Best eSIM for International Travel: Airalo vs. Saily — Which One Is Best for Families?
Tired of crazy roaming charges, spotty airport Wi-Fi, or buying five local SIM cards for each family member?
We’ve lost SIM cards when traveling through multiple countries and having to switch them constantly. And we’ve wandered through airports searching for a shop selling SIM cards to no avail.
And we’re not alone. A lot of us have been there. Thankfully there are eSIMs now. But what are the best eSIM providers? We’ve tested quite a few over the years and we have 2 favorites, each with their own pros and cons.
Looking for the best eSIM for international travel with kids? Airalo and Saily are the only eSIMs I trust. They’re two of the top eSIM providers out there. We’ve been using Airalo since 2021 and first tried Saily a few months after their launch in the spring of 2024.
Both deliver exactly what they promise: great speed, quick set-up and multiple data packages per destination.
But which one actually works for families? Let’s compare Airalo vs. Saily and show you which provider is the best choice for your family, depending on location, type of trip and user-friendliness of the apps.
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Key takeaways
Short on time? I’ve got you with the key takeaways from this eSIM comparison guide.
- Traveling with kids is awesome, but let’s be real, it’s also a mental and logistical workout. Airalo and Saily offer eSIMs with fast, easy setup. Which means one less thing to juggle, so you can focus on the adventure instead of the tech headaches.
- Airalo offers wider coverage across 200+ countries—ideal for globe-trotting families, regional and world trips.
- Saily is cheaper and best for single-country trips or budget-conscious travelers.
- Neither offer “family plans,” but both allow easy eSIM setup for multiple devices.
- Saily’s app is more user-friendly and better to understand for (pre)teens and elderly (for peepz who bring the grandparents along)
- Saily offers web protection and adblocker by NordVPN
- There’s not one clear winner: choose based on your destination, budget, and tech comfort level.
If you want to know more about what an eSIM is, check out what there is to know and why an eSIM for travel is worth it for families.
Now let’s dive in deeper.
Overview: best eSIM for international travel with kids
When planning a family trip you have to make sure you stay connected. Don’t use your local SIM to avoid huge bills on roaming. And there’s also no need to stand in long lines at the airport to buy a physical SIM card. Go for an eSIM! And go for one of the 2 best eSIM providers.
Airalo and Saily are two of the most popular names in the eSIM world right now.
They both offer instant digital data plans for travelers—but your best choice depends on where you’re going and how much data you need
Airalo is available in 200+ countries, offers regional plans and worldwide plans that cover 138 countries. But Airalo is also the slightly more expensive choice.
Saily is best for affordability and their app is more user friendly. They launched in 2024 and are growing quickly. But for now they only offer plans for 150+ countries. They also offer regional plans and worldwide plans that cover 113 countries.
Saily’s also big on data privacy. It’s part of the NordVPN family, so the big plus is that they offer AdBlocker and WebProtection by NordVPN. Simply toggle these security options on or off in the app. Great if you have to work a bit throughout your travels.
Airalo vs. Saily: quick comparison table
Here’s a fast snapshot comparison.
Airalo: pros, cons & key features
Airalo is a veteran in the eSIM space and has been active since 2019.
It’s trusted by millions of travelers and offers both local, regional, and global eSIMs.
Pros:
- Works in over 200 countries and is great for multi-country trips or a trip around the world.
- Reliable performance in most locations. I’ve used Airalo for a trip through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and had no problem switching from one eSIM to another and back. And I could easily use socials and whattapp.
- Customer support through 24/7 live chat, email and whatsapp
- App makes installation super easy, even for non-techy parents.
- Offers a world eSIM called Discover, valid in 138 countries, and regional plans (all continents except Antarctica (duh!), and also for the Middle East and Latin America)
- Airalo has a rewards system. You earn Airmoney (in-app credit) every time you buy or top up an eSIM. You can use Airmoney as a discount on future eSIM purchases.
Cons:
- No discounts for family bundles.
- Some plans are pricey for high-data users.
- Coverage can be weaker in remote rural areas.
- No security features
- The buying process is as good as Saily’s, but the activation process is less smooth in our experience.
Need a stress-free setup that works across 200+ countries? Airalo’s global plan has saved my family dozens of headaches in Europe, Asia, and even remote beach towns. Try Airalo now →
Best for:
- Families traveling to multiple countries or on a world trip.
- Teenagers who need their own internet access abroad. Airalo offers a larger range of plans per country, allowing them to browse longer on socials and stream shorts and reels.
Saily: pros, cons & key features
Saily is newer (Airalo launched in 2019, Saily in 2024) but gaining traction fast—especially for travelers who want quick, cheap access to data.
Its app has one of the simplest user interfaces we’ve seen.
Pros:
- Cheapest pricing—some plans start as low as $1.99.
- Great for shorter trips or single-destination travel. We prefer Saily in Europe and North America, because I feel like it’s faster. But that is our personal opinion.
- Very easy installation and activation.
- Customer support through 24/7 live chat, email and FAQs
- Clear data usage tracking.
- Saily has a referral program. When someone uses your referral code for their first purchase, they get a $5 discount and you get $5 in Saily credits. You can use these credits for discounts on future purchases.
- Saily is owned by the same company as NordVPN. They offer web protection and adblocker by NordVPN in the app
Cons:
- Only available in around 150 countries (less than Airalo). But Saily lounged in
- No whatsapp support
- Not as customizable for complex travel needs, because their range is smaller than Airalo’s
If you’re traveling to one country and want the cheapest data plan (plus built-in ad blocking for your kids’ devices), Saily is the better bet. Get Saily here →
Best for:
- Families on a budget.
- In places where public Wi-Fi isn’t always secure or reliable, Saily’s built-in ad blocker and web protection gives us peace of mind, especially with the kids online. It’s a simple way to add a layer of safety when you’re navigating new cities and unknown networks.
- Short trips to one or a handful of neighboring countries.
- Kids with basic internet needs (WhatsApp, surfing the internet).
Pricing breakdown: Airalo vs. Saily
Let’s compare real-world pricing for a 7-day family trip.
In general, Saily offers cheaper plans. If you’re a family of 4, all with an eSIM, the difference between the two adds up fast.
But if you’re hitting multiple countries, Airalo’s regional or global plans often turn out cheaper than buying separate plans per destination.
Coverage: where do they work best?
Airalo covers nearly every corner of the globe (over 200 countries).
If your family trip includes stops in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Australia, you’re covered.
Saily covers about 130 countries at the time of writing. Plenty, but not everywhere. But do take into account that they just started out. They are quickly expanding, so do check for yourselves, because their coverage is growing by the month.
Make sure to check availability of the eSIM of your choice on both apps before booking.
Both sites have interactive coverage maps to help you decide.
Ease to use for families
Installing an eSIM might sound techy, but both platforms make it foolproof.
Airalo:
- App gives clear instructions.
- The activation process is slightly less user friendly compared to Saily
- You can manage multiple eSIMs through the app
Saily:
- Even easier—step-by-step guides tailored for first-timers.
- Clean interface. Easy for kids or grandparents to follow.
Winner? Saily, for pure ease. But both are very user-friendly—even if you’re not techy.
Data speeds & reliability
Both offer solid either 5G or 4G/LTE speeds in most major destinations.
However, Airalo tends to partner with top-tier local networks, giving slightly more reliable speeds in remote areas.
If you want to use YouTube or FaceTime in more remote areas, you might want to lean toward Airalo.
Travel scenarios: which one is best for you?
Let’s look at a few real-life examples:
South-America backpacking with 3 teens
➡️ Airalo wins – Get one regional eSIM for 39 countries.
One-week family beach trip to Thailand
➡️ Saily wins – Cheaper and just as effective.
Family of 5 going to Japan and Korea
➡️ Equally good – Pick the provider that offers the cheapest plans
Grandparents visiting grandkids in Canada
➡️ Saily wins – Basic internet access for $1.99.
Family eSIM setup guide: step-by-step for Airalo & Saily
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to set up these eSIMs.
Here’s how to do it on both apps—parents, teens, and even grandparents can follow along.
Airalo Setup (Takes ~5 Minutes)
- Download the Airalo app.
- Pick your destination and data package.
- Complete payment inside the app.
- Click “Install eSIM.”
- Tap “Continue” twice
- After a few minutes your connected to the network
- Choose a label for your eSIM plan (we always give it the name of the country it’s for)
- Choose “Primary” for your default line and choose your new eSIM plan for mobile data
Saily Setup (Even Faster & Easier)
- Install the Saily app.
- Choose your country and plan.
- Complete payment inside the app.
- Tap “Add eSIM” and follow the guide.
- It auto-activates within 1 minute
- Choose a label for your eSIM plan (again: we always give it the name of the country it’s for)
- Choose “Primary” for your default line and choose your new eSIM plan for mobile data
Alternatives to Saily and Airalo
If neither app feels right, don’t worry—there are a few solid alternatives.
Nomad
Has great UX and customer support, pricing about the same as Airalo.
Holafly
Offers unlimited data plans (great for teens), but it is one of the priciest providers.
GigSky
The only provider that integrates with Apple SIM. Price per GB is higher than the others.
Best alternative for families? Holafly, if you’re okay with paying extra for unlimited data.
Star rating summary
Final Verdict: Which is the best eSIM for international travel?
We end this post, as we began. Here’s what it boils down to:
|
Choose Airalo if you… |
Choose Saily if you… |
|
Are visiting multiple countries |
Are visiting one country and want the most affordable option |
|
Want coverage in 200+ countries including remote or off-the-beaten-path locations |
Want simple, clean app design that your (pre)teen or grandparents can navigate |
|
Prefer earning Airmoney (credit for future eSIMs) |
Prefer having web protection and ad blocking included with your plan from NordVPN |
|
Don’t mind spending a bit more for reliability and established support |
Want a budget-friendly choice with straightforward setup |
|
Need regional or global plans for longer or more complex travel itineraries |
Are new to eSIMs and want the easiest possible setup process |
Still unsure? Here’s what I recommend:
FAQs – Best eSIM for International Travel: Airalo vs. Saily for Families
What’s the difference between Airalo and Saily?
Airalo has wider coverage and better support. Saily is cheaper and easier for short, single-country trips.
Can I install an eSIM on multiple family phones?
Yes, but you need to buy separate eSIMs for each phone. You can manage them all under one account on both apps.
What happens when my data runs out?
You can top up easily through both apps. Prices depend on the country and data amount.
Did you enjoy finding out if Airalo or Saily is the best eSIM for your family’s international travels?
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