Prices checked on Nomad's own website on 9 October 2026, in US dollars.
Nomad is a travel eSIM seller that competes mostly on price. It covers more than 200 destinations, claims over 3 million registered users, and its fixed-data plans are among the cheapest from the well-known brands. We checked its prices, its unlimited plans, and the terms that matter once you are abroad.
The short version: Nomad is good value for fixed amounts of data, especially in Japan, Thailand and the United States, with a sensible app and wide payment options. Its unlimited plans slow down after a daily allowance and cannot be refunded, support is by chat only, and its help center contradicts itself on a couple of details.
What Nomad is
Nomad launched in 2020 and is a business line of LotusFlare, Inc., a software company based in Santa Clara, California. Its old address, getnomad.app, now sends you to nomadesim.com. You buy and manage plans in the iOS or Android app or on the website.
Plans and prices
Nomad sells fixed data plans (a set number of GB, usually valid 30 days) and unlimited plans for a set number of days.
| Destination | Fixed data | Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 5 GB, 30 days: $10. 10 GB: $16 (on sale). 1 GB, 7 days: $4 | 3 days $11, 7 days $25, 14 days $41, 21 days $49 |
| Europe (35 countries) | 10 GB, 30 days: $23. 5 GB: $17.50 | 5 days $19, 10 days $34 |
| Thailand | 5 GB, 30 days: $8. 10 GB: $10 | 10 days $15 |
| United States | 5 GB, 30 days: $10. 10 GB: $15 | 3 days $11, 5 days $16, 7 days $23 |
| Global (123 countries) | 1 GB, 7 days: $12. 5 GB, 30 days: $40 | none listed |
Nomad's pages show prices in your local currency; the figures above are the US dollar prices from the same pages.
How the unlimited plans work
Unlimited plans give you a daily amount of high-speed data, then keep you online at a lower speed until the allowance resets 24 hours after activation. Nomad's help center says the high-speed cap is 2 GB a day on most plans. Its pages disagree on the slower speed: one product page says 512 kbps, the help center says roughly 1 to 2 Mbps. Either way, 2 GB a day at full speed is less than some competitors allow.
Coverage
Nomad sells two Europe plans. The 35-country plan includes the United Kingdom and Switzerland but not Turkey; a second Europe plan adds Turkey and the Canary Islands, at different prices. The global plan covers 123 countries, including the UK, Switzerland and Turkey. In Japan, Nomad uses the KDDI (au) and SoftBank networks.
Using it
- When the plan starts: validity begins when the eSIM connects to a network in a covered country, not at installation. If you never use it, it activates by itself on the 60th day after purchase.
- Add-ons: you can add data once your plan is active. Nomad's help center says add-ons kick in when your current data runs out and do not extend the plan's validity, though one older help article says otherwise. Add-ons cannot be bought while you are in China, the UAE or India.
- Hotspot: works with most plans, but Nomad says it cannot guarantee it.
- Phone number: almost every plan is data only. A Thailand plan on the DTAC/TRUE network includes a local number.
App, rewards and payment
Nomad's app scores 4.8 on the App Store (about 17,000 ratings) and 4.3 on Trustpilot (about 45,500 reviews) when we checked. Purchases earn Nomad Points, worth about 5% back, which expire after 6 months. Payment options are wide: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, UnionPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal.
Support and refunds
Support is by chat only, in the app and on the website. Nomad lists no email or phone line, and does not state its hours. Refund rules:
- Ask within 30 days of purchase.
- An eSIM you have not installed may be fully refundable, once support confirms it.
- An activated plan counts as used; a partial refund needs a verified network or technical failure.
- All unlimited plans are non-refundable, as are a few others, and a plan bought with a discount code becomes non-refundable once installed.
- Refunds go to your card in 2 to 5 business days, or instantly as Nomad Points.
The catches
- Unlimited plans slow after a daily cap, 2 GB on most plans, and cannot be refunded.
- Support is chat only, with no hours stated.
- Unused plans activate themselves after 60 days.
- The cheaper Europe plan leaves out Turkey.
- The help center gives conflicting answers on throttled speed and on add-ons.
How it compares with our plans
Our own plans, checked on 11 October 2026. The plan cards on each destination page show our current prices.
- Japan, a week: Nomad's 5 GB for 30 days at $10 is cheaper than our Japan daily plan of 1.5 GB a day for 7 days (10.5 GB in total), if 5 GB is enough. For 7 days of unlimited data, ours cost less than Nomad's $25.
- Europe, a month: Nomad's 10 GB for 30 days is $23. Our Europe plan of 1.5 GB a day for 30 days (up to 45 GB in total) cost a little more, for far more data, across 30 countries including the UK and Switzerland.
- United States, a week of unlimited: ours in the United States cost less than Nomad's $23. For light use, Nomad's 5 GB for $10 is the better deal.
- Thailand: Nomad's 10 GB for $10 is strong value; our Thailand plans start with a single day, and our week of 1.5 GB a day cost less than that $10.
If you know roughly how much data you need, Nomad's fixed plans are hard to beat. If you use data every day or want unlimited, a daily plan often works out cheaper. See fixed, daily or unlimited.
Who Nomad suits
Nomad suits price-conscious travelers who can estimate their data and want a fixed amount at a low price, paying with a wide choice of methods. Look elsewhere if you want refundable unlimited data, phone support, or more than 2 GB a day at full speed. Other reviews: Airalo, Holafly and Saily.
FAQ
Is Nomad eSIM legit?
Yes. Nomad has run since 2020 as part of LotusFlare, a US software company, and has high app store ratings.
Does Nomad have unlimited data?
Yes, for set numbers of days in many destinations. On most plans, full speed lasts for 2 GB a day before it slows, and unlimited plans are non-refundable.
Can I get a refund from Nomad?
Ask within 30 days of purchase. Uninstalled plans may be refunded in full; activated plans only for verified technical failures, and unlimited plans not at all.
Does Nomad come with a phone number?
Almost never. Most plans are data only; one Thailand plan includes a local number.
Facts checked on Nomad's own pages on 9 October 2026. Prices and terms change, so check them before you buy.