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.
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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The comparison
VPN Included eSIM providers compared
All 5 providers ranked by weighted composite score. Color-coded by value.
| Provider | Rubric score (0-5) | From / GB |
|---|---|---|
 HelloRoamHighest scoreTop composite rating | 4.6 | from $3.50/GB |
 AiraloWidest coverage catalogue | 4.5 | $4.50/GB |
 HolaflyStrongest unlimited tier | 4.3 | $2.99/day |
 SailyLeading privacy integration | 4.2 | $3.99/GB |
 NomadMost competitive per-GB rates | 4.2 | $3.00/GB |
Prices verified June 2026. Equal-weight score: Coverage Breadth 20%, Pricing Tiers 20%, Network Generation 20%, App Features 20%, Support Channels 20%.
Feature matrix
VPN Included spec-by-spec breakdown
Every rubric dimension compared side by side.
| Feature | HelloRoam | Airalo | Holafly | Saily | Nomad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall rating (0-5, our rubric) | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Countries | 186+ | 200+ | 160+ | 200+ | 200+ |
| Starting Price | from $3.50/GB | $4.50/GB | $2.99/day | $3.99/GB | $3.00/GB |
| Per-GB Floor | $3.50 | $4.50 | $2.99/day | $3.99 | $3.00 |
| Founded | 2025 | 2019 | 2017 | 2023 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Singapore | Murcia, Spain | Vilnius, Lithuania | Santa Clara, CA |
| Support | Live chat + WhatsApp + email | Email + in-app chat | 24/7 chat + email | Email only | Email only |
| Guarantee | 180-day refund | 14-day refund | 180-day refund | 30-day refund | 30-day refund |
| Coverage Breadth score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Pricing Tiers score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Network Generation score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| App Features score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Support Channels score20% weight, 0-5 on our rubric | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Weighted Composite | 4.64 | 4.45 | 4.35 | 4.20 | 4.15 |
Score breakdown
VPN Included provider scores
Weighted composite score across 5 dimensions.
Methodology
How we score eSIM providers
Five dimensions, each weighted at 20 percent.
Country count, carrier partnerships, regional bundle availability
Per-GB floor, plan tier spread, value at common data amounts
Carrier routing and which network generations that carrier publishes
Installation flow, data tracking, interface quality
Channel availability and refund policy
All scores are editorial assessments based on verified data. Pricing checked weekly. See our full scoring methodology for details.
HelloRoam -- Highest Composite Score
HelloRoam scores 4.64/5 overall in this matrix, with App 5.0 and Support 5.0. It 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.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
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
- iOS and Android app with in-app top-up, add-destination, and usage alerts
- Live chat, WhatsApp, and email support, including real-time channels
- 31+ local currencies supported at checkout
- 63-language interface for non-English travelers
Cons
- Newer brand (launched August 2025) with shorter track record
- 186 countries, behind Airalo's 200+ catalogue
Airalo -- Widest Coverage Catalogue
Airalo carries no VPN feature across its 200-country network, so privacy software stays a separate purchase for any visitor pairing the two. Its App score is 4.9 out of 5 on this scorecard in this page's matrix, built around real-time data tracking rather than the security toggle in Saily's interface, and it trails HelloRoam's App 5.0.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- 200+ countries with the widest coverage breadth in the market
- Regional multi-country bundles (Asialink, Eurolink, Discover Global)
- Automatic in-app install 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
- No live chat or WhatsApp channel: support runs on email and in-app messaging
Holafly -- Best Unlimited Daily Rate
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 4.5 sits behind Nomad's 4.8, a separate spec from the privacy layer this comparison tracks.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
Pros
- Unlimited daily data from $2.99/day with no data caps
- 160+ countries covered including all major destinations
- Simple per-day pricing: know exactly what you pay before you leave
- 180-day refund policy on unused plans
- 24/7 chat support alongside email
Cons
- Speeds reduce after the 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 200-country footprint and 4.0 Coverage score trail Airalo's 4.9 and HelloRoam's 4.5, the tradeoff against the bundled privacy layer.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
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
- 200 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
- 200 countries, just behind Airalo's 200-plus
Nomad -- Best Budget Per-GB Rate
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 visitor 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.
Dimension scores, 0-5 on our rubric
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 no live chat, WhatsApp, or phone channel
- Basic app compared to Airalo and Saily
- 200 countries, behind only Airalo among the five providers
- Limited plan variety in some countries
From the matrix
HelloRoam — Top composite rating
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FAQ
VPN Included eSIM questions, answered
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. HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, 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, HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, 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?
HelloRoam posts App 5.0 in the five-provider matrix, ahead of Airalo's 4.9 and 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 HelloRoam's app rates higher overall.
Can I install a separate VPN app on HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, or Nomad?
Can I install a separate VPN app on HelloRoam, Airalo, Holafly, 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?
HelloRoam leads the 2026 composite at 4.64/5. On Coverage, Airalo scores highest in the matrix at 4.9 out of 5 with 200+ countries, ahead of HelloRoam at 4.5 with 186 countries and Saily at 4.0 with 200 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.