Istanbul's ferries and trams, Cappadocia balloon bookings and coastal bus connections all go smoother with data. Turkey also has one quirk worth knowing before you fly: some apps and sites can be hard to reach once you're there, so setup order matters.
Saily for small plans; Airalo for unlimited
For 30-day plans up to 5 GB, Saily was the cheapest or tied — 5 GB for $9.99. For bigger plans and especially unlimited, Airalo was cheaper in Turkey: 15 days unlimited cost $39.00 against $48.99 at Saily. Whichever you choose, install it before you travel.
See Saily's Turkey plans →Fixed-data plan prices
Holafly only sells unlimited plans here, so fixed data is Saily against Airalo. Validity matters as much as price: a plan that expires after 7 days is only cheap if your trip is 7 days. Highlighted: the cheaper 30-day option.
| Data | Saily | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.997 days | $4.003 days |
| 3 GB | $6.9930 days | $6.003 days$6.507 days |
| 5 GB | $9.9930 days | $9.007 days$9.5015 days$10.0030 days |
| 10 GB | $15.9930 days | $14.507 days$15.0015 days$15.5030 days |
| 20 GB | $22.9930 days | $22.0015 days$22.5030 days |
| 50 GB | — | $34.5030 days |
Prices in USD from saily.com and airalo.com, checked 29 September 2026.
What that means: Saily is a cent cheaper at 5 GB for 30 days and its 3 GB plan lasts a full month; Airalo is about 50 cents cheaper at 10 and 20 GB, and sells 50 GB for $34.50.
Unlimited plan prices
| Days | Saily | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | — | $11.50 | $11.90 |
| 5 | $18.99 | $18.50 | $20.50 |
| 7 | $26.99 | $24.50 | $27.50 |
| 10 | $34.99 | $34.50 | $36.50 |
| 15 | $48.99 | $39.00 | $50.50 |
| 30 | $71.99 | $69.00 | $73.90 |
Prices in USD from each provider's Turkey page, checked 29 September 2026. Highlighted: cheapest for that length. — = not sold at that length.
Airalo was the cheapest unlimited option at every length in Turkey — by $2.50 for a week and almost $10 for 15 days compared with Saily. Holafly costs more but runs on Turkcell and Türk Telekom.
"Unlimited" rarely means unlimited full speed. Saily states 5 GB per day at full speed, then up to 1 Mbps, with no hotspot restrictions. Holafly states a fair-usage policy that can slow speeds for up to a day, and lets you share 1 GB per day as a hotspot. Airalo's page didn't list its unlimited limits, so check the plan details before buying.
Which one to pick
- Light use (maps, messaging, some social): Saily 5 GB for $9.99, valid 30 days — cheapest or tied among 30-day plans. Airalo's 7-day 5 GB ($9.00) is cheaper if your trip is a week.
- Unlimited data: Airalo — cheapest at every length, with the biggest saving on 15-day plans.
- Heavy fixed use over a month: Airalo's 50 GB for $34.50.
- Travel beyond the big cities: Holafly names two networks (Turkcell and Türk Telekom), which can help coverage in rural areas.
Networks and coverage
Turkey's main mobile networks are Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom. Travel eSIMs roam on one or more of them:
- Saily: didn't name its Turkish networks on its plan page; it lists 3G/4G/LTE/5G depending on the local network.
- Airalo: Türk Telekom (listed as Turk Telekom / Avea).
- Holafly: Turkcell and Türk Telekom, with 5G where available.
None of the three includes a local phone number — they're data-only. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other internet calling.
Turkey tips: set up before you arrive
- Install everything at home. Saily's own Turkey page warns that access to its app may be limited in Turkey because of local restrictions, and advises setting up the eSIM before traveling. The same logic applies to any app you'll rely on.
- Install your VPN app before you go, too. Access to some websites and services, including some VPN providers' sites, has been restricted in Turkey at times — downloading the app there can be harder than doing it at home. See the best VPN for hotel and airport WiFi.
- Coverage is good in cities and along the coast; in mountain areas and parts of the east, download offline maps before long drives.
- Keep your home SIM active for bank texts with its data roaming turned off.
How much data you need
Using the rates from the trip data calculator — three hours a day of maps, messaging and browsing, an hour of social media and an hour of music, with 40% of your time on WiFi:
- 7 days: about 3.6 GB → a 5 GB plan
- 14 days: about 7.2 GB → a 10 GB plan
- 21 days: about 10.9 GB → a 20 GB plan, or 10 GB plus another small plan
Streaming video or tethering a laptop changes the picture fast — put in your own habits with the calculator.
Setting up before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. A phone locked to your home carrier won't accept another provider's eSIM.
- Install the eSIM at home over WiFi. Installation needs a connection; activation can wait. Saily plans can be activated any time within 180 days of purchase and switch on automatically when you arrive.
- On landing, set the eSIM as your data line and turn on data roaming for it. That's normal for travel eSIMs and doesn't cost extra.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM so it can still receive calls and texts without running up charges.
More country guides: Japan · Thailand · USA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Turkey?
On 29 September 2026, Saily was cheapest or tied for 30-day plans up to 5 GB (5 GB for $9.99), while Airalo was cheaper for shorter plans, for 10 GB and above, and for unlimited data at every length, for example $39.00 for 15 days against $48.99 at Saily.
How much is an eSIM for Turkey?
Prices started at $3.99 for 1 GB (Saily, 7 days). A 10 GB plan cost about $15.50–$16 for 30 days, and unlimited data cost from $24.50 for a week at Airalo.
Can I buy an eSIM once I'm in Turkey?
It's better not to rely on it. Saily says access to its app may be limited in Turkey, so buy and install your eSIM at home over WiFi, then let it activate when you land.
Which network do Turkey travel eSIMs use?
Airalo lists Türk Telekom; Holafly lists Turkcell and Türk Telekom. Saily doesn't name its Turkish partners on its plan page.
Can I use a VPN in Turkey?
Travelers commonly use VPNs in Turkey, but access to some VPN providers' websites and apps has been restricted at times, so install and sign in to your VPN before you travel.