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For the past five years, Airalo has been our go-to eSIM provider. Their extensive coverage and straightforward setup made them a reliable choice during our last trip through Asia, as well as in Iceland and Northern Africa. However, our recent decision to switch to Saily marks a new chapter in our eSIM journey, driven by better pricing. In this post, we’ll compare three eSIM providers—Airalo, VoyeGlobal, and Saily—to highlight why Saily emerged as the ultimate winner for us.
The Basics of eSIM: A Brief Primer
An eSIM (embedded SIM) eliminates the need for physical SIM cards, allowing users to switch networks or subscribe to local carriers directly from their devices. Whether you’re a digital nomad, business traveler, or casual tourist, eSIM technology has become essential for staying connected across borders.
Our Experience with Airalo: The Early Years
When we started using eSIMs, Airalo was a clear frontrunner. With a wide range of plans catering to almost every country, it felt like the perfect companion for our frequent travel needs. We were also willing to pay a bit more for an eSIM because it meant avoiding the hassle of tracking down a physical SIM in-country, which can be confusing and doesn’t always result in better prices.
Strengths:
- Extensive Global Coverage: Airalo offers eSIMs for over 190 countries, making it accessible for travelers venturing almost anywhere.
- Ease of Use: The app is intuitive, and the activation process is straightforward.
- Reliable Connectivity: We rarely faced issues with network speed or stability.
Drawbacks:
- Cost Over Time: As our data usage increased, so did the costs. While Airalo’s rates were initially appealing, they began to feel steep when compared to emerging competitors.
- Limited Flexibility: Multi-country plans, though available, were not always cost-effective, forcing us to juggle between multiple eSIMs.
VoyeGlobal by Agoda: A Convenience-First Approach
When Agoda launched VoyeGlobal, it seemed like an attractive alternative for frequent flyers. Integrated with Agoda’s travel ecosystem, it promised to simplify connectivity for travelers who regularly book flights and hotels through the platform.
Strengths:
- Integration with Agoda: Users could purchase eSIM plans alongside hotel or flight bookings, streamlining the travel process.
- Reliable Service: Network performance was generally stable, with decent coverage in key regions.
- Simplified Planning: The platform bundled connectivity with other travel services, appealing to those looking for a one-stop solution.
Drawbacks:
- Early to Market Issues: The main drawback for us was that they seem very early to the market. Their website as of December 2024 still doesn't load reliably and has forced us to contact their customer service for simple information on different countries they support.
Enter Saily: Why We Made the Switch
When we discovered Saily, it immediately stood out as a major improvement over our previous options. Offering competitive pricing without compromising on quality, Saily addressed many of the pain points we encountered with Airalo and VoyeGlobal.
What Sets Saily Apart:
- Cost-Effective Plans: Saily’s pricing model is significantly more affordable, making it ideal for travelers like us who need data-heavy plans.
- Global Reach: Like Airalo, Saily provides excellent global coverage, ensuring we stay connected no matter where we go.
- User-Friendly Experience: We found the Saily app easy to use for activation and tracking data, making it a straightforward tool for managing connectivity while traveling.
- Flexibility: Saily’s multi-country and regional plans offer better value, particularly for extended trips spanning multiple destinations.
Our Experience:
Using Saily during our travels has been straightforward, with no major technical issues or service interruptions. We appreciated how affordable their plans were, allowing us to use more data without feeling restricted by costs. For us, it simply made sense to switch to something that worked reliably and most importantly, saved us money.
The Verdict: Why Saily Wins
After years of using Airalo and experimenting with VoyeGlobal, Saily emerged as the most practical and cheapest solution for our needs. Here’s a quick summary of how they compare:
| Feature | Airalo | VoyeGlobal by Agoda | Saily |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Moderate to High | Affordable | Affordable |
| Global Coverage | Extensive | Decent | Extensive |
| Ease of Use | User-Friendly | User-Friendly | User-Friendly |
| Plan Flexibility | Limited for Multi-Country | Limited | Excellent |
| Reliability | Highly Reliable | Reliable | Highly Reliable |
For us, Saily strikes a good balance of affordability, flexibility, and reliability. It’s been a dependable option during our travels without over complicating things or stretching our budget unnecessarily.
Final Thoughts
While Airalo served us well in the past, and we’ve looked into VoyeGlobal due to our extensive use of Agoda, Saily has become our top choice for staying connected on the go. Saily’s affordable pricing and reliable performance fit our needs better than anything else we’ve tried.
Are you considering making the switch? Let us know about your eSIM experiences and what factors matter most to you when choosing a provider.
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