Overview

Nomad is the eSIM equivalent of a reliable economy car -- it will not dazzle you with features, but it gets the job done without fuss. Covering 200+ destinations with a clean app interface and straightforward plan selection, Nomad targets the traveler who wants functional connectivity without wading through the complexity of Airalo's massive marketplace or paying Holafly's unlimited data premium. It does the basics well and rewards loyalty, which turns out to be enough for a large segment of the market.

What sets Nomad apart from the crowded mid-tier is its combination of simplicity and repeat-customer value. The loyalty points program genuinely reduces costs over time, the top-up system prevents the dreaded mid-trip data outage, and regional bundles simplify multi-country itineraries. But Nomad's limitations are worth noting upfront: data-only service with no hotspot support, aggressive throttling on plans marketed as unlimited, and spotty coverage in certain regions where competitors perform better. Nomad is a solid default for short trips, but demanding users will eventually outgrow it.

Features Deep-Dive

One-Tap Installation and Interface

Nomad's setup process is among the smoothest in the industry. The app walks you through plan selection, payment, and installation in under three minutes. Both QR code scanning and manual installation options are available, accommodating different phone models and user preferences. The interface is deliberately simple -- no buried settings, no confusing tier labels, just a clean list of destinations with available plans and pricing.

This simplicity extends to the in-trip experience. Your active plan shows data remaining, days left, and a simple gauge that makes usage tracking intuitive at a glance. Compared to Airalo's marketplace, which can overwhelm with dozens of plan options per destination, Nomad's curated selection of 2-4 plans per country reduces decision fatigue. For first-time eSIM users especially, this approachability matters more than raw feature count.

Loyalty Points and Top-Up System

Nomad rewards repeat purchases with loyalty points that convert to discounts on future plans. The accrual rate makes the program meaningful for travelers taking 3-4 trips per year -- enough to shave 10-15% off annual eSIM spending. The referral program adds bonus points for bringing in new users, creating a compound benefit for travelers who regularly recommend the service to friends.

The top-up capability is equally practical. When your data allocation runs low mid-trip, you can purchase additional data directly in the app without installing a new eSIM profile. This seamless extension prevents the worst-case scenario of losing connectivity in an unfamiliar country while scrambling for alternatives. The top-up pricing is reasonable, though not as competitive as buying a correctly-sized plan upfront.

Regional and Global Bundles

Nomad offers regional eSIM bundles covering areas like Europe, Asia, and the Middle East under a single profile. These bundles are priced competitively against buying individual country plans separately, and they eliminate the hassle of switching eSIMs at each border crossing. The global plan extends this coverage to 100+ countries, suitable for round-the-world itineraries.

The regional bundles work particularly well for two-to-three-week trips spanning multiple countries. A European backpacking route through France, Spain, and Portugal uses a single eSIM with no interruption at borders. The data allocation is shared across the entire region, so you do not need to worry about country-specific limits within the bundle. For travelers who stay within one geographic area, these bundles offer the best balance of convenience and cost.

Pricing Analysis

Nomad's pricing sits in the middle of the market -- cheaper than premium providers like GigSky and Holafly, but slightly above budget leaders like Saily. A typical 1GB local plan costs $5-7, 3GB runs $12-16, and 5GB plans fall in the $18-25 range. Regional plans carry a 15-25% premium over single-country equivalents, which is standard for the industry.

The value proposition improves with the loyalty program. After several trips, accrued points effectively reduce per-plan costs by 10-15%, bringing Nomad's pricing in line with or below Airalo's for repeat customers. First-time users pay a modest premium for the simplicity of the experience, which is a reasonable trade-off for those who do not want to spend time comparing dozens of Airalo plans.

Where Nomad loses ground is the so-called unlimited plans, which throttle to barely usable speeds after just 1-2GB of daily usage. At that threshold, the "unlimited" label is misleading -- you are effectively buying a 1-2GB daily cap with a safety net of extremely slow connectivity beyond that. Heavy users should treat these as capped plans and budget accordingly or look to Holafly instead.

Who Is This For?

Nomad works best for:

• Short-trip travelers who want simplicity -- a week in Thailand or a long weekend in London where 3-5GB of data is plenty. The clean interface and limited plan options make choosing and activating quick and painless.
• Repeat international travelers who can leverage the loyalty program to reduce costs over time. If you take 4+ trips per year, the accumulated points make Nomad progressively cheaper than competitors that offer no loyalty benefit.
• First-time eSIM users who might be intimidated by Airalo's marketplace or confused by the variety of options elsewhere. Nomad's guided setup and simple plan structure make it the most approachable entry point into travel eSIMs.

Who Should NOT Use This

Nomad might not be the right choice if:

• You need hotspot tethering: Nomad does not support sharing your data connection with laptops or other devices. If you travel with a laptop and need to work offline from Wi-Fi, Holafly, Ubigi, or aloSIM all support tethering on their plans.
• You are a heavy data user: The aggressive throttling on unlimited plans (1-2GB daily before speeds drop) and lack of genuinely high-cap options make Nomad a poor fit for remote workers, streamers, or anyone consistently using more than 2-3GB per day. Holafly's truly unlimited plans are the obvious alternative.
• You need calls or SMS: Like most eSIM providers, Nomad is data-only. Airalo's Discover+ plans or aloSIM's bundled phone numbers through Hushed are better options if you need voice capabilities.

Bottom Line

Nomad earns its place as a reliable mid-tier option for travelers who prioritize simplicity and reward loyalty. It will not win awards for features or pricing, but the combination of a clean experience, useful top-up system, and genuine repeat-customer benefits makes it a sensible default for frequent short-trip travelers. Just skip the unlimited plans -- they are unlimited in name only.

FAQ

Does Nomad support hotspot tethering?

No. Nomad plans are restricted to the device on which the eSIM is installed, with no hotspot or tethering support. If you need to share your connection with a laptop or other devices, you will need a different provider. Holafly, Ubigi, and aloSIM all support tethering on most or all plans.

How does the loyalty points program work?

You earn points on every plan purchase, with the rate varying by plan size and promotional periods. Points accumulate in your account and can be redeemed as discounts on future purchases. There is no expiration on points as long as your account remains active. The effective discount for regular travelers works out to roughly 10-15% off standard pricing after several trips.

Is Nomad's unlimited plan really unlimited?

Technically yes, but practically no. The unlimited plans provide full-speed data up to approximately 1-2GB of daily usage, after which speeds are throttled to 256-512 kbps -- barely enough for text-based messaging and email. You will not lose connectivity entirely, but anything beyond basic web browsing becomes frustratingly slow. If you consistently use more than 2GB per day, a capped plan with explicit data limits or Holafly's genuinely unlimited service will provide a better experience.