Saily eSIM UK Review: My Honest Norway Test

This review contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I personally used Saily while travelling and hiking in Norway.

I used a Saily eSIM on my iPhone during a week-long trip to Norway, travelling around Stavanger and the Lysefjord and hiking to Preikestolen and Kjerag. Setup was simple, the plan activated when I arrived, and the connection was excellent in towns and while driving between locations.

Coverage was naturally less reliable beside remote parts of the fjords and high in the mountains. I had already downloaded my maps for offline use, so temporary gaps did not affect my navigation. For WhatsApp, social media and staying connected while travelling, Saily did exactly what I needed it to do.

My short verdict: Saily is easy to install, its app is straightforward and it provided reliable travel data throughout the parts of Norway where I reasonably expected mobile coverage. I would use it again.

What is Saily?

Saily is a prepaid travel eSIM service from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. An eSIM is installed digitally on a compatible phone, so you can purchase mobile data before travelling without collecting a physical SIM card at the airport.

Saily sells destination, regional and global plans. UK residents can buy and install a Saily eSIM before travelling, provided their phone is unlocked and supports eSIM technology. That is different from claiming that I tested Saily as a replacement UK mobile network: my firsthand test was carried out in Norway.

My experience using Saily in Norway

I bought and installed the Saily eSIM before leaving the UK. I used the app on my iPhone, followed the setup instructions and checked that the correct eSIM and data-roaming settings were enabled. When I landed in Norway, the plan came alive and connected without me needing to search for airport Wi-Fi or buy a local SIM.

The connection was excellent around Stavanger and while driving between the main locations on our trip. I used it for WhatsApp, checking social media and ordinary travel information. I navigate my hikes using GPX routes on my watch, and I also download maps to my phone before setting out, so I am not dependent on continuous mobile coverage in the mountains.

Signal became less consistent beside isolated stretches of the Lysefjord and in the hills around the Preikestolen and Kjerag walking areas. That did not surprise me: an eSIM can only use the local mobile networks available in the area, and remote valleys, mountains and fjords can all create gaps. It is important not to treat any mobile connection as a substitute for downloaded maps, a GPX route and sensible preparation.

I experienced no meaningful fault with the service. It worked where I needed it, the app was uncomplicated and I did not have to contact support. That is why I would be comfortable using Saily again on another overseas trip.

Saily Norway prices and plans in 2026

Saily now offers more choice than it did when I travelled in 2024. The following Norway prices were displayed when I checked them on 8 October 2026. Prices, durations and availability can change, so confirm the final details before paying.

For a short trip involving messaging, navigation and moderate browsing, a fixed allowance may be better value. The unlimited option is more relevant if you expect to use considerably more data, but it is important to understand its fair-use limits.

Is Saily’s unlimited plan really unlimited?

Saily’s regular unlimited plans include a full-speed daily allowance. Depending on the destination and the offer shown at checkout, this is either 3 GB or 5 GB during each 24-hour period. If that allowance is used, data continues at up to 1 Mbps until the next daily reset. The plan therefore provides unlimited data, but not unlimited full-speed data.

Saily also applies a fair-usage policy covering unusually heavy use, commercial use and excessive hotspot sharing. Read the exact terms displayed with your selected country or regional plan rather than choosing solely because the word “unlimited” appears in its name.

Saily discount: enter WMW5 as a coupon at checkout to receive 5% off an eligible purchase.

How I installed and activated the Saily eSIM

The app guided me through the process, and I found the setup straightforward:

1. I selected Norway and bought the data plan before travelling.
2. I downloaded the Saily app and installed the eSIM on my iPhone.
3. I checked that the Saily eSIM was selected for mobile data and that data roaming was enabled for it.
4. I kept the plan switched off until travelling so that it would not be used early.
5. After landing in Norway, it connected automatically and the data was ready to use.

I removed my physical SIM when I carried out this test in 2024. That is not normally necessary on a modern dual-SIM phone: you can usually keep your home SIM installed for calls and messages while selecting Saily for mobile data. Check your settings carefully and disable roaming on your home SIM if you want to avoid accidental roaming charges.

1. Choose a plan
Select your destination and the data allowance suitable for your trip.

2. Install the eSIM
Follow the instructions in the Saily app and check your phone settings.

3. Connect on arrival
The plan activates once you reach the supported destination and connect.

What I liked and what to consider

Is Saily worth it?

Yes, I think Saily is worth considering if you want travel data ready when you arrive. I particularly liked how little effort the setup required and how reliably it worked around Stavanger and during the road travel between our Norwegian hikes.

It should not be sold as guaranteed mountain coverage. No travel eSIM can create signal where the underlying local network has none, so I would still carry downloaded maps and my GPX route. Used for its proper purpose—convenient mobile data while travelling—Saily performed very well for me.

For most short trips, I would compare the smaller fixed-data plans with the unlimited option before buying. If your usage is mainly WhatsApp, maps and ordinary browsing, you may not need to pay for unlimited data. If you stream, work remotely or use your phone heavily, the additional allowance may be worthwhile once you understand the speed limits.

Frequently asked questions

Firsthand testing: Norway, May 2024. Product information, displayed Norway prices and discount availability last checked on 8 October 2026.