Saily eSIM Europe Review (2026): Tested in 7 Countries
Updated: Aug 20
Disclosure: TechNovice is supported by affiliate partnerships. Saily is a partner of this site, but all evaluations follow the same transparent verification standards.
TL;DR: Best eSIM for Europe (Hands-On Field Test & Measured Speeds)
Overall Verdict: Based on my hands-on testing across seven European countries, Saily is my preferred eSIM for multi-country European travel and remote work. My documented tests cover Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy and Austria, with individual measurements ranging from weak or unavailable connections in some locations to 515.19 Mbps on Salt 5G in Chur, Switzerland. I also tested hotspot use, video calls, online teaching and cross-border travel.
Airalo & Holafly: Airalo and Holafly use different plan structures and may suit different travel needs. I have not field-tested either provider across Europe to the same extent as Saily, so I do not rank their real-world European network performance in this review. See my dedicated Saily vs Airalo and Holafly vs Saily comparisons for broader provider comparisons.
Network Transparency: My field tests documented connections involving local networks including Salt in Switzerland, Orange France, and NOS and Vodafone in Portugal. These observations confirm the networks recorded during specific tests, not permanent partner-network availability across Europe. Saily's current Europe destination coverage should be checked separately before purchasing.
EU, UK & Swiss Travelers: European Union travelers can utilize domestic mobile data across EU countries under EU Roam Like at Home regulations; UK and Swiss travelers should verify home carrier European roaming terms before purchasing a Saily travel eSIM.
Discounts & Promo Codes: I most recently checkout-tested Saily coupon code TECH for 15% off an eligible Saily country plan. Eligibility can vary by plan, account, region or campaign. See my Saily Coupon Guide for the latest verification date, checkout evidence and eligibility details.
Research Box & Testing Methodology
Tested By: Nico Dudli (TechNovice)
Field Test Coverage: Hands-on Saily use across seven European countries: Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy and Austria. My Swiss testing includes urban locations as well as the Engadin and Alpstein; France includes a 30-day remote-work test.
Measured Performance: Documented peaks include 515.19 Mbps on Salt 5G in Chur, Switzerland, 354.3 Mbps in France, 183 Mbps in Munich and approximately 178 Mbps in Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal. I also documented substantially weaker and unavailable connections in some locations.
Key Focus: Cross-border use, hotspot tethering, remote work, video calls, online teaching and real-world performance across cities, rural areas and travel routes.
Scope: These measurements were taken at different locations and times and are not a controlled ranking of European mobile networks.
Europe Regional Plan or Country Plan?
Saily offers both country-specific plans and a Europe Regional option.
Country plan: relevant when you are visiting only one destination and do not need coverage across several countries.
Europe Regional Plan: relevant for multi-country trips because one compatible regional package can cover several destinations without requiring a separate eSIM installation for each border crossing.
The exact destination list, data allowances, validity periods, Unlimited conditions and prices can change. I therefore keep detailed plan information in my dedicated Saily eSIM Plans guide rather than reproducing a permanent price table in this Europe field-test review.
Which Europe Plan Should You Choose?
Choose the plan based on how you actually use mobile data rather than assuming that every trip needs Unlimited data.
Light travel use: maps, messaging, restaurant searches and occasional browsing can often be handled with a smaller fixed-data package.
Typical travel use: social media, navigation, browsing and occasional uploads generally require more data but may still not justify Unlimited.
Heavy use or remote work: frequent video calls, cloud backups, streaming and daily laptop hotspot use can consume substantially more data. Compare the larger fixed-data and Unlimited options carefully.
Unlimited plans may still include fair-use or high-speed allowances. Check the current conditions of the exact plan before purchasing, particularly if high-speed hotspot use is important.
I maintain the current plan structure and allowance details in my Saily eSIM Plans guide. For frequent international travelers who want extras like lounge access, see my Saily Ultra review.
Unlimited Europe Plan: What Does Unlimited Mean?
An Unlimited plan should not automatically be interpreted as unlimited maximum-speed data. Saily can apply high-speed allowances or fair-use conditions depending on the current plan.
If you rely on video calls, streaming, large uploads or daily hotspot use, check the current high-speed allowance and reduced-speed conditions of the exact Europe plan before purchasing.
I keep the current Unlimited conditions in my Saily eSIM Plans guide rather than reproducing changing limits in this field-test review.
Performance Overview: Seven Countries
Country | What I observed |
|---|---|
Switzerland | Highest measured speeds in my Europe tests, plus additional field testing in the Engadin |
France | 30-day field test including remote work, hotspot use and published Speedtest IDs |
Spain | Stable enough during my test to run a live online teaching session |
Portugal | Multiple speed tests across Lisbon, Alcochete and Vila Nova de Milfontes |
Austria | Reliable during the road-travel and navigation situations I used it for |
Italy | Worked well in populated areas, with more variable performance in remote locations |
Germany | Strong urban measurements but substantially weaker results in parks, rural areas and some rail sections |
These observations are based on different locations, dates and workloads and should not be interpreted as a controlled ranking of national mobile networks.
Switzerland: Fastest Speed and Tough Alpine Tests
Switzerland produced both my fastest documented Saily measurement in Europe and some useful examples of the limitations of mobile connectivity in Alpine terrain.
My fastest documented result reached 515.19 Mbps on Salt 5G in Chur. I also tested Saily around St. Gallen, Lake Constance, the Engadin and during hikes in the Alpstein region.
The results varied substantially by location. Some urban and regional tests delivered strong 5G performance, while mountain locations produced lower speeds or, in some cases, no usable mobile connection. At Meglisalp, for example, I frequently had no usable connection.
This variation is important: the 515.19 Mbps result demonstrates what I measured at one specific location, not what travelers should expect everywhere in Switzerland. Terrain, congestion and local partner-network availability can significantly affect performance.
Read my complete Saily Switzerland review for the individual measurements and location-specific observations.
France: 30-Day Remote-Work and Hotspot Test
I used Saily in France for 30 days, including Montpellier, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, coastal locations and road travel.
During my documented France tests, I used the connection for Google Meet, agency work, navigation and hotspot sharing with up to two iPhones and two MacBooks.
Published measurements included:
354.3 Mbps download in an urban 5G test
75.4 Mbps download / 5.4 Mbps upload indoors at Café De la Sierra
23.2 Mbps download in the Saint-Guilhem rural test
I also recorded a 74.8 Mbps highway connectivity test between Montpellier and Nîmes. A VPN was active during that measurement, so I document it separately from the clean raw-network benchmarks.
The France test is one of the most extensively documented parts of my Saily Europe testing because it combines speed measurements with 30 days of normal travel and remote-work use.
Read the complete Saily France review for the test IDs, methodology and location-specific results.
Spain: Live Online Teaching Test
In Mallorca, including Port de Sóller, I used Saily while teaching an online class. The session included video, audio, screen sharing and approximately 25 participants. The connection remained stable throughout the lesson.
This was one of my most demanding real-world tests because any interruption would have affected the class immediately.
For a dedicated country comparison, read my best eSIM for Spain guide, where I compare Saily, Airalo and Holafly by network partners, plan structure and hotspot use.
Portugal: From Sub-1 Mbps to 178 Mbps
My Portugal testing covered Lisbon, Alcochete, the Alentejo coast, the Algarve and an offshore measurement. During documented tests, I observed connections involving NOS, Vodafone and MEO.
Performance varied substantially by location. My results included 26.59 Mbps after arriving at Lisbon Airport, 62.54 Mbps at Praça do Comércio, 90.48 Mbps in Alfama, 130.01 Mbps in Alcochete and a peak of approximately 178 Mbps in Vila Nova de Milfontes.
I also documented much weaker results, including 0.47 Mbps in Sagres and an offshore measurement below 1 Mbps. Despite the weak Sagres result, I was still able to complete basic work tasks and a Google Meet session during that specific test.
These results demonstrate why I do not use one speed measurement to represent Saily's performance across an entire country. Location, local network conditions and roaming infrastructure can produce substantial differences.
Italy: Good in Cities, More Variable Remotely
I used Saily in locations including northern Italy, Modena and Elba. During my trip, I had usable mobile connectivity in the populated locations where I used it, while performance became more variable in remote bays and rural areas.
I did not conduct the same depth of structured Speedtest benchmarking in Italy as in Switzerland, France, Portugal or Germany, so I treat these as travel-use observations rather than equivalent network benchmarks.
For the full methodology and provider comparison, see my best eSIM for Italy guide
Austria: Road-Travel Experience
I used Saily in Austria for road travel and navigation and had usable connectivity along the routes I travelled. I did not conduct the same structured multi-location Speedtest series as in Switzerland, France, Portugal or Germany, so I treat Austria as a travel-use observation rather than a comparable performance benchmark.
Germany: Strong Cities, Weak Infrastructure Gaps
Germany produced the most mixed results.
In central Munich, I measured:
183 Mbps at Marienplatz
181 Mbps in the city center
98.2 Mbps during a later city test
43.9 Mbps near Stachus
In the English Garden and near the Chinese Tower, speeds dropped significantly: 23.6 Mbps, 15.3 Mbps, 6.94 Mbps.
During an ICE journey between Hannover and Hamburg, Saily reached a peak of 54.6 Mbps, but connectivity still dropped in areas with weak local coverage.
The key lesson is simple: an eSIM cannot create mobile coverage where the underlying German network has a gap.
Munich Speed-Test Results
Location | Time | Download | Upload |
|---|---|---|---|
Marienplatz | May 25, 19:59 | 183 Mbps | 94.1 Mbps |
City center | May 26, 10:10 | 181 Mbps | 16.4 Mbps |
City center | May 26, 10:11 | 98.2 Mbps | 7.53 Mbps |
Stachus | May 26, 12:30 | 43.9 Mbps | 24.4 Mbps |
Marienplatz | May 25, 19:44 | 39.1 Mbps | 4.68 Mbps |
English Garden | May 26, 13:16 | 23.6 Mbps | 18.5 Mbps |
English Garden | May 26, 13:15 | 15.3 Mbps | 6.78 Mbps |
Chinese Tower | May 26, 13:29 | 6.94 Mbps | 2.80 Mbps |
These results show why a provider should not be rated using one isolated speed test. At the same location, performance can change substantially because of congestion, network routing and signal conditions.
European Destinations I Have Not Personally Tested
Saily's Europe Regional Plan includes destinations that I have not yet field-tested with my own devices.
My results so far show that local mobile-network availability is an important factor in real-world performance, alongside roaming arrangements, device compatibility, congestion and location.
Ireland is a useful example of the distinction between different evidence levels: I have not run my own speed tests there, but I have directly documented network-partner information through provider support inquiries in my best eSIM for Ireland guide.
For destinations I have not personally tested, I do not present real-world speed or reliability claims as my own findings.
Is Saily Suitable for Remote Work in Europe?
Yes, provided the local mobile network is strong enough and your plan includes sufficient data.
During my tests, Saily supported Google Meet, online teaching, website work, content management, file uploads, laptop hotspot connections and multiple connected devices.
The amount of data required for remote work depends heavily on the workload. Messaging, email and browser-based work consume much less than frequent video calls, cloud syncing, large uploads or using a laptop through a hotspot for several hours per day.
Compare the current fixed-data and Unlimited options based on your expected workload rather than relying on one default package size. Frequent international travellers can also compare the additional features of Saily Ultra.
Hotspot Sharing
Saily allows hotspot sharing. Data used by laptops and other connected devices is deducted from the selected package.
Before using Saily as your main work connection, check total data allowance, daily high-speed allowance, plan validity, local 4G and 5G coverage, automatic cloud backups, operating-system updates, and video-call usage. Disable large automatic downloads to make the plan last longer.
Saily Security Features in Europe
Saily includes Ad Blocker, Web Protection and Virtual Location. These are app-level privacy and security features that can help block intrusive advertisements, reduce some unnecessary data use, warn against malicious websites, and change your apparent browsing location. They do not automatically replace a complete VPN for every use case.
Saily's current website describes Ad Blocker, Web Protection and Virtual Location as built-in security features.
Keeping Your Normal Phone Number
Most Saily plans are data-only. You can usually keep your normal SIM active for calls, SMS, your existing phone number, WhatsApp, iMessage and selected 2FA messages.
Assign mobile data to Saily and disable data roaming for your normal SIM to reduce the risk of unexpected carrier charges. Receiving calls or SMS through your home carrier may still generate charges depending on the carrier and plan.
Saily Europe Discount Code I Tested
In my most recent checkout test, Saily coupon code TECH applied 15% off an eligible Saily country plan. This documented result should not be interpreted as a guarantee that the same discount applies to every Europe Regional, Unlimited, Ultra or other Saily plan.
Coupon eligibility can vary by plan, account, region or campaign. I document the latest verification date, checkout evidence and current eligibility details in my Saily Coupon Guide.
How to Install Saily for Europe
Download the Saily app.
Create an account.
Choose Europe or a specific country.
Select your data package.
If you want to use a coupon, check my Saily Coupon Guide for my latest checkout-tested code and current eligibility details, then confirm that the expected discount appears before payment.
Install the eSIM while connected to reliable Wi-Fi.
Assign mobile data to the Saily line.
Enable data roaming for the Saily eSIM.
Disable data roaming for your normal SIM if necessary.
Confirm the connection after arriving.
Saily plans generally activate according to the activation conditions shown for the purchased plan. Because activation deadlines can vary or change, check the current plan details in the Saily app before travelling. My iPhone and Android setup guides cover the installation and activation process separately.
For detailed instructions:
Saily vs Airalo and Holafly for Europe
This Europe review focuses on the Saily connections I personally used rather than reproducing a full provider comparison.
Airalo and Holafly use different plan structures, hotspot conditions and network arrangements that may suit different travellers. Because these conditions change, I maintain the detailed provider comparisons separately.
Read my current Saily vs Airalo and Holafly vs Saily comparisons for those trade-offs.
Common Problems in Europe
Typical issues include: the normal SIM remains selected for mobile data, data roaming is disabled on the Saily line, the eSIM was installed too late, the device is carrier-locked, local coverage is weak, the plan does not include the current country, or data has run out.
Read the complete Saily troubleshooting guide for step-by-step fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Saily discount code for Europe?
Yes. In my latest checkout test, Saily coupon code TECH applied 15% off an eligible Saily country plan. Eligibility can vary by plan, account, region or campaign, so this result should not be interpreted as a guarantee for every Europe Regional or other Saily plan. I document the latest verification date, checkout evidence and current eligibility details in my Saily Coupon Guide
Which Saily Plan Is Best for Europe?
It depends on your expected data use. Maps, messaging and occasional browsing require much less data than video streaming, cloud backups, frequent video calls or daily laptop hotspot use. Compare the current plan sizes and Unlimited conditions in my plans overview.
Is 10 GB Enough for Two Weeks in Europe?
It can be. Whether 10 GB is enough depends mainly on your usage. Maps, messaging and browsing consume relatively little data, while frequent video calls, streaming, cloud backups and laptop hotspot use can increase consumption quickly. Estimate your expected usage rather than assuming one package size will suit every two-week trip.
How Do I Activate My Saily eSIM After Arriving in Europe?
Install the eSIM while you still have reliable Wi-Fi. At your destination, select Saily as the mobile-data line and enable data roaming for the Saily eSIM if required by the current setup instructions. Activation conditions and deadlines can depend on the purchased plan, so check the current details in the Saily app rather than relying on a fixed activation period.
Does Saily Support Hotspot Sharing?
Yes. Saily supports hotspot sharing. Connected devices use data from the selected package.
Is the Europe Unlimited Plan Truly Unlimited?
Unlimited plans can still be subject to high-speed or fair-use conditions. Check the current allowance and reduced-speed terms of the exact Europe plan before purchasing, particularly if you depend on streaming, video calls or hotspot use.
Can I Keep My Normal Phone Number?
Yes. Most dual-SIM devices allow your normal SIM to remain active while Saily handles mobile data. Check carrier charges for calls, SMS and roaming.
Final Verdict: Is Saily Worth It for Europe?
After using Saily across seven European countries, I would use it again for multi-country travel and remote-work trips. My strongest evidence comes from Switzerland, France, Portugal and Germany, where I collected multiple location-specific measurements, while my testing in Spain, Italy and Austria included more practical travel-use observations.
The main strengths I experienced were easy cross-border use, hotspot support, reusable eSIM installation and built-in security features. The main limitation is the same one that affects any roaming eSIM: performance ultimately depends on the available local mobile infrastructure.
My tests ranged from 515.19 Mbps in Chur to weak or unavailable connections in some rural and Alpine locations. That variation is why I recommend judging Saily by the specific destination and use case rather than treating one speed test as representative of Europe.
Choose based on your trip:
a country-specific plan when you only need one destination
a Europe Regional Plan when your itinerary includes several covered countries
a smaller fixed-data allowance for light travel use
a larger fixed-data or Unlimited option for streaming, frequent video calls or heavy hotspot use
Saily Ultra only if its additional travel features are relevant to how frequently you travel
See my Saily Coupon Guide for my latest checkout-tested code, verification date and eligibility details.
