The 2026 comparison table
Across six major travel eSIM providers, 1 GB starts between $2.31 and $5.00 in 2026 — but only Simbye includes a real phone number with calls in the plan price.
| Simbye | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad | Yesim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest plan | $2.99 · 1 GB/7d | $4.00 · 1 GB/3d | $11.90 · unlimited/3d | $2.99–3.99 · 1 GB | $3.00–5.00 · 1 GB | ~$2.31 · 1 GB/30d |
| Coverage | 190+ | 200+ | 200+ | 200+ | 200+ | 200+ |
| Phone number | ✓ +1/+44/+33 included | US number in Discover+ only | ✗ SMS-receive in sub | US add-on, $0.99/mo | ✗ SMS-only add-on | ✗ SMS-receive, €6/mo |
| "Unlimited" cap | 2 GB/day → 1 Mbps; USA unlimited; Thailand unlimited on 15- and 30-day plans | 3 GB/day → 1 Mbps | Cap not published | 5 GB/day → 1 Mbps | 2 GB/day → ~1 Mbps | Cap not published |
| Hotspot | Allowed on data eSIMs, no separate cap | No cap | 1 GB/day cap | No cap | Allowed | No cap |
| Top-up | Same eSIM, in-app | Most plans | Extend days only | Yes + auto | Most plans | Yes + PAYG |
| Cashback | 5%, never expires | 5–10% tiers | 5–7% HolaCoins | 8% (Ultra sub) | ~5% points | 5–10% Ycoins |
| Refund | 30-day money-back | 14d unused, often credit | Never-activated only | Unused only | Unused only | 30d, unused |
| App rating | 4.8 | ~4.6–4.7 | ~4.7 | 4.7 | ~4.8 | ~4.6 |
| Works in Türkiye | ✓ no VPN | ✗ blocked | ✗ blocked | ✗ blocked | ✗ blocked | Restricted |
Simbye vs Airalo
Airalo is the largest travel eSIM provider: 200+ destinations, 20+ million users and plans up to 365 days. Most country eSIMs are data-only; the exception is the Discover+ global plan with a real US number from $15 / 7 days (1 GB, 10 min, 10 SMS) — always a +1 number; once the metered minutes run out, even incoming calls stop. "Unlimited" means 3 GB/day, then 1 Mbps (Türkiye 30 days: $69, August 2026).
Simbye starts at $2.99 instead of $4.00, includes numbers with unlimited calls in its USA plans, pays 5% cashback from the first purchase — Airalo's 10% tier needs $200 spend.
Full comparison: Simbye vs Airalo →
Simbye vs Holafly
Holafly made unlimited data the default: plans are priced by days, not gigabytes, and its Trustpilot 4.7 from ~102,000 reviews is among the industry's best — Simbye's 4.8 App Store rating rests on far fewer reviews. Trade-offs: 30 days cost ~$73.90 almost everywhere, hotspot is capped at 1 GB/day, every travel eSIM is data-only (the subscription's number only receives SMS), and the fair-use cap is unpublished.
Simbye's USA Unlimited runs on AT&T with a real +1 number and unlimited US calls and texts for $44.99 / 30 days — $23.91 less than Holafly's data-only $68.90 (August 2026).
Full comparison: Simbye vs Holafly →
Simbye vs Saily
Saily, built by Nord Security (NordVPN), bundles free security features into every plan and holds a 4.7 Trustpilot from ~29,600 reviews; its 5 GB/day unlimited cap is the most generous here. Since June 2026 it sells a US number add-on: a real cellular +1 for $0.99/month with free incoming SMS, useful for 2FA. Limits: US-only numbers, no international calls, bundles cost extra, and the eSIM stays data-only.
With Simbye the number is part of the plan: USA Unlimited from 23,95€/10 days includes unlimited US calls and texts, plus +44 UK and +33 Europe options. On plain data the two are close — Türkiye 10 GB/30d: $14.99 vs $15.99.
Full comparison: Simbye vs Saily →
Simbye vs Nomad
Nomad is one of the cheapest providers per gigabyte — Thailand 50 GB / 10 days for $12, Türkiye 50 GB / 30 days for $31, plans up to 365 days (August 2026). Caveats: Trustpilot 4.3; data-only eSIMs (Nomad itself states WhatsApp registration over them is not possible); and an "unlimited" cap of 2 GB/day — the same as Simbye's country plans.
Simbye matches the budget tier where it counts — USA 10 GB/30d $14.99 vs $25.00 — and adds real numbers and 5% cashback.
Full comparison: Simbye vs Nomad →
Simbye vs Yesim
Yesim's standout is Pay & Fly: pay-as-you-go data from about €0.92/GB in 170+ countries, credit that never expires, uncapped hotspot and up to 10% cashback. Weak points: the unlimited fair-use cap is unpublished — cybernews' 2026 review quotes a customer throttled after 70 GB — and its €6/month virtual numbers only receive SMS.
Simbye publishes its caps, includes real numbers with calls and undercuts Yesim on bundles: 10 GB/30d $14.99 vs about $16.20–18.52 (August 2026).
Full comparison: Simbye vs Yesim →
Price check across 6 destinations
For a standard 10 GB / 30 days bundle, Simbye charges $14.99 in Türkiye, the USA, Japan, Thailand and the UK — competitors range from $10.00 to $25.00.
| Destination | Simbye | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad | Yesim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | 10 GB/30d — $14.99 | 10 GB/30d — $15.50 | 30d — $73.90 | 10 GB/30d — $15.99 | 10 GB/30d — $13.00 | 20 GB/30d — ~$24.31 |
| Europe | 20 GB/30d + number — $29.99 | 20 GB/30d — $49.00 | 30d — $73.90 | 10 GB/30d — $35.99 | 20 GB/30d — from $27.00 | 10 GB/30d — ~$18.52 |
| USA | Unlimited 30d + number — $44.99 | "Unlimited" 30d — $68.00 | 30d — $68.90 | Unlimited 30d — $71.99 | 10 GB/30d — $25.00 | Unlimited 30d — ~$52.08 |
| Japan | 10 GB/30d — $14.99 | 10 GB/7d — $17.00 | 30d — $73.90 | 10 GB/30d — $17.99 | 10 GB/30d — $16.00 | 10 GB/30d — ~$18.52 |
| Thailand | 10 GB/30d — $14.99 | 10 GB/7d — $10.00 | 30d — $73.90 | 10 GB/30d — $10.99 | 10 GB/30d — $10.00 | 10 GB/30d — ~$12.73 |
| UK | 10 GB/30d — $14.99 | 10 GB/7d — $18.00 | 30d — $73.90 | 10 GB/30d — $18.99 | 10 GB/30d — ~$17.50–19 | 10 GB/30d — ~€16.00 |
Honest note: in Thailand, Nomad ($10.00) and Saily ($10.99) undercut Simbye on plain 10 GB data; Simbye's edge there is the Thailand Unlimited plan with a real phone number — true unlimited from $19.99/7 days, which no one else here offers.
The phone number gap
Of the six providers compared, only Simbye includes a real phone number with calling in the plan price; the others treat numbers as add-ons, and most can only receive SMS.
| Provider | Number offer | Can it make calls? |
|---|---|---|
| Simbye | +1 US (AT&T) in USA Unlimited; +44 UK; +33 Europe on 20–100 GB plans | ✓ Unlimited US calls & SMS; unlimited EU calls |
| Airalo | US +1 in Discover+, from $15/7d | Yes, metered minutes |
| Holafly | US/UK/CA number in $64.90/mo sub | ✗ SMS receive only |
| Saily | US +1 add-on, $0.99/mo (cellular) | Paid bundles; no international calls |
| Nomad | US/CA virtual SMS plans from $4 | ✗ No calls |
| Yesim | Virtual numbers, €6/mo (cloud) | ✗ SMS receive only |
A native cellular number rings like a normal line and receives bank and WhatsApp codes reliably; SMS-receive-only numbers cover 2FA at best.
Best eSIM for Türkiye in 2026
Türkiye is the sharpest split: the July 2025 BTK ruling blocks the sites and apps of Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad inside the country (BTK source at the end), and Yesim's own Türkiye page warns access can be restricted — with all five, the eSIM must be bought before departure. Simbye stays reachable without a VPN, so you can still buy and top up after landing.
Simbye Türkiye prices: 1 GB / 7 days $2.99; then 30-day plans at 3 GB $7.99, 5 GB $11.99, 10 GB $14.99, 20 GB $19.99; unlimited 7 days $19.99 (2 GB/day, then 1 Mbps).
Where Simbye falls short
Four points where the other five are ahead.
Daily cap: Simbye's country unlimited plans run full speed for 2 GB a day, then 1 Mbps — Saily allows 5 GB, Holafly publishes no daily figure. Only the USA and Thailand number plans are uncapped.
Catalog: 190+ destinations against 200+ at all five rivals.
Track record: Simbye's app scores 4.8 in the App Store, but on a much smaller review base than Holafly (~102,000 Trustpilot reviews), Nomad (~42,500), Airalo (~30,000) or Saily (~29,600).
Model: no pay-as-you-go like Yesim's Pay & Fly and no security bundle like Saily's.
Simbye still fits travellers who want a real number with calls, a published cap, or an eSIM they can buy after landing in Türkiye.
Which eSIM should you buy in 2026?
The right travel eSIM in 2026 depends on your trip type.
Short Europe trip: Simbye Europe 20 GB/30 days ($29.99) includes a +33 number with unlimited EU calls; Airalo's data-only 20 GB costs $49.00.
USA trip: Simbye USA Unlimited from 23,95€/10 days — true unlimited with a +1 number and calls; alternatives are capped or data-only at $34.99–71.99.
Long-term nomads: Holafly's subscription and Yesim's Pay & Fly are worth a look; Simbye's Build Your Own eSIM (app-only) covers up to 10 countries, 5–50 GB.
Türkiye travelers: Simbye — from 1,95€ and still buyable on arrival; the other four are blocked.
Data from $2.99 — or a real phone number with unlimited calls. 30-day money-back guarantee, in-app top-ups, 24/7 human support.
See all destinations from $2.99FAQ: Simbye vs the alternatives
What is the best travel eSIM in 2026?
Airalo has the widest catalog, Holafly the simplest unlimited pricing, Saily the best security extras — but only Simbye includes a real phone number with calls in the plan price, from $2.99 for 1 GB / 7 days.
Which travel eSIM includes a real phone number?
Only Simbye includes a real number in the plan price: +1 US with unlimited calls and texts on AT&T, +44 UK or +33 Europe. Airalo's Discover+ has a metered US number, Saily a $0.99/month add-on; the rest only receive SMS.
Are "unlimited" travel eSIMs really unlimited?
Usually not. Airalo throttles after 3 GB/day, Saily after 5 GB, Nomad after 2 GB; Holafly and Yesim publish no caps. Simbye's country plans allow 2 GB/day, then 1 Mbps — its USA and Thailand number plans are true unlimited.
Which eSIM providers work in Türkiye?
Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad have been blocked in Türkiye by the regulator BTK since July 2025; Yesim's own Türkiye page warns of restricted access. Simbye's site and app work there without a VPN, so you can buy and top up on arrival.
Which eSIM is cheapest for 10 GB?
Simbye charges $14.99 for 10 GB/30 days in Türkiye, the USA, Japan, Thailand and the UK. Nomad and Saily are cheaper in Thailand (about $10–11); in the USA Simbye beats Nomad's $25.00 (August 2026).
Where are the other five better than Simbye?
Saily's unlimited allows 5 GB a day against Simbye's 2 GB; all five list 200+ destinations against 190+; Holafly (~102,000 Trustpilot reviews) and Nomad (~42,500) have far bigger review bases than Simbye's 4.8-rated app; and only Yesim sells true pay-as-you-go.
How much does a Türkiye eSIM cost in 2026?
Simbye charges $2.99 for 1 GB / 7 days and $14.99 for 10 GB / 30 days in Türkiye. At the same 10 GB, Nomad asks $13.00, Airalo $15.50 and Saily $15.99; Holafly sells no gigabyte plan and charges $73.90 for 30 days (August 2026).
Can I get a refund on a travel eSIM?
Simbye offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Airalo refunds unused eSIMs within 14 days, often as credit; Holafly only if never activated; Saily, Nomad and Yesim unused plans only.
Related comparisons
Simbye vs Airalo · Simbye vs Holafly · Simbye vs Saily · Simbye vs Nomad · Simbye vs Yesim
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment