Airalo vs Saily: Which Travel eSIM Is Better?
Airalo vs Saily: both are travel eSIM shops with a page at daily cashback, so the cashback does not decide this one. We would start with Airalo because its help centre spells out the refund route in your account and it has a loyalty scheme on top. Saily is a fair second choice, especially if you like a single app and a phone number add-on. Data plans change by country and date, so compare the final amount for your trip in both. Status October 2026.
Both providers are with us
Both providers are with us: Airalo at daily cashback and Saily at daily cashback. Each page shows its own rate and offers, and the rates are not the same, so look at both before you order. Which one gives more is something only the two shop pages can tell you on the day.
Buying an eSIM with cashback, step by step
- Go to the shop page of your chosen provider, after turning the ad blocker off and shutting other voucher tabs.
- Press the button to the provider and choose country or region.
- Pick a plan: data amount and validity at Airalo, data plan for your destination at Saily.
- Pay in the same session. Do not collect a code elsewhere in between.
- Your free account lists the order as pending; once the shop confirms the purchase it can be paid out.
- Install the eSIM at home, after making sure your phone can take one.
Ways to lose the cashback
- You ask for a refund, and that order no longer earns cashback.
- You open the provider's site on your own, without the shop page, or through a comparison site.
- A different voucher code takes over the tracking.
- An ad blocker stopped the click.
- Airalo pays no Airmoney reward on a purchase made with a discount coupon. That is Airalo's own scheme and separate from ours, so check our shop page terms first if you plan to use a coupon together with cashback.
The differences in short
Refund. Airalo lets you send a refund request from your account for eligible eSIMs, with reasons such as wrong purchase or changed plans. For those two reasons the refund comes as Airmoney, if the eSIM cannot be installed or does not work, the original payment method is an option. Saily states that a full refund can be requested within 30 days if the eSIM was not installed and the plan not activated. Used plans are looked at case by case.
Top-up. At Airalo only rechargeable eSIMs can be topped up, and the product page tells you which are. Saily lets you add data to a specific eSIM in its app.
Validity. Airalo says unused data cannot be used after the validity period ends. Check the number of days before paying.
Regions. Saily offers regional and global plans. Its regional plans cover mobile data only, with calls and texts available through a phone number add-on on the global plan. Airalo lists local, regional and global eSIMs.
Hotspot. Saily states that hotspot data comes out of your balance and its fair use policy applies. Check the same point on the Airalo package page.
Loyalty and codes. Airalo pays Airmoney that grows with your spending level. Saily has a field called Got a coupon at checkout where you enter a code.
If your plans change
Airalo adds a second way out besides the refund request: if you have not installed the eSIM yet, you can pass the installation QR code on to someone else, as long as their phone supports eSIM. Saily's regional plans list the countries they cover, and a destination that is missing from every region needs a country plan instead. Look at that list before you pay, not after. A refund of either eSIM ends the cashback for the order, so passing it on or switching to a plan that fits can be the better move.
Keep the confirmation email and the order number of the eSIM until the cashback is confirmed. If something looks wrong with a pending entry, our team needs the order details of the provider.
Who should pick what
First-time users: Airalo, because the refund and top-up steps are written out in the help centre and you see them before buying.
People who like one app for everything: Saily, with the eSIM, top-up and a phone number in one place.
Frequent travellers: compare the regional plans of both for your usual routes and work out the cost per trip.
Short stays: a small plan from either is enough. Take the one whose shop page shows the better rate on the day.
Our recommendation
Start with Airalo through its shop page. Then put the same destination into Saily, compare the final amounts, and go with the one that fits. Either way, open the chosen shop page first and book in one go.