Saily eSIM review 2026
The Saily eSIM app covers 202 countries with local, regional and global data plans, prized for bundled privacy tools but limited by default on calls and SMS.
Quick Verdict: Is Saily Worth It?
This Saily review finds the app best suited to short-to-medium trip travelers who want simple, reusable data without swapping in a physical SIM at every border. Two strengths stand out: privacy tools bundled free into every plan, and a strong 4.7-star Trustpilot rating from more than 31,000 reviews as of September 2026, which answers most of the is Saily legit question on its own. Saily coverage spans 202 countries across local, regional and global plans. Saily pricing starts cheap but climbs on bigger tiers, and calls or SMS still need a separate add-on. It scores 4.5/5 on features, leaving out price, support and refund friction.
All Features at a Glance
Based only on the features listed below. It does not include price, support or refund policy.
▾ How this score is calculated
Each feature earns its weight if it is available (Yes = full weight, Partial = half, No = zero). Score = 1 + 4 × (points earned ÷ 22 possible points).
- •Local/country plans, Top-up available: 3 points each
- •Regional plans, Global plans, Calls included, Unlimited data plans, Hotspot/tethering, App available: 2 points each
- •Reusable eSIM, Multi-device support, SMS included, Local number: 1 point each
- •Data only, Subscription/auto-renew: shown for information, not scored
What Is Saily, and Who Is It For?
Saily is a data-only travel eSIM app built by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN and NordPass. It works as an aggregator, reselling capacity on third-party networks rather than operating its own towers, and doesn’t publish which carrier serves a given country. Plans come in three scopes: single-country, regional (7 groupings of 3 to 35 countries) and global, up to 121 countries on one plan. Every eSIM installs via an in-app QR-style flow or manual SM-DP+ entry, with the contracting entity set by residence.
Short-trip travelers
Local plans run 5 to 30 days, a fit for most single-destination trips.
Privacy-conscious travelers
Ad blocking, web protection and virtual location routing come bundled at no extra cost.
Frequent, repeat travelers
The same profile can be reinstalled and reused across multiple trips without a new QR code.
Digital nomads needing a callable number
The optional US-number add-on covers 2FA and banking logins needing an SMS or call.
Not for travelers who want calls or SMS bundled in
The base eSIM is data-only; voice and text need a separate, ID-verified add-on.
Which Countries Does Saily Cover?
Maya Mobile covers 180 destinations with 137 distinct carrier networks, delivering LTE in most locations and 5G in at least 90 countries by network-entry count, including strong representation across Europe. Coverage is mostly single-carrier: 106 countries (59%) have just one network, while 74 (41%) have two or more for redundancy, averaging about 1.5 carriers per country. All unlimited plans share one fair-use policy: 5GB per day at full speed, then throttled to 3Mbps, with no separate Standard or Max tier. Pricing is flat across the board regardless of destination or duration, with per-day cost dropping the longer the plan runs.
202 destinations covered
Local, regional, and global plan types across all major continents.
4G and 5G availability
Network quality by destination
Regional vs global plans
How Does Saily Pricing Work?
Saily sells prepaid plans by country, region or globally, and the starting price depends on scope. A direct pricing check confirms the real floor: local plans start at $1.99 for Bulgaria’s 1GB, 7-day plan , regional plans start at $4.99 for 1GB/7 days, and the global 121-country tier starts higher, at $8.99 for the same 1GB/7-day terms, reflecting its wider reach. Local plans run 5 to 30 days; global plans stretch to 365 days, with allowances commonly 3 to 20GB on 30-day tiers. Roughly 370 of the 1,180-plus plans on sale are unlimited, carrying a real fair-use cap: full speed for 3GB to 5GB a day, then throttled to 1 or 2 Mbps, fine for messaging but not streaming. Plans must activate within 180 days or auto-activate, and validity starts at activation, not purchase.
Is Saily Legit?
Yes, Saily is a very reputable company. Nord Security operates Saily through region-specific entities. Saily UAB in Vilnius, Lithuania contracts with EEA customers, CyberQuay Pty Ltd with Australians, and Saily Inc., a Delaware corporation, with everyone else. On Trustpilot, it holds 4.7 out of 5 stars from more than 31,000 reviews as checked directly on September 24, 2026; older cached snippets show lower counts (17,738 to 29,759), stale artifacts rather than a real drop, so the live figure is the one to trust. No ID is required for a standard plan, but the phone-number add-on requires a government ID and liveness check. Refund and support detail live in the FAQ below.
Saily's Pros and Cons
- Privacy tools ship free. Ad blocking, web protection and virtual location come bundled at no cost, though it isn't a full VPN.
- Trustpilot backs it up. A 4.7-star rating from over 31,000 reviews, checked September 2026.
- No ID needed for standard plans. A data-only eSIM needs no identity verification to buy or activate.
- The eSIM reinstalls across trips. One profile can be reused on repeat travel without a new QR code.
- Pre-trip installation works. The data clock only starts once activated, not at install.
- A calling option now exists. Buyers wanting a number for 2FA or banking can add a US-number bundle.
- Calls and SMS aren't included by default. The base eSIM is data-only; voice and text need a paid, ID-checked add-on.
- "Unlimited" plans are fair-use capped. Full speed lasts 3 to 5GB a day, then throttles to 1 or 2 Mbps.
- Switching phones isn't automatic. The eSIM is tied to its install device, so a new phone needs a fresh install.
- Refunds aren't unconditional once activated. A plan counts as used once turned on, so a refund isn't guaranteed.
- Carrier names stay hidden. Saily doesn't publish which network carries its traffic per country.
- Going global costs a premium. A 1GB/7-day global plan costs $8.99, over 4x the $1.99 single-country floor, so scope matters for short trips.
FAQs
How do I set up and activate a Saily eSIM?
Open the app after buying a plan, tap Install eSIM, and pick your device. 1) Tap Start eSIM Install. 2) Tap Activate. 3) Choose Data Only. 4) Switch on the eSIM’s data line and Data Roaming. Advanced users can enter the SM-DP+ address manually instead of scanning in-app. You can install before departure; the countdown only starts once you activate.
What is Saily's refund policy?
Requests must come within 30 days of purchase. A full refund applies if the eSIM was never installed, or installed but never activated. Once activated, a plan counts as used, so a refund isn’t automatic, though Saily may still grant one if a service issue kept you from using the data, or over 99 percent is unused. Replies typically arrive within 5 working days.
Can I reinstall or transfer my Saily eSIM to a new phone?
Yes, on the same device: the eSIM can be reinstalled repeatedly under one account without a new QR code, and remaining data carries over. Moving to a different phone isn’t automatic, though. The profile is bound to its install device, so a new phone needs a fresh install, and Saily offers guided transfer steps for iPhone and Android. If a phone is lost, contact support to reissue it.
Does Saily offer calls or SMS?
Not by default. The standard Saily eSIM is data-only, matching its original design. Since June 2026, Saily has sold an optional add-on: a US (+1) number with prepaid minute and text bundles for calls and texts to and from more than 100 countries, priced around $0.99 a month. Because it involves a real number, the add-on requires ID verification the base plan doesn’t.
Does Saily require ID verification?
No, not for a standard data-only plan; you can buy and activate one with just a payment method. The exception is the phone-number add-on, which requires a government-issued ID plus a liveness check, since regulators treat an assigned phone number differently from anonymous mobile data under telecom and anti-money-laundering rules. This check takes minutes and only applies if you add calling.
Can I install my Saily eSIM before I travel?
Yes. Saily supports pre-trip installation, and doing so is sensible so the eSIM is ready the moment you land. What matters is timing the activation, not the install: the validity window and data allowance only begin counting once you activate the plan, not when you install the profile. Plans must be activated within 180 days of purchase or they auto-activate on their own.
