Nomad eSIM Review: Is It the Best Choice for Travelers?

Nomad eSIM offers a range of options for staying connected while traveling. 

But is Nomad the right fit for your travel needs? 

In this review, we’ll dive into its plans, pricing, and features to help you decide. Whether you’re looking for flexibility or broad coverage, we’ve got you covered. Let’s see how Nomad stacks up!

What is Nomad?

Nomad is a digital eSIM marketplace that was established in 2020. It provides prepaid data plans to travelers in over 175 countries. This platform has gained popularity due to its user-friendly app and extensive international coverage.

And, what is eSIM?

An eSIM is a digital SIM that enables your device to access cellular networks without physically swapping out traditional SIM cards.

The market for eSIMs features numerous providers, each with distinctive offerings. For instance, iRoamly serves global travelers with various data packages that can be customized to meet specific usage needs. It is featured for its various daily, total, and unlimited packages.

So, what unique features does Nomad offer to stand out in the eSIM marketplace? Let's find out.

Methodology and Our Conclusion

In this review, we're taking a close look at what Nomad offers through its eSIM services, focusing on the packages, pricing, and overall service quality. Here’s how we’re breaking it down:

Pros and Cons Overview: 

First up, we’ll outline the good and the bad. This part gives you a quick snapshot of what to expect from Nomad’s coverage, pricing, and ease of use, covering the essentials of the eSIM experience.

Detailed Analysis: 

After that, we’ll dive deeper into each feature, looking at the different packages, their costs, and the quality you can expect. This section helps you see how each aspect might sway your decision to choose an eSIM plan and how Nomad compares to other providers in the market.

Our aim is to keep things balanced. We’ll highlight what Nomad does well and where it might fall short, so you get the full picture and can make an informed decision about whether it’s the right fit for your travel needs.

Advantages:

• Extensive Coverage: Nomad's eSIM operates in over 170 locations globally, collaborating with strong local operators to provide data speeds ranging from 3G to 5G.

• Diverse Plans: Offers local, regional, and global plans that are economically priced and cater to different budgetary needs.

• User-Friendly Experience: The purchasing and activation processes are simple and straightforward, requiring no customer identification, and free from contractual obligations.

• Hotspot Capability: Allows for hotspot sharing, adding flexibility to your data usage.

• Mobile App: An accessible mobile app makes it easy to purchase and manage your plan on the go.

Disadvantages:

• Coverage Limitations: While Nomad is available in over 170 countries, it does not cover every possible destination, which could be a limitation for some travelers.

• Data Limitations: All plans are capped at 100GB; there are no options for unlimited data. The smallest plans offer as little as 1GB of data, with durations limited to either 7 or 30 days.

• Lack of Pay-As-You-Go: Nomad does not offer a pay-as-you-go option, requiring travelers to choose a fixed plan.

• Data-Only Plans: eSIMs are strictly for data use; they do not include a phone number for voice calls or texts, nor do they provide a local phone number.

• Expiration of Data Plans: Unused data expires after the set period of your plan, leading to potential waste if not fully utilized.

• Support Limitations: Customer support is available only in English and does not include live chat, which may hinder immediate assistance.

As we explore each point in detail, the upcoming sections will give you a clearer picture of what Nomad offers and how it fits into your travel connectivity requirements.

Nomad Packages & Data Plan

Understanding the variety of data plans that eSIM providers offer is crucial as it helps you select the plan that best suits your data usage habits. 

Here, we discuss the general types of plans you might encounter in the market. Although names can vary among providers, the core features of these plans are usually consistent.

Typically, eSIM providers offer three kinds of data types:

• Data Only: Provides internet access without voice calls or SMS.

• Data & Call Only: Offers both internet access and voice calls but excludes SMS.

• Data, Call & SMS: The most comprehensive, including internet, voice calls, and SMS.

Within these types, they will offer three main plans: Daily, Total, and Unlimited.

Let's delve into the specifics of these plans:

Nomad Data Plans Available Table

Nomad Packages Coverage

Summary

From what we've seen, Nomad provides a robust selection of eSIM packages, though you'll want to consider a few potential snags.

Data Plans & Types:

• The Day Plan is mainly for the Local Plan, covering trips ranging from 1 to 10 days—ideal for quick getaways. It also provides a higher data allowance, like the daily 3GB option. However, if you're hitting the road for longer than a week, you might find yourself frequently topping up your plan, which can mess with your budget. 

• The Total Plan provides a decent amount of data, suitable for everyday activities like navigating with maps or browsing social media. However, the larger packages, such as the 50GB option, are restricted to regional travel, and unfortunately, Nomad doesn’t offer any plans with unlimited data. 

• Additionally, Nomad only provides data-only plans, which can be limiting if you require voice calls and text messaging. 

Coverage:

• Nomad offers extensive coverage, reaching over 170 countries, which generally meets the needs of most travelers. 

• However, not all data options are available in every country. Additionally, the global eSIM options are more restricted, extending to just over 100 countries. 

Overall, Nomad offers both light and large data options, but these options vary by area. Therefore, it's essential to carefully review the coverage and available data plans before making a purchase to ensure they meet your specific travel needs.

Nomad eSIM pricing 

Now, let’s understand the cost of Nomad eSIM packages so as to plan your budget effectively. 

Methodology

Here’s a snapshot of the most popular travel destinations and their corresponding data plans. We've organized the pricing information into tables for Nomad's Local, Regional, and Global plans. These tables prioritize plans offering 1GB or 1-day data access for straightforward comparison. If these options are not available in specific regions, the tables list the next smallest available package

*Just a heads up—the prices in the table are before discounts and can change so that they might be higher or lower depending on the current deal and if there are any discounts.

Local Plans (USD)

Regional eSIM Plans (USD)

Global eSIM Plans (USD)

Summary of Nomad Pricing

Price per GB: 

Nomad’s pricing starts at around $4 per GB, which is moderate but not the most competitive, as some providers like iRoamly offer 1GB for as low as $2.50. The cost per GB decreases with larger data packages, which is typical in the eSIM market. However, prices tend to be higher for regional and global plans. 

Local Plans: 

Local plans vary significantly in price and availability. For instance, the limited plan options in certain countries, like Portugal and Indonesia, where only Total or Regular plans are available, may increase costs. And the 1GB for 7 days costs $4.5 in the USA, but the same plan costs $25 in Colombia.

Regular plans generally meet most data needs, but heavy data users may incur additional costs due to the need for multiple recharges. Additionally, the fixed duration of these plans requires careful consideration to avoid unexpected expenses.

Regional Plans: 

Regional plans are primarily Total-type, starting at around $4.50 per GB. There are notable price differences depending on the region. For example, the CN-JP-KR plan offers 10GB for 30 days at $18, while the same amount of data in the Middle East costs $34. These variations are influenced by several factors, so it’s essential to compare the cost relative to the data provided and ensure it meets your data needs.

Global Plans: 

Global eSIM plans are more expensive, with prices reaching $12/$25 per GB—three/six  times the cost of regional plans. Additionally, these plans offer smaller data volumes (1GB, 3GB, 5GB), making it likely that you will need to recharge multiple times. Therefore, it’s advisable to compare regional or local packages before purchasing to determine if they offer better value for your needs.

In short, Nomad offers a range of plans, but to get the best value, you need to compare the cost per GB and choose a plan that fits your travel needs.

• Top-ups and add-ons are available, though it's important to note that these don't extend the validity of your current plan or allow any leftover data to roll over to a new period.

• Switching between plans and special offers is not clearly outlined, so it's advisable to review the terms and conditions or contact customer support for detailed information.

Nomad’s Operators, Coverage, Data Speeds, and More

When choosing an eSIM provider, consider the quality of operators, coverage, and data speeds to ensure reliable connectivity during travel.

Key Network Support Features

Summary

Nomad offers robust operator support with coverage in over 175 countries, providing access to various 5G, 4G, 3G, and LTE networks. However, it's crucial to note that Nomad's plans are data-only, with no support for voice calls or SMS. Before purchasing, ensure your device is compatible, and the coverage meets your travel needs.

Nomad’s Additional Features Evaluated

Beyond network support, it’s important to consider additional features like app usability, activation processes, and customer support, as these can significantly impact your overall experience.

Additional Features Overview

Summary

Nomad offers a well-rounded set of additional features, including an intuitive app, easy activation methods, and comprehensive data management tools. Customer support is accessible through in-app chat and ticket creation, though users should note the absence of phone support. These features contribute to a smooth user experience, but it’s important to review them to ensure they meet your needs before committing.

The Bottom Line

In this review, we’ve examined Nomad eSIM in detail, covering its plans, pricing, and features.

Nomad shines with its wide coverage and competitive pricing, especially for regional plans. That said, the data-only options and higher costs for global plans mean you’ll want to weigh your needs carefully before buying. 

All in all, Nomad is a strong pick for travelers looking for reliable and flexible eSIM options. Safe travels!