Best eSIM guide · 2026
VPN Included eSIM Plans Ranked (2026): 5 Compared
5 providers scored across coverage, pricing, speed, app quality, and support. All data verified June 2026.
The comparison
eSIM providers compared for VPN Included
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rating | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 AiraloHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.5 / 5 | $4.50/GB |
 HelloRoam | 4.3 / 5 | from $3.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 / 5 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 / 5 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 / 5 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Speed Consistency 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
Spec-by-spec breakdown for VPN Included
Every measurable dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | Airalo | HelloRoam | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Countries | 200+ | 186+ | 178+ | 150+ | 112+ |
| Starting Price | $4.50/GB | from $3.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $4.50 | $3.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2019 | 2025 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Singapore | United Kingdom | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only | |
| Guarantee | 14-day refund | Refund policy | 6-month refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Score25% weight | 4.9/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Pricing Score25% weight | 4.1/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Speed Score20% weight | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| App Score15% weight | 4.7/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Support Score15% weight | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.1/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.45/5 | 4.30/5 | 4.35/5 | 4.20/5 | 4.15/5 |
Score breakdown
Provider scores for VPN Included
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, weighted by impact on traveler experience.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing quality, LTE/5G availability, median download speeds
Store ratings, installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability, response time, refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
Airalo -- Best Overall Coverage
Airalo carries no VPN feature across its 200-country network, so privacy software stays a separate purchase for any traveler pairing the two. Its App score is the highest in the five-provider matrix at 4.9 out of 5, built around real-time data tracking rather than the security toggle in Saily's interface.
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Highest-rated app (4.8/5 iOS, 4.6/5 Android) with real-time data tracking and hourly runtime estimates
- Airmoney cashback rewards (5-10% depending on loyalty tier)
- Established brand since 2019 with proven reliability
Cons
- Per-GB pricing higher than budget alternatives
- Unlimited plans available in select markets only, not all 200+ destinations
- Customer support slower than premium providers (4-6 hour email response)
HelloRoam -- Best Coverage + Value
HelloRoam routes data through 204+ local carrier partnerships across 186 countries, but its plan terms list no VPN component alongside that network. Its $3.50/GB floor undercuts Saily's $3.99/GB regardless of the missing privacy feature, and its 63-language checkout serves a different accessibility need than encryption software.
Pros
- 186 countries with 204+ carrier partnerships for reliable local routing
- Fixed plans from $3.50/GB across popular destinations
- Unlimited plans from $5 for short stays, scaling by duration
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Email-only support with 12-24 hour response times
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- App store ratings still building compared to Airalo
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Data
Holafly's unlimited daily plans, priced from $2.99/day, list no VPN component in their terms, leaving the feature gap shared with three of the other four providers. Its Pricing score of 4.8 sits second in the matrix behind Nomad's 4.9, a separate spec from the privacy layer this comparison tracks.
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 178+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 6-month refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support with fast response times
Cons
- Speeds reduce to 256 Kbps-1 Mbps after daily fair use threshold on most plans
- Hotspot tethering limited to 1 GB/day on select destinations
- Not cost-effective for light data users (under 3 GB/trip)
- Fewer countries than Airalo
Saily -- Best for Privacy
Saily is the only provider in this five-eSIM comparison with VPN access built into the plan price, sourced from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. Its 150-country footprint and 4.2 Coverage score trail Airalo's 5.0 and HelloRoam's 4.6, the tradeoff against the bundled privacy layer.
Pros
- Backed by NordVPN parent company Nord Security with proven privacy infrastructure
- Integrated VPN protection included on every plan at no extra cost
- Clean, privacy-focused app with VPN toggle inside the eSIM interface
- 150 countries with strong European coverage
- 30-day refund policy
Cons
- Email-only support with no live chat or WhatsApp for urgent help
- Fixed data plans only; no unlimited daily tier
- 150 countries, a narrower footprint than Airalo
- 12-24 hour support response times
Nomad -- Best Budget Option
Nomad lists no VPN feature and posts the lowest Support score in the matrix at 3.5 out of 5, a combination that leaves a traveler pairing a separate VPN app without fast help if the two conflict. Its $3.00/GB rate remains the cheapest fixed price among the five regardless of the missing privacy column.
Pros
- Competitive pricing starting from $3.00/GB in Southeast Asia
- Simple, fast checkout with no account required in many cases
- Lowest per-GB rates for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan
- Plans start at a low entry price for short trips
Cons
- Email-only support with 24-48 hour response times
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 112 countries, the narrowest footprint among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about eSIMs for VPN Included
Which eSIM provider includes a VPN with its plans?
Which eSIM provider includes a VPN with its plans?
Saily is the only provider among the five compared here that bundles VPN access into every plan, sourced from Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. Airalo, Holafly, HelloRoam, and Nomad sell e-sim data plans with no VPN feature, so privacy software stays a separate purchase on those four providers.
Does Saily's bundled VPN cost extra on top of the data plan?
Does Saily's bundled VPN cost extra on top of the data plan?
No. Saily's NordVPN integration sits inside its $3.99/GB rate at no added charge, controlled from the same app that manages eSIM data. None of the other four providers in this comparison, Airalo, Holafly, HelloRoam, or Nomad, offer a comparable bundled privacy feature at any price tier.
Does a VPN-included eSIM still work in VPN-restricted countries?
Does a VPN-included eSIM still work in VPN-restricted countries?
Country rules apply regardless of which e SIM supplies the data. This comparison's enrichment data flags 24 of 185 tracked destinations as VPN-restricted and one, China, as blocking most VPN services outright. Saily's bundled NordVPN operates under the same local restrictions a separately installed VPN app would face.
Which eSIM scores highest on app quality among VPN-relevant providers?
Which eSIM scores highest on app quality among VPN-relevant providers?
Airalo posts the highest App score in the five-provider matrix at 4.9 out of 5, ahead of Saily's 4.6, the only provider with VPN built into its interface. Saily's privacy toggle lives inside that 4.6-rated app alongside e-sim data management, even though Airalo's app rates higher overall.
Can I install a separate VPN app on Airalo, Holafly, HelloRoam, or Nomad?
Can I install a separate VPN app on Airalo, Holafly, HelloRoam, or Nomad?
Yes. None of these four providers blocks third-party VPN apps from running alongside their eSIM data connection. They simply do not fold one into the plan price the way Saily does, so the VPN subscription and the data plan stay billed and managed on two separate apps.
Is a bundled VPN necessary if I avoid public Wi-Fi during a trip?
Is a bundled VPN necessary if I avoid public Wi-Fi during a trip?
An eSIM's mobile data connection does not require public Wi-Fi, which removes the main risk a VPN protects against. The feature still adds value once a traveler switches to hotel or airport Wi-Fi to save mobile data; Saily is the only provider here bundling that protection into the e SIM plan.
Which eSIM scores highest on coverage among providers compared for VPN?
Which eSIM scores highest on coverage among providers compared for VPN?
Airalo scores highest on Coverage in the matrix at 5.0 out of 5 with 200+ countries, ahead of HelloRoam at 4.6 with 186 countries and Saily at 4.2 with 150 countries, the only provider with bundled VPN. Coverage breadth and VPN inclusion are independent specs across the five providers.
Compare all 5 providers for VPN Included
Side-by-side scoring. Plans from $2.99/day to $4.50/GB. Verified June 2026.