Saily vs. Holafly: which eSIM app should you choose?

Choosing the right eSIM (embedded SIM) app can make or break your travel experience. If you’re stuck between Saily and Holafly, you’re not alone — they’re two of the most talked-about options out there. In this comparison, I’ll break down the key features of the two eSIMs to help you figure out which one fits your travel needs best. Let’s dive in.

Note: The comparison was made on April 16, 2025, and the information listed is subject to change.

Saily vs. Holafly: a full comparison

While both Holafly and Saily are designed for the same purpose — to let you avoid physical SIM cards and those painful roaming charges while traveling — they approach this in slightly different ways. From pricing to plan flexibility, each one has its own strengths. Here’s a quick side-by-side look to help you figure out which one fits your travel style best:

At a glance, Saily and Holafly both check the main boxes: wide coverage, easy setup, and reliable data access while traveling. However, once you dig into the details, the real differences show up.

Saily focuses on flexibility with pay-as-you-go plans, generous data ranges, and a one-time eSIM install that works across all destinations. Holafly, on the other hand, takes a more straightforward approach with unlimited data plans priced per day, which is great for heavy data users who don’t want to worry about data limits.

The two eSIM providers also differ in terms of hotspot sharing, built-in security features, and ease of switching between countries. Let’s take a closer look at how each stacks up and which one might be the better fit for you.

Plans and pricing

When choosing an eSIM, pricing and data plans are often the deal-breakers, especially if you’re heading to popular spots like the USA or hopping between countries in Europe or globally.

Holafly and Saily take pretty different routes: Holafly keeps it simple with unlimited data you pay for daily, while Saily gives you more control over how much you spend with fixed data plans. Depending on how much data you actually use, one could end up being a much better deal than the other.

Here’s a quick pricing comparison of some popular destination plans to help you figure out which one makes the most sense for your trip:

As evident in this comparison table, Saily and Holafly cater to different kinds of travelers, and comparing them might not be that easy.

While both providers offer country-specific, regional, and global plans, Holafly only offers unlimited data plans that you pay for daily — the more days (up to 90) you get upfront, the cheaper the cost per day. Meanwhile, Saily offers several packages with different durations and data limits.

If you monitor your data use and don’t want to spend more than necessary, Saily’s plans start at just $3.99 for 1GB, which you can use up in seven days. In certain locations, you can also go up to 100GB or even unlimited data if needed, and you can choose from a week to even a whole year’s plan.

Holafly is a great option if you stream a lot, use your phone constantly, or just don’t want to think about data limits while on the go. But convenience can get expensive fast, especially for longer trips. While unlimited data for one day in the US and Europe costs only $6.90, a 30-day global plan amounts to over $160. In comparison, with Saily, you can get a 20GB global plan for $66.99.

While focusing on smaller, budget-friendly data plans, Saily also offers unlimited data packages in some destinations. For example, they have a 15-day unlimited data plan in the US priced at $49.99. Holafly’s alternative costs almost the exact same — $50.90.

So, if you’re all about unlimited data and ease, Holafly could be the way to go. But if you’re traveling on a budget or just need enough data to get around and stay connected, Saily might be the more cost-effective and flexible option.

Regional and global coverage

Holafly and Saily both provide local, regional, and international plans. Similarly, each covers 200+ destinations for local plans and includes 113 countries in their global plans. The most notable differences are in their regional plans. Let’s take a quick look:

Holafly edges ahead slightly in Europe and Latin America, covering 40 and 18 countries respectively, compared to Saily’s 36 and 12. In North America, Saily covers the US and Canada, while Holafly adds Mexico to their package.

Saily takes the lead in several other regions. For example, in Africa, it covers 34 countries compared to Holafly’s 28. In the Caribbean, Saily offers broader coverage with 28 countries versus Holafly’s 18.

While Holafly covers 14 countries in the Middle East, Saily adds North Africa to their package and extends the country list to 19. Asia and Oceania is another package where Saily shines, offering 19 countries in a combined plan. On the other hand, Holafly splits the region into Asia (16) and Oceania (11), which might be more convenient in some cases, depending on your itinerary.

Whichever provider and package you choose, be sure to double-check the countries included in your specific plan. Even within the same region, coverage may be different between providers.

Speed and performance

In terms of speed and performance, there’s not a huge difference between Saily and Holafly. They both support network speeds up to 5G, along with 4G, LTE, and even 3G in some areas. So, in theory, you can expect fast, reliable internet with either provider.

However, just because your plan supports 5G doesn’t mean you’ll always get 5G. It highly depends on where you are — in big cities and urban areas, you’ll likely enjoy faster speeds, but if you’re exploring smaller towns or rural areas, your connection might drop down to 4G or even 3G.

One difference between Holafly and Saily to keep in mind is hotspot sharing. Saily allows unlimited hotspot sharing, meaning you can use your phone’s data on other devices as much as you want. Holafly, however, limits hotspot use to just 1GB per day, which might be fine for light use but can get a bit restrictive if you need to share data often.

Overall, both Holafly and Saily offer solid speeds and performance, but if you want to freely share data with your travel companions, Saily is the more flexible option.

Additional features

What’s better than a reliable eSIM? A reliable eSIM with extra perks. Both Saily and Holafly offer additional features with their services, so let’s see what else you get when you buy their eSIM plans:

Security and privacy features

Saily really stands out in this regard. Built by the same cybersecurity team behind NordVPN, Saily includes a few extra tools you usually wouldn’t get with an eSIM app. Here’s what you get in addition to Saily eSIM:

• Virtual location masking — for improved privacy when traveling, you can change your virtual location to 115+ available countries;
• Ad blocker — helps you avoid annoying ads and saves data;
• Web protection — by blocking trackers and malicious websites, this feature makes browsing a safer experience.

Having these features adds peace of mind, especially if you’re traveling to destinations where network security is a concern or you’re trying to save data by using public Wi-Fi. Holafly doesn’t currently offer any similar security features, so if privacy and security are important to you, Saily is a better pick.

Business and team plans

Both Saily and Holafly cater to businesses. However, they approach it differently.

Saily provides:

• Customizable data plans;
• Dedicated account managers;
• Assigning data across team members.

Holafly offers:

• Prepaid and postpaid options;
• Wholesale and retail purchasing;
• Managing multiple users under one account.

Overall, Saily is a good fit if you’re looking for hands-on control over things like data limits and support for your team. But if you’re after something simple and scalable, especially for managing a high volume of users, Holafly is a better choice.

Loyalty and referral perks

Holafly has a Travel Club loyalty program to reward its frequent travelers. With this program, you earn HolaCoins every time you buy an eSIM or refer a friend. You can then use them for discounts on future purchases. Additionally, there’s a 5% cashback on every order, which is pretty great if you travel often and want to save money over time.

Saily, at the moment, keeps things simpler. It has a referral program that rewards you for bringing friends on board, but there’s no points system or cashback. So, if loyalty perks are a deciding factor for you, Holafly is the service you should go with.

Ease of use and customer satisfaction

Both Saily and Holafly offer a seamless experience with a smooth setup process and solid support options.

Once you buy a data plan, getting set up is simple — just scan a QR code or enter the details manually, and you’re good to go. However, there’s a noticeable difference after the initial install. Saily offers a one-time eSIM installation, allowing you to reuse it as you move between countries. Contrarily, Holafly requires you to install a new eSIM every time you change destinations.

When it comes to plan activation, Saily makes things a bit easier, as it starts working automatically as soon as you land, while Holafly requires manual activation mid-flight or when you arrive at your destination country.

App-wise, both Saily and Holafly have intuitive and easy-to-use apps for iOS and Android devices. Saily lays out plan management, purchases, and security features on one screen, while Holafly separates things a bit more by splitting its app between shopping and eSIM management, which might mean a few extra taps.

As for customer satisfaction, both services provide support via 24/7 live chat (although Saily’s chat feature is available within the app only), email, and detailed FAQs. Holafly, however, goes a step further with support available through WhatsApp messages. Regarding refunds, Holafly offers a six-month claim window, much longer compared to Saily’s 30 days.

So, if you want hassle-free travel with a reusable eSIM and automatic activation across countries, you should choose Saily. However, if you prefer extra support via WhatsApp and a longer refund window, even if it means installing a new eSIM for each trip, you should go with Holafly.

Saily vs. Holafly: conclusion

Saily and Holafly both offer reliable eSIM solutions, but one might be better than the other for different kinds of travelers. Saily is a better choice for those who like flexibility, don’t want to overpay for unused data, and appreciate built-in security features. Meanwhile, Holafly is all about keeping things simple with daily unlimited-data plans and offers some nice deals for frequent travelers.

At the end of the day, both eSIM providers are reliable, solid picks, and your choice should be based on your travel style and how much data you think you’ll need.

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