Saily
SimLocal
Saily vs SimLocal: Which eSIM Should You Buy?
Updated October 10, 2026
The Short Answer
Pick Saily if you want a VPN and ad-blocker bundled into the same eSIM and don't want to reinstall a new profile at every border on a multi-country trip. Pick SimLocal if you want a real bundled phone number on a UK trip, a no-questions refund policy, or the option to walk up to a staffed airport counter instead of sorting it out yourself. Both sit in the same "Cheap" price bracket on this site and both sell fixed-GB plans rather than true unlimited data, so the real decision is about which extras you actually need, not which is cheaper on paper.
The Core Difference: Security Bundle vs. Local Number Bundle
Saily is NordVPN's own eSIM spin-off (built by Nord Security itself, not a partner deal), so every plan ships with ad blocking, malware/phishing site blocking, and a virtual-location tool included. It also sells one universal eSIM that keeps working as you cross into a new supported country, so you're not swapping profiles at each border.
SimLocal's edge is different: most of its UK plans come bundled with a real UK phone number for calls and texts, not just data, something Saily doesn't offer at all. SimLocal backs that with a "No Quibble Refunds" policy (cancel for any reason, no explanation needed) and, unusually for an eSIM-only seller, a staffed counter at Heathrow if you'd rather have someone walk you through setup in person.
Price Snapshot (1GB-equivalent, before any code)
| Destination | Saily | SimLocal |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $3.99 (1GB) | Not published as a fixed per-GB rate |
| Europe regional | $4.99 (1GB) | Not published as a fixed per-GB rate |
| Global | $8.99 (1GB) | Not published as a fixed per-GB rate |
SimLocal doesn't publish a simple per-GB country price list the way Saily does; its plans are priced per destination and length at checkout. Both land in the same "Cheap" tier overall, so the bigger cost factor is usually which code you apply, not a per-GB gap.
Discount Codes
- Saily: HELLOSAILY, 15% off all plans. Full code list →
- SimLocal: ADAMANDLINDS, 10% off all plans, our own code. Full code list →
SimLocal's code is ours, the best rate it offers (its other four public codes only give 5%). Saily doesn't run the kind of affiliate program that supports a branded code like that, so HELLOSAILY is the best public one we've verified, and it still beats SimLocal's non-primary codes on percentage alone.
Is Saily or SimLocal the Right Pick
Go with Saily if…
- You'd normally pay for a VPN/ad-blocker separately when traveling anyway
- You're crossing multiple countries and don't want a new eSIM at every border
- You don't need a real phone number, just data and security extras
Go with SimLocal if…
- You're heading to the UK and want a real phone number, not just data
- You want a no-questions refund policy if your plans change
- You're flying through Heathrow and would rather get in-person help than follow a support article
Two Things Worth Knowing Before You Decide
Saily's "unlimited" plans aren't uncapped. Its own fair-use policy gives full speed for the first 5GB in a rolling 24-hour window in most destinations (3GB in some), then throttles to 1Mbps until the local-midnight reset. Fine for normal phone use, worth knowing if several people share one hotspot. SimLocal doesn't sell unlimited plans at all; it's fixed-GB buckets with a comparatively short 14-day expiration window after purchase, so don't buy a SimLocal plan too far ahead of your trip.
Support channels work differently. Saily and SimLocal both skip the traditional phone line, but Saily leans on in-app/website support while SimLocal's 24/7 channel is specifically WhatsApp, plus a small footprint of staffed airport counters including Heathrow, something Saily has no equivalent of.
For device setup and eSIM basics that apply to both providers, see our eSIM compatible devices guide. If a bundled number matters more than security extras but you don't need it to be specifically UK, see our Airhub vs SimLocal comparison for how SimLocal's number stacks up against a cheaper per-GB alternative instead.
Saily vs SimLocal FAQ
Which is cheaper, Saily or SimLocal
Both sit in the "Cheap" price bracket on this site. Saily publishes fixed per-GB country pricing; SimLocal prices per destination and plan length at checkout instead of a flat per-GB rate, so there's no single number to compare directly. The bigger difference is usually the code: SimLocal's own ADAMANDLINDS code gives 10% off, while Saily's best public code gives 15% off storewide.
Does either come with a real phone number
SimLocal does, on most UK plans: a full UK number for calls and texts, not just data. Saily doesn't offer a phone number at all; it's data (plus the built-in VPN/ad-blocker) only.
Which is better for a multi-country trip
Saily, generally. It sells one universal eSIM that keeps working as you cross into a new supported country, so there's no swapping profiles at each border the way a country-specific plan requires.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind
SimLocal's "No Quibble Refunds" policy means yes, for any reason, no explanation needed. Saily offers a full refund if the eSIM was never installed or activated within 30 days, or if less than 1% of the data was used, which is a narrower window than SimLocal's.
Is support available if something goes wrong mid-trip
Yes for both, but differently. SimLocal's 24/7 channel is specifically WhatsApp, plus a staffed counter at Heathrow. Saily supports through its app and website rather than a dedicated messaging app or physical location.
Some codes and links on this page are affiliate codes and links, including our own (ADAMANDLINDS, where it applies). If you use one, we may earn a commission. We show our own code more prominently where we have one, not because it's automatically the best deal. See our about page for the full breakdown.