Nomad Review: Is This the Best eSIM for Travelers?

Most travelers are glued to their phones on vacation, and understandably so. A smartphone is super convenient when traveling as it allows you to boost the quality of the trip. Looking for the best place to eat? Simply whip out your phone and you’ll find the best local cuisine. 

The question is how will you connect to the internet. Your existing SIM is the worst way to go about this as you’ll have to contend with unrealistically high roaming costs. On the other hand, tracking down a local SIM and jumping through hoops to get mobile data is a massive hassle. 

The best solution is to use an eSIM service like Nomad. You’ll get instant access to the internet at an affordable price while avoiding the dreaded juggle involving physical cards – which we believe is more than enough to sell you on the whole concept.

However, the eSIM industry is booming and it can be hard to decide which service provider is right for you. Nomad is one of the most famous companies in the market, and today, we’ll evaluate how it stacks up against its competition and help you decide if it's worth your money for your next travel destination.

Website	GetNomad.app
Pricing	Start at $4.50 for 30 days
Platform compatibility	Android and iOS
Number of countries	190+
Supported mobile networks	5G, 4G, 3G, LTE
Are phone calls allowed	No
Is mobile hotspot supported	Yes

Key takeaways from testing Nomad eSIM

• With data plans ranging from 1GB to 100GB and durations from 1 to 60 days, Nomad eSIM is super flexible and is great for both short trips and lengthy “adventures”.
• Nomad provides coverage in over 190 countries and boasts a user-friendly app for managing data expenditure and purchasing plans.
• Nomad’s pricing is competitive and transparent, though users report that customer support can be hit or miss.
• This service is data-only, which may be a significant drawback if you need to make traditional voice calls. 
• Check out Nomad's latest deals and discounts on their pricing page to snag the best offers.

Overview of Nomad eSIM

As a data-only provider covering multiple regions and over 190 countries, Nomad eSIM was established in 2020. It quickly became one of the hard hitters in the industry, with users praising its straightforward approach, intuitive mobile app, and affordability. 

While Nomad practically screams convenience, the fact it’s data-only may disqualify it as an option for users who seek the full experience of the traditional SIM. According to some, customer support is fairly uneven with its help.

Here’s the full pros and cons list:

Key features of Nomad's eSIM technology

Nomad packs a hefty punch with a mix of features that make it a prime pick for travelers. From solid speeds and flexible plans to multi-device support, Nomad can easily fulfill the needs of users of varying requirements.

Let’s check out some details.

Flexible data plans

Regardless of where you’re traveling, Nomad probably has a plan that checks all the boxes. Data plans range from as little as 1GB to as much as 100GB, with the flexibility also extending to plan durations – from one day all the way to 60 days.

In addition to country-specific plans, Nomad offers regional plans covering multiple countries and a massive global plan that covers every country in Nomad’s network. All of this combined makes the service versatile, allowing you to find a plan that perfectly addresses your connectivity needs when traveling.

Best of all, the pricing is transparent and you’ll never have to contend with any hidden fees. The app makes it easy to monitor your data usage, so you won’t ever find yourself in a situation where you’re charged extra or stranded in a foreign country with no internet connection. 

With Nomad accepting multiple currencies, grabbing internet data on the go is a breeze for international travelers.

Extensive coverage

With support in over 190 countries, Nomad makes staying connected easy no matter where you roam. The service keeps it simple – you can relax and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with reliable connections everywhere.

Nomad covers all regions, including North America, Asia, and Europe, as well as all the popular travel destinations, such as:

• USA
• UK
• Italy
• Australia
• Japan
• Thailand
• Singapore
• China
• Germany

Multi-device support

What makes Nomad stand out is that users can share eSIM plans across multiple devices. In other words, if you rely on your laptop when traveling, Nomad has got you covered.

This can indeed be easily replicated with other eSIMs by firing up a hotspot on your phone, but it’s still something we count as a notable benefit.

Pricing 

You’ll be happy to learn that this provider is also known for its competitive pricing, with plans generally running at $2 per GB on average.

In some regions, this may be more cost-effective than tracking down a local SIM card. In others, it may be more expensive, but we’re still of the opinion that the convenience you get is worth the extra couple of bucks.

Before we take a more detailed look at the prices, it’s worth stressing they can vary according to the region.

• Global plan
  • 1GB (7 days) $12.00
  • 3GB (30 days) $26.00
  • 5GB (30 days) $36.00
  • 10GB (180 days) $40.00
  • 20GB (365 days) $68.00
  • 30GB (365 days) $105.00
  • 50GB (365 days) $170.00

• North America
  • 1GB (7 days) $6.50
  • 3GB (30 days) $14.00
  • 5GB (30 days) $30.00
  • 10GB (30 days) $46.00
  • 20GB (30 days) $53.00

• Europe
  • 1GB (7 days) $5.00
  • 3GB (30 days) $12.00
  • 5GB (30 days) $14.00
  • 10GB (30 days) $16.00
  • 10GB (90 days) $24.00
  • 20GB (30 days) $22.00 
  • 20GB (180 days) $38.00
  • 30GB (365 days) $49.00

• United States
  • 1GB (7 days) $4.50
  • 3GB (30 days) $11.00 
  • 5GB (30 days) $14.00
  • 10GB (30 days) $15.00
  • 20GB (30 days) $22.00

• Turkey
  • 1GB (7 days) $4.50
  • 3GB (30 days) $9.00 
  • 5GB (30 days) $9.00 (discounted price at the time of writing)
  • 10GB (30 days) $14.00

User experience and performance

When choosing an eSIM provider, performance and user experience should be among the key deciding factors. You can breathe a sigh of relief here, as despite tiny hiccups with customer support, dealing with Nomad is overwhelmingly positive. 

For example, over 8000 people have left favorable reviews on Trustpilot where Nomad currently has a user score of 4.5 out of 5. 

What about that customer support business?

In short, Nomad offers 24/7 customer support and is generally responsive (that was our experience with it, at least), but plenty of users online have noted that the effectiveness is inconsistent. So while the majority of users received timely assistance, some were thoroughly disappointed and complained they had to resolve issues themselves.

If you run into trouble, Nomad’s help center provides a library of FAQs and guides, which can be useful for resolving basic issues. However, for more complex problems, relying on live support might still be a mixed bag.

Still, the overall user satisfaction is positive, which we can attest to. 

Connectivity and speed

Cheap prices and flexible plans fall into the water if your eSIM service is slow and unreliable. Thankfully, Nomad excels in this area as well, with solid connectivity and network reliability. 

Nomad generally provides 4G and in some areas even 5G. This is purely dependent on your travel destination and network conditions, so you shouldn’t expect to receive 5G in a rural village in Europe. The reason why is simple – Nomad partners up with local cellular providers for coverage. Thus, you should redirect potential rage about the speed at local cellular companies.

The connections through Nomad are generally stable, but of course, there are users who reported small discontinuities in some areas, especially during peak hours. This is something you would also experience at home (in urban areas primarily), so no biggie. 

Other users complained about throttling, but this also doesn’t have much to do with Nomad as it has to do with local providers. Since throttling occurs when ISPs determine you’re using too much data, you can circumvent this issue by connecting to the internet using a VPN – our rundown of best VPN services is a must-read for that. 

App usability

Nomad is user-centric, a fact apparent with just one glance at its app:

Managing multiple data plans is seamless, especially for travelers who need to switch plans often. No matter your tech skills, you'll master this app in no time – kudos to Nomad for making it so user-friendly.

Compatible devices for Nomad eSIM

Most modern phones support eSIM technology. This includes all the latest iPhones (starting with iPhone 11) and Samsung Galaxy devices, as well as Google Pixel (starting with Pixel 3). Most modern models from manufacturers like Honor and Xiaomi are also eSIM-compatible. 

Unfortunately, eSIMs won’t work on carrier-locked devices. 

How to set up and use Nomad eSIM

Installing an eSIM is relatively straightforward. The first step is downloading the Nomad app from your app store of choice, followed by choosing a region and plan, signing up for a Nomad account, and making the payment. 

After going through that “gauntlet” (this is obvious sarcasm), you can proceed with installing the eSIM. 

To do so, tap ‘Add eSIM’ in the app and you’ll receive a QR code you need to scan with your camera. You’ll receive this QR code via email too, so we recommend opening the code on a laptop or any other device to get this done as swiftly as possible.

Alternatively, take a screenshot of the code and scan it with Google Lens. 

Advantages of choosing Nomad eSIM

To eSIM or not to eSIM, that is the question – and the answer is obvious in our book. 

With an eSIM, you’ll have a stable internet connection as soon as you arrive, which is everything you need to understand why this technology is such a godsend. 

Using Nomad’s service simply offers a new level of convenience. Standard SIM cards are not only finicky, but it can really be a hassle to deal with local vendors as you travel – more so in countries where locals have limited English-speaking skills. 

An underrated advantage of eSIMs is that they’re eco-friendly. Physical SIMs are not only made of plastic (which you’ll probably discard once you get back from the trip) but they also sometimes come in plastic packaging. As such, switching to Nomad will reduce your carbon footprint and you’ll sleep easy knowing you’re doing your bit in saving the planet.

Comparison with competitors

As we said in the very beginning, Nomad is just one of the eSIM providers in the market you can choose from. Although it’s one of the finest, there is some stiff competition.

We’ll start with Holafly, the best solution for travelers who require unlimited data and phone call and SMS services. In comparison, the “heaviest” Nomad plan is 100GB. While this is more than enough for most people, Holafly is the superior alternative in case you have higher data requirements and need to make traditional voice calls.

That said, Nomad is a lot more flexible and affordable. Case in point – if you need just 1GB of data for 7 days in Europe, Nomad has a cost-effective plan that will set you back just $5. Holafly, on the other hand, has only a 7-day unlimited plan priced at a comparatively whopping $29. Fine if you need unlimited data, but otherwise, it’s too expensive.

Another eSIM that also supports voice calls and SMS is Alosim. This one is more reasonably priced. For instance, a 3GB 30-day European plan costs just $13, compared to the identical Nomad $12 plan that is data-only. This isn’t much of a problem as you can always use a VoIP service such as WhatsApp, but if phone calls are a necessity, then Alosim is a better fit.

It’s time for a more fair comparison with other data-only eSIMs.

First, we have Airalo, which is priced identically to Alosim without the option of phone calls. In other words, Airalo is generally about $1 more expensive than Nomad. However, Airalo has a loyalty program with massive discounts to frequent travelers, which possibly makes it cheaper in the long run. Sift through our dedicated Airalo review if you’re considering purchasing this eSIM.

Next, there’s Saily. The newest provider in the market, it’s making a name for itself with its affordable pricing. Nomad is still slightly cheaper as a 3GB 30-day plan goes for $12, while a similar plan from Saily costs $12.49. Nonetheless, Saily excels in other areas such as customer support, so it’s not just about those 49 cents – check out our Saily review for a deeper look.

Summary – Simple and incredibly affordable

If you don’t want to pay too much money for data and require plenty of flexibility, then Nomad is your best bet. Complaints about customer support notwithstanding, the overall sentiment surrounding the service is very favorable. 

Regardless of where you’re traveling and how long, this eSIM will do its job and provide convenient online access without putting a dent in your wallet. Plus, it’s user-friendly and doesn’t require fiddling around – perfect for those who want services that work straight “out of the box” without too much hassle. 

Take it for a spin on your next adventure and enjoy the freedom that an eSIM of such a caliber can provide – you’ll thank us later.

Nomad eSIM FAQs

This Nomad eSIM review was last updated on December 5, 2024.