Airalo Vs Nomad: Which eSIM Is Better?

Airalo and Nomad are both eSIM providers that offer mobile data plans. Both providers offer the most competitive rates, and they both have their pros and cons. So, which is the better eSIM provider? That depends on your needs and preferences.

To help you find the eSIM that suits your needs best, we’ve put together a comprehensive comparison of Airalo and Nomad. Keep reading to find out which eSIM is the best.

Airalo Vs Nomad Overview

Airalo is an eSIM provider that was launched in 2019. Nomad, on the other hand, was founded in 2020. Both providers offer a wide range of local, regional, and global data plans.

If you’re after a quick answer, here are the main takeaways.

Why Airalo Might Be The Best Option For You

Why Nomad Might Be The Best Option For You

Now, let’s dive deeper into each company’s offerings, features, and characteristics.

Airalo And Nomad: How Do They Work?

Airalo and Nomad are both eSIM providers. Unlike a physical SIM card, an eSIM doesn’t need to be inserted into your device. Instead, the eSIM plan is downloaded directly into your mobile phone.

To use either service, you’ll need a device that’s compatible with eSIM technology.

Below, we’ll explain how you can buy and activate an eSIM plan on Nomad and Airalo. As you will see, both providers allow you to purchase an eSIM in just a few minutes.

How Does Airalo Work?

Here’s how you can buy an Airalo eSIM.

1. Create an account on Airalo.
2. Download the app or use the desktop version.
3. Choose your destination and preferred plan.
4. Install your eSIM.
5. Activate your eSIM.

How Does Nomad Work?

Here’s how you can buy a Nomad eSIM.

1. If you own an iPhone, you can get the Nomad app. Alternatively, use the website’s desktop version.
2. Select your destination and preferred plan.
3. Create an account.
4. Verify your identity (with a verification code).
5. Pay for the plan chosen.
6. Install the eSIM by scanning the QR code.
7. Go to My eSIMs to activate the eSIM.
8. If you wish to top up, go to My eSIMs and click on Add more data.

Airalo And Nomad Coverage

The coverage offered by Airalo and Nomad differs in several ways. Let’s take a closer look at what each provider has to offer.

Airalo Coverage

Airalo currently offers plans in over 200 countries and regions. The company is constantly expanding its coverage, so the number of countries will likely continue to grow.

They have three main types of plans:

1. Local eSIMs
2. Regional eSIMs
3. Global eSIMs

For each eSIMs, you’ll find short-term and long-term plans.

Regional Airalo eSIMs

Airalo offers 4 types of regional eSIMs:

1. Africa: Hello Africa works in 26 countries
2. Asia: Asialink works in 14 countries
3. Caribbean Islands: Island Hopper works in 22 countries
4. Europe: Eurolink works in 39 countries

Global Airalo eSIMs

Finally, Airalo offers a global eSIM. Discover Global works in 87 countries. It’s a great option if you travel to multiple destinations.

Nomad Coverage

Nomad offers data packs for 100+ countries and regions. They have three main types of plans:

1. Local eSIMs
2. Regional eSIMs
3. Global eSIMs

For each eSIMs, you’ll find short-term plans. But you can always purchase a top-up before you run out of data.

Regional eSIMs

Nomad offers 3 types of regional eSIMs:

1. Nordic: Works in 4 countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
2. APAC: Works in 8 countries (Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand)
3. Europe: Works in 35 countries

Global eSIMs

Finally, Nomad offers a global eSIM. It works in 112 countries. It’s a great option if you travel to multiple destinations. In fact, it’s the most extensive coverage we’ve seen on a global eSIM.

Airalo And Nomad eSIM Plans

Now that we’ve covered the coverage of each eSIM provider, it’s time to take a closer look at their eSIM plans.

Airalo eSIM Plans

As we mentioned before, Airalo offers three main types of plans: local, regional, and global. They also have short-term and long-term options for each type of plan.

Short-term Airalo plans are valid for 7, 15, or 30 days. Long-term plans are valid for 60, 90, or 180 days. It really depends on the type of plans and the destination. For example, the Discover Global plan is available for 180 days, but a local plan might be up to 30 days (with top-up options).

You’ll find unlimited data plans in some destinations, but it’s quite rare on Airalo.

Nomad eSIM Plans

Nomad offers three main types of plans: local, regional and global. They have short-term options mostly.

Nomad plans are valid for 1, 5, 7, 15, 30, and, sometimes, 60 days.

However, you can top up each Nomad plan as long as you do it before you run out of data.

You’ll find unlimited data plans in some destinations.

Airalo And Nomad eSIM Prices

Now that we’ve covered the coverage and types of plans offered by each provider, let’s take a look at the prices.

Depending on the destination, prices may vary. I’ll compare a few destinations to show you the price differences.

United States

The cheapest plan on Airalo is just $4.50 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $26 for 30 days.

The cheapest plan on Nomad is $7 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $30 for 30 days.

Europe

The cheapest plan on Airalo is just $5 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $185 for 180 days.

The cheapest plan on Nomad is $9 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $26 for 30 days.

Asia

The cheapest plan on Airalo is just $5 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $185 for 180 days. 

The cheapest plan on Nomad is just $6 for 7 days, and the most expensive plan is $69 for 30 days. 

Our Experience With Airalo And Nomad

We’re testing all the providers on eSIM Roamers. That said, we tried Airalo and Nomad. Let’s take a look at our experience with both providers.

Purchase

The purchase process is easy and secure on both websites. The main difference is that Airalo offers more payment methods than Nomad. That said, if you’re going to pay with a credit card, you should be good to go with any platform.

Nomad requires a couple of extra steps, though (like identity verification).

Usability

While both eSIM providers are easy to navigate and understand, I think Airalo is a bit more user-friendly.

Airalo’s website is simple and straightforward. You can activate your eSIM without leaving the website.

On Nomad, the process is slightly longer; you’ll need to go to your email to verify your identity.

Mobile Data

To give you an idea, I’ve been using Airalo as my number one eSIM provider. That said, I’ve been trying other providers, and I keep coming back to Airalo.

In the past, I had issues with Airalo. The issue was that my mobile phone was automatically connecting to the wrong network instead of the supported network. This happened when I entered a new country.

I contacted Airalo support back then, and they sent me steps to fix the issue.

Apart from this, the Internet speed is usually fast and works fine. On two occasions, the Internet stopped working, and I simply needed to put airplane mode on and off to fix the issue.

When I used Nomad, I didn’t have any issues, but it’s important to note that I’ve only used it for one week in one country. The network coverage was slightly better on Airalo in that country (Thailand).

I’ve been using Airalo for a year now in multiple countries, so sometimes, I need to readjust the network to fit the country I’m in.

Support

Airalo support is faster than Nomad. They answered me within 7 minutes, while Nomad answered me after 4h30.

Verdict: Which Is Better?

I believe Airalo is better than Nomad because of the following reasons:

1. They offer long-term plans (up to 6 months for regional/global plans)
2. Their support is excellent and faster
3. The website is easier to use and requires fewer steps when buying an eSIM

However, there’s one reason that could explain why you might prefer to use Nomad: some plans might be cheaper depending on the plan type and destination.

It’s worth comparing both providers when purchasing a new eSIM.

Frequently Asked Questions