The publisher of NordVPN turns into an operator with its eSIM service

We knew Nord Security for NordVPN, one of the best-known VPN services in the sector, but also for NordPass, its young password manager. In a few years, it will perhaps be for its Internet connectivity service that this company, based in Lithuania, will be mainly identified by the public.

In any case, it is among tourists and people who often travel abroad that Nord Security’s new offering could break through. In fact, the company announced on March 25, 2024 the launch of Saily, “ an eSim solution developed especially for travelers. » Stated objective: to avoid additional costs linked to roaming.

Saily, NordVPN’s eSIM service for traveling

It is to reflect its global reach that the name of this new product, Saily, moves away from what we are used to seeing. Usually, the brand adds its identity to its solutions (NordLayer, NordLocker etc.). Sail, in English, means sail or sail. A way of indicating that Saily is especially relevant across the seas, abroad.

Coincidence or not with the timing, Saily’s announcement comes precisely on the day that Revolut unveiled an eSIM service, so that its customers can also connect to the Internet without switching to very expensive extra packages. In the case of Revolut, a British company, support extends to around a hundred destinations, with varied packages.

In the case of Saily, coverage extends to “more than 150 countries,” according to the Nord Security press release. “Users have the option to choose weekly or monthly plans, ranging from 1 to 20 gigabytes (GB),” it is specified. Obviously, prices vary depending on destinations and the size of the mobile data envelope.

For example, acquiring an eSIM for France opens several options: 1 GB would cost $4.29; 3 GB $8.99; 5 GB $12.99; 10 GB $21.99; 20 GB $34.99. The validity period of the offer ranges from 7 to 30 days depending on the case. Each country taken into account has its own price list.

“ Activating Saily is very simple, as it can be done remotely. The process of connecting to a local mobile network operator is thus much easier and even allows the user to switch from one operator to another without changing their physical SIM card as soon as they arrive in a new country “, claims the company.

The application itself is very basic, with a search field and a list of countries, a tab for the eSIM(s) linked to the account and price details according to the destination. Purchases will be directly in Saily, with two payment methods: via a bank card or the OS payment utility.

An offer whose interest must be verified on a case-by-case basis

However, it is impossible to determine the quality of service. No general answer can be given: it will depend on the country concerned, the operator you connect to there, the nature of the connection (3G, 4G, 5G), your distance from infrastructure, the congestion of networks, and the type of phone you will use.

It now remains to be determined whether the offer from Saily or Revolut is worth it, in particular for French people. For travel within Europe, the main French operators now include in their offers enough GB for the duration of a short stay or a long vacation, at no additional cost, if the package is not too low cost.

For example, in the case of Sosh’s 130 GB plan (billed at 11.99 euros per month), 20 GB of mobile data from the Old Continent is promised. At SFR, the 100 GB 5G package (billed at 15.99 then 30.99 euros per month) allows 100 GB of mobile internet from the EU, but also Switzerland, Andorra and the overseas departments.

Therefore, it may be wise to consult the characteristics of your plan beforehand to see if the eSIM strategy of Revolut or Saily makes sense – this may be the case for countries outside the European Union, in particular. It may also be worth checking whether the travel options offered by each operator are also worth it.

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