If you’ve ever had the fiddly task of swapping out your SIM card for a temporary one whilst on a trip – you’ll know how annoying it is.
Tiny tray. Tiny pin. Mild panic about losing your actual SIM.
Since switching to eSIMs, I won’t go back.
I’ve been testing a few providers on recent trips, and in this review I’m sharing our honest experience using Saily.
Contents
- Our Quick Verdict
- What Is Saily?
- How Much Does Saily eSIM Cost?
- How Easy Is It to Set Up?
- Coverage & Reliability
- Pros and Cons
- Who Is It Best For?
- Summary: Is Saily Worth It?
- 💸 Get a Discount on Saily
- FAQs
- Related Posts
Full disclosure: Some of my content may contain affiliate links for companies I use and love and recommend to awesome readers like yourself. If you take action, (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn a small amount of pocket money (at no extra cost to you), so I can buy a coffee while creating more helpful content like this.
Our Quick Verdict
Saily is easy to use, affordable and genuinely stress-free.
- Ideal for holidays where you just want easy data abroad
- Best for: city breaks, 1-2 week holidays, European multi-country trips
- A simple, affordable way to get mobile data abroad without roaming charges or airport SIM queues
For us? It’s removed the “how much will roaming cost me?” stress completely.
What Is Saily?
Saily is a digital eSIM provider, which means:
- No physical SIM card
- No swapping trays
- No airport kiosks
You download the app, choose your destination, install the eSIM and activate it when you’re ready.
Key things to know:
- Digital eSIM (no physical SIM needed)
- Data-only plans (you use apps like WhatsApp and Messenger for calls/messages)
- Covers 150+ destinations worldwide
- Managed entirely through the Saily app
It works alongside your normal SIM – you just switch your data settings over.
How Much Does Saily eSIM Cost?
We’ve used Saily in three countries so far.
- Finland – 1GB for a few days cost $3.99 (£3) and was perfect
- France (7 days) – 5GB cost $11.99 (£9)… and we still had 4.2GB left because we used WiFi most of the time
Lesson learned: most people massively overestimate how much data they need.
Prices vary by destination, but typical examples for 1GB over 7 days are:
- Europe: $4.99
- USA: $5.99
- Global: $8.99
Compared to my UK provider’s roaming charge of around £2 per day in Europe, Saily works out cheaper for most short trips.
How Easy Is It to Set Up?
Very.
Here’s exactly what we did:
- Download the Saily app
- Choose your destination
- Install the eSIM
- Activate in your phone’s mobile settings
- Set Saily as your default SIM for mobile data
- Turn OFF roaming on your main SIM
A tip from experience:
When we landed in Finland, there was no airport WiFi – so we couldn’t activate it on arrival. Since then, we activate before take-off. That way it works the second we land.
You don’t need to remove your physical SIM.
You can still use:
- iMessage
- Banking apps
- Google Maps
You just can’t make traditional phone calls or send SMS texts (unless through apps).
Coverage & Reliability
We’ve tested Saily in:
- Andorra
- Finland
- France
Signal strength has been completely fine everywhere – including Lapland and mountain areas.
The only time we had no signal was in a valley in Les Gets… but nobody had signal there. Saily works off local networks, so if the local coverage is weak, so will your signal be.
For everyday holiday use? Absolutely reliable.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No roaming bill shock
- Instant activation
- No airport SIM queues
- Competitive pricing
- Very easy app to use (even for me)
Cons
- Data-only (no traditional calls or SMS)
- Requires an unlocked phone
- You do need to remember to switch your data settings correctly
Who Is It Best For?
Saily is great for:
- City breaks
- 1-2 week holidays
- Families who need data immediately for Uber or Google Maps
- Multi-country European trips
- Anyone who doesn’t want to rely on hotel WiFi
If you travel more frequently, you might want to look at Saily Ultra, which includes additional perks like selected airport lounge access.
But for most normal holidays? The standard eSIM is more than enough.
Summary: Is Saily Worth It?
For short holidays and city breaks – yes.
It’s affordable, easy to set up, and removes the stress of roaming charges or airport SIM hunting.
If you mostly use WiFi and just need data for maps, WhatsApp and general browsing, you probably only need 1-3GB for a week.
We’ll definitely keep using it.
💸 Get a Discount on Saily
If you’re planning a trip and want to try it yourself, you can use my discount code: DIYTRAVEL10
Use code: DIYTRAVEL10 for 10% off your first eSIM
👉 Download the Saily app and get your data sorted before you fly.
(It’s one of those small things that makes arrival day much smoother.)
FAQs
Is Saily eSIM legit?
Yes. Saily is a legitimate global eSIM provider operating in 150+ destinations. We’ve used it across multiple countries with no issues.
Does Saily work in any destination?
Saily covers 150+ destinations worldwide. You can check coverage directly in the app before purchasing. If there’s local network coverage, Saily will usually work.
Can I use hotspot with Saily?
Yes, hotspot/tethering is supported on most plans. You can share your data with other devices, we did this in France for our kids, but it will use up your allowance faster.
Can I keep my UK number?
Yes. Your physical SIM stays in your phone. You can still receive calls and texts on your UK number (just turn roaming off to avoid charges).
Does Saily work on iPhone and Android?
Yes – as long as:
- Your phone supports eSIM
- Your phone is unlocked
Most newer iPhones and many Android models support eSIM, but it’s worth checking your device settings first.
Leave a Reply