TRAVEL TECH · ESIM COMPARISON
Saily vs Airalo for Europe: which eSIM fits your trip?
Both sell one eSIM that works across most of Europe, and on many plans the prices are within a few cents. The real differences are which countries are covered, which plan sizes exist and how flexible the unlimited plans are. We read both Europe plan pages, every plan and both country lists, on October 23, 2026.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you buy through the Airalo or Saily links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Both programs pay us, so this page doesn't favor either one; the free options (your US plan, Wi-Fi) are listed too. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with Airalo or Saily. Prepared with AI assistance; plan pages read on October 23, 2026. We did not run speed tests.
The 30-second answer
Going to the Balkans, Georgia or Ukraine? Pick Airalo. Its Europe plan lists Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine; Saily's doesn't.
Unlimited data for an odd number of days (4, 8, 12, 20)? Pick Saily. You choose any length from 1 to 30 days; Airalo only sells 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 30.
Lots of data over a month (10GB)? Airalo: $31 vs $35.99.
Western Europe, a week, normal use? It's close to a tie. 5GB / 30 days costs $19.50 at Airalo and $19.49 at Saily; unlimited 7 days is $27 vs $26.99.
Monaco or Andorra on the route? Neither Europe plan lists them. See our border guide.
See Airalo Europe plans See Saily Europe plans
Saily code PIVOT10: 10% off your first Saily purchase (all plans; applied automatically through this link). Code confirmed by Saily's affiliate team on October 23, 2026.
Prices side by side (October 23, 2026)
Fixed-data plans
| Data | Airalo Europe (41 countries) | Saily Europe (35 countries) | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | $5 / 3 days | $4.99 / 7 days | Saily (4 more days) |
| 3GB | $10 / 3 days; $11 / 7 days | $12.49 / 30 days | Airalo for a week; Saily if you need 30 days |
| 5GB | $18.50 / 7 days; $19 / 15 days; $19.50 / 30 days | $19.49 / 30 days | Tie |
| 10GB | $26 / 7 days; $28 / 15 days; $31 / 30 days | $35.99 / 30 days | Airalo ($4.99 less) |
| 20GB | $47 / 15 days; $48 / 30 days | Not offered | Airalo |
| 50GB | $70 / 30 days; $100 / 90 days | $95.99 / 90 days | Airalo for 30 days; Saily for 90 |
Unlimited plans
| Days | Airalo | Saily |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | $11.50 | $11.99 |
| 5 | $19.50 | $18.99 |
| 7 | $27 | $26.99 |
| 10 | $35 | $35.99 |
| 12 | Not sold (buy 15 days, $49) | $41.99 |
| 15 | $49 | $49.99 |
| 20 | Not sold (30 days $71, or 15 + 5 days $68.50) | $59.99 |
| 30 | $71 | $71.99 |
Both "unlimited" plans give full speed for the first 5GB each day, then slow to about 1 Mbps (enough for maps and messages, not video). Prices are in US dollars, before any promo codes, and change often.
Coverage: where the two lists differ
The two plans share 34 countries: all of the big Western European destinations, plus the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Turkey and Gibraltar. The differences:
| Place | Airalo Europe | Saily Europe |
|---|---|---|
| Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia | Listed | Not listed |
| Georgia, Ukraine | Listed | Not listed |
| San Marino | Not listed | Listed |
| Monaco, Andorra, Moldova | Not listed | Not listed |
A Croatia-Montenegro-Albania coast trip, or Dubrovnik with a day in Kotor, is the classic case where Saily's Europe plan leaves a gap. If your route stays inside the EU, the UK and Switzerland, both plans cover it.
See Airalo's 41-country Europe plan
Other differences that matter
| Airalo | Saily | |
|---|---|---|
| When the plan starts | When it first connects to a network in a covered country | When you arrive in the first covered country, or automatically 180 days after purchase |
| Phone number | Europe plan is data only | Optional phone number with SMS and call-minute plans (sold separately) |
| Hotspot | Not stated on the Europe page | Allowed, no limit stated |
| Extras | Airmoney credit on purchases | Ad blocker, web protection and virtual location in the app; 3% back in Saily credits |
| Top-ups | In the Airalo app | In the Saily app, with an auto top-up option |
| Local networks | Named per country (for example Orange and Free in France, Vodafone and O2 in Germany) | "Best local networks"; not named on the Europe page |
Airalo's Europe page also says extended use over 91 days in Turkey is restricted by local law.
Which one for your trip
| Your trip | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Paris, Rome, Barcelona for 7-10 days | Either | Unlimited 7 days is $27 vs $26.99. Pick the app you prefer. |
| Croatia plus Montenegro or Albania | Airalo | Saily's Europe list stops at Croatia. |
| A 12- or 20-day trip, heavy data | Saily | You buy exactly the days you need ($41.99 / $59.99 unlimited). |
| A month, mostly Wi-Fi, maps on the go | Either | 5GB / 30 days: $19.50 vs $19.49. |
| A month working remotely, 10-20GB | Airalo | 10GB / 30 days is $31; 20GB / 30 days is $48 (Saily has no 20GB plan). |
| You need a European number for texts and calls | Saily | Its Europe plan can add a phone number; Airalo's Europe plan is data only. |
| One country only | Neither regional plan | A single-country plan is usually cheaper; see France, Italy, UK. |
Before you buy either: check what's free
- Your US plan. Many T-Mobile plans include basic data in Europe at no extra cost. AT&T's International Day Pass and Verizon's TravelPass cost about $12 a day, so a week is about $84, several times the price of either eSIM.
- Wi-Fi only. For a short city trip, hotel and café Wi-Fi plus offline Google Maps costs nothing.
- Your phone. It must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked, or neither eSIM will install.
What to do
- Write down every country on your route, including day trips and layovers.
- Check it against the coverage table above. Balkans, Georgia or Ukraine: Airalo. San Marino: Saily. Monaco or Andorra: add a local plan.
- Estimate your data: about 1GB a week for maps and messages, 3-5GB for social media and photos, unlimited for video or a hotspot.
- Match the length: odd-length unlimited trips favor Saily; 10GB+ fixed plans favor Airalo.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, leave it switched off, and turn on data roaming for it when you land.
- If data doesn't work on arrival, see our fixes by symptom.
See Airalo Europe plans See Saily Europe plans
Saily code PIVOT10: 10% off your first Saily purchase (all plans; applied automatically through this link). Code confirmed by Saily's affiliate team on October 23, 2026.
Common questions
Is Saily or Airalo cheaper for Europe?
It depends on the plan. On October 23, 2026, Airalo was cheaper for 10GB over 30 days ($31 vs Saily's $35.99) and for 3GB over 7 days ($11), while Saily was cheaper for 1GB over 7 days ($4.99) and for 50GB over 90 days ($95.99 vs $100). Their 5GB / 30-day plans cost the same ($19.50 vs $19.49), and unlimited plans for 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 30 days were within $1 of each other.
Which countries does Airalo's Europe eSIM cover that Saily's doesn't?
Airalo's 41-country Europe plan lists Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine. Saily's 35-country Europe plan doesn't list any of them. Saily lists San Marino, which Airalo's Europe plan doesn't. Neither lists Monaco or Andorra (checked October 23, 2026).
Are Saily and Airalo unlimited Europe plans really unlimited?
Both give full speed for the first 5GB each day, then slow to about 1 Mbps, which is enough for maps and messages but not video. That was the stated policy on both Europe plan pages on October 23, 2026.
Can I get an unlimited Europe eSIM for 12 or 20 days?
With Saily, yes: its Europe unlimited plan is sold for any length from 1 to 30 days ($41.99 for 12 days, $59.99 for 20 days on October 23, 2026). Airalo sells fixed lengths of 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 30 days, so a 20-day trip means the 30-day plan ($71) or two plans.
Do I need a Europe eSIM at all?
Check your US plan first. Many T-Mobile plans include basic data in Europe. AT&T and Verizon day passes cost about $12 a day, so for a week or more an eSIM is usually far cheaper. For a short trip, hotel Wi-Fi plus offline Google Maps costs nothing.
Related guides
- Best eSIM for Europe: one plan for several countries
- France or Spain eSIM in Monaco, Andorra or Gibraltar?
- Airalo Turkey eSIM: which plan?
- Airalo eSIM not working: fixes by symptom
- eSIM by country: which plan for your trip
How we checked this: On October 23, 2026 we read every plan, price, country list and the fair-use terms on Airalo's Europe eSIM page (including its "Countries + Networks" list) and Saily's Europe eSIM page (country list, every unlimited day count, technical details). US carrier day-pass prices are from verizon.com (October 22, 2026) and att.com (October 20, 2026). We did not test speeds or support. Prices and coverage change, so check the plan page before you buy. This page was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources.