Prices checked on Nomad's and Airalo's own websites on 10 October 2026, in US dollars.
Pick Nomad if you want the lowest price for a fixed amount of data: on every fixed-data plan we compared it was cheaper than Airalo, by $1 to $8. Pick Airalo if you use a lot of data every day or want calls and texts: its unlimited plans keep full speed for 3 to 5 GB a day against Nomad's 2 GB, its Europe plan covers more countries, and some plans come with minutes and SMS. For a short trip with light use, either is fine and the difference is a few dollars.
Nomad vs Airalo at a glance
| Nomad | Airalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Destinations | 200+ | 200+ |
| 5 GB for 30 days, Japan | $10 | $11.00 |
| 5 GB for 30 days, United States | $10 | $13.50 |
| 10 GB for 30 days, Europe | $23 (35 countries) | $31.00 (41 countries) |
| Unlimited, 7 days, Mexico | $22 | $23.50 |
| Full speed on unlimited plans | 2 GB a day, then 1 Mbps | 3 or 5 GB a day, then 1 Mbps |
| Calls and texts | Data only on almost every plan | Data only, or "+" plans with minutes and SMS |
| Top-ups | Add-ons once the plan is active | Top-ups in the app, auto-renew option |
| Refund window | 30 days from purchase | 14 days, until the eSIM is activated |
| Rewards | Nomad Points, about 5% back | Airmoney, 5 to 10% back |
| Support | Chat only | Live chat, around the clock |
Both brands are data eSIMs: you keep your usual SIM for your number and use the eSIM for mobile data. We cover each one in more depth in our Nomad review and Airalo review.
Prices compared
We compared the same allowance and the same validity in four places travelers from the US, the UK and Australia often go. Prices are the US dollar prices on each brand's site; both show local currency in other countries, so a UK or Australian visitor sees pounds or Australian dollars that do not convert exactly.
| Plan | Nomad | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Japan, 5 GB, 30 days | $10 | $11.00 |
| Japan, 10 GB, 30 days | $16 | $18.00 |
| United States, 5 GB, 30 days | $10 | $13.50 |
| United States, 10 GB, 30 days | $15 | $22.50 |
| Mexico, 5 GB, 30 days | $11 | $13.00 |
| Mexico, 10 GB, 30 days | $15.50 | $18.50 |
| Europe, 5 GB, 30 days | $17.50 | $19.50 |
| Europe, 10 GB, 30 days | $23 | $31.00 |
On fixed data, Nomad was cheaper on all eight plans. The gap is small in Japan ($1 to $2) and widest in the United States and Europe: 10 GB for a month costs $7.50 less in the US and $8 less in Europe.
Airalo's short plans cost only a little less than its 30-day ones (Japan 5 GB is $10.00 for 7 days and $11.00 for 30), so on Airalo the month is usually worth it. Nomad's fixed plans in these four places are mostly 30-day plans, with a 1 GB, 7-day option for very short stays.
Unlimited plans and daily speed caps
Neither brand's unlimited plan is truly unlimited at full speed. Each gives you a daily allowance of high-speed data, then slows you down until the next day.
| Unlimited, 7 days | Nomad | Airalo |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $25 | $26.50 |
| United States | $23 | $25.00 |
| Mexico | $22 | $23.50 |
| Europe | none for 7 days (5 days $19, 10 days $34) | $27.00 (5 days $19.50, 10 days $35.00) |
The prices are close, so the daily cap decides it:
- Nomad: the plan details on its Japan, US and Mexico pages say 2 GB a day at 4G/5G, then 1 Mbps. Nomad's general page text mentions 512 kbps instead, so the slowed speed is not consistent across its own site.
- Airalo: 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day in Japan and Mexico, and after 5 GB a day in the United States and on the Eurolink Europe plan.
At 1 Mbps, maps and messages work but video is slow. If you stream, work remotely or share a hotspot, Airalo's 3 to 5 GB a day goes further for a couple of dollars more. If you mostly browse and navigate, Nomad's 2 GB a day is usually enough. For longer stays, Airalo also sells 15 and 30-day unlimited plans (Japan $48.00 and $69.00, US $46.00 and $68.00); Nomad's longest unlimited plan in these four places is 21 days in Japan ($49).
Coverage
Both sell plans for more than 200 countries and regions, so the difference is in the regional plans.
- Europe: Nomad's cheaper Europe plan covers 35 countries, including the UK and Switzerland but not Turkey; a second Nomad Europe plan adds Turkey at different prices. Airalo's Eurolink plan covers 41 countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
- Networks: in Japan both use KDDI (au) and SoftBank. In Mexico, Nomad lists AT&T and Movistar and Airalo lists Movistar plus a second network. In the US, Airalo names T-Mobile and Verizon.
App, top-ups and extras
- Top-ups: Airalo lets you top up from the app and turn on auto-renewal. Nomad sells add-ons once a plan is active; add-ons cannot be bought while you are in China, the UAE or India.
- Calls and texts: this is Airalo's clearest extra. In the US and Mexico it sells "+" plans with minutes and SMS (Mexico 5 GB for 30 days with 50 minutes and 50 texts is $18.50), and its Discover+ global plans add a US +1 number. Nomad is data only, apart from one Thailand plan with a local number.
- When the plan starts: on both, the days start when the eSIM first connects in the destination. Nomad's unused plans activate by themselves on the 60th day after purchase; Airalo gives you a year to start one.
- Rewards and payment: Nomad Points give about 5% back and expire after 6 months. Airalo's Airmoney gives 5 to 10% depending on how much you have spent. Both take cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, though Airalo does not offer every method in every country.
- Ratings: when we checked on 9 October 2026, Nomad's app scored 4.8 on the App Store and Airalo's 4.6. On Trustpilot, Nomad had 4.3 and Airalo 4.1.
Refunds and support
Refunds are where the two differ most in practice.
- Nomad: ask within 30 days of purchase. A plan you have not installed may be refunded in full once support confirms it, to your card in 2 to 5 business days or instantly as Nomad Points. An activated plan counts as used, with partial refunds only for a verified network or technical failure. Unlimited plans sit outside this policy: Nomad says they are non-refundable once used. See Nomad's refund policy.
- Airalo: you can withdraw within 14 days of purchase, but only until the eSIM is activated. If the service fails and Airalo cannot fix it, you can get a replacement or a refund of the unused part. If you bought the wrong plan or your trip changed, the refund is in Airmoney credit only. See Airalo's terms.
Support is by chat on both. Airalo states round-the-clock live chat; Nomad offers chat in the app and on its website and does not publish its hours.
Which to choose
- Light user on a short trip (maps, messages, some browsing): Nomad. A 5 GB plan costs $10 to $11 in Japan, the US or Mexico.
- Heavy user, remote worker or hotspot sharer: Airalo's unlimited plans, for 3 to 5 GB a day at full speed.
- Multi-country Europe trip including Turkey: Airalo's Eurolink, or Nomad's second Europe plan, which adds Turkey at a different price. If you are staying within the EU, the UK and Switzerland, Nomad's 35-country plan is cheaper.
- You need a phone number or texts: Airalo's "+" plans.
- Your plans might change: Nomad's 30-day refund window pays back to your card for an uninstalled plan, while Airalo's change-of-plans refunds come as credit.
- You want to compare all three plan types: read fixed, daily or unlimited first.
A third option
eSIM Lounge, the site you are reading, also sells travel eSIMs, so treat this section as our own offer. Besides fixed and unlimited plans, we sell daily plans with a set amount of high-speed data each day. On 10 October 2026, our United States unlimited plan for 7 days was $17.99, with full speed for the first 5 GB each day, and our Mexico plan of 1.5 GB a day for 7 days was $13.99. All our plans are data only.
FAQ
Is Nomad cheaper than Airalo?
On fixed data, yes. On 10 October 2026, Nomad was $1 to $8 cheaper than Airalo on all eight plans we compared in Japan, the United States, Mexico and Europe, for example 10 GB for 30 days in the US at $15 against $22.50.
Which has better unlimited data, Nomad or Airalo?
Airalo keeps full speed for longer: 3 GB a day in Japan and Mexico and 5 GB a day in the US and Europe, against 2 GB a day on Nomad, as of 10 October 2026. Airalo's 7-day unlimited plans cost $1.50 to $2 more in the places we checked.
Does Airalo or Nomad include a phone number?
Airalo's "+" plans include minutes and texts, and its Discover+ global plans add a US +1 number. Nomad's plans are data only, except one Thailand plan with a local number.
Which has the better refund policy?
Nomad allows refund requests within 30 days of purchase and may refund an uninstalled plan in full to your card. Airalo allows withdrawal within 14 days only until the eSIM is activated, and refunds a change of plans in Airmoney credit. Unlimited plans on Nomad are non-refundable once used.
Is Airalo or Nomad better for Europe?
Nomad is cheaper for the EU, the UK and Switzerland: 10 GB for 30 days was $23 against Airalo's $31.00 on 10 October 2026. Airalo's 41-country Eurolink plan also covers Turkey, which Nomad's cheaper Europe plan leaves out.
Facts and prices checked on 10 October 2026.