Saily eSIM Review 2025: My Honest Experience in Brazil
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Like an insane person, I used to wing it and go without data on my international trips. But after getting lost during a solo trip in Buenos Aires (of course, it started raining, just to add to the drama), I knew I could never travel without reliable data again.
Since then, I’ve always made sure to get a local SIM card abroad. Easier said than done, though — in Brazil, I even needed my now-husband’s CPF (a Brazilian ID number) just to buy one. Why a local ID would be required to get something pretty much only foreigners need is beyond me, but I digress.
That’s why upgrading to an eSIM-only phone felt like such a relief. No more long lines or ID numbers I didn’t have, just a quick download and I was connected.
But with so many eSIM providers out there, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Saily is one of the newest options, launched in 2024, and built by Nord Security, and I had the chance to test it over my recent three-week trip to Rio de Janeiro from July to August 2025.
Spoiler: I’d absolutely recommend Saily — and in this Saily eSIM review, I’ll walk you through how easy it was to set up, what the coverage was really like (even in remote areas), and how Saily compares to Airalo, a top competitor. (Plus, I’ll share a discount code for you to check it out yourself).
✈️ If you’re planning a trip soon, you can grab the same plan I used here.
Quick disclosure: Saily provided me with 10GB of data for free, in exchange for an honest review. I’m also part of Saily’s affiliate program, meaning I’ll earn a commission if you choose to use my link.
Saily Plans and Pricing (Brazil Example)
Saily offers plans for over 200 different countries and regions like Latin America (perfect if you’re country-hopping), with various amounts of data depending on your trip length and needs.
Specific prices will vary by country or region, and are generally active for either one week or 30 days.
For my recent three-week Brazil trip, I went with the 30-day 10GB plan, which costs $23.74 at the time of writing.
For anyone looking for an eSIM for Brazil, Saily offers plans starting at just $3.99.
Here’s exactly what’s available for Brazil at the time of writing:
- 1GB (7 days) – $3.99
- 3GB (30 days) – $9.99
- 5GB (30 days) – $13.99
- 10GB (30 days) – $23.74 ← this is the one I used for my 3-week Rio trip
- 20GB (30 days) – $37.99
⚠️ No unlimited data plans are available (at least for Brazil).
What makes Saily different?
- One eSIM, multiple trips → you don’t need to download a new eSIM each time. Just add a new package inside the app.
- Usage alerts → you’ll get a notification when you hit 80% of your plan.
- Built-in security → ad blocking, location blocking, and web protection are included (I had these on during my trip and everything ran smoothly).
📍 Important to know: Saily connects you to local networks, but it does not give you a local number. Personally, I prefer this — no need to message everyone back home with a “new number” or worry about missing messages. But it does mean you can’t call or text local numbers (e.g., hotels, airlines).
You will continue to receive calls to your normal number, which if you pick up, could subject you to international fees from your normal carrier.
💡 Pro tip: If you only need data, Saily is perfect. But if you expect to call local numbers, you may want a provider that offers voice/text packages instead.
The travel eSIM app is simple to use — if you need to contact customer support, you can do so through a chat function on the app, which is available 24/7. (Just click “help” at the bottom of your screen.) You can also submit a request online through the Help Center.
✈️ I used the 10GB plan in Brazil and it easily covered my three weeks. You can grab the same plan here with code TESS5 for 5% off.
How Easy is Saily to Set Up?
Getting my Saily eSIM up and running was a super quick process — so quick, in fact, that I was wondering if I’d skipped a step or messed something up. It didn’t really give any directions — just a quick message saying to make sure that my data roaming was on.
As it turns out, I did make one tiny mistake. Messages were sending from my email address, rather than from my phone number, so I had to figure that out and do some snooping through Saily’s website for answers.
Without any clear directions, I’d just turned off my primary number in my iPhone settings, and turned on my travel eSIM, but it turns out that you need to keep both on so that your travel eSIM can work alongside your regular SIM card. (I think this would have been easy to avoid if I’d done like, any research before my trip, but alas.)
Apparently I could have also purchased my plan before my trip, and it would have activated automatically once I got to Brazil, which makes it literally as easy as possible.
Although I definitely was not organized enough to handle it ahead of time — and I wasn’t that concerned about getting a connection immediately since I was just going to my in-laws, this is a great feature if you’re solo traveling or just visiting a new place, and need to get set up with data asap.
And although I installed Saily without any major issues, my mom, who also used Saily, found that she’d been using her regular data as well, several days into the trip. So if you’re not as tech-savvy, it may be a little more confusing.
💡 Pro traveler tip: Saily eSIM works in 150+ countries — add TESS5 at checkout for an easy 5% discount.
My Experience Using Saily in Brazil
I was honestly really impressed with my Saily coverage throughout my three weeks.
I had been warned about potentially spotty service in Ilha Grande, a remote island in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But apart from the most secluded beaches, where I’d honestly be shocked to have a signal, my phone worked perfectly.
I was also a little nervous that my 10GB wouldn’t cover my entire three weeks, but it looks like I only used about 4GB of data in that time — honestly, I’m impressed both with myself and with Saily on that front. (You can check out this really useful data usage calculator, to help you pick a plan, if you’re also unsure.)
With that said, I connected to WiFi whenever I could, and tried to keep most of my social media usage limited to when I was on WiFi. And I didn’t stream any shows or FaceTime, which uses up data more quickly.
However, I’m still impressed that I used so little data, especially considering how much I still was using my phone in general, including for navigation during a few long car rides.
Unfortunately, my remaining 6GB of data expired after the 30-day period ended. So you won’t be able to use any unused data later on if you return to the same place.
In this case, I can’t really be upset since I didn’t pay for the data, but if I did, I would be kind of annoyed, to be honest — I think if you pay for a set amount of data, you should be able to reactivate it and use it at a later time.
One weird thing that happened was that several times throughout my trip, my U.S. data provider would randomly be activated or something, and I’d be charged for a day of their super expensive international plan. I contacted Verizon when I got home and was refunded everything, but I’m really not sure what was going on there, and if it was something on Verizon’s end or Saily’s, or something I was doing wrong.
My little sister, who was visiting Rio as well, also purchased a Saily plan, only to immediately realize that she already had free international coverage with her U.S. plan.
She tried to return her eSIM, but noticed the only option was to receive credits in return, rather than a refund. The credits last for a year, which isn’t amazing, since not everyone travels internationally every year, so they may just end up going unused.
According to their policy, you have to submit a refund request to Saily — and if you’ve installed it already, you may not be eligible. (My sister submitted a request and did receive a full refund, which takes seven to 10 business days to be issued.)
📶 Don’t risk being disconnected abroad — secure your Saily eSIM today and use TESS5 for 5% off your plan.
Saily Pros and Cons
What I Liked
- Affordable plans → My 10GB plan for Brazil cost just $23.74, which is cheaper than Airalo for the same amount of data.
- Strong, consistent service even in remote areas → I had service in Rio and even on Ilha Grande (a remote island where I half-expected to be disconnected).
- Easy to activate → Installing the eSIM took just minutes. It was so fast I thought I must have skipped a step.
- One eSIM, multiple trips → I like that you don’t need to redownload a new eSIM every time you travel. Just add another package.
What Could Be Better
- Setup directions could be clearer → I initially messed up my iPhone settings and sent texts from my email instead of my number. My mom also had issues, so less tech-savvy travelers may struggle.
- No calls or texts → Since Saily doesn’t provide a local number, you can’t call a hotel or airline directly. This didn’t bother me, but this could be an issue.
- Refunds are credits first → My sister tried to return her plan and was offered credits instead of cash. She eventually got a full refund, but it took a request and a 7–10 day wait.
- Data expires after 30 days → I had 6GB left after my trip, but it vanished at the end of my plan. If you pay for data, it would be nice to carry it over.
📱 Bottom line: For data-only coverage at a fair price, Saily was a lifesaver in Brazil. If you’re okay without local calls/texts and mindful of the refund policy, I’d 100% recommend it. You can try it here with code TESS5 for 5% off.
Airalo vs Saily: Which is Better?
When I went to Guatemala a couple of years ago, I tried out Airalo, which is one of the top eSIMS on the market. It was my first time using an eSIM — before that, I’d gone the old-fashioned route and purchased a physical SIM card that I swapped out my regular one for.
Honestly, I found the actual service pretty comparable. For some reason, I struggled a bit more with the installation for Airalo — I followed all the directions, but it took some time before I could get everything up and running. With Saily, everything was pretty immediate.
When looking up the options for Brazil, Airalo does offer more choices, which can be a bit more overwhelming, in my opinion.
There are options for data alone, or data with calls and text, which would give you a local number, with a max of 20GB available. A 10GB, data-only plan, comparable to the one I purchased with Saily, is $25 on Airalo — just a couple dollars more than my Saily plan, so, not really a deal-breaker.
It does depend entirely on the country you’re looking for, though, and I have heard that in general, Saily is much more affordable. When I looked up plans for Argentina, for example, the difference was more clear — 10GB is $28.49 on Saily, vs. $42 on Airalo.
🛫 No more hunting for local SIM cards abroad — Saily eSIM has you covered. Use TESS5 and save 5%!
Is Saily Worth It? My Final Verdict
If you’re looking for the best eSIM for international travel, I would definitely recommend Saily.
While I would probably still compare prices with other eSIM options on the market before my next trip, I would feel 100% confident using Saily again for my future travels.
Everything was pretty seamless, and I have 0 complaints about the data connection from the course of my three weeks, even including time on a remote island — which is definitely impressive, if you ask me!
If Saily would just let me use my remaining data on my next trip to Brazil, then I’d be giving it an A+, but even without that, I still think it’s a really solid choice for your next international adventure.
🌎 Ready for stress-free travel? Activate your Saily eSIM in under 5 minutes and enjoy 5% off with code TESS5.
FAQs About Saily eSIM
Does Saily give you a local phone number?
No. Saily is data-only, so you keep your regular phone number. This means you won’t be able to call or text local numbers directly, but apps like WhatsApp and iMessage work as usual.
Can I keep my WhatsApp number with Saily?
Yes. Since your primary number doesn’t change, your WhatsApp account stays exactly the same.
What happens if I run out of data?
Just open the Saily app and add more data instantly. You don’t need to reinstall a new eSIM.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
It depends. If you haven’t installed or used the eSIM, you can usually request a full refund. If you’ve already activated it, you may receive credits instead, valid for one year. (I tested this — my sister got her money back, but only after submitting a refund request.)
Is Saily available on Android?
Yes. It works on both iOS and Android devices. My husband used it on his Android during our Brazil trip with no problems.
🗺️ Never overpay for travel data again—use Saily eSIM and apply TESS5 at checkout for 5% off.
