Airalo vs Saily (2026)

Airalo — fair-use policy, exact cap not published

Fair-use policy applies; throttle speed ~1 Mbps after cap

Airalo's Thailand unlimited plan uses TrueMove H's network. A fair-use daily data cap applies before throttling to approximately 1 Mbps. The exact daily GB threshold is not published on the plan page. In practice, typical travellers — maps, messages, social media — rarely hit the cap. Heavy users (all-day video calls, continuous streaming) are more likely to notice throttling mid-day.

Saily — 5 GB/day published, then 1 Mbps

5 GB/day at full speed → unlimited at 1 Mbps after

Saily publishes its throttle terms on every unlimited plan page: 5 GB at full speed per day, then unlimited data at 1 Mbps. Five GB is generous for a day — you'd need to watch around 3.5 hours of Netflix HD or make continuous video calls to hit it. Most travellers won't. For those who do hit the cap, 1 Mbps is enough for WhatsApp, Maps, and Spotify but not for HD streaming or smooth TikTok scrolling. Saily resets the 5 GB cap each day.

Airalo — no cap on fixed-GB plans

Share your data however you want on capped plans

On Airalo's fixed-data plans (3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB), there is no contractual restriction on hotspot sharing. Your gigabytes are yours — phone, laptop, tablet, whatever. For unlimited plans, tethering behaviour depends on the specific plan and carrier; check the plan terms before buying if you specifically need laptop hotspot on an unlimited plan.

Saily — no restrictions explicitly stated

No hotspot restrictions or limitations on any plan

Saily's plan page explicitly states 'No hotspot restrictions or limitations.' This applies across both fixed-GB and unlimited plans. No daily cap, no tethering timer, no extra fee. For remote workers or anyone needing a laptop connected, Saily's explicit no-restriction policy is a clear advantage over providers that quietly cap tethering.

At full speed (before throttling)

Both providers connect to the same local carrier networks, so full-speed performance before throttling is essentially identical. In Thailand, both use TrueMove H (or equivalent partners), delivering 4G/LTE speeds of 20–80 Mbps as an illustrative range. Neither Airalo nor Saily has a meaningful speed advantage before throttling; the local carrier's congestion level is the real variable. Saily's security layer (ad blocker, malicious domain blocking) adds negligible latency in testing — the connection feel is the same as without it.

After throttling

Both providers throttle to approximately 1 Mbps after their respective daily caps. At 1 Mbps you can use Google Maps, WhatsApp (text and voice), Spotify, and browse social media slowly, but HD video and smooth TikTok scrolling stop working. Saily's 5 GB/day cap is more generous than most providers, meaning you're less likely to hit throttling in the first place. Airalo's cap is not published for Thailand, so you have less certainty about when throttling will kick in.

Coverage in remote areas

Neither eSIM works where there are no cell towers. For remote areas of Thailand (mountain national parks, small islands off the beaten path), download offline maps before you leave. Both Airalo and Saily route through the same local carrier infrastructure, so if locals have signal there, you will too. For popular tourist destinations — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi — coverage is consistently strong on either provider.

Airalo's security position

Airalo offers standard carrier-grade security with no additional privacy layer. The connection is encrypted the same way any mobile network connection is — reliable, but not enhanced. Airalo explicitly allows VPN use, so if you already have a VPN subscription (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, etc.), you can run it over an Airalo eSIM. But the VPN is a separate product and separate cost. For travellers who want security features without the complexity of managing a separate VPN, Saily's bundled approach is a distinct advantage.

VoIP and calling apps

In most countries, WhatsApp calls, FaceTime, Zoom, and other VoIP apps work normally on both Airalo and Saily. Neither provider blocks VoIP by default. The exception is country-level blocking — a government regulation that no eSIM can work around.

VPN use

Both Airalo and Saily allow VPN use. Airalo explicitly permits VPN traffic at the provider level. Saily's built-in virtual location masking provides similar functionality for most privacy use cases without needing a separate VPN app — though for full VPN functionality (encrypted tunnel, split tunneling, kill switch), a dedicated VPN app is still the right tool. Running both Saily's virtual location masking and a third-party VPN simultaneously is possible but may reduce speeds noticeably.

Airalo — WhatsApp and in-app chat 24/7

Airalo's support is available 24/7 via WhatsApp and through the app. A chatbot handles common questions and escalates to human agents. Self-serve documentation is thorough. Response times for complex issues can vary; some App Store reviewers mention delays. Overall ratings are strong (4.7/5 iOS, 30M+ customers). If your eSIM isn't connecting at 3am, WhatsApp support is available, though response speed depends on agent availability.

Saily — 24/7 live chat in-app

Saily offers 24/7 live chat through the app. As a product from Nord Security (which runs NordVPN's support across millions of users), Saily's support infrastructure is mature for its age. App reviews specifically mention helpful and quick responses. If you're in trouble mid-trip — eSIM not connecting, plan questions, billing issues — in-app live chat is available around the clock.

“Finally an eSIM that also blocks ads. Saved so much data not loading banner ads on every page. Worked perfectly in Thailand.”

App Store review, September 2026

What it illustrates: Saily's ad blocker isn't just a security feature — it reduces data consumption by blocking ad traffic before it loads, which matters for travellers watching their GB usage.

“Works seamlessly, bought it 20 minutes before my flight, scanned the QR, done. Connection was fast throughout Thailand.”

Trustpilot review, 2026

What it illustrates: Airalo's core product — quick purchase, QR activation, solid network — works very reliably in popular destinations like Thailand.

“The virtual location feature is a nice bonus. Used it to access UK Netflix on the hotel Wi-Fi while keeping the eSIM on Thai data.”

App Store review, 2026

What it illustrates: Saily's virtual location masking adds real value for travellers wanting to access home-country streaming services without paying for a separate VPN.

“Bought the 30-day unlimited plan. Got throttled after what felt like not very much usage. Support said it was fair use policy.”

App Store review, 2026

What it illustrates: Airalo's unlimited plan has a fair-use cap that isn't published upfront. Heavier users may hit throttling earlier than expected. Saily's 5 GB/day published cap makes this more predictable.

Which is cheaper, Airalo or Saily?

Airalo is generally slightly cheaper than Saily for unlimited plans — by around $1–2 per 7-day trip or $2–3 per 30-day trip in most destinations. For Thailand specifically: Airalo 7-day unlimited ~$20 vs Saily $20.99. On fixed-data plans, the gap varies by tier and destination. The price difference is small enough that if Saily's security features appeal to you, the small extra cost is usually worth it.

What makes Saily different from Airalo?

Saily is built by Nord Security (the company behind NordVPN), and bundles security features into every plan: an ad blocker, malicious domain blocking, and 115+ virtual location masking. Airalo is a pure eSIM marketplace without any added privacy layer. Saily is newer (2023 launch) but has strong app ratings, a 5 GB/day transparent throttle policy, and explicit 'no hotspot restrictions' on all plans.

Does Saily actually work like a VPN?

Saily's security features provide some VPN-like benefits: it masks your IP via virtual location routing, blocks ads at the network level, and blocks known malicious domains. However, it is not a full VPN — it doesn't encrypt all traffic through a tunnel the way NordVPN does, and it doesn't have features like a kill switch or split tunneling. For privacy-conscious travellers who want basic protection without managing a separate VPN subscription, Saily's built-in features are genuinely useful.

Does Airalo throttle data? What about Saily?

Both providers throttle unlimited data after a daily usage threshold. Saily publishes its terms clearly: 5 GB/day at full speed, then unlimited at 1 Mbps. Airalo applies a fair-use policy on unlimited plans; the exact daily cap is not publicly disclosed for Thailand — throttle speed after the cap is typically around 1 Mbps based on user reports. For transparency, Saily is the better choice; for price, they're very close.

Can I use hotspot/tethering with Saily and Airalo?

Yes to both. Saily explicitly states 'No hotspot restrictions or limitations' on every plan. Airalo's fixed-GB plans have no tethering restriction. If connecting a laptop is important, both providers are good choices — significantly better than providers that cap hotspot at 500 MB/day.

Which works better in Thailand?

Both work reliably in Thailand. Airalo connects via TrueMove H; Saily uses local partners. For tourist areas (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui), both deliver solid 4G/LTE speeds. For the cheapest option in Thailand, neither is the best — MiloAway offers 7-day unlimited from £5.99 vs ~$20+ for either provider.

Is my phone compatible with Saily and Airalo?

iPhone XR (2018) and newer all support eSIM. Most flagship Android phones from 2020 onwards do too (Samsung Galaxy S20+, Pixel 4+, OnePlus 9+). Your phone must also be network-unlocked. Check Settings > Mobile Data > Add eSIM (iPhone) or Settings > Mobile Network > SIM management (Android) — if the option appears, you're compatible.

Does Saily cover as many countries as Airalo?

Saily covers 200+ destinations, Airalo covers 210+. Both cover all mainstream travel destinations. The gap only matters for very remote or uncommon destinations. For the vast majority of trips — Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia, the Americas, the Middle East — both providers have coverage.