Airalo vs Nomad vs Saily vs Holafly: An Honest 2026 Comparison

Last checked: Nov 2026 · Updated November 4, 2026 · 12 min read · By the Signal Atlas research desk

Airalo, Nomad, Saily and Holafly are four names you'll see in almost every "best eSIM" list. They solve the same problem in slightly different ways. Rather than declare a single winner, this comparison lays out what each one publishes about its plans — using Japan as a common benchmark — and explains which type of traveler each one tends to suit.

The 30-second summary

Prices in USD as displayed on each provider's official Japan page, checked Nov 4, 2026. Prices can differ by currency, promotion and app vs. website.

Airalo

Airalo is the largest name in the category; its site says more than 30 million people have chosen it and that it covers 200+ locations with local, regional and global eSIMs. On its Japan page, the packages displayed were unlimited-data options from 3 days ($11.50) to 30 days ($69.00), on the SoftBank network plus other partners, and the page also points to regional Asia packages "from $4.00" and global ones "from $8.50".

What stands out: breadth of destinations, an app in 53 languages, the ability to top up an existing eSIM rather than install a new one, and optional auto-renewals that trigger when 10% of data remains.

What to watch: if you enable renewals, remember to turn them off after your trip. Look at the full package details for fair-use terms on unlimited options.

See Airalo plans

Nomad

Nomad's Japan page lists a ladder of fixed-data plans — 1 GB for 7 days ($4), 3 GB ($7), 5 GB ($10), 10 GB ($16, shown as a sale from $18), 20 GB ($23, a sale from $26) and 50 GB ($35), all valid for 30 days except the 1 GB plan. It also offers "unlimited" day plans, and its help center is unusually candid: speed drops to 1 Mbps after the daily high-speed allowance, most plans are data-only, and speeds depend on the local partner network.

What stands out: good value per gigabyte at larger sizes, regional bundles (Asia-Pacific, China-Japan-Korea, Global), add-on data that activates automatically when the first plan ends, and a free 1 GB trial for new users (see our trials guide).

What to watch: Nomad says a plan auto-activates 60 days after purchase if you haven't started it — buy close to your trip.

See Nomad plans

Saily

Saily comes from the team behind NordVPN. For Japan it lists 1 GB / 7 days at $3.99, then 3, 5, 10 and 20 GB plans for 30 days ($7.99 to $24.99), plus an unlimited plan priced by the number of days (the page showed $48.99 for 15 days and $71.99 for 30 days). The unlimited plan gives 5 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps.

What stands out: a 180-day window to activate after purchase, one eSIM that can hold plans for many destinations, hotspot sharing, and built-in privacy features (virtual location, ad blocking, web protection). It also offers an optional US phone number with call and text plans.

What to watch: one FAQ on its Japan page describes the $3.99 plan as "Unlimited GB over seven days," while the plan list shows it as 1 GB. We believe the plan list is correct, but check at checkout.

See Saily plans

Holafly

Holafly takes the simplest approach: you choose how many days you need and get unlimited data for that period. On its Japan page, plans ran from 3 days ($11.90) to 30 days ($73.90), using KDDI and SoftBank. Every eSIM includes "Always On", a 1 GB monthly backup allowance in 150+ countries for as long as the eSIM stays installed.

What stands out: no data counting, 24/7 chat support, and a refund policy that covers cancelled trips and incompatible phones (its Europe page mentions up to six months to request a refund).

What to watch: hotspot sharing is limited to 1 GB per day, an installed eSIM can't be reinstalled or transferred, and Holafly says plans don't work in your home country (including the whole EU if you're an EU resident). It also notes operators may temporarily reduce speeds under a fair-usage policy.

See Holafly plans

Which one fits you?

• Light users on short trips (maps, messaging, a few photos): a small fixed plan from Saily or Nomad is the cheapest way in, at around $4 for 1 GB.
• Heavy users who hate counting gigabytes: Holafly's or Airalo's unlimited-day packages are priced within a dollar or two of each other for Japan. Compare the exact trip length.
• Tethering a laptop: avoid plans with tight hotspot caps; Saily and Nomad both advertise hotspot support.
• Multi-country trips: look at regional plans; all four sell them.
• First-timers who want to test the process: Nomad's free trial is the lowest-risk start.

What about Ubigi, Maya and Yesim?

They're credible alternatives that we plan to cover in future updates. We didn't verify their current prices for this article, so we're not quoting numbers. Yesim's low-cost trial is covered in our trials guide.

Visit Ubigi Visit Maya Mobile Visit Yesim