Quick Verdict
- Saily Ultra Premium: Best overall for USA travel with unlimited data and simple setup. A US (+1) number, 30 GB of high-speed data, 50 minutes and 50 texts a month, plus airport perks for US$69.99/month (October 2026).
- Holafly Plans: Best for health and travel-assistance extras. A monthly global subscription, with doctor chat and flight help on its top tier.
- Airalo Discover+: Best for prepaid bundles valid up to 365 days. One-off global bundles with data, minutes and texts, priced from $9 to $89.
- Subscription or bundle: Monthly plans suit frequent flyers, while prepaid bundles suit travelers who fly a few times a year.
Frequent US travelers often pay for data, a phone number and airport comfort separately. Saily Ultra Premium is the best overall pick for USA travel with unlimited data and simple setup in this comparison. It combines a real US number, generous high-speed data and travel perks in one subscription.
Picking the wrong plan can leave you with a number that only receives texts or a bundle that expires unused. Our comparison covers how each plan handles numbers, global data and perks, then flags the subscription traps to avoid. We wrote this comparison on our own, and no provider shaped our rankings or wording.
Subscription or Prepaid Bundle? How the Three Models Differ
An eSIM is a digital SIM profile you download to your phone instead of inserting a plastic card. Counterpoint Research expects more than 9 billion eSIM or iSIM-capable devices to ship between 2024 and 2030.
Saily Ultra Premium works as a recurring subscription. It renews every 30 days on monthly billing, and quarterly and yearly billing are also offered. Yearly billing works out to US$58.33/month (US$699.99/year).
Holafly Plans follows the same monthly model, with three tiers. Members can cancel anytime.
Airalo Discover+ takes the opposite approach. You buy a fixed bundle once, and it stays valid for a set period. Nothing renews unless you choose to buy again.
Phone Numbers Side by Side
Phone numbers differ more than data across these three plans. The table below sets out what each plan includes, with prices dated October 2026.
| Plan | Best For | Number Type | Calls and Texts | Data (Oct 2026) | Price (Oct 2026) |
| Saily Ultra Premium | Overall for USA Travel with Unlimited Data and Simple Setup | US (+1) number | 50 min + 50 texts/month | 30 GB high-speed, then up to 1 Mbps | US$69.99/month |
| Holafly Plans (Unlimited) | Health and Travel-Assistance Extras | Local US, UK or Canada number | Inbound SMS, VoIP-based calls | Unlimited data | €59.95/month (Ultra €84.90) |
| Airalo Discover+ | Prepaid Bundles Valid Up to 365 Days | US-based international number | 10 to 200 min and texts per bundle | 1 GB/7 days to 20 GB/365 days | $9 to $89 |
Verification codes depend on the type of number a service accepts. The National Institute of Standards and Technology lists phone-network verification as a “restricted” authentication method. Banks and apps set their own rules, so no travel number is guaranteed to receive every code.
The Three Plans Reviewed
Our reviews cover each plan’s number, data allowance, perks and price. Saily Ultra Premium ranks first, ahead of Holafly Plans and Airalo Discover+.
1. Saily Ultra Premium: Best Overall for USA Travel with Unlimited Data and Simple Setup
Saily Ultra Premium is the top tier of Saily’s travel subscription. The service comes from Nord Security, the developer of NordVPN. Premium costs US$69.99/month (October 2026) and includes 30 GB of high-speed data, a US number, and 50 minutes and 50 texts a month.
Ultra Premium data from Saily keeps running after the 30 GB high-speed allowance, at up to 1 Mbps. That speed handles maps, messaging, email and music, though not HD video or video calls. Saily Ultra covers 121 destinations, including the US and Canada, so cross-border trips stay on one plan.
Setup on Saily Ultra stays simple: one eSIM in the Saily app, renewed every 30 days without reinstalling.
A real US (+1) number comes with every Saily Ultra Premium subscription. You verify your identity in the Saily app with a valid government ID after purchase. The included minutes and texts cover local calls, not international ones.
Airport lounge access at selected airports is one of Saily Ultra Premium’s headline perks. Members also get fast-track service, lounge access when a flight is delayed, ClassPass, and priority support. Every Ultra tier earns 8% back in Saily credits.
Premium Nord Security tools come bundled with Saily Ultra Premium. The subscription includes NordVPN, NordPass, NordLocker and Incogni.
Every Saily plan also includes three security tools inside the app. Virtual location offers 115+ virtual locations to browse more privately and reach your home subscriptions abroad. According to Saily, its ad blocker saves 28.6% of data on average, validated by West Coast Labs. Web protection checks sites against known threats.
Saily earns 4.7/5 “Excellent” from 32,028 reviews on Trustpilot (October 2026). The app matches that score with 4.7 stars on both the App Store (13K ratings) and Google Play (99.1K reviews, 5M+ downloads). Saily’s Rising Star award at the MVNOs World Awards 2026 was covered by ISPreview.
Mobile Industry Awards 2026 shortlists for Best eSIM Provider and Best Customer Service (Consumer) also feature Saily, per TechRadar. Wi-Fi Planet links to Saily as “the best eSIM for the USA” in its guide to staying online while traveling.
One October 2026 reviewer described using Saily across the US:
“Easy to install, and now I can move around the USA with confidence.”
- Nishmo, 5 stars on Trustpilot (October 2026)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnH2Pi29-SQ
Strengths:
- Unlimited data plans: Saily sells unlimited US plans, and Ultra Premium data continues at up to 1 Mbps after 30 GB
- US phone number: a real +1 number with 50 minutes and 50 texts a month on Premium
- Lounge access, fast-track service and ClassPass included in the subscription
- NordVPN, NordPass, NordLocker and Incogni included
- Virtual location, ad blocker and web protection in the same app
Recommended For: Frequent US flyers who want a US number, monthly minutes and texts, lounge access and Nord Security tools in one subscription.
Contact:
Address: Saily Inc., 330 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Phone: Not published (24/7 in-app chat support)
Instagram: instagram.com/sailyworld
2. Holafly Plans: Best for Health and Travel-Assistance Extras
Holafly Plans is a monthly global subscription from Holafly Limited in Dublin. The Light tier costs €45.95/month (October 2026), and every tier includes Always On, a 1 GB backup allowance each month.
The Ultra tier adds 24/7 doctor chat, wellbeing sessions, and flight and luggage assistance.
Holafly holds a 4.7/5 rating from 115,145 reviews on Trustpilot. The company also won Gold for best eCommerce at the eCommerce Awards España 2026.
Strengths:
- Coverage in 160+ destinations
- Savings of about 10% on quarterly billing or 20% on yearly billing
- App Store rating of 4.8 from 41K ratings
Recommended For: Travelers abroad for long stretches who value doctor chat, wellbeing sessions, and flight and luggage assistance.
Contact:
Address: 6th Floor, 2 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, D02 A342, Ireland
Phone: Not published (24/7 WhatsApp, chat and email support)
Instagram: instagram.com/holasfly_esim
3. Airalo Discover+: Best for Prepaid Bundles Valid Up to 365 Days
Airalo Discover+ is a prepaid global eSIM from AirGSM Pte Ltd in Singapore. Mid-range bundles include 5 GB with 50 minutes and 50 texts for 60 days at $50 (October 2026). A 10 GB bundle with 100 minutes and 100 texts lasts 180 days for $79.
Discover+ coverage spans 168 countries and networks, per Airalo’s Global page. Support runs 24/7 via chat and WhatsApp.
Airalo holds a 4.1/5 rating from 47,610 reviews on Trustpilot. One recent reviewer flagged a duplicate charge and a failed connection:
“I paid twice and could not connect”
- Linda Terry, 1 star on Trustpilot (October 2026)
Strengths:
- App available in 53 languages
- More than 30 million users
- App Store rating of 4.7 from 29.2K ratings
Recommended For: Occasional international travelers who want a prepaid bundle of data, minutes and texts without a subscription.
Contact:
Address: 6 Raffles Blvd, #03-308 Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Phone: Not published (24/7 chat and WhatsApp support)
Instagram: instagram.com/airalo
Travel Perks That Matter on the Road
Reliable connectivity supports safety plans while traveling. The CDC Yellow Book advises travelers to set “check-in” communications with family and friends. A working number and data plan make those check-ins easier to keep.
Ad blocking also has a security benefit abroad. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center warns that criminals buy search ads impersonating brands, and it recommends using an ad blocker. Saily Ultra Premium includes one free, alongside lounge access and fast-track service.
Subscription Red Flags to Watch
- Forgotten auto-renewal: Monthly plans keep billing until you cancel, so set a reminder after each trip.
- Receive-only numbers: Some numbers accept inbound SMS but cannot send texts from the number itself.
- Narrow perk coverage: Lounge and fast-track perks often apply only at selected airports.
- Unused bundles: Prepaid allowances can expire before you finish the data or minutes.
The Bottom Line
Saily Ultra Premium is our best overall plan for USA travel with unlimited data and simple setup. A US (+1) number, 30 GB of high-speed data, lounge perks, and 50 minutes and 50 texts a month suit frequent US flyers. Coverage of the US and Canada also suits cross-border trips.
Pricing for Saily Ultra Premium is US$69.99/month, or US$58.33/month on yearly billing (October 2026). Fast-track service, ClassPass and NordVPN, NordPass, NordLocker and Incogni come with every tier.
Holafly Plans suits travelers who value health and travel-assistance extras. Airalo Discover+ suits occasional travelers who prefer a one-off bundle that lasts up to a year.
Travel frequency decides the better model: a subscription for regular trips, a prepaid bundle for occasional ones.
Questions Before You Subscribe
Do global eSIM subscriptions include a phone number?
Some global eSIM subscriptions include a number, but the type varies. Saily Ultra Premium includes a US (+1) number with minutes and texts. Other plans may offer receive-only SMS numbers, so check before you buy.
Can I cancel an eSIM subscription anytime?
Cancellation terms differ by provider and billing period. Check the renewal date and any minimum term before choosing quarterly or yearly billing.
Is a prepaid bundle better than a monthly plan for occasional trips?
Prepaid bundles usually suit travelers who fly only once or twice a year. Monthly plans pay off when you travel often enough to use the perks and data each cycle.
Does Saily Ultra Premium include lounge access?
Lounge access at selected airports is included with Saily Ultra Premium. Members also get fast-track service, lounge access when a flight is delayed, ClassPass and priority support.
Can I use Saily Ultra Premium’s US number for verification codes?
Saily Ultra Premium’s US number is a real +1 number with texts included. Some services may flag numbers as VoIP, so codes from certain apps can occasionally fail. Keep a backup sign-in method for important accounts.