Saily eSIM Review 2026: Tested in 12 Countries + Discount Code
Updated: Sep 5
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: Is Saily Worth It? (Hands-On Field Test & Measured Speeds)
Overall Verdict: Based on my hands-on use across 12 countries, I consider Saily a strong travel eSIM for international travelers and remote workers. My documented tests include mobile data, hotspot use, video calls, online teaching and travel across cities, rural areas and islands, with measured speeds reaching up to 515.19 Mbps on Salt 5G in Chur, Switzerland. Actual performance depends on the destination, local network, device and network conditions.
Airalo & Holafly: Airalo can be worth considering for smaller data packages and selected plans with calls and SMS, while Holafly focuses strongly on unlimited-style data plans. I have tested Saily more extensively than either competitor, so this review focuses primarily on my own Saily experience. For direct provider comparisons, see my dedicated Saily vs Airalo and Holafly vs Saily guides.
Network Transparency: Saily connects to local carrier networks (e.g., Salt 5G in Switzerland, NOS/Vodafone/MEO in Portugal) based on observed field test routing; regional network availability in 200+ destinations is product page listed by Saily.
EU, UK & Swiss Travelers: Travelers with inclusive domestic EU, UK, or Swiss roaming allowances may not need a Saily travel eSIM for European travel unless secondary data lines, non-EU regional data, or high-volume data caps are required.
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 12 countries: France, Spain, Thailand, Portugal, Switzerland, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Austria, Italy, the UAE and Germany.
Measured Performance: My documented tests include up to 515.19 Mbps on Salt 5G in Chur, Switzerland, 178 Mbps in Portugal, 70.94 Mbps in France and approximately 84 Mbps on 5G in Bangkok, Thailand.
Real-World Testing: I used Saily for remote work, live online teaching, video calls, navigation, travel apps and hotspot connections with multiple devices. My tests include both strong results and locations with weak or unavailable connectivity.
Scope: These are individual field measurements rather than a controlled nationwide network benchmark. Performance can vary by location, local partner network, congestion, device and network conditions.
Where I Tested Saily
This review is based on practical use across 12 countries:
I did not only test whether the eSIM connected after landing.
I used Saily for:
booking Grab and Uber rides
navigating with Google Maps
accessing banking and travel apps
joining Google Meet and online teaching sessions
working remotely from cafés and hotels
sharing data with laptops and additional phones
traveling by train, bus and car
using mobile data in cities, mountain regions and on islands
The results in this article describe my individual tests. They do not guarantee identical speeds in every location because mobile performance depends on the device, local operator, congestion and geographic coverage.
What Is Saily?
Saily is a travel eSIM service developed by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN.
Instead of buying a physical SIM card after arriving, you install the Saily eSIM through the app before departure and purchase a plan for your destination.
Saily offers plans in more than 200 destinations. Once the eSIM profile is installed, you can add plans for future trips without installing a new profile every time.
Its main differentiator is the combination of mobile data and optional app-level privacy features:
Ad Blocker
Web Protection
Virtual Location
These features provide additional protection and convenience, but they should not automatically be treated as a complete replacement for a full VPN.
Saily Field Test: Results Across 12 Countries
Performance Overview
Country | Test summary |
|---|---|
Reliable during my remote-work and hotspot testing | |
Spain | Stable during my documented online-teaching session |
Strong results in tested urban and island locations, with weaker connectivity offshore | |
Wide variation across my tests, from sub-1 Mbps to 178 Mbps | |
Up to 515.19 Mbps in Chur, but weak or unavailable connectivity in some Alpine locations | |
Singapore | Immediate and stable connection during transit |
United Kingdom | Reliable in cities and suitable for regular work |
Strong performance in cities and northern regions | |
Austria | Reliable for navigation and road travel |
Italy | Good in cities, less consistent in remote locations |
UAE | Stable during airport and transit use |
Germany | Strong urban results, with connectivity drops during rail travel |
France: Remote-Work and Hotspot Test
I used Saily while working from Montpellier, Paris and Bordeaux.
During one café test in Montpellier, I measured:
download: 70.94 Mbps
upload: 35.61 Mbps
I used the connection for content management, web work, video calls and hotspot sharing.
The connection was reliable enough for my normal agency work. However, this result represents one location and one test environment, not a guaranteed nationwide speed.
Read the complete Saily France review for the detailed test results.
Spain: Live Online Teaching
In Mallorca, including Port de Sóller, I used Saily while teaching an online class.
The session included:
video
audio
screen sharing
approximately 25 participants
The connection remained stable throughout the session.
This was one of the most demanding real-world tests because interruptions would have immediately affected the lesson.
Portugal: Detailed Speed & Performance Tests
Portugal: Fast Results in Lisbon and Along the Alentejo Coast
I tested Saily at multiple locations across Portugal, from Lisbon to the Alentejo coast and the western Algarve. During these tests, the eSIM connected to NOS, Vodafone Portugal, MEO and — in one offshore test — Edgoo Networks.
My measured results included:
26.59 Mbps immediately after landing at Lisbon Airport
62.54 Mbps at Praça do Comércio
90.48 Mbps in Alfama
130.01 Mbps at the Freeport Outlet in Alcochete
134.74 Mbps in Vila Nova de Milfontes
Across my Portugal testing, results varied substantially by location. My documented measurements ranged from below 1 Mbps in an offshore test to a peak of approximately 178 Mbps in Vila Nova de Milfontes. I also recorded a particularly weak 0.47 Mbps result in Sagres, where basic work tasks and a Google Meet session were still possible.
I used Saily for Google Maps, Uber, FaceTime, Google Meet, hotspot use and streaming during the trip. These observations show that Saily was usable across many of my tested locations, but performance varied significantly and should not be interpreted as a nationwide coverage guarantee.
Read my complete Saily eSIM Portugal Review for all speed tests, current Portugal plans, coverage observations and links to my latest Saily coupon verification.
Thailand: Cities, Islands and Bus Travel
I tested Saily in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Kood and Koh Chang.
In Bangkok, one speed test reached approximately 84 Mbps over 5G.
I also used the connection:
during a bus journey between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
as a hotspot for travel planning
on Koh Kood
in busy accommodation environments
while using work and banking services
Coverage naturally weakened when traveling by boat far from the coast. This was expected because there were fewer nearby mobile towers.
Switzerland: Local Test
Switzerland is my home market, which allows me to test Saily repeatedly across different locations rather than during a single short trip. For these tests, I disabled mobile data on my normal Swiss SIM and used Saily as the active mobile-data connection.
My documented Swiss results include a peak of 515.19 Mbps on Salt 5G in Chur, alongside substantially lower speeds in other locations. I have tested Saily around St. Gallen, Lake Constance, Graubünden and during hikes in the Alpstein region.
The Alpine tests are particularly useful because they also document Saily's limitations. In some mountain locations I had a usable connection, while at locations such as Meglisalp I frequently had no usable mobile connection.
This demonstrates why I do not treat one high-speed result as representative of nationwide performance. Terrain, local partner-network coverage, congestion and device conditions can substantially affect the result.
Read my complete Saily Switzerland review for the individual measurements, locations and rural coverage observations.
Germany: Strong Cities, Weaker Transit
I tested Saily in Munich, Hamburg, Berlin and during train travel.
Urban performance was generally strong. Tests in central Munich reached approximately 181 to 183 Mbps.
During an ICE journey between Hannover and Hamburg, I measured a peak speed of 54.6 Mbps. The connection still dropped in areas with weak local mobile coverage.
This is an important distinction: an eSIM cannot create a signal where the underlying mobile network has no sufficient coverage.
Vietnam: Fast Connection After Arrival
In Vietnam, Saily connected quickly after arrival in Hanoi.
I used it for:
booking Grab rides
navigation
messaging
travel planning
mobile data in Sapa and northern regions
My experience was positive, including outside the largest cities.
See my Best eSIM for Vietnam review for my travel test from Hanoi to Con Dao.
Italy, Austria, the UK, Singapore and the UAE
In Italy, the connection was reliable in urban and tourist areas but less consistent in remote locations. For a dedicated provider comparison, see my guide to the best eSIM for Italy.
In Austria, it worked well during road trips and navigation.
In the United Kingdom and Scotland, it was suitable for regular travel use and basic remote work.
In Singapore and Abu Dhabi, activation and connectivity were quick during airport transit.
Hotspot and Remote Work
Saily supports mobile hotspot sharing.
During my tests, I connected:
laptops
additional phones
work devices used by more than one person
Hotspot performance depends on the included data volume and the underlying local mobile network.
For remote workers, I recommend checking:
how much data is included
whether you regularly upload large files
how many devices you will connect
whether video calls are part of your work
whether an unlimited or fixed-data plan is more suitable
Saily worked well for my normal remote-work requirements, including video calls, web applications and content management.
Saily Security and Privacy Features
Saily includes app-level security and privacy features such as Ad Blocker, Web Protection and Virtual Location.
Ad Blocker
The Ad Blocker prevents many intrusive advertisements from loading.
This can:
reduce unnecessary data use
improve page loading
block some potentially harmful advertising content
It may not block advertisements hosted directly by the website being visited.
Web Protection
Web Protection is designed to help block malicious or phishing websites.
It adds a useful layer of protection, but users should still apply normal online-security practices.
Virtual Location
Virtual Location routes traffic through a selected remote server location.
This can change the apparent browsing location and provide additional privacy.
These features are useful additions, but Saily's standard plans should not simply be described as a full VPN service.
Saily vs Airport SIM Cards
A travel eSIM avoids several disadvantages of buying a physical SIM after arrival.
With Saily:
you can install the eSIM before departure
your normal SIM can remain in the phone
you do not need to visit an airport mobile shop
you can connect shortly after arrival
you avoid physically swapping SIM cards
you can continue using your normal number for supported calls and SMS
Be careful with data settings. Your normal SIM may still create roaming costs if the phone switches mobile data back to your home carrier.
How to Install Saily
The basic process is:
Download the Saily app.
Create an account.
Choose your destination.
Select a data plan.
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 any expected discount appears before payment.
Install the eSIM profile.
Assign mobile data to the Saily line.
Enable data roaming for the Saily eSIM.
Disable data roaming for your normal SIM to reduce the risk of unexpected roaming charges.
Install the eSIM before traveling while you still have a reliable internet connection.
For detailed instructions, use the dedicated guides:
Saily Data Plans
Saily offers several plan categories:
individual country plans
regional plans
global plans
unlimited options in selected destinations
Saily Ultra subscriptions
The right package depends on:
trip duration
destination
number of countries
expected data use
hotspot requirements
whether you travel repeatedly
As a general guide:
light users: approximately 3 to 5 GB
standard travelers: approximately 5 to 10 GB
hotspot and video users: 10 GB or more
frequent travelers: compare standard plans with Saily Ultra
Read the complete Saily plans guide before choosing your package.
Saily Discount Code I Tested at Checkout
In my most recent checkout test, Saily coupon code TECH applied 15% off an eligible Saily country plan. This is a documented checkout result, not a guarantee that the same discount applies to every Saily product.
Coupon eligibility can vary by plan, account, region or campaign. I maintain the latest verification date, checkout evidence and current eligibility details in my dedicated Saily Coupon Guide.
Saily vs Airalo and Holafly
Saily is not automatically the best choice for every traveler.
Choose Saily if you want:
medium or large data packages
reusable eSIM installation
hotspot sharing
built-in privacy features
regional plans
access to current tested Saily discount offers
Consider Airalo if you want:
a very small short-term package
AirMoney rewards
selected plans with calls and SMS
Consider Holafly if you want:
unlimited data
duration-based plans
less need to monitor remaining gigabytes
Read the complete comparisons:
Common Saily Problems
The most common setup problems include:
mobile data still assigned to the normal SIM
data roaming disabled for the Saily line
incorrect APN settings
eSIM installed but not activated
unsupported or carrier-locked device
weak local coverage
insufficient data remaining
Most issues can be solved through the phone settings or the Saily app.
Read the complete Saily problems and troubleshooting guide for step-by-step fixes.
Saily Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
easy app-based setup
coverage in more than 200 destinations
reusable eSIM profile
hotspot support
regional and global plans
built-in privacy features
good performance in my city and travel tests
straightforward top-ups
24/7 support
Disadvantages
data-only on most plans
no standard local phone number
reliance on the Saily app
performance depends on local networks
rural dead zones remain possible
small packages are not always the lowest-priced option
privacy tools do not replace a complete VPN in every situation
Frequently Asked Questions
What Saily coupon code did TechNovice verify?
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 Saily plan. I document the latest verification date, checkout evidence and current eligibility details in my Saily Coupon Guide.
Is Saily Legit?
Yes. Saily is operated by Nord Security and offers plans in more than 200 destinations.
My own tests across 12 countries showed that the service worked reliably in most cities, tourist areas and remote-work situations.
Does Saily Support 5G?
Saily can connect to 5G where the selected local partner network, location, plan and device support it.
5G is not guaranteed in every destination or location.
Can I Use Saily as a Hotspot?
Yes. Saily supports hotspot sharing.
Data used by connected devices is deducted from the package allowance.
Does Saily Include Calls and SMS?
Most Saily plans are data-only. Saily recently introduced an optional US phone number feature within their app, available globally. You can keep your normal SIM active for supported calls and SMS while assigning mobile data to Saily. Check your home carrier's roaming charges before doing so.
Can I Keep My Normal Phone Number?
Yes. Most dual-SIM phones allow you to keep your normal SIM active while using Saily for data.
WhatsApp and similar services generally remain connected to the existing number.
What Happens When My Data Runs Out?
You can normally purchase additional data through the Saily app without installing a new eSIM profile.
Final Verdict: Is Saily Worth It in 2026?
Yes. After testing Saily across 12 countries, I consider it a strong travel eSIM for most international travelers and remote workers.
Its biggest strengths are:
easy installation
reliable urban performance
hotspot support
reusable eSIM profile
regional coverage
built-in privacy tools
convenient top-ups
Its main limitation is the same as with other travel eSIMs: performance depends on the available local network.
Saily is not always the cheapest option for very small packages, and most plans do not include a phone number. However, it provides a strong overall combination of usability, performance and features.
Saily discount codes can change by plan, region and campaign. I keep my latest verified Saily promo codes, regional offers and checkout test results in my dedicated Saily Coupon & Discount Guide.
🔗 More Saily Guides on TechNovice
Looking for more detailed breakdowns? Here are all my tested Saily guides for 2026:
About the Author
Nico Dudli is a lecturer in business informatics, digital technologies and AI at Swiss higher professional education institutions. He is the founder of Heyweb GmbH and TechNovice.
Based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, he tests digital tools and travel technology under real-world conditions and writes about AI, cybersecurity, eSIMs and practical digital trends.
