Airalo vs Nomad: two by-GB models compared

Airalo and Nomad get compared constantly because they sell the same basic thing: a travel eSIM priced by gigabytes, bought in an app, activated on arrival. If you are weighing one against the other, the honest answer is that the model matters more than the logo.

This page explains how the by-GB model works, where it shines, where it frustrates people, and how an unlimited plan like VoaSim changes the math. No invented prices, no made-up ratings — just the mechanics, so you can check the current numbers yourself on each brand's official site.

What Airalo and Nomad actually sell

Both are app-first eSIM stores. You pick a destination or a region, you pick a data bundle, you pay, and a QR code or in-app install gets the eSIM onto your phone.

• Airalo (Singapore) sells local, regional and global data packages by GB through its app, with top-ups available once you are abroad.
• Nomad works the same way: data plans sold by gigabyte, usually via app, with local, regional and worldwide options.

What you are really comparing between them is coverage in your specific country, the size of the bundles offered, how long each bundle stays valid, and whether tethering is allowed in the terms. Those details change often and vary by destination, so read the plan page for your country on each official site before buying. This is a model comparison, not a lab test — we do not publish speed tests or ratings for other brands.

Where the by-GB model works well

Be fair: buying by the gigabyte is genuinely the smarter choice for some travelers.

• Light users. If you mostly need maps, boarding passes and a few messages, a small bundle can be cheaper than any unlimited plan.
• Short hops. A weekend where you are on hotel Wi-Fi most of the time rarely burns much data.
• Backup line. Some people keep a tiny data package as an emergency second line.
• Odd destinations. Global catalogs sometimes cover islands and territories that unlimited providers do not.

The trade-off is attention. You watch a counter. You decide whether to stream, upload photos or run a video call. When the bundle runs out mid-trip you top up — and if you are in a taxi with no signal, topping up is exactly when you least want an app. That's the part most comparison posts skip.

How VoaSim compares to both

VoaSim removes the gigabyte question entirely. The data is truly unlimited: no cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. You pay for days, not for gigabytes.

The same price applies to all 170 destinations, including Brazil, so a trip to Japan costs what a trip to Portugal costs. The Europe plan covers 50 countries on one eSIM, including Switzerland, the UK, Turkey, Norway and Iceland. A second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off. Trips of 1–4 days pay the 5-day package; the maximum is 90 days per eSIM.

Decision checklist

Run through this before you buy anything:

1. Estimate your daily data. Heavy maps, Instagram, video calls and hotspot use add up fast. Light messaging does not.
2. Count countries. One country favors a local bundle; a multi-country trip favors a regional plan.
3. Check expiry rules. By-GB plans often expire on a fixed number of days whether or not the data is used.
4. Check tethering. Read the terms of whichever brand you pick. With VoaSim, do not assume hotspot works — ask support first.
5. Check the currency and fees. VoaSim charges in USD via Stripe, no hidden fees, invoice by email.
6. Check support. If the eSIM fails at 11 p.m. in a foreign airport, you want a human. See how VoaSim handles that.

Still unsure? The price simulator gives your exact VoaSim price in about a minute, then compare it with the bundle each app quotes for the same trip.

Install, activation and safety nets

Whatever brand you choose, install the eSIM before you fly, while you are on stable Wi-Fi. With VoaSim the QR code arrives by email within minutes of payment (plus a WhatsApp heads-up if you left a number), and there are step-by-step guides for iPhone and Android.

Validity starts at the eSIM's first connection to a network at the destination — not at purchase. So install at home and leave the VoaSim line switched off until you land. On Android, do not turn on the eSIM's data before the trip.

Your physical SIM and your phone number stay in the phone, so WhatsApp keeps working on your usual number. Just switch off your home carrier's data roaming so it does not bill you. VoaSim is data-only: no phone number and no traditional voice calls, but app calls, maps and messaging all run over data.

If any eSIM — any brand — refuses to connect, the free eSIM Rescue tool runs a diagnosis. And if a VoaSim eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund.

Coverage limits you should know

No provider covers everything, and pretending otherwise is how people end up offline.

VoaSim covers 170 destinations on every continent, connecting automatically to local networks on 4G and, where available, 5G. What it does not cover right now is the island Caribbean: Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao and neighbors. Puerto Rico does work, because it runs on US networks. If your trip is to a Caribbean island, a by-GB catalog such as Airalo or Nomad may be the better pick — check their official coverage lists.

On cruises, VoaSim works on land at ports, not at sea. Ship connectivity is a satellite product and no travel eSIM replaces it.

Compatibility is standard across the category: iPhone XR or newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer, Google Pixel 3 or newer, and most phones launched from 2020 on. Dial *#06# — if an EID appears, your phone supports eSIM. Carrier-locked phones must be unlocked first. See more in the guides.

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