When I used to be planning my three-week journey to India, one factor was non-negotiable- I wanted an eSIM that might sustain with the extreme quantity of touring I had lined up. Over 21 days, I moved by 7 cities, continuously navigating new neighborhoods and reserving transport, so my web connection needed to be as dependable as potential.
After testing quite a few eSIM services at TechSwitch, Saily’s Ultra plan intrigued me essentially the most as a result of it bundles all kinds of travel-friendly options into one month-to-month subscription.
But before I dive into my experience, here’s what the plan actually offers- Saily Ultra comes with a global 30 GB data plan (unlimited data throttled up to 1 Mbps) covering over 120 destinations, a monthly airport lounge and fast track passes, and Saily’s security features.
Why did I choose the Saily Ultra subscription?
For this trip, I wasn’t just looking for reliable internet; I also needed a connection that was strong and consistent enough to support remote work. What appealed to me about Saily Ultra was the data structure: you get high-speed data of up to 30GB per month, followed by unlimited data capped at 1 Mbps. While this isn’t “unlimited” in the traditional sense, it meant I never fully lost connectivity and could still stay online for emails, messaging, navigation, and light work tasks.
Unlimited hotspot sharing was another major benefit, as I was able to connect to my work laptop whenever needed. In fact, at one point, I also shared hotspot with friends without facing any noticeable drop in performance.
Beyond the data experience, I was quite excited to see NordVPN included as part of the subscription. The added layer of security from the wider Nord Security bundle felt especially valuable while travelling.
I also used the virtual location feature to access apps like TikTok, which is restricted in India. The built-in ad blocker was another pleasant surprise, effectively removing ads on platforms like YouTube.
Installation process
Much like Saily’s other plans, as we mentioned in our review, the Ultra subscription set up was easy. What’s nice a couple of international eSIM is that you just solely must obtain the eSIM as soon as in your telephone, and that can be utilized for all of your journeys.
The best approach to get the subscription up and working is by downloading the app and buying the subscription. After a number of clicks, you’ll obtain an e mail detailing your plan and tips on how to declare your premium instruments.
The subscription is rolling, which implies it routinely renews every month except you select to cancel.
One factor to notice, nevertheless, is that you’d must have web connectivity if you find yourself activating and putting in the eSIM. This course of itself can take 5 minutes, so be certain that to do that earlier than your journey.
A number of vacationers are below the idea that you just can’t activate an eSIM earlier than you journey, however this isn’t the case. Almost all eSIM suppliers enable customers to activate the eSIM earlier than they journey, so I like to recommend doing this earlier than the flight.
Connectivity in India
Because I activated my eSIM before traveling and enabled roaming, I had internet access the moment I landed. In my phone’s mobile service settings, the eSIM was clearly visible, and I could rename it, which is helpful if you use multiple SIMs.
I had a layover in Saudi Arabia, and the eSIM connected instantly there as well. Once I arrived in Delhi, it automatically latched onto the Jio network, India’s largest mobile carrier.
Since Saily connects to local providers, your phone automatically scans for available networks and connects to the strongest supported local carrier, just like a local physical SIM would. I consistently had a solid 4G connection in the city, and while travelling by train across North India, I stayed connected most of the time.
That said, the experience wasn’t the same in South India. When I reached Pondicherry, the connection noticeably dropped. Compared to the north, coverage in the south was far less reliable. I couldn’t access Saily in my city-centre hotel and had to rely on Wi-Fi, only getting a connection in certain cafes where I could link to local networks. Although Saily remained affiliated with Jio throughout my trip, Jio itself seems less reliable in Pondicherry and parts of South India.
It’s also worth noting that while the plan is advertised as unlimited, speeds are throttled after 30GB. Once you hit that threshold, data continues but at reduced speeds of around 1Mbps. Personally, I didn’t reach the 30GB limit during my three-week trip.
Advanced features
What truly sets the Saily Ultra plan apart from its competitors is the breadth of premium features bundled into a single subscription. I’ve listed the most used ones below.
Airport lounge access and fast track passes
The Ultra plan includes one lounge or fast-track pass per month, and unused passes can be rolled over for future trips. I found this process refreshingly straightforward. The customer support team would be your best friend here. Within five minutes, they walked me through exactly how it works.
They share a list of eligible airports (this can also be found on the website), and once you’ve confirmed your airport, support generates a unique QR code directly in the app. The QR code is valid for 30 minutes after issuance and can only be used by one person, so it’s best suited for solo travelers rather than families or groups.
Nord security tools
- NordVPN– With Saily Ultra, customers obtain the essential NordVPN plan, which can be utilized on over 10 units and comes with menace safety.
- NordLocker– The 3GB cloud storage included with the plan is lifetime entry, which means even in case you cancel your Ultra subscription, you’ll nonetheless retain entry to the total 3GB of storage.
- NordPass– The solely free plan within the bundle, which customers can get no matter signing up with Saily Ultra.
- Incogni– The commonplace plan covers all the essential wants of a data removal service, giving customers added safety from scams.
Other Saily security measures
Beyond the bundled perks, Saily additionally features a suite of built-in safety instruments. These options aren’t unique to the Ultra plan and can be found throughout all Saily plans, so if safety is your major want, a normal plan could also be ample. All instruments are simply accessible by the Saily app and may be disconnected with a easy toggle button.
Virtual location: This characteristic permits customers to digitally change their gadget location with out counting on a full VPN service. It’s notably helpful for accessing region-restricted content material or streaming providers whereas travelling. If your most important objective is to entry platforms like Netflix from again residence fairly than encrypt all site visitors, it is a light-weight and handy different.
Ad blocker: One of my favorite additions, the ad blocker filters out intrusive adverts on the community stage. This helps to enhance shopping speeds, and studies have shown it also conserves data.
Web safety: This characteristic provides an additional layer of safety by blocking entry to malicious web sites, phishing makes an attempt, and recognized trackers in actual time. It works within the background to forestall unintentional clicks on dangerous hyperlinks, which is particularly helpful when connecting to unfamiliar networks whereas travelling. For distant staff, particularly, this characteristic is nice for dealing with delicate logins or funds on the go.
Saily vs. other eSIM subscription plans
Saily’s Ultra subscription is priced at $59.99 per month, which is undeniably expensive, especially if you’re not travelling regularly. For occasional travelers, it’s difficult to justify the cost when many standard eSIM plans can cover a single trip for a fraction of the price. The value of Ultra really only starts to make sense if you’re on the move often and can consistently make use of the bundled perks.
There are also strong alternatives worth considering. Jetpac, for instance, provides extra versatile and noticeably cheaper subscription choices, making it a greater match for budget-conscious travellers. That stated, Jetpac doesn’t provide limitless information and limits its perks largely to airport lounge entry, so the general bundle is way much less complete.
Holafly has also entered the subscription space with three new tiers. Its limitless plan is priced increased at $64.90 monthly, nevertheless it does embody an area telephone quantity—one thing Saily at the moment lacks and a significant benefit for vacationers who want calls, SMS, or 2FA entry overseas.
However, Holafly’s providing stops there- there isn’t a airport lounge entry, no fast-track passes, and not one of the added safety instruments that come bundled with Saily through the Nord ecosystem.
Final verdict
Saily Ultra represents a notable shift in the eSIM landscape, particularly as traditional telcos and travel-focused providers continue to crowd the market. Rather than positioning itself as a standalone data product, Saily has evolved into a full-stack travel connectivity and security platform.
That stated, the Ultra plan is greatest suited to frequent, solo vacationers who place a excessive worth on safety, comfort, and bundled providers. At its present worth level, the subscription is more durable to justify for infrequent vacationers who’re in search of primary connectivity. Other contenders like Jetpac provide comparable journey perks at a considerably decrease price, albeit with out the layered security measures that Saily contains.
From a efficiency standpoint, Saily delivers on its promise of steady, high-speed connectivity, and its buyer help stands out as one of many strongest within the class.
However, as competitors intensifies, pricing and have differentiation will change into more and more vital. The broader trade development suggests transferring towards bundled, value-added subscriptions fairly than single-use information plans. The key query for the longer term stays whether or not Saily can preserve its aggressive edge and justify its premium pricing as rivals proceed to develop their very own characteristic units.