Nomad eSIM Review 2025: Is It Actually Worth Your Money?

Remember when you had to buy a new SIM card every time you traveled? Those days are over. Now we have eSIMs – digital SIM cards that you can download straight to your phone. No more tiny plastic cards or hunting for phone shops in foreign countries.

Nomad is one of the companies selling these eSIMs. They promise global internet, easy setup, and unlimited data. But do they actually deliver? We've tested Nomad in different countries and compared it with other options like Yesim, Holafly, and Airalo.

This comprehensive Nomad review covers everything from pricing to real-world performance, helping you decide if this eSIM Nomad service is the right choice for your travel needs.

What is Nomad and How Does It Work?

Nomad eSIM is a data-only international eSIM service launched in 2020 by LotusFlare (based in the U.S.). It allows travelers to instantly connect to local mobile networks in 200+ countries. This Nomad eSIM review will show you exactly how the process works. Here's how the Nomad eSIM setup works:

• Buy a plan on their website or app.
• Get a QR code.
• Scan the code with your phone.
• You're connected to the internet.

The whole process takes about 5 minutes. Nomad has an app where you can check how much data you've used and buy more plans when you need them. The app is pretty simple to use - nothing fancy, but it does what it's supposed to do.

Nomad eSIM Plans and Pricing

Nomad sells plans for specific countries or regions. Most plans only give you the internet - no phone calls or text messages. If you want to call someone, you'll need to use WhatsApp, Skype, or something similar.

These prices vary significantly depending on location and data amount. The cheapest plans start around $5 for 1GB, but can go up to $20-$27 for 20GB plans. There are currently no discounts available, making Nomad one of the more expensive eSIM providers on the market.

One annoying thing: if you're going to multiple countries, you need to buy separate plans for each one. So if you're backpacking through Europe and Asia, you'll be buying lots of different plans. Other companies like Yesim let you buy one plan that works in 140+ countries and just top it up as you go.

Plan Renewal and Extensions

You can't just add more time to your existing plan. When your Nomad eSIM plan expires, you need to buy a completely new one. This means:

• No automatic renewals.
• You have to remember to buy a new plan before the old one expires.
• Each new plan requires a separate purchase process.
• You might lose connectivity if you forget to renew.

Is Nomad's Data Really Unlimited: The Truth About Data Limits

Nomad’s unlimited plans advertise unlimited data, but include a fair usage policy: after ~2 GB/day of high‑speed use, your speed is capped to 512 kbps until the next day. Their “day plans” explicitly let you choose daily high-speed allowance (often 1 GB/day). Once depleted, 512 kbps kicks in. After the throttle starts, full-speed restores after ~24 hours

What Happens When You Run Out

Unlike truly unlimited plans, when you hit your data limit with Nomad:

• Your internet stops working completely.
• You need to buy a new data package.
• You can top up through the app without reinstalling.
• No automatic renewal - you have to manually add more data.

This means a 5GB plan might only last 3-6 hours if you're streaming Netflix on high quality, but could last weeks if you're just checking messages and using maps.

Network Speeds and Quality

Nomad connects to 4G and 5G networks depending on location. In our testing:

• Major cities: Usually get 4G/5G speeds.
• Rural areas: Often limited to 3G or slower 4G.
• Speed consistency: Generally reliable during off-peak hours.
• Peak hour slowdowns: Common in busy tourist areas.

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Setting Up Nomad: Is It Easy?

Setting up Nomad is pretty straightforward if your phone supports eSIM (most newer phones do). You scan a QR code and follow the instructions. It's about as easy as any other eSIM company.

The App Experience

Nomad's app is clean and simple. You can see how much data you've used, how many days are left on your plan, and buy new plans. It's not amazing, but it gets the job done.

✅ App Availability: The Nomad app is available for both iOS and Android, but some features are limited by region.

Customer Support

If you have problems, Nomad's support is okay. Email responses usually come within a day, but sometimes the chat support is slow. During busy travel times (like summer), you might wait longer for help.

✅Important: When contacting support, you'll need your purchase ID code from your receipt email. Don't delete that email - you'll need it for any support requests.

Getting Your Money Back

If you buy a plan and don't use it, Nomad will give you a refund within 30 days. But you have to contact their support team, it's not automatic. In our Nomad eSIM review experience, the refund process took about 5-7 business days.

The Good and Bad About Nomad

With competitive pricing and support for multiple countries, Nomad seems like a very appealing option. But like any service, it’s not perfect. In this Nomad review, we break down the good and the bad.

If you're traveling to multiple countries, Nomad becomes a pain. You have to keep buying new plans, managing different activations, and dealing with different prices. It's like having to get a new Netflix subscription every time you want to watch a different show.

Nomad vs Yesim: A Detailed Comparison

If you're wondering how Nomad stacks up against competitors like Yesim, you're in the right place. Let’s break it down and help you find the best fit for your travel style, data needs, and budget.

📶Why Yesim might be better: Yesim's single global plan is way easier than juggling multiple country plans. You buy one eSIM that works in 200+ countries and just add money when you need it. It starts at €3.5 and you don't have to worry about running out of data mid-trip - you just top up as needed. Plus they have virtual phone numbers if you need them for business stuff.

Is Nomad eSIM Worth It for Digital Nomads?

Digital Nomads have specific needs that differ from regular travelers. Let's look at how well Nomad serves this audience.

Scenario 1: European Tour (3 months)

• Countries: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Netherlands.
• Data needed: ~30GB total (10GB per month).
• Nomad cost: $15-20 per country = $75-100 total.
• Management: 5 separate plans, different expiry dates.
• Yesim alternative: One global plan + €50-60 top-up.

Scenario 2: Southeast Asia Trip (2 months)

• Countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia.
• Data needed: ~20GB total.
• Nomad cost: $10-15 per country = $40-60 total.
• Risk: Running out of data mid-trip, need emergency top-ups.
• Management: 4 different activations, tracking multiple limits.

For digital nomads, Nomad's country-specific approach creates unnecessary complexity and higher costs. The constant need to buy new plans, manage different expiry dates, and deal with activation processes disrupts the workflow that Nomads need to maintain.

Best eSIM for Travel: Making the Right Choice

Not all eSIMs are built the same and the right one really depends on how you travel. If you’re heading to one country for a few weeks and just want hassle-free internet that works, Nomad might be perfect. But if you're bouncing between countries, working remotely, or need every megabyte to stretch further, you might want to look elsewhere.

Final Answer: Should You Buy Nomad?

After extensive testing, here's our honest Nomad eSIM review verdict: Nomad works fine for what it does, but it's designed for a different type of traveler than most people need today.

The travel internet world is moving toward simple, global solutions. Companies that make you jump through hoops for basic connectivity are getting left behind. The future is about having one plan that just works everywhere, not managing a collection of country-specific subscriptions.

Nomad isn't bad, it's just not built for how people actually travel today. If you're someone who takes traditional vacations to one country at a time, it might work for you. But if you're part of the growing number of multi-country travelers, remote workers, or digital Nomads, you'll probably get frustrated with the limitations.

Seamless mobile internet in 200+ countries –– at a cup of coffee price! Take away!

Take away!