ReviewsApril 22, 202611 min
Saily vs. Holafly: Which One Is Better in 2026?
We compared Saily and Holafly based on 10 key criteria. The verdict is clear: Holafly wins 6-4, but Saily remains a viable option for four specific use cases.
eSIM COMPARISON · NOVEMBER 2026
Saily or Nomad: which eSIM should you choose for your trip in 2026?
10 rounds, prices checked in 6 destinations and a final score: we settle it.
Saily and Nomad are two of the travel eSIMs people compare most often before heading abroad. Saily is run by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. Nomad is run by LotusFlare, an American company. Both advertise around 200 destinations, but their prices, unlimited plans, installation and add-ons have little in common.
We checked the price of every plan on October 30, 2026, in six destinations, for the same duration, noted the carrier used in each country, compared the rules for unlimited data and counted the reviews. The result: a Saily vs Nomad comparison in 10 rounds, with one winner per criterion. Saily wins 4-3, but Nomad stays cheaper on every GB plan, and a third eSIM comes in below both.
Rony
Updated: November 2026
16 min read
Résumé express
Saily vs Nomad: at a glance
Saily wins 4 rounds out of 10: unlimited data (5 GB per day at full speed, for up to 30 days), a single eSIM for all your trips, security features included and the best Trustpilot reviews.
Nomad wins 3 rounds: cheaper than Saily on all 18 of the 30-day plans compared (by $0.99 to $6.99), carriers listed country by country and a more generous loyalty program. Coverage, refunds and support end in a draw.
What they have in common: around 200 destinations, country, regional and global plans, hotspot use, an app on iPhone and Android, and 24-hour chat and email support.
Choose based on your trip: Nomad for a 5, 10 or 20 GB plan at the lower price of the two, Saily for unlimited data, repeat trips and security features.
The alternative: voilà eSIM, our own eSIM, is cheaper than both on every one of the 18 plans compared, with excellent value for money, an easy-to-install eSIM, an easy-to-use app and 24/7 human customer support.
Scoreboard
Rankings for the 10 rounds
Before getting into the details, here's the winner of each criterion. Prices were checked on October 30, 2026, on the official websites, in dollars, for 30-day plans in Japan, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Indonesia.
- 01GB plan pricesNomadSailyPricier on all 18 plansNomadCheaper on all 18 plans
- 02Coverage and multi-countryMatch nulSaily200+ destinations, regional plansNomad200 destinations, Global plan
- 03Unlimited dataSailySaily5 GB per day at full speedNomad2 GB per day at full speed
- 04Network and carriersNomadSailyCarriers named in Japan onlyNomadCarrier listed in every country
- 05Installation and activationSailySailyOne eSIM, 180 days to activateNomadActivates after 60 days at the latest
- 06RefundsMatch nulSailyWithin 14 days, even if activated with data unusedNomadWithin 30 days, partial if network outage
- 07Customer supportMatch nulSailyChat and email, 24 hours a dayNomadChat and email, 24 hours a day
- 08Security and add-onsSailySailyAd blocker, virtual IP, US numberNomadNo security features advertised
- 09App and reviewsSailySaily4.7/5 Trustpilot, 4.7/5 App StoreNomad4.3/5 Trustpilot, 4.8/5 App Store
- 10Top-ups and loyaltyNomadSaily3% in Saily creditsNomadAbout 5% in Nomad Points
Final score
4–3
Final score: Saily wins 4 rounds to 3, with three draws. Saily wins on unlimited data, installation, security and reviews. Nomad wins on price, network transparency and loyalty.
Round 1
Prices and plans: which one is cheaper?
To compare Saily and Nomad prices, we used the only fair yardstick: the same data, for the same duration. Nomad is cheaper than Saily on all 18 of the 30-day plans compared.
Saily
Saily plansSaily sells data from 1 to 20 GB over 7, 15 and 30 days, with prices that climb fast in the big destinations: 20 GB costs $35.99 in Indonesia and $30.99 in the United Kingdom. The price shown is the price you pay, with no subscription.
Nomad
Nomad plansNomad comes in below Saily on every plan compared, by $0.99 to $6.99. Part of its lead comes from temporary sales: Japan 10 GB at $16.00 ($18.00 at full price), Japan 20 GB at $23.00 ($26.00), Turkey 10 GB at $13.00 ($15.00). Without the sales, Saily moves back ahead in Japan on 10 and 20 GB.
30-day plan prices, checked on October 30, 2026
| Plan | voilà eSIM | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan, 5 GB | $5.50 | $10.99 | $10.00 |
| Japan, 10 GB | $9.60 | $17.99 | $16.00* |
| Japan, 20 GB | $16.80 | $24.99 | $23.00* |
| Italy, 5 GB | $4.90 | $12.99 | $11.00 |
| Italy, 10 GB | $8.80 | $20.99 | $18.50 |
| Italy, 20 GB | $16.80 | $28.99 | $25.00 |
| Spain, 5 GB | $4.90 | $9.99 | $9.00 |
| Spain, 10 GB | $8.80 | $15.99 | $14.00 |
| Spain, 20 GB | $16.80 | $22.99 | $21.00 |
| United Kingdom, 5 GB | $4.90 | $12.99 | $12.00 |
| United Kingdom, 10 GB | $8.80 | $18.99 | $17.50 |
| United Kingdom, 20 GB | $16.80 | $30.99 | $25.00 |
| Turkey, 5 GB | $4.70 | $9.99 | $9.00 |
| Turkey, 10 GB | $6.60 | $15.99 | $13.00* |
| Turkey, 20 GB | $13.50 | $22.99 | $20.00 |
| Indonesia, 5 GB | $5.50 | $13.99 | $12.00 |
| Indonesia, 10 GB | $9.60 | $21.99 | $19.00 |
| Indonesia, 20 GB | $16.80 | $35.99 | $29.00 |
Price per GB, the real tiebreaker: on the 10 GB plan in Italy, you pay $2.10 per GB with Saily, $1.85 with Nomad and $0.88 with voilà eSIM. In Indonesia, it's $2.20 with Saily, $1.90 with Nomad and $0.96 with us. Across these six destinations, voilà eSIM is cheaper than both on every one of the 18 plans, often by half. Prices marked with an asterisk were on sale at Nomad on the day we checked.
SOUTH KOREA
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
SKTelecom, LGU+
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
THAILAND
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
AIS
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
JAPAN
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
NTT docomo
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
No blocked apps
Tethering enabled
24/7 customer support
No blocked apps
Tethering enabled
24/7 customer support
No more roaming fees
Travel abroad with confidence: no more roaming fees, connection struggles, or unexpected top-ups. With a travel-friendly eSIM, stay connected everywhere, stress-free and surprise-free.
Round winner·Nomad
Nomad, on all 18 plans compared (16 out of 18 without the sales).
Round 2
Global coverage and multi-country plans
On coverage, both are around 200 destinations, with country, regional and worldwide plans. Neither one pulls ahead: it's a draw.
Saily
Saily coverageSaily advertises more than 200 destinations. It sells country plans, regional plans (for example Asia and Oceania, offered on its Japan page) and Saily Ultra, a premium offer that gives you data in 121 destinations, with 30 GB of high-speed data per month.
Nomad
Nomad coverageNomad advertises 200 destinations. On top of its country plans, it offers a Global plan (123 destinations), a Global-EX plan (98 destinations) and regional plans such as North America. In the United States, it also sells long-term plans: 75 GB over 180 days and 100 GB over 365 days.
Draw
Draw. Both cover most destinations, with comparable regional options.
Round 3
Unlimited data and fair use limits
Both sell unlimited data, but neither keeps you at full speed all day. Past a daily threshold, speed drops until the next day. That threshold is what gives Saily the round.
Saily
Saily unlimitedSaily gives you 5 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbit/s, in all six countries compared. Its unlimited plans run for up to 30 days, and in Japan you can pick any duration from 1 to 30 days. On a ten-day trip, that means 50 GB at full speed.
Nomad
Nomad unlimitedNomad slows you down to 1 Mbit/s after 2 GB in a day (512 kbit/s in Indonesia). Its unlimited plans last from 3 to 21 days depending on the country (30 days in the United Kingdom). Over ten days, that's 20 GB at full speed, and these plans can't be topped up: you can only buy them new.
The rules for unlimited data
| Unlimited | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|
| Full speed per day | 5 GB | 2 GB |
| Speed after the threshold | 1 Mbit/s | 1 Mbit/s (512 kbit/s in Indonesia) |
| Durations offered | Up to 30 days | 3 to 21 days (30 in the United Kingdom) |
| Full speed over 10 days | 50 GB | 20 GB |
SOUTH KOREA
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
SKTelecom, LGU+
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
THAILAND
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
AIS
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
JAPAN
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
NTT docomo
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
No blocked apps
Tethering enabled
24/7 customer support
No blocked apps
Tethering enabled
24/7 customer support
No more roaming fees
Travel abroad with confidence: no more roaming fees, connection struggles, or unexpected top-ups. With a travel-friendly eSIM, stay connected everywhere, stress-free and surprise-free.
Round winner·Saily
Saily, with 5 GB per day at full speed versus 2 GB with Nomad, and durations of up to 30 days.
Round 4
Network and carriers by destination
The network decides the quality of your connection more than the brand does. Knowing in advance which carrier you'll connect to means knowing where you'll get a signal. On this point, Nomad is the more transparent.
Saily
Saily's networksSaily only names its carriers in Japan, where it uses KDDI and SoftBank, on 4G and on 5G in the big cities. On its Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Turkey and Indonesia pages, it only mentions "local carriers", without naming them.
Nomad
Nomad's networksNomad shows the carrier for each plan: KDDI au and SoftBank on 4G in Japan, Iliad and Vodafone on 5G in Italy, Movistar and Orange on 5G in Spain, Telkomsel and XLSMART on 5G in Indonesia. In the United Kingdom, you choose between Three and EE on 4G, or Vodafone on 5G for a little more.
Carriers listed on October 30, 2026
| Destination | voilà eSIM | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | NTT docomo (5G) | KDDI, SoftBank (4G and 5G) | KDDI au, SoftBank (4G) |
| Italy | TIM, Iliad, Wind (5G) | Not specified | Iliad, Vodafone (5G) |
| Spain | Orange, Movistar (5G) | Not specified | Movistar, Orange (5G) |
| United Kingdom | EE (5G), Three (4G) | Not specified | Three, EE (4G) or Vodafone (5G) |
| Turkey | Vodafone (5G) | Not specified | Türk Telekom (5G) |
| Indonesia | Telkomsel (5G), XL (4G), Indosat (5G) | Not specified | Telkomsel, XLSMART (5G) |
Round winner·Nomad
Nomad, the only one of the two to list its carrier in every country.
Round 5
Installation and activation
With both, installation happens in the app, on iPhone and Android alike. The difference comes afterwards: with Saily, you only install your eSIM once, and you get more time to activate it.
Saily
Installing SailySaily promotes "one eSIM for all your trips": you install it once, then add the plans for your next destinations to the same eSIM, with no reinstalling. The plan activates on its own when you arrive, and you have 180 days after purchase to leave.
Nomad
Installing NomadWith Nomad, the app installs the eSIM in a few taps. Your plan starts the first time you connect to a network at your destination, or automatically 60 days after purchase. Only top-ups are added to the eSIM you've already installed.
SOUTH KOREA
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
SKTelecom, LGU+
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
THAILAND
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
AIS
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
JAPAN
active
20 Go
remaining
Operator
NTT docomo
Expires
In 3d • Jun 12
Top up
No blocked apps
Tethering enabled
24/7 customer support
No blocked apps
Tethering enabled
24/7 customer support
No more roaming fees
Travel abroad with confidence: no more roaming fees, connection struggles, or unexpected top-ups. With a travel-friendly eSIM, stay connected everywhere, stress-free and surprise-free.
Round winner·Saily
Saily, thanks to its reusable eSIM and its 180 days to activate the plan. Both work on any eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked smartphone: iPhone XR and XS onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3 and later.
Round 6
Refunds: who actually pays you back?
If you're not sure you'll travel, the refund policy becomes a real criterion. Both refund an eSIM that hasn't been installed, but their rules differ after that. Each has its own advantage: it's a draw.
Saily
Saily refundsSaily gives a full refund for an eSIM that hasn't been installed or a plan that hasn't been activated. Even after activation, it refunds you if more than 99% of the data is still unused. The window is short: once 14 days have passed since purchase, requests are no longer accepted.
Nomad
Nomad refundsNomad gives a full refund for an eSIM that has been neither installed nor activated, if you ask within 30 days. Once the plan is activated, the refund is only partial, and only in the event of a verified network outage. Unlimited plans fall outside this standard policy.
The two refund policies
| Refund | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM not installed | Full | Full |
| Plan activated | Possible if over 99% of data is unused | Partial, for a verified network outage |
| Time to request | 14 days after purchase | 30 days after purchase |
Draw
Draw: Saily is more flexible after activation, Nomad gives you more time to ask.
Round 7
Customer support
Both advertise 24/7 support, and it's the criterion that matters most when your connection drops in the middle of a trip. Same hours, same channels: it's a draw.
Saily
Saily supportSaily answers by live chat and by email, at any time of day. The chat is available from the app and the website.
Nomad
Nomad supportNomad also answers by live chat and by email, 24 hours a day, from the app and the website. Neither one offers WhatsApp.
Draw
Draw, with the same channels and the same hours.
Round 8
Security and add-ons
Beyond data, Saily and Nomad don't offer the same add-ons at all. Saily takes the round thanks to the tools it inherits from NordVPN.
Saily
Saily add-onsEvery Saily plan includes, at no extra cost, a virtual location (an IP address from another country), an ad blocker and web protection against malicious websites. You can also add a US +1 number for $1.99 per month, with call and SMS packs from $0.99.
Nomad
Nomad add-onsNomad doesn't offer any equivalent security features: its eSIMs are data only. Some eSIMs include a local phone number depending on the plan, for example plans with minutes in the United Kingdom.
Round winner·Saily
Saily, with its built-in security features and its optional US number.
Round 9
Mobile app and traveler reviews
On reviews, the gaps are small on the app stores but clear on Trustpilot. Saily is rated higher by its customers, while Nomad does slightly better on the App Store.
Saily
The Saily appThe Saily app is rated 4.7/5 on the US App Store and 4.6/5 on Google Play, where it has passed 5 million downloads. On Trustpilot, Saily scores 4.7/5, the higher rating of the two.
Nomad
The Nomad appThe Nomad app scores 4.8/5 on the US App Store and 4.7/5 on Google Play. On Trustpilot, however, Nomad drops to 4.3/5, even though its website displays "Excellent".
Ratings checked on October 29, 2026
| Platform | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.7/5 (32,849 reviews) | 4.3/5 (47,370 reviews) |
| App Store (United States) | 4.7/5 (13,661 ratings) | 4.8/5 (17,125 ratings) |
| Google Play | 4.6/5 (99,816 reviews) | 4.7/5 (17,523 reviews) |
| Google Play downloads | Over 5 million | Over 1 million |
Round winner·Saily
Saily, thanks to its much higher Trustpilot rating and its millions of downloads.
Round 10
Top-ups and loyalty
When your data runs out, a top-up saves you from buying a new plan. And each brand gives you back part of what you spend. Nomad gives back a little more.
Saily
Saily top-ups and creditsWith Saily, you add extra GB from the app, on the same eSIM. Every standard plan gives you back 3% of its price in Saily credits, to spend on your next purchase.
Nomad
Top-ups and Nomad PointsWith Nomad, you buy an add-on plan that takes over when your main plan ends, but unlimited plans can't be topped up. Nomad gives 25 points for every $5 spent (100 points are worth $1), or about 5%, with bonus points on plans of 10 GB and more.
Round winner·Nomad
Nomad, with loyalty rewards of about 5% versus 3% with Saily.
Verdict final
Final verdict: Saily or Nomad in 2026?
After 10 rounds, Saily wins 4 to 3. It wins on unlimited data, installation, security and reviews. Nomad wins on GB plan prices, network transparency and loyalty. Coverage, refunds and support end in a draw.
Choose Nomad if you're traveling with a 5, 10 or 20 GB plan and want to pay the lower price of the two. Choose Saily if you want unlimited data for video, if you travel often with the same eSIM, or if the ad blocker and virtual IP are useful to you.
And if you simply want to pay as little as possible, neither one wins: across the six destinations compared, voilà eSIM is cheaper than both on every one of the 18 plans. For other head-to-heads, we also compare Saily and Holafly and Airalo and Nomad.
PodiumFinal podium
- #2Saily
Winner of the head-to-head, 4 rounds out of 10
2e - #1voilà eSIM
Cheaper than both on all 18 plans compared
1er - #3Nomad
The cheaper of the two on GB plans
3e
voilà eSIM in numbers (November 2026)
- 1
Excellent value for money: cheaper than Saily and Nomad on all 18 plans compared
- 2
An easy-to-install eSIM and an easy-to-use app to buy, top up and track your data
- 3
24/7 human customer support, on WhatsApp, before, during and after your trip
- 4
Hotspot use included, with no subscription or auto-renewal
- 5
4.8/5 on Trustpilot
Ready to compare prices for your next destination?
Explore voilà eSIM plansFrequently asked questions: Saily vs Nomad
Nomad. Across all 18 of the 30-day plans we compared on October 30, 2026, Nomad is cheaper than Saily in all 18 cases, by $0.99 to $6.99. Three of those prices are temporary sales, in Japan and Turkey. voilà eSIM, our eSIM, is cheaper than both on all 18 plans.
Saily, 4 rounds to 3, with three draws. Saily wins on unlimited data, installation, security and reviews. Nomad wins on price, network transparency and loyalty.
The data never stops, but full speed does. Saily slows down to 1 Mbit/s after 5 GB per day, Nomad after 2 GB per day (512 kbit/s in Indonesia). Speed comes back the next day.
Yes, with both. Saily includes hotspot use on all its plans, and Nomad confirms it in its FAQ. On an unlimited plan, hotspot use quickly eats into the daily full-speed threshold.
Not with Saily: you install a single eSIM and add the plans for your next trips to it. With Nomad, top-ups are added to the eSIM you've already installed, and the plan starts 60 days after purchase at the latest.
Yes, under certain conditions. Both give a full refund for an eSIM that hasn't been installed. Saily also refunds an activated plan if more than 99% of the data is still unused, if you ask within 14 days. Nomad gives you 30 days, but only partly refunds an activated plan, in the event of a verified network outage.
Neither one stands out: both answer by chat and by email, 24/7. Here at voilà eSIM, our human customer support answers you on WhatsApp, 24/7.
Nomad for price, cheaper on the 5, 10 and 20 GB plans (two of them on sale). Saily for unlimited data, with 5 GB per day at full speed. Both use KDDI and SoftBank, and neither uses NTT docomo, the country's leading carrier. Our plans are on our Japan eSIM page.
Saily offers an optional US number, for $1.99 per month. Nomad includes a local number on some plans only. Either way, your usual SIM card stays active so you can receive your calls and SMS.
Yes. Saily is run by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, and rated 4.7/5 on Trustpilot. Nomad is run by LotusFlare and rated 4.3/5 on Trustpilot, with more than 47,000 reviews.
Connected travel expert · voilà eSIM
Rony is our in-house travel-connected expert. Always curious and never too far from an airport, he explores the latest destinations while testing the newest eSIM solutions. He signs our articles on travel and mobile technology, with a single mission: to turn his discoveries into clear, reliable, and smart advice to accompany you anywhere in the world.
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