JamboSim vs Airalo vs Saily in 2026: Three Travel eSIMs Scored, Plus the Cheapest, the Best for Japan and the Best Unlimited Plan

Saily is the best of the three at 89/100: it names KDDI and SoftBank for Japan, publishes every plan rule including a 3 to 5 GB daily fair-use limit, and refunds unused plans in full within 30 days, ahead of Airalo (81) and JamboSim (79). All three are scored on the same six published criteria, then compared on price, Japan, unlimited data, support and refunds, with every fact dated and linked.

Verified 5 October 2026 · JamboSim, Saily and Airalo plan and Japan pages · provider terms and refund policies · Uncompromised Travel eSIM evidence base · entry prices re-read at source

JamboSim vs Airalo vs Saily: which travel eSIM is best in 2026?

Saily ranks first at 89/100, Airalo second at 81 and JamboSim third at 79, on the same six published criteria. The scores come from the eSIM Provider Index rubric, which measures what each company publishes before you buy.

Score breakdown by criterion

Two points separate Airalo and JamboSim, and they lose them in different places. JamboSim beats Airalo on network disclosure (14 against 10, because it names two Japanese networks to Airalo's one) and on support (13 against 10, because it states a reply time). Airalo wins it back on plan rules, refund terms and corporate substance, where JamboSim publishes nothing on unused data at expiry and no founding year. Saily leads because it takes full marks on four of the six criteria and loses points only on Japan, where NTT Docomo is not named, and on support, where no reply time is stated. JamboSim scored 65 on 22 September 2026; the 14-point rise came from three facts it has since published, set out in our JamboSim review.

Which is cheapest: JamboSim, Airalo or Saily?

JamboSim is cheapest of the three on a global entry plan, at US$6.99 for 1 GB over 7 days against Airalo from US$8.50 and Saily at US$8.99, while Saily is cheapest into Japan, from US$3.99 for 7 days, against JamboSim from US$4.50. The test is the lowest published entry price for the same kind of plan, read at each provider's own page and dated.

Two cautions. Entry prices are not like for like: a "from" price can hide a shorter validity or a smaller allowance, so compare the plan you will actually buy. Airalo's Japan page served prices in Canadian dollars when read on 22 September, which is why that figure appears in C$. Prices also move quickly: JamboSim's Global 1 GB plan went from US$5.99 to US$6.99 in a fortnight. For the wider picture see how much an eSIM costs and eSIM vs international roaming.

Which is best for Japan: JamboSim, Airalo or Saily?

Saily and JamboSim tie on Japan disclosure, both naming KDDI and SoftBank before purchase, while Airalo names SoftBank as its primary network; Saily also publishes the clearest Japan price list, with 5 GB for 30 days at US$10.99. Japan is the rubric's test market because it has three large networks, so whether a provider names them is easy to check.

None of the three names NTT Docomo, Japan's largest network; among the eleven providers on the index, only Firsty names all three. If the trip runs on the Shinkansen or into rural areas, read our Japan eSIM guide, the Shinkansen connectivity guide and the Japan and Korea eSIM decision matrix.

Which has the best unlimited data plan?

Saily publishes the highest full-speed allowance on unlimited plans, 3 to 5 GB a day depending on destination; Airalo and JamboSim both work to 3 GB a day, with Airalo slowing to 1 Mbps for the rest of the day. The test is the number each provider publishes behind the word "unlimited", and what happens after it.

JamboSim's Asia+ plan sold 15 days of unlimited data for US$32.99 on 5 October 2026. Hotspot use counts against the daily limit on all three, and a laptop can use 3 GB in an afternoon of video calls. Work out the real number first with how much eSIM data you need.

Which has better customer support and refund terms?

JamboSim is the only one of the three to state a reply time, usually within 24 hours by email, though its round-the-clock channel is a chatbot; Saily has the widest refund window, a full refund within 30 days on plans not yet activated. Airalo and Saily both run 24/7 live chat with no stated reply time, and all three tie refunds to installation or activation.

Sources: Saily's refund policy, Airalo's terms of use and contact page, and JamboSim's refund policy and contact page, read on 22 September 2026. For what to try before asking for a refund, see common eSIM problems and how to fix them.

Other travel eSIMs to compare in 2026

Beyond these three, the eSIM Provider Index names Firsty (87), Nomad eSIM (84) and Ubigi (78) among its top six. All facts below are from the 22 September 2026 assessment and were read at each company's own page.

Nomad eSIM is set against Airalo in Nomad vs Airalo. Holafly and aloSIM were assessed and sit below the named six, so they carry no score here: Holafly sells unlimited plans only and charges a US$3.50 administration fee on refunds, and aloSIM names one Japanese network and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Three planning rules for choosing between JamboSim, Airalo and Saily

1 · Price the plan you will use, not the headline. Entry prices differ in validity and allowance, and all three change prices without notice; compare the 7-day or 30-day plan that matches the trip, on the day you buy.

2 · Decide before you install. All three tie refunds to installation or activation, so a wrong plan bought in a hurry at the gate is usually money spent. JamboSim and Saily both let you buy ahead and start the plan later.

3 · Keep your home line for calls and two-factor codes. All three are data-first; only JamboSim's Global+ adds voice and SMS. Keeping the home SIM active for texts while the eSIM carries data is the safer set-up, explained in whether you keep your number and WhatsApp with an eSIM.

What changed for JamboSim, Airalo and Saily in 2026

On 22 September 2026 the eSIM Provider Index rubric was fixed and all three were assessed: Saily 89, Airalo 81 and JamboSim 65. On 28 September JamboSim added a Southeast Asia plan covering eight countries at Asia plan prices. Between 22 September and 5 October 2026 JamboSim's Global 1 GB plan rose from US$5.99 to US$6.99, its Asia 1 GB plan from US$2.99 to US$3.99 and its 15-day Asia unlimited plan from US$28.99 to US$32.99. On 5 October 2026 JamboSim was re-assessed at 79 after naming KDDI and SoftBank for Japan and publishing a 3 GB daily limit, while Airalo's Japan page still named SoftBank as its primary network and Saily's Japan plans started at US$3.99, according to its Japan SIM guide.