pendulum swings back toward Sim Local, albeit with an asterisk. It has a wide variety of offerings for the continent — with 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB, 100 GB, 200 GB, 500 GB, or unlimited data plans — and also sells local physical SIM cards and eSIMs at its kiosks at four airports in Europe. Some of the plans are provided by Orange and have unlimited voice call minutes and SMS messages within the European Union. In other international destinations, you can receive 30, 120, or 360 call minutes and 200, 1,000, or 3,000 international SMS messages, depending on your plan.
But that doesn’t apply to every regional plan. In Asia, Saily offers plans with 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 25 GB, or unlimited data, which is a lifesaver on a longer trip across Southeast Asia, for example. In comparison, Sim Local’s Asian eSIM plans offer 1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, or 20 GB of data, one of which is provided by Orange and includes 15 international voice call minutes and 50 SMS messages. The only caveat with Saily’s plans for Asia is that if you want to complement the mobile data plans with voice call minutes or SMS messages, you’ll have to spend extra on a Saily phone number plan that includes a US-based phone number.
If you’ve never used an eSIM on your travels before and aren’t sure how much data you’ll use and which plan to pick, check out the Saily data calculator to estimate your monthly data usage.
> We’ve also compared other eSIM providers’ services and plans — read our Saily vs. Airalo comparison.
Which one is cheaper: Saily or Sim Local?
The question of which eSIM provider is cheaper isn’t straightforward. Yes, if we compare single-country plans, as we did with the mobile data plans for Spain, Sim Local can come out cheaper. The cheapest data plan is 1 GB and priced almost the same — US$3.99 for Saily and US$4.00 for Sim Local. The difference is in the length of the plans, with Sim Local’s 1 GB plan for Spain lasting for three days and Saily’s 1 GB plan for the same country lasting for seven days. Sim Local’s 20 GB plan for Spain, which the service advertises as the best value, costs US$22.50. Saily prices its 20 GB data plan for Spain at US$22.99 — a negligible difference of US$0.49. But Saily additionally offers security features for free, which for some users can offset the meager price difference.
The contrast between Saily and Sim Local becomes starker when we look at the pricing of unlimited data plans in Spain. Saily’s 30-day unlimited data plan is US$63.99. Sim Local doesn’t offer a 30-day plan for Spain, leaving you with four options — a seven-day plan or a 15-day plan, with two different high-speed data limits per day (5 GB or 10 GB). So if you want to buy a month of unlimited data with Sim Local, you’ll spend either US$98 (a 15-day plan bought twice) on a 5 GB daily limit of high-speed data before it’s throttled, or US$104.50 (a 15-day plan purchased twice) on 10 GB of daily high-speed data.
Overall, the two eSIM providers share similar pricing structures with some differences. Sim Local offers data and phone number plans in the most popular destinations. Saily’s users have to purchase a separate phone number subscription as well as voice call minutes and SMS plans, but they are available in more destinations and come with a US-based phone number. Sim Local’s plans with voice calls and SMS messages are only included in a handful of plans — Europe, Canada, Mexico, the US, and the UK.
Which is more trustworthy and has better reviews: Saily or Sim Local?
When it comes to Sim Local vs. Saily trustworthiness, one thing you should know is that the team behind NordVPN created Saily. The eSIM app’s focus is connectivity as well as privacy — that’s why it has built-in security features. Sim Local emphasizes its partnerships with well-known mobile network operators such as 3 (also known as Three), au, Digicel, EE, Lycamobile, Orange, and some others.
As for customer reviews, here are some numbers from Trustpilot:
* Ratings and the number of reviews are valid as of August 19, 2026.
Which one offers better network speeds?
Sim Local states that it offers 4G and 5G speeds to its customers. Saily does as well — it advertises that by purchasing an eSIM plan with the app, you’ll have stable and reliable connectivity from “the best local network providers.”
In general, both eSIM services’ network speeds depend on their partners’ infrastructure in a given country, or even a specific region within that country. This means that you may have reliable mobile data in bigger cities, but it can slow down when you’re wandering through mountainous terrains or other remote areas.
When experiencing problems with your connection, you can always troubleshoot slow speed issues on your iOS or Android device by toggling airplane mode, restarting your smartphone, or trying to switch carriers manually. If all else fails, you can always reach out to customer support to help you diagnose and fix any speed-related problems.
Additional features
Additional features are where Saily really shines. For one, the integrated security features ensure you can browse the internet more safely and save some data — Saily’s ad blocker can save up to 28.6% of your data while you’re surfing the web. Web protection blocks malicious sites, limits online trackers, and improves browsing speeds, while virtual location adds another layer of protection by allowing you to change the virtual location of your smartphone.
When going on a work trip, you can opt for Saily’s dedicated platform for business customers — Saily for business. You or your corporate travel manager can control team members’ data plans even if they’re using multiple devices, with the platform issuing automatic invoices for all your purchases.
Meanwhile, Sim Local has physical stores or kiosks at four airports, where you can purchase an eSIM. Having a physical store is helpful when you forget to purchase an eSIM before leaving for your trip. Sim Local’s physical locations include stores and kiosks at Athens International Airport (ATH), London Gatwick Airport (LGW), London Heathrow Airport (LHR), and Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). At some of the provider’s stores, you can even get physical SIM cards.
Saily vs. Sim Local: Final verdict
When comparing Saily vs. Sim Local, the core of the products is very similar. Both services offer eSIMs for international travel, which include mobile data and phone number plans. The pricing is also similar but differs when it comes to, for example, unlimited data plans. Sim Local has pricier unlimited plans that have higher daily high-speed data limits.
Saily and Sim Local’s coverage is also unalike. Saily offers mobile data plans in Kosovo, while Sim Local doesn’t — and this is just one example. You always have to make sure whether the eSIM app you choose offers plans in your destination. Sim Local voice call minutes and SMS messages are only available in select, popular destinations, while Saily’s US-based phone number, which can be complemented with voice call minutes and SMS messages, is available in many.
The difference is also in the features that the eSIM services offer. Sim Local is more akin to a typical eSIM with mobile data and phone number plans, some of which are provided by its partners, like Orange or Lycamobile. Saily offers data and phone numbers plans as well as security features and the Saily Ultra plan, which provides additional travel perks that benefit frequent flyers, including fast-track services and airport lounge access.
The choice between Saily and Sim Local will depend on several factors, including coverage, prices, and additional features. Considering that the first two factors are fairly similar, Saily’s additional features give the eSIM app an edge over its competition.
To start using Saily, download Saily’s eSIM app, buy a plan, and follow the on-screen instructions.
