Saily vs Ubigi: which travel eSIM should you choose in 2026?

The first difference between these two travel eSIMs is their background. Saily is a young brand launched by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN and NordPass. Its DNA is cybersecurity: every Saily plan includes online protection features. Ubigi is the consumer brand of Transatel, a French mobile virtual network operator that is part of the NTT group and has been in the eSIM market since 2017.

That background explains every feature that sets them apart:

• Target audience: Saily targets travelers, from vacationers to digital nomads, who want a simple, secure app. Ubigi also caters to businesses, with offers for Windows laptops, connected cars and device makers.
• Plan model: Saily mainly sells one-off plans, plus a premium subscription (Saily Ultra). Ubigi sells one-off plans, but also monthly and annual plans.
• Customer support: Saily relies on an in-app chat open 24 hours a day. Ubigi uses a contact form and an online help center.
• Partnerships: Ubigi lists Apple, Microsoft, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Jeep among its official partners. Saily relies on the Nord ecosystem (NordVPN, NordPass, Incogni).

What they have in common: both are data-only eSIMs, designed for using the internet on your phone while traveling. You don't get a regular phone number, but WhatsApp, FaceTime and Telegram work as usual. To dig deeper into each brand, read our full Saily eSIM review.

Both brands' plans fall into three families: fixed-data plans, unlimited plans and subscriptions. The type of data plan makes all the difference to the final cost, so check which one fits your usage and the length of your trip.

Fixed-data plans at Saily and Ubigi

This is the core of the offer. At Saily, plans range from 1 GB to 20 GB per destination, for one week to one month (and from 3 days in some destinations, such as Japan). Ubigi offers a wider range of durations: 1-day and 3-day plans, then one week, 15 days and one month, with data going up to 50 GB in some destinations.

Another difference: in Japan, Saily sells 3 GB and 20 GB tiers that Ubigi doesn't have, while Ubigi sells a 50 GB plan that Saily doesn't offer in Japan.

Unlimited plans at Saily and Ubigi

Both brands sell "unlimited" plans, but with a fair use policy, meaning a reasonable usage limit:

• Saily: 5 GB a day at full speed (3 GB a day in Morocco), then speed drops to 1 Mbps until midnight, local time. The counter resets the next day.
• Ubigi: a total full-speed allowance for the whole plan, for example 30 GB on the 15-day Japan unlimited plan, then 2 Mbps. On longer plans, this allowance goes up to 60 GB for one month.

Over a month, Saily therefore gives you much more full-speed data: up to 150 GB if you use 5 GB every day, versus 60 GB on most of Ubigi's one-month unlimited plans. Also watch out for hotspot use: Saily's terms of use prohibit using such a plan to push large volumes through a hotspot.

Subscriptions, top-ups and extras at Saily and Ubigi

Ubigi sells monthly and annual plans: your data renews every month, and a monthly plan can only be canceled after 3 months. Saily also has its subscription, Saily Ultra, starting at $39.99 a month: it covers 121 destinations and adds perks such as airport benefits, NordVPN or NordPass.

To top up, both brands work the same way: you buy a new plan in the app, on the same eSIM, with no new QR code. Saily adds an auto top-up option for when your plan runs out.

To compare both brands' prices fairly, we checked the prices shown on both official websites on October 20, 2026, in US dollars, without any promo code. We added a third column, voilà eSIM, so you can see where the market stands.

Saily or Ubigi prices for 10 GB over one month

The 10 GB, one-month plan is available from all three brands in each of these destinations: it's the best point of comparison. It's also where the gap between the two is widest.

In this format, Ubigi is cheaper than Saily everywhere, Japan included. The gap is sometimes huge: $8.99 less in the United States, $10.99 less in Morocco and more than $20 less on the Europe plan. Keep in mind that the regional plans don't cover exactly the same area: 34 countries at Saily, 38 at Ubigi.

Saily or Ubigi prices for 1 GB over one week

For a short stay or a layover, the ranking partly flips.

Saily wins in the United States and Thailand, by just one cent. Ubigi wins in Japan (on a 3-day plan), Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia and South Korea. In every case, voilà eSIM remains the cheapest of the three.

Saily or Ubigi unlimited plan prices over one month

voilà eSIM doesn't sell unlimited plans, so this table only compares the two brands, over one month.

Saily is only cheaper in Thailand, by one cent. Ubigi wins in Japan, the United States, Indonesia and Europe, and it's much cheaper in the United Kingdom and South Korea. On the other hand, Saily gives you far more full-speed data over a month.

On paper, both brands' coverage is evenly matched: both advertise more than 200 destinations, which means practically worldwide coverage. The connectivity gap shows on regional plans.

• Europe plan: 34 countries at Saily, 38 countries at Ubigi on the standard Europe plan, and up to 56 countries on its extended Europe plan.
• Global plan: 121 countries on Saily's Global plan, 178 countries on Ubigi's World plan and up to 202 countries on its extended version.
• Networks: Ubigi builds on its carrier status, inherited from Transatel. In Japan, for example, it advertises access to the three major local networks.

If you're visiting several countries in a row, Ubigi has the edge on coverage. For a trip to Europe, also compare with voilà eSIM's Europe eSIM, which covers 33 destinations from $1.30 for 1 GB over one week.

One detail matters as much as the size of the catalog: 5G. It depends on the local carrier, the network's connectivity on the ground and your phone, not just on the provider. Always check your destination's page before buying.

This is the destination where the question comes up most. To pick the best eSIM between the two, two criteria matter: the network and your budget.

The network in Japan: Saily or Ubigi?

Ubigi advertises access to the three major networks there: NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank. Saily mentions "including KDDI and SoftBank", without naming NTT Docomo. Access to all three major networks gives you a better chance of staying connected when one of them is weak, for example on a hike or in a remote village.

Prices in Japan: Saily or Ubigi?

Ubigi is cheaper on 1, 5 and 10 GB, it's the only one of the two to offer 50 GB, and its 15-day unlimited plan costs $9.99 less. Saily keeps the 20 GB tier and longer durations on small plans. Our verdict for a Japan eSIM: Ubigi, cheaper and on the Docomo network.

And if you want both at once, voilà eSIM runs on the NTT Docomo network there, with 10 GB for $9.60: nearly half the price of Saily and about 40% cheaper than Ubigi. All plans are on our Japan eSIM page.

Beyond data, the two brands add very different extras, tied to their background.

At Saily:

• Virtual location: you can show an IP address from another region of the world, handy for accessing your usual platforms.
• Ad blocker and web protection: they filter ads and malicious websites, at no extra cost, on every plan.
• Optional US number: calls and texts on a US number, with a monthly subscription and identity verification.
• Saily credits: 3% of each purchase comes back to you as credit for the next one (8% with Saily Ultra).

At Ubigi:

• Windows computers: Ubigi can be selected directly in the Windows 10 and 11 "Mobile Plans" app, handy for a laptop with an eSIM.
• Connected cars: Ubigi powers the in-car Wi-Fi of several car brands, for up to 8 devices.
• Hotspot sharing: allowed and highlighted on the plan pages, including on unlimited plans.

When it comes to hotspot sharing, both brands allow it. The only nuance: Saily restricts heavy hotspot use on its unlimited plans, while Ubigi promotes it.

User reviews give Saily a clear edge, and anyone can check them. Here are the ratings recorded on October 20, 2026:

On Trustpilot, Saily is rated "Excellent" and Ubigi "Great". A six-tenths-of-a-point gap, across tens of thousands of reviews, is a clear signal: Saily users are more satisfied. You'll find the details of Ubigi feedback in our Ubigi review.

Ubigi has more reviews overall on Trustpilot, a sign of an older brand. But on the app stores, Saily collects many more ratings, especially on Android: about 99,000 versus 8,100.

It's often the criterion people forget before leaving, and the one that matters most when your connection drops at the airport. On customer service, the two brands don't offer the same level.

• Saily: support available 24/7, all year round, via in-app chat and email. The terms and conditions mention a chatbot in the app.
• Ubigi: contact form, online help center and tutorials. Ubigi publishes neither opening hours nor live chat on its support pages.

On refunds, the gap is even wider:

Saily wins this round. To see how Ubigi stacks up against another heavyweight, read our Holafly vs Ubigi comparison. Up against Airalo, our Ubigi vs Airalo comparison is the one you need.

If support is your main criterion, keep in mind that neither brand explicitly guarantees a human agent you can reach at any hour.

Installing a Saily or Ubigi eSIM takes a few minutes, and the process is almost identical:

1. Run the compatibility check: your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked.
2. Download the Saily or Ubigi app, create your account and choose your plan.
3. Install the eSIM directly from the app, or scan the QR code you received by email.
4. When you arrive, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line and select it for cellular data.

The real difference is activation. At Saily, your plan starts when you activate it, and you have 180 days after purchase to do so: after that, Saily activates it automatically. At Ubigi, the Smartstart feature activates the plan as soon as you arrive in a covered country, and a plan that hasn't been activated expires 6 months after purchase. Either way, you can install the eSIM at home before you leave, without losing any validity.

Before deciding, here are each brand's strengths and weaknesses, as of October 20, 2026.

Saily pros and cons

Ubigi pros and cons

Our verdict by traveler profile

The right choice between the two depends on your trip. Here's our verdict by profile:

• You're going to Japan: Ubigi, cheaper on 1, 5 and 10 GB and on the Docomo network.
• You need 10 GB in the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey or Morocco: Ubigi, cheaper than Saily on all these plans.
• You're visiting several countries in a row: Ubigi, thanks to its wider regional plans.
• You use a lot of data: Saily, with its 5 GB a day at full speed and no cap on total data.
• You want support you can reach at any hour and flexible refunds: Saily.
• You want to connect a Windows PC or a car: Ubigi.

Overall, it's a perfect tie: 4 rounds each. Saily is the best choice if you care most about the app, reviews and support. Ubigi is the better pick for price, Japan and multi-stop trips.

voilà eSIM, the best alternative to both Saily and Ubigi

If budget is your main criterion, neither of them beats voilà eSIM. On every plan compared in this article, voilà eSIM is the cheapest of the three: $9.60 for 10 GB in Japan versus $17.99 at Saily and $16.50 at Ubigi, $6.60 for 10 GB in Turkey versus $15.99 and $13.00, $8.80 in the United Kingdom versus $18.99 and $11.00.

What makes the difference with voilà eSIM:

• Excellent value for money: plans from 1 to 50 GB in more than 190 countries, with no subscription and no auto-renewal, and the price shown is the final price.
• An easy-to-install eSIM and an easy-to-use app: you buy, install and track your usage in one place, in just a few minutes.
• 24/7 human customer support: a real person answers you, even at 3 a.m. on the other side of the world.

To see how Saily also compares with the other giant in the industry, read our Saily vs Holafly comparison.