Airalo vs Saily vs Yesim
Three of the most searched travel eSIM brands. Airalo and Saily sell fixed gigabytes (plus some unlimited). The “best” one depends on whether you watch a data counter or a hotspot cap.
Head-to-head
| Provider | Plan / price basis | Hotspot | Fair use / throttle | Refund summary | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | Use dated destination prices; plan terms vary | Check exact plan; current hotspot policy not verified here | Check exact unlimited plan; no universal cap asserted | Consumer withdrawal within 14 days or activation, whichever is earlier. For Airalo-caused service failure: claim within 30 days of issue; restoration conditions apply; unused portion only if partly used. | Terms / refunds |
| Saily | Country, regional and subscription plans differ | Advertised sharing; consumer terms restrict commercial use and excessive tethering | Regular unlimited: 3 or 5 GB/day by destination, then 1 Mbps. Ultra: 30 GB/month, then 1 Mbps. | Non-subscription: request within 30 days, before expiry. Non-activated plan and unused extras; after activation, generally unused data (>99% left) may qualify. Subscription rules differ; not guaranteed. | Terms, fair use and refunds · Hotspot marketing |
| Yesim | Use destination plans; no universal price claim | Most plans; operator restrictions possible. Uses the purchased data pool, no extra tethering fee. | Check chosen fixed or unlimited plan; no universal throttle asserted | Within 30 days, unactivated, unused and unexpired. Installation counts as activation. Approved refunds €10 or less are Ycoins only; technical issues must be reported within 1 hour. | Hotspot · Refunds |
Policies reviewed 6 Nov 2026 (Pacific/Auckland), summarized not guaranteed. Read the full terms before buying. Saily marketing and legal limits differ: the stricter fair-use restrictions are shown here. Trustpilot scores omitted because we have not verified current scores directly. These are policy comparisons, not hands-on speed tests.
Who wins when?
Match the country list, validity, high-speed allowance and hotspot rules to your trip. Check refunds before installing; there is no universal winner.
Head-to-heads with prices checked 3 Nov 2026: Airalo vs Yesim · Airalo vs Saily · Yesim vs RedteaGO.
FAQ
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming?
Usually yes — a 10 GB travel eSIM typically costs a fraction of daily roaming passes from home carriers. Heavy users should still compare per-GB prices.
When should I install my travel eSIM?
Install it at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly, but keep it switched off until you land, because many plans start their validity on first connection.
Is 'unlimited' eSIM data really unlimited?
Rarely. Most unlimited plans slow you down after a daily fair-use cap (often 1–5 GB/day) and limit hotspot use. Check the cap before you buy.