Efani and REALLY are notable players in the growing secure carrier market. Both options promise outstanding network protection and data privacy, but they approach these goals through distinct features and security measures.
To give you a head-to-head review and help you choose the right service, this Efani vs. REALLY comparison will cover:
- Brief overviews of both options
- Their security and privacy features
- Cellular coverage
- Plans and pricing
What Is Efani?
Efani is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that runs on Big Telco networks while offering robust security features unavailable with traditional carriers. It was founded in 2019 by Haseeb Awan, who’d suffered four SIM swap attacks before deciding to build a service that would prevent them.
Due to the CEO’s history with SIM swaps, Efani is particularly focused on their prevention. While it does offer other forms of security, it’s best suited for high-profile individuals concerned about physical or eSIM swapping.
What Is REALLY?
REALLY is an MVNO founded in 2022 with headquarters in Austin, Texas. It’s a secure phone service that also leverages commercial carriers to provide coverage, though it takes a unique approach to doing so through decentralization.
The platform has a proprietary decentralized wireless (DeWi) network that uses home-based nodes to provide service in areas with poor coverage. It combines decentralization with privacy-focused features to minimize data sharing and counter the trust-based approach that commercial telcos take when it comes to customer data.
Efani vs. REALLY Wireless: A Thorough Comparison
In the following sections, you’ll see detailed reviews of five major aspects of Efani and REALLY:
- Security
- Privacy
- Coverage
- Plans and pricing
- User experiences
Security
Security-wise, Efani implements more comprehensive features than REALLY, especially when it comes to SIM swap protection as its core selling point.
The platform uses an “11-layer security protocol” to ensure only subscribers can make changes to their accounts. To make a significant change like porting a number, customers must go through 11 steps that include:
- Verifying their identity using hard-to-fake proof like notarized documentation
- Completing multi-factor authentication
- Having their request reviewed by several Efani team members
Even after the request is approved, Efani leaves a 14-day cool-off period to give customers enough time to identify and flag malicious intent.
If someone breaches Efani’s security, the company offers a $5 million insurance policy that covers any financial damage caused by an attack.
In contrast, REALLY focuses more on communication security through encryption. It uses TLS 1.2 and AES-256 encryption to protect data in transit and at rest, ensuring that user information stays hidden even if someone breaches the network.
Traffic funneled through REALLY’s DeWi network is particularly secure, while calls and SMS traveling through the partner network (T-Mobile) get somewhat weaker protection with TLS 1.2. While this protocol is better than nothing, it’s quite outdated and vulnerable to elaborate cyberattacks, which still leaves room for interceptions and data breaches.
Privacy
REALLY offers an appealing feature for privacy-conscious subscribers—anonymous signup. You can get started by providing nothing but your number, and REALLY won’t store personal information and other data, such as:
- Device information
- Payment history
- Ad and browsing history
The service is committed to not selling or sharing customer data, so you can enjoy a great deal of privacy. Even the more subtle details, such as customer care, are conducted anonymously, as your account is referenced through a random ID instead of specific identifiers like name and email.
Efani doesn’t offer the same level of privacy. It requires your name and address at signup, which already puts it at a disadvantage compared to REALLY. While the service promises not to sell or share your data unless required by law, complete anonymity is always preferred.
On the bright side, you can conceal payment information by paying with crypto. If you don’t own any, you’ll need to enter your credit card details.
Efani still offers more privacy than you can expect from a traditional carrier. It uses the so-called “carrier shielding” to store subscriber accounts away from commercial carriers, reducing the risk of data leaks.
Coverage
Efani operates on AT&T and Verizon, so its coverage is comparable to the service area of these carriers. As most of the U.S. is covered by them, you shouldn’t encounter dead zones or notable network performance issues.
REALLY runs on the one major carrier Efani omits—T-Mobile. The service claims its coverage spans across 99% of the U.S., and it aims to eliminate dead zones by growing its DeWi network.
To achieve this goal, REALLY incentivizes users to become hosts and share their connection with new devices. Hosts can set up nodes to expand the mesh network anywhere in the country, which should help combat poor connections in remote or rural areas.
Still, DeWi is a new concept, so we’re yet to see if REALLY can accomplish full national coverage. As of this writing, there are only a few hundred nodes around Austin, Texas, though the network is likely to keep growing as new hosts join.
Plans and Pricing
REALLY offers the Limitless Plan for $99 per month, which includes:
- Unlimited calls and SMS
- Unlimited data (though only 40 GB at high speed)
- 20 GB hotspot
It also offers unlimited roaming in over 200 countries, though it’s not free.
Note that the plan doesn’t include taxes and fees, so you’ll incur additional charges outlined in the following table:
REALLY also has family and business plans, though pricing isn’t readily available, so you must contact the team and inquire about it.
Much like REALLY, Efani offers one plan at $99 per month, which comes with unlimited text, voice, and data (throttled after around 22 GB). While the plan costs the same as REALLY’s, it has two notable advantages:
- Free roaming to Canada and Mexico (unlimited text/calls), plus Wi‑Fi calling and global texting to 200+ countries
- All taxes and fees are included in the price
From a cost-effectiveness perspective, Efani might make more sense due to its all-inclusive plan and free international roaming. You can also choose three add-ons:
- Apple Watch and iPad add-on
- Unlimited global calling add-on
- Hotspot dongle add-on
Efani accommodates enterprise customers and organizations that must ensure SEC compliance, offering dedicated plans to them. No pricing information is available on the website, though, so you need to reach out to Efani’s team for details.
User Experiences
REALLY and Efani have received plenty of positive feedback from customers, so they’re generally well-received. Subscribers often highlight the same advantages of both services, most notably:
- Solid connectivity
- Coverage in remote areas
- Enhanced security compared to traditional carriers
Still, each platform has received a fair share of negative feedback.
REALLY’s main issue seems to be customer care. Even users who otherwise enjoy the service have complained about lackluster customer service. There seems to be a repeat issue of customer care failing to address subscribers’ complaints, after which they make up for it by resolving the issue.
“…They dropped the ball in terms of their customer service a bit in my experience initially, but after-the-fact they made things right and to my satisfaction.”
Efani also seems to suffer from occasional customer service issues. One user reported they couldn't get the technical assistance they needed, while another said the team disregarded their complaints about getting hacked.
Customer care aside, independent reviews of both services are positive overall, which means they mostly deliver on their promises.
The Verdict: Should You Use Efani or REALLY?
The choice between REALLY and Efani mainly boils down to choosing between security and privacy. Efani does a decent job at the former through its multi-layer SIM protection, but it collects more data than REALLY without detailed explanations on how your data is secured. The privacy policy only states that the data is safeguarded through “commercially acceptable means,” which is pretty vague.
You don’t need to worry as much about your data with REALLY because most of it isn’t collected or stored in the first place. This is a gold-standard practice among security-focused carriers, so it would be ideal if Efani and other competitors adopted it.
All things considered, you don’t get the full package with either option. Having to choose between enhanced privacy and robust security measures is a difficult spot to be in, so it’s best to avoid this trade-off altogether.
To do this, you should opt for an alternative that combines comprehensive security measures with responsible privacy practices. If you need such a solution, Cape is an excellent option.
Enjoy Uncompromised Privacy and Security With Cape
Cape is a secure cell phone service that balances extensive security measures and complete privacy to give you the best of both worlds. The service operates on a minimal trust philosophy, which means the minimum amount of subscriber data is collected, and retained for the minimum amount of time.
Signing up for Cape is anonymous—you don’t need to leave any personal information, contact details, or other identifiers. Your data stays yours, and nobody can access your account, including Cape’s team. Below is an overview of Cape’s core features:
One Plan, Unlimited Usage
To ensure transparency, Cape offers one straightforward plan. For $99 per month, you get:
- Unlimited calls and SMS
- Unlimited 4G/5G data (60 GB at full speed)
- Free unlimited roaming (for eligible devices and locations)
The plan includes all state and federal taxes, so you don’t have to worry about hidden fees or additional charges.
Cape offers the highest network density in America and provides national coverage. This means you can enjoy superb network connectivity, even in remote areas. All you need is an eSIM-compatible device, and Cape will secure your network wherever you are.
Sign Up for Cape and Protect Your Data
You can get started with Cape in a few quick steps:
- Download the Cape mobile app from the Play Store/App Store
- Choose a new number or port in your existing number
- Save your unique 24-word passphrase
- Download and activate your eSIM
Cape doesn’t require a contract or other commitments, so you can cancel anytime. If you do so within the first three days, you’ll get a full refund—no questions asked.
Thanks to Cape’s partnership with Proton, you can secure all online traffic and activities on a budget. Create a Cape account, and you’ll get Proton Unlimited or Proton VPN Plus for only $1 for six months.