eSIM cards offer a range of benefits compared to traditional physical SIM cards. They eliminate the need to swap SIM cards when traveling between countries, allow for multiple numbers on one device, and can be easily activated and managed remotely.
In this article, we will compare three popular eSIM providers - Airalo, Global YO eSIM+, and Saily - and determine which one offers the best value for frequent travelers.
What's an eSIM Card?
Before diving into the comparison, let's first understand an eSIM card. An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card embedded directly into your device. It uses an electronic chip instead of a physical SIM, and can be activated and managed remotely through an app or online portal.
Instead of buying and inserting a physical SIM card, users can simply connect to a mobile service provider's data through an app and activate the eSIM on their device. This process is quick and convenient, making it popular among travelers.
eSIMs are becoming increasingly popular due to their convenience, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for travelers. They eliminate the need to buy a local SIM or pay exorbitant roaming charges when traveling internationally.
Additionally, eSIMs are usually faster, more secure, and can hold multiple numbers on one device. This makes them an ideal solution for frequent travelers who need to stay connected while on the go.
Why Choose eSIM Over Local Mobile Provider's International Plan?
If you don't like spending your valuable vacation time finding local SIM cards, you've probably used your local mobile provider's international plans up to now. And if that's the case, you should already know these plans can be quite costly and may not offer the best coverage or network speeds in different countries.
Usually, you are downgraded to 2G or 3G speeds when using international plans, and if you're traveling to multiple countries, the costs can quickly add up. There are also cases when an international plan fails to load or has poor network coverage, leaving you disconnected from the world in a foreign country - thinking you could completely rely on your international plan.
These plans are also quite expensive because they include charges for services you might not use, such as international calling or data roaming.
Summing up all the mentioned disadvantages, eSIMs offer a much better and cost-effective solution for travelers. The cost of activating an eSIM is usually much lower than buying a local SIM or using an international plan. Additionally, eSIMs allow you to connect with multiple network providers in different countries, ensuring stronger coverage and faster speeds.
eSIM Benefits for You in a Foreign Country
So, what are the cornerstone benefits of using an eSIM in a foreign country that make you really want to get one? Here are two simple yet crucial reasons.
No Time or Wandering Needed to Find a SIM Card
You are completely free of the hassle of going to a local shop, waiting in line, and spending some time choosing the best option possible for you. eSIMs can be activated remotely, so you only need an internet connection and your device. No more dealing with language barriers or figuring out confusing plans and packages.
Buy before you leave, and activate as you arrive!
No Need to Insert a New SIM Card
One of the biggest advantages of eSIMs is that you don't have to physically insert a new SIM card into your device. This means you won't have to worry about losing or damaging a tiny SIM card and will no longer have to fiddle with your phone's SIM tray to switch between different providers.
You also don't get your phone mixed up with your personal SIM and the foreign one.
Which Type of Device Should You Have to Use an eSIM?
The newer the device, the more likely it is to have a eSIM capability. Currently, Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft devices all support eSIMs in some form. This trend is only going to increase as more and more manufacturers adopt the technology.
For Apple Users: All iPhones starting from iPhone 14 sold in the US are eSIM ONLY , meaning they don't have a place for a physical SIM. iPhones sold outside the US are dual-SIM, meaning they have both an eSIM and a physical SIM slot. Generally, all iPhones produced after 2019 support eSIMs. Apple's iPads also support eSIMs.
For Android users, eSIM is accepted by Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 5G and some laptops from Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Dell, and Microsoft. Regarding mobile devices, all phones starting from Google Pixel 6, 7, 8, and Fold series support eSIM. You can also use eSIM on Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, S23, and Z Fold/Flip 3,4, and 5 families.
Many smartphone brands: The high-level models from Motorola (Edge+) and some folding models (Motorola Razr+, Razr, OnePlus 11, OnePlus Open) also support eSIM.
Whenever you're about to change your smartphone, make sure the next phone is equipped with eSIM capability.
Best eSIM Cards: Airalo & Global YO eSIM+ & Saily
When you're about to go on a trip with your phone, you'll most likely need eSIMs if your primary phone is locked on a certain carrier. The good news is that many global eSIM providers offer affordable and flexible plans.
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Airalo: Offers eSIM cards in over 100 countries at competitive prices. Its app allows easy management and activation of multiple eSIM profiles.
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Global YO eSIM+: Available in over 180 countries with no need for physical SIM cards or roaming fees. Offers easy online purchase and activation through their app.
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Saily: Provides low-cost data-only eSIMs for travel in multiple countries, making it convenient for frequent travelers.
Below, we help you figure out which one fits your needs based on a detailed evaluation of their services.
Airalo: Quick Introduction
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Users: 10 million+
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Coverage: Over 124 countries
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Data: From 1 GB to 20 GB
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Validity: From 60 to 365 days
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Price: From $9 to $89
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Calls: From 10 to 200 minutes
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Texts: From 10 to 200 SMS
Designed to eliminate the huge roaming bills you get when using a traditional SIM card abroad, Airalo offers eSIM cards for over 124 countries at competitive prices. Its user-friendly app allows easy management and activation of multiple eSIM profiles.
The company was founded in 2019 and has gained over 10 million users worldwide. With a wide coverage of countries and flexible data plans, Airalo is a great option for travelers who need to stay connected while on the go.
Global YO eSIM: Quick Introduction
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Coverage: Over 200 countries
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Data: From 200 MB to 40 GB
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Validity: From 1 Day to 30 Days
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Price: From $0.69 to $56
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Calls: Up to 623 minutes
Global YO has a great YOYO$ reward system, making it a popular choice among frequent travelers. Basically, you get 1 YOYO$ for every minute spent with YO eSIM. 100 YOYO$ = $1, which you can save and use to pay for your next eSIM plan. You can purchase and activate the eSIM directly from their app.
With a coverage of over 200 countries, Global YO is a widely recognized and trusted option for international travelers looking to stay connected without breaking the bank.
Saily: Quick Introduction
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Coverage: Over 150 countries
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Data: From 1 GB to 20 GB
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Validity: From 7 Days to 30 Days
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Price: From $4 to $31.99
With 24/7 chat support and affordable eSIM plans with 1 eSIM for global coverage, Saily is a great option for travelers visiting any country in the world. Each country has its pricing plans, and you can check the information about the specific country on its website for more details.
The best advantage of Saily is that it has adapted plans for different locations based on the demand and needs of customers. This means you can choose a plan that best suits your budget and usage requirements for each country you visit.
Airalo | Global YO eSIM+ | Saily: Convenience of Activation
Airalo: 5/5
Global YO: 5/5
Saily: 5/5
There are no winners in the convenience of activation category, as all three eSIM providers have made it extremely easy and hassle-free to purchase and activate their eSIM plans. With just a few clicks on their respective apps, you can instantly activate your eSIM and make it ready to use.
The apps of the three eSIM providers are available on iOS and Android - pretty convenient for most travelers. You can also purchase and activate the eSIM before your trip so that you have one less thing to worry about when arriving at your destination.
The activation steps (with minor modifications) for each of the three eSIM providers are as follows:
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Download their app from the App Store or Google Play
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Select your destination country and choose a plan
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Make payment and receive a QR code/activation code
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Scan/Enter the QR code or manually enter the activation code into your device settings
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Your eSIM is now activated and ready to use!
In case you need a more detailed instruction for your chosen provider, check Airalo activation process, Global YO activation process or the one for Saily's eSIM.
Airalo | Global YO eSIM+ | Saily: Speed and Coverage
Airalo: 4/5
Global YO: 5/5
Saily: 4/5
Global YO has 5G coverage in some regions, while Airalo and Saily stop on LTE. Besides, Global YO also has the widest global coverage - supporting over 200 countries. Scrolling above will refresh your memory on Airalo's coverage (124 countries) and the one for Saily (around 150).
Each of these eSIM providers cooperates with local operators in each country to ensure a seamless and reliable connection, and quite often, the provided speed and quality of data depend on the local network's power.
For example, Saily is fast in North America, Europe, and Asia; however, in Latin American and African regions, you may experience slower speeds. On the other hand, Global YO has a reputation for providing high-speed data in most countries, with some users reporting 100Mbps download speeds.
So, it's important to check the coverage and speed of each provider before making your decision, depending on your travel destinations and data usage needs. But generally, Global YO is a more aggressive rival than the other two in terms of coverage and speed.
Airalo | Global YO eSIM+ | Saily: Customer Support
Airalo: 4/5
Global YO: 3/5
Saily: 5+/5
Saily deserves a special trophy here, as they offer an in-app support chat that is available 24/7. This is especially convenient for travelers needing assistance at any time of the day or night. Airalo and Global YO only offer email support, but both respond within a reasonable timeframe.
However, imagine yourself landing in a new country and realizing your eSIM needs fixing. The last thing you want to do is wait for an email response while navigating a foreign language and unfamiliar surroundings (especially if it's somewhere at 3 or 4 am and you want to order a taxi and get to your hotel).
This is where Saily shines with their in-app support chat, offering immediate assistance and guidance. So, if customer support is your top priority, Saily may be the best option out of these three providers.
Airalo | Global YO eSIM+ | Saily: Compatibility with Devices
Airalo: 5/5
Global YO: 5/5
Saily: 4/5
Well, the rules of compatibility are generally the same—if your device is carrier-unlocked and eSIM compatible, then you can use any of these eSIM providers. But there's a catch—some devices may have restrictions on the number of eSIMs they can hold at one time, so make sure to double-check before purchasing multiple eSIMs.
When we check the lists of compatible devices of the three eSIM providers (all updated in 2024), we see Gloabl YO and Airalo have significantly longer lists compared to Saily's list of compatible devices.
For example, Airalo and Global YO work with Fairphone, which is absent from Saily's list. Airalo also works with Acer, Asus, and other laptop brands and tablets. So if you have a smartwatch, tablet or laptop with which you want to use your eSIM, Airalo may be the best choice.
Airalo | Global YO eSIM+ | Saily: Pricing and Packages
Airalo: 3/5
Global YO: 4/5
Saily: 5/5
Heading to Saily's pricing plans, you'll find they have a more comprehensive range of options and packages than Airalo and Global YO. They offer daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly plans with varying data allowances depending on the country you are visiting.
The pricing packages are tied to every country, so we can't pinpoint how much they would be since there are a lot of them. But one thing you have to take note of about Saily's packages is that they are mostly adapted to the needs of tourists or travelers, so they have packages for short stays and vacations.
Airalo, on the other hand, mostly offers general, universal pricing packages. Actually it comes with around 6-7 packages all supported in 124 countries. The packages vary based on the call minutes you need, text SMS limits, data allocations etc.
Global YO has a completely different approach. It has plans tailored to each tourist's needs. This eSIM provider emphasizes tourists' needs more than the country you visit. There are plans for World Explorers (both Light and +) and an F1 world tour supporting only 19 countries.
Actually, chances are high you will find something for your budget with any of these three eSIM providers.
However, based on our research and experience, if you are a frequent traveler who's always on the go to various countries for short trips or vacations, Saily may be the best choice for you. They offer flexible pricing packages that cater to tourists' needs.
Verdict: Which eSIM Is the Best?
If you are asking which eSIM is the best, let's ask you the reverse questions:
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where are you planning to travel?
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do you want to have an internet connection, or is making calls more important to you?
You've got the point! The eSIM world offerings are diverse, and so our needs. Each provider has their own unique selling points, tailored to different types of travelers. So there's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question. It all depends on your personal preferences and travel habits and you'd better determine your specific needs before making a decision.
