BazTel vs Saily: Do You Need the Privacy Bundle, or Just Data That Works?

Saily built its name on Nord Security’s reputation and packed a VPN-style toolkit into every data plan. BazTel built its name on stripping the setup process down to one click. Both solve the same problem — expensive roaming — from opposite directions. This guide compares real pricing, real install steps, and real support experiences, not marketing copy.

I’m Peter, founder of BazTel, with a former role in investments, and I’ve tested Saily myself alongside BazTel on trips through Southeast Asia and Europe. Here’s an honest, side-by-side look at how they compare.

Saily at a Glance

Saily launched in 2023, built by Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN. That heritage shows. Every Saily plan bundles VPN-style extras — an ad blocker, web protection, and virtual location switching — plus a premium Saily Ultra tier at $59.99 a month that layers in NordVPN, NordPass, and NordLocker on top of 30GB of monthly data.

Saily covers more than 200 destinations, sold through a dedicated app. Plans are data-only by default; calls and texts run through WhatsApp or similar apps, though a separate US number add-on exists in some markets. Activation happens by scanning a QR code emailed after purchase, or by installing directly through the Saily app.

BazTel at a Glance

BazTel is an Australian-founded eSIM provider covering 160-plus countries, with plans starting from $1. There’s no separate app to download and no QR code to scan. You buy, activate, and manage your eSIM from a single web dashboard.

Support runs 24/7 on Australian time, through live channels rather than a ticket queue.

The Real Question: Do You Need the Privacy Bundle?

	Saily	BazTel
Backed by	Nord Security (NordVPN)	Independent, Australian-founded
Coverage	200+ countries	160+ countries
Entry price	From ~$1.99–$4.99 (varies by country)	From $1
Privacy extras	Ad blocker, web protection, virtual location on every plan	Not included — data plans only
Premium tier	Saily Ultra: $59.99/mo, 30GB + NordVPN/NordPass/NordLocker	No subscription tier — pay per plan
Setup	Saily app or emailed QR code	One-click dashboard, no QR code, no app
Support channel	Email/in-app, response times vary	24/7, Australian timezone

Most comparisons stop at price and coverage. The bigger question is simpler: are you paying for a VPN subscription you’d buy anyway, or are you paying extra for tools you’ll never open?

If you already pay for NordVPN, or you’re a remote worker who wants ad blocking and geo-switching baked into your data plan, Saily Ultra consolidates several subscriptions into one. That’s a genuine saving, not a gimmick, for the right traveler.

If you’re taking a one or two week trip and just want your maps and messages to work the moment you land, none of that adds value. You’re paying a privacy premium for features built for a different use case.

Installation: App and QR Code vs One-Click Dashboard

Saily’s setup is polished, but it still asks you to do two things most travelers would rather skip: install another app, and either scan a QR code or find the right menu inside that app before you fly.

BazTel skips both steps by design. You buy, activate, and manage the eSIM from one dashboard, with no separate download and nothing to scan.

Neither approach is broken. It comes down to whether you want the app on your phone. NordVPN users already have Nord’s ecosystem installed, so adding Saily is a small step. Everyone else is downloading software just to buy a data plan.

Coverage: 200-Plus Countries vs 160-Plus

Saily covers more total destinations, and for a genuinely remote itinerary, that breadth matters. BazTel focuses on the 160-plus countries travelers actually visit most, across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond.

For a trip to Japan, the UK, the US, or most of Europe, both providers will connect you. The real difference shows up in price, setup, and what happens when something goes wrong, not in raw country counts.

Support: What Happens When Something Breaks

This is where the two providers diverge most, and it’s the part glossy comparison charts tend to skip.

Independent App Store reviews for Saily describe support tickets where staff work through standard troubleshooting steps first, and only escalate to a server-side check afterward — with no timeline given for a fix. One reviewer, mid-trip with no working data, was told simply to wait. Read the App Store thread.

A separate reviewer flagged that Saily routes Taiwan traffic through Hong Kong, which caused several apps and services to report “not available in your region” — and a third noted the app silently uses roughly 250MB a day for background carrier updates that can’t be switched off. See the same App Store listing for both threads, with Nord’s support team replying directly under each.

None of this makes Saily unreliable — its Trustpilot rating sits around 4.6 out of 5 across thousands of reviews. It does mean support runs through email and in-app messaging, with response times that vary by ticket, rather than a live line.

BazTel’s own Trustpilot reviews skew toward a different theme: patience with non-technical travelers. One reviewer specifically praised the support team for walking them through setup over “many emails” despite not being tech-savvy. That’s a small sample next to Saily’s review volume, but it points at a real design choice — 24/7 support built around solving problems in real time, not a queue.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose Saily if you already use NordVPN, or want ad blocking and a virtual location bundled into your data plan, and don’t mind installing another app.
• Choose BazTel if you want lower entry pricing, no extra app, no QR code, and support that answers directly rather than through a ticket queue.
• Consider carrying both as backup lines — many travelers keep a second eSIM installed in case one network underperforms in a given city.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BazTel cheaper than Saily?

For most popular destinations, yes. BazTel’s promotional plans start from $1, while Saily’s entry pricing runs roughly $1.99–$4.99 depending on the country, before its VPN-bundled Ultra tier at $59.99 a month.

Does Saily include a VPN?

Yes. Every Saily plan includes lightweight privacy tools like an ad blocker and virtual location switching. The full NordVPN, NordPass, and NordLocker suite is only included with the Saily Ultra subscription.

Do I need to download an app to use Saily?

In most cases, yes, or you scan a QR code emailed after purchase. BazTel doesn’t require either — setup happens through a one-click web dashboard.

Which has faster support, BazTel or Saily?

Saily supports customers through email and in-app messaging, with response times that vary by ticket. BazTel offers 24/7 support on Australian time through live channels.

The Bottom Line

Both providers solve the same problem: expensive roaming. Saily wins if privacy tools and Nord’s ecosystem are genuinely part of how you already work online. BazTel wins on price, setup friction, and directness of support for the destinations most travelers actually visit.

If you’re headed to Japan, Europe, the US, or Southeast Asia, compare current BazTel eSIM plans against Saily before you check out either one. For the full independent breakdown of Saily’s own reviews, see our Saily eSIM review. For a primer on the technology itself, see our guide to how eSIM works.

Sources & Further Reading

Saily — official site

Saily Europe eSIM plans and pricing

Saily App Store reviews (JP listing)

Saily eSIM review — Surfshark

Saily eSIM review — eSIMs.io

BazTel Trustpilot reviews